Barbarian Subclass and Theros Quest Foreword on the World Presented in Mythic Odysseys by Christopher M

Contents

Foreword...... 1 Barbarian ...... 2 Path of the Forestmaster ...... 2 Quest for the Forestmaster ...... 4 Adventure Prompts ...... 4 Mountain Crossing ...... 5 Traxian Forest ...... 5 Forest Overview ...... 5 Unique Creatures ...... 5 Traxian Forest Encounter Tables ...... 6 New Monster Stat Blocks ...... 11 Sidebars Forestmaster Barbarians and Devotion 4...... Path of the Forestmaster Barbarian subclass and Theros Quest Foreword On the world presented in Mythic Odysseys By Christopher M. Cevasco of Theros, barbarians who follow the Path of the Forestmaster do so only after tracking down a Art Credits mythic being that dwells in the unexplored, ON THE COVER: The Cyclops (1914) by French Symbolist primeval forest beyond Theros's Oraniad painter Odilon Redon (1840 - 1916). Mountains. An overgrown, gentle cyclops touched by the magic of Nyx, the Forestmaster Border pattern around sidebar box adapted from a design becomes a devastating force of destruction by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay. when provoked or if anyone threatens the Apart from those images obtained through DMs Guild forest over which this mythic being holds sway. Creator Resource artpacks, all other illustrations herein To those it deems worthy, the Forestmaster are in the public domain or alterations thereof. offers a blood pact that bestows potent page backgrounds are from Cole Twogood's old paper primordial magic and cyclopean options that resource available at DMs Guild. greatly augment the standard barbaric rage. For players, this supplement sets forth new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, subclass features and devotion options for a Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Ravnica, Theros, and all other Wizards of Forestmaster barbarian, but it also provides an the Coast product names, and their respective logos are adaptable framework for DMs wishing to run a trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and sidequest or complete adventure focused on other countries. tracking down the enigmatic entity in the so- This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or called Traxian Forest of Theros. Adventure other authors. Such material is used with permission under the Community prompts, extensive random encounter tables, ContentSample Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. and new monster stat fileblocks (including the All other original material in this work is copyright 2020 by Christopher Forestmaster itself, complete with Mythic M. Cevasco and published under the Community Content Agreement for action options) provide everything necessary for Dungeon Masters Guild. a memorable journey into the unknown.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. barbarians truly come alive in battle. Primal Paths At 3rd level, a barbarian gains the Primal Path feature. Your DM might wish to let you consider the following new option— the Path of the Forest- master—among those paths offered in the Player's Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Path of the Forestmaster On the world of Theros, beyond the lofty, Nyx- touched peaks of the Oraniad Mountains, lies what is rumored to be a forest so vast it has no end, but few mortals have crossed those peaks to verify the rumors. The forest is thought to Barbarian have existed more or less in its current state since the semi-mythical Age of Trax, when the FIGHTING IS THE LABOR I OWE TO MY POLIS. EVEN AS mighty archons held sway over the newborn architects build our temples and oracles guide races of Theros and the titans and gods had not our governance, I never hesitate to perform my yet been spawned from the dream-chaos of duty when danger threatens our walls. My starry Nyx. Within this mysterious, primeval commander calls, I put in my thrust, take my forest—sometimes called the Traxian Forest— thumps, and go home when the battle's through. there exists an enigmatic being known as the But when I meet my foe's gaze overtop my shield Forestmaster, who has sway over all those end- and see a barbarian's frenzied battle rage in less woods. For more on early Theran history, those eyes … well, that's the only time I stop to see chapter 1 of Mythic Odysseys of Theros. wonder if I actually will see home again… Although superficially resembling an impos- — Ristos Brightshield, sibly tall cyclops, the Forestmaster is some- Akroan hoplite thing far more potent and magical. Some Theran sages believe it to be a lesser titan who some- Whether arising from innate fury, a link with a how escaped the gods' notice when they impri- spirit animal, or the primal magic of wind and soned the rest of the titans in the Underworld storms, barbarians of every stripe can drive before the modern age. Others say the Forest- themselves into a battle rage that allows them master was originally a mundane cyclops who to perform feats of astounding strength and fled the constant conflict it knew with the endurance. Often outlanders, barbarians scoff ancient human, leonin and minotaur civiliza- at the strictures of civilization, thriving in tions, passing over the high mountains and tundra wastes or mountain enclaves, deep in becoming transformed by straying too close to unexplored jungles, or in isolated hill or grass- Nyx. Whatever its origin, those few mortals who land tribalSample communities. Some barbarians file claim to have encountered the Forestmaster revere the spirits of their ancestors, while and returned safely over the Oraniads describe others develop a religious zeal for the gods of a peaceful—even gentle—being that seems one war, but whatever motivates them, all

