Zaydos
2014-02-06, 02:10 AM
Vestige Priest
”Through me you shall see the world.” – Aihaytrait Ingklaskwoats
A binder lets a vestige view the world through them. A vestige priest lets a vestige deep into their soul to share it. A vestige priest surrenders themselves completely, not even attempting to bend the vestige to their will. A vestige priest studies the art of drawing magical power from vestiges to channel into a variety of spells. In ways a vestige priest is all things that a cleric fears a binder is. They have turned from the gods as patrons, act in ways dangerous to themselves and others due to the influence of these otherworldly beings, and in so doing further the will of these mad beings many of whom were sealed from the world for a reason. Even heroic vestige priests showcase such behaviors as compulsively seizing power whenever they can see the opportunity to do so, general irritability in the light and a distaste for the clergy of gods of law and good, or compulsion to cause small calamity and fights between friends. They are not binders who can control these influences completely with relative ease, instead they must surrender to them at every opportunity or risk loss of their powers; some vestige priests show such constraint even when it means losing vital energy, but they are the rarer of their brethren. As such vestige priests often find themselves outcast, as their route to power requires them to give up a portion of their free will to accommodate the whims of a mad being from beyond the world.
Balance Point: With the vestige priest I was not trying to balance it against a binder. Instead I sought to find some point of balance against a tier 1 or 2 full caster. I am not sure if I succeeded, but that is the eternal nature of homebrew. In many ways this is close to “Anima Mage” the base class as far as power level is concerned.
Adventures: A vestige priest may seek lost lore related to the vestiges, be compelled by the whims and desires of a favored primary vestige who they have been bound to for so long that they’ve began to suffer a bleed of the vestige’s desires into theirs. Some vestige priests adventure for lust of power, while others see that a hero can find acceptance regardless of what else they are through deeds of grandeur and altruism.
Characteristics: A vestige priest binds vestiges much like a binder, and couples it with magical might with which to try and bend the world. Though frail in battle, a vestige priest can carry a wide variety of powerful capabilities which allow them to reshape the battlefield and match spells with beast and hero both.
Alignment: Vestige priests can be of any alignment. Even so few are good, for their route to power involves allowing yourself to be influenced by beings that often have destructive impulses you are forced to act upon; good vestige priests select their vestiges carefully, trying to avoid those which will cause suffering to others. Evil vestige priests are more common as they have little care for the effects of their actions on other beings. In law and chaos vestige priests are more split. The submission of one’s soul to another creature is an inherently un-Chaotic act, one that weighs heavily on the scale towards Law. Even so a vestige priest is one acting out against the strictures of society and tradition and doing so in a way that shows no care for the harm they could do to society as a whole, which is a highly Chaotic action.
Religion: Some vestige priests revere the vestiges themselves as if they were gods. Not all show them such religious awe but, even those vestige priests who do not see the vestiges as beings worthy of worship, rarely consider the gods worthy of it either. Those few vestige priests that do worship gods often turn towards gods of knowledge, particularly dark and secret knowledge, such as Vecna.
Background: One becomes a vestige priest much like one becomes a binder, and in fact they were possibly the original binders.
Races: Like binders vestige priests tend to be rare among all humanoid species, more common in the more immortal and godless races from closer to the dawn of creation.
Other Classes: A vestige priest appreciates anyone who can keep foes from them. That said their relation with paladins, clerics, and druids is strained at best. The more arcane minded are more likely to value and be interested in your power, but often they will clash heads as the two compare whose power is truly superior and less costly. Vestige priests and binders interact in what might be the most interesting way. To a vestige priest a binder is a sorry soul too scared to go all the way for power. To a binder a vestige priest is a fool who risks losing their very being in a hubristic desire for more and more power.
Role: A vestige priest is a caster first and foremost. What sort of mage they are varies with what vestiges they know and have bound, but a vestige priest remains a caster at all times.
