TravelLog
2012-01-22, 03:02 PM
The Penitent Blade
http://i3.bebo.com/047/14/large/2009/06/04/21/1168308901a10966379826l.jpg
“Glory? There is no glory, no joy in battle. When a man raises his blade, all that surrounds him—and all that he knows in that moment—is emptiness. And so it is not for glory, or for riches, that I fight. I fight because I seek to bear the burden of death upon my own two shoulders, that others might not feel it’s cold embrace. Kneel, soldier, and seek your penance."
--Anselm von Adris, Penitent Blade
There are men and women who choose to fight for money. Others fight for power, for revenge, or to satisfy bloodlust. Penitent Blades are not those men and women. Penitent Blades have a wholly different conception of battle.
Battle is not a stage for empty heroics, nor is it something to take pleasure in. Battle is filled with despair. Dark, terrifying. And to a Penitent Blade, that is the way that it should be.
That way, people learn to fear battle and to choose the path of non-violence where possible. To bow their heads and ask forgiveness for the horrors they have wrought and the sorrow they have caused. To kneel and let their tears flow in the hopes that the gods will at last take pity on man and grant him an understanding of his pain and freedom from his burden.
Becoming a Penitent Blade
Entry Requirements
Skills: Martial Lore (5 Ranks)
BAB: +7
Maneuvers: Must know 8 maneuvers, at least two of which must be from the Penitent Martyr discipline.**
Special: Must have willingly fought a battle in defense of another at the risk of one’s own life, with no personal gain to be had of any kind.
**If the Penitent Martyr Discipline is not allowed in your campaign, substitute Devoted Spirit in it's stead.
CLASS SKILLS (4 + Int mod per level, x4 at 1st level)
The following skills are class skills for a Penitent Blade: Balance (Str), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (History), Listen (Wis), Martial Lore (Int), Ride (Str), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex).
Hit Die: d10
TABLE: The Penitent Blade
{table=head]Level|Base Attack|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Man. Known|Man. Readied|Stances Known
1st|+1|+2|+0|+2|Blade of a Thousand Regrets, Penitent Swordsmanship|0|0|0
2nd|+2|+3|+0|+3|Repentence Made Steel, To Bear the Burden|1|1|0
3rd|+3|+3|+1|+3|Resolve of the Bereaved|0|0|1
4th|+4|+4|+1|+4|Gift from the Depths of Grief|1|0|0
5th|+5|+4|+1|+4|Aura of Despair, Unyielding Body|0|1|0
6th|+6/+1|+5|+2|+5|Strength of the Sorrowful|1|0|0
7th|+7/+2|+5|+2|+5|From Pain, Acceptance|0|0|0
8th|+8/+3|+6|+2|+6|From Acceptance, Strength|1|1|1
9th|+9/+4|+6|+3|+6|Serene Sorrow|0|0|0
10th|+10/+5|+7|+3|+7|Strike of Undying Penitence|1|0|0
[/table]
CLASS FEATURES
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Pentitent Blades gain proficiency with Heavy Armor if they are not already proficient in its use.
Maneuvers Known/Readied: At each even-numbered level, you gain one new maneuver known, chosen from any four of the following disciplines: the Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Army of One ( http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5710173), or Penitent Martyr (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197195). This is decision is made at first level, and cannot be changed once made.
You must meet a maneuver’s prerequisites to learn it. You add your full Penitent Blade level to your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and the highest level of maneuver you can learn. If you have levels in an initiator class that allows you to exchange out maneuvers at certain levels, your Penitent Blade levels stack with your levels in that class for determining when you may exchange maneuvers. At 2rd, 5th and 8th level, you gain an additional maneuver readied each day.
Stances Known: At 3rd and 8th level, you gain a new martial stance known from any of the Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Army of One, or Penitent Martyr disciplines, limited to the four Disciplines chosen at 1st level. You must meet a stance’s prerequisites to learn it.
