Design Note
Zareth Kael is a personal homage to one of my all-time favorite characters — The Darkness, from the Top Cow comic series. I read the entire run starting from the 1990s, and the idea of a reluctant antihero bound to an ancient, sentient force of shadow left a permanent impression on me.

In reimagining this concept within 5E, I wanted to portray the Darkness not just as a weapon or curse, but as a primordial entity — protective and parasitic, elegant and monstrous. Its presence isn’t loud or overt, but it shapes every moment Zareth lives through, watching from behind a cracked mirror and whispering between spells.

Mechanically, this build sticks entirely to official content from the Player’s Handbook, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, with strategic reflavoring to evoke the tone of The Darkness. The Great Old One patron represents its unknowable origin; Pact of the Chain manifests the creature’s sentient extensions as a Shadowling familiar. And Armor of Agathys, reimagined as Armor of the Darkness, conjures its iconic necrotic retaliation.

Zareth’s arcane focus is his trinket — the Mirror of the Void, a cracked, obsidian glass that never shows his reflection. When he casts, its surface shimmers with veiled motion, a reminder that something inside always watches.

This isn’t just a character — it’s a tribute to a legacy I’ve carried for decades. The power, the corruption, the armor, the voice… they are all one and the same.

🕳️ Character Sheet – Shadowmarked Warlock (Level 3)

Zareth Kael - Reflavoured Tiefling Warlock as The Darkness

📛 Name: Zareth Kael

Race: Tiefling (Shadowmarked – reflavored via Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything)
Class: Warlock 3
Patron: The Darkness (reflavored from The Great Old One)
Pact Boon: Pact of the Chain
Background: Haunted One (from Curse of Strahd)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

🧠 Ability Scores (Point Buy)

❤️ Vital Stats

• Hit Points: 24
• Armor Class: 13 (Leather) or 15 (Mage Armor)
• Initiative: +2
• Speed: 30 feet
• Passive Perception: 10
• Spell Save DC: 13
• Spell Attack Bonus: +5
• Spell Slots: 2 (2nd level)
• Proficiency Bonus: +2

🎯 Proficiencies

Saving Throws:

• Wisdom (+2)
• Charisma (+5)

Armor:

• Light armor

Weapons:

• Simple weapons

Tools:

• None

Languages:

• Common
• Deep Speech
• One other of your choice (e.g., Infernal, Abyssal, or Undercommon)

🧪 Skill Proficiencies

All other skills use base modifiers only.

🎭 Race Features – Shadowmarked Tiefling

• +2 Charisma, +1 Dexterity
• Darkvision: 60 ft
• Necrotic Resistance
• Innate Spells:
  • Minor Illusion (at will)
  • Hellish Rebuke (1/day at 3rd level)
  • Darkness (1/day at 5th level)

🔮 Warlock Features

Awakened Mind

• Speak telepathically to any creature within 30 ft that knows a language.

Pact of the Chain

• Gain a Darkling Familiar (custom-flavored Quasit)
• Can attack, scout, or deliver touch spells
• Use Voice of the Chain Master to speak/see through it at any range

Eldritch Invocations

If you prefer damage early, take Agonizing Blast at level 2 and swap to Voice of the Chain Master at level 3.

📶 Spell Progression by Level

🧩 Level 1

• Cantrips:

  • Eldritch Blast (main attack)
  • Mage Hand (flavored as a shadow tendril)
  • Minor Illusion (racial)

• Spells Known (2):

  • Hex — damage boost and control
  • Armor of Agathys (flavored as Armor of the Darkness) — temp HP and necrotic retaliation

• Racial Spell:

  • Hellish Rebuke — 1/day, reaction fire damage on getting hit

🔮 Level 2

• +1 Spell Known (Total: 3)

  • Added: Mage Armor — 8-hour defense (AC 15)

• Invocations:

  • Eldritch Mind
  • Agonizing Blast (or prep to swap at L3)

👁️ Level 3

• +1 Spell Known (Total: 4)

  • Added: Invisibility — become unseen, great for escapes and strikes

• Pact Boon:

  • Pact of the Chain — gain your Shadowling familiar

• 2nd-Level Spell via Warlock Slot:

  • Misty Step — teleport 30 ft as a bonus action

Technically not on Warlock’s list unless from feat or multiclass. If allowed in your campaign as thematic reflavoring, it fits beautifully. Otherwise, you may choose another control spell like Hold Person, Mirror Image, or Suggestion.

