D&D 5E EN5ider #338 - Intriguing Organizations: Readers of War

Mike Myler · Jun 22, 2020

No expense was spared with today's issue of EN5ider and it's got it all! Sect of warrior-scholars—check. Warlocks devoted to a book—doublecheck. Badass teacher NPC—triplecheck! A book you can use to beat people to death—do you even need to ask?

13 Free Articles including 5 adventures, memorable magic items, elemental cleric domains, Syndrathrax the soul-sucking dragon, and 2 complete character classes: the smart-fighting savant and the element manipulating geomancer!
⚔ Join EN5ider for Immediate Archival Access: Pay $1 per new article we publish (5 per month—so $5 a month) to become a member and get instant access to the library of 330+ articles at no extra charge!

Lately on EN5ider:

338. Intriguing Organizations: Readers of War. Fantasy gaming oft emphasizes the magical side of scholastic pursuits, but in the real world one of the traditionally most studied aspects of history is the making of war. With that in mind we present to you the Readers of War, a sect of warriors that fastidiously study combat in all its forms with the most devoted accepting the First Codex of War as their very patron. The rank-and-file are combatants through and through however, traveling the land to teach martial history and arts to those worthy of wielding a blade. In addition to all the information you'd expect from an Intriguing Organizations article, this supplement also includes a Proctor of War (CR 8), a new warlock patron (First Codex), the eponymously named battle book weapon, and three eldritch invocations specifically for First Codex warlocks. Devotedly designed by Peter Martin featuring illustration by Phil Stone.
337. ZEITGEIST #11: Gorged on Ruins - Part 1. Undoing the Obscurati's ritual is a tall order but there are three terrible dangers threatening the world that the adventurers might turn to the vital task: beneath the Beran city of Ursaliña is a Gidim leviathan colonizing the world, comets have striking in Drakr's frozen north herald the return of mythic warlords seeking a final battle, and the gods themselves are being put on trial by the people of Crisillyir! Can the adventurers navigate these epic challenges while learning the ritual themselves so that it can be undone? This 27 page supplement includes the empowered ghost councilor Shuman Larkins (CR 16), great eclipse killer (CR 13), Glaucia Evora (CR 14), and a devious memory trap.
336. Villain Spotlight: Vengar the Reader. Goblins are known for many things—reading is not typically on that list, but it's not like Vengar is a typical goblin. Once a trapfinder for the Chokeleaf tribe, this errant necromancer went entirely off the deep end after selfishly stealing an ancient tome to fulfill his ambitions of power. The cursed book has sucked away his vitality and now Vengar travels from tribe to tribe posing as a shaman, utilizing everything he can to acquire more magics able to extend his piteous life before the dark entities he's pledges his soul to come calling for his debt. In addition to his statistics (CR 5), Vengar has access to a variety of enhanced undead that explode, ignite, poison, become conduits of deathly energies, and even hide other monsters inside their bodies. Designed by Charlie Brooks, illustrated by Renan Moraes.
335. Enchanted Trinkets: Arcane Atlases. Sometimes knowing where you're going just doesn't cut it because after all, journeys are often only half of a quest. That's where these wondrous maps make their mark. The atlas of the lost keeps track of the things you've erroneously discarded along the way, a social map is certain to show its value after carousing starts and you forget where the next tavern is located, and surely being able to quickly find a healer thanks to a caduceus chart is a boon—one that might well mean the difference between life and death! Find these among the 10 unique enchanted trinkets on offer here, and get yourself a few maps worth keeping in your pack. Designed by Andrew Engelbrite and illustrated by Rachel Maduro.
334. Multiclass Feats. Sometimes you want to play an adventurer that's more than a stalwart warrior, deft vagabond, or potent spellcaster. It can be good fun to explore concepts that mean a few levels in one class and then a few more in another. The Fifth Edition rules are unfortunately not quite up to the task when it comes to keeping such a character as viable as their purely fighter, wizard, or cleric counterparts—until now. With these 12 feats in hand (all of which are only available starting at 7th level) a variety of combinations become far more worthwhile to pursue throughout a campaign, whether you're a doubly-obliged paladin and warlock, a ranger with a touch of bard, a studious wizardly monk, or one of many other amalgamations! Designed by Peter Martin, illustrated by Xanditz.