Blade of a Thousand Regrets: At 1st level, a Penitent Blade makes a pact with themselves and the world to demonstrate to others the sorrows of battle. As part of a week-long ritual, the Penitent Blade forges a special weapon known as a Blade of a Thousand Regrets. It is automatically of masterwork quality and possesses the Merciful enchantment (which does not count towards its normal enchantment ceiling), allowing it to deal non-lethal damage at the users wish. A Blade of a Thousand Regrets grows in power as the Pertinent Blade grows stronger. Starting at 2nd level, the weapon receives a +1 enhancement bonus its attack and damage rolls, and is treated as a magical weapon for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. At 4th level, and every even level after that, the enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls increases by +1, to a maximum of +5 at 10th level. The weapon can be enhanced further to a maximum of +10. However, because of it's nature, enchanting the weapon further is done as if the natural enhancement granted by this class feature was not present (so at 4th level, even though this class feature would give it a +2 enchantment bonus, the Penitent Blade could enchant the weapon as if it had no enchantment at all).
Additionally, the Penitent Blade may trade out the enhacement bonuses granted by this ability for weapon abilities/enchantments at a 1-to-1 cost. Every time a Penitent Blade spares an enemy from death, he may alter his weapon's chosen enchantments.
This weapon is the physical manifestation of all the sorrow in its wielders heart and has the following combat statistics (as for a Medium weapon):
A Blade of a Thousand Regrets is a reach weapon that is also capable of being used against adjacent opponents. When used with reach, it deals 1d10 damage and has a critical threat range of 20/x3. When used on an adjacent opponent, it deals 1d6 damage and has a critical threat range of 19-20/x2. It can be used for trip attacks, and grants its user a +2 bonus on any such attempt.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTc_JUrapGQduaftO818iYfzywtGEDPp pGnJucue30zJuFW4WQkk1jpXoqzBw
Penitent Swordsmanship (Ex): A Penitent Blade is most at ease when the battles do not involve the death of its participants. As a result of the value they place on life, beginning at 1st level, a Penitent Blade may add +1/2 Penitent Blade levels to his attack and damage rolls when dealing non-lethal damage. Furthermore, if the Penitent Blade succeeds in knocking a creature unconscious through non-lethal damage, he gains a morale bonus to Armor Class and saving throws for the rest of the encounter equal to 1/4th his character level.
Repentence Made Steel: Penitent Blades, rather than allowing their sorrow to weaken them, instead draw upon it as a source of strength and use it as a weapon. Beginning at 2nd level, the Penitent Blade gains the Weapon Focus feat with his Blade of a Thousand Regrets, and may treat it as a discipline weapon for a single chosen martial discipline. At 4th, 6th, and 8th level, he may choose a new discipline for which his Blade of a Thousand Regrets may be considered a discipline weapon.
To Bear the Burden (Su): All Penitent Blades fight with the well-being of their comrades in mind. They act as beacons to their allies, absorbing their sorrow and leaving their companions with joy, while they themselves bear the burden of pain and regret. By 2nd level, a Penitent Blade has learned how to shoulder burdens affecting his companions. As an immediate action 1/day per two Penitent Blade levels, the Penitent Blade may choose to bear any of the following status conditions in place of an ally within 30 feet. In essence, the Penitent Blade subjects himself to the conditions and spares the ally the attendant suffering. In other words, if a Penitent Blade's ally was Blinded, the Penitent Blade could choose to use this class feature to remove the Blinded condition from his ally, but in doing so would render himself Blinded.
The duration and magnitude of these effects are exactly as they would have been if the ally remained under their influence. A Penitent Blade cannot bear a condition he would normally be immune to (but see From Acceptance, Strength).
Valid Conditions: Blinded, Checked, Confused, Cowering, Dazed, Dazzled, Deafened, Exhausted, Fascinated, Fatigued, Frightened, Nauseated, Panicked, Paralyzed, Shaken, Sickened, Staggered, Stunned.
Resolve of the Bereaved (Ex): A Penitent Blade of 3rd level has reached a point where he is instinctively able to sense and aid a companion in danger. A number of times per day equal to 1/4th the Penitent Blade’s character level, he may spend an immediate action to allow an ally to use one of his base saves in place of their own for purposes of a saving throw.
Gift from the Depths of Grief (Su): A Penitent Blade in battle is a figure of unimaginable regret and pain. Having seen comrades fall into Death’s embrace, they stand and continue on, tears running down their blade. A Penitent Blade would do anything to prevent their comrades from dying, and as such, a Penitent Blade of 4th level or higher may use a Counter or Stance as normal, granting its benefits to any ally of their choice within 30 ft. as well as themselves. At 8th level, this ability can be used for the benefit of two allies. If the ally or allies leave the range of this ability, it ceases to effect them.
