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View Full Version : [3.5 PEACH] Golden-Esque's Spirit Vestiges For Binders of All Races and Sizes!



Golden-Esque
2009-12-16, 10:06 AM
Here's the story, morning glory. Back in our last Prestige Class Contest, Djinn got me interested in the concept of the Binder class with his Seiškona of the Iron Bands Prestige Class (See Here for More Info (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131375&highlight=Sei%F0kona+Iron+Bands)). So I did my research and learned what I could about the Binder class as a whole, and what I found, I liked so much that I decided to adapt the Binder for my own Campaign Setting.

My Campaign uses the Spirit World instead of the Astral Plane, so the Vestiges are nothing more than the tattered remains of powerful souls and spirits, scarred in one way, shape, or form that makes them bleak and imperfect; a deformity in a land of resolute perfection. Like the most grand mountain is even granted in the Spirit World, however, so too are the Spirit Vestiges more ugly and deformed then anything remotely possible on the Material Plane. The gods and reality alike shun them, so Spirit Vestiges are doomed to wander the Spirit World alone for all eternity.

Naturally, all that is just fluff though, and changing the word to "Spirit Vestige" doesn't change how the class functions at all :). Now, onto the show!

Yavillin, King of Cataclysms

Once an ancient king, Yavillin is now little more then a fairy tale to the general public, while what remains of his soul languishes in the far corners of reality. Yavillin grants the Binder a perfect mix of arcane and martial power, as well as the abilities of his cursed subjects.

Legend: Compared to other Spirit Vestiges, Yavillin's name is relatively well-known by the general population. Throughout every sentient and civilized culture, a myth of an ancient king named Yavillin Fairhearth exists. Although the stories themselves vary, there are several key elements that appear throughout each of the stories. In all accounts, Yavillin is portrayed as a heartless king who treated his subjects with cruelty instead of benevolance. In each of these legends, Yavillin's actions and intentions lead to the downfall of his people. Most historians consider the tale of Yavillin to be a universal story, probably passed between cultures because of the warning the tale sends to all leaders regarding the abuse of power. To most historians, the name 'Yavillin' is nothing more then myth. Binder scholars, however, are not most historians. Between questioning the monstrosity of a Spirit Vestige that Yavillin would become and through intricate combing of the ruins of the world, Binder scholars believe that have pieced together Yavillin's legend.

Yavillin's true origins are most similiar to the vulsunian version of the tale; which makes sense given the race's antiquity and affinity for lore and knowledge. Yavillin was indeed a king of his people; however, he was the ruler of no race currently alive today. Yavillin was the king of the Dekalian race; the ancient, early humanoids who predated even the elves, dwarves, and vulsune. Sharper than the brightest mortal minds, more graceful then any elf, and stronger then the most burly of orcs, the Dekalian people were all but gods in their own right. Ancient texts indicate that Yavillin greedily sought the power of the greatest of gods, so when the archfiend Zariel offered Yavillin a way to obtain it, Yavillin quickly agreed to that pact, making his people immortal. Yavillin then ordered his court mages to construct a powerful barrier to sever the Material Plane from the Outer Planes, both ensuring that Zariel would not receive his end of the bargain; the souls of every Dekalian who signed the pact, and to ensure that the deities would not interfere in his ultimate plan to overthrow them.

Yavillin was eventually felled at the hour of his apothothesis; he had planned to tear a hole in reality with a device now known as the crystal heart; an artifact designed to siphon the divine energy from the multiverse and harness it into Yavillin. An army of heroes made up of the slave class of Dekalians who chose to not sign Zariel's infernal pact and the vulsune assualted Yavillin's keep and destroyed the crystal heart before it was operational. The resulting blacklash tore Yavillin's body to shreds and flung his soul into the far reaches of nonexistance, transforming him into a Spirit Vestige. With the fall of their king and the mighty barrier their mages and kept up, each and every Dekalian who signed what would be known as the Pact of Ruth Dekala had their souls unmercifully ripped from their bodies, transforming them into the fel soldiers now known as the Reth Dekala.

Statistics: Yavillin is a 7th Level Spirit Vestige, and a Binder must succeed on a DC 30 Binding check in order to forge a good pact with him.

Seal: In order to summon Yavillin, the Binder must form a complex and intricate seal, depicting a glorified, naked male human wearing nothing but a crown.

Special Requirement: In order to summon Yavillin, the Binder must place a burning piece of scripture, codex, or some other form of religious document within Yavillin's seal.

