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Vox Clamantis
2009-05-26, 10:04 PM
Discipline of the Untamed Essence
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/mrgabest/Ariston3.png
Ariston, master of the Untamed Essence.


The Untamed Essence is an esoteric outgrowth of the Nine Swords tradition, originally unique to the wandering swordsman who created it during years of mercenary work in the world of Eberron. Having studied the Diamond Mind and Iron Heart disciplines extensively, he combined their fundamental principles with the rudimentary training he had received at the foot of his father, an accomplished archmagus in his own right. The result was a discipline that tapped the arcane energies of his heritage to embolden his strikes and empower his defenses.

From those humble beginnings, the Untamed Essence spread across the planes. Despite having been created by a man incapable of casting arcane spells, it quickly became a favorite of spellswords and Jade Phoenix Mages. It is not known whether Ariston ultimately chose a pupil to carry on his teachings, or whether the discipline survived only through the manuals he left behind.

The Untamed Essence' associated skill is Spellcraft.


Maneuvers and Stances List

1st Level
False Edge: Boost - Deal an addition 1d6 per attack for 1 turn.
Spell Knowledge: Counter - Spellcraft check to receive a +5 bonus against one spell.
Blade Surge - Stance - Power Attack damage gets the Force type.

2nd Level
Winged Weapon: Strike - Throw your weapon to attack and have it return to you at the end of your next turn.
Flickering Ward: Counter - Gain +4 AC against one attack and make a disarm attempt if it hits.

3rd Level
Force Edge: Boost - One maneuver receives a +4 bonus to one attack roll and deals force damage.
Long Cut: Strike - Deal melee damage from short range.
Dimensional Advance: Stance - Pass through creatures and obstacles during your turn.

4th Level
Spell Energy: Counter - Gain bonuses if you save against a spell or spell-like ability.
Dimensional Leap: Strike - Teleport and attack one enemy with a +4d6 bonus to damage and take an attack of opportunity if you miss.

5th Level
Draining Spellstrike: Strike - Cause the target to lose a spell and gain temporary hit points.
Invincible Edge: Boost - Weapon deals +5d4 additional force damage on one attack.
Living Weapon: Stance - Power Attack allows weapon to gain qualities.

6th Level
Greater Spell Energy: Counter - Gain bonuses if you save against spell or spell-like ability.
Long Slash: Strike - Make a full attack at short range.

7th Level
Imperfect Spellstrike: Strike - Sacrifice hit points to gain additional damage.
Dimensional Edge: Boost - Weapon deals an additional 5d4 damage on all attacks for one round.

8th Level
Spell Mirror: Counter - Reflect a spell back on the caster or automatically fail saving throw.
Pristine Essence: Stance - Gain SR.

9th Level
Perfect Spellstrike: Strike - Sacrifice hit points to gain additional attacks.

Vox Clamantis
2009-05-26, 10:05 PM
Maneuvers and Stances

1st Level
False Edge
Untamed Essence (Boost) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn

With a surge of arcane energy, you sheathe your weapon in an invisible force that is sharper than any weapon.

Regardless of the weapon's original type, it deals slashing damage until the maneuver is no longer in effect. In addition, every attack until the end of your turn deals an additional 1d6 force damage.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Spell Knowledge
Untamed Essence (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Seeing a spell cast upon you, you steel your mind and your muscles against its effect, using your rudimentary knowledge of spell-casting to best prepare yourself.

Make a Spellcraft check to identify the spell. If it succeeds, you receive a +5 bonus to any saves against the spell's effect.

This counter is a supernatural ability.

Blade Surge
Untamed Essence (Stance) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

Raw power suffuses your limbs, drawn through your body to gather in your weapon.

While you are in this stance, bonus damage gained through the Power Attack feat is treated as having the Force type.

This stance is a supernatural ability.

2nd Level
Winged Weapon
Untamed Essence (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Initiation Action: 1 Swift Action
Range: 50 ft
Target: One creature

In between one swing and the next, you draw back your weapon and fling it through the air to strike a distant foe. It wheels through the air, striking just before returning to your hand.

You throw your weapon. The weapon makes a single attack at your full attack bonus against whichever enemy it was thrown at. This attack takes place at the end of your initiative count on the turn after it is thrown. It returns to your hand at that time.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Flickering Ward
Untamed Essence (Counter) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Prerequisite: One Untamed Essence maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Just before it is struck, your body releases an invisible pulse of energy that drives away the attacking weapon.