Aura of Despair (Ex): At 5th level, the despair in the Penitent Blade’s soul has become so overwhelming that it manifests outside their body as an aura of utter sadness and regret. All creatures within 30 feet of the Penitent Blade not considered allies must make a DC (10+1/2 character levels+Intelligence or Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher) Will Save or take a -1/4 character levels morale penalty to attack and damage rolls, as well as saves. This aura can be suppressed or resumed as a free action.
Unyielding Body (Ex/Su): At 5th level, a Penitent Blade gains the benefits of the Diehard feat even if they would not ordinarily meet its prerequisites. In addition, the Penitent Blade may cast Delay Death (with a CL equal to their class level) as a free action 1/day per two Penitent Blade levels, regardless of whether or not it is their turn. Once used, this ability may not be used again for five minutes.
Strength of the Sorrowful (Su): In a field of marigolds, Penitent Blades stands with their heads raised and their spirits girded, though death and destruction surround them. A Penitent Blade of 6th level gains a bonus equal to his Intelligence or Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher, to all saves.
From Pain, Acceptance (Ex): A Penitent Blade pierced by arrows is a man at peace, for as his suffering damages his body, it also grants clarity to his mind. Beginning at 7th level, whenever a Penitent Blade would be subject to a condition as a result of their To Bear the Burden class feature, they are entitled to make any save or saves that their ally had failed in order to resist the conditions. A success or failure functions exactly as it would have in the original circumstance (such that if a failed save would have resulted in a partial condition for the Penitent Blade’s ally, it functions as such now).
From Acceptance, Strength (Su): Over the course of their lives, Penitent Blades learn to channel their pain into a source of untold power, a wellspring from which they draw during the heat of battle. When under the effects of To Bear the Burden, a Penitent Blade of 8th level or higher initiating a martial maneuver against an opponent may, as part of the initiating action, choose to expend a maneuver of the same level to transfer the condition affecting them to the opponent. If the attack succeeds and damage is dealt, the Penitent Blade is free from the condition, and the enemy must bear it in their stead.
If the Penitent Blade is immune to any of conditions from To Bear the Burden, they may expend two uses of the ability to “carry” it for purposes of From Acceptance, Strength. He may also "carry" any effect he successfully saved against as a result of his From Pain, Acceptance class feature even if it did not negatively affect him.
Serene Sorrow (Ex/Su): At 9th level, a Penitent Blade becomes immune to [mind-effecting] abilities as a result of the overwhelming sorrow filling his soul. This aspect of the ability is extraordinary. Any creature attempting to use such an ability on the Penitent Blade is instead forced to make any saves the ability would have required. If they fail, they themselves must bear its ill-effects. If no save would have been offered, they must bear its ill-effects and in addition receive an untyped -2 penalty to attack and damage rolls, armor class, and saves as a result of the backlash. This latter aspect is a supernatural ability, and can be negated as a result of anti-magic fields.
Strike of Unyielding Penitence (Su): A Penitent Blade of 10th level is a physical incarnation of the world’s pain and sorrow. Tears of obsidian roll down their cheeks, and their eyes gaze outward like silver mirrors. Once per day, a Penitent Blade may expend an immediate action to designate an opponent as an Unrepentant. Each time the Penitent Blade successfully uses a martial maneuver against that opponent, the creature is forced to confront the full weight of its sins.
As a result, each strike increases the creature’s encumbrance by one stage. Once a creature reaches their maximum encumbrance, they are treated as helpless. At this point, the Penitent Blade may at last use their Blade of a Thousand Regrets as it was meant to be used. As an executioner’s blade. Shedding a single obsidian tear, the Penitent Blade may execute the creature as a standard action, killing it instantly, regardless of its current status or hit points. There is no save. Creatures immune to death effects and/or critical hits are instead dealt 10d10 points of untyped damage.
Change Log:
1.0: Original version posted.
1.1: Full flavor text added. Minor grammar errors adjusted. Serene Sorrow made (Ex/Su). Unyielding Body now (Ex). Added clause to Strike of Unyielding Penitence regarding creatures immune to death effects and critical hits.
