Scholarly Princess (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

I had an idea for a character who was a sage that had a bit of magic to them but wasn't a full fledged caster. Mostly in relation a low magic story line I had in mind. I have more than occasionally used RPGs as ways of firming up ideas for stories. I considered several classes to help me model the character including bard, artificer, wizard, eldritch knight, arcane trickster, and even monk. I decided on the cleric in the interest of being a bit off normal and also because the cleric spells in general fit better with the style of magic I was thinking of.

This is not a naive princess. She has used smugglers to obtain exotic materials and has some experience with intrigue. For the Background, I am going with Noble, but replacing the tool and language with Alchemist Kit and Herbalism Kit.

For this I am using my typical theoretical 30 pt array of 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10.

1st Level (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

Str: 10

Dex: 11

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis: 16

Cha:14

HP: 9

AC: 16
Save DC: 13
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Alchemist Tools, Herbalism Kit

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Dwarven

Proficient Skills
Arcana (Knowledge) +6
Deception (Human) +4
History (Noble) +4
Insight (Cleric) +5
Medicine (Cleric) +5
Persuasion (Noble) +4
Religion (Knowledge) +6

Background: Noble Scholar

Feats: Ritual Caster: Wizard

Spellcasting
Divine Domain: Knowledge
Bonus Proficiencies

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Sacred Flame

Wizard Ritual Spells: Find Familiar, Unseen Servant

Familiar: Shrike

Spell Slots: 2 (1st)

1st Level Oath Spells: Command, Identify

Equipment
Scale Mail
Spear
Shield
Holy Symbol

Reasoning: I am going for a sort of African style character image, so I looked up a few African wild-life for the familiar and settled on the shrike as the familiar as something I don't often see chosen. I'm saving names for later when I go researching the culture I'm interested in. Of course, NANOWRIMO is right around the corner so I expect I'll have to do a lot of adjusting with more firm study, but the event is mostly to get a first draft done. The familiar is a choice mostly because in the fiction I want to characterize her as more of a scholar than a priestess, but just the mechanics of cleric fit better. The cantrips I chose were mostly based on her being a scholar. Light providing safe ways to read or study at night and Guidance to lead one to the right answer. Sacred Flame was a nod toward having some sort of attack cantrip, but not sure how often I'll be writing her as having that capability.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Channel Divinity (1/Rest), CD: Turn Undead, CD: Knowledge of the Ages, +6 HP (14)

3rd Level - Oath Spells: Augury, Suggestion, +6 HP (20)

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Prodigy (Stealth, Disguise, Goblin, Wisdom), +6 HP (26)
Cantrip: Mending

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Destroy Undead (CR 1/2), Oath Spells: Nondetection, Speak With Dead, +6 HP (32)

Reasoning: Not much in the way of choice here, but I decided to take on Prodigy for its large spread of granted capabilities. This helps complete the idea that she knows more about intrigue than most scholars, which is fitting to a noble in some instances. Mending is an all around good cantrip for many purposes.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

Str: 10

Dex: 11

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis: 17

Cha:14

HP: 32

AC: 16
Save DC: 14
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Alchemist Tools, Herbalism Kit, Disguise Kit

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Dwarven, Goblin

Proficient Skills
Arcana (Knowledge) +8
Deception (Human) +5
History (Noble) +5
Insight (Cleric) +6
Medicine (Cleric) +6
Persuasion (Noble) +5
Religion (Knowledge) +8
Stealth (Prodigy) +3

Background: Noble Scholar

Feats: Prodigy, Ritual Caster: Wizard

Spellcasting
Divine Domain: Knowledge
Bonus Proficiencies
Channel Divinity (1/Rest)
CD: Turn Undead
CD: Knowledge of the Ages
Destroy Undead (CR 1/2)

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Mending, Sacred Flame

Wizard Ritual Spells: Find Familiar, Unseen Servant

Familiar: Shrike

Spell Slots: 4 (1st) 3 (2nd) 2 (3rd)

1st Level Oath Spells: Command, Identify
2nd Level Oath Spells: Augury, Suggestion
3rd Level Oath Spells: Nondetection, Speak with Dead

Equipment
Scale Mail
Spear
Shield
Holy Symbol

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Channel Divinity (2/Rest), CD: Read Thoughts, +6 HP (38)

7th Level - Oath Spells: Arcane Eye, Confusion, +6 HP (44)

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Resilient: Intelligence, Destroy Undead (CR 1), Potent Spellcasting, +6 HP (50)

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Oath Spells: Legend Lore, Scrying, +6 HP (56)

10th Level - Divine Intervention, +6 HP (62)
Cantrip: Spare the Dying

Reasoning: Once again, not much choice her. Spare the Dying is a very subtle sort of magic that fits my image in this case and Resilient: Intelligence works out very well for a scholar image. As a note, I'm doing this to explore character concept, I'm likely going to go through and create the same cast of characters in Fate to get closer to the image that I want for the game, but I'm starting with a more regimented game both as a thought exercise in character design and to see if I strike on any inspiration. The character creation process tends to do that.
 