Manifestation: At the completition of the ritual, the fire from the burning document spreads almost instantly, igniting into green flames. No matter how many times they have summoned Yavillin, the Binder is always caught off guard by the abruptness of the flames and tumbles backwards onto their posterior. The flames ignite precisely on the seal, conflagerating nothing else but the markings that make up the seal. Slowly, a sickly, green-brown smoke rises up from the flames and swirls around the center of the seal. From within the smoke, the form of a tall, impressing humanoid can be seen. With a swish of his magnificant, golden cloak, Yavillin dispurses the flames and the Binder gets a good look at his hiendous form. Yavillin appears as a nude human male in glorified perfection. He is taller, leaner, more graceful, more muscular, and more beautiful then any human to walk the material plane. His eyes radiate intelligence, wisdom, and malice. A white-gold crown sits upon Yavillin's head, and his long, fair hair cascades down his soulders and over his cloak, which is the same sickly color as the smoke he appeared from. As fair as Yavillin is, however, his face is twisted and scarred, and his body is engulfed in a wreath of green fire. His voice is loathed and full of contempt as he responds to the summoner, talking down to them at every opportunity.

Sign: The Binder smells faintly of fire and brimestone. This smell is weak and isn't strong enough to grant a creature with the scent special quality any bonuses to tracking them. Purfure, musk, or some other strong scent can cover the smell, but such substances are just as likely to mix poorly with the hellish scent.

Influence: While bound to Yavillin, the Binder becomes arrogant and smarmy. They think highly of their own opinions and ideas while disregarding those of allies and enemies alike. In addition, whenever the Binder is the target of a spell or power affect cast or manifested by any creature other then themselves that grants bonuses in either ability scores, attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, or skill checks, the Binder must make a Will save to resist the spell or power.

Granted Abilities: Yavillin grants his summoners access to the lost techniques of the Solaris Arcanum (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7227911#post7227911) discipline; a fact which many Binders believe means that the Masters of the Jade Phoenix rediscovered the lost discipline through pact magic. In addition, Yavillin grants his summoners some of the powers of the Ruth Dekala, the horrid creatures he cursed his people into becoming. Finally, Yavillin grants his summoners access to a wealth of arcane lore.

Magi Training: Yavillin was well-trained in the arcane arts in life, and he passes on some of his knowledge to the Binder. The Binder can make Spellcraft checks untrained while bound to Yavillin, and he or she gains a +10 bonus to Spellcraft checks while bound to him.

Blurred Step: As a swift action, the Binder can enter the Blurred Step stance. Their initiator level is equal to their effective Binder level, and this ability follows all of the normal rules for a martial stance.

Vilefire Infusion: For the purposes of enflaring a Solaris Arcanum maneuver or stance, the Binder can choose to expend their vilefire lash abiltiy (see Vilefire Wreath, below) in order to enflare their Burred Step stance, unlocking its true potential. Expending vilfire lash is treated as expending a spell or spellslot with a level equal to 1/5 of the Binder's effective Binder level. Using vilefire lash this way prevents the Binder from using vilefire lash for 5 rounds, as if the Binder had used the ability normally.

Vilefire Wreath: As a full-round action, the Binder can don a mantle of vilefire. Creatures who are standing adjacent to the Binder are burned by the mantle's sickly, green flames, taking 1d6 points of damage at the start of their round. In addition, the Binder can choose to lash out at a creature with their vilefire wreath as a standard action, dealing 1d8 points of damage plus an additional 1d8 points of damage per four effective Binder levels. Using the vilefire wreath as a lash attack is a ranged touch attack that can target any creature that the Binder has line of effect to that is within 60 feet of them. A creature damaged by either of these abilities (the wreath or the lash) may make a Fortitude save to halve the damage from either of these effects. Vilefire is corrupted by nature and half of the damage dealt is acid damage, while the remainder is fire damage. The vilefire wreath has an unlimited duration and it can be dismissed as a standard action. After using vilefire lash, the Binder must wait 5 rounds before using the vilefire lash ability again, though he or she can still assume the vilefire mantle normally.


Author's Note: As one of the original masters of the Solaris Arcanum discipline, Yavillin grants some powers based off of that discipline to the Binder, but the majority of his powers come from the Reth Delaka, the devils that his actions doomed most of his race into becoming. Yavillin offers powerful flaming and acid attacks, defense from melee and ranged attacks, and a knowledge of spellcasting to his Binder, making him a good all-around Vestige choice; not particularly amazing in all situations or in any one category, but powerful enough to warrant a second look.