1.2: Clarification of Strike of Unyielding Penance, From Acceptance, Sorrow, and altered Blade of a Thousand Regrets and Unyielding Body.
http://i3.bebo.com/047/14/large/2009/06/04/21/1168308901a10966379826l.jpg
“Glory? There is no glory, no joy in battle. When a man raises his blade, all that surrounds him—and all that he knows in that moment—is emptiness. And so it is not for glory, or for riches, that I fight. I fight because I seek to bear the burden of death upon my own two shoulders, that others might not feel it’s cold embrace. Kneel, soldier, and seek your penance."
--Anselm von Adris, Penitent Blade
There are men and women who choose to fight for money. Others fight for power, for revenge, or to satisfy bloodlust. Penitent Blades are not those men and women. Penitent Blades have a wholly different conception of battle.
Battle is not a stage for empty heroics, nor is it something to take pleasure in. Battle is filled with despair. Dark, terrifying. And to a Penitent Blade, that is the way that it should be.
That way, people learn to fear battle and to choose the path of non-violence where possible. To bow their heads and ask forgiveness for the horrors they have wrought and the sorrow they have caused. To kneel and let their tears flow in the hopes that the gods will at last take pity on man and grant him an understanding of his pain and freedom from his burden.
Becoming a Penitent Blade
Entry Requirements
Skills: Martial Lore (5 Ranks)
BAB: +7
Maneuvers: Must know 8 maneuvers, at least two of which must be from the Penitent Martyr discipline.**
Special: Must have willingly fought a battle in defense of another at the risk of one’s own life, with no personal gain to be had of any kind.
**If the Penitent Martyr Discipline is not allowed in your campaign, substitute Devoted Spirit in it's stead.
CLASS SKILLS (4 + Int mod per level, x4 at 1st level)
The following skills are class skills for a Penitent Blade: Balance (Str), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (History), Listen (Wis), Martial Lore (Int), Ride (Str), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex).
Hit Die: d10
TABLE: The Penitent Blade
{table=head]Level|Base Attack|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Man. Known|Man. Readied|Stances Known
1st|+1|+2|+0|+2|Blade of a Thousand Regrets, Penitent Swordsmanship|0|0|0
2nd|+2|+3|+0|+3|Repentence Made Steel, To Bear the Burden|1|1|0
3rd|+3|+3|+1|+3|Resolve of the Bereaved|0|0|1
4th|+4|+4|+1|+4|Gift from the Depths of Grief|1|0|0
5th|+5|+4|+1|+4|Aura of Despair, Unyielding Body|0|1|0
6th|+6/+1|+5|+2|+5|Strength of the Sorrowful|1|0|0
7th|+7/+2|+5|+2|+5|From Pain, Acceptance|0|0|0
8th|+8/+3|+6|+2|+6|From Acceptance, Strength|1|1|1
9th|+9/+4|+6|+3|+6|Serene Sorrow|0|0|0
10th|+10/+5|+7|+3|+7|Strike of Undying Penitence|1|0|0
[/table]
CLASS FEATURES
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Pentitent Blades gain proficiency with Heavy Armor if they are not already proficient in its use.
Maneuvers Known/Readied: At each even-numbered level, you gain one new maneuver known, chosen from any four of the following disciplines: the Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Army of One ( http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5710173), or Penitent Martyr (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197195). This is decision is made at first level, and cannot be changed once made.
You must meet a maneuver’s prerequisites to learn it. You add your full Penitent Blade level to your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and the highest level of maneuver you can learn. If you have levels in an initiator class that allows you to exchange out maneuvers at certain levels, your Penitent Blade levels stack with your levels in that class for determining when you may exchange maneuvers. At 2rd, 5th and 8th level, you gain an additional maneuver readied each day.
Stances Known: At 3rd and 8th level, you gain a new martial stance known from any of the Devoted Spirit, Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, Army of One, or Penitent Martyr disciplines, limited to the four Disciplines chosen at 1st level. You must meet a stance’s prerequisites to learn it.
