Zaydos
2016-09-16, 06:15 PM
Dancer of Blades
"One moment my fair mademoiselle, I will remove this nuisance for you."
The vestige Paimon, the Dancer, is one of many, but he has his devotees perhaps more than most. Skilled swordsmen as well as binders these 'dancers of blades' emulate Paimon himself, moving with grace across the battlefield that is practically a dance, and wielding rapier and shortsword with a skill to breed jealousy in the hearts of their rivals.
Becoming a Dancer of Blades
To become a dancer of blades one must make themselves one with Paimon. They must learn to tumble and dance as the Dancer once did, and master his arms, the technique of fighting with a pair of duelist's swords, or the pair of blades he bore before his final demise. Beyond that one must simply learn to move and flow with the dancer's spirit.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
BAB: +3
Feats: Two Weapon Fighting
Skills: Perform (dance) 4 ranks, Tumble 4 rans.
Special: Must be able to bind Paimon and gain all of his granted powers.
Special: Must have bound Paimon and chosen to forgo your pact making check and accepted his influence willingly.
Class Skills
The Dancer of Blade's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), and Tumble (Dex).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d10
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecial
1st
+1
+2
+2
+0Bound to Paimon, Bladed Hands, Dance of Battle, Quick Dance
2nd
+2
+3
+3
+0Skirmish +1d6, Soulbinding +1, Superior Weapon Finesse
3rd
+3
+3
+3
+1Uncanny Dodge, Paimon's Aid, Talented Two-Weapon Fighting
4th
+4
+4
+4
+1Improved Paimon's Skills, Skirmish +1d6/+1 AC, Soulbinding +2
5th
+5
+4
+4
+1Rebuke Deadly Dancer, Relentless Dance of Death, Superior Dance of Death, Soulbinding +3.
Weapon Proficiencies: A Dancer of Blades gains proficiency with rapiers and shortswords.
Bound to Paimon: A Dancer of Blades draws additional strength from their pact with Paimon the Dancer. When they do not have Paimon bound they lose all Su abilities of this class except increases to their Soulbinding ability.
Bladed Hands (Su): A Dancer of Blades treats their blades as extensions of their own body. Whenever a Dancer of Blades may make an attack with one weapon outside of an attack of opportunity or full attack, such as at the end of a charge, as a standard action, when using Whirlwind Attack or Dance of Death, they may make a single attack with each weapon they wield. They take the normal penalties for attacking with multiple weapons, and if there is a special effect carried on an attack (such as the benefits of a martial strike, or Smite Evil) it only applies to one of the attacks unless it would normally apply to all attacks the Dancer of Blades made (such as with a martial boost, or Sneak Attack)
Dance of Battle (Su): While able to move and not stunned a Dancer of Blades is always moving and weaving, living the dance of battle. As long as a dancer of blades is unarmored, not wearing a shield, not carrying a medium or heavier load, not stunned, and not helpless they gain a bonus to AC equal to their Charisma modifier (if positive) plus 1/2 their Dancer of Blades level rounded up.
Quick Dance (Su): A Dancer of Blades may move at full speed (instead of 1/2) while dancing.
Skirmish (Ex): A Dancer of Blades gains the Skirmish ability as a Scout 1 level lower. If they have the Swift Hunter feat they may treat their Dancer of Blades levels as Scout levels for the purposes of that feat (although their skirmish remains 1 level lower than normal). A Dancer of Blades with Scout levels does not gain the Dancer of Blades Skirmish progression but adds their Dancer of Blades level - 1 to their Scout level to determine their Skirmish ability.
Soul Binding Bonus: At each dancer of blades level except 1st and 3rd, your soul binding ability improves as if you had also gained a level in the binder class. Your dancer of blades levels and binder levels stack for the purpose of determining your bonus on binding checks, the effectiveness of your vestige-granted abilities, your ability to bind higher-level vestiges, and the number of vestiges you can bind. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a binder would have gained.
