Path of the Accursed (Barbarian subclass)

Path of the Accursed
Warriors who walk the Path of the Accursed do not usually do so out of choice, yet the power within their blood, fueled by their rage, is a fact of life that they cannot change. For many, it was an ancestral bond with some ancient, corrupted blood. A fallen aasimar for a parent, or the blood of a fey being in the far past, whose heritage only surfaces now. Or, it may involve a deal with a hag, or a fiend. Whatever the reasons, the blood of these warriors has strange and mysterious powers that drive them onward, often unleashed in battle to the dismay of their enemies.

''Note: This homebrew and untested subclass could be subject to change depending on the circumstances and potential criticisms or praises while in use. The "accursed” past may be as dark or obscure as you wish to make it. The possibilities of theming this to be lighthearted are endless. After all, a curse may be a blessing to those who have a good heart and a good cause. The initial inspiration for this type of barbarian comes from Slaine, the comic book hero modeled after Cú Chulainn, the Irish folk hero/demigod, especially in the level 10 feature, Form of the Titans, inspired by the concept of the warp spasm. For further inspiration, look to some other mythologies, like Hercules and Gilgamesh, being cursed by the gods they worship and unleashing their fury in an accursed form.''

Touch of Rot

When you take this path at 3rd level, unnatural dark energy flows through you while you are raging. As a bonus action, you designate one target creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you. Pick one physical attribute, such as Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution. The target creature has disadvantage on any ability check made using the chosen attribute. In addition, whenever you damage the creature with an attack, the target takes an additional 1d6 necrotic damage.

This effect lasts until the target dies, your rage ends, or you fall unconscious. You have two uses of this feature at level 3, and regain all uses when you finish a long rest. At 14th level, you may perform this bonus action for free if you use it when entering your Rage, and you may also target a creature’s mental attributes (Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma) instead of any of its physical attributes.

Silver/Forked Tongue

At 3rd level, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Intimidation, or Persuasion. If you are already proficient in one of these, you may instead choose the same skill, and your proficiency for ability checks made using this skill are then doubled.

Unnatural Forms

At 6th level, your cursed blood grants you the ability to manipulate the form of yourself or other willing creatures. As an action, you touch one willing creature you can see. You bestow upon them one of the following boons, that they can activate using their action:


 * Menacing Presence: The target creature gains the ability to appear slightly larger, with slightly exaggerated features to appear more threatening. The effect lasts for one minute, during which time the target creature has advantage on all Charisma (Intimidation) checks. Creatures with the ability to detect illusions or invisibility (such as the ability or spell truesight), or other similar abilities are immune to this effect.
 * Blessing of the Night: The target creature can use their action to turn invisible, along with any item they are carrying, for one minute. The creature must be in darkness or dim light for this to work. The effect ends when the creature makes an attack, casts a spell, or manipulates an object.
 * Wake of the Gale: The target creature can use their action to become physically lighter. While in this form, a creature’s movement speed and long jump distance is doubled, and can make a standing jump (long or high) equal to their Strength score. The effect lasts for one minute.

A creature with this boon has one hour before the ability to use it expires. The boon ends when this time has passed, or the creature has used the ability granted by the boon. You must take a long rest before using this feature again.

Form of the Titans

At 10th level, your blood draws deeply from the titans of old where your curse draws from. When you enter a Rage, or on subsequent turns while you are still raging, you may choose to become a Large size creature, and exaggerate your physical form (such as making your muscles disproportionate in size, having fanged teeth, glowing red eyes, etc.).

While in this form, you count as a Huge size creature for the purposes of determining your carry capacity, and your ability to push, drag, or lift. Any range for objects or weapons with the thrown property is tripled. Your attacks also deal an additional 1d6 damage of the weapon’s type, and your Rage does not end if you at least move aggressively towards a hostile creature that you can see.

Additionally, if you succeed in grappling a creature that is smaller than you, that creature automatically becomes restrained. Once on your turn, while the target is restrained by you, you can forgo one of your attacks to squeeze the target, dealing 2d8 bludgeoning damage + your Strength modifier + your Rage damage (no attack roll required). You may add your bonus Touch of Rot damage if it applied to the target.

You must finish a long rest before you can use this feature again.

Scream of the Banshee

At level 14, while you are raging you can unleash the scream of the accursed dead upon your enemies. As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Constitution modifier that you can see within 60 feet. This range is extended to 120 feet if you are using your Form of the Titans.

Each creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw. On a fail, a creature takes 6d8 psychic damage and is stunned until the beginning of your next turn. On a failed save, a creature takes half as much damage and is not stunned, but their movement speed is halved until the start of your next turn instead.

A creature that is under the effect of your Touch of Rot takes an additional 1d6 necrotic damage (in addition to the normal damage).

You must take a long rest before using this feature again.