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Who is the God of Death Warlock?

The concept of a “God of Death Warlock” isn’t directly defined in Dungeons & Dragons lore as a specific deity. However, you could define a God of Death Warlock as a warlock whose patron is a powerful entity strongly associated with death, undeath, or the passage of souls. This could be a demigod, a powerful undead being, or even an aspect of a greater deity focused on death. Several entities in the D&D multiverse fit this description, and warlocks who make pacts with them often gain abilities related to death, decay, and control over the undead. The most directly related warlock subclass to death is the Undead Warlock, introduced in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. The Undead Warlock’s patron is a powerful undead entity, such as a lich, a mummy lord, or a vampire.

Understanding Warlock Patrons & Death

To fully grasp the concept of a “God of Death Warlock,” it’s essential to understand how warlock pacts function within the D&D universe and which deities and entities closely align with death and its associated themes.

Warlocks and Their Patrons

Warlocks derive their magical power from making a pact with an Otherworldly Patron, a powerful entity from beyond the Material Plane. This patron grants the warlock access to specific spells and abilities, shaping their character’s theme and playstyle. Patrons can be archfey, fiends, great old ones, celestials, or more unique entities tied to specific settings. The nature of the pact and the patron’s goals heavily influence the warlock’s role in the game.

Deities and Entities of Death in D&D

Several deities and powerful entities across the various D&D settings hold dominion over death, undeath, or related aspects. Understanding these figures is crucial to identifying potential “God of Death Warlock” patrons:

Jergal: The original God of Death in the Forgotten Realms, Jergal willingly relinquished his power to Kelemvor. While no longer a god, his immense age and knowledge make him a powerful entity in the Shadowfell, potentially capable of forging pacts.
Kelemvor: The current God of Death in the Forgotten Realms, Kelemvor maintains the natural cycle of life and death, opposing undeath and ensuring souls reach their final destination. Warlocks directly serving Kelemvor might be rare due to his lawful nature, but pacts with his servants or entities aligned with his goals are conceivable.
The Raven Queen: The goddess of death, fate, and winter, the Raven Queen holds sway over the Shadowfell. She guides souls and opposes those who cheat death through undeath. An Undead Warlock might see the Raven Queen or one of her powerful servants as a patron who supports their necromantic skills while upholding a code of keeping the natural cycle of life and death in balance.
Orcus: A powerful demon prince of undeath, Orcus commands legions of undead and seeks to extinguish all life. A warlock serving Orcus would likely be a Fiend Warlock with a focus on necromantic spells and the creation of undead.
Vecna: A lich who achieved godhood, Vecna represents forbidden knowledge, secrets, and the corruption of arcane magic. A Great Old One Warlock or Undead Warlock might make a pact with Vecna or his followers, seeking power through forbidden arts.
Nerull: Another deity of death, decay, and the underworld. Nerull is often depicted as a skeletal figure and embodies a cruel and uncaring aspect of death.
Other Unnamed Entities: The Shadowfell, Negative Energy Plane, or other planes associated with death could house unique, powerful entities capable of granting warlock powers.

The Undead Warlock Subclass

The Undead Warlock is the subclass most directly aligned with the concept of a “God of Death Warlock”. This subclass, officially published in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, grants warlocks abilities related to transforming into a more undead-like form and wielding the power of death.

Key Features of the Undead Warlock

Form of Dread: This feature allows the warlock to transform, gaining temporary hit points, imposing the Frightened condition on enemies, and dealing extra damage.
Grave Touched: This feature enhances the warlock’s ability to deal necrotic damage and resist necrotic damage, further solidifying their connection to death.
Undying Servitude: At higher levels, the warlock gains the ability to command undead creatures and become more resistant to the effects of aging and death.

Choosing a Patron for an Undead Warlock

While the Undead Warlock subclass provides the mechanics for wielding the power of death, the specific patron chosen can greatly influence the character’s flavor and story. Some suitable patrons for an Undead Warlock include:

A powerful lich seeking to expand their influence.
A mummy lord guarding ancient secrets and curses.
A powerful vampire seeking to control the night.
A servant of the Raven Queen tasked with maintaining the balance between life and death.
An ancient being from the Shadowfell steeped in the essence of death.

Creating a “God of Death Warlock” Character

When creating a “God of Death Warlock” character, consider the following:

Choose a Patron: Select a deity or entity closely associated with death or undeath that aligns with your character’s goals and personality.
Select a Subclass: The Undead Warlock subclass is the most thematically appropriate, but other subclasses like the Fiend (if serving a demon prince of undeath) or the Great Old One (if serving a being of forbidden knowledge related to death) could also work.
Develop a Backstory: Craft a backstory that explains how your character came into contact with their patron and why they forged a pact.
Choose Spells and Invocations: Select spells and invocations that enhance your character’s theme and abilities related to death, decay, and control over the undead.
Roleplay the Character: Embrace the character’s connection to death and undeath, exploring their motivations, fears, and interactions with the world around them. By carefully considering these elements, you can create a compelling and unique “God of Death Warlock” character that embodies the power and mystery of death in the D&D multiverse.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Kelemvor be a warlock patron?

