Kryptikos

A knight approaches a building where couple of bandits have taken refuge. What would normally be a somewhat joyful occurence, this knight exudes a different prersonality. Their presence has always been mysterious to those who saw them and their true purpose here is still unknown. WLooking at the building, it almost seem as if the knight knew what was on the other side. Gently they pull out their tools to begin and pick the lock on the door, their gloves too big to handle any tool this effectively. Upon opening the door, the knights sword glows with black magic, deathly to the touch.

What follows is a battle of one unstoppable force, which some may call a death knight. Exchanging their own life force to inflict more damage, while at the same time regaining theirs upon slaying an enemy. A Kryptikos has arrived, and their workings are once again, secret.

Finishing the task, the knight leaves without word, seemingly seeking nothing more than what happened in that room. As they gracefuly leave, any onlookers show signs of partial amnesia, as to who that person was and what they were doing.

The knight, of course, returns back to their Order, in hiding. Each memeber is sworn to always hide their appearence, for the fear that being found out would mean the destruction of the Order, and at worst, the world.

Primeval Understandings

Kryptikos are old warriors, and their Heraldic Orders have gathered great understanding of the world that surrounds them. These understandings are understood by all Kryptikos, but different orders specialize in certain aspects of the world. Understandings are not magic in that sense, but the innate workings of the world.

Heraldic Order

Heraldic Orders have been formed in the past, to gather and protect the knowledge that could destroy the world if it fell into the wrong hands. These Orders act independently of each other, but might share their findings if need be.

It is common practice to be part of an actual knightly order, which may be a disguise to the actual Heraldic Order.

Creating a Kryptikos

To find become a Kryptikos, one must find a Heraldic Order, which is not an easy task by any means. Once you find one, you are examined for possible innate ability to shape the world. First major decision one makes is before training even beings. The training itself is lethal to some of the weaker participants and you are not told what you will do, until you agree.

After successfuly completing the trails, one must decide to either dedicate their lives to their Heraldic Order or leave. In either case, you are sworn to silence, with the punishment being death. By nature, most members are secretive, deceitful and untrusting. Kryptikos never stop training and improving themselves, which makes patience their greatest virtue, even to their detriment. Other virtues include: camaraderie, altruism and mindfulness. Their true purpose is unkown, even to some members of the orders.

Class Features

Fighting Style

At 2nd level, you adopt a Fighting Style that best reflects your training. You cannot select a Fighting Style more than once, even if a feature allows you to select another Fighting Style.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can switch your Fighting Style for another Fighting Style of your choice.

Heraldic Orders

At 3rd level you choose your Heraldic Order to dedicate your service to: Twilight Order, Equitan Order, Empyrean Order, Quietus Order, Sentinel Order, Primordial Order and Caerulean Order

Your Heraldic Order grants you features when you adopt it 3rd level, and again when you reach 7th, 11th, and 15th level.

Heraldry Shield

At 3rd level you get a Heraldry Shield that is associated with your Order. All Kryptikos recognize these shields and will interact with you as such.

You can use your action to call upon your this symbol. You can use this feature once, regaining all uses of this feature on a long rest. Your Heraldic Order will provide you with an alternative use of this feature. The effect lasts for one hour.

Ability score improvment

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Expedited Retention

Beginning at 5th level, you regain all of your expended uses of Innate Knowledge when you finish a short or long rest.

Master Shaper

At 6th level your grasp of your powers has deepened to the point where you can influence your own abilities at a whim. Your attacks and abilities count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Primeval Catalyst

At 9th level you gain the ability to influence the world in a faster manner. On a long rest you can change out all of your skill proficiencies you gained from this class.

Additionally, you regain all of your expended uses of Anima Core when you finish a short or long rest.

Exemplar of the Order

At 10th level you get two uses of the Heraldry Shield feature and the feature lasts for 8 hours instead.

Extant Striker

At 13th level your grasp of your powers has deepened to the point where you can influence your own martial abilities at a whim. Your attacks deal additional damage on hit equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Additionaly you have come to understand your body to such a point, where you can influence what happens to it. You can use your action to end one negative effect affecting you or remove a disease or one point of exhaustion. You can use this feature number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, regaining all uses on a long rest.

One of Many

At 14th level after choosing this archetype, you are immune to the charmed and frightened condition.

Additionally, at the start of your turn, one ally of your choice within 10 feet of you becomes immune to these conditions as well.

The First

At 17th level you stop aging, cannot be magically aged and you cannot die by natural means, unless you choose to.

Additionally, you gain +2 to your Wisdom score. Your new Wisdom Ability Score maximum becomes 22. You can change one of your ability scores to the same number as your Wisdom.

