Arcane Warden The arrows of bandits rain from above. The merchant feels panic strike, cursing himself for only hiring one guard. The hooded figure hired to protect him lays a hand upon the merchant's shoulder, as a softly glowing light forms around the peddler, and his horse. The arrows turn as they approach the light, as if a passage to safety has been opened. The cart races away, all inside left unscathed. The musk of still water, and dirt clog the nostrils of the woman as she crawls into a small crevice in a dark corner of the ruin. Staying focused on the dim light emanating just on the other side, she emerges in a room where a soft light shines from a crystal floating above the hand of a statue to an unknown god. She retrieves her notes, and begins to study the ancient gem, intent on uncovering its secrets. A crazed wizard dashes through an alley, clutching the unnatural dark void sliced into his shoulder that saps the light all around. His pursuer, clad in plate marches closer clutching the blade that did the deed. The magician, frantically utters a spell to whisk him far away, but feels his power being sapped by the dark mark. As his heart drops the blade of the knight rises, shining with fire as bright as the sun in the sky. Arcane wardens are intellectuals who ponder the significance of magic and war, and how these things impact daily life. Arcane wardens spend multiple years pondering the fundamentals of magic, and the role it has to play. Becoming a master practitioner of magic is often not the goal. Where wizards tend to ask if it can be done, an arcane warden asks if it should be done. Arcane wardens do not loathe magic, nor do they see themselves as its guardian. To arcane wardens magic is just one tool in a vast world that has few solutions and too many problems. The Study of Life Arcane wardens are philosopher soldiers who seek what significance life holds. They value a good book as much as a sharp sword. There is no particular ethos, or code among arcane wardens, only a loose social circle that shapes the views of those that enter their academies. As students from these arcane academies are pushed further into the realm of great thinkers, and sages, the pedestal these esteemed are placed upon lights a fire in the hearts of most arcane wardens to find their own great thought, a philosophy that shapes the world long after they pass on. An arcane warden is expected to give a fair level of respect to all professions in life, each serving a purpose, and none obsolete. For each hour of magic practiced an exemplar arcane warden is expected to spend one hour each training their bodies, engaging in a work of art, and thinking freely. Inevitably people do specialize, and focus on different interests in their lives. Even if an arcane warden leaves his academy he is considered an arcane warden wherever life may take him. Studying Outside the Academy Arcane wardens put much emphasis on a balanced life, and a life of study is not complete without a life of adventure. Arcane wardens tend to float around from one job to the next, seeking to gain a greater understanding of life. The things 1 The Arcane Warden Level Proficiency Bonus Features Spells Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 1st +2 Sense Arcana, Warding Hand — — — — — — 2nd +2 Fighting Style, Spellcasting, Arcane Nova 4 2 — — — — 3rd +2 Arcane Censor, Arcane Academy 5 3 — — — — 4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 6 3 — — — — 5th +3 Extra Attack 7 4 2 — — — 6th +3 Aura of Security 8 4 2 — — — 7th +3 Arcane Academy feature 9 4 3 — — — 8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 10 4 3 — — — 9th +4 — 11 4 3 2 — — 10th +4 Aura of Discovery 12 4 3 2 — — 11th +4 Improved Arcane Nova 13 4 3 3 — — 12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 14 4 3 3 — — 13th +5 ─ 15 4 3 3 1 — 14th +5 Insulating Touch 16 4 3 3 1 — 15th +5 Arcane Academy feature 17 4 3 3 2 — 16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 18 4 3 3 2 — 17th +6 — 19 4 3 3 3 1 18th +6 Aura Improvements 20 4 3 3 3 1 19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 21 4 3 3 3 2 20th +6 Arcane Academy feature 22 4 3 3 3 2 taught in the academy of their choice tends to shape the jobs Think about how the academy of your choice might have they are more willing to take, seeking to test their training in shaped your personality, and how you stacked up in school. a real world environment. However, many arcane wardens do Were you the best in your class, and the eye of people's envy? not take their time outside leisurely, for many this is an Or did you struggle to stay a part of that society, and found opportunity to pursue their obsession. yourself leaving in shame? The years spent here are a Many of the questions asked in the sheltered schools and significant influence on your life, and could explain your academies can not be answered with thought alone, and this quest, or your purpose in life. fact brings many arcane wardens out into the world to find The differences between how the world is, and how you the truth themselves. This pursuit can bring the arcane wish it to be can lead to many different paths being taken in warden to many places they never expected to be, and can search of a way to achieving your goals. The things you might change the warden's pre-concieved notions. have left the academy in search of need not be your sole purpose as you discover all the things that life has to teach. Creating an Arcane Warden While creating your arcane warden think about what Quick Build You can make an arcane warden quickly by following these misfortune might have brought itself upon you, and what that suggestions. First, Strength should be your highest ability might cause you to believe. Was one of your parents killed score, followed by Intelligence. Second, choose the sage while you were unable to protect them? Have you been background. wronged by the world of magic? Or have you lead a relatively peaceful life? Think about what arcane academy you wish to take upon reaching 3rd level, and try and have this reflect your personality. 2 Fighting Style Class Features You adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. As an Arcane Warden, you gain the following class features. Choose a fighting style from the list of optional features. You can't take the same Fighting Style option more than once, Hit Points even if you get to choose again. Hit Dice: 1d10 Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier Fighting Style: Defense Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. modifier per Arcane Warden level after 1st Fighting Style: Dueling Proficiencies When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no You are proficient with the following items, in addition to any other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that proficiencies provided by your race or background. weapon. Armor: all armor, shields Weapons: simple weapons, martial weapons Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting Tools: none When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. The Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Arcana, History, weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for Investigation, Perception, and Persuasion you to gain this benefit. Equipment Fighting Style: Protection You start with the following items, plus anything provided by When a creature you can see attacks a target other than you your background. that is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to • (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You must be wielding weapons a shield. • (a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer's pack • (a) a component pouch (b) an arcane focus Spellcasting • Chain mail and spellbook Starting at 2nd level, as a student of arcane magic, you have a Alternatively, you may start with 5d4 x 10 gp to buy your own spellbook containing spells that show the first glimmerings of equipment. your true power. See the end of this document for the arcane warden spell list. Sense Arcana Spellbook You reach out into the cold darkness, and can feel the At 2nd level, you have a spellbook containing four 1st-level rhythmic echoes of arcane energy pulsing, revealing itself to arcane warden spells of your choice. Your spellbook is the you. As an action, you can probe the surrounding area for repository of the arcane warden spells you know. remnants of magic. Until the end of your next turn, you are considered to be under the effects of a detect magic spell. Preparing and Casting Spells You can use this feature a number of times equal to 1 + The Arcane Warden table shows how many spell slots you your Intelligence modifier. When you finish a long rest, you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of regain all expended uses.