Sage
An escaping mercenary taking cover behind a toppled wagon holds his crossbow steady waiting for his pursuer to come around the corner. To their surprise a crystalline device appears and lets loose a blast of aether, subduing them. A young sage smiles as she knows this was another successful mission.
A young man in crisp white robes watches as his allies brawl on the front line. Whenever danger looms over his friends, with a snap of his fingers a barrier appears, protecting them from harm.
Carefully, an experienced mage begins to weave their spell, but the aether of their work suddenly travels to a nearby shard of crystal, a lightning bolt loosing itself from an unexpected place.
Sages are highly skilled mages who fuse magic and technology to bring forth a unique form of spell casting. Through use of their Nouliths, they push the boundaries of what is possible.
Aetherology Experts
Hailing from scholarly lands of Sharlayan, Sages are scholars who have spent much of their lives in the world of academia, researching aether in all its forms. Through the combination of ancient spell focuses and special technology, they skillfully find new ways to magically maintain control on the battle field.
Shards of Power
The Noulith is a handcrafted combination of crystal and machinery, fueled by the aether of the user's body. A Sage shares the magic that fills their body with these wing like blades of crystal to allow them to fly around, launch bolts of aether, cast spells and a variety of other effects.
Creating a Sage
Most sages find their beginning in academia, be it an official education, mentorship or independent research. When creating a sage one might consider how they gained entry into the world of education? Was your character incredibly bright and earned a scholarship via their raw talents? Perhaps they come from a well off noble family and their path was laid out before them by their parents. No matter their reasons for entering the academic world, you'll need to decide what drives their ambition to further their education and push the limits of spell casting and aetherology. They may do this out of a sense of pride and self interest, or for goals as lofty as bettering the world for everyone that lives in it.
Beyond how they entered the world of academics, you'll also need to decide why they would risk their lives and perhaps even expulsion from the world of education. Reasons ranging from the realization that not all lessons can come from books and testing, trialling their hard work, or going on an adventure to improve their own standing in life. Sages are likely to have pragmatic reasons for hitting the road, but each person will have their own true purpose for adventuring.
Sage
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Nouliths, Aether Shot, Spellcasting | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Sagely Specialization | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | ─ | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Specialization Feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | ─ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Specialization Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | Specialization Feature | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | +6 | ─ | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Wings of Aether | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | Noulithic God | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Quick Build
You can make a Sage quickly by following these suggestions. First make Intelligence your highest ability score, following with Constitution. Second take the sage background. Third, take the Mage Hand, Mending and Prestidigitation cantrips and the first level spells Healing Word, Mage Armor and Magic Missile.
Class Features
As a Sage, you gain the following class features
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d6 per Sage level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per Sage level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: no armour
- Weapons: daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
- Tools: tools
- Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom
- Skills: Choose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, and Religion
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a Quarterstaff or (b) a Dagger
- (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (a) a simple weapon
- (a) a Component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
- (a) a Scholar's Pack or (b) an Explorer's Pack
- A Noulith
Spellcasting
As an aspiring mage, you can cast sage spells, See the spell list included at the end of this document for the sage spell list.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the sage spell list. You learn additional sage cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Sage table.
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Sage table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expand a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
You prepare the list of sage spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the sage spell list. When you do so, choose a number of sage spells equal to your Intelligence modifier + your Sage level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
For example, if you are a 3rd-level sage, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With an Intelligence of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare teh 1st-level spell cure wounds you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of sage spells requires time spent in study and review: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your sage spells. The power of your spells comes from your thorough research and preparation into aetherology. You use your Intelligence whenever a sage spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a sage spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Ritual Casting
You can cast a sage spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use your Nouliths as a spell casting focus for your sage spells.
Nouliths
Beginning at 1st level, you have achieved mastery over operating your first Noulith. These devices which combine magic and technology feed off the aether of your body to act and can be used to create a variety of different effects. At 5th level, you learn to operate a second Noulith simultaneously. At 10th level, you gain the ability to control a third Noulith, a fourth at the 15th level and a fifth at 20th level. When additional Nouliths become available to you, you are able to build them at no cost.
Nouliths have are tiny constructs with an AC of 15, Hit Points equal to 15 + 5 time your Sage level, and a flying speed of 30ft. Creatures may exist in the same space as your nouliths, and are not blocked by them. Your nouliths must remain within a 60ft. radius of you, losing their aetheric link with you if they travel any further away. If this occurs, they become inoperable and fall to the ground. As an action, you may reactivate them by touching them and re-establishing their aetheric link with your body. Your nouliths automatically fail strength and dexterity saving throws, but automatically succeed on all other types of saving throws.
