The Spared Sailor (Half-Elf Undying Warlock)

The basic concept here is a sailor who was caught in a storm and pulled under the waves but was spared drowning due to making a pact with some underwater entity. There's a couple of different ways to do go with this concept. The obvious one is to pick the Great Old One pact due to the connection to Cthulhu and other sort of entities. I another way I thought about this was using the Sea Sorcerer, but I wanted to focus on the idea that they were spared by a entity of death as well as the oceans. As such, I am using the Undying Pact of Warlock. The background is definitely going to be Sailor.



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

1st Level Half-Elf Undying Warlock

Str: 16

Dex: 12

Con: 14

Int: 10

Wis: 13

Cha: 14

HP: 10

AC: 12
Save DC: 12
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Water)

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Half-Elf) +3
Athletics (Sailor) +5
Investigation (Warlock) +2
Nature (Warlock) +2
Perception (Sailor) +3
Survival (Half-Elf) +3

Background: Sailor

Otherworldly Patron: Undying
Among the Dead
Pact Magic

Cantrips: Frostbite, Mage Hand, Spare the Dying

Spell Slots: 1 (1st)

Spells: Armor of Agathys, Hex

Equipment
Leather Armor

Reasoning: Hex is something I generally take with any warlock and the idea of Armor of Agathys fits someone who was spared from drowning. Likewise, I went with Frostbite rather than Eldritch Blast to start to farther hit the spared from watery death aesthetic.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Misty Visions, +7 HP (17)
Spell: False Life

3rd Level - Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade, +7 HP (24)
Spell: Misty Step

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Cha, +7 HP (31)
Cantrip: Prestidigitation
Spell: Silence

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Eldritch Invocation: Gift of the Depths, +7 HP (38)
Spell: Speak with Dead

Reasoning: This character is not so much a scholar, so the Pact of the Tome doesn't really fit. I considered the Pact of the Chain, but eventually decided to just have them focused on Blades. I decided to use the Ability Score Improvement to add to Charisma and bring it equal with Strength. For Invocations, I went with Armor of Shadows and Misty Visions on the idea that the Visions are the spirits of the dead creating illusions. I also went with False Life, Silence, and Speak with Dead, all from the bonus spells available to Undying Warlocks. Misty Escape hits to the idea of the sea-connection. I considered taking one of the Blade Pact Invocations, like the one granting multiple attacks, but being able to breathe underwater better fits the concept to come first.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Half-Elf Undying Warlock of the Blade

Str: 16

Dex: 12

Con: 14

Int: 10

Wis: 13

Cha: 16

HP: 38

AC: 11 (14 with Mage Armor)
Save DC: 14
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Water)

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Half-Elf) +4
Athletics (Sailor) +6
Investigation (Warlock) +3
Nature (Warlock) +3
Perception (Sailor) +4
Survival (Half-Elf) +4

Background: Sailor

Otherworldly Patron: Undying
Among the Dead
Pact Magic
Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Gift of the Depths, Misty Visions
Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade

Cantrips: Frostbite, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Spare the Dying

Spell Slots: 2 (3rd)

Spells: Armor of Agathys, False Life, Hex, Misty Step, Silence, Speak with Dead

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Defy Death, +7 HP (45)
Spell: Counterspell

7th Level - Eldritch Invocation: Thirsting Blade, +7 HP (52)
Spell: Death Ward

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Brawny, +7 HP (59)
Spell: Blight

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Eldritch Invocation: Improved Pact Blade, +7 HP (66)
Spell: Legend Lore

10th Level - Undying Nature, +7 HP (73)
Cantrip: Minor Illusion

Reasoning: In this case, I decided to give them a bit more Strength and to work at increasing their capability with the blade. The Undying Nature Pact Feature makes it seem like we could soon reverse the Gift of the Depths, but that also allows us to cast Water Breathing on others and grants us a real swim speed so it is still worth keeping. I decided to add Minor Illusion to again create the impression of spirits hanging about the sailor. Likewise Legend Lore represents spirits whispering in their ear and Counterspell and Death Ward work by the spirits interceding at the wish of the sailor.
 