While theoretically possible, it’s unlikely. Kelemvor is a lawful neutral deity who values the natural cycle of life and death. Warlock pacts are often made with entities seeking something in return, which doesn’t align with Kelemvor’s philosophy of impartial judgment. More likely patrons would be servants of Kelemvor who uphold his values and are willing to grant power in exchange for service.

2. What are some good spells for a death-themed warlock?

Necrotic damage spells like chill touch, inflict wounds, blight, and circle of death are excellent choices. Spells that control the undead, such as animate dead and danse macabre, are also suitable. Illusion spells that create fear or dread, like phantasmal force and fear, can enhance the theme.

3. What is the difference between a necromancer and an Undead Warlock?

A necromancer is typically a wizard who specializes in necromancy spells. An Undead Warlock gains their powers from a pact with an undead or death-related entity. While both can control undead, the necromancer relies on learned spells, while the warlock draws power from their patron.

4. Can a warlock be good while serving an evil patron of death?

It’s possible, but challenging. The warlock might believe they can use the evil patron’s power for good, or they might be manipulated by the patron. This creates interesting roleplaying opportunities to explore the character’s moral conflict.

5. What is the Shadowfell, and how does it relate to death warlocks?

The Shadowfell is a plane of existence linked to the Material Plane, representing the dark reflection of the world. It’s a realm of shadows, decay, and death, and it’s often home to undead creatures and powerful entities associated with death. A warlock’s patron might reside in the Shadowfell, granting them access to its dark power.

6. What are some invocations that would be useful for a death warlock?

Invocations that enhance necrotic damage, such as agonizing blast (if using eldritch blast), and invocations that grant resistance to necrotic damage are beneficial. Invocations that allow communication with the dead, like voice of the chain master (with a suitable familiar), can also enhance the death theme.

7. How does the Undead Warlock interact with clerics of Kelemvor?

Depending on the warlock’s actions and the nature of their pact, the interaction could be adversarial or even cooperative. If the warlock is actively creating undead and disrupting the natural cycle of death, clerics of Kelemvor will likely oppose them. However, if the warlock uses their powers to combat greater threats to the balance of life and death, a temporary alliance might be possible.

8. Can a warlock change their patron?

Changing patrons is a complex and often dangerous process. It might require completing a significant quest, performing a ritual, or finding a new entity willing to grant power. The old patron might not take kindly to the betrayal, leading to further conflict. It is often up to the Dungeon Master (DM).

9. What are some interesting character flaws for a death-themed warlock?

Common character flaws include a morbid fascination with death, a lack of empathy for the living, a constant fear of their patron’s power, or a desire to cheat death.

10. What is the best race for a death warlock?

The best race is subjective and depends on the character’s backstory and goals. Races with natural resistance to necrotic damage, such as tieflings (especially those with lineages tied to death or the undead), or races associated with death or the Shadowfell, like shadar-kai, can be flavorful choices.

11. Is it possible to have a celestial patron for a death warlock?

It’s unconventional, but possible. The celestial patron might be a powerful angel tasked with overseeing the transition of souls or punishing those who defile the natural cycle of death. The warlock’s powers might be focused on banishing undead or guiding lost spirits.

12. How does a death warlock’s familiar work?

A familiar can be a valuable asset for a death warlock, providing scouting, communication, and even combat support. Flavorful choices for familiars include ravens, bats, skulls, or other creatures associated with death and darkness.

13. What are some potential campaign hooks for a death-themed warlock?

Potential campaign hooks include investigating a surge in undead activity, uncovering a plot to disrupt the natural cycle of death, or being tasked by their patron to retrieve a powerful artifact from the Shadowfell.

14. How can a DM handle a player whose warlock character serves an evil death god?

The Dungeon Master (DM) can handle this by exploring the consequences of serving such a patron. The PC can use the power of his Evil god but must adhere to its commands. DMs can also create moral dilemmas that test the warlock’s loyalty and alignment.

15. What resources are available for learning more about D&D?

The official D&D sourcebooks, such as the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual, are the primary sources of information. Websites like D&D Beyond offer digital resources and character builders. Communities like the Games Learning Society offer opportunities to connect with other players and learn about the game. You can visit the website of the Games Learning Society for resources and community discussion: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Who is the god of death warlock?