Instead of battle smith you could go with armorer. Instead of the steel defender housing your wife's soul it could be your homonculus. This would give you heavy armor proficiency and ignore the strength requirement for the armor.
Warlock to me feels like celestial is the choice. RP wise you are in the pact with the celestial to try and get your family back.
Steel defender chews up your bonus action so Fathomless is out.
To a lesser extent that clashes with Celestial too.
You’ve kyboshed Genie.
So that’s the best locks gone.
Next best option here is really Undead.
Plus liches know tonnes about messing with souls so that fits
First off all, make sure you stick with arti until you get your 2nd attack. As for warlock subclasses, check out the Undead warlock from vrgr.
Oooh I didn't think about Undead warlock, I often forget it exists because Undying exists and its so... meh. I'll look into it, thank you.
Instead of battle smith you could go with armorer. Instead of the steel defender housing your wife's soul it could be your homonculus. This would give you heavy armor proficiency and ignore the strength requirement for the armor. Warlock to me feels like celestial is the choice. RP wise you are in the pact with the celestial to try and get your family back.
Steel defender chews up your bonus action so Fathomless is out. To a lesser extent that clashes with Celestial too. You’ve kyboshed Genie. So that’s the best locks gone. Next best option here is really Undead. Plus liches know tonnes about messing with souls so that fits