The natural world holds a particular fascination for some warlocks, who hold the arcane powers of its more elusive inhabitants in high regard. The study of the fey and their secrets often brings a warlock closer to the wilderness, unlocking mysteries usually reserved for the faerie folk or the chosen faithful of Chislev. These sylvan mages are found in the wilds of Krynn, spending time with dryads, sprites, and other forest creatures.

Sylvan Mages represent a clear departure from the usual arcane path of High Sorcery. The Towers keep a watchful eye on sylvan mages, making certain that they don’t become a threat. Once that happens, measures will be taken to neutralize the warlock in the tradition of each order.

NPC sylvan mages make excellent guides and aides in regions far from civilized centers, or when knowledge of the fey is crucial to the completion of a quest or trial. Evil NPC sylvan mages make powerful opponents, both for other arcane spellcasters and for wilderness-oriented characters such as druids, barbarians, and rangers.

The legendary warlock Bram diThon is an example of a sylvan mage.

Creating a Sylvan Mage

The following are suggestions on how to create a Sylvan Mage using the rules found in the Dungeons & Dragons 5^th Edition Player’s Handbook. Feel free to tailor these suggestions to match your character concept.

Class: Warlock

Patron: Archfey

Backgrounds: Hermit or Outlander

Skills: Animal Handing, Arcana, Nature, or Survival

Alignment: Neutral good, lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic neutral, or neutral evil.

Sylvan Rites: Eldritch Invocations of the Sylvan Mage

Leaf Speech

Prerequisite: 5^th level

You can cast speak with plants once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Life Speech

Prerequisite: 9^th level

You can cast commune with nature once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Rite of Dawn

During the first 2 hours of light in the day, you can conduct a ritual that takes 10 minutes to complete. Choose two Wisdom skills. If you are not proficient with one of these skills, you gain advantage whenever you make a skill check with it. If you are proficient, you double your proficiency bonus. You retain the benefit of the ritual until you fail a skill check with one of these skills or you take a long rest, whichever happens first.

Rite of Day

During the middle 2 hours of light in the day, you can conduct a ritual that takes 10 minutes to complete. Choose two Charisma skills. If you are not proficient with one of these skills, you gain advantage whenever you make a skill check with it. If you are proficient, you double your proficiency bonus. You retain the benefit of the ritual until you fail a skill check with one of these skills or you take a long rest, whichever happens first.

Rite of Dusk

During the last 2 hours of light in the day, you can conduct a ritual that takes 10 minutes to complete. Choose two Intelligence skills. If you are not proficient with one of these skills, you gain advantage whenever you make a skill check with it. If you are proficient, you double your proficiency bonus. You retain the benefit of the ritual until you fail a skill check with one of these skills or you take a long rest, whichever happens first.

Rite of the Dryad

Prerequisite: 9^th level

You can cast tree stride once using a warlock spell slot. You can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Rite of the Satyr

You can cast sleep at will, without expending a spell slot or material components.

Bibliography

1. Towers of High Sorcery, p. 36 – 38
2. Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook 5^th edition, p. 105 – 111

Special Thanks

Thanks to Cam Banks for his input on the Rites of Dawn, Day, and Dusk.