Embracing a 5E D&D Sorcerer’s Epic Destiny through The Witcher

Season 2 of The Witcher is officially out on Netflix and it’s no surprise how great it’s been. Based on the acclaimed novels that inspired the famous video game franchise The Witcher series is a treat for those fantasy fans who enjoy a thrill with a pinch of horror monsters. While watching I recognized a new use for one of our previously published subclasses.

The Witcher season 2 evokes 5E D&D flavor

If you’re familiar with my posts on Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft then you know I love me some dark fantasy. Without delving into spoilers for The Witcher the series explores the magic inherited by princess Cirilla of Cintra, which is a direct result of her looming destiny as a Child of Surprise. We learn in season 2 there’s even more to Ciri than initially supposed.

As I watched I remembered a Sorcerous Origin I published here on the site in the past. Upon revisiting the Epic Destiny Sorcerous Origin originally inspired by the character Cole from my comedic fantasy novel The Mis-Adventurers: An (Almost) Epic Tale I realized the bones of the subclass are fantastic and I absolutely recommend checking it out here.

However, I didn’t paint much flavor text surrounding the Epic Destiny sorcerer. At least, the subclass doesn’t include anything particularly evocative like we see in official fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons books. As such I’m correcting that faux pas today. Allow me to bring your attention to an older subclass with a coat of fresh paint as we peer into the Epic Destiny Sorcerous Origin. Stick around until the end of the for a brand new feat exclusive to this subclass as well!

Law of Destiny

Fate — the concept that certain events are portended or ordained. While cosmic in scope this concept often entangles the lives of mere mortals and elevates them — willingly or otherwise — to heights of greatness only aspired by many who thirst for power.

Those sorcerers born with an Epic Destiny often find themselves pursued by monsters and men alike. Not only do they find themselves equipped with the magic to crumble and build nations, sorcerers who inherit an epic destiny find natural talent with weapons and armor, making for potent skill sets who can fight anything threatening their greatness.

Dedicated to battle these sorcerers’ magical blood augments their physical prowess. Where spells fail steel finds purchase, and vice versa.

Two Sides of a Coin

While some sorcerers with an epic destiny find themselves foretold to heroism or ruin exclusively, most learn of two opposing directions — two potential outcomes to their fated prominence. Most of these sorcerers find themselves the targets of politicians and kings just as often as monsters and planar entities.

Throughout their development most of these sorcerers are faced with choices shaping the future. Even the slightest decision can prove significant for these people and many would readily strip agency from them. By virtue of these high stakes, hardship often follows those with epic destinies and even the slightest faltering can bring such a person to demise.

Telltale Signs

Many sorcerers who possess an epic destiny find themselves marked in some way, either physically or otherwise — a revelation of their true power. For some added flavor consider choosing up to 1d4 options below marking your character as a sorcerer with an epic destiny.

Expanding the Epic Destiny Sorcerer with a feat

Requires Epic Destiny sorcerous origin

Your magic is tied to magics older than the divisions of classes. Your Charisma score increases by 1, up to a maximum of 22.

Additionally, choose from bard, cleric, druid, paladin, ranger, warlock or wizard. Whenever you gain a new sorcerer spell you can choose from either the sorcerer list or the list of the class you chose. Spells you learn in this way are sorcerer spells for you. You also learn one additional sorcerer spell that does not count against the number of spells you know.

You can take this feat multiple times, but you must pick a new class each time.

What do think of these additions to the Epic Destiny Sorcerous Origin?

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*Featured image — The witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world in which people often prove more wicked than beasts. The second season of the Netflix series is based on “A Grain of Truth” from The Last Wish, Blood of Elves and the beginning of Time of Contempt. “When I talk about The Witcher, I always talk about how these three characters coming together — Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer — they come together as a family. It’s the most important part of the series for me.” — series creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

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