Daeminthos, the Mind's Reflection

In life, Daeminthos was a powerful manifester who let his lust for power allow him to commit unspeakable acts. As a Spirit Vestige, he offers his summoners the power to manipulate and control minds, and even mimic psionic powers.

Legend: Daeminthos may very well be the most recent of all Spirit Vestiges, as Binder scholars have discovered his existance within the past decade. Through vigorous research and excavation, Binder scholars have more factual knowledge about Daeminthos then virtually any other Spirit Vestige. Daeminthos was a powerful human Telepath in life, mastering the most intricate arts of the mind and the psychic energies that can be drawn forth from it.

In old age, Daeminthos realized that no amount of psychic energy could make him or his amazingly potent mind live forever, so he began his search to find a pupil that he believed was worthy enough to take on as his apprentice. After years of searching through his homeland's young psions, it is said that Daeminthos stumbled upon a child who, even in tender youth, demonstrated unparalleled psionic energy. However, the boy was parented by two members of a psionic guild which rivaled his own, and even though Daeminthos only chaired the guild for his own purposes he knew that the child's parents, both adept and capable psions themselves, would never agree to have their son tutored by a rival,

Daeminthos was never one to take 'no' for an answer though, and through his connections in his own guild, he orchastrated a psionic war between his guild and the guild who protected his future prodegy. The two guilds engaged in the most bloody war the manifest nation had ever seen; able to detect thoughts and discern lies, the two sides picked each other off with virtually no open warfare. Members of both sides would spuratically drop dead from psychic attacks while going about their everyday business, and an equal number of innocents died from the extensive thought probes. It is said that his future apprentice's parents were the last to die, face to face with Daeminthos in defense of thier child. Daeminthos overpowered them and wiped their memory from his new apprentice's mind and quickly went to work training him.

The years passed and Daeminthos's apprentice grew in both body and mind. However, while the boy grew stronger, Daeminthos's own body aged, much to Daeminthos's personal loathing. Daeminthos's greed and lust for psionic perfection overtook his humanity, and soon he saw his apprentice as nothing more than a budding rival whose young body gave him a sharp edge over the aging Telepath. Therefore, Daeminthos decided to perform a dreaded psionic ritual to exchange his old, frail body with the youthful body of his apprentice. Daeminthos confronted his apprentice in his crystal quarters; the ruins of which still exist today. A marvelous place filled with crystals of all varity, filled with Daeminthos's latent psionc energy, Binder schols believe it was once the might psion's private chambers. What happened within that chamber, none can be certain, though the few psionic binders that exist theorize that the budding mind of the young apprentice concealed a power so great that it overthrew Daeminthos's rash attempts to overwrite the boy's mind with his own. No one knows what became of the apprentice; he is assumed dead by the village Binder scholars found the remains of Daeminthos's tower in, though no body was ever recovered. As for Daeminthos, his soul was shattered and banished into the far corners of the Spirit World, transforming him into a Spirit Vestige.

Statistics: Daeminthos is an 8th Level Spirit Vestige, and a Binder must succeed on a DC 30 Binding check in order to forge a good pact with him.

Seal: In order to summon Daeminthos, the Binder must form a complex and intricate seal, depicting a cascade of crystals with two intimidating eyes glaring behind them.

Special Requirement: In order to summon Daeminthos, the Binder must have access to a power stone that is charged with no fewer than 1 Power Point. This stone is not destroyed in the process of summoning Daeminthos, and the lone power point within the stone is not consumed.

Manifestation: As the summoner places their psionically charged stone within the seal, they feel a presence poking and prodding their mind ever so slightly. A wave of contempt floods over the summoner as a massive crystal crashes through the sky and appears to shatter the seal. From beneath the shattered seal is an exact replica, made out of amethyst. Within the large slab of crystal that fell from the heavens is the reflection of a human male with dark skin and a shaved head. The reflection of Daeminthos is seen even in the complete absence of light, and his eyes are obscured by the reflection; nothing more than black, featureless space on Daeminthos's face. This reflection spreads out into the reflections of every bit of crystal within the seal, until Daeminthos stares back at his summoner with his piercing glare from every angle and every marking upon the seal. When Daeminthos speaks, his deep, male voice echoes as if he was calling out from within a great cavern. Although his expressions are quite clear in the reflections within the seal, Daeminthos psionically forces his emotions upon the summoner with every word.

Sign: The Binder's reflection does not appear in any reflective surface.

