My latest character artwork: Pumpkin Samurai
For generations, the Kasuga Clan guarded the eastern valleys, a noble house of proud samurai. Juro was their finest blade, deeply loyal to his lord and bound strictly to the code of honor. However, jealousy bred betrayal. A rival lord launched a midnight ambush, assisted by an insider who poisoned the Kasuga guards. Juro fought valiantly to defend his lord's family, but he was overwhelmed, decapitated, and his body was tossed dishonorably into a neglected, overgrown pumpkin patch on the edge of the estate.
As the clan's ancestral home burned, the spilled blood of the innocent soaked deep into the soil of the patch. The land itself wept, awakening an ancient, vengeful nature spirit trapped beneath the earth, an entity known only as the Autumn King. Seeking a vessel to enact vengeance against the traitors, the spirit wove its thorny vines through Juro's armor, fusing his cold spine to a large, jaggedly carved pumpkin resting nearby.
Juro gasped for air he no longer needed, his eyes opening as twin flickers of emerald fire within the hollowed gourd. He rose from the patch, his katana tightly bound to his vine-wrapped fist. He no longer serves a mortal master. He is a headless ronin, bound by a pact of autumn embers, wandering the realm to hunt down those who violate oaths of honor and to protect the innocent from midnight slaughters.
- Character Basics
- Race: Reborn (from Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft). You keep your humanoid shape, but your head is a magically carved, glowing jack-o'-lantern attached to your neck by thick, thorny vines.
- Racial Traits: You do not need to sleep, eat, or breathe. You have an advantage on death saving throws and resistance to poison.
- Background: Haunted One or Soldier (reflavored as a fallen samurai code follower).
- Stats (Point Buy): Prioritize Charisma (for your spellcasting and attacks) and Constitution (for health), followed by Dexterity (up to 14 for Medium Armor efficiency).
- Leveling Path & Mechanics
- Level 1: Fighter (Level 1): Start here for proficiency in All Armor, Shields, and Martial Weapons. Choose the Great Weapon Fighting or Dueling fighting style.
- Level 2: Warlock (Hexblade Level 1): Take the Hexblade patron. This grants you Hex Warrior, allowing you to use Charisma for your attack and damage rolls with your katana (reflavored Longsword). You also get Hexblade's Curse to expand your critical hit range.
- Levels 3-7: Fighter (Samurai Levels 2-6): Rush to Fighter Level 5 to unlock the Samurai Archetype and Extra Attack.
- Fighting Spirit: Use your bonus action to give yourself advantage on all weapon attack rolls until the end of your turn.
- Elegant Courtier (Fighter 7): Adds your Wisdom modifier to your Persuasion checks. If you have high Charisma, you become a master negotiator or a terrifyingly polite executioner.