Against a single attack before the end of your next turn, you receive a +4 shield bonus to your AC. If the attack hits despite the increased protection, you may make a free disarm attempt against the attacking foe.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

3rd Level
Force Edge
Untamed Essence (Boost) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 3, Warblade 13
Prerequisite: One Untamed Essence Maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn

A single pulse of magic charges your blade for the attack.

The next maneuver initiated before your next turn has all of its damage converted to the Force type. You also receive a +4 bonus on the first attack roll required by that maneuver.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Long Cut
Untamed Essence (Strike) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Prerequisite: One Untamed Essence maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: 35 ft
Target: One Creature
Duration: Instantaneous

From far outside the reach of your weapon, you bring your weapon down as though cleaving flesh. Staggering back, your enemy realizes that the cutting range of your weapon is not dependent on the length of its tip.

Make a melee attack roll against the enemy. If it hits, deal normal melee damage, including any abilities keyed to the weapon used. It is possible to use Power Attack in combination with this maneuver.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Dimensional Advance
Untamed Essence (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

While you are in this stance, you are able to cut through the enemy's ranks as though they weren't there.

During any move or charge, you are considered ethereal for the purposes of passing through creatures or obstacles. Any attacks of opportunity incurred from this movement are resolved normally (as though you were not ethereal). You do not ignore difficult terrain.

This stance is a supernatural ability.

4th Level
Spell Energy
Untamed Essence (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 4, Warblade 4
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Without a word, you steel yourself against a spell or spell-like ability. Its power washes over you like a cool spray, leaving you refreshed in its wake.

Initiate this maneuver in response to a spell or spell-like ability that targets you and requires a save. Make your saving throw. If you fail, suffer the consequences normally. If you succeed, any further effect of the spell upon you is negated, and you benefit from a +6 morale bonus to Strength for one round.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Dimensional Leap
Untamed Essence (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 4, Warblade 4
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 Full-Round Action
Range: 50 ft.
Target: 1 Creature
Duration: Instantaneous

With a cry, you leap into the air and disappear, reappearing nearly on top of your enemy and completing the maneuver with a two-handed blow.

You teleport next to the target and make a melee attack roll. If the attack hits, it deals an additional 4d6 damage. If it misses, the target can make an attack of opportunity.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

5th Level
Spellstrike
Untamed Essence (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 5, Warblade 5
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous

When you initiate this strike, you prepare to draw arcane energy through your weapon and into your very soul.

Make a melee attack. If it hits, the target takes damage normally and loses one prepared spell or spell per day from the highest level it can cast, and you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times the level of the spell lost. The target can rest and rememorize (or simply regain, in the case of a spontaneous caster) the lost spell normally.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Invincible Edge
Untamed Essence (Boost) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 5, Warblade 5
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn

A blazing nimbus of magical energy envelops your weapon.

The next attack that hits before the end of your turn deals an addition 5d4 force damage.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Living Weapon
Untamed Essence (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 5, Warblade 5
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

You imbue your weapon with the rudimentary energy of constructs, and it feeds off the power you give it.

Whenever you use Power Attack to take a penalty to your attack rolls, the weapon gains benefits based on the extent of the penalty. If you take a -1 penalty or greater, the weapon cannot be sundered. If you take at least a -5 penalty, it also deals an additional 1d12 points of force damage. If you take at least a -10 penalty, the weapon is not subject to disarming. If you take a -15 penalty or greater, all damage done by the weapon is force typed.

6th Level
Greater Spell Energy
Untamed Essence (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 6, Warblade 6
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Opening your deepest soul to the destructive energy of your enemy's spell, you draw it in and use it fuel your inner furnace.

Initiate this maneuver in response to a spell or spell-like ability that targets you and requires a save. Make your saving throw. If you fail, suffer the consequences normally. If you succeed, any further effect of the spell upon you is negated, and you benefit from a +10 morale bonus to Strength for one round.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Argent Cross
Untamed Essence (Strike) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 6, Warblade 6
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: 35 ft
Target: One Creature
Duration: Instantaneous

You unleash two swings that comes nowhere near your enemy and leave him bewildered at your strange behavior - until his body is torn apart by unseen blades of force.

As part of this maneuver, make two melee attacks against an enemy within range. If it you hit, deal your normal melee damage with that weapon, including any special abilities keyed to the weapon used in the attack. It is possible to use Power Attack in conjunction with this maneuver.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

7th Level
Imperfect Spellstrike
Untamed Essence (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 7, Warblade 7
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous

When you initiate this strike, you draw arcane energy up through your body and impart it to your weapon.

Before you roll to hit, decide how many hit points you wish to sacrifice. The number cannot exceed twice your BAB. If the attack hits, deal twice this amount in additional force damage.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Dimensional Edge
Untamed Essence (Boost) [Force]
Level: Swordsage 7, Warblade 7
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: End of turn

A blazing sheath of arcane force envelops your weapon.