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Path of the Forestmaster: Subclass and Quest 2 with the natural world but which, like nature itself, can become intensely powerful and destructive if provoked into a rage. Among those mortals who have survived such an encounter are the barbarians that follow the Path of the Forestmaster. Drawn by the rumors of the primordial entity, such individuals sought it out and were deemed worthy by it. Reportedly, the Forestmaster feels a deep reverence toward the holy nature of such a hero's quest and, if petitioned do do so, shares something of itself with those petitioners. By pricking its own skin to make a blood oath with a mortal, the Forestmaster lets its essence enter the barbarian through a similarly self-inflicted wound, and the barbarian returns home a changed person. A character wishing to follow the Path of the Forestmaster can be assumed to have made this journey prior to beginning a campaign at 1st level, but the Forestmaster's essence only leonin begins to manifest in the barbarian at 3rd level. Forestmaster Alternately, your DM might wish to make a barbarian quest to find the Forestmaster a campaign adventure in and of itself. A framework for doing so is provided below, in the "Quest for the Primal Bellow Forestmaster" section of this supplement. Beginning at 10th level, while you're raging, any time you take damage from an attack by a crea- PATH OF THE FORESTMASTER ture within 30 feet of you that you can see, you Barbarian can use your reaction to release a primal bellow Level Feature at it. The target must succeed on a Wisdom sav- 3rd Traxian Soul ing throw, the DC of which equals 8 + your pro- 6th One with Nyx ficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier, or 10th Primal Bellow the target becomes frightened of you for 1 min- ute. If the target is already frightened, it be- 14th Cyclopean Rage comes stunned instead. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, Traxian Soul ending the effect on itself on a success. If a Beginning at 3rd level when you follow this creature’s save is successful or the effect ends path, you gain resistance to psychic damage. for it, it is immune to your bellow for 24 hours. You also gain the ability to cast the druidcraft cantrip at will and the entangle spell Cyclopean Rage a number of times equal to your Constitution Beginning when you reach 14th level, when you modifier, regaining expended uses upon enter a rage you can choose to go into a cyclo- finishing a long rest. Constitution is your pean rage. If you do so, your size increases by spellcasting ability for this spell, since your one category—Medium to Large, for example— magic comes from the potency of the for the duration of your rage. Until your rage Forestmaster's blood now flowing in your veins. ends, your depth perception suffers, giving you disadvantage on ranged attack rolls, but you One Samplewith Nyx enjoy all of the following filebenefits: Beginning at 6th level, each time you enter a • Your current hit points and your hit point rage, you can cast misty step on yourself once maximum both increase by 1 per barbarian before your rage ends. level.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Path of the Forestmaster: Subclass and Quest 3 • Your reach increases by 5 feet. • You can wield two-handed weapons with one Quest for the hand. • You deal double damage to objects and Forestmaster structures. This section of the supplement is intended for • You may add your Constitution modifier Dungeon Masters who wish to run a campaign (minimum of +1) to your Rage Damage bonus. or side-quest based around a journey to find the Forestmaster. Such a quest would first involve crossing the Oraniad Mountains and FORESTMASTER BARBARIANS AND DEVOTION would then focus on entering and navigating On Theros, barbarians who devote themselves as the Traxian Forest itself. champions to a particular deity generally tend to gravitate toward serving Iroas, Keranos, Klothys, Adventure Prompts Mogis, Nylea, or Purphoros, and any of these six— particularly Nylea—is also likely to be championed The most obvious reason for venturing into the by Forestmaster barbarians. But as an oath-bound Traxian Forest would be because a character devotee of the Forestmaster itself, you might forgo wishes to become a Forestmaster barbarian; devotion to another god and could instead use the such a character (along with trusted compan- Iconoclast supernatural gift paradigm set forth in ions) might begin at 1st level and reach 3rd chapter 1 of Mythic Odysseys of Theros, gaining the level only after finding the Forestmaster. listed traits as you advance in levels (even though Alternately a character or group of characters you needn't reject the gods as a true iconoclast). possessing higher levels in other classes might For more on champions, devotion, and the wish to mutliclass by finding the Forestmaster benefits derived from piety, see Chapter 2 of Mythic and beginning to earn levels as barbarians. Odysseys of Theros. Perhaps, instead, the adventuring party looks to enter the Traxian Forest in search of