Adaptation: A vestige priest’s fluff can undergo many of the same adaptations as a binder’s, and most likely will need to undergo related ones. Mechanically a weaker version of the vestige priest that brings their power more in line with that of a binder’s would be to limit them to 1 vestige till 12th level and to grant them spell progression equal to that of a bard’s (changing ingrained spell to 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 20th levels), delay vestige spells and remove greater vestige spells and the third deep bind entirely. In truth either the reduced spellcasting or reduced binds could be done to limit a vestige priest’s power, although both would be needed to bring them even relatively close to parity. Another option, possibly useful in conjunction with one or both of the above is to limit their vestige level more thoroughly. In this variant they are unable to fully bind a vestige at 1st level, only gaining the benefits associated with the Bind Vestige feat until 3rd level where they gain the ability to bind 1st level vestiges, gaining 2nd at 5th (or 3rd with improved binding feat), 3rd at 7th, 4th at 9th, 5th at 12th, 6th at 15th, and 7th at 19th, never gaining 8th without an Epic Feat. Another option is to not grant them any of the normal vestige abilities from a deep bound vestige and allow them to bind any vestige regardless of level (although this will require some modification of low level spells for higher level vestiges as they often have more powerful 1st and 2nd level spells than they otherwise would as they will not be available at low levels) but only gain spells from doing so.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Vestige Priests have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Wisdom determines the power of a vestige priest’s spells. Charisma determines the power of the supernatural abilities granted to them by their bound vestiges. Constitution determines a vestige priest’s health and toughness.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6
Starting Age: As wizard.
Starting Gold: 3d4 x 10 GP (75 GP).
Class Skills
The Vestige Priest's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (each skill taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at First Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier
CLASS NAME
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
_0_
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1st
+0
+0
+0
+2
Soul Binding (1 bind), Deep Binding
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2nd
+1
+0
+0
+3
Pact Scholar
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3rd
+1
+1
+1
+3
Vestige Metamagic
5
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Ingrained Spell
5
5
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Quickened Recovery
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Ingrained Spell
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
7th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Pact Cantrips
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
8th
+4
+2
+2
+6
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
9th
+4
+3
+3
+6
Soul Binding (2nd vestige), Second Deep Bind (1st level spells)
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
10th
+5
+3
+3
+7
Ingrained Spell, Second Deep Bind (2nd level spells)
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
11th
+5
+3
+3
+7
Second Deep Bind (Max spell level -1)
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
12th
+6
+4
+4
+8
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
13th
+6
+4
+4
+8
Pact Spells
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
14th
+7
+4
+4
+9
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
15th
+7
+5
+5
+9
Greater Vestige Metamagic
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
16th
+8
+5
+5
+10
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
17th
+8
+5
+5
+10
Soul Binding (3 Vestiges), Third Deep Bind (2nd level spells)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
18th
+9
+6
+6
+11
Ingrained Spell, Third Deep Bind (4th level spells)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
19th
+9
+6
+6
+11
Greater Quickened Recovery, Third Deep Bind (-2 max spell level)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
20th
+10
+6
+6
+12
Ingrained Spell, Greater Pact Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Vestige Priest
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Vestige Priest is proficient in simple weapons but neither armor nor shields.
Soulbinding: A vestige priest gains the ability to bind vestiges like a binder. This ability functions the same as a binder’s soul binding, except for the rate at which additional vestiges can be bound and as modified by Deep Bind (if used). A vestige priest with levels in binder may add their binder level to their vestige priest level to determine max level of vestige bound and may either use their binder level alone to determine the maximum level of vestiges that can be bound or add their binder level to their vestige priest level to determine how many vestiges they may bind simultaneously (but not number of deep binds). At 9th level a vestige priest can bind a 2nd vestige simultaneously, and at 17th level a vestige priest can bind a 3rd vestige simultaneously.
Deep Bind:: A vestige priest can make a deeper bond with a vestige than even a binder, opening their soul to let the vestige enter it. When making a deep bind a vestige priest must willingly forgo their binding check automatically accepting a bad pact and may not benefit from a feat or effect which allows them to ignore special requirements to bind the vestige. In exchange a vestige priest gains access to a list of spells known bestowed by the vestige (see below, each vestige has an individual list) up to the highest level spells they can cast. A vestige bound in a vestige priest’s deep bind is called their primary vestige. If a vestige priest goes against their primary vestige’s influence they lose access to all spells known granted by it for 1 minute, and suffer a -1 penalty to caster level for 1 hour.
A vestige priest may only make a Deep Bind with a vestige they know. A vestige priest gains 1 known 1st level vestige at 1st level in this class and one additional known vestige of any level they can bind at each level thereafter. Any class that increases a vestige priest’s soulbinding ability also increases their vestiges known (including binder which can grant them retroactively if you take Vestige Priest after Binder).
