Cycle Keeper
About this class
The Cycle Keeper walks the path between Life and Death, Light and Darkness, Hope and Fear. They tread this ground not because it is easy, but to maintain a balance in the cycle of life. For if the balance is upset, any number of things can go awry. Luckily, if such an event were to occur, the Cycle Keepers would be there to stop it before it is too late. Having a Cycle Keeper in your party can keep you grounded when things are going well, and can lighten the mood when things are not. You can always trust them to maintain a calm, even in the face of Fear itself.
Domains
Splendor
Starting stats
Hope feature
Class features
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Balance
Whenever you succeed with Fear, you may mark a Stress to gain a Hope. Whenever you fail with Hope, you can instead clear a Stress, or a Hit Point.
Class items
- A keepsake of someone you lost
- A recipe for a rare potion.
Character questions
Background prompts
- Whose death caused you to look into the magic of life, and death?
- You’ve come to the conclusion that death is just as important as life in order to understand the mysteries of the world. Is there a reason your answer lies in both, instead of one?
- You’re trying to find balance between the forces of life, and death. Are you more likely to spare someone when their time has come, or end someone before they’ve had time to blossom?
Connection prompts
- You’ve asked me to perform your rites should you die on the battlefield. Is there anything in particular you want me to say?
- What question do you not want to ask me because you’re afraid of the answer I would give?
- What is something you’ve wanted to do before you died that you think I would encourage you to do?
Subclass cards
Printable via header menu
Soul Usher
Foundation
SPELLCAST TRAIT: Instinct
Extract Aspect: When you are in contact with a dead body, make a Spellcast roll (15). On a success, you gain a +1 bonus to a Trait determined by the GM, based on the creature. You keep this bonus until you use this feature again, or you finish your next rest.
Soul Usher
Specialization
Fast Track: Whenever you make a successful attack roll, you may spend a Hope to reroll your damage dice. You may take either result.
Soul Usher
Mastery
Share the Aspect: Your Extract Aspect feature now gives you a +2 bonus to a Trait, and whenever you use your Extract Aspect feature, your whole party can gain the benefits of it.
Life Warden
Foundation
SPELLCAST TRAIT: Instinct
Life Warden
Specialization
Mover and Shaker: Whenever someone in Far range makes a Death Move, you may spend a Hope to assist them.
- If they Blaze of Glory, you may make a move that benefits from Blaze of Glory immediately after the initial player.
- If they Avoid Death, you may immediately clear 1d4 Hit Points from them.
- If they Risk It All, you may give the player an additional Hope die, and discard the lower result.
Life Warden
Mastery
Cycle Keeper
The Cycle Keeper walks the path between Life and Death, Light and Darkness, Hope and Fear. They tread this ground not because it is easy, but to maintain a balance in the cycle of life. For if the balance is upset, any number of things can go awry. Luckily, if such an event were to occur, the Cycle Keepers would be there to stop it before it is too late. Having a Cycle Keeper in your party can keep you grounded when things are going well, and can lighten the mood when things are not. You can always trust them to maintain a calm, even in the face of Fear itself.
Domains
Splendor + Dread
Starting Evasion
10
Starting Hit Points
6
Class Items
- • A keepsake of someone you lost
- • A recipe for a rare potion.
Cycle Keeper’s Hope Feature
Redirect Essence : Spend 3 Hope on a successful weapon attack to clear a number of Hit Points equal to the number of Hit Points the target marked on all allies within Far range.
Class Features
Balance
Whenever you succeed with Fear, you may mark a Stress to gain a Hope. Whenever you fail with Hope, you can instead clear a Stress, or a Hit Point.
Cycle Keeper Subclasses
Choose either the Soul Usher or Life Warden subclass.
Soul Usher
Play as the Soul User to take advantage of death, and to guide others to the afterlife quicker.
Spellcast Trait
Instinct
Foundation Features
- Death Call: Whenever you cause a creature to mark their last Hit Point, you may gain a Hope, clear a Stress, or clear a Hit Point.
Extract Aspect: When you are in contact with a dead body, make a Spellcast roll (15). On a success, you gain a +1 bonus to a Trait determined by the GM, based on the creature. You keep this bonus until you use this feature again, or you finish your next rest.
Specialization Feature
- Collector: If you use your Extract Aspect feature on a creature you used your Death Call feature on, the Spellcast roll is made at advantage.
Fast Track: Whenever you make a successful attack roll, you may spend a Hope to reroll your damage dice. You may take either result.
Mastery Feature
- Share the Call: Whenever you use your Death Call feature, all allies can gain the benefits of it.
Share the Aspect: Your Extract Aspect feature now gives you a +2 bonus to a Trait, and whenever you use your Extract Aspect feature, your whole party can gain the benefits of it.
Life Warden
Play as the Life Warden to use your life force to heal others.
Spellcast Trait
Instinct
Foundation Features
- Vital Redirect: Whenever you mark a Hit Point, you may spend a Hope in order to clear a Hit Point of another creature within Far range. If you mark more than 1 Hit Point, you may spend a number of Hope equal to the amount of Hit Points you marked to clear that many Hit Points.
Specialization Feature
- Vital Armor: Whenever you use your Armor to lower the Damage Threshold, you may still use your Vital Redirect feature for the initial amount taken.
Mover and Shaker: Whenever someone in Far range makes a Death Move, you may spend a Hope to assist them.
- If they Blaze of Glory, you may make a move that benefits from Blaze of Glory immediately after the initial player.
- If they Avoid Death, you may immediately clear 1d4 Hit Points from them.
- If they Risk It All, you may give the player an additional Hope die, and discard the lower result.
Mastery Feature
- Revitalization: Whenever you use your Vital Redirect feature, the creature you clear the Hit Points of can also gain a Hope, clear a Stress, or gain advantage on their next roll.
Background Questions
Answer any of the following, or create your own.
- • Whose death caused you to look into the magic of life, and death?
- • You’ve come to the conclusion that death is just as important as life in order to understand the mysteries of the world. Is there a reason your answer lies in both, instead of one?
- • You’re trying to find balance between the forces of life, and death. Are you more likely to spare someone when their time has come, or end someone before they’ve had time to blossom?
Connections
Ask one of the following, or improvise.
- • You’ve asked me to perform your rites should you die on the battlefield. Is there anything in particular you want me to say?
- • What question do you not want to ask me because you’re afraid of the answer I would give?
- • What is something you’ve wanted to do before you died that you think I would encourage you to do?
Discussion
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