Xaros
2007-09-08, 04:46 PM
I've been working on this for a few days now, and I thought I might solicit some feedback. I'm interested in making new vestiges that aren't either humans, elves, or demons/fallen angels, so I thought I might try a warforged.
I'm still working on its Vestige Level and Binding DC, as well as its "Aspect of the Forged" ability.
Colossus, Hero of the Forged
5th Level, Binding DC 30
Legend:
Colossus began life as a warforged designed to command and repair an entire division of mechanical warriors during the Last War. Built for strength and intelligence, Colossus was one of the few to receive rudimentary magical training – enough to repair his comrades without tools and to create weapons from fallen enemies. He did both with distinction during his time on the battlegrounds of Khorvaire, his skills lending themselves to his extraordinary longevity. By the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold, Colossus was in his thirty-third year.
As a result of his long life, the once unassuming soldier began to learn how humans thought and how human society functioned. The end of overt hostilities still surprised Colossus, but he adapted quickly to the switch from ceaseless conflict to peacetime reconstruction. Larger than other warforged and gifted with the ability to reconstruct his brethren, the metallic soldier became something of a leader amidst the confusion. His careful study of human culture made it a bit easier for Colossus and his group to find work rebuilding the shattered cities.
His dedication to his work earned him the grudging admiration of his taskmasters, and through time, Colossus and his crew were rewarded with ever more prestigious jobs. Ultimately, he wound up in the Flamekeep, the capital of Thrane, performing maintenance on the Church of the Silver Flame. There, he became intrigued to find that many humans were capable of repairing machines through their touch alone, and even more puzzling, some were even able to reconstruct injured humans. Colossus became obsessed by this revelation, and while his work remained solid, both his comrades and his overseers could tell that something was wrong. It was entirely by chance that Jaela Daran overheard the warforged’s attempt to put his concerns to words. Unsettled, she commanded Colossus to follow her, and together they traveled to the Voice of the Silver Flame. They remained there for sixteen hours before emerging silently.
To this day, nobody knows what was discussed behind those closed doors, but a simple silent gesture shocked the entire nation of Thrane. Colossus now wore a holy symbol of the Silver Flame. As word spread of the warforged’s conversion, tempers flared in the nation that considered the former soldiers to be bereft of souls. Several days after his communion with the Voice of the Silver Flame, Colossus was set upon by an angry mob. Though he fought valiantly, he was unable to fend off their onslaught. As he slipped from consciousness, Colossus told his attackers that the question of whether warforged had souls would soon be answered.
Following the death of Colossus, his work crew dropped their tools, collected the shattered body of their comrade, and solemnly left Flamekeep for the Mournland to the southeast. Rumors circulate that his followers labor ceaselessly to create a body sufficiently magnificent for their fallen hero. The spirit of Colossus thus waits patiently in the void to be called back to glorious service.
Special Requirements:
To summon Colossus, you must place a silver holy symbol of The Church of the Silver Flame (or of a lawful good deity if the Church of the Silver Flame does not exist in your setting) within his seal. This item disappears, but is returned when the binding to Colossus ends. Additionally, you must possess at least 5 ranks in any Craft skill involving the use of metal or stone. Finally, Colossus cannot tolerate the presence of Acererack or Tenebrous, and will not answer your call if you are already bound to these vestiges, or have been bound to one of them in the past three days. Likewise, you cannot bind to either Acererack or Tenebrous is you are already bound to Colossus.
Manifestation:
As the ritual incantations are completed, the holy symbol begins to rise above Colossus’s seal. An impossibly tall man of about thirty-five years with silver hair appears at the far side of the seal and begins to walk purposefully forward to obtain the holy symbol. As he moves, his form appears to flicker between that of a human and that of a silvery warforged. When he has secured the holy symbol around his neck, Colossus speaks politely and patiently, though his voice occasionally takes on a mechanized, monotone quality.
Sign:
Your torso and legs are surrounded by metallic plating. While this plating appears to be ordinary armor, it cannot be removed, and it offers no protection. You may continue to equip items normally, including armor, though such items disappear beneath Colossus’s sign. Your eyes also adopt a silvery color, and you do not blink.
Influence:
You become very upset when presented with an opportunity to do evil, or when evil acts are committed in your presence. You must not commit an evil act, and you must attempt to dissuade others of performing them. Additionally, Colossus insists that you do not attack any construct or mechanical object unless you or your allies are threatened by it, and you must attempt to fix or reconstruct any damaged construct or mechanical object you encounter.
Granted Abilities:
Colossus grants his summoners the powers of a warforged, prowess on the battlefield, and the ability to reshape metal and stone.
Aspect of the Forged: You gain the features of the Living Construct type and subtype. If you are a Warforged, you instead gain the benefits of the Improved Fortification feat.
Power Overwhelming: As a standard action, you increase your size one category. This functions as the Expansion power, for a number of rounds equal to your effective binder level, except that you gain a size bonus to Strength equal to half your effective binder level (instead of +2). Once this effect ends, you may not use this ability for 5 rounds.
Mighty Guard: You gain a dodge bonus to your armor class equal to half your Strength modifier.
Purity of Strength: You are immune to any Strength penalties, as well as Strength ability damage and drain.
Power Forged: When making a Craft check involving metal or stone, you may use your Strength modifier in place of your Intelligence modifier.