If a Noulith is reduced to 0 hit points, it becomes in operable and falls to the ground. It may be repaired during a long rest at the cost of 10 gold in materials. You are able to restore your Nouliths hit points at no cost during a long rest as long as it is still operable. If they are totally destroyed, you must spend 100 gold and one day of time to rebuild.
As a bonus action you may maneuver your Nouliths, moving them a distance up to their flying speed.
Aether Shot
Also beginning at 1st level, you have learned how to use the aether fueling your Nouliths offensively. As an action, you order your Noulith to make a ranged spell attack, using your ranged spell attack bonus, on a creature within 30ft. of them. On hit, the Aether Shot deals 1d8 force damage.
If you are operating more than one Noulith, each Noulith may make a ranged spell attack. Each Noulith may target a different creature. If a Noulith is equipped to someone they may still be used with Aether Shot.
Sagely Specialization
At 2nd level, you choose your focus as a sage, pushing the limits of your Nouliths in new and exciting directions. As a Savant, you choose to continue to augment your Nouliths for combat. As an Erudite, you have chosen to develop the defensive capabilities of the Nouliths, and as a Philosopher, you've focused on integrating your own spell casting with your Nouliths.
Ability Score Improvement
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.
Wings of Aether
Beginning at the 18th level, if a Noulith is not deployed, it is considered equipped to you, granting you a flying speed. For each Noulith equipped to you, you gain a flying speed of 10ft.
Noulithic God
Starting at 20th level, you have mastered combat with Nouliths. As a bonus action you refresh your Overcharge feature. You can do this once. You must complete a long rest before you can use Noulithic God again.
Innovation and Tradition
Sages look to take the tradition of spellcasting and mix it with advancements in technology and the study of aether to push their craft to new heights. The creation of the Nouliths are a major game changer for these purposes, and various sages take advantage of them in new and exciting ways. Savants focus on the offensive capabilities of the Nouliths, advancing the field of aether based weaponry. Erudites opt for a more protective role, providing barriers and defenses for their allies, taking control of dangerous situations. Finally Philosophers seek to hold onto their approach of traditional spell casting and use Nouliths as a way to augment their art, rather than the reverse.
Savant
The best defense is a good offense is the tactical approach of savants. Making use of their Nouliths, the savant provides remote controlled artillery support for their allies, able to safely blast foes with aether from afar. Be it raining aether from above in a magical hell fire, or precisely chasing down targets that are taking cover, once a Savant sets their eyes on a target there is little to be done to escape their magical wrath.
Prismatic Destruction
Beginning at the 2nd level, you have developed a new offensive technique with your Noulith. As an action you may order each Noulith to release a 15ft. cone of raw magical energy. All creatures in the affected area make a Dexterity save against your spell save DC, taking 2d8 force damage on a failure and half as much on a success. Each cone is calculated separately.
You may do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You must complete a long rest before you can use Prismatic Destruction again.
Aetheric Intensity
Beginning at the 6th level, when you use the Aether Shot feature, you add your Intelligence modifier to damage rolls.
Sundering Shots
Beginning at the 10th, your Aether Shots destabilize target's defenses. When you hit a creature with Aether Shot, your next Aether shot scores a crit on a 19 or 20, each subsequent hit lowering the critical hit threshold, until the end of your turn. This critical hit range change reverts if you land a critical hit.
Overcharge: Indignation
Beginning at the 14th level, as a bonus action you may use the Aether Shot. You may only use Aether Shot once in this way. You must complete a long rest before you can use Overcharge: Indignation again.
Erudite
Erudites have focused on how to defend their homes and allies via aetheric barriers and healing to provide much needed solace during the heat of battle.
Erudite
They approach battle as a game of chess, minimizing loss and damage so that their allies can work as efficiently. Having an Erudite at your back is to know true safety in the face of danger.
Guardian Shard
Beginning at the 2nd level, as a bonus action you can order any number of your Nouliths to guard an allies within its flight range. As a bonus action you may remove any number of Nouliths from allies.
While equipped to an ally, you may cast touch spells through the Noulith, as though you were standing beside the creature.