10th Level Statistics

10th Level (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

Str: 10

Dex: 11

Con: 12

Int: 15

Wis: 17

Cha:14

HP: 62

AC: 16
Save DC: 15
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Alchemist Tools, Herbalism Kit, Disguise Kit

Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Dwarven, Goblin

Proficient Skills
Arcana (Knowledge) +10
Deception (Human) +6
History (Noble) +6
Insight (Cleric) +7
Medicine (Cleric) +7
Persuasion (Noble) +6
Religion (Knowledge) +10
Stealth (Prodigy) +4

Background: Noble Scholar

Feats: Prodigy, Resilient: Intelligence, Ritual Caster: Wizard

Spellcasting
Divine Domain: Knowledge
Bonus Proficiencies
Channel Divinity (2/Rest)
CD: Turn Undead
CD: Knowledge of the Ages
Destroy Undead (CR 1)
CD: Read Thoughts
Potent Spellcasting
Divine Intervention

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Mending, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying

Wizard Ritual Spells: Find Familiar, Unseen Servant

Familiar: Shrike

Spell Slots: 4 (1st) 3 (2nd) 3 (3rd) 3 (4th) 2 (5th)

1st Level Oath Spells: Command, Identify
2nd Level Oath Spells: Augury, Suggestion
3rd Level Oath Spells: Nondetection, Speak with Dead
4th Level Oath Spells: Arcane Eye, Confusion
5th Level Oath Spells: Legend Lore, Scrying

Equipment
Scale Mail
Spear
Shield
Holy Symbol

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Destroy Undead (CR 2), +6 HP (68)

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Wis and +1 Int, +6 HP (74)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, +6 HP (80)

14th Level - Destroy Undead (CR 3), +6 HP (86)

15th Level - +6 HP (92)

Reasoning: At this level the only real choice I had was with the Ability Sore Improvement and I decided to settle on just a flat bonus to Wisdom and Intelligence. I could take some Feats to gain more expertise skills such as what the Knowledge domain provided me with, but I'm comfortable with what I have.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

Str: 10

Dex: 11

Con: 12

Int: 16

Wis: 18

Cha:14

HP: 92

AC: 16
Save DC: 17
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Alchemist Tools, Herbalism Kit, Disguise Kit

Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Dwarven, Goblin

Proficient Skills
Arcana (Knowledge) +13
Deception (Human) +7
History (Noble) +8
Insight (Cleric) +9
Medicine (Cleric) +9
Persuasion (Noble) +7
Religion (Knowledge) +13
Stealth (Prodigy) +5

Background: Noble Scholar

Feats: Prodigy, Resilient: Intelligence, Ritual Caster: Wizard

Spellcasting
Divine Domain: Knowledge
Bonus Proficiencies
Channel Divinity (2/Rest)
CD: Turn Undead
CD: Knowledge of the Ages
Destroy Undead (CR 3)
CD: Read Thoughts
Potent Spellcasting
Divine Intervention

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Mending, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying

Wizard Ritual Spells: Find Familiar, Unseen Servant

Familiar: Shrike

Spell Slots: 4 (1st) 3 (2nd) 3 (3rd) 3 (4th) 2 (5th) 1 (6th) 1 (7th) 1 (8th)

1st Level Oath Spells: Command, Identify
2nd Level Oath Spells: Augury, Suggestion
3rd Level Oath Spells: Nondetection, Speak with Dead
4th Level Oath Spells: Arcane Eye, Confusion
5th Level Oath Spells: Legend Lore, Scrying

Equipment
Scale Mail
Spear
Shield
Holy Symbol

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement +2 Wis, +6 HP (98)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Destroy Undead (CR 4), Visions of the Past, +6 HP (104)

18th Level - Channel Divinity (3/Rest), +6 HP (110)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Int, +6 HP (116)

20th Level - Divine Intervention Improvement, +6 HP (122)

Reasoning: Continuing from above, there were no feats that called out to me so I just went with improving Intelligence and Wisdom. In the fiction and Fate versions, I'm likely to weed out things like Divine Intervention and take a scattering of variations of the abilities provided through the levels. Visions of the Past is likely going to appear in some form or another. Some people might protest at putting a capstone ability early on, but it's rather a flavor-gated ability. There are games where such psychometry and retrocognition is the central aspect of a character concept.

20th Level Statistics

10th Level (Variant Human Cleric of Knowledge)

Str: 10

Dex: 11

Con: 12

Int: 18

Wis: 20

Cha:14

HP: 122

AC: 16
Save DC: 19
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Bonus Feat
Bonus Skill

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Alchemist Tools, Herbalism Kit, Disguise Kit

Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Dwarven, Goblin

Proficient Skills
Arcana (Knowledge) +16
Deception (Human) +8
History (Noble) +10
Insight (Cleric) +11
Medicine (Cleric) +11
Persuasion (Noble) +8
Religion (Knowledge) +16
Stealth (Prodigy) +6

Background: Noble Scholar

Feats: Prodigy, Resilient: Intelligence, Ritual Caster: Wizard

Spellcasting
Divine Domain: Knowledge
Bonus Proficiencies
Channel Divinity (3/Rest)
CD: Turn Undead
CD: Knowledge of the Ages
Destroy Undead (CR 4)
CD: Read Thoughts
Potent Spellcasting
Divine Intervention Improved
Visions of the Past

Cantrips: Guidance, Light, Mending, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying

Wizard Ritual Spells: Find Familiar, Unseen Servant

Familiar: Shrike

Spell Slots: 4 (1st) 3 (2nd) 3 (3rd) 3 (4th) 3 (5th) 2 (6th) 2 (7th) 1 (8th) 1 (9th)

1st Level Oath Spells: Command, Identify
2nd Level Oath Spells: Augury, Suggestion
3rd Level Oath Spells: Nondetection, Speak with Dead
4th Level Oath Spells: Arcane Eye, Confusion
5th Level Oath Spells: Legend Lore, Scrying

Equipment
Scale Mail
Spear
Shield
Holy Symbol

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