Spellcasting: A vestige priest casts spells granted to them by the various vestiges. These spells are neither divine nor arcane in origin, originating instead from the vestiges themselves. As such they do not suffer arcane spell failure, nor are they affected by effects that affect divine spells. A vestige priest casts spells from their list of spells known (whether granted by their deep bound vestiges, ingrained spells, universal cantrips, or otherwise obtained as a vestige priest spell known) spontaneously with no need to prepare them (like a sorcerer). A vestige priest may not cast spells unless their Wisdom score is at least 10 + the level of the spell, and both their bonus spells
If a vestige grants spells with the alignment descriptor it will either be marked as aligned or unaligned. If the vestige is aligned any vestige priest binding it in a deep bind may use those spells regardless of their own alignment (example Geryon). If a vestige is unaligned a vestige priest can only use those spells which have alignment descriptors matching their own alignment, and the vestige will normally grant the equivalent spell of the opposite alignment (example Balam). A vestige is always considered unaligned for spells added to their list through Ingrained Spell or other means.
If a vestige grants spells which have both an arcane material component or focus and a divine focus the vestige priest must provide the arcane material component/foci. If a spell, however, has only a divine focus without a material component that arcane casters must substitute the vestige priest uses the vestige’s sign as their focus (it must not be hidden) and the sign momentarily glows (enough to provide 5-ft shadowy illumination during the vestige priest’s action) while the spell is cast.
If a non-psionic vestige grants psionic powers they are used as spells, with any augmentation effects happening as if a number of power points were spent on them equal to the minimum power points to manifest a power of the same level as the spell slot used, unless the spent slot is of your highest available level in which case it is considered to have a number of power points spent equal to your caster level. Psionic powers cast as spells in this way have a verbal and somatic component as well as using the vestige’s sign as a component as described under Divine Foci above.
In the case of a psionic vestige you instead manifest all powers granted by them using your vestige priest caster level as your manifester level. You may (as part of manifesting a power) expend a spell slot to gain power points equal to twice its level -1 or equal to your vestige priest caster level if it is a slot of your highest level. You may expend multiple spell slot as part of casting a single spell, and you may retain these power points for later use, but they are lost when you recover your spells each day
If a vestige grants a shadowcaster mystery as a spell you are able to cast it as if it were a spell with a verbal and somatic component. Regardless of your caster level it is never treated as a spell-like ability or supernatural ability.
If I ever make a vestige grant an utterance as a spell I will be surprised and add rules here at that time… I must now, of course, make a vestige about truenaming which does just that.
Anti-magic: An antimagic field spell cast by a vestige priest does not suppress the supernatural powers of the vestige that granted it, even for other characters binding that vestige. This does not apply to an antimagic field spell granted through Ingrained Spell or another ability, this is an exception to the normal rule for Ingrained Spells that they count as granted by whatever vestige is most beneficial. If the antimagic field spell was granted by an Ingrained Spell it will suppress all of your vestiges’ abilities, on the other hand if you have the ability to cast 7th level spells and both Dahvler-Nar and Ronove deep bound and cast antimagic field you would select which vestige you cast the spell from and that vestige’s granted powers (for yourself and others) would not be affected by the antimagic field.
Universal Cantrips: A vestige priest knows the following spells regardless of what vestige (if any) they have deep bound. They may consider them the spells granted by any of their deep bound vestiges when beneficial.
Detect Magic
Detect VestigeTome of Magic
Read Magic
Pact Knowledge (Ex): A vestige priest has intimate knowledge of vestiges and the legends which surround them. When making a knowledge check which pertains to a vestige (including someone noted for binding that vestige) a vestige priest gains a +3 bonus to the check.
Vestige Metamagic (Ex): A vestige priest learns to channel the power of their vestige to apply metamagic more quickly. Beginning at 3rd level a vestige priest may apply metamagic to a spell without increasing its casting time by expending all 5 round recharge abilities (even if they have had this recharge time reduced through feats or effects) of the vestige which grants the spell as a spell known. To use this ability the vestige must have all of its 5 round recharge abilities available for use; in the case of a vestige which has no recharge abilities this ability itself counts as a recharge ability (and as such cannot be used for 5 rounds after it has been used affected by any abilities which make these powers recharge more quickly). Due to the tenuous connection a vestige has with the multiverse this ability may not be used in conjunction with metamagic which increases the spell’s duration.
