Paragon Orders; Prestige Class Revision

What is a Paragon Order?

Paragon orders are something that exist outside of classes and subclasses. Essentially, they represent a skill set that could be gained by multiple classes, or one that could not be achieved by a class. Examples of this include:

• Blood Magic. Any skilled spellcaster can theoretically use blood magic to empower their spells. As such, a Blood Mage makes for an ideal paragon order.
• Vampire/Werewolf. Gaining the powers of a vampire or werewolf is not possible through regular classes. Additionally, simply becoming a vampire or werewolf does not mean that you can control their powers, so turning these into paragon order makes perfect sense, as you learn to control your powers as you level up.

Maleficars, Haemomancers, Blood Mages, whatever name you choose to give them, those who practice blood magic tap into a potent and unused source of power. When the gods first created mortals, they were overflowing with magical potential. That magic still exists, trapped within the blood that flows through one's veins. While some sorcerers and magi are able to tap into the magic of their bloodline, they merely scratch the surface of what is possible. When one is willing to open their own wounds, to let the crimson run, to let the power flow, only then can they truely unlock their full potential. Only then can they know true power.

To properly draw out and utalize the power of blood, one must use the correct tools. To use your Blood Mage abilities, you must have a sacrificial dagger, an ornate magical blade that allows you to harness the magic that flows in your blood. You gain a sacrificial dagger when you take a level in this class.

If you lose your dagger, you can make a new one by performing a 1-hour ritual, allowing you to turn any dagger into a sacrifcial dagger, including magic or enchanted daggers. Turning an enchanted blade into a Sacrificial Dagger does not destroy or distrupt the enchantment in any way.

You've begun to look into the possibility of using the blood of other creatures instead of you own. However, it is much more difficult to draw power from another living creature, and the blood of dead creatures loses its magic too quickly. But if you act quickly, you can drain what little lifeforce remains in the recently deceased.

As an action, you can drain the blood of a corpse of a creature that has blood and that died within the last 10 minutes, healing yourself. The amount of healing gained is based on the size of the creature. Once you have use this ability on a corpse, you cannot use it on the same corpse again.

You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (Minimum of once). You regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

You've learned to exert your will on the blood of living creatures, allowing you to control them like puppets. As an action, you can enter a state of extreme concentration that allows you to control the blood of others. For the next minute, or until your concentration breaks (As if concentrating on a spell), you can use your action to force a creature within 60 feet to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, you take control of the creature for that turn, and you decide its movement and actions. You can force the creature to make attacks, but you cannot force it to cast spells. You can use this ability to attempt to control a creature as a part of the same action as entering this state. Once a creature succeeds on this saving throw, you cannot use this ability on them again for 24 hours.

Once you use this ability, you must finish a long rest before you are able to do so again.

However, lycanthropy is in no way a blessing, quite the opposite in fact. Most lycantropes aren't in control of their powers. Instead, they are forced to transform during a full moon, losing control over their minds and bodies and going on a rampage, feasting on anyone and anything they can find. When morning comes, the lycans change back into to their regular selves, with no recollection of the carnage from the night before.

Some, however, have learned to tame the beast, to quell its hunger. The light of the full moon still forces them into their hybrid form, but when they transform, they have complete control over their actions. Whats more, those that have tamed their inner beast can call on it whenever they like, shifting into their beastial form at any time. Taming the inner beast is no simple matter, and attaining complete control can take years of training and meditation, but in time, it is possible to leash the wild animal.

You've begun to take control of your inner beast, allowing you to transform at will. As an action, you can shift into your hybrid form. The transformation lasts for 1 hour, until you drop to 0 hit points, or until you choose to end it (No action required). While transformed, you gain the following features:

• Your gain a bonus to your Strength score equal to your Proficiency modifier, up to a maximum of 20.
• Your AC is equal to 10 + Your Dexterity modifier + Your Constitution modifier, and you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage dealt by non-weapons that aren't silvered.
• Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage. The die for this attack increases to 2d6 at 11th level, and 3d6 at 17th level.
• Your base speed increases to 50 feet.
• You are vulnerable to any damage dealt by a silvered weapon while in your hybrid form.

