Formidable spy and skirmisher

Drawing upon the forces of natural magic, the Black Feather blends roguish cunning with druidic transformation to yield a formidable spy and skirmisher. In their raven form they can dodge attacks, find a safe perch, or reposition to make a sneak attack.

How did you come to possess this esoteric knowledge? Did you swear an oath to the forces of nature? Did a circle of druids help shape a power locked within you since childhood? Perhaps you struck a bargain with the ravens ferrying your soul to the afterlife, only to return as a Black Feather.

Opportune Transformation

3rd-level Black Feather Rogue feature

Your body and reflexes have become infused with the essence of the spirit raven, allowing you to briefly take its form. When you use your Cunning Action to take the Dash or Disengage action, you can choose to briefly transform into a spirit raven. You return to your normal form if you stop moving, use all of your movement speed, or take any damage.

If you return to your normal form within 5 feet of a creature, you don’t need advantage on your attack roll to use Sneak Attack against that creature as long as you don’t already have disadvantage on the roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.

Sixth Sense

3rd-level Black Feather Rogue feature

You can use your action to call upon the collective senses of invisible spirit ravens throughout your vicinity. For a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, when you and any creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you roll initiative, you all gain advantage on the roll and cannot be surprised.

Once you take this action, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Sense Quarry

9th-level Black Feather Rogue feature

Turning your gaze inward, you use your network of spirit ravens to sense one particular creature. To use this feature you must concentrate for 1 hour, as if you were concentrating on a spell. During this time, you are blind with regard to your own senses.

At the end of the duration your target must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your Wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus) which is modified by your familiarity with that creature.

Familiarity	Save Modifier
Unfamiliar (rumors or legends speak of the target’s existence)	+10
Secondhand (you have heard of the target, or know something of their appearance)	+5
Firsthand (you have seen the target)	+0
Familiar (you know the target well)	-5

If your target is within 1 mile of you and fails its saving throw, you learn the target’s exact location and some pertinent details about its immediate surroundings.

Once you have used this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Raven Shape

13th-level Black Feather Rogue feature

The separation between spirit raven and self has fallen away. You can use your action to magically transform into a spirit raven for 1 hour, after which you revert to your normal form. You also revert to your normal form if you fall unconscious, die, or expend a bonus action on your turn to end the effect. Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Taking Damage

If you take damage while in spirit raven form, you may use your reaction to maintain your raven form by applying the damage taken to your own hit points. Otherwise, your spirit raven form absorbs all the damage, immediately forcing you to revert to your normal form.

Game Statistics

For the duration your physical statistics are replaced by those of a spirit raven, though you retain your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. Your mind remains intact, allowing you to retain your proficiency bonus, as well as your skill and saving throw proficiencies.

Spellcasting

You are unable to cast spells in spirit raven form, but transforming doesn’t break your Concentration or otherwise interfere with a spell you’ve already cast.

Objects

Anything you are wearing or carrying at the time of your transformation magically becomes part of your raven body and no longer functions, even if it is magical or provides a magical effect.

Additional Features

Any features provided by your class, race, or other source that can be physically employed by a raven, or mentally controlled by you, continue to be available to you in this form. In addition, you can speak in the bird’s crackly voice.

Stealer of Souls

17th-level Black Feather Rogue feature

Your otherworldly form penetrates soul and flesh alike. When you use your Opportune Transformation you can choose to take on a spectral form, allowing you to move through the space of other creatures. The first creature whose space you move through on your turn must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + your Wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus). The target takes 6d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If you revert to your normal form inside another creature, you take 1d10 force damage and are moved to the nearest unoccupied space.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Make It Your Own

Is the raven theme not quite right for your character or setting? Flavor is free, so just use a different type of flying creature with the statistics of the Spirit Raven.