Can't even come up with a quip for this one. Read at your own discretion.
Quote Originally Posted by Tessai & Spangle
Spoiler: Content warning: implied sexual assault
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- Hello, beautiful lady! - a shining silhouette appeared right before Aribeth.
- What are you? Ghost? - A young adventurer drawn her sword.
- Oh, no, no. Sorry, I must've scared you. I'm not one of these undead! Actually, I'm the complete opposite - Glimmerskin creature of pure light, born on the Positive Energy Plan. It’s a shame that I’m constantly being mistaken for a ghost, - humanoid shaped cloud of light seem to be upset.
- I’m the one who should be sorry, I don’t mean to offend you, I just... Well, your appearance really was too abrupt.
- No need to apologize, I’m used to this, - but in the glimmerskin's speech Aribeth clearly felt delight... And this speech was unusual...
- How you talk with me, your voice, it's in my mind! - Aribeth looked with suspicion at the shining silhouette.
- Yes, it is. I have no corporeal body and therefore can't speak with sounds, only by my telepathy. But don't worry, I only speak, I can't read your thoughts. I'm Spangle by the way. My real name consists of play of light and has no direct translation, but I like Spangle!
- I'm Aribeth. What do you do here Spangle? One on the road. Why did you speak to me? - adventurer asked.
- Oh, yes, yes! I wanted to warn you! The road you’re walking is dangerous! Further ahead a giant evil lizard man lives! He is an outlaw! He attacks travelers, robs and kills, and... you don't want to know more. You shouldn't go there! - Spangle told.
- Thank you, Spangle, but I know about this lizardfolk! I’m going to punish him for his crimes! - Aribeth replied decisively.
- But... How... You're sole! And he is so large! - Spangle was astounded.
- Don’t look at me as a woman, I'm a warrior and this bandit will not be my first! - The girl bravely answered.
- But... I don't know... Let me help you at least! - Spangle proposed.
- I’m sorry, but what can you do? You're, you know, incorporeal.
- Don’t look at me as an apparition, I could give you the power of mighty warriors and ability to heal your wounds by bonding with you, - shining creature boasted.
- Bonding? What do you mean? - Aribeth asked Spangle skeptically
- I could... mmm... envelope corporeal being and through it give warrior skills and powers, - Spangle explained.
- Hmm... - Aribeth was doubtful, - Will it be comfortable for you? I don’t want to bother you.
- Oh! It's okay! I like take part in battles very much!
- Well... I gratefully accept your help!

...

- Criminal known as Tessai, I'm here to punish you! Come out and embrace your destiny! - Aribeth said, standing before the grotto.
- Who have you brought me, my love? - there was a low and rough voice from the cave and right after it a big reptile humanoid came out. He was deep blue in color, with scaly skin and carapace on his back.
- What?.. - Aribeth was discouraged, - What do you...
- He wasn’t talking to you, honey, - Spangle suddenly answered, - Hello, my sweet, I brought you this vessel of my love!
- What are you talking about? You are together, aren't you? Spangle, you lied to me! - Aribeth slowly retreated with a sword in front of her.
- Oh, no, honey, all I told you was true. I warned you, remember? About my husband and his danger. And like I promised, I'll give you all the healing that you'll need. - Spangle said.
- What? Healing? - The adventurer didn't understand.
- My Spangle, my beloved wife, she is incorporeal as you already know. And we need some, you know, mediator, - Tessai explained.
- You are monsters! I will fight you! - Aribeth waved her sword.
- Of course you will, it's part of the fun...


CE Skindancer Warblade 4
Spoiler: Tessai
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Spoiler: Stats
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Abilities Initial Race/Template 16th 20th 24th, 28th Total
STR 12 12 2 26
DEX 8 6 14
CON 13 18 1 32
INT 15 -6 1 10
WIS 10 4 14
CHA 14 -4 10

Spoiler: Build
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CR HD Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
11th 15th Base HD 15 5 9 9 30: {+12 CC} Jump: 6; {+18} Spot: 18; Willing Deformity (1), Deformity (Teeth) (3), Combat Reflexes (6), Reckless Offense (9), Stand Still (12), Skill Focus (Diplomacy) (15) Adaptive energy resistance, damage reduction 15/special (see text), darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, reactive skin, scent, trip
12th 16th HD 16 5 10 10 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 6.5; {+1} Spot: 19;
12th 17th HD 17 5 10 10 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 7; {+1} Spot: 20;
12th 18th HD 18 6 11 11 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 7.5; {+1} Spot: 21; Improved Critical (Morningstar) (18)
13th 19th HD 19 6 11 11 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 8; {+1} Spot: 22;
13th 20th HD 20 6 12 12 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 8.5; {+1} Spot: 23;
13th 21th HD 21 7 12 12 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 9; {+1} Spot: 24; Vexing Flanker (21)
14th 22th HD 22 7 13 13 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 9.5; {+1} Spot: 25;
14th 23th HD 23 7 13 13 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 10; {+1} Spot: 26;
14th 24th HD 24 8 14 14 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 10.5; {+1} Spot: 27; Weapon Focus (Morningstar) (24)
15th 25th HD 25 8 14 14 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 11; {+1} Spot: 28;
15th 26th HD 26 8 15 15 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 11.5; {+1} Spot: 29;
15th 27th HD 27 9 15 15 2: {+1 CC} Jump: 12; {+1} Spot: 30; Overwhelming Critical (Morningstar) (27)
16th 28th Warblade 1 28 11 15 15 4: {+4} Jump: 16; Spot: 30; Battle clarity (Reflex saves), weapon aptitude
17th 29th Warblade 2 29 12 15 15 4: {+4} Jump: 20; Spot: 30; Uncanny dodge
18th 30th Warblade 3 30 12 16 16 4: {+4} Jump: 24; Spot: 30; Devastating Critical (Morningstar) (30) Battle ardor (critical confirmation)
19th 31th Warblade 4 31 13 16 16 4: {+4} Jump: 28; Spot: 30;