Ingrained Spell: Certain spells learned by a vestige priest becomes more deeply tied to their spirit. At 4th level, and every even level thereafter, a vestige priest may select 1 spell of any level less than their highest spell level that is a spell known granted by any of their known vestiges. That spell is always considered a spell known for the vestige priest regardless of vestige(s) bound and they may consider them the spells granted by any of their deep bound vestiges when beneficial. At 20th level a vestige priest may select any spell known granted by any of their known vestiges regardless of its level. Any level which advances a vestige priest’s spellcasting in vestige priest stacks with vestige priest levels for Ingrained Spell (and Greater Ingrained Spell).
Quickened Recovery (Su): A vestige priest’s deep pacts allow a vestige to draw more power from the vestige priest and recover the ability to use their abilities more quickly. Beginning at 5th level a vestige priest recovers the abilities of a deep bound vestige one round more quickly (4 rounds instead of 5) than normal; no combination of effects including this one may reduce the time to recover a vestige’s abilities to below 3 rounds.
Pact Cantrips (Su): A vestige priest’s deep connection allows them to draw near limitless power with which to cast weak spells. Beginning at 7th level a vestige priest cast 0 level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 0 level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 0 level spell slots available.
Second Deep Bind: Beginning at 9th level a vestige priest may have 2 deep binds simultaneously. The vestige bound in a vestige priest’s 2nd deep bind is considered their secondary vestige and cannot be of the highest level vestige they have available to them. In addition you are limited in the spells known granted by your secondary vestige. At 9th level this is limited to 1st level or lower spells, gaining 2nd at 10th, and up to 1 less than the highest level spell slot granted by vestige priest at 11th. Class levels (in other classes) that improve your vestige priest spellcasting are added to your vestige priest level to determine what levels of spells are granted by your Second Deep Bind and whether you gain a Second Deep Bind (although you must be able to bind 2 vestiges to gain a Second Deep Bind).
Pact Spells (Su): Beginning at 13th level a vestige priest can cast 1st level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 1st level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 1st level spell slots available.
Greater Vestige Metamagic (Su): By channeling all of a vestige’s power towards their magic a vestige priest can apply a metamagic ability without expending as much magical energy. Beginning at 15th level a vestige priest can reduce the total level adjustment from metamagic on a spell they are casting by 2 levels (but never below +0) and ignore the increase to casting time for applying metamagic to a spontaneous spell by forsaking all of their primary vestige’s abilities, not including spells known, for 5 rounds (affected by effects which speed vestige recovery). A vestige priest must have spell slots granted by the vestige priest class of a level high enough to cast the spell with the metamagic applied without using this ability, the spell must be cast as a vestige priest, and the spell must be granted as a spell known by their primary vestige. Their primary vestige must have all their rechargeable abilities (including vestige metamagic) available. Like Vestige Metamagic this ability cannot be used with spells that have metamagic applied which increases their duration.
Third Deep Bind: Beginning at 17th level a vestige priest may have 3 deep binds simultaneously. The vestige bound in a vestige priest’s 3rd deep bind is considered their tertiary vestige and cannot be of the highest level vestige they have available to them. In addition you are limited in the spells known granted by your secondary vestige. At 17th level this is limited to 2nd level or lower spells, gaining 4th at 18th, and up to 2 less than the highest level spell slot granted by vestige priest at 19th. Class levels (in other classes) that improve your vestige priest spellcasting are added to your vestige priest level to determine what levels of spells are granted by your Third Deep Bind and whether you gain a Third Deep Bind (although you must be able to bind 3 vestiges to gain a Third Deep Bind).
Greater Quickened Vestige (Su): At 19th level a vestige priest’s bond with their primary vestige is so deep that they recover expended abilities 2 rounds quicker than normal (including Vestige Metamagic). This may never be used as part of a combination to get a vestige’s recovery time below 2 rounds, nor may it be used to quicken the recovery of the vestige when Greater Vestige Metamagic is used.
Greater Pact Spells (Su): At 20th level a vestige priest’s Pact Spells ability extends to 2nd level spells. They can cast 2nd level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 2nd level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 2nd level spell slots available.
