As empires spread across the world, old civilizations crumbled to dust as the pages of history were turned. Such is the tide of time. At the forefront of these disintegrating foundations are the apocalypto, harbingers of destruction and desolation. A single glimpse of their defining steeds is but a sure sign your kingdom and land shall soon be in ruins. Weep as pestilence renders the homes empty and deathbeds full. Wail as famine overtakes the fields with poor harvest and bodies wither in strength. Scream and cower in fear from the raging war which tears nation by nation, husband from wife and father from son, spilling blood and gore indiscriminately on the battlefields. Stare in awe as death sweeps the remainder, taking those weary and weakened from the devastation and laying them to their final rest.
However, once the desolation has been had, the apocalypto may ride across the lands, defending villages and townships... or laying waste to them as well. This way, they build their reputations as just bringers of destruction. To be unknown as an apocalypto is to have failed one's duty due to the particular nature of the job.
When making an apocalypto, you must think to yourself, why am I here? Are there many civilizations that dot the world? Are they unjust to me and so in need of razing? Is your will divine, infernal, or perhaps more personal? Is the world in ruins after an age of war and destruction? What has caused you to follow such a resented path, one that symbolizes the very ruin of lives, a path that will possibly leave you stigmatized? Are you just in believing that a cleanse or purge is necessary, or are you merely a person out for blood? Is your steed your best friend, tool, or god given gift?
You can make an apocalypto quickly by following these suggestions. First, Wisdom should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the Haunted One background. Third, choose Animal Handling, Intimidation and Insight for your skills.
Apocalyptos are accompanied by a steed as fiery and passionate as they are and just as capable a warhorse as any. Starting at 1st level, you have a warhorse as your companion. You can decide how this horse looks. This horse is your faithful companion and steed. It will fight for you with all of its might as you both ride off gallantly in the battlefield together. If your horse is ever slain, you can use the bond you share as an apocalypto to restore it to life. With an 8 hour ritual and an offering of 25gp, you call forth your companion's spirit and bring it back to life, even if you don't have a single part of its original body. Should your steed ever die, the strain on your bond hinders your body and focus, and you have a -2 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks and saving throws until you return it to life.
The apocalypto 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 expend a spell slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
The horsemen of the apocalypse were divided upon four dominions of power that dictated their paths as they razed the worlds upon which they descended. They are pestilence, war, famine and death. Included is a brief description of the typical warhorse ridden by the corresponding apocalypto.
It doesn't really matter whether you get hit. Just the temerity to attack makes you see red. Starting at 20th level, when you or another creature, which you gave the feature effect to, uses Retribution, you have advantage in the attack roll. On success, the target takes additional force damage equal to your apocalypto level.
Being an embodiment of famine, you know how to be crafty with materials and stretch their use to the best capacity. You can craft special barding for your steed starting at 6th level. Rather than use just mundane materials in abundance, you simply require 5 gp. You then undertake an 8-hour crafting session when you create plate barding for your steed, weaving some of your apocalypto magic into it. Unlike regular barding, your steed does not get disadvantage in Dexterity (Stealth) checks when wearing it. The barding you make using this feature can only be worn by your steed and you cannot make more barding unless you dispel the previous one with a bonus action.
The aura of death is horrifying. As the embodying apocalypto, it manifests on you, giving people quite the fright whether they see or just feel your presence. You yourself lost your fear, instead injecting it into others. Starting at 3rd level, you become immune to being frightened.
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