Influence: Daeminthos causes those bound to him to become withdrawn and obsessive. The Binder keeps their thoughts and emotions to themselves at all times and guards such information jealously. In addition, while bound to Daeminthos, whenever the Binder attempts a skill check of any kind, he or she must always either take 10 or take 20 (the Binder's choice) on a skill check if they could normally take 10 or take 20 on that skill. If the Binder could not normally take 10 or take 20, they must attempt to do so anyway. While taking 10 or 20 in such situations, the Binder is considered to be flat-footed.

Granted Abilities: Daeminthos grants his summoner the power to mold the thoughts and actions of others to his will, to crumple their minds like paper, and to shred his enemies with a burst of crystals. He also improves the Binder's proficiency with mental attacks and grants them psionic lore.

Lore of Daeminthos: The Binder gains an intimate understanding of psionic devices from Daeminthos. The Binder can use and activate psionic devices as if he or she wear a Psion with a level equal to their effective Binder level.

Mind Crush: Whenever the Binder succeeds on a melee or ranged attack against a creature, he or she deals 1 point of either Intelligent, Wisdom, or Charisma damage (the Binder's choice). A Will saving throw prevents this ability damage. This ability damage is not affected by critical hits, and it is considered a mind-affecting ability.

Mind Mold: The Binder gains the ability to manipulate the minds of others with a thought. As a full-round action, the Binder can focus on the mind of a creature within 10 feet per effective Binder level of him or her to which he or she has line of effect to. The targeted creature must make a Will saving throw or become dazed. This ability functions like the Brain Lock power, except that it has a duration of 1 round and it can be used on any sentient creature. Mind Mold is a mind-affecting ability.

Psionic Sight: Daeminthos lends the Binder some of his psionic power to enhance their senses. The Binder can sense hostile intentions from all creatures within 30 feet of him or her. This ability functions like the Detect Hostile Intentions power, except that it is active for the entire duration of the pact and Psionic Sight does not prevent the Binder from being caught surprised or flat-footed.

Shards of Daeminthos: At will, the Binder can force an explosion of crystals to rain from the heavens, piercing their foes. This ability strikes a single creature that the Binder can see or sense with their Psionic Sight ability and every creature within 10 feet of it. Creatures struck by this attack must attempt a Reflex saving throw or be take 1d6 points of piercing damage per two effective Binder levels. This ability functions similarly to the Hail of Crystals power, except that it summons a rain of small crystals instead of a large one that bursts upon striking a creature or the ground. . After activating this ability, the Binder cannot use it again for 5 rounds.


Author's Note on Daeminthos: Daeminthos isn't actually my creation; his story belongs to a good friend of mine. You see, my friend's character is the apprentice in the story. I could give you a name, but I wouldn't want to ruin the legend for you :). Daeminthos was designed to add power to the Binder's arsenal, but the catch is that compared to other high-level Spirit Vestiges, his arsenal of available powers is limited. While he is by no means inflexible, many of his powers are tied to the same usage (Mind Mold). Daeminthos, although a max-level Vestige, also provides AoE Ability, which is one of the few things Binders don't have much access to.

More Coming as I Make Them, but until then, keep the PEACHes rolling! :D

Golden-Esque
2009-12-17, 03:35 AM
My second Vestige, Yavillin, is live :D. Sort of ...

DragoonWraith
2009-12-17, 04:44 PM
So... are these vestiges for the Binder, or for the Seiškona? The Seiškona really needs more of those...

(I'm really hoping the latter just because I really want to play a Seiškona of the Iron Bands, but they need more Vestiges before that becomes viable)

Anyway, Binder stuff is awesome, kudos!

Djinn_in_Tonic
2009-12-17, 04:53 PM
These are all a bit to good. Vestiges normally have just one "every 5 rounds" power, and you've tossed two at both of yours. I can't really comment much on the first one (I don't feel like browsing through the martial discipline at the moment), but I will comment on the second one.

Lore of Daeminthos: A powerful ability, but I'm good with it. On course for a high level Vestige.

Mind Mold: To versatile and two powerful for even an 8th level Vestige. 1 round of domination, or 1d3 rounds of domination, or a save every round...those would be alright, especially if the effect was 5 rounds from the end of the previous effect. As it is it's just flat-out to good.

Mind Crush: This should just go. Mind Mold is a more interesting ability, and having both is overpowering.

Shards of Daeminthos: Decrease the radius to, say, 5-10 feet, make this 1d6/2 levels, and make it a Reflex save to avoid. Then make it at-will. :smallbiggrin:

Then, maybe add 1 more fairly minor psionic themed ability. I'd say that would balance it nicely.