”Through me you shall see the world.” – Aihaytrait Ingklaskwoats
A binder lets a vestige view the world through them. A vestige priest lets a vestige deep into their soul to share it. A vestige priest surrenders themselves completely, not even attempting to bend the vestige to their will. A vestige priest studies the art of drawing magical power from vestiges to channel into a variety of spells. In ways a vestige priest is all things that a cleric fears a binder is. They have turned from the gods as patrons, act in ways dangerous to themselves and others due to the influence of these otherworldly beings, and in so doing further the will of these mad beings many of whom were sealed from the world for a reason. Even heroic vestige priests showcase such behaviors as compulsively seizing power whenever they can see the opportunity to do so, general irritability in the light and a distaste for the clergy of gods of law and good, or compulsion to cause small calamity and fights between friends. They are not binders who can control these influences completely with relative ease, instead they must surrender to them at every opportunity or risk loss of their powers; some vestige priests show such constraint even when it means losing vital energy, but they are the rarer of their brethren. As such vestige priests often find themselves outcast, as their route to power requires them to give up a portion of their free will to accommodate the whims of a mad being from beyond the world.
Balance Point: With the vestige priest I was not trying to balance it against a binder. Instead I sought to find some point of balance against a tier 1 or 2 full caster. I am not sure if I succeeded, but that is the eternal nature of homebrew. In many ways this is close to “Anima Mage” the base class as far as power level is concerned.
Adventures: A vestige priest may seek lost lore related to the vestiges, be compelled by the whims and desires of a favored primary vestige who they have been bound to for so long that they’ve began to suffer a bleed of the vestige’s desires into theirs. Some vestige priests adventure for lust of power, while others see that a hero can find acceptance regardless of what else they are through deeds of grandeur and altruism.
Characteristics: A vestige priest binds vestiges much like a binder, and couples it with magical might with which to try and bend the world. Though frail in battle, a vestige priest can carry a wide variety of powerful capabilities which allow them to reshape the battlefield and match spells with beast and hero both.
Alignment: Vestige priests can be of any alignment. Even so few are good, for their route to power involves allowing yourself to be influenced by beings that often have destructive impulses you are forced to act upon; good vestige priests select their vestiges carefully, trying to avoid those which will cause suffering to others. Evil vestige priests are more common as they have little care for the effects of their actions on other beings. In law and chaos vestige priests are more split. The submission of one’s soul to another creature is an inherently un-Chaotic act, one that weighs heavily on the scale towards Law. Even so a vestige priest is one acting out against the strictures of society and tradition and doing so in a way that shows no care for the harm they could do to society as a whole, which is a highly Chaotic action.
Religion: Some vestige priests revere the vestiges themselves as if they were gods. Not all show them such religious awe but, even those vestige priests who do not see the vestiges as beings worthy of worship, rarely consider the gods worthy of it either. Those few vestige priests that do worship gods often turn towards gods of knowledge, particularly dark and secret knowledge, such as Vecna.
Background: One becomes a vestige priest much like one becomes a binder, and in fact they were possibly the original binders.
Races: Like binders vestige priests tend to be rare among all humanoid species, more common in the more immortal and godless races from closer to the dawn of creation.
Other Classes: A vestige priest appreciates anyone who can keep foes from them. That said their relation with paladins, clerics, and druids is strained at best. The more arcane minded are more likely to value and be interested in your power, but often they will clash heads as the two compare whose power is truly superior and less costly. Vestige priests and binders interact in what might be the most interesting way. To a vestige priest a binder is a sorry soul too scared to go all the way for power. To a binder a vestige priest is a fool who risks losing their very being in a hubristic desire for more and more power.
Role: A vestige priest is a caster first and foremost. What sort of mage they are varies with what vestiges they know and have bound, but a vestige priest remains a caster at all times.
