5e Spirit Eater (Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer)

Back when I was attending university, I used to have a thing where I would take a game system that had numerous splatbooks and see how many books I could use to create a single character. This would usually be when I was stuck somewhere for a long period of time doing nothing and unable to head anywhere for some reason or another.

One of these characters was made using the Streetfighter RPG by White Wolf. And I didn't have that many splat books but I went to see how many of the optional things I could put into one character from the one expansion book it did have. This resulted in Reiko Satomi in whom I had combined the Hybrid, Elemental and Ninja backgrounds. Her backstory involved being born to a ninja clan and having elemental powers. However, on her first mission the clan was hired to recover an idol of some sort and weren't told that the idol would send spirits into people nearby which would turn them into vicious jaguars. When such a spirit tried to possess and devour Reiko, she defeated it in battle and swallowed it instead, leaving her as a cat girl and rather confused in her thoughts. The clan then exiled her as many were disturbed but what she was and what she had done but others didn't want her just killed.

Looks nothing like the inspiring character's design. But, cat, water, slightly ethereal. Eh.

I've since expanded on the storyline and come to the conclusion that even her water powers are based on an event as a child when an elemental possessing entity tried to slip into her and she had eaten that instinctively and the fact that she is a spirit eater is what truly concerned the clan.

I have considered building this character before but there has always been a few problems with that. Namely that creating her most signature ability has always been difficult. Namely, Reiko could turn into a puddle of water and use that to travel about almost unnoticed. Even now, the sort of utility she would have had doing that in Streetfighter is almost impossible to reproduce within official materials. However, recent releases in Volo's and Unearthed Arcana has given me a bit of an idea.

Ideally, I would actually build this character as a sorcerer in combination with monk since most of her attacks in the original version were based on unarmed martial arts, but for this theoretical we're only going to use the background as a way of determining the race and sorcerer heritage. 

I would also note that I would normally not play an actual tabaxi. Just like with Dragonborn and a few other races, I would use the statistics as a way of representing something else. This is admittedly because I don't like playing races that don't have recognizably human features most of the time. There have been exceptions, but while animal-ears, tail and a touch of fur is not much different for me than an elf...a person with an animal head sort of makes me creeped out a little bit. Personal issue.

Her spells are going to be based on the idea that she gathered them from possessing spirits that she devoured, so they will start off mostly dealing with cat or water related stuff though I may decide to take any of a number of spells to represent an encounter where she defeated or fought something else. This would be limited to being influenced by things she got the killing blow on.

I am going to use a custom background for this character based on the Criminal background. The character already gets Stealth from the Tabaxi race so we'll add Acrobatics instead. Also, instead of the gaming set, I'm going to go with a Disguise Kit instead.

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

1st Level Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer

Str: 10

Dex: 16

Con: 12

Int: 11

Wis: 13

Cha: 16

HP: 7

AC: 13 (16 with Mage Armor)
Sorcerer Save DC: 13

Speed: 30 ft, Swim 30 ft, Climb 20 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision 60 ft

Feline Agility

Cat's Claws

Cat's Talent

Armor Proficiencies: None

Weapons: Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaves, Light Crossbows

Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Constitution and Charisma
Languages: Common, Aquan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Ninja) +5
Deception (Ninja)  +5
Insight (Sorcerer) +3
Perception (Tabaxi)  +3
Religion (Sorcerer) +2
Stealth (Tabaxi) +5

Background: Ninja

Spellcasting
Sorcerous Origin: Sea Sorcery
Soul of the Sea
Curse of the Sea

Spell Slots: 2 (1st)

Cantrips: Shape Water, Minor Illusion, Frostbite, Steam Bolt (Fire Bolt)

1st Level Spells: Mage Armor, Witch Bolt

Reasoning: This character has a lot of attack powers, more so than most of my spellcasters since I usually find direct damage to often be the least efficient use of magic. But the character starting this comes out of a Streetfighter RPG character, so, yeah. The mage armor in this case is represented by becoming partially water so some attacks pass through rather than that attacks are deflected. I chose Religion rather than Arcana since the typical ninja clan mystic traditions in fiction have a slightly more religious bent than arcane, especially heroic clans. Witch Bolt doesn't really fit my original idea of the character as it is electricity, but it works with the default D&D lore.