Spoiler: Martial
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Level Class Initiator Level Maneuvers Known Maneuvers Readied Stances Known
28th Warblade 1 14 Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap 3 Leading the Charge
29th Warblade 2 15 Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap, Rapid Counter 3 Leading the Charge
30th Warblade 3 16 Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap, Rapid Counter, Diamond Defense 3 Leading the Charge
31th Warblade 4 17 Pouncing Charge, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap, Rapid Counter, Diamond Defense 4 Leading the Charge, Tactics of the Wolf


TN Glimmerskin Marshal 1/Unarmed Swordsage 2/Fighter 6
Spoiler: Spangle
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Spoiler: Stats
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Abilities Initial Race/Template ASI Total
STR 8 - -
DEX 13 2 1 16
CON 12 4 16
INT 14 14
WIS 10 4 14
CHA 15 6 1 22

Spoiler: Build
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CR ECL Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features
8th 12th Base HD 12 8 8 8 150: {+15} Bluff: 15; {+30 CC} Concentration: 15; {+15} Diplomacy: 15; {+15} Intimidate: 15; {+15} Knowledge (arcana): 15; {+15} Knowledge (the planes): 15; {+15} Sense Motive: 15; {+15} Spellcraft: 15; {+15} Spot: 15; Power Attack (1), Improved Bull Rush (3), Brutal Strike (6), Mindsight (9), Cleave (12) DR 5/magic, energy touch, heroic bond, incorporeal subtype, outsider traits, plane shift, SR 15, telepathy
9th 13th Marshal 1 12 10 8 10 6: {+1} Bluff: 16; Concentration: 15; {+1} Diplomacy: 16; {+1} Intimidate: 16; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; {+1} Sense Motive: 16; Spellcraft: 15; {+1} Spot: 16; Skill Focus (Diplomacy) (B) Skill Focus (Diplomacy), minor aura (Master of Tactics)
10th 14th Unarmed Swordsage 1 12 10 10 12 6: {+1 CC} Bluff: 16.5; {+2} Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; Intimidate: 16; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; {+1} Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; {+2 CC} Spot: 17; Improved Unarmed Strike (B) Quick to act +1, discipline focus (Weapon Focus) (Tiger Claw)
11th 15th Fighter 1 13 12 10 12 4: Bluff: 16.5; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; Intimidate: 16; {+4} Jump: 4; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; Great Cleave (15), Shock Trooper (B) Bonus feat
12th 16th Fighter 2 14 13 10 12 4: Bluff: 16.5; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; Intimidate: 16; {+4} Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; Leap Attack (B) Bonus feat
13th 17th Fighter 3 15 13 11 13 4: Bluff: 16.5; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; {+2} Intimidate: 18; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; {+2} Never Outnumbered;
14th 18th Fighter 4 16 14 11 13 4: Bluff: 16.5; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; {+2} Intimidate: 20; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; {+2} Clarity of Vision, Never Outnumbered; Improved Sunder (18), Cometary Collision (B) Bonus feat
15th 19th Fighter 5 17 14 11 13 4: Bluff: 16.5; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; {+2} Intimidate: 22; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; {+2} Point it Out, Clarity of Vision, Never Outnumbered;
16th 20th Fighter 6 18 15 12 14 4: {+3 CC} Bluff: 18; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; {+1} Intimidate: 23; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; Sense Motive: 17; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; Point it Out, Clarity of Vision, Never Outnumbered; Combat Brute (B) Bonus feat
17th 21th Unarmed Swordsage 2 19 15 13 15 8: {+6 CC} Bluff: 21; Concentration: 17; Diplomacy: 16; {+1} Intimidate: 24; Jump: 8; Knowledge (arcana): 16; Knowledge (the planes): 15; {+1} Sense Motive: 18; Spellcraft: 15; Spot: 17; Point it Out, Clarity of Vision, Never Outnumbered; Resounding Blow (21) AC bonus

Spoiler: Martial
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Level Class Initiator Level Maneuvers Known Maneuvers Readied Stances Known
14th Swordsage 1 7 Shadow Jaunt, Action Before Thought, Moment of Perfect Mind, Bonecrusher, Overwhelming Mountain Strike, Stone Dragon's Fury 4 Island of Blades
21th Swordsage 2 11 Shadow Jaunt, Action Before Thought, Moment of Perfect Mind, Bonecrusher, Overwhelming Mountain Strike, Stone Dragon's Fury, Moment of Alacrity 4 Island of Blades, Hearing the Air