Adaptation: A vestige priest’s fluff can undergo many of the same adaptations as a binder’s, and most likely will need to undergo related ones. Mechanically a weaker version of the vestige priest that brings their power more in line with that of a binder’s would be to limit them to 1 vestige till 12th level and to grant them spell progression equal to that of a bard’s (changing ingrained spell to 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 20th levels), delay vestige spells and remove greater vestige spells and the third deep bind entirely. In truth either the reduced spellcasting or reduced binds could be done to limit a vestige priest’s power, although both would be needed to bring them even relatively close to parity. Another option, possibly useful in conjunction with one or both of the above is to limit their vestige level more thoroughly. In this variant they are unable to fully bind a vestige at 1st level, only gaining the benefits associated with the Bind Vestige feat until 3rd level where they gain the ability to bind 1st level vestiges, gaining 2nd at 5th (or 3rd with improved binding feat), 3rd at 7th, 4th at 9th, 5th at 12th, 6th at 15th, and 7th at 19th, never gaining 8th without an Epic Feat. Another option is to not grant them any of the normal vestige abilities from a deep bound vestige and allow them to bind any vestige regardless of level (although this will require some modification of low level spells for higher level vestiges as they often have more powerful 1st and 2nd level spells than they otherwise would as they will not be available at low levels) but only gain spells from doing so.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Vestige Priests have the following game statistics.
Abilities: Wisdom determines the power of a vestige priest’s spells. Charisma determines the power of the supernatural abilities granted to them by their bound vestiges. Constitution determines a vestige priest’s health and toughness.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d6
Starting Age: As wizard.
Starting Gold: 3d4 x 10 GP (75 GP).
Class Skills
The Vestige Priest's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (each skill taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at First Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier
CLASS NAME
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
_0_
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
1st
+0
+0
+0
+2
Soul Binding (1 bind), Deep Binding
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2nd
+1
+0
+0
+3
Pact Scholar
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3rd
+1
+1
+1
+3
Vestige Metamagic
5
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Ingrained Spell
5
5
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5th
+2
+1
+1
+4
Quickened Recovery
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Ingrained Spell
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
7th
+3
+2
+2
+5
Pact Cantrips
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
8th
+4
+2
+2
+6
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
9th
+4
+3
+3
+6
Soul Binding (2nd vestige), Second Deep Bind (1st level spells)
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
-
10th
+5
+3
+3
+7
Ingrained Spell, Second Deep Bind (2nd level spells)
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
-
11th
+5
+3
+3
+7
Second Deep Bind (Max spell level -1)
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
-
12th
+6
+4
+4
+8
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
-
13th
+6
+4
+4
+8
Pact Spells
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
-
14th
+7
+4
+4
+9
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
-
15th
+7
+5
+5
+9
Greater Vestige Metamagic
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
-
16th
+8
+5
+5
+10
Ingrained Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
-
17th
+8
+5
+5
+10
Soul Binding (3 Vestiges), Third Deep Bind (2nd level spells)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
-
18th
+9
+6
+6
+11
Ingrained Spell, Third Deep Bind (4th level spells)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
2
19th
+9
+6
+6
+11
Greater Quickened Recovery, Third Deep Bind (-2 max spell level)
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
20th
+10
+6
+6
+12
Ingrained Spell, Greater Pact Spell
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Vestige Priest
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Vestige Priest is proficient in simple weapons but neither armor nor shields.
Soulbinding: A vestige priest gains the ability to bind vestiges like a binder. This ability functions the same as a binder’s soul binding, except for the rate at which additional vestiges can be bound and as modified by Deep Bind (if used). A vestige priest with levels in binder may add their binder level to their vestige priest level to determine max level of vestige bound and may either use their binder level alone to determine the maximum level of vestiges that can be bound or add their binder level to their vestige priest level to determine how many vestiges they may bind simultaneously (but not number of deep binds). At 9th level a vestige priest can bind a 2nd vestige simultaneously, and at 17th level a vestige priest can bind a 3rd vestige simultaneously.
Deep Bind:: A vestige priest can make a deeper bond with a vestige than even a binder, opening their soul to let the vestige enter it. When making a deep bind a vestige priest must willingly forgo their binding check automatically accepting a bad pact and may not benefit from a feat or effect which allows them to ignore special requirements to bind the vestige. In exchange a vestige priest gains access to a list of spells known bestowed by the vestige (see below, each vestige has an individual list) up to the highest level spells they can cast. A vestige bound in a vestige priest’s deep bind is called their primary vestige. If a vestige priest goes against their primary vestige’s influence they lose access to all spells known granted by it for 1 minute, and suffer a -1 penalty to caster level for 1 hour.
A vestige priest may only make a Deep Bind with a vestige they know. A vestige priest gains 1 known 1st level vestige at 1st level in this class and one additional known vestige of any level they can bind at each level thereafter. Any class that increases a vestige priest’s soulbinding ability also increases their vestiges known (including binder which can grant them retroactively if you take Vestige Priest after Binder).
