The Speedster: The Fastest Warlock Alive!

Taz ran by the field at full speed. He had had to run up the cliff that protected it, no doubt surprising some soldiers who weren’t expecting someone to run up the walls protecting this field. He quickly estimated how many soldiers were camped here, made some notes, and then ran out as fast as he could. He made the mistake of running straight for the exit. He stopped for a moment to focus, allowing magic to enhance his speed even further. He was struck by a couple of arrows, but they didn’t hurt as much as they should. They had closed the door in front of the cliff walls. He smiled as he passed through it like a ghost. The information he had gathered would make it through to his superiors.

With the human interest in going fast, it’s hardly a surprise that some powers that be, such as Hermes, Fujin, and Idaten, arose who are gods of speed and motion. For those who think it’s limited to the modern raceways, they forget about how many track and field events are all about speed, and the origins of the marathon. We even celebrate the speed of messengers, and the Inca had entire road systems set up to encourage the speed of communications.

The speedster is interested in being the fastest person in the party. Sometimes that means crashing into things, or having to rush through dangerous areas, but the speedster has no problem crashing into an opponent. They can go so fast that they climb up walls or become intangible to those slower than them; it’s all part of going fast. Your goal is to be the one who gets there first, to see what’s going on, and then report back on what’s happening. Now if we could just figure out why speedsters seem to arrive late to so many events….

[Design Considerations: The character is fast. Period. It should be noted that some spells don’t encourage speed but keep the person where they are; it makes a certain degree of sense that the speedster should slow some people down to make themselves look faster. That need for speed is going to make you fast friends with barbarians, fighters, and monks, and you’re likely to multi-class into those classes because of the tactical advantages your speed gives you. Feats you may want to consider are Alert, Athlete, Charger, Observant, Speedy, and Tough If you take the Magic Initiate feat, look at the light, shocking grasp, thunder clap, and true strike cantrips and the expeditious retreat, jump, and mage armor spells.]

Level 3: Speedster Spells

Your patron’s magic allows the following spells to be prepared by you, provided you meet the level requirement.

• Level 3: blur, feather fall, longstrider, misty step
• Level 5: haste, lightning bolt
• Level 7: dimension door, freedom of movement
• Level 9: mislead, planar binding

Level 3: A Tad Faster

You gain either the Speedy or Charger feat.

Level 6: Run On The Walls

You gain spider climb for one minute. However, each round you use this ability you must use the Dash action; the round you don’t, you fall off the wall you are on. You are also considered in motion; you may not stop. You can use this ability as desired.

Level 10: Faster Than You

You can cast haste without using a spell slot. When you do so, you gain the benefits of stoneskin. You may use this ability once per point of Charisma Bonus. You regain any spent uses with a Long Rest.

Level 14: Phase Speed

When you use Faster Than You, you are partially incorporeal. You treat creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain, and if you end your turn inside an object you are shunted to the nearest open space and take 1d10 Force damage for every 5’ travelled.