Superior Weapon Finesse (Su): Paimon emphasizes pure speed and finesse over strength and force, and with him bound so too do you. Beginning at 2nd level while Paimon is bound you may add your Dexterity modifier if positive as a bonus to melee attack and damage with finessable weapons. This does not stack with Shadow Blade, a Wildwood Knight's Agile Weapon Mastery, or similar abilities.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 3rd level a Dancer of Blades gains Uncanny Dodge even when they do not have Paimon bound. If they already have Uncanny Dodge they gain Improved Uncanny Dodge. If they bind Paimon this increases to Improved Uncanny Dodge.
Paimon's Aid (Su): Many Dancers of Blades do not even attempt to form a good pact with Paimon, voluntarily letting him fill them almost completely. Beginning at 3rd level when a Dancer of Blades is in a poor pact with Paimon his presence steadies them and strengthens them against other influences. They gain a +2 bonus to Will saves against mind-affecting effects and add their class level to binding checks (this is in addition to the benefits to binding checks from advancing soulbinding 1 to 3 times).
Talented Two-Weapon Fighting (Su): While Paimon is bound a Dancer of Blades finds that their weapons flow like water in their hands. Beginning at 3rd level as long as Paimon is bound a Dancer of Blades is considered to have Improved Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat as long as their BAB is +6 or higher, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting as long as their BAB is +11 or higher, and if their BAB is +16 or higher they may make another additional attack with their off-hand weapon at -15. Finally they may now make an attack with each weapon in place of their normal attack when making an attack of opportunity (this still only counts as making 1 attack of opportunity).
Improved Paimon's Skills (Su): A Dancer of Blades draws more and more of Paimon into them. Beginning at 4th level a Dancer of Blades adds their class level to Tumble and Perform (Dance) checks, in addition Paimon was quite favored with the ladies, and a Dancer of Blades adds their class level to all Charisma checks and Charisma based skill checks to interact with female creatures (this does not apply twice to Perform (Dance)).
Rebuke Deadly Dancer (Su): A dancer of blades bears a kinship with the creatures known as deadly dancers and can exploit it to make them cower or obey. Beginning at 5th level while Paimon is bound a dancer of blades may rebuke (or command) deadly dancers as an evil cleric of their effective binder level for Paimon rebukes undead.
Relentless Deadly Dance (Su): A dancer of blades can maintain the dance seemingly endlessly, always moving, and always slaying. Beginning at 5th level a dancer of blades no longer has to wait 5 rounds between uses of deadly dance but can use it every round.
Superior Deadly Dance (Su): A dancer of blades can draw more power and fury from their deadly dance than others who bind the Dancer. Beginning at 5th level once per day when a dancer of blades uses Paimon's Dance of Death ability they may make a full attack instead of an attack against each creature they could make an attack against and do not forfeit extra attacks (in the case of extra attacks that apply to each full attack such as haste they get them against each targets).
Playing a Dancer of Blades
A dancer of blades is a binder who has chosen to pour their emphasis on a single vestige, even more so than a Knight of the Sacred Seal. Taking it further they feel a specific kinship for one given vestige. Many dancers of blades see aspects of Paimon in them, even without his influence they are normally lascivious and bold, and quick with a rapier-wit and equally so with their blade. They often have a bit of the dandy or fop in them, and more than their share of the would-be Casanova or Lothario, and scoundrel as well.
Combat: Dancers of blades are mobile combatants reliant upon dual-wielding and large Dexterity modifiers, made larger by Paimon's granted +4 to Dexterity.
Dancers of Blades in the World
"What kind of monster lets a creature of nightmares into their soul? And why does my fair Oralaine prefer him?"
Dancers of Blades suffer all the stigma of a binder. Their eloquence and charisma may help them to an extent with that, but their tendency to play the seducer wins them at least as many foes as friends.
Organizations: While Dancers of Blades may join various duelists leagues and even binder cabals, they rarely congregate with each other. Helping to mentor a young binder to start the path is one thing, but sharing territory with one. No. They prefer space between each other.
