Classes

Inventors, engineers, craftsmen, and artisans, artificers excel in creating useful things. They harness the innate magic of the world and channel it through magical items to whatever ends they desire. There is no real difference between a village blacksmith hammering away at their anvil and someone seeking an audience with Heimdall to use his forge to craft a legendary item - they are both performing artifice.

Barbarians are instinctual warriors, less interested in theory than practice. This is expressed through their Rage, a state of primal power that lets them withstand attacks that would normally cleave a person in two. Not all barbarians become overcome with actual anger during their rage, some instead channel the wrath of animals, the gods, or some other source of power.

All bards are artists of some description, but they are also so much more. A bard represents the very essence of creation - be it through song, painting, dance, poetry, calligraphy, sculpture, or some other discipline. Much like artificers, bards work hard to master their craft, honing it to truly realize the full potential of the interplay between hand and tool.

Clerics serve a deity, channeling their power among mortals. Most clerics are connected to a temple or shrine, often close to the community they grew up in. While anyone can profess their belief in a deity and offer their service to them, only true faith is rewarded with the powers of a Cleric.

Druids are protectors of the wilderness, ensuring that civilization does not encroach on the pristine wilds. They are shepherds of their environment, channeling primal magic to ensure its survival and well-being. Unlike rangers, druids rely primarily on their magical abilities.

Fighters live for the rush of combat, where it is their skill against that of their opponent. They train hard to avoid ever being outskilled on the battlefield. A fighter's most important possession are their weapons, which they spend much time caring for. Some fighters even form emotional bonds to their weapons - perhaps they keep lugging their first sword around despite having access to blades of higher quality.

Monks pursue a cloistered living with their peers, seeking their perfect self, both in the physical, and in the spiritual. They train their bodies with ascetic living, pushing themselves to perfect the form of their martial art. When they are not training their body, they are meditating, perfecting their spirit.

The paladin is sworn to a sacred ideal, a paragon who truly embodies their tenets - in word as well as in action. These tenets can be anything from service to a singular entity, to protection of the populace at large. Some serve deities, such as the Pilgrim Knights, others serve a political entity, such as the Lodge of the Roses. Regardless, their loyalty only superficially lies with the leaders of their order - what they truly serve are the ideas and causes behind the organization.

Rangers guards the wilderness from threats, be it mortal, natural, magical, or extraplanar. They are not enemies of civilization, but rather its unsung protectors. They go where others go not, interposing themselves between danger and those they care about. A ranger's greatest successes will never be widely known, while their failures lead to villages being burnt down and untouched wilds being despoiled. Their love for civilization keeps them on the outside, guarding against the forces of darkness.

The rogue is an expert in their field, someone who knows all the tricks of their trade and can apply them in a wide variety of situations. They rely on their wits to outsmart their opponent with cunning and guile, always living on the edge of their abilities.

The spellsword mixes martial prowess with arcane spellcasting in combat, leveraging the lingering traces of their magic to bolster themselves. They are versatile warriors who can fill almost any role in an adventuring party.

Sorcerers are born with innate arcane ability, which they must contend with for good or bad. Some are proud and arrogant, believing their inherited powers elevates them above the common folk. Others are more happy-go-lucky, and take each day for what it gives.

Warlocks took a shortcut to magical power, through a deal with a powerful extraplanar entity. The details of this deal vary from warlock to warlock, but it is almost never in the warlock's favor - at least not in the long run. Some warlocks are granted their powers in return for a single favor, others are drip-fed magic with continued service.

Wizards are the apex of arcane learning. Their spellbooks are as important to them as the fighter's weapon. A wizard pours their mind and soul into their book, and it serves as a secondary repository for the vast amount of knowledge needed to bend the Weave to their will.