The Polaris
Playtest content. This is draft material and subject to change.
As a warlock selected by Polaris, you become an open conduit to the plane of ice, subjecting Dromaria to a hungering, endless winter. Powered by the sentient plane itself, a warlock of Polaris is granted forbidden knowledge and abilities thought lost to the ages. With this gifted power, Polaris warlocks forge a deep connection with the frost and cold, shaping it in ways others could only dream of.
Whether it's skating on waves of ice and snow, or freezing opposition with a flick of the wrist, those who have taken on Polaris as their patron are highly formidable, but at a cost. By harnessing these abilities you are tapping into powers considered taboo and forsaken by the vast majority of the civilized world. To be an open warlock of Polaris is to be shunned or hunted. Yet an individual with a strong enough will and connection to Polaris could bring Dromaria to its knees, or become the savior the world desperately requires.
Polaris Expanded Spells
The Polaris lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you. Bonus Cantrip
At 1st level, you learn the Ray of Frost cantrip. Deep Frost
Starting at 1st level you can channel a heavily focused blast of freezing temperatures. When you deal cold damage with a spell, you can choose an affected target to freeze. The creature must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn to ice and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is frozen for 1 minute. While frozen the creature has the petrified condition. You may not use this ability again until you finish a short or long rest. Polar Touch
Starting at 6th level Polaris has opened a continuous conduit between you and the plane of ice. You have resistance to cold damage, and once during each of your turns, when you hit and deal cold damage to a creature with a spell attack, you can deal your Charisma bonus in cold damage to each creature of your choice within 5 feet of the target. Avalanche Walker
Starting at 10th level you may create pathways of snow and ice, sliding around a battlefield with ease. As a bonus action, you may generate snow and ice beneath you up to a height of 15 feet. The ice and snow last until the end of your next turn before melting and is considered difficult terrain. Your speed while on snow or ice is doubled. You can move across and climb icy surfaces without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of ice or snow doesn't cost you extra movement. Glacial Sundering
Starting at 14th level you have mastered the cold, capable of summoning far more of Polaris’ power. You may use your Deep Frost ability up to 3 times per short or long rest. If you freeze a creature with your Deep Frost, you may shatter it with a whisper. As an action choose a creature you have successfully frozen. The ice breaks and the creature must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 5d6 piercing and 5d6 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Each creature within 10 feet of the frozen creature must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 5d6 cold damage and 5d6 piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The Polaris lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you. Bonus Cantrip
At 1st level, you learn the Ray of Frost cantrip. Deep Frost
Starting at 1st level you can channel a heavily focused blast of freezing temperatures. When you deal cold damage with a spell, you can choose an affected target to freeze. The creature must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature magically begins to turn to ice and is restrained. It must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature is frozen for 1 minute. While frozen the creature has the petrified condition. You may not use this ability again until you finish a short or long rest. Polar Touch
Starting at 6th level Polaris has opened a continuous conduit between you and the plane of ice. You have resistance to cold damage, and once during each of your turns, when you hit and deal cold damage to a creature with a spell attack, you can deal your Charisma bonus in cold damage to each creature of your choice within 5 feet of the target. Avalanche Walker
Starting at 10th level you may create pathways of snow and ice, sliding around a battlefield with ease. As a bonus action, you may generate snow and ice beneath you up to a height of 15 feet. The ice and snow last until the end of your next turn before melting and is considered difficult terrain. Your speed while on snow or ice is doubled. You can move across and climb icy surfaces without needing to make an ability check. Additionally, difficult terrain composed of ice or snow doesn't cost you extra movement. Glacial Sundering
Starting at 14th level you have mastered the cold, capable of summoning far more of Polaris’ power. You may use your Deep Frost ability up to 3 times per short or long rest. If you freeze a creature with your Deep Frost, you may shatter it with a whisper. As an action choose a creature you have successfully frozen. The ice breaks and the creature must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 5d6 piercing and 5d6 cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Each creature within 10 feet of the frozen creature must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 5d6 cold damage and 5d6 piercing damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The Polaris Features
| Warlock Level |
Feature |
|---|---|
| 1st | Bonus Cantrip, Deep Frost |
| 6th | Polar Touch |
| 10th | Avalanche Walker |
| 14th | Glacial Sundering |
The Polaris Expanded Spells
| Warlock Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | Armor of Agathys, Create or Destroy Water |
| 3rd | Blindness/Deafness, Shatter |
| 5th | Bestow Curse, Sleet Storm |
| 7th | Fire Shield, Ice Storm |
| 9th | Cone of Cold, Planar Binding |
Ignatius the Cold
The world’s most infamous warlock, Ignatius the Cold, was a man and monster of legend. A Upiryrial banished from his homeworld to the frozen wastes of Polaris, Ignatius struck a bargain with the very world he was exiled to. His power became great, and in the earliest days of the Ancestors, Ignatius plunged Dromaria into an age of eternal winter.
Ignatius has long represented the potential that comes from fully embracing becoming a warlock. His strength came from a source of power far beyond his own, and in turn, he was capable of far more than anyone before him. Polaris can make a character strong enough to shake the world, but in turn, can also draw the attention of those who would do you harm.
Now thousands of years later Ignatius is a cautionary tale and warning to those who would follow in his path. The world fears the presence of Polaris will be used for evil once again, and any who wield its magic draw parallels to the past, remnants of Ignatius the Cold that will forever linger.