Spellcasting: A vestige priest casts spells granted to them by the various vestiges. These spells are neither divine nor arcane in origin, originating instead from the vestiges themselves. As such they do not suffer arcane spell failure, nor are they affected by effects that affect divine spells. A vestige priest casts spells from their list of spells known (whether granted by their deep bound vestiges, ingrained spells, universal cantrips, or otherwise obtained as a vestige priest spell known) spontaneously with no need to prepare them (like a sorcerer). A vestige priest may not cast spells unless their Wisdom score is at least 10 + the level of the spell, and both their bonus spells
If a vestige grants spells with the alignment descriptor it will either be marked as aligned or unaligned. If the vestige is aligned any vestige priest binding it in a deep bind may use those spells regardless of their own alignment (example Geryon). If a vestige is unaligned a vestige priest can only use those spells which have alignment descriptors matching their own alignment, and the vestige will normally grant the equivalent spell of the opposite alignment (example Balam). A vestige is always considered unaligned for spells added to their list through Ingrained Spell or other means.
If a vestige grants spells which have both an arcane material component or focus and a divine focus the vestige priest must provide the arcane material component/foci. If a spell, however, has only a divine focus without a material component that arcane casters must substitute the vestige priest uses the vestige’s sign as their focus (it must not be hidden) and the sign momentarily glows (enough to provide 5-ft shadowy illumination during the vestige priest’s action) while the spell is cast.
If a non-psionic vestige grants psionic powers they are used as spells, with any augmentation effects happening as if a number of power points were spent on them equal to the minimum power points to manifest a power of the same level as the spell slot used, unless the spent slot is of your highest available level in which case it is considered to have a number of power points spent equal to your caster level. Psionic powers cast as spells in this way have a verbal and somatic component as well as using the vestige’s sign as a component as described under Divine Foci above.
In the case of a psionic vestige you instead manifest all powers granted by them using your vestige priest caster level as your manifester level. You may (as part of manifesting a power) expend a spell slot to gain power points equal to twice its level -1 or equal to your vestige priest caster level if it is a slot of your highest level. You may expend multiple spell slot as part of casting a single spell, and you may retain these power points for later use, but they are lost when you recover your spells each day
If a vestige grants a shadowcaster mystery as a spell you are able to cast it as if it were a spell with a verbal and somatic component. Regardless of your caster level it is never treated as a spell-like ability or supernatural ability.
If I ever make a vestige grant an utterance as a spell I will be surprised and add rules here at that time… I must now, of course, make a vestige about truenaming which does just that.
Anti-magic: An antimagic field spell cast by a vestige priest does not suppress the supernatural powers of the vestige that granted it, even for other characters binding that vestige. This does not apply to an antimagic field spell granted through Ingrained Spell or another ability, this is an exception to the normal rule for Ingrained Spells that they count as granted by whatever vestige is most beneficial. If the antimagic field spell was granted by an Ingrained Spell it will suppress all of your vestiges’ abilities, on the other hand if you have the ability to cast 7th level spells and both Dahvler-Nar and Ronove deep bound and cast antimagic field you would select which vestige you cast the spell from and that vestige’s granted powers (for yourself and others) would not be affected by the antimagic field.
Universal Cantrips: A vestige priest knows the following spells regardless of what vestige (if any) they have deep bound. They may consider them the spells granted by any of their deep bound vestiges when beneficial.
Detect Magic
Detect VestigeTome of Magic
Read Magic
Pact Knowledge (Ex): A vestige priest has intimate knowledge of vestiges and the legends which surround them. When making a knowledge check which pertains to a vestige (including someone noted for binding that vestige) a vestige priest gains a +3 bonus to the check.
Vestige Metamagic (Ex): A vestige priest learns to channel the power of their vestige to apply metamagic more quickly. Beginning at 3rd level a vestige priest may apply metamagic to a spell without increasing its casting time by expending all 5 round recharge abilities (even if they have had this recharge time reduced through feats or effects) of the vestige which grants the spell as a spell known. To use this ability the vestige must have all of its 5 round recharge abilities available for use; in the case of a vestige which has no recharge abilities this ability itself counts as a recharge ability (and as such cannot be used for 5 rounds after it has been used affected by any abilities which make these powers recharge more quickly). Due to the tenuous connection a vestige has with the multiverse this ability may not be used in conjunction with metamagic which increases the spell’s duration.
