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Pact of the Talisman
You can perform a ritual over the course of an hour to create a magical talisman symbolic of your patron. You can summon this talisman back to your hand as a bonus action if it is on the same plane of existence. While on the same plane, you always know the distance and direction between you and your talisman.
Acting as a conduit for your eldritch power, you can cast any of your known warlock spells through your talisman. Your talisman serves as an arcane focus, and when you cast a spell through it, the spell's range is determined from its location instead of your own. You can target the spell's effects as normal if the target is within your line of sight. Otherwise, any spell cast through your talisman without any targets within your line of sight will be unguided, and will instead be cast at a valid target or area nearest to the talisman following the spell's behaviour, or at the DM's discretion. If an unguided spell has no valid targets, the spell is wasted.
Your talisman can be subjected to a direct attack if it isn't being worn or carried. It has an AC of 10, 10 hit points, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. Your talisman is also immune to all damage from spells you cast through it.
Important Note
This homebrew Pact of the Talisman was written before the release of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and is distinct from the mechanics of the version published by Wizards of the Coast contained within the book.
Eldritch Invocations
The following invocations have been added as additions for the Pact of the Talisman feature.
Dark Seal
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature, 5th level
You can cast the glyph of warding spell at your warlock spell slot level on your talisman without expending a spell slot, however the casting time is reduced to 1 minute. The spell will end if it is triggered, if you move your talisman or if it is used to cast another spell before it is triggered. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Eldritch Beacon
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature
You are always aware of the nature of creatures within 10 feet of your talisman as if it were under the effect of the detect evil and good spell. In addition, any creature carrying your talisman is always visible to you if they are within your line of sight, regardless of invisibility, darkness or fog.
Eye of Yog-Sothoth
Prerequisites: The Great Old One patron, Pact of the Talisman feature, 5th level
As an action, you can project your senses through your talisman, allowing you to perceive creatures and objects from its location until the end of your next turn, as long as it is on the same plane of existence.
Flesh Puppet
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature, 5th level
You can place your talisman on the remains of a medium or smaller humanoid as an action, and cause it to rise again as if under the effect of the animate dead spell. If the talisman is separated from the undead creature's possession or is used to cast another spell, the effect will end and the creature will immediately drop dead. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Reality Tear
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature
You can teleport your talisman to a location you can see within 120 feet of you as an action. If you teleport your talisman into the inventory of an unwilling creature, it must succeed a Wisdom (Perception) check contested by your Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check to notice. If the creature succeeds it can avoid this teleportation, causing your talisman to drop to the ground in its space. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Shadow Aegis
Prerequisite: Pact of the Talisman feature
You can use your reaction to cast shield on a creature you can see that is holding your talisman without expending a spell slot. Once you use this feature you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Your Pact Boon
Your talisman may take many different forms depending on your chosen patron; here are some inspirations for your talisman's appearance:
The Archfey. Your talisman may appear as an inscribed stone, a petrified leaf, or a ring with the insignia of your patron's court.
The Fiend. A talisman from a Fiend may be an unholy symbol, a large fang or blood painted stone.
The Great Old One. Your talisman could take many different forms: perhaps a scrap of paper torn from a tome of secrets; a twitching eyeball pendant; or a small flickering lantern.
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Shroud of the Deceiver
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature, 9th level
You can cast arcanist's magic aura from your talisman at will, without expending a spell slot or material components. This will both conceal the talisman's magical aura and affect any creature or object that is wearing or touching it.
Spoils of the Void
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature
You can transform one wondrous magic item that you can carry into your talisman by performing a special ritual while you hold the item. You perform the ritual over the course of 1 hour, which can be done during a short rest. You can't affect an artifact or a sentient item in this way. The item ceases being your talisman if you die, if you perform the 1-hour ritual on a different wondrous magic item, or if you use a 1-hour ritual to break your bond to it.
Trickster's Step
Prerequisites: Pact of the Talisman feature, 5th level
You can use your bonus action to swap places with your talisman, as long as it is within 60 feet of you. Alternatively, you can use this feature to swap places with a willing creature holding your talisman within this range. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Unholy Brand
Prerequisites: The Fiend Patron, Pact of the Talisman feature
You can use your action to brand the creature holding your talisman with an unholy symbol. This dark mark is visible only to you and the affected creature, and remains even if the creature is no longer holding your talisman. Within the next 7 days, you can cast a single spell that targets or is centered on the branded creature, as long as they are on the same plane of existence, after which the effect ends and the mark fades. This effect will also end if you brand another creature, or if the remove curse spell is cast on the creature.
Whispered Temptations
Prerequisites: The Archfey patron, Pact of the Talisman feature
If a creature carrying your talisman is charmed by a spell you have cast, the creature must make a Wisdom saving throw against your warlock spell save DC once the spell ends. On a failed save, the creature fails to recognise you or your talisman as the source of the spell if the creature would have reason to be suspcious.
Credits
- Written by /u/PeanutJayGee
Art
Cliffside Ritual
