I've been putting together a campaign setting, starting with the premise that magic isn't an old tradition. All of magic first appeared 5 years ago. While that gets in the way of most warlock patrons, assumed to be long-lived and powerful, but then I started tinkering with a "patron" that isn't a conscious entity.

So, question, would a warlock without a patron per se make sense in D&D, or is it a step too far?

The Stream

Ever since magic started appearing, you've been trying to figure it out, except instead of putting in hard work, having deep faith, or committing to heavy practice, you've tried to get the most power with the least work.

When people started mysteriously gaining knowledge the basics of magic, you've tried to impersonate them and tried to copy their day-to-day life, and see if you too could gain the knowledge. When a natural formation started getting rumors attached to it that it boosts magic potential, you camped out near it, visiting every day for a month. When a cult started showing signs of magic, you showed up at their door, participating in rituals, and swiping their idols when they weren't looking. A musician comes through town with magic in their song, and you follow them until you can commit their songs into your memory.

You've come across mild successes in trying to develop your own magic skills.

Then, suddenly, it clicks. Your thievery, false faith, two-faced devotion, and superstitions have managed to generate more magic than you thought. The more you commit to just getting a little more magic, the more magic you generate.

You've seen it. The stream. However magic came into this world, you've seen it in your mind. Other people will tell you that magic doesn't look like that at all, but you're convinced that you've tapped into the new magic itself.

At least, you think you have. No one really believes you when you say you've seen the stream. People's opinion about you when you talk about the stream is that you're an insane magical savant.

Let them think whatever they want. They can't argue away your magic.