Additionally, as a reaction to the equipped creature being targeted by an attack, you may use your reaction to create a temporary barrier, increasing the creature's AC by a number equal to your Intelligence modifier. You may do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You must complete a long rest before you can use Guardian Shard again.
Aether Wall
Beginning at the 6th level, as an action, you can link two Nouliths within a 10ft. radius of each other. This link creates a wall of force between them that is 10ft. wide and 10ft. tall. A creature that attempts to push through the wall must make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by your spell save DC. This wall is translucent allowing creatures to see through it without difficulty. The aether wall provides three-quarters cover when calculating ranged attacks and spells that pass through the wall.
It is possible to link multiple nouliths together to enclose a creature. When you use your action to create a wall between two nouliths, if there is a third noulith within a 10ft. radius circle of either end of the wall, you may connect them in the same way. The additional wall may not pass through the creature. A creature who is enclosed within an Aether Wall has disadvantage on their Strength (Athletics) check to push through the barrier.
These walls are strong enough to support the weight of someone standing on them, and may provide footholds made of aether when aligned horizontally.
As a bonus action, you may disassemble any number of Aether Walls created by you.
Aetheric Armour
Beginning at the 10th level, when you protect a creature with your Guardian Shard feature, they gain temporary hit points equal to your Intelligence modifier.
Overcharge: Impenetrable
Beginning at the 14th level, as an action, you can amplify your protective ward for a creature equipped with a Noulith within 30ft. of you. You supercharge the Noulith, coating the creature in an aetheric shell. For a number of rounds equal to your Intelligence modifier, the creature gains a damage threshold equal to 5 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. When the creature is damaged, if the damage does not meet or exceed the damage threshold they do not take any damage from the attack.
You can hyper focus a creature's armour once. You must complete a long rest before you can use Impenetrable again.
Philosopher
While others focus on their new developments and their various applications, the Philosopher sees nouliths for what they are, tools to assist spell casting. As this is the case to them, philosophers prefer to stick to traditional methods of spell casting to do much of their heavy lifting, making use of nouliths to draw aether from their foes and fueling their own spell casting with it. Their focus on spell casting has provided them with the ability to manipulate their spells, setting them heads and shoulders above their fellow sages in this field.
Aetheric Siphon
Beginning at the 2nd level, when you use the Aether Shot feature and hit a target creature, your Noulith draws aether from the target for your use as a Noulith charge. These charges remain available to you for 1 hour, dissipating after 1 hour.
As a bonus action, you can transform Noulith charges into one spell slot as a Bonus Action on Your Turn. The created Spell Slots Vanish at the end of a Long Rest. The Creating Spell Slots table shows the cost of Creating a Spell slot of a given level. You can create Spell Slots no higher in level than 3rd.
Any spell slot you create with this feature vanishes when you finish a Long Rest. You are able to create a number of spells whose cumulative spell level is equal to your Sage level). You must complete a Long Rest before you can create spell slots again.
Creating Spell Slots
| Spell Slot Level | Noulith Charges Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 5 | 11 |
Aetheric Adaptation
Beginning at the 6th level, you've learned to modify your spells using the aether you gather from your Nouliths.
You gain two of the following Aetheric Adaptation Options of your choice. You gain another one at 10th and 14th level.
You can use only one Aetheric Adaptation option on a spell when you cast it, unless otherwise noted.
You can only use a number of Aetheric Adaptations equal to your proficiency modifier. You must complete a short rest before you can use Aetheric Adaptation again.
Careful Spell
When you Cast a Spell that forces other creatures to make a saving throw, you can protect some of those creatures from the spell’s full force. To do so, you spend 1 Noulith charge and choose a number of those creatures up to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of one creature). A chosen creature automatically succeeds on its saving throw against the spell.
Empowered Spell
When you roll damage for a spell, you can spend 1 Noulith charge to reroll a number of the damage dice up to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of one). You must use the new rolls.
You can use Empowered Spell even if you have already used a different Aetheric Adaptation option during the casting of the spell.
Extended Spell
When you Cast a Spell that has a Duration of 1 minute or longer, you can spend 1 Noulith charge to double its Duration, to a maximum Duration of 24 hours.
Heightened Spell
When you Cast a Spell that forces a creature to make a saving throw to resist its Effects, you can spend 3 Noulith charges to give one target of the spell disadvantage on its first saving throw made against the spell.
