Pact of the Old Wood
Lyra called upon the Old Wood, sapping away the latent magical energy from the lightning bolt that had narrowly missed her, scorching a nearby tree. The energy began to knit her wounds, as she growled through gritted teeth, “You’re going to pay for that.”
Lyra, Warlock of the Old Wood
Warlocks of the Old Wood have made a pact with the ancient intelligence of a primeval forest. The intelligence that imbues the antediluvian forest seeks emissaries in the world that can act beyond its boughs, and it has heard your call for power. You are a guardian of the Old Wood, a questing branch issuing from a vast, slumbering intelligence sent to act on its behalf, perhaps even to excise these lesser beings from its borders.
The pact signed by these warlocks imbues them with the primordial forces of nature itself. Like trees absorbing water through an intricate root system, they can siphon magic from spells cast in their proximity to heal themselves. They can also access spells that might otherwise only be available to more nature-oriented casters, such as druids or rangers. The Old Wood offers unique boons for those who choose to follow the Chain, the Blade, or the Tome. This ancient force even grants its most powerful patrons the ability to transform into an avatar of the forest itself.
Roleplaying Tips.
When playing a Warlock pledged to the Old Wood, you should consider exactly what your patron wants from you in exchange for the power they have granted you. It could be something small at first, such as putting a stop to a local logging company that has encroaching upon a sacred forest. But as your power grows, so too might the demands of the Old Wood. You may be needed to recover an ancient relic, cleanse a corrupted grove, or halt the spread of a rapidly expanding city. How your character’s familiarity with the ancient and primal force of the Old Wood manifests may vary, depending on your personality. It could be reflected in a deep, growing sense of wisdom, or instead, a long-festering desire for vengeance against those who have wronged you. The forest dweller is the most obvious background for an Old Wood warlock, but you could also consider the fey hostage or fey-touched backgrounds for a more mysterious or magical origin.
The Old Wood was created by our partners at Kobold Press, and it is one of the many subclasses available to subscribers, along with others like the Soulspy or the College of Entropy, as well as races such as the Shade or Spindrift Dwarf. Build your own Old Wood warlock and tell us about it in the comments below or on any of our social channels. Join us on on Discord, Reddit or Facebook to meet other members of the community and take your game to the next level, or follow us on Twitter @shardtabletop for regular updates.