Spoiler: Pair EL
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Tessai's CR Spangle's CR Total EL
11 8 12
11 9 12
12 10 13
13 11 14
14 12 15
15 13 16
16 14 17
17 15 18
18 16 19
19 17 20


Spoiler: Snapshots
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Spoiler: EL 12
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We have here two base monsters with slightly modified feats, skills and stats. They fit together perfectly! Glimmerskin's feats compliment skindancer very well. Skindancer's adaptive energy resistance and great Fort turn glimmerskin's energy touch explosion into a good AoE weapon. Slightly unpredictable, but powerful. Heroic bond also improves AB, AC and gives free healing.

Spoiler: Teeth trick
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Deformity (Teeth) gives Tessai a bite attack.
Quote Originally Posted by MM, 312
Bite: The creature attacks with its mouth, dealing piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage.
Bite is iirc the single weapon in the game with all three types of damage. Add it to skindancer's adaptive DR and free healing from Spangle and receive almost always active DR 15/-.

Spoiler: Marshal skill focus trick
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At the same EL Spangle got 1st level of Marshal class. Marshal has this class feature
Skill Focus (Diplomacy): Because a marshal has a way with people, he gains this feat as a bonus feat. If the marshal already has the feat, he can choose a different one.
Heroic Bond has this wording.
Heroic Bond (Su): A glimmerskin bonds by enveloping its host. A bonded host gains a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls, a +2 armor bonus to AC, access to the glimmerskin’s feats (with the prerequisite Strength score of at least 13), and any class features the glimmerskin may have.
Tessai already has Skill Focus (Diplomacy). We have two options here. First, I call it "I win", every time when Spangle bonds Tessai, he gets a new feat in place of Skill Focus (Diplomacy) and this new feat is his feat, not the Heroic Bond effect and this feat will not disappear when the bond is broken.
Second option is more sparing. Tessai just has one floating feat while it is bonded with Spangle and could exchange it every time when bond is re-established. It also is a powerful enough feature, but first of course is better. Even the second option could give +6 ranks in jump - Tessai could get Martial Study (any Tiger Claw) at every level up time starting from 16HD.

Spoiler: EL 12
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Both lovers got only one more CR at this moment, but this is an important milestone. Spangle has the Island of Blades now. With Master of Tactics minor aura it's +5 (+6 later) to damage of every Tessai's attack. Plus, Tessai gets access to good variety of Swordsage maneuvers.

Spoiler: EL 17
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Spangle got more feats to gift her husband (let me draw your attention, while Shock Trooper, Leap Attack and later Combat Brute don't have Strength prerequisite, Spangle has them as class abilities and this means Tessai has access to them). Tessai got all possible HD and good feats, plus first level of Warblade. He has almost a full feat line for using weapon aptitude (and could get a better weapon than morningstar) and his own maneuvers and stance.

Spoiler: Overwhelming Critical prerequisites
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Tessai needs Power Attack, Cleave, and Great Cleave to get this feat (and Devastating Critical later). And thanks to Spangle he has access to these feats!

Spoiler: EL 20
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Slightly more feats, more maneuvers and stances. Tactics of the Wolf plus Island of Blades is an alliance made in heaven! Hearing the Air is good for Tessai if he needs to strike somebody invisible. Moment of Alacrity and Diamond Defense are just good big numbers. Devastating Critical one of really epic feats.
Never Outnumbered one of the ways for Spangle to utilize her actions.


Spoiler: Books
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Type Name Book Page
Race Skindancer MM3 158
Race Glimmerskin MM2 + Update Booklet 114
Class Warblade ToB 20
Class Marshal MH 11
Class Swordsage ToB 15
Class Fighter PHB 37
Class variant Unarmed Swordsage ToB 20
Feat Willing Deformity HoH 125
Feat Deformity (Teeth) HoH 121
Feat Combat Reflexes PHB 92
Feat Reckless Offense XPH 51
Feat Stand Still XPH 51
Feat Skill Focus PHB 100
Feat Improved Critical PHB 95
Feat Vexing Flanker PHB2 85
Feat Weapon Focus PHB 102
Feat Overwhelming Critical Draconomicon 72
Feat Devastating Critical Draconomicon 68
Feat Power Attack PHB 98
Feat Improved Bull Rush PHB 95
Feat Brutal Strike PHB2 76
Feat Mindsight LoM 126
Feat Cleave PHB 92
Feat Improved Unarmed Strike PHB 96
Feat Great Cleave PHB 94
Feat Shock Trooper CW 112
Feat Leap Attack CA 110
Feat Improved Sunder PHB 96
Feat Cometary Collision PHB2 77
Feat Combat Brute CW 110
Feat Resounding Blow BoED 45
Skill Trick Point it Out CS 88
Skill Trick Clarity of Vision CS 85
Skill Trick Never Outnumbered CS 87
Maneuvers and Stances All ToB Varies