Great Creator: As a full round action, you may duplicate the effects of a Make Whole, Repair Critical Damage, or Fabricate spell with a caster level equal to your effective binder level. You may use this ability only once every 5 rounds.
I'm still working on its Vestige Level and Binding DC, as well as its "Aspect of the Forged" ability.
Colossus, Hero of the Forged
5th Level, Binding DC 30
Legend:
Colossus began life as a warforged designed to command and repair an entire division of mechanical warriors during the Last War. Built for strength and intelligence, Colossus was one of the few to receive rudimentary magical training – enough to repair his comrades without tools and to create weapons from fallen enemies. He did both with distinction during his time on the battlegrounds of Khorvaire, his skills lending themselves to his extraordinary longevity. By the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold, Colossus was in his thirty-third year.
As a result of his long life, the once unassuming soldier began to learn how humans thought and how human society functioned. The end of overt hostilities still surprised Colossus, but he adapted quickly to the switch from ceaseless conflict to peacetime reconstruction. Larger than other warforged and gifted with the ability to reconstruct his brethren, the metallic soldier became something of a leader amidst the confusion. His careful study of human culture made it a bit easier for Colossus and his group to find work rebuilding the shattered cities.
His dedication to his work earned him the grudging admiration of his taskmasters, and through time, Colossus and his crew were rewarded with ever more prestigious jobs. Ultimately, he wound up in the Flamekeep, the capital of Thrane, performing maintenance on the Church of the Silver Flame. There, he became intrigued to find that many humans were capable of repairing machines through their touch alone, and even more puzzling, some were even able to reconstruct injured humans. Colossus became obsessed by this revelation, and while his work remained solid, both his comrades and his overseers could tell that something was wrong. It was entirely by chance that Jaela Daran overheard the warforged’s attempt to put his concerns to words. Unsettled, she commanded Colossus to follow her, and together they traveled to the Voice of the Silver Flame. They remained there for sixteen hours before emerging silently.
To this day, nobody knows what was discussed behind those closed doors, but a simple silent gesture shocked the entire nation of Thrane. Colossus now wore a holy symbol of the Silver Flame. As word spread of the warforged’s conversion, tempers flared in the nation that considered the former soldiers to be bereft of souls. Several days after his communion with the Voice of the Silver Flame, Colossus was set upon by an angry mob. Though he fought valiantly, he was unable to fend off their onslaught. As he slipped from consciousness, Colossus told his attackers that the question of whether warforged had souls would soon be answered.
Following the death of Colossus, his work crew dropped their tools, collected the shattered body of their comrade, and solemnly left Flamekeep for the Mournland to the southeast. Rumors circulate that his followers labor ceaselessly to create a body sufficiently magnificent for their fallen hero. The spirit of Colossus thus waits patiently in the void to be called back to glorious service.
Special Requirements:
To summon Colossus, you must place a silver holy symbol of The Church of the Silver Flame (or of a lawful good deity if the Church of the Silver Flame does not exist in your setting) within his seal. This item disappears, but is returned when the binding to Colossus ends. Additionally, you must possess at least 5 ranks in any Craft skill involving the use of metal or stone. Finally, Colossus cannot tolerate the presence of Acererack or Tenebrous, and will not answer your call if you are already bound to these vestiges, or have been bound to one of them in the past three days. Likewise, you cannot bind to either Acererack or Tenebrous is you are already bound to Colossus.
Manifestation:
As the ritual incantations are completed, the holy symbol begins to rise above Colossus’s seal. An impossibly tall man of about thirty-five years with silver hair appears at the far side of the seal and begins to walk purposefully forward to obtain the holy symbol. As he moves, his form appears to flicker between that of a human and that of a silvery warforged. When he has secured the holy symbol around his neck, Colossus speaks politely and patiently, though his voice occasionally takes on a mechanized, monotone quality.
Sign:
Your torso and legs are surrounded by metallic plating. While this plating appears to be ordinary armor, it cannot be removed, and it offers no protection. You may continue to equip items normally, including armor, though such items disappear beneath Colossus’s sign. Your eyes also adopt a silvery color, and you do not blink.
Influence:
You become very upset when presented with an opportunity to do evil, or when evil acts are committed in your presence. You must not commit an evil act, and you must attempt to dissuade others of performing them. Additionally, Colossus insists that you do not attack any construct or mechanical object unless you or your allies are threatened by it, and you must attempt to fix or reconstruct any damaged construct or mechanical object you encounter.
Granted Abilities:
Colossus grants his summoners the powers of a warforged, prowess on the battlefield, and the ability to reshape metal and stone.
Aspect of the Forged: You gain the features of the Living Construct type and subtype. If you are a Warforged, you instead gain the benefits of the Improved Fortification feat.
Power Overwhelming: As a standard action, you increase your size one category. This functions as the Expansion power, for a number of rounds equal to your effective binder level, except that you gain a size bonus to Strength equal to half your effective binder level (instead of +2). Once this effect ends, you may not use this ability for 5 rounds.
Mighty Guard: You gain a dodge bonus to your armor class equal to half your Strength modifier.
Purity of Strength: You are immune to any Strength penalties, as well as Strength ability damage and drain.
Power Forged: When making a Craft check involving metal or stone, you may use your Strength modifier in place of your Intelligence modifier.
Great Creator: As a full round action, you may duplicate the effects of a Make Whole, Repair Critical Damage, or Fabricate spell with a caster level equal to your effective binder level. You may use this ability only once every 5 rounds.