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Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Path of the Forestmaster: Subclass and Quest 4 someone else who entered and never came Traxian Forest back. Significantly higher level characters might even be seeking revenge for a friend or It is entirely up to the DM how long it will take loved one slain by a Forestmaster barbarian; to find the Forestmaster once a party enters the they're intention could be to put an end to the Traxian Forest, as the enigmatic being is Forestmaster altogether. constantly on the move throughout the vast An oracle or omen from one of the Theran forest, having no permanent home base. At the gods may have set the adventurers on their very least, it should take a few days of path, or maybe the characters believe such a exploration, but it might take weeks or even perilous quest into the unknown will earn them months. While in the forest, the party is likely a significant boost in piety so as to derive new- to encounter all sorts of creatures, natural and found benefits from the gods to which they are supernatural wonders, bizarre hazards, and devoted. mythic beings. To facilitate such encounters, Of course, the age-old motivation of mere the DM might consider rolling on the random curiosity or wanderlust might also set an encounter tables below. adventurer's sights on the unknown stretches beyond the distant mountains… Forest Overview As described earlier, the Traxian Forest has persisted since the earliest ages of Theros. An Mountain Crossing old-growth forest, it is fed by numerous rivers Before reaching the Traxian Forest, a party will and streams that start as cascades down the have to ascend, cross, and descend the Oraniad east face of the Oraniad mountains. It's such a Mountains, which are described more fully in vast (possibly endless) area, that many types of chapter 3 of Mythic Odysseys of Theros (MOoT). topography are found within it—hills and val- The mountains are famed for being closer to leys, thickly and sparsely wooded regions, and Nyx than any other location on Theros, and so even miles-wide stretches where truly colossal Nyxborn creatures are likely to occur there trees stand some 500 to 600 feet in height with with some frequency (see MOoT chapter 6). trunks more than 50 feet in diameter. Ancient shrines are also said to be found throughout the Oraniads, and so for this Unique Creatures portion of the quest, DMs might wish to A wide variety of creatures dwell within the customize one or more of the shrine or temple Traxian Forest, some of which are found adventures in chapter 4 of MOoT. In particular, nowhere else on Theros. Some of the more the Sun Temple adventure associated with the unusual creatures include the following: god Heliod, the Abandoned Temple adventure The Forestmaster. The Forestmaster is, of linked to Klothys, the Temple of Mystery linked course, the most powerful and most important to Kruphix, the Canyon Shrine linked to Mogis, creature in the forest. Standing over 30 feet in or the Volcano Temple linked to Purphoros height, this mysterious entity outwardly would be particularly fitting. resembles a cyclops but of far greater stature than the typical variety. Those who approach the Forestmaster peacefully with the intent of requesting its barbaric patronage find a gentle soul fond of gathering flowers and tending to the forests groves and wildlife. Any that enter the forest with malice in their hearts, however, or who threaten the forest or its inhabitants in the Forestmaster's presence awaken the primal beast beneath the placid facade—a violent rage that knows no bounds. A complete stat block Samplefor the Forestmaster appearsfile at the end of this supplement. Dream Figments. When the Forestmaster sleeps, it dreams. Some of those dreams are

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Path of the Forestmaster: Subclass and Quest 5 Traxian Forest Encounter Tables As with the random encounter tables in Chap- ter 2 of Xanathar's Guide to Everything, the tables below build on the Dungeon Master's Guide's guidance on using random encounters in your game. These tables are for use when characters are within the Traxian Forest on Theros, and separate tables are provided for each of the four tiers of play: levels 1–4, 5–10, 11–16, and 17–20. It bears emphasizing that although these tables can be used "as is," tail- dream oring them to suit your game can reinforce the figments flavors and thematic elements of your campaign. DMs should feel entirely free to customize the material below to make it their own. As a general rule, when a party is traveling through the Traxian Forest, a random encounter roll should be made once per hour of travel or once every four hours while the party is sta- tionary or resting. But, at the DM's discretion, such rolls might be made more or less often. In these tables, a name in bold refers to a stat block in the Monster Manual unless nightmares populated by warped reflections of otherwise noted as follows: EB (Eberron: Rising the Forestmaster's one-eyed visage. Owing to from the Last War), GR (Guildmasters' Guide to some unique Nyxborn nature of the Forest- Ravnica), GS (Ghosts of Saltmarsh), MT (Morden- master, many of these Dream Figments escape kainen's Tome of Foes), T (Mythic Odysseys of the nightmare to manifest physically in the Theros), VG (Volo's Guide to Monsters). world and dwell throughout the forest. These Dream Figments may be represented by the stat blocks for gazers (see chapter 3 of Volos Guide to Monster's), spectators, and nothics, but all with chaotic evil tendencies. Traxian Druids. Some mortals who make their way to the primeval forest fall under its sway and remain there, becoming druids whose ultimate goal is to one day see the forest expand to cover all of Theros, reclaiming every polis, temple, and cultivated field for nature. These druids might be of any race known on Theros and may be represented by the stat block for a druid of the old ways (see under "Gruul NPCs" in chapter 6 of Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica). Living Spells. The forest itself sometimes produces magical manifestations that take the form of living spells such as those described in Chapter 6 of Eberron: Rising from the Last War. The two sorts of living spells likely to be encounteredSample are: living sickening radiance file and living wrath of nature; complete stat blocks for each may be found at the end of this supplement.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Path of the Forestmaster: Subclass and Quest 6