Coriumancer (5e Subclass)

Innate Coriumancer Spells

You gain innate spells at the Artificer levels listed:

Tool Proficiency

When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with Surgeon’s Supplies. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.

Flesh Fetish

When you reach 3rd level, your focus in the art of coriumancy has resulted in the devolution of your skills in other areas. Besides the innate prepared spells of the subclass, you can no longer prepare Artificer spells normally. Instead, you may prepare only spells for which you have a coriumancy catalyst in your possession.

Bodysnatcher

Beginning at 3rd level, you acquire the ability to create a basic coriumancy catalyst, a non-magical item derived from a fresh corpse or living body. You must have appropriate tools and proficiency to harvest the specimen. The creature of origin must be of the same or lower level as you, unless said creature was defeated by the player's party, and the catalyst must be properly extracted from the creature. Basic catalysts have a decay rate, with items made from flesh and blood becoming invalid faster than those of horn or carapace. You may analyze an existing specimen you encounter, to determine whether it may function as a basic catalyst.

Starting at 3rd level, you may prepare any spells during a long or short rest for which you have a basic catalyst in your possession. When a spell associated with a basic catalyst is cast, one specimen of that catalyst in the caster’s possession is permanently consumed. A spell cannot be cast if it would consume a basic catalyst that the caster doesn't have in their possession, for whatever reason.

Taxidermist

Beginning at 5th level, you acquire the ability to create a preserved coriumancy catalyst, a magical item made from a basic coriumancy catalyst that has not yet decayed. You must have appropriate tools and proficiency to preserve the basic catalyst, but the method can vary, and may include crystallization, drying, embalming, encasement in glass, petrification, plastination, smoking, tanning, etc. Improper storage of a preserved catalyst, such as embalming a hand and keeping it in your backpack without protecting it from bludgeoning damage, may result in its dysfunction. You may analyze an existing trinket or other item you encounter, to determine whether it may function as a preserved catalyst.

Starting at 5th level, during a long rest, you may attune any number of preserved catalysts in your possession (while abiding by your limit to number of attuned magical items). You may cast spells associated with a currently attuned preserved catalyst without consuming a spell slot, with duration calculated as if the slot were level 1. Spells cast with an attuned preserved catalyst do not require the user's concentration. You may cast spells associated with a currently unattuned preserved catalyst as spells, but you must still use a spell slot and they still require concentration. When a spell associated with a preserved catalyst is cast (attuned or unattuned), the catalyst is not consumed.

Trophy Hunter

At 9th level, the targets of your catalyst-based casts no longer need to be willing.

Corpse Eater

At 15th level, you may use a fresh corpse that you are touching as a catalyst, and cast a single spell of a spell level of your choice which grants every status harvestable from the corpse. The spell may target as many creatures within range as you like, but no catalysts may be made from the corpse afterward.

Lend a Hand

At 18th level, you do not gain the ability to store spells with objects like other Artificers, since to an extent Coriumancers already do this. Instead, whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch one preserved catalyst and make its spell accessible to other creatures at 2nd-level. While holding the modified catalyst, a creature can take an action to produce the spell's effect from it using your spellcasting ability modifier. The spell stays in the object until it has been used a number of times equal to twice your Intelligence modifier (minimum of twice) or until you use this feature again to store a spell in an object.

Notes

Coriumancy catalysts can only be taken or made from living, organic beings that leave behind corpses (or at least body parts). As a result, enemies such as undead, automata, and specters cannot yield coriumancy catalysts.

If a DM is concerned that certain effects (especially spells) would be too powerful for the party to acquire, those body parts can become too damaged in battle to be utilized as a catalyst, or the number of samples possible can be limited by time, carrying space or skill.

The effects of spells cast utilizing coriumancy catalysts fit into four categories, and a specific catalyst may yield multiple effects and categories of effects:

• Passive - The target gains a passive effect, such as increase resistance to fire damage or the ability to breathe water; some body parts may also yield proficiencies, if the source was skilled enough
• Attack - The target gains the innate ability to use a new melee attack, such as teeth to use Bite or claws for a version of Claw that can also inflict poisoning
• Cantrip - The target gains an innate ability to use a cantrip, such as the Gith's ability to use an invisible Mage Hand, which is meant to simulate psychokinesis
• Spell - The target gains the ability to cast a spell without using a spell slot, such as the harpy's Luring Song (but the spell can only be case once by the target, even if the duration of the coriumancer spell lasts longer)