"One moment my fair mademoiselle, I will remove this nuisance for you."
The vestige Paimon, the Dancer, is one of many, but he has his devotees perhaps more than most. Skilled swordsmen as well as binders these 'dancers of blades' emulate Paimon himself, moving with grace across the battlefield that is practically a dance, and wielding rapier and shortsword with a skill to breed jealousy in the hearts of their rivals.
Becoming a Dancer of Blades
To become a dancer of blades one must make themselves one with Paimon. They must learn to tumble and dance as the Dancer once did, and master his arms, the technique of fighting with a pair of duelist's swords, or the pair of blades he bore before his final demise. Beyond that one must simply learn to move and flow with the dancer's spirit.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
BAB: +3
Feats: Two Weapon Fighting
Skills: Perform (dance) 4 ranks, Tumble 4 rans.
Special: Must be able to bind Paimon and gain all of his granted powers.
Special: Must have bound Paimon and chosen to forgo your pact making check and accepted his influence willingly.
Class Skills
The Dancer of Blade's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), and Tumble (Dex).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int
Hit Dice: d10
LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecial
1st
+1
+2
+2
+0Bound to Paimon, Bladed Hands, Dance of Battle, Quick Dance
2nd
+2
+3
+3
+0Skirmish +1d6, Soulbinding +1, Superior Weapon Finesse
3rd
+3
+3
+3
+1Uncanny Dodge, Paimon's Aid, Talented Two-Weapon Fighting
4th
+4
+4
+4
+1Improved Paimon's Skills, Skirmish +1d6/+1 AC, Soulbinding +2
5th
+5
+4
+4
+1Rebuke Deadly Dancer, Relentless Dance of Death, Superior Dance of Death, Soulbinding +3.
Weapon Proficiencies: A Dancer of Blades gains proficiency with rapiers and shortswords.
Bound to Paimon: A Dancer of Blades draws additional strength from their pact with Paimon the Dancer. When they do not have Paimon bound they lose all Su abilities of this class except increases to their Soulbinding ability.
Bladed Hands (Su): A Dancer of Blades treats their blades as extensions of their own body. Whenever a Dancer of Blades may make an attack with one weapon outside of an attack of opportunity or full attack, such as at the end of a charge, as a standard action, when using Whirlwind Attack or Dance of Death, they may make a single attack with each weapon they wield. They take the normal penalties for attacking with multiple weapons, and if there is a special effect carried on an attack (such as the benefits of a martial strike, or Smite Evil) it only applies to one of the attacks unless it would normally apply to all attacks the Dancer of Blades made (such as with a martial boost, or Sneak Attack)
Dance of Battle (Su): While able to move and not stunned a Dancer of Blades is always moving and weaving, living the dance of battle. As long as a dancer of blades is unarmored, not wearing a shield, not carrying a medium or heavier load, not stunned, and not helpless they gain a bonus to AC equal to their Charisma modifier (if positive) plus 1/2 their Dancer of Blades level rounded up.
Quick Dance (Su): A Dancer of Blades may move at full speed (instead of 1/2) while dancing.
Skirmish (Ex): A Dancer of Blades gains the Skirmish ability as a Scout 1 level lower. If they have the Swift Hunter feat they may treat their Dancer of Blades levels as Scout levels for the purposes of that feat (although their skirmish remains 1 level lower than normal). A Dancer of Blades with Scout levels does not gain the Dancer of Blades Skirmish progression but adds their Dancer of Blades level - 1 to their Scout level to determine their Skirmish ability.
Soul Binding Bonus: At each dancer of blades level except 1st and 3rd, your soul binding ability improves as if you had also gained a level in the binder class. Your dancer of blades levels and binder levels stack for the purpose of determining your bonus on binding checks, the effectiveness of your vestige-granted abilities, your ability to bind higher-level vestiges, and the number of vestiges you can bind. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a binder would have gained.
