CharGen Icon

Grave-Tutor Necromancer

Stories describe a cold scholar who found a loophole in older rituals that let them keep small retinues of undead indefinitely by carefully staggering Animate Dead castings and leveraging fresh corpses from skirmishes. Locals whisper they bargain with gravediggers and highwaymen to keep a steady supply of bodies.

World CodexNew

Organize entities into collections, build relationships, and manage your campaign world

Back to Generator
Browse more
MediumHumanoid(Human (arcane-trained))CR 3Neutral Evil

Grave-Tutor Necromancer

necromancerspellcastersummonertactician
HP45AC12SPD30 ft.CR3 (700 XP)ArcanaHistoryInvestigation
STR
8
DEX
14
CON
12
INT
16
save
WIS
13
save
CHA
11
Spellcaster. The necromancer is a 6th-level spellcaster. Intelligence is their spellcasting ability (spell save , to hit with spell attacks). They have the spell slots listed under Spells.
Grave Tutor Ritual. If the necromancer casts Animate Dead using a 4th-level spell slot they animate or reassert control over two additional undead creatures for the slot level above 3rd, per the spell. Once per long rest the necromancer can treat their single 4th-level slot as available specifically to cast Animate Dead at 4th level without spending other higher-level resources.
Command Undead. The necromancer can use a bonus action to mentally command any creature they animated with Animate Dead that is within 60 feet. If no commands are given the creature defends itself.
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 () bludgeoning damage or 5 () bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
Chill Touch (cantrip). Ranged Spell Attack: to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 () necrotic damage, and the target cannot regain hit points until the end of the necromancer's next turn. If the target is a creature of the humanoid type and is reduced to 0 hit points by this attack, its body collapses in a way that is easier to animate: the necromancer gains advantage on the next Animate Dead they cast that uses that corpse.
Protect the Servant. If a creature within 30 feet damages an undead creature the necromancer controls, the necromancer can cast Shield of Faith on that undead as a reaction without expending a spell slot.
Cantrips
Spellcasting (Necromancer)Necromancy and Divination (mixed)— The necromancer can cast these spells using innate arcane preparation. Spell Save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks. Spell slots: 4 1st-level, 3 2nd-level, 3 3rd-level, 1 4th-level. Known/prepared: Cantrips: Chill Touch, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion. 1st level (4 slots): Shield, Mage Armor, Command. 2nd level (3 slots): Hold Person, Mirror Image. 3rd level (3 slots): Animate Dead, Bestow Curse. 4th level (1 slot): Blight. The necromancer prefers to open with Mirror Image or Command, use Bestow Curse or Hold Person to disable a threat, and uses Animate Dead during or shortly after combat to convert casualties into allies or reassert control over previous undead.
3rd level
Animate DeadNecromancy— Creates an undead servant from a Small or Medium humanoid corpse or a pile of bones within 10 feet. The creature is a skeleton or zombie, using the stat block appropriate to the material. The undead is under the necromancer's control for 24 hours. To maintain control for another 24 hours, the necromancer must cast this spell on the creature again before the current 24-hour period ends; that casting can reassert control over up to four creatures animated with this spell instead of animating a new one. When cast using a spell slot of 4th level, the spell animates or reasserts control over two additional undead creatures for the slot level above 3rd. The necromancer knows how to cast this at 3rd level and can cast it using their 3rd- or 4th-level slots. Once per day the necromancer can cast Animate Dead using a 4th-level slot without spending higher-level resources due to their Grave Tutor ritual.
Visual sheet

Turn Grave-Tutor Necromancer into a sheet

A high-res, share-ready sheet you can post or print.

Gallery

No images yet. Click to add.

Relationships