🧚 Shadowling Familiar

A chittering voidling, born from Zareth’s soul. Its claws glisten like obsidian glass and its laughter never quite fades.

Type: Tiny Fiend
Speed: 20 ft, fly 40 ft
AC: 13
HP: 10
Darkvision: 120 ft
Languages: Understands Common, Deep Speech
Magic Resistance: Advantage on all saves vs spells

Shadowmeld (1/day):

• Becomes invisible in darkness for 1 minute

Actions:

• Claw: +5 to hit, 1d4 + 3 slashing
• Can deliver your touch spells
• Can scout or attack when commanded

🎒 Equipment

• Leather armor or robe (for flavor)
• Arcane Focus: Mirror of the Void

  A cracked obsidian mirror that never shows your reflection. Used to channel all spellcasting.

• Dagger or quarterstaff
• Scholar’s Pack
• Custom Trinket: Obsidian mirror (see above)

🛡️ Armor of the Darkness (Custom Spell)

The Darkness rises to protect its vessel — a living barrier of voidstuff and vengeance.

• Effect: 10 temp HP
• Trigger: When hit by melee attack, deal 10 necrotic to attacker
• Scaling: +5 HP/damage per spell level
• Duration: 1 hour
• No concentration

🧪 Combat Summary

• Cast Mage Armor at start of day (AC 15)
• Bonus Action Hex → Action Eldritch Blast
• Use Invisibility to avoid conflict or set up ambushes
• Use Misty Step to escape, reposition, or surprise
• When surrounded or ambushed → Armor of Darkness
• Familiar scouts, distracts, and delivers spells when needed
• Use Hellish Rebuke reactively if struck

🎭 Roleplay Hooks

• Never makes direct eye contact — lets the mirror do it
• Voice is calm, but rarely blinks
• Doesn’t sleep — just meditates while the Shadowling watches
• Civilians feel uneasy but sometimes aid him without knowing why

🧚 Darkling Familiar (Reflavored Quasit)

Darkling - Reflavoured Quasit

A splinter of the Darkness itself, the Darkling is a sentient shadow stitched into a vaguely impish form. Its claws leave no marks, its laughter echoes in silence, and when no one is watching — it’s simply not there.

Tiny fiend (void-born), chaotic neutral
Armor Class: 13
Hit Points: 10 (4d4)
Speed: 40 ft, climb 40 ft
Fly (flavored): Glides through shadows and unseen air currents

🧠 Abilities

STR 5 (−3) DEX 17 (+3) CON 10 (+0) INT 7 (−2) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 10 (+0)

• Saving Throws: Dexterity +5, Wisdom +2
• Skills: Stealth +5, Perception +2
• Damage Resistances: Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
• Damage Immunities: Necrotic Damage (replaces Poison)
• Condition Immunities: Poisoned
• Senses: Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 12
• Languages: Common, Deep Speech (or Abyssal); understands all you do

✨ Traits

Magic Resistance.
The Darkling has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Shadowmeld (Invisibility).
The Darkling can turn invisible at will, reappearing as a bonus action or when it attacks. While in dim light or darkness, it effectively melts into the shadows.

Telepathic Link (via Pact Feature).
Through Voice of the Chain Master, you can see, hear, and speak through the Darkling at any range, as long as you’re on the same plane.

⚔️ Actions

Claw (Void Rend). Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 1d4 + 3 slashing damage.

Dread Gaze (1/day).
One creature within 20 ft. that can see the Darkling must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. The creature may repeat the save at the end of each of its turns.

🪞 Pact Notes

• Can deliver touch spells you cast.
• Can attack if you use your action to command it.
• Shares initiative, acts on your turn.
• If destroyed, can be resummoned via Find Familiar (1 hour, no cost).

🖤 Roleplay Flavor

• Appears only where light falters
• Perches on your back or shoulders like a living cloak fragment
• Speaks in whispers when no one else is listening
• Occasionally seems to act before you think

“We’re not alone. You never are. But I am.”