Soul Protection

[Yogibear41]

The group I am playing with is headed toward facing a giant ancient evil threat in the coming game. Said ancient evil threat feeds on the souls of those that die near it, or that are killed by it. Such to the point that even things like a wish spell are unable to bring those who's souls are devoured back from the dead. While I personally do not want to die fighting this monsters, what I am more concerned about is having my soul annihilated preventing any chance of a possible resurrection.

What I am looking for are ways to more or less go and fight the ancient evil without my soul. What ways are available to me that I might store my soul temporarily somewhere, then go off to fight it, so that if I die I can still be resurrected, or at the very least if my character dies they can at least move on to the afterlife.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

PF 1e has the iron circlet of guarded souls (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/h-l/iron-circlet-of-guarded-souls/) that protects your soul from anything that would target it.

You could also wear a ring made of thinaun, which would absorb your soul as soon as you die, and it can be used to hold it until you're rezzed. If you also have a contingent rez effect, that would prevent anyone trying to get your soul before you come back.

[Kelb_Panthera]

'Bout all I've got for you is the mind-seed power from XPH and it's far less than ideal since it results in an extra "you" regardless of the outcome of the encounter with the ancient evil, assuming you're at least level 9. If you're not at least level 9, that's just right out the window since the target won't survive the effect.

Beyond that, I think you're stuck with becoming a lich. Also somewhat less than ideal since it carries a heavy LA, requires gobs of money, and can't be done until you're at CL 11. Nevermind becoming undead isn't great for anything but dedicated casters, really.

Might have to suck it up and just don't die. Good luck, my dude.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

You could find a way to add some fiend of possession in your build, along with some minions to inhabit. It's not your body dying, so it's not your soul getting devoured.

[Crake]

Easy solution, die while in contact with Thinuan. It will automatically trap the soul of someone who dies while in contact with it, and has an added perk of allowing cheaper resurrection when the contained soul is present, though with the added issue of being unable to resurrect at all without the soul present.

Add in a death-ward effect, like soulfire from BoED (+4 armor/shield enchantment) to prevent yourself from being killed by soul-draining death effects in the first place, and you should be good.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Add in a death-ward effect, like soulfire from BoED (+4 armor/shield enchantment) to prevent yourself from being killed by soul-draining death effects in the first place, and you should be good.I'm not sure that death effects are the problem. It sounds like anyone who dies near the BBEG have their souls devoured, not just those who die from a specific effect.

[Crake]

I'm not sure that death effects are the problem. It sounds like anyone who dies near the BBEG have their souls devoured, not just those who die from a specific effect.

Correct, which thinuan solves, however if the boss has soul devouring attacks in addition to his passive soul devouring aura or whatever, some death ward effect would be a counter to that.

[Helluin]

I saw some PF-related resources here. Is that allowed in your game? If so, Soul Vault (Clr 3, Dru 4, Wiz 4) is the spell you want! If grants a bonus against spells and effects that specifically trap or target the souls (Trap the Soul, Soul Bind etc) but the best thing is this:


The target is granted a save to negate such effects even if one is not normally allowed.

Boost your save, cast Soul Vault (or use a Permanency on yourself. Only costs 7500gp — easily affordable you’re at the level where you fight elder evils). Get some forced re-roll abilities if you can (you might not be able to use those abilities on yourself since you’d be, well, dead, but you can get your friends to force you to re-roll a failed save).

[Thurbane]

With all the soul-related 3.5 material (Incarnum, Binding, spells etc) I'm amazed there isn't more in 3.5 that is specifically for the protection of one's soul from attack...

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

There's a 3.0 spell in Tome and Blood called Hide Life, which should be more than sufficient.

Complete Warrior has the special material Thinaun on p136-137. If any melee weapon made from this metal is touching a creature when it dies, the weapon absorbs the creature's soul. It won't come out until the weapon is destroyed or another creature dies while touching it and their soul pushes yours out. If someone wants to raise your character from the dead, they simply need to be in possession of the weapon to do so, and the material component cost is halved. A Thinaun light weapon is +10,000 gp, so wear a gauntlet made from it, or have a dagger that's in your boot against your leg.

[Kelb_Panthera]

With all the soul-related 3.5 material (Incarnum, Binding, spells etc) I'm amazed there isn't more in 3.5 that is specifically for the protection of one's soul from attack...

Not really. Outside of a very few creatures, there's not actually much that can attack your soul in a way that damages it, much less destroys it outright.

Those few effects are supposed to be there for the high-stakes encounters. Thinaun does work for several of them too. I'm just no so sure with OP's situation since I suspect a homebrew thingy is in play.

[Yogibear41]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific, more concerned about a tpk leading to soul destruction thinaun does nothing if they just walk over pick up the weapon break it then eat my soul.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific, more concerned about a tpk leading to soul destruction thinaun does nothing if they just walk over pick up the weapon break it then eat my soul.Implant a sliver of thinaun, or disguise it as something else they won't want, like a cheap, nonmagical piercing made of ceramic (via paint)? Of course, that means you won't be able to go to the afterlife, most likely, but who does?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Magical Thinaun dagger in your boot, has a contingent effect that teleports it to a friendly temple if you die. They'll know what to do with it when it arrives.

[Vaern]

If you have Craft Wondrous Item and CL 11 you can create a sort of magic vessel that houses your soul, allowing you to leave it behind and adventure without it.
Once you're done and want your soul back, it's a simple matter of destroying the vessel, dying, and getting a true resurrection.

[Anthrowhale]

If you are a metamagic damage specialist with Sanctum Spell then Eye of Power is an effective mechanism for damage at a distance.