The Accursed Archive
Become a Page for an Eldritch Library
In every library, there is a book that has never been read, a section that has never been seen, and a hallway that leads to nowhere - yet, you have managed to read that tome of secrets dark, find that shelf of unholy blasphemies, and step beyond the dead-end corridor into the Accursed Archive, where you have become bound to the nightmare-inducing writings within. Demonology, blood magic, and the summoning of things from beyond the Weave and the Outer Planes are among the most mundane of topics here, but draw at the eye and call to the hand nonetheless. By some malignant intelligence that selects only the most desperate, the most ambitious, and the most willing to sacrifice, the Accursed Archive collects souls to do its ruinous work: to share the terrible truths that reside upon its endless shelves, and bring chaos and upheaval to the outside world through the disclosure of these forgotten secrets.
Accursed Archive Spells
Level 3 feature The magic of your patron ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Warlock level specified in the Accursed Archive Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.Accursed Archive Spells
Warlock Level |
Spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Dark Secret, Detect Evil and Good, Inflict Wounds, Locate Object |
| 5 | Blackened Heart, Blasphemy |
| 7 | Evard's Black Tentacles, Forbidden Obelisk |
| 9 | Dispel Evil and Good, Legend Lore |
Tained Knowledge
Level 3 feature You have feasted your eyes upon the books of the Archive, and your mind has both withered and grown. You gain Proficiency in one Skill of your choice, and if you have Proficiency in the Arcana, History, or Linguistics Skill, you instead have Expertise in that Skill. Additionally, you can as an Action, enter The Accursed Archive along with up to ten willing creatures of your choice that you can see. Time does not pass outside the Archive while you are within, and you cannot rest, regain Hit Points, or maintain Concentration while inside. When you choose to depart, you and the creatures you brought with you return instantly to the point from which you entered. Once you enter the Archive this way, you can't do so again until you finish a Long Rest.Written in Blood
Level 6 feature You've learned to read your servants and adversaries as easily as the scrolls located within the darkest places of the Accursed Archive, and can twist them to serve your cruel whims. As a Magic action, you can touch a creature within reach and force it to make a Charisma Saving Throw against your Spell Save DC. On a failed save, the creature has the Paralyzed condition until the end of your next turn, as their flesh peels back into the pages of a book bound underneath their skin. The words within describe who they are and what they have done, and you can read up to six different sentences from them, prioritizing details you wish to learn. While the creature is Paralyzed, you have Advantage on Charisma and Intelligence checks relating to the creature and it has Disadvantage on Charisma and Wisdom checks. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.Vile Heresies
Level 10 feature You uncover secrets that could shatter the balance of the heavens and hells. You learn one level 4 or lower spell of your choice from any class' Spell List, that is not a cantrip. You always have the chosen spell prepared, and whenever you are within the The Accursed Archive, you can replace the spell with another spell that meets these requirements. You can cast the chosen spell once without expending a Spell Slot, and regain the ability to do so again when you finish a Long Rest. Furthermore, when you cast the spell this way, you gain Immunity to the Frightened condition until you finish a Long Rest.Unspeakable Truths
Level 14 feature You discover the real purpose of the Accursed Archive—the spread of the information that will bring ruin to the world. As an Action, you can share an unspeakable truth with all creatures that can hear you within 60 feet of you. All Hostile creatures who can hear and understand your words must make a Wisdom Saving Throw against your Spell Save DC. On a failed save, a creature is driven mad and suffers confusion as though it was affected by the Confusion spell for 1 minute. A creature driven mad this way repeats the save each time they take damage, ending the effect on itself on a success. At the same time, choose up to a number of creatures within 60 feet of you equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1). These creatures are infused with dark power that distorts the fabric of reality. Choose one Warlock spell you have prepared of level 2 or lower that deals damage; until the start of your next turn, each infused creature can use their Action to cast the chosen spell without expending a Spell Slot. Charisma is their Spellcasting Ability for the spell. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Note: Unlike other Warlock subclasses, the patron of all Accursed Archive Warlocks is the Accursed Archive.