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Half-Elf Undying Warlock of the Blade

Str: 17

Dex: 12

Con: 14

Int: 10

Wis: 13

Cha: 16

HP: 73

AC: 11 (14 with Mage Armor)
Save DC: 15
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Water)

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Half-Elf) +5
Athletics (Sailor, Brawny) +11
Investigation (Warlock) +4
Nature (Warlock) +4
Perception (Sailor) +5
Survival (Half-Elf) +5

Background: Sailor

Otherworldly Patron: Undying
Among the Dead
Pact Magic
Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Gift of the Depths, Improved Pact Weapon, Misty Visions, Thirsting Blade
Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade
Defy Death
Undying Nature

Cantrips: Frostbite, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Spare the Dying

Spell Slots: 2 (5th)

Spells: Armor of Agathys, Blight, Counterspell, Death Ward, False Life, Hex, Legend Lore, Misty Step, Silence, Speak with Dead

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Mystic Arcanum: Circle of Death, +7 HP (80)
Spell: Ray of Sickness

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Cha, Eldritch Invocation: Whispers of the Grave, +7 HP (87)
Spell Removed: Speak with the Dead
Spell:  Fear

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, Mystic Arcanum: Etherealness, +7 HP (94)
Spell: Major Image

14th Level - Indestructible Life, +7 HP (101)

15th Level - Mystic Arcanum: Finger of Death, Eldritch Invocation: Lifedrinker, +7 HP (108)
Spell:  Dream

Reasoning: Now that we've gotten to Whispers of the Grave, we can drop the spell version of Speak with the Dead and replace it with something else. Illusions and Dream definitely touch on the spirit nature of the character's backstory. As do the chosen arcanums.  Lifedrinker adds to the ability to do damage with their pact blade.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Half-Elf Undying Warlock of the Blade

Str: 17

Dex: 12

Con: 14

Int: 10

Wis: 13

Cha: 18

HP: 108

AC: 11 (14 with Mage Armor)
Save DC: 17
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Water)

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Half-Elf) +6
Athletics (Sailor, Brawny) +13
Investigation (Warlock) +5
Nature (Warlock) +5
Perception (Sailor) +6
Survival (Half-Elf) +6

Background: Sailor

Otherworldly Patron: Undying
Among the Dead
Pact Magic
Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Gift of the Depths, Improved Pact Weapon, Lifedrinker, Misty Visions, Thirsting Blade, Whispers of the Grave
Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade
Defy Death
Undying Nature
Mystic Arcanum: Circle of Death, Etherealness, Finger of Death
Indestructible Life

Cantrips: Frostbite, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Spare the Dying

Spell Slots: 3 (5th)

Spells: Armor of Agathys, Blight, Counterspell, Death Ward, Dream, False Life, Fear, Hex, Legend Lore, Major Image, Misty Step, Ray of Sickness, Silence

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement +2 Cha, +7 HP (126)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Mystic Arcanum: Power Word Kill, +7 HP (133)
Spell: Mirror Image

18th Level - Eldritch Invocation: Thief of Five Fates, +7 HP (140)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Str and +1 Wis, +7 HP (147)
Spell:  Vampiric Touch

20th Level - Eldritch Master, +7 HP (154)

Reasoning: Thief of Five Fates adds to the ability to bring curses on people while Power Word Kill and Vampiric Touch further touch on the death connection. Mirror Image again represents the idea of dead spirits manifesting to confuse attackers.

20th Level Statistics

15th Level Half-Elf Undying Warlock of the Blade

Str: 17

Dex: 12

Con: 14

Int: 10

Wis: 13

Cha: 18

HP: 108

AC: 11 (14 with Mage Armor)
Save DC: 17
Speed: 30ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision
Fey Ancestry
Skill Versatility

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Water)

Saving Throws: Wisdom, Charisma
Languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Half-Elf) +6
Athletics (Sailor, Brawny) +13
Investigation (Warlock) +5
Nature (Warlock) +5
Perception (Sailor) +6
Survival (Half-Elf) +6

Background: Sailor

Otherworldly Patron: Undying
Among the Dead
Pact Magic
Eldritch Invocations: Armor of Shadows, Gift of the Depths, Improved Pact Weapon, Lifedrinker, Misty Visions, Thief of Five Fates, Thirsting Blade, Whispers of the Grave
Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade
Defy Death
Undying Nature
Mystic Arcanum: Circle of Death, Etherealness, Finger of Death, Power Word Kill
Indestructible Life
Eldritch Master

Cantrips: Frostbite, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Spare the Dying

Spell Slots: 4 (5th)

Spells: Armor of Agathys, Blight, Counterspell, Death Ward, Dream, False Life, Fear, Hex, Legend Lore, Major Image, Mirror Image, Misty Step, Ray of Sickness, Silence, Vampiric Touch

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