Path of the Aristoi

"'Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans."

–Illiad, Proemic Verse

The warrior-aristocrats of old fought with weapons of bronze, shield and spear, riding to battle in mighty chariots and hurling javelins like the thunderbolts of the gods. Many of them were fighters of consumate skill, thoughtful soldiers whose techniques passed down in history. More still were possessed by the battle-thirst, hounding glory and fame eternal. Outside the battlefield they were creatures of great passion, colossal mirth and melancholy; on the battlefield they laughed in the face of death, surrendering to their fate and leaping into the fray with rage matched only by the true berserkers.

Although the barbarian of today's age is often seen as a figure of savagery without culture or nobility, there are still some who hold to these ways, and who see their rage as a god-sent gift. They consider themselves true nobles, and they embrace fury in battle, shield and spear adorned with their fabled history.

Covenant of Lions

When you join this path at 3rd level, you learn an eclectic fighting style combining shield, spear and javelin. You gain the following benefits:

You may treat ranged attacks made with weapons that have the Thrown property as melee attacks for the purposes of your rage damage, Reckless Attack and Brutal Critical features.

A hand which you are using to wield a shield is considered free for the purposes of readying Thrown weapons and making ranged attacks with them. Readying a Thrown weapon does not count towards your one free interaction per turn.

When you use your Reckless Attack feature and make an attack with a weapon wielded in one hand on your turn, you may use a bonus action to make another attack using a weapon with the Thrown property.

Star of Waning Summer

Also at 3rd level, your heritage manifest itself in your every action; no longer a crude apprentice of war, you are one of the finest aristocrat-warriors. You gain Proficiency in the History and Persuasion skills.

Credit: Ogi Grujic

Seven-Banded Shield

Starting at 6rd level, you are a master of the shield, able to withstand the mightiest arrows. At the end of a short or long rest, you may expand a number of Hit Dice up to your rage damage bonus. Roll these Hit Dice separately; they do not heal you, but are "charged" into your shield. When you would suffer damage from an attack, you may use your reaction to have your shield suffer this damage instead. Your shield does not benefit from your damage resistance from rage. If the shield is reduced to 0 hit points, you take the remainder of the damage. A mundane shield reduced to 0 hit points is destroyed, but a magical one is not.

Sing, O Muse

Beginning at 10th level, you are one with your nascent legend, and all who hear your name know it to be worthy of fear and respect. You have advantage on Persuasion and Intimidation checks made against creatures which have heard of your name and repute before this encounter.

Additionally, you may force a creature with an Intelligence of 6 or higher to make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC of (8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency modifier). If they have heard of your name and repute before this encounter, they have disadvantage on this save. If they fail the save, they must treat you with as much respect as they would a noble or great hero of their own culture. If you challenge them to single combat, they come under the effects of the spell compelled duel, on which you do not need to concentrate. Once you have used this feature, you must finish a short rest before you use it again.