However, you haven't gained complete control over your transformation yet. Whenever you take damage in your hybrid form, you must make a Wisdom saving throw, the DC of which is 10 or half the damage taken (Whichever is higher). On a failure, you lose control temporarily, forcing you to use your action on your next turn to attack the nearest creature to you. At 11th level, you have advantage on this saving throw. At 17th level, you have gained complete control over your inner beast, and no longer need to make this saving throw.

You can transform into your hybrid form a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier. You regain all uses of your transformation when you finish a long rest.

Your claws are sharp enough to cut through all defenses. Your claw attacks are considered magical for the sake of overcoming resistances and immunities.

You've constructed your Banner of Command, a symbol of your resolve and the mark of your status as a Valiant. You banner inspires those around it to keep going and fight harder.

You wield the banner in one hand. As a bonus action on your turn, you can plant the banner in the ground. You can pick it up as a bonus action if you are within 5 feet of it. While you are holding the banner or have it planted in the ground, you can choose one of the following effects at the start of your turn (No action required). Allies that start their turn within 20 feet of the banner gain the benefits of the effect you chose until the start of your next turn.

• Forward Charge!: Your banner inspires your allies to charge into the fray. Allies that start their turn within the banner's radius have all of their movement speeds increased by 10 feet. This bonus increases to 15 feet at 3rd level, and 20 feet at 5th level.

• Strike Them Down!: Your banner awakens the fighting spirit of your allies, giving them the strength to fight harder. Allies that start their turn within the banner's radius can add a d4 to their attack rolls. At 3rd level, this die increases to a d6, and at 5th level, the die increases to a d8.

• Stand Tall!: Your allies look to your banner for guidance, and the mere sight of it is enough to lift their spirits. Allies that start their turn within the banner's radius gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier plus your Proficiency modifier.

At 11th level, your Banner of Command's radius is increased to 30 feet. At 17th level, it is increased to 40 feet.

You can use your banner features a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier. You regain all expended uses at the end of a short or long rest.

Your banner is a symbol of hope to all, no matter who holds it. Allies can pick up your banner as a bonus action, and while they hold the banner, you can still use its effects and abilities as normal.

• Complete a Special Task. To become a spirit, you have to die. This means falling to 0 hit points and failing 3 death saving throws. Once you return as a spirit, you cannot be resurrected by spells such as raise dead.

You've learn to inhabit the bodies of the fallen, using their corpses as a shield. As a bonus action, you can force your spirit the corpse of a humanoid creature. When you do so, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your character level plus your Constitution or Charisma modifier (Whichever is higher).

You retain all of your features while inside of the corpse. Your Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma ability scores remain the same, as do your Strength and Dexterity scores, unless the corpse's Strength and Dexterity scores are higher than yours, in which case you replace you scores with theirs.

You can remain within the corpse for 10 minutes, or until you lose the temporary hit points granted by this feature.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

When you inhabit a creature's body, your souls fuse slightly, making it easier to hang on to a willing soul, and allowing you to violently tear at an unwilling one. When you are forced to exit a willing creature's body when using your Living Host feature due to the creature losing their temporary hit points, that creature can make a Constitution saving throw, the DC of which is the amount of damage they took plus five. On a success, that creature regains a number of temporary hit points equal to your Constitution or Charisma modifier (whichever is higher), and you are able to remain within their body.

When you are forced to leave the body of an unwilling host, that creature must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + Your Proficiency Bonus + Your Constitution or Charisma modifier, whichever is higher). They take 8d8 necrotic damage on a failure, or half as much on a success.

Your training as a Bastion allows you to interject yourself between your allies and enemies, redirecting their attacks. When a creature makes an attack against an ally within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction to redirect their attack towards you. If the creature has multiattack, all of the attacks they would have used against your ally are directed towards you.