Primeval Apex

At 18th level you gain the ability to shift your Primeval Understandings with ease. At the end of a long rest you can change one of your Primeval Understandings into another one that you could choose at that level.

Worldculptor

At 20th level you become the pinnacle of your order, which allows you to change your reality as you see fit. Creatures automatically fail their Saving throws against your Anima Core feature.

Additionally, you can reroll the dice.

Twilight Order

Equitan Order

Some situations call for the ability to ride on horseback and strike quickly. For that purpose, one order has been created, the Equitan Order. The memebers of this order have become excellent riders, altho their steeds are not as they seem.

Empyrean Order

Usually orders do not align themselves with particular creatures, however the Empyrean Order has close ties to celestail creatures, such as angels, and learned to shape the world in their vision.

Quietus Order

The importance of the understanding of death cannot be understated. Quietus Order has been formed to protect this horrific knowledge, for its misuse could lead to catastrophic results.

Sentinel Order

Nature is unforgiving, but also beautiful and brimming with possibility. Founders of the Natural Order saw it as such, and they dedicated their lives to understanding the core principles behind the flora and fauna of the world.

Primordial Order

The basic elements of the world have existed before the orders did, which is precisely why their control is so important to the Primordial Order.

Caerulean Order

Halfcaster?

If you feel that making this subclass a half-caster makes it too powerful, you could make it similar to Eldritch Knight and give it the same spellcasting progression.

Spell List

Primeval Understandings

Harness Elementum

Your attacks deal additional 1d4 acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (your choice). When you gain a level in this class the damage dice increases to 1d6 at 6th level, 1d8 at 14th level.

You cannot have more than one Harness understanding learned at the same time.

Invoke Elementum

Prerequisite: 10th level, Enviroment Control feature

You can use your action to end the effect early. If you do so, each creature within a 60 foot cone of your choice must make a Dexterity Saving throw against your Ability Save DC as you unleash the elements on them. On a failure the creature takes 8d6 acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (your choice), taking half damage on a success.

At 17th level the cone becomes a 60 foot radius aura and you deal 12d6 damage isntead.

Harness Brutality

You score a critical hit on a roll of 19-20. This range increases at to 18-20 at level 14.

You cannot have more than one Harness understanding learned at the same time.

Invoke Brutality

Prerequisite: 10th level, Call Upon Nature feature

You can use your action to end the effect early. If you do so, you can change the flora around you in a 120 foot radius. Each creature of your choice that starts its turn in that aura must make a Strength Saving throw against your Ability Save DC or become grappled by vines. At the start of each of the grappled creatures turn it has to make the Saving throw again your it becomes restrained and takes 3d6 bludgeoning damage. A creature can use its action to remove the vines.

Harness Arcanum

Your attacks deal additional 1d4 force damage. When you gain a level in this class the damage dice increases to 1d6 at 6th level, 1d8 at 14th level.

You cannot have more than one Harness understanding learned at the same time.

Invoke Arcanum

Prerequisite: 10th level, Eldritch Awareness feature You can use your action to end the effect early. If you do so, select a number of creatures equal to your Wisdom modifier within 15 feet of you. You and all the selected creatures teleport to an unocupied space within 60 feet of you. All creatures teleport to their respective places if possible, if not they appear in a closest unoccupied space. If there are any enemy creatures within 5 feet of a teleproted ally they must make an Intelligence Saving throw agains your Ability Save DC or take 4d6 psychic damage.

Miscellaneous

Eternally Unseen

Prerequisite: Twilight Order subclass

When you fail a Dexterity (Stealth) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check you can choose to reroll the dice, but you have to use the new result. You can use this feature once, regaining all uses on a long rest.

Death From Above

Prerequisite: 12th level, Twilight Order subclass

You can choose to jump from height to attack your target. If you hit with the attack roll you calculate the amount of fall damage you would have taken, the target creatures takes that damage instead. You can use this feature once, regaining all uses on a long rest.

Treader

Prerequisite: Equitan Order subclass

When you hit a creature, that creature has disadvantage on opportunity attacks until the start of your next turn.

Trampler

Prerequisite: 12th, Equitan Order subclass

When you move in a straight line for at least 30 feet and attack a creature, you can make one additional attack as a bonus action.

Angel of Harm

Prerequisite: Empyrean Order subclass

You can cast the Bane spell once per long rest without using a spell slot.

Angel of Benefit

Prerequisite: Empyrean Order subclass

You can cast the Bless spell once per long rest without using a spell slot.