 

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Font of Magic, +5 HP (12)
Spell: Expeditious Retreat

3rd Level - Metamagic: Subtle Spell, Quickened Spell, +5 HP (17)
Spell: Misty Step

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Cha, +5 HP (22)
Cantrip: Shocking Grasp
Spell: Enhance Ability

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus +3, +5 HP (27)
Spell: Counterspell

Reasoning: I'm imagining that her Misty Step is her turning to a puddle of water and reforming somewhere else a distance away. Counterspell is a variation of spirit-eater nature and basically have her "eating" the magic. Either that or a ninja trick she was taught. Quickened and Subtle Spell both fit a ninja sorcerer. Expeditious Retreat is a bit of the cat spirit she devoured.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer

Str: 10

Dex: 16

Con: 12

Int: 11

Wis: 13

Cha: 18

HP: 27

AC: 13 (16 Mage Armor)
Sorcerer Save DC: 15
Sorcery Points: 5

Speed: 30 ft, Swim 30 ft, Climb 20 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision 60 ft

Feline Agility

Cat's Claws

Cat's Talent

Armor Proficiencies: None

Weapons: Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaves, Light Crossbows

Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Constitution and Charisma
Languages: Common, Aquan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Ninja) +6
Deception (Ninja)  +7
Insight (Sorcerer) +4
Perception (Tabaxi)  +4
Religion (Sorcerer) +3
Stealth (Tabaxi) +6
 

Background: Ninja

Spellcasting
Sorcerous Origin: Sea Sorcery
Soul of the Sea
Curse of the Sea
Font of Magic
Metamagic: Subtle Spell, Quickened Spell

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

Cantrips: Shape Water, Minor Illusion, Frostbite, Shocking Grasp, Steam Bolt (Fire Bolt)

1st Level Spells: Mage Armor, Witch Bolt, Expeditious Retreat

2nd Level Spells: Misty Step, Enhance Ability

3rd Level Spells: Counterspell

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Watery Defense, +5 HP (32)
Spell: Sleet Storm

7th Level - +5 HP (37)
Spell: Watery Sphere

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Cha, +5 HP (42)
Spell: Blight

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, +5 HP (47)
Spell: Seeming

10th Level - Metamagic: Twinned Spell, +5 HP (52)
Cantrip: Gust
Spell: Blink

Reasoning: Sleet Storm and Watery Sphere both represent the elemental power she gained as a child from the spirit she devoured as an infant. Blight is assumed to be a function of her nature as a spirit eater adapted to harming physical entities. Seeming is a ninja trick and Blink is likely a blending of ninja tricks, elemental thinking and her nature as a spirit eater. I am considering Tough and War Caster as feats coming up. Twinned Spell lets her use some of her cantrips, Enhance Ability, Blight and Witch Bolt on two targets at a time.

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer

Str: 10

Dex: 16

Con: 12

Int: 11

Wis: 13

Cha: 20

HP: 52

AC: 13 (16 Mage Armor)
Sorcerer Save DC: 17
Sorcery Points: 10

Speed: 30 ft, Swim 30 ft, Climb 20 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision 60 ft

Feline Agility

Cat's Claws

Cat's Talent

Armor Proficiencies: None

Weapons: Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaves, Light Crossbows

Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Constitution and Charisma
Languages: Common, Aquan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Ninja) +7
Deception (Ninja)  +9
Insight (Sorcerer) +5
Perception (Tabaxi)  +5
Religion (Sorcerer) +4
Stealth (Tabaxi) +7

Background: Ninja

Spellcasting
Sorcerous Origin: Sea Sorcery
Soul of the Sea
Curse of the Sea
Font of Magic
Metamagic: Subtle Spell, Quickened Spell, Twinned Spell
Watery Defense

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

Cantrips: Shape Water, Minor Illusion, Frostbite, Shocking Grasp, Steam Bolt (Fire Bolt)

1st Level Spells: Mage Armor, Witch Bolt, Expeditious Retreat

2nd Level Spells: Misty Step, Enhance Ability

3rd Level Spells: Blink, Counterspell, Sleet Storm
4th Level Spells: Blight, Watery Sphere
5th Level Spells: Seeming

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - +5 HP (57)
Spell: Eyebite

12th Level - Ability Score Bonus: Feat: War Caster, +5 HP (62)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +5, +7 HP (67)
Spell: Plane Shift

14th Level - Shifting Form, +5 HP (72)

15th Level - +5 HP (77)
Spell: Abi-Dahlzim's Horrid Wilting

Reasoning: Eyebite is too ninja-like a spell to skip over for a character that is based on a ninja that eats spirits. Plane Shift also hits the idea that this character has a unique relationship to the planes, plus I expect she's killed an outsider by this point, Abi-Dahlzim is just the best combination of her water and spirit-eater traits.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer

Str: 10

Dex: 16

Con: 12

Int: 11

Wis: 13

Cha: 20

HP: 77

AC: 13 (16 Mage Armor)
Sorcerer Save DC: 18
Sorcery Points: 15

Speed: 30 ft, Swim 30 ft, Climb 20 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision 60 ft

Feline Agility

Cat's Claws

Cat's Talent

Armor Proficiencies: None

Weapons: Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaves, Light Crossbows

Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Constitution and Charisma
Languages: Common, Aquan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Ninja) +8
Deception (Ninja)  +10
Insight (Sorcerer) +6
Perception (Tabaxi)  +6
Religion (Sorcerer) +5
Stealth (Tabaxi) +8

Feat: War Caster

Background: Ninja

Spellcasting
Sorcerous Origin: Sea Sorcery
Soul of the Sea
Curse of the Sea
Font of Magic
Metamagic: Subtle Spell, Quickened Spell, Twinned Spell
Watery Defense
Shifting Form

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

Cantrips: Shape Water, Minor Illusion, Frostbite, Shocking Grasp, Steam Bolt (Fire Bolt)

1st Level Spells: Mage Armor, Witch Bolt, Expeditious Retreat

2nd Level Spells: Misty Step, Enhance Ability

3rd Level Spells: Blink, Counterspell, Sleet Storm
4th Level Spells: Blight, Watery Sphere
5th Level Spells: Seeming
6th Level Spells: Eyebite
7th Level Spells: Plane Shift
8th Level Spells: Abi-Dhalzim's Horrid Wilting

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Resilient: Dexterity, +5 HP (82)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Metamagic: Careful Spell, +5 HP (87)
Spell: Time Stop

18th Level - Water Soul, +5 HP (92)

19th Level -  Ability Score Improvement: +1 Dex, +1 Wis, +5 HP (97)

20th Level - Sorcerous Restoration, +5 HP (102)

Reasoning: I usually go for Wish at 9th level in this sort of situation because Wish can reproduce any 8th level or lower spell in the game and as long as you use it for that, it doesn't have much risk. But Time Stop is such a great ninja-like ability that I had to go for it. I opted against Tough because unlike the inspiring character, this one was not being designed to get on the front lines too much. One thing to notice, I did not grab as much of the spells that could trigger the Curse of the Sea as I could have. If I were to do a Sea Sorcerer independent of this inspiring character concept, I would certainly grab more things like Lightning Bolt and Gust of Wind to make use of that. I did, however, finally grant her Dexterity saving throws.

 

20th Level Statistics

15th Level Tabaxi Sea Sorcerer

Str: 10

Dex: 18

Con: 12

Int: 11

Wis: 14

Cha: 20

HP: 102

AC: 14 (17 Mage Armor)
Sorcerer Save DC: 19
Sorcery Points: 20

Speed: 30 ft, Swim 30 ft, Climb 20 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Darkvision 60 ft

Feline Agility

Cat's Claws

Cat's Talent

Armor Proficiencies: None

Weapons: Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaves, Light Crossbows

Tools: Disguise Kit, Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Constitution and Charisma
Languages: Common, Aquan

Proficient Skills
Acrobatics (Ninja) +10
Deception (Ninja)  +11
Insight (Sorcerer) +8
Perception (Tabaxi)  +8
Religion (Sorcerer) +6
Stealth (Tabaxi) +10

Feat: Resilient: Dexterity, War Caster

Background: Ninja

Spellcasting
Sorcerous Origin: Sea Sorcery
Soul of the Sea
Curse of the Sea
Font of Magic
Metamagic: Subtle Spell, Quickened Spell, Twinned Spell
Watery Defense
Shifting Form
Water Soul
Sorcerous Restoration

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

Cantrips: Shape Water, Minor Illusion, Frostbite, Shocking Grasp, Steam Bolt (Fire Bolt)

1st Level Spells: Mage Armor, Witch Bolt, Expeditious Retreat

2nd Level Spells: Misty Step, Enhance Ability

3rd Level Spells: Blink, Counterspell, Sleet Storm
4th Level Spells: Blight, Watery Sphere
5th Level Spell: Seeming
6th Level Spell: Eyebite
7th Level Spell: Plane Shift
8th Level Spell: Abi-Dhalzim's Horrid Wilting
9th Level Spell: Time Stop

Some 5e Builds