Every attack with that weapon before the end of your turn deals an addition 5d4 force damage.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

8th Level
Spell Mirror
Untamed Essence (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 8, Warblade 8
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

One of the defining maneuvers of the Untamed Essence, when initiated Spell Mirror allows you to turn a spell back upon its caster - at the risk of suffering its full effect.

Activate this counter in response to any spell that requires a save. You must declare its use before making the saving throw. Spellcraft check against twice the caster level of the spell. If you succeed, the spell is turned completely back upon the caster. If you fail, you automatically fail the saving throw and suffer the full effect normally.

Pristine Essence
Untamed Essence (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 8, Warblade 8
Prerequisite: Three Untamed Essence maneuvers, One Untamed Essence stance
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

While in this stance, you are surrounded by an invisible corona of arcane energies.

You gain SR equal to your initiator level + 10.

This stance is a supernatural ability.

9th Level
Perfect Spellstrike
Untamed Essence (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 9, Warblade 9
Prerequisite: Four Untamed Essence maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 Full-Round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous

Stepping close, you unleash a barrage of attacks that push your muscles beyond endurance, relying upon the wellspring of power in your soul to see you through.

As part of this maneuver, you sacrifice hit points to make additional attacks. Every attack is made at your full attack bonus. The first attack is free. The second is 10 HP. The third is an additional 15, and so on increasing the cost for each subsequent attack by 5. Thus, five attacks at full attack bonus would be 0+10+15+20+25 = 70 hit points. You cannot make more attacks than 1/4 your BAB. The self-damage inflicted by this maneuver cannot come from temporary hit points, nor can they be healed by any means for one full hour.

This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Vox Clamantis
2009-05-26, 10:06 PM
Feats

Shield of the Untamed Essence
Raw magic suffuses your body, potential unleashed through training in the Untamed Essence and bent to your will. It guards you, shields you against harm.
Prerequisite: Two Untamed Essence maneuvers, One Untamed Essence stance
Benefit: Whenever you are in an Untamed Essence stance and you are targeted by an enemy spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability, you add a +2 Dodge bonus to your AC for one round.

Untamed Might [Epic]
The Untamed Essence discipline teaches a student who possesses the spark of magic to incorporate that untapped power into his sword forms. Through continual training, you have learned to use that power to enhance the swiftness and weight of your strikes
Prerequisite: Shield of the Untamed Essence, the ability to initiate Perfect Spellstrike, Spellcraft 24 ranks, Str 21
Benefit: While you are in an Untamed Essence stance, you receive a +1 bonus to damage for every -1 of penalty you take while using Power Attack in conjunction with a martial maneuver.

Tactical Feats

Spellstrike Master
Prerequisite: Spellcraft 9 ranks, Shield of the Untamed Essence, base attack bonus +6, two Untamed Essence maneuvers
Benefit: The Spellstrike Master feat enables the use of three tactical options:
Perfect Spellguard: To use this option, you must take the full defense option while in an Untamed Essence stance. If you are targeted with an enemy spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability, you gain a +4 Dodge bonus to your AC instead of the bonus from Shield of the Untamed Essence.
Argent Edge: To use this option, you must use an Untamed Essence boost maneuver followed by a single standard attack. Any additional force damage granted by the boost is tripled.
Untamed Instinct: To use this option, you must take only a single move action during your turn. You gain a +5 bonus to a single saving throw required by the first spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability that targets you before the beginning of your next turn.

Agrippa
2009-05-26, 11:17 PM
This looks interesting to say the least. I'm definately putting this in my favorites.

Stycotl
2009-05-26, 11:27 PM
nice discipline. i really like the flavor, and some of the maneuvers in particular. i really like the ethereal-charger stance. that is very flavorful.

i don't like the reliance on force effects, especially since they are easy to defeat. also, the damage seems low, even though they are force effects. i'd at least consider upping the output.

the spellstrike maneuvers are cool, but seem a little underpowered to me. if they could drain supernatural martial maneuvers as well as spells and spell-likes, that would be killer (just make them expended as if used).

hmm, looking back, i can now only find one of those spellstrike maneuvers that drains spells, and none that drain spell-likes. don't know if i was looking at something else, or if i am smoking crack. either way, i'm in a hurry, so i'm gonna post it like this anyway. it would be cool if one of the higher level spellstrikes could drain spell-likes (either uses per day, or just put a hold on the ability for 1d4 rounds or something).

anyway, cool discipline. aaron out.