Blade of a Thousand Regrets: At 1st level, a Penitent Blade makes a pact with themselves and the world to demonstrate to others the sorrows of battle. As part of a week-long ritual, the Penitent Blade forges a special weapon known as a Blade of a Thousand Regrets. It is automatically of masterwork quality and possesses the Merciful enchantment (which does not count towards its normal enchantment ceiling), allowing it to deal non-lethal damage at the users wish. A Blade of a Thousand Regrets grows in power as the Pertinent Blade grows stronger. Starting at 2nd level, the weapon receives a +1 enhancement bonus its attack and damage rolls, and is treated as a magical weapon for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. At 4th level, and every even level after that, the enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls increases by +1, to a maximum of +5 at 10th level. The weapon can be enhanced further to a maximum of +10. However, because of it's nature, enchanting the weapon further is done as if the natural enhancement granted by this class feature was not present (so at 4th level, even though this class feature would give it a +2 enchantment bonus, the Penitent Blade could enchant the weapon as if it had no enchantment at all).
Additionally, the Penitent Blade may trade out the enhacement bonuses granted by this ability for weapon abilities/enchantments at a 1-to-1 cost. Every time a Penitent Blade spares an enemy from death, he may alter his weapon's chosen enchantments.
This weapon is the physical manifestation of all the sorrow in its wielders heart and has the following combat statistics (as for a Medium weapon):
A Blade of a Thousand Regrets is a reach weapon that is also capable of being used against adjacent opponents. When used with reach, it deals 1d10 damage and has a critical threat range of 20/x3. When used on an adjacent opponent, it deals 1d6 damage and has a critical threat range of 19-20/x2. It can be used for trip attacks, and grants its user a +2 bonus on any such attempt.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTc_JUrapGQduaftO818iYfzywtGEDPp pGnJucue30zJuFW4WQkk1jpXoqzBw
Penitent Swordsmanship (Ex): A Penitent Blade is most at ease when the battles do not involve the death of its participants. As a result of the value they place on life, beginning at 1st level, a Penitent Blade may add +1/2 Penitent Blade levels to his attack and damage rolls when dealing non-lethal damage. Furthermore, if the Penitent Blade succeeds in knocking a creature unconscious through non-lethal damage, he gains a morale bonus to Armor Class and saving throws for the rest of the encounter equal to 1/4th his character level.
Repentence Made Steel: Penitent Blades, rather than allowing their sorrow to weaken them, instead draw upon it as a source of strength and use it as a weapon. Beginning at 2nd level, the Penitent Blade gains the Weapon Focus feat with his Blade of a Thousand Regrets, and may treat it as a discipline weapon for a single chosen martial discipline. At 4th, 6th, and 8th level, he may choose a new discipline for which his Blade of a Thousand Regrets may be considered a discipline weapon.
To Bear the Burden (Su): All Penitent Blades fight with the well-being of their comrades in mind. They act as beacons to their allies, absorbing their sorrow and leaving their companions with joy, while they themselves bear the burden of pain and regret. By 2nd level, a Penitent Blade has learned how to shoulder burdens affecting his companions. As an immediate action 1/day per two Penitent Blade levels, the Penitent Blade may choose to bear any of the following status conditions in place of an ally within 30 feet. In essence, the Penitent Blade subjects himself to the conditions and spares the ally the attendant suffering. In other words, if a Penitent Blade's ally was Blinded, the Penitent Blade could choose to use this class feature to remove the Blinded condition from his ally, but in doing so would render himself Blinded.
The duration and magnitude of these effects are exactly as they would have been if the ally remained under their influence. A Penitent Blade cannot bear a condition he would normally be immune to (but see From Acceptance, Strength).
Valid Conditions: Blinded, Checked, Confused, Cowering, Dazed, Dazzled, Deafened, Exhausted, Fascinated, Fatigued, Frightened, Nauseated, Panicked, Paralyzed, Shaken, Sickened, Staggered, Stunned.
Resolve of the Bereaved (Ex): A Penitent Blade of 3rd level has reached a point where he is instinctively able to sense and aid a companion in danger. A number of times per day equal to 1/4th the Penitent Blade’s character level, he may spend an immediate action to allow an ally to use one of his base saves in place of their own for purposes of a saving throw.
Gift from the Depths of Grief (Su): A Penitent Blade in battle is a figure of unimaginable regret and pain. Having seen comrades fall into Death’s embrace, they stand and continue on, tears running down their blade. A Penitent Blade would do anything to prevent their comrades from dying, and as such, a Penitent Blade of 4th level or higher may use a Counter or Stance as normal, granting its benefits to any ally of their choice within 30 ft. as well as themselves. At 8th level, this ability can be used for the benefit of two allies. If the ally or allies leave the range of this ability, it ceases to effect them.
