Warlock

Why would anyone deal with a demigod? They're so alien that you can't even comprehend the price you'll pay."

— Grursh

A young elf dressed in golden robes grins sweetly, his honeyed words conjuring a magical spell that enslaves the royal guard to his will.
A wizened icivian exhales the patron's name into the flames burning in her palms, endowing her spell with increased power.
A tiefling with wild eyes is performing one of the arcane rituals necessary to open a portal to a distant place, his gaze shifting between a damaged tome and the unusual alignment of the stars in the sky.
Warlocks are explorers on a mission to unearth the secrets concealed inside the cosmos's fabric. Warlocks have access to a variety of magical abilities through the forging of pacts with demigods or lesser deities. They piece together esoteric truths in order to improve their own power, with the assistance of the Daemon who acts as a conduit between their client and the warlock.
To become a warlock, one must enter into a covenant with a divine being. At times, the relationship between a warlock and his or her patron is comparable to that between a cleric and a deity; nevertheless, warlock patrons are not always entirely divine, with the majority of warlocks getting patronage from a demigod. Warlocks can assume a variety of roles, including those of an Acolyte of Udros or an emissary for Nivian. In the majority of cases, the relationship between a patron and a warlock is akin to that between a teacher and a student. Warlocks are occasionally tasked with the onerous task of performing services for the benefit of their clientele.
The granting of darkvision or to comprehend any language is only one example of a subtle but enduring change in a warlock's skills. In comparison to bookish Wizard, warlocks have a limited ability to use their magic in combat. They may have significant training in the usage of lightweight armor and simple weaponry.
The unquenchable desire of warlocks for knowledge and power drives them to enter into pacts that ultimately alter the trajectory of their existence. Additionally, as students progress through their training, this impulse shapes their future vocations. Warlocks and demigods have a long history of association. The increasing understanding of warlocks is revealing the extent to which some of the lesser deities utilize warlocks to advance their agendas.
While wandering through the woods, a traveler may come across a demigod and enter into a secret bargain with them, entirely oblivious of the consequences. Occasionally, the mind of a brilliant but quirky student connects with a Daemon and introduces them to their patron, and occasionally, the great divine might of a demigod or lesser deity selects a champion who pledges to advance their cause on Valine.
Conventional study and research will be unable to quench a warlock's need for knowledge and power after a pact has been established. To obtain influence from their powerful patron, a warlock must establish a strategy for exercising it. Warlocks are more prone to engage in active endeavors that demand some type of travel to accomplish their objectives. Apart from that, warlocks are driven to seek out new adventures by the demands of their patron.

They call it eldritch magic, but what actually is it? Close enough to the arcane for me to recognize, but subtly different and certainly unnatural. Warlocks guard eldritch knowledge so closely that it is almost impossible to study.

— Gelez

While any relationship should be mutually beneficial, this is not always the case between warlocks and their patrons, as their interests are not always aligned. In certain instances, a warlock's patron may reciprocate with fondness, while in others, the two parties to the agreement may harbor quite divergent attitudes toward one another.
A pact might take the form of an informal agreement, a formal contract, or something in between. Concerning the specifics of what a warlock must do to win a patron's trust, the patron determines the conditions of the contract. Warlocks take these laws just as seriously as the rest of the terms and conditions of their pacts, even if they initially appear unusual or bizarre.
Patrons may like to designate the warlocks they control in some way in specific circumstances. Binding markings communicate to those who are aware of such things that the individual is dedicated to the patron's service. While some warlocks may choose to employ this, others may wish to conceal it in order to avoid any complications.
The lesser deities and demigods utilize Daemon to relay their instructions and lessons. Daemon are invisible to others and appear as miniature versions of the being they represent. They operate as a conduit for the divine being's power to enter via a warlock's thoughts and into his or her corporeal body, despite the fact that they are not physically present.

Career

Other Benefits

The benefits that a warlock reaps from making a pact with their patron depends on the type of pact made and the patron. Known patrons include:

• Bulir the Envious
• Dhoraxis
• Gides
• Guhvian
• Mottuna
• Nivian
• Qyrad
• Udros

The pacts that can be made with each of these patrons differ in their details, but have been broadly categorized into the following broad categories:

• Pact of the Chain - the warlock is granted the ability to summon a familiar more cunning and intelligent than a typical wizard's familiar
• Pact of the Blade - the warlock is granted the ability to summon a magical weapon (not necessarily a bladed weapon) and dismiss it at will
• Pact of the Tome - the warlock is granted a Grimoire, a special kind of Spellbook that grants additional powers
• Pact of the Talisman - the warlock is granted a magical amulet that aids them when the warlock is in great need

Warlock of Kaktar by Rob Taylor

Type

Arcane

You can't even plan for a warlock attack. You can't see their daemon, don't know who their pact is with, so don't know what spells to defend against. But they're limited, so just make sure you survive long enough to throw up the right defense.

— Grursh

How do you communicate with an ooze to make a pact? Even a semi-divine ooze?

— Madris Sin-Arnelis

When the warlock said she was an 'artisanal warrior', I thought she was going to carve wood, not me.

— Waltgaud Puddlefoot

A warlock that heals? More fun than a paladin to journey with... most of the time.

— Nirmel Chiv

Tiefling Warlock

Chains, amulets, books and daggers. Warlocks seem to have their power concentrated in objects. But even if you steal them, destroy them or otherwise dispose of them, they have a new one before you can take advantage. Best just to keep them on your side.

— Cas Mudmantle