Noulithic Casting
When you Cast a Spell, you spend 1 Noulith charge to cast the spell as though you were standing at the location of one of your Nouliths.
Quickened Spell
When you Cast a Spell that has a Casting Time of 1 action, you can spend 2 Noulith charges to change the Casting Time to 1 Bonus Action for this casting.
Subtle Spell
When you Cast a Spell, you can spend 1 Noulith charge to cast it without any somatic or verbal Components.
Twinned Spell
When you Cast a Spell that Targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of Noulith charges equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 Noulith charge if the spell is a cantrip).
To be eligible, a spell must be incapable of targeting more than one creature at the spell’s current level. For example, Magic Missile and Scorching Ray aren’t eligible, but Ray of Frost is.
Efficient Absorption
Beginning at the 10th level, you siphon aether far more efficiently. You gain 2 Noulith charges when you use the Aether Shot feature.
Overcharge: Aetherial Drain
Beginning at the 14th level, as a bonus action, you forcefully draw Noulith charges from the aether of the world itself. You gain 3 Noulith charges for each active Noulith you control.
You may only do this once. You must complete a long rest before you can use Overcharge: Aetherial Drain again.
Sage Spells
Cantrips (0 Level)
- Blade Ward
- Dancing Lights
- Light
- Lightning Lure
- Mage Hand
- Magic Stone
- Mending
- Message
- Mind Sliver
- Minor Illusion
- Prestidigitation
- Resistance
- Spare the Dying
- Thunderclap
- True Strike
- Word of Radiance
1st Level
- Absorb Elements
- Alarm
- Bane
- Catapult
- Chromatic Orb
- Color Spray
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison and Disease
- Expeditious Retreat
- Faerie Fire
- Feather Fall
- Find Familiar
- Healing Word
- Heroism
- Identify
- Illusory Script
- Jump
- Longstrider
- Mage Armor
- Magic Missile
- Sanctuary
- Shield
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Tenser's Floating Disk
- Unseen Servant
- Witch Bolt
2nd Level
- Aid
- Arcane Lock
- Blur
- Crown of Madness
- Darkvision
- Detect Thoughts
- Enhance Ability
- Enlarge/Reduce
- Find Traps
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Knock
- Lesser Restoration
- Levitate
- Locate Object
- Mind Spike
- Mirror Image
- Misty Step
- Pass without Trace
- Protection from Poison
- See Invisibility
- Shatter
- Silence
- Skywrite
- Zone of Truth
3rd Level
- Blink
- Counterspell
- Create Food and Water
- Daylight
- Dispel Magic
- Fly
- Haste
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Intellect Fortress
- Life Transference
- Lightning Bolt
- Magic Circle
- Major Image
- Mass Healing Word
- Nondetection
- Protection from Energy
- Remove Curse
- Revivify
- Sending
- Slow
- Tongues
4th Level
- Arcane Eye
- Banishment
- Compulsion
- Confusion
- Dimension Door
- Fabricate
- Freedom of Movement
- Greater Invisibility
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Locate Creature
- Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
- Phantasmal Killer
- Sickening Radiance
- Summon Construct
5th Level
- Antilife Shell
- Awaken
- Bigby's Hand
- Circle of Power
- Contact Other Plane
- Creation
- Dream
- Far Step
- Greater Restoration
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Mislead
- Passwall
- Raise Dead
- Rary's Telepathic Bond
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Skill Empowerment
- Telekinesis
- Teleportation Circle
- Wall of Force
6th Level
- Arcane Gate
- Chain Lightning
- Disintegrate
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Flesh to Stone
- Globe of Invulnerbility
- Guards and Wards
- Heal
- Heroes' Feast
- Mental Prison
- Programmed Illusion
- Scatter
- Sunbeam
- True Seeing
- Word of Recall
7th Level
- Etherealness
- Forcecage
- Mirage Arcane
- Mordenkainen's Sword
- Plane Shift
- Prismatic Spray
- Project Image
- Regenerate
- Resurrection
- Reverse Gravity
- Sequester
- Simulacrum
- Symbol
- Teleport
8th Level
- Antimagic Field
- Antipathy/Sympathy
- Clone
- Feeblemind
- Glibness
- Illusory Dragon
- Mind Blank
- Sunburst
- Telepathy
9th Level
- Astral Projection
- Gate
- Invulnerbility
- Mass Heal
- Power Word Heal
- Prismatic Wall
- Time Stop
- True Resurrection