Angelic Ward

Prerequisite: 12th level, Empyrean Order subclass

You and a creature of your choice that you touch become linked as you become their guardian angel until you finish a long rest. You can only have one creature chosen per long rest. If the chosen creature were to drop to 0 hitpoints you can use your reaction and teleport to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of them and the bonded creature drops to 1 hit point instead.

Side of Death

Prerequisite: 5th level, Quietus Order subclass

You learn either the Inflict Wounds. You can cast this spell an amount equal to your Wisdom modifier, using Wisdom as your spellcasting ability. You regain all uses of this feature on a long rest. When you reach 8th level in this class you can cast the spell at 2nd level, and at 3rd level at 11th level.

Side of Life

Prerequisite: 5th level, Quietus Order subclass

You learn either the Cure Wounds spell or the Healing Word spell. You can cast this spell an amount equal to your Wisdom modifier, using Wisdom as your spellcasting ability. You regain all uses of this feature on a long rest. When you reach 8th level in this class you can cast the spell at 2nd level, and at 3rd level at 11th level.

Sanguine Blows

Prerequisite: 12th level, Quietus Order subclass

When you score a critical hit on an attack roll you regain hit points equal to your Kryptikos level.

Nature's Best

Prerequisite: Sentinel Order subclass

When you begin a long rest in the wilderness you gain the following benefits:

• You automatically forage enough food for enough people in your camp.
• Wildlife will attempt to stray away from your camp.
• If you were to get ambush you will be warned by a small critter nearby, making you immune to being surprised.
• If you do not move for at least 1 hour during your rest you become indistinguishable from a tree or plant of your choice.

Walker

Prerequisite: 12th level, Sentinel Order subclass

You can cast the Tree Stride spell once per long rest without using a spell slot.

Minor Bending

Prerequisite: Primordial Order subclass

When you select this Primeval Understanding, choose two cantrips to learn from the Kryptikos spell list that deal acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage (your choice).

Major Bending

Prerequisite: 12th level, Primordial Order subclass

When you select this Primeval Understanding, choose two spells from any spell list that have the word Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder or Water in the name, or any spell that incluences the ground, up to 4th spell level. You can cast each of these spells once per short rest.

Force Manipulator

Prerequisite: Caerulean Order subclass

You can change the damage type of a spell to force damage whenever you cast a spell. You can use this feature number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, regaining all uses on a long rest.

Mortals Bane

Prerequisite: 8th level, Caerulean Order subclass

Whenever you cast a spell you deal additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Spectral Sight

Prerequisite: 7th level

As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Empheral Being

Prerequisite: 11th level

You can use your action to change your very being. You gain the ability to move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. You takes 1d10 force damage if you ends your turn inside an object. This effect lasts for 10 minutes or until you end it (no action needed).

Eternal Watch

Prerequisite: 15th level

You gain truesight for up to 30 feet.

Anima Core

Harness Elementum and Your choice.

If you were to change your Primeval Understandings and choose the Harness Elementum, you could change it into the same one, except change the damage type associated.

Author Notes:

Magic Items

Given the fact that most classes that have some kind of spellcasting or abilites that require saving throws have some items that increase their DC, I would recommend making an item similar to the Paladin or Cleric one. Increasing the Ability Save DC and Spell Save DC is a pretty good upgrade for most subclasses.

Spell list and Elementbender

If your player would want a diffrent cantrip than one in the spell list and you feel like it would not break the game there should not be anything wrong with changing a few spells around.

Artist Credits:

• Cover- Jason Nguyen - Wind Knight

• Page 1 - luc de haan - the Bird

• Page 2 - Two B - knight

• Page 7 - Hui Zou - in the sand

• Page 8 - 0BO - white knight

• Page 9 - JasonTN - angel knight

• Page 10 - Chenglong Bao

• Page 11 - Sam Kanios - Brightspring Knight

• Page 12 - Jason Nguyen - Water Knight

• Page 13 - Ming Xiao

• Page 14 - Meva Eyuboglu - dark blue knight

Are Kryptikos Magical?

The intent of most of the features, excluding spellcasting, is to be non-magical. This includes the ability to cast spells through Primeval Understandings and other features that might appear magical or reference casting a spell. This means that features like Spell Resistance will not work for your abilities.

If you feel like this ability is too strong you are free to change anything and everything to be magic.

Heraldry

This document refers to the term Heraldry a lot. In this case, Heraldry means the shield that was often used to symbolize a noble family.

It is highly recommended that the player creates a heraldry shield for their character, as it is one of the most defining features of the Kryptikos, which they carry in secret.

Change Notes and Suggestions V2.0

Change Notes and Suggestions V3.0

Change Notes and Suggestions V4.0