(I'm really hoping the latter just because I really want to play a Seiškona of the Iron Bands, but they need more Vestiges before that becomes viable)

Working on it! Promise! :smallbiggrin:

Golden-Esque
2009-12-17, 06:17 PM
Lore of Daeminthos: A powerful ability, but I'm good with it. On course for a high level Vestige.

Another Vestige grants the same ability for Wizards and Arcane items :).


Mind Mold: To versatile and two powerful for even an 8th level Vestige. 1 round of domination, or 1d3 rounds of domination, or a save every round...those would be alright, especially if the effect was 5 rounds from the end of the previous effect. As it is it's just flat-out to good.

The old version of Mind Mold could only let you Charm or Dominate one creature at a time (not both), but I dropped the old Mind Mold in favor of a newer one anyway; to me the new one feels more Daeminthos-y. Essentially, the Binder uses their entire turn to daze a single creature. At the start of their next turn, they can attempt to daze them again, but unlike the Brain Lock on which it was based, the Binder can't keep up the effect indefinitely without being subjected to will saves.


Mind Crush: This should just go. Mind Mold is a more interesting ability, and having both is overpowering.

The new Mind Crush drains 1 point of a Mental Stat of the Binder's choice whenever they succeed on a melee or ranged attack roll (it does have a Will save, though).


Shards of Daeminthos: Decrease the radius to, say, 5-10 feet, make this 1d6/2 levels, and make it a Reflex save to avoid. Then make it at-will. :smallbiggrin:

That'll actually significantly increase its potential damage output 0_0. I like it!


Then, maybe add 1 more fairly minor psionic themed ability. I'd say that would balance it nicely.

That new ability is called Psionic Sight. It works like Detect Hostile Intentions, except it doesn't make the Binder immune to surprise attacks and being caught flat-footed.

Golden-Esque
2009-12-17, 06:43 PM
TI can't really comment much on the first one (I don't feel like browsing through the martial discipline at the moment).

Why, then allow me to help!

Magi Training: The Solaris Arcanum discipline uses Spellcraft as its key skill, so this one was necessary in order to use some of the maneuvers granted by Yavillin. I'm hoping that +10 isn't too much, and I'm willing to cut it down if necessary. This does also mean that the Binder can use Yavillin's knowledge to identify spells.

Blurred Step: The Blurred Step ability grants the Binder the ability to use a stance from Solaris Arcanum; the Blurred Step. It follows all of the normal rules of using a stance.


[SIZE="5"]Blurred Step
Solaris Arcanum (Stance)
Level: Warmage 2
Prerequisite: 1 Solaris Arcanum maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 Swift Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

With every step you take, Arcane energy swirls about you, making it difficult for enemies to make out your outline.

While you remain in this stance, you gain a 10 foot enhancement bonus to your speed and concealment (20% miss chance). This concealment cannot be counteracted by see invisibility or similar spells, but a true seeing spell does. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.

Enflare: This stance can only be enflared after it has been assumed for one round or longer. Enflaring this stance causes it to behave normally, you can total concealment (50% miss chance) instead. This enflare remains in effect until the end of the round it was activated on, at which time the stance's normal effects resume.

Vilefire Infusion: To add a little bit of synergy to the Vestige, the Binder can expend their Vilefire Lash (below) to enflare their Arcane Backlash maneuver. The 1/5 number was intentional; that way, the Binder's maximum bonus is a 4th level Spell expended, while the Warmage's (whom the discipline was balanced around) is a 6th level Spell.

Vilefire Wreath: Essentially, this ability is the Reth Dekala special abilities to cloak itself in flames and shoot bolts of fire in one. The lash effect has a 5 round cooldown while the wreath does not, though using the lash incurs a 5 round cooldown before the lash can be used again.

Golden-Esque
2009-12-18, 02:04 PM
So... are these vestiges for the Binder, or for the Seiškona? The Seiškona really needs more of those...

(I'm really hoping the latter just because I really want to play a Seiškona of the Iron Bands, but they need more Vestiges before that becomes viable)

Anyway, Binder stuff is awesome, kudos!

Technically, given the mechanics of the Seiškona, its playable with only the one Fae Lord, as she grants a myriad of Vestiges as the Binder increases in level of her own, and I don't recall if a Seiškona can even imprison more then one Fae Lord at a time.

In other news, I've reworked both Yavillin and Daeminthos. After a little bit of play testing, those two turned out to be more along the lines of "Why wouldn't you Bind them?" then should be allowed by the class. Both of them had their on-use powers reduced, Yavillin more significantly so then Daeminthos.