The Wolf Sworn is a secretive and loyal group of men and women who are bound by a blood oath or family lineage to serve the interests of the blackclads, a powerful and ruthless group of individuals who control the shadowy corners of the world.
The Wolf Sworn operate in secret, using their skills to carry out the blackclads’ bidding and to maintain their grip on their territories. They are feared and respected by those who know of their existence, and their loyalty to the blackclads is considered unbreakable.
Feature: Protect the Sacred Sites
One of the common responsibilities of the Wolf Sworn is to protect the sacred sites of the blackclads dotted across the world, especially if the blackclads anticipate an attack. The activity consists of spending time patrolling the groves, keeping watch for any signs of danger. This can involve standing guard, scouting the surrounding area, and even engaging in combat with any threats that may arise.
For each day spent protecting the sacred sites, characters in the company gain spellcasting support in the form of a single spell (blackclad spell list) cast at a spell level equal to the number of days spent protecting the grove.
Company Accomplishments
Your company’s prestige increases whenever you prove your worth in battle through acts such as the following:
- Recruiting a new member to your pack of Wolf Sworn
- Preventing harm from coming to one of the sacred sites of the Apostate
- Defeating the enemies of the Apoastate in battle
- Saving the life of a blackclad
- Returning control of a lost sacred site to the Apostate
Prerequisites
Any human character willing to serve the blackclads without question can be a member of the adventuring company.
Tier 1 : Hunting Pack
At this tier, the characters are servants of a lower-ranking blackclad, like a potent of the Apostate. Your pack of Wolf Sworn might have just been mustered, or you might be survivors of previous packs reformed into a new hunting pack, but at this tier, your group has much to do if it wants to prove its worth.
Benefits
Hunter’s Training. Each member of the company gains proficiency in their choice of Athletics, Perception, or Survival.
Tools of the Trade. Each member of the company gets their choice of Hunters’ Armor or another suit of medium armor, as well as their choice of a cleft spear, cleft sword, or dual crossbow.
Tier 2 : Pack Warriors
At this tier, the characters have proven their worth to the blackclads and have gained a reputation for their unwavering loyalty and skill in combat. They are often called upon to undertake more challenging missions and act as enforcers for the blackclads, maintaining their influence in the world.
Benefits
Pack Tactics. Your group has honed its ability to work together in battle. As a result, when a member of the company makes an attack roll against a creature and has at least one other member of the company within 5 feet of it, the attacker gains advantage on the roll.
Secret Communication. The Wolf Sworn have developed a secret language of gestures and code words that allow them to communicate silently and discreetly among themselves. All members of the company gain proficiency in this language, enabling them to pass messages and to coordinate their actions without being detected.
Tier 3 : Shadowhunters
At this tier, the characters have become elite operatives, trusted to execute the most critical and sensitive missions for the blackclads. Their growing influence and prestige within the Apostate have earned them powerful allies and access to unique resources.
Benefits
Mascot. Members of the company gain the loyalty of a war wolf, a fearless stocky mountain breed that brings speed, exceptional senses and raw killing power as its natural assets. The war wolf uses the stats of a dire wolf and accompanies the company on its ventures. The war wolf acts on its own initiative in combat. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes is the Dodge action unless a member of the company takes a bonus action on their turn to
command it to take another action. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action.
If the war wolf dies, the company gains another one within 24 hours, provided it remains at this tier.
Shadowstep. Members of the company have mastered the art of moving silently and stealthily through the shadows. They gain proficiency in the Stealth skill if they do not already have it, and their proficiency bonus for Stealth checks is doubled.
Tier 4 : The Wild Hunt
At this tier, the characters have become legends among the blackclads and their enemies. Their prowess in battle and unbreakable loyalty have earned them a place in the inner circle of the Apostate, and they are now entrusted with the most vital and dangerous missions.
Benefits
Blackclad Support. The blackclads recognize the value of the Wolf Sworn and provide them with magical support in times of need. Once per day, each member of the company can request a spellcasting service from a blackclad, up to a spell level equal to their Proficiency Bonus.
Duskwolf Companions. The company gains the loyalty of a pack of powerful duskwolves that have been specially trained by the blackclads. Each member of the company can bond with one duskwolf, which acts as a loyal companion and mount and follows their commands in and out of battle.