Aura of Despair (Ex): At 5th level, the despair in the Penitent Blade’s soul has become so overwhelming that it manifests outside their body as an aura of utter sadness and regret. All creatures within 30 feet of the Penitent Blade not considered allies must make a DC (10+1/2 character levels+Intelligence or Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher) Will Save or take a -1/4 character levels morale penalty to attack and damage rolls, as well as saves. This aura can be suppressed or resumed as a free action.
Unyielding Body (Ex/Su): At 5th level, a Penitent Blade gains the benefits of the Diehard feat even if they would not ordinarily meet its prerequisites. In addition, the Penitent Blade may cast Delay Death (with a CL equal to their class level) as a free action 1/day per two Penitent Blade levels, regardless of whether or not it is their turn. Once used, this ability may not be used again for five minutes.
Strength of the Sorrowful (Su): In a field of marigolds, Penitent Blades stands with their heads raised and their spirits girded, though death and destruction surround them. A Penitent Blade of 6th level gains a bonus equal to his Intelligence or Wisdom modifier, whichever is higher, to all saves.
From Pain, Acceptance (Ex): A Penitent Blade pierced by arrows is a man at peace, for as his suffering damages his body, it also grants clarity to his mind. Beginning at 7th level, whenever a Penitent Blade would be subject to a condition as a result of their To Bear the Burden class feature, they are entitled to make any save or saves that their ally had failed in order to resist the conditions. A success or failure functions exactly as it would have in the original circumstance (such that if a failed save would have resulted in a partial condition for the Penitent Blade’s ally, it functions as such now).
From Acceptance, Strength (Su): Over the course of their lives, Penitent Blades learn to channel their pain into a source of untold power, a wellspring from which they draw during the heat of battle. When under the effects of To Bear the Burden, a Penitent Blade of 8th level or higher initiating a martial maneuver against an opponent may, as part of the initiating action, choose to expend a maneuver of the same level to transfer the condition affecting them to the opponent. If the attack succeeds and damage is dealt, the Penitent Blade is free from the condition, and the enemy must bear it in their stead.
If the Penitent Blade is immune to any of conditions from To Bear the Burden, they may expend two uses of the ability to “carry” it for purposes of From Acceptance, Strength. He may also "carry" any effect he successfully saved against as a result of his From Pain, Acceptance class feature even if it did not negatively affect him.
Serene Sorrow (Ex/Su): At 9th level, a Penitent Blade becomes immune to [mind-effecting] abilities as a result of the overwhelming sorrow filling his soul. This aspect of the ability is extraordinary. Any creature attempting to use such an ability on the Penitent Blade is instead forced to make any saves the ability would have required. If they fail, they themselves must bear its ill-effects. If no save would have been offered, they must bear its ill-effects and in addition receive an untyped -2 penalty to attack and damage rolls, armor class, and saves as a result of the backlash. This latter aspect is a supernatural ability, and can be negated as a result of anti-magic fields.
Strike of Unyielding Penitence (Su): A Penitent Blade of 10th level is a physical incarnation of the world’s pain and sorrow. Tears of obsidian roll down their cheeks, and their eyes gaze outward like silver mirrors. Once per day, a Penitent Blade may expend an immediate action to designate an opponent as an Unrepentant. Each time the Penitent Blade successfully uses a martial maneuver against that opponent, the creature is forced to confront the full weight of its sins.
As a result, each strike increases the creature’s encumbrance by one stage. Once a creature reaches their maximum encumbrance, they are treated as helpless. At this point, the Penitent Blade may at last use their Blade of a Thousand Regrets as it was meant to be used. As an executioner’s blade. Shedding a single obsidian tear, the Penitent Blade may execute the creature as a standard action, killing it instantly, regardless of its current status or hit points. There is no save. Creatures immune to death effects and/or critical hits are instead dealt 10d10 points of untyped damage.
Change Log:
1.0: Original version posted.
1.1: Full flavor text added. Minor grammar errors adjusted. Serene Sorrow made (Ex/Su). Unyielding Body now (Ex). Added clause to Strike of Unyielding Penitence regarding creatures immune to death effects and critical hits.
1.2: Clarification of Strike of Unyielding Penance, From Acceptance, Sorrow, and altered Blade of a Thousand Regrets and Unyielding Body.