Superior Weapon Finesse (Su): Paimon emphasizes pure speed and finesse over strength and force, and with him bound so too do you. Beginning at 2nd level while Paimon is bound you may add your Dexterity modifier if positive as a bonus to melee attack and damage with finessable weapons. This does not stack with Shadow Blade, a Wildwood Knight's Agile Weapon Mastery, or similar abilities.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 3rd level a Dancer of Blades gains Uncanny Dodge even when they do not have Paimon bound. If they already have Uncanny Dodge they gain Improved Uncanny Dodge. If they bind Paimon this increases to Improved Uncanny Dodge.
Paimon's Aid (Su): Many Dancers of Blades do not even attempt to form a good pact with Paimon, voluntarily letting him fill them almost completely. Beginning at 3rd level when a Dancer of Blades is in a poor pact with Paimon his presence steadies them and strengthens them against other influences. They gain a +2 bonus to Will saves against mind-affecting effects and add their class level to binding checks (this is in addition to the benefits to binding checks from advancing soulbinding 1 to 3 times).
Talented Two-Weapon Fighting (Su): While Paimon is bound a Dancer of Blades finds that their weapons flow like water in their hands. Beginning at 3rd level as long as Paimon is bound a Dancer of Blades is considered to have Improved Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat as long as their BAB is +6 or higher, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting as long as their BAB is +11 or higher, and if their BAB is +16 or higher they may make another additional attack with their off-hand weapon at -15. Finally they may now make an attack with each weapon in place of their normal attack when making an attack of opportunity (this still only counts as making 1 attack of opportunity).
Improved Paimon's Skills (Su): A Dancer of Blades draws more and more of Paimon into them. Beginning at 4th level a Dancer of Blades adds their class level to Tumble and Perform (Dance) checks, in addition Paimon was quite favored with the ladies, and a Dancer of Blades adds their class level to all Charisma checks and Charisma based skill checks to interact with female creatures (this does not apply twice to Perform (Dance)).
Rebuke Deadly Dancer (Su): A dancer of blades bears a kinship with the creatures known as deadly dancers and can exploit it to make them cower or obey. Beginning at 5th level while Paimon is bound a dancer of blades may rebuke (or command) deadly dancers as an evil cleric of their effective binder level for Paimon rebukes undead.
Relentless Deadly Dance (Su): A dancer of blades can maintain the dance seemingly endlessly, always moving, and always slaying. Beginning at 5th level a dancer of blades no longer has to wait 5 rounds between uses of deadly dance but can use it every round.
Superior Deadly Dance (Su): A dancer of blades can draw more power and fury from their deadly dance than others who bind the Dancer. Beginning at 5th level once per day when a dancer of blades uses Paimon's Dance of Death ability they may make a full attack instead of an attack against each creature they could make an attack against and do not forfeit extra attacks (in the case of extra attacks that apply to each full attack such as haste they get them against each targets).
Playing a Dancer of Blades
A dancer of blades is a binder who has chosen to pour their emphasis on a single vestige, even more so than a Knight of the Sacred Seal. Taking it further they feel a specific kinship for one given vestige. Many dancers of blades see aspects of Paimon in them, even without his influence they are normally lascivious and bold, and quick with a rapier-wit and equally so with their blade. They often have a bit of the dandy or fop in them, and more than their share of the would-be Casanova or Lothario, and scoundrel as well.
Combat: Dancers of blades are mobile combatants reliant upon dual-wielding and large Dexterity modifiers, made larger by Paimon's granted +4 to Dexterity.
Dancers of Blades in the World
"What kind of monster lets a creature of nightmares into their soul? And why does my fair Oralaine prefer him?"
Dancers of Blades suffer all the stigma of a binder. Their eloquence and charisma may help them to an extent with that, but their tendency to play the seducer wins them at least as many foes as friends.
Organizations: While Dancers of Blades may join various duelists leagues and even binder cabals, they rarely congregate with each other. Helping to mentor a young binder to start the path is one thing, but sharing territory with one. No. They prefer space between each other.