Ingrained Spell: Certain spells learned by a vestige priest becomes more deeply tied to their spirit. At 4th level, and every even level thereafter, a vestige priest may select 1 spell of any level less than their highest spell level that is a spell known granted by any of their known vestiges. That spell is always considered a spell known for the vestige priest regardless of vestige(s) bound and they may consider them the spells granted by any of their deep bound vestiges when beneficial. At 20th level a vestige priest may select any spell known granted by any of their known vestiges regardless of its level. Any level which advances a vestige priest’s spellcasting in vestige priest stacks with vestige priest levels for Ingrained Spell (and Greater Ingrained Spell).
Quickened Recovery (Su): A vestige priest’s deep pacts allow a vestige to draw more power from the vestige priest and recover the ability to use their abilities more quickly. Beginning at 5th level a vestige priest recovers the abilities of a deep bound vestige one round more quickly (4 rounds instead of 5) than normal; no combination of effects including this one may reduce the time to recover a vestige’s abilities to below 3 rounds.
Pact Cantrips (Su): A vestige priest’s deep connection allows them to draw near limitless power with which to cast weak spells. Beginning at 7th level a vestige priest cast 0 level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 0 level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 0 level spell slots available.
Second Deep Bind: Beginning at 9th level a vestige priest may have 2 deep binds simultaneously. The vestige bound in a vestige priest’s 2nd deep bind is considered their secondary vestige and cannot be of the highest level vestige they have available to them. In addition you are limited in the spells known granted by your secondary vestige. At 9th level this is limited to 1st level or lower spells, gaining 2nd at 10th, and up to 1 less than the highest level spell slot granted by vestige priest at 11th. Class levels (in other classes) that improve your vestige priest spellcasting are added to your vestige priest level to determine what levels of spells are granted by your Second Deep Bind and whether you gain a Second Deep Bind (although you must be able to bind 2 vestiges to gain a Second Deep Bind).
Pact Spells (Su): Beginning at 13th level a vestige priest can cast 1st level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 1st level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 1st level spell slots available.
Greater Vestige Metamagic (Su): By channeling all of a vestige’s power towards their magic a vestige priest can apply a metamagic ability without expending as much magical energy. Beginning at 15th level a vestige priest can reduce the total level adjustment from metamagic on a spell they are casting by 2 levels (but never below +0) and ignore the increase to casting time for applying metamagic to a spontaneous spell by forsaking all of their primary vestige’s abilities, not including spells known, for 5 rounds (affected by effects which speed vestige recovery). A vestige priest must have spell slots granted by the vestige priest class of a level high enough to cast the spell with the metamagic applied without using this ability, the spell must be cast as a vestige priest, and the spell must be granted as a spell known by their primary vestige. Their primary vestige must have all their rechargeable abilities (including vestige metamagic) available. Like Vestige Metamagic this ability cannot be used with spells that have metamagic applied which increases their duration.
Third Deep Bind: Beginning at 17th level a vestige priest may have 3 deep binds simultaneously. The vestige bound in a vestige priest’s 3rd deep bind is considered their tertiary vestige and cannot be of the highest level vestige they have available to them. In addition you are limited in the spells known granted by your secondary vestige. At 17th level this is limited to 2nd level or lower spells, gaining 4th at 18th, and up to 2 less than the highest level spell slot granted by vestige priest at 19th. Class levels (in other classes) that improve your vestige priest spellcasting are added to your vestige priest level to determine what levels of spells are granted by your Third Deep Bind and whether you gain a Third Deep Bind (although you must be able to bind 3 vestiges to gain a Third Deep Bind).
Greater Quickened Vestige (Su): At 19th level a vestige priest’s bond with their primary vestige is so deep that they recover expended abilities 2 rounds quicker than normal (including Vestige Metamagic). This may never be used as part of a combination to get a vestige’s recovery time below 2 rounds, nor may it be used to quicken the recovery of the vestige when Greater Vestige Metamagic is used.
Greater Pact Spells (Su): At 20th level a vestige priest’s Pact Spells ability extends to 2nd level spells. They can cast 2nd level spells granted by their primary vestige even when they are out of 2nd level spell slots. A vestige priest must still spend a spell slot to cast these spells if metamagic is applied to them (even +0 metamagic), or if they still have 2nd level spell slots available.