Warlock Patron: Nerull

He Who Revels in the Slaying of the Living

Nerull is thought of by many as the God of the Dead, but he has other names; The Reaper, The God of Winter, Bringer of Darkness. He considers all living things to be abhorrent, and his followers believe they will be rewarded for every soul they deliver to his domain.

Whether by accident or intention, in your past you took a life. This drew the eye of Nerull upon you, and what he saw was great potential. In return for acting as his instrument on the mortal plane, Nerull will grant you abilities over death itself.

Features

When you serve Nerull you draw your power from slaying others.

Warlock Level Feature 1st Hater of Life 6th The Ferryman 10th Close to Death 14th Lifecutter

Expanded Spell List

Nerull was the first necromancer. As well as giving you new ways to end life, he grants you powers to bend the dead to your will. Making a pact with Nerull allows you to choose from an expanded spell list.

Level Damage Type 1st False Life, Inflict Wounds 2nd Silence, Web 3rd Animate Dead, Speak with Dead 4th Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer 5th Cone of Cold, Contagion

Hater of Life

Nerull grants you favours when you send him a new gift. Starting from 1st Level, when you make an attack that reduces a creature to 0 hitpoints you can add 1d4 necrotic damage to your next attack (melee or magical). This cannot happen again until after a short or long rest. At 6th Level this becomes 1d6, and at 10th Level this becomes 1d10.

The Ferryman

Starting from 6th Level, Nerull grants you the power to move through The Lower Planes. As an action you can move through his icy realm and exit at a spot up to 60 feet away from you that you can see. Once you use this feature it cannot be used until after a short or long rest.

Close to Death

You have stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale, as a result you have mastered fear. Starting at 10th Level you are immune to being frightened and gain proficiency in Intimidation. If you are already proficient in intimidation you gain expertise. Also your study of necromancy grants you protection from its effects; you are now resistant to necrotic damage.

Lifecutter

At 14th Level when you make an attack that reduces a creature to 0 hit points, as a bonus action you can attempt to send another creature you can see straight to Nerull.

If the creature has less than 50 hit points it instantly dies. If they have greater than 50 hit points nothing happens. This power cannot be used again until after a long rest.

Image Credit: Holivian Tales (Wordpress)

Written with Create-a-Patron by Matthew Gravelyn