A Lovecraftian occult house is a concept that merges elements of H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror and the occult in a fictional setting. Lovecraftian horror often revolves around the idea of ancient and unfathomable beings or forces that exist beyond human comprehension, while the occult pertains to esoteric knowledge and practices that delve into hidden realms of the supernatural. In the case of a Lovecraftian occult house, the building serves as a physical manifestation of these themes. It is typically portrayed as an ancient or neglected structure, shrouded in mystery and imbued with a malevolent presence.
To begin we need to ask whether the Pact of Blade weapon is a magic weapon without benefitting from the Improved Pact Magic invocation. This answer says that it is not and therefore is not destroyed by an anti-magic field. The test for determining if something is magical is as follows:
Given that I ve concluded above that a weapon being a hex weapon doesn t change anything regarding what detect magic would pick up on, then the magical weapon s magic would not be altered by Hex Warrior in any way. Pact weapons would probably show up as magical, but as for the school, if there is one, that would be up to the DM; hex weapons wouldn t, unless the weapon is magical already.
It is typically portrayed as an ancient or neglected structure, shrouded in mystery and imbued with a malevolent presence. The architecture and design of the house often defy normal conventions, featuring bizarre angles, strange symbols, and macabre decorations. Within the house's walls, practitioners of the occult delve into forbidden knowledge, summon otherworldly entities, and conduct disturbing rituals.
Pact weapons would probably show up as magical, but as for the school, if there is one, that would be up to the DM; "hex" weapons wouldn't, unless the weapon is magical already
These warlock class features call out these weapons as magical. From Pact Boon - Pact of the Blade (PHB, p. 107):
This weapon counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Whether this means that it is actually magical for the purposes of detect magic, this isn't clear, but this gives a DM something to work with to make a ruling. I'd personally rule that the pact weapon is inherently magical, but that isn't explicitly stated in the text.
2. Magic weapon transformed to Pact of the Blade weapon (via the ritual), compared to before the ritual
As for your second point, the weapon that you transform into your pact weapon is explicitly called out as being magical before you do so (PHB, p. 108):
You can transform one magic weapon into your pact weapon by performing a special ritual while you hold the weapon.
Since it is already a magical item, it would show up as magical to detect magic, but it would have done before it became a pact weapon as well. Whether being a pact weapon has any impact on the school of magic it registers as would be up to the DM (see the last section of my answer for more on this).
3. Pact of the Blade's Improved Pact Weapon (eldritch invocation) and its created weapon with +1 to hit and damage
As for the Improved Pact Weapon invocation, we can turn to the general information on eldritch invocations (PHB, p. 107):
In your study of occult lore, you have unearthed eldritch invocations, fragments of forbidden knowledge that imbue you with an abiding magical ability.
That seems more clean cut to me; if an invocation is a magical ability, and the Improved Pact Weapon invocation affects the weapon, then the weapon is magical thanks to that invocation (at the very least, magical enough to show up as magical to detect magic, even if the magic being detected is the invocation, not the weapon).
However, this related question shows that not everyone views such as thing as so clean cut: Is a Warlock's Improved Pact Weapon considered a magic weapon?
4. Hexblade's chosen weapon, by touching a normal weapon after a long rest
The Hex Warrior feature of the Hexblade warlock says (XGtE, p. 55-56) doesn't mention magic at any point, so presumably the "magic" here is that you are more capable of using it that you "should" be, thanks to your eldritch magic, but the weapon itself appears to be no different. I would conclude that the weapon is nonmagical and you would get nothing from detect magic.
5. Hexblade's chosen weapon, by touching a magical weapon after a long rest, compared to before choosing it
Similar to the above, except that because the weapon in this case is already magical, it would show up as magical to detect magic, but no different than it would have done before the Hexblade got their hands on it. Given that I've concluded above that a weapon being a hex weapon doesn't change anything regarding what detect magic would pick up on, then the magical weapon's magic would not be altered by Hex Warrior in any way.
Regarding the School of Magic
At no point in any of the descriptions of these warlock class features is a school of magic mentioned, so if a DM were to wish to treat any of the above as magical for the purposes of detect magic, they would need to come up with a school of magic themselves, or conclude that there isn't one. For weapons that were already magical (as per #2 and #5), they might want to use that weapon for guidance, if it mentioned a school of magic, but to the best of my magic, most (all?) magic weapons don't typically do that, so once again, it's probably just up to the DM's judgement.
As for the Improved Pact Weapon invocation, we can turn to the general information on eldritch invocations (PHB, p. 107):
These activities are usually tied to the exploration of forbidden tomes, arcane artifacts, and dark secrets hidden within the labyrinthine corridors of the house. The occultists may seek to gain power, transcend mortal limitations, or simply to understand the vast, incomprehensible cosmos that Lovecraft's works often depict. Lovecraftian occult houses often have multiple layers of mystery and horror. As investigators or curious individuals venture further inside, they may encounter inexplicable phenomena, encounter monstrous creatures, or face psychological torment due to their proximity to forces that defy human reason. Entities brought forth through dark rituals may lurk within the shadows, while the house itself may exhibit a sinister sentience, toying with the minds of those who dare to enter. The concept of a Lovecraftian occult house has influenced various forms of media, including literature, film, and video games. In these portrayals, the house becomes a character in its own right, invoking a sense of dread, mystery, and endless possibilities. It resonates with readers, viewers, and players who are fascinated by the unknown aspects of the cosmos and the dark recesses of human curiosity. Overall, a Lovecraftian occult house encapsulates the terrifying yet alluring aspects of cosmic horror and occultism. It represents a nexus where human understanding clashes with the unfathomable, evoking a sense of awe, terror, and a yearning to peek behind the veil of reality..
Reviews for "Lovecraftian Occult Houses: Gateways to the Unknown"
- Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Lovecraftian occult house". I found the storyline to be confusing and lacked coherence. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The overall atmosphere was also not as eerie and suspenseful as I expected. Overall, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this book.
- Mark - 1 star - I just couldn't get into "Lovecraftian occult house". The pacing was incredibly slow, and the excessive descriptions did not add any depth to the story. It felt like a chore to read, and I found myself skipping pages just to get to the end. The horror elements were also underwhelming, failing to create a sense of dread or excitement. I regret buying this book and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping Lovecraftian tale.
- Sarah - 2 stars - "Lovecraftian occult house" was a letdown for me. The writing style was overly verbose and pretentious, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. The plot had potential, but it was overshadowed by long-winded tangents that didn't contribute to the story. The characters lacked depth and development, which made it hard for me to care about their fates. I was expecting a thrilling experience with a Lovecraftian twist, but this book fell flat for me.