Warlock

Warlocks derive their power from pacts with eldritch beings. Few are brave enough to make such pacts.

## Adventuring

### Subclasses

* Archsylvan (PHB)
* Archumbran (XGtE)
* Celestial (XGtE)
* Great Old One (PHB)
* Infernal (PHB)

## Sociocultural Information

### Groups

Many groups of clandestine cultists. No large well-known organizations.

“
*The price is high, but it is worth it.*
”
— Unknown.
**Warlocks** are purveyors of power, willing to make inconceivable sacrifices in order to acquire it. By establishing a Pact with a supernatural being of unfathomable strength, Warlocks surrender their free will to gain the ability to produce incredibe feats both martial and magic.

Warlocks are feared and ostracized wherever they go on account of their clear extraplanar influence. Many warlocks go to extreme lengths to conceal their true identity from those around them, often masquerading as sorcerers or lunatics.

Because of the circumstances around their pact, Warlocks are often adventurers. That said, they make poor companions, because Warlocks do not have full autonomy over their actions (OOC: If you wish to play a Warlock in this setting without a lot of fuss, I recommend you play a Great Old One. Otherwise, your character may be regularly controlled like a pawn by the sponsor of your pact).

## Abilities

Warlocks derive immense power from the patrons of their pact. Whereas clerics and paladins fight using primarily their own power and knowledge, with only a sprinkling of power from their respective divine, a warlock's arsenal is importantly derived from the power of their patron. Warlocks are able to produce some spells, though most of these are of some offensive or defensive capacity, and are thus less versatile in spellcasting than bards, clerics, druids, and wizards. By virtue of their pacts, warlocks are also able to use pact magic--an eldritch and not fully-understood spellcasting medium--to produce incancations. Finally, many warlocks learn some degree of martial ability, including the use of simple weapons and armor.

## History

The history of warlocks is impossible to summarize, since warlocks are all involved in comprehensively different enterprises. However, most warlocks' trajectories can be linked to their quest for knowledge and power.

## Organizations

There are few organizations related with Warlocks, given the relative scarcity of these adventurers in the world. The most common Warlocks derive their pacts from both Archfey and Archumbran; therefore, many Warlocks work with the Primeval Circle, especially the Circle of Dreams. Hexblade Warlocks, meanwhile, oftn cavort with dark cults and necromancers in forbidden rituals, acting as acolytes and bodyguards.

### Archsylvan (Archfey)

A pact may be made with an Archsylvan, a Sylvan of great power. The Archfey beings are fickle and capricious, and do not necessarily see their warlocks as instruments of power, but rather, instruments of mischief. Such warlocks are known as **Sylvanists**.

### Archumbran (Hexblade)

A pact may be made with an Archumbran, a Shadow Being of Penumbra. Such beings can offer incredible power, although gaining this power will gain the pactbearer the enmity of all Elves. Likewise, gaining this power is tantamount to a declaration of war against Sylvania. Such Warlocks are known as **Hexblades** or **Shadowblades**, as well as **Umbranists**.

### Celestial

A pact may be made with one of the Divines, or a powerful angel. Occasionally confused for Clerics, such Warlocks can indeed masquerade as Clerics in order to evade suspicion and garner support. Such warlocks are commonly known as **Angelists**.

### Great Old One

Warlocks that have made a pact with one of the Old Ones have likely made this pact by accident: their mind and consciousness shattered and invaded while reading a piece of forbidden lore, or the ravings of a deranged lunatic. Such warlocks are commonly known as **Alienists** and **Darkdivers**.

### Infernal (Fiend)

The most desperate and unscrupulous Warlocks may make a pact with an infernal. Infernals never offer this power freely: the strings attached to these pacts often mean that the soul of the signatory is forever captured by the patron, or otherwise consumed. Such warlocks are commonly known as **Diabolists**.

## Notable Warlocks

* **Herbie Reloft**, a halfling Warlock of the Archfey Starbeam participating in the Lost Mines of Colmanth campaign.

Classes
Artificer • Barbarian • Bard • Cleric • Druid • Fighter • Monk
Paladin • Ranger • Rogue • Sorcerer • **Warlock** • Wizard