progression, and he can still adopt a more career-defi ning prestige class later in his career.
PRESTIGE CLASSES
CHAPTER 6
Adaptation
Feats CleaveB, Cobalt Charge, Cobalt Critical, Cobalt Power, Power AttackB, Weapon Focus (longsword)B, Weapon Specialization (longsword) Skills Climb +5, Concentration +4, Intimidate +11 Possessions combat gear plus +1 longsword, +1 heavy steel shield, +1 full plate armor, gauntlets of ogre power +2, composite longbow (+4 Str bonus) with 25 arrows, 57 gp Hook “We are the heroes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”
Although the incarnum blade is designed with the incarnum magic system in mind, the prestige class can also fit neatly into any standard campaign. Much of its flavor can remain the same even if incarnum does not exist, but against such a backdrop, the Eternal Host might be better played as a darker, more malevolent force. Perhaps it grants the Warriors Eternal temporary power in this life in exchange for their souls, which it consumes when they die. Or perhaps the company collects the corpses of heroes to feed the Eternal New Feats: Incarnum Feats Host without the consent of the fallen. Incarnum feats are a great way for players of incarnum blades to make further use of the incarnum rules. Feats such as Cobalt Critical, Cobalt Power, and Midnight Dodge would Encounters The PCs might encounter the Warriors Eternal as an allied certainly appeal to a fighter or other combat-oriented characforce on the battlefield, or they might accompany some memter looking for a way to use incarnum to his advantage. bers in an entourage. Perhaps a high-level PC acquires a typical Warrior Eternal as a cohort. As another option, the company’s officers might recruit the PCs to hunt down deserters. “In my axe dwell the souls of my fathers.” Typical Warrior Eternal CR 8 —Bazut Stonehewer, ironsoul forgemaster Male human fighter 5/incarnum blade 3 LN Medium humanoid (incarnum) Skilled smiths can produce weapons of steel, and some can Init +1; Senses Listen +1, Spot +1 create weapons incorporating both steel and magic, but only Languages Common the ironsoul forgemaster can craft a weapon that combines AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 22 these arts with the shaping of soul essence. An ironsoul hp 65 (8 HD) forgemaster can produce a weapon that is physical, magical, Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +3 and soulmelded all at the same time, and in his hands it Speed 20 ft. (4 squares) becomes a potent armament indeed. Melee +1 longsword +14/+9 (1d8+7/19–20) or All ironsoul forgemasters are dwarven mastersmiths who Melee +1 longsword +15/+10 (1d8+8/19–20) charging or possess skill at crafting arms and armor, but they are also great Ranged composite longbow +9/+4 (1d8+4/×3) champions of the dwarven people. Resolute and determined, Base Atk +8; Grp +12 they serve as preservers of ancient lore, guardians of sacred Atk Options Power Attack with Cobalt Power (–4 places, teachers of craft and skill, and holy servants of the attack, +6 damage); Cobalt Charge (+1 on attack dwarf deities. Because they can forge and wield weapons of rolls and damage rolls when charging) terrible power, they embody the dwarven belief that skill Special Actions demoralizing shout (renders foes coupled with courage can defeat any foe. in a 60-ft. burst shaken for 1 round, Will DC 15 negates) BECOMING AN Combat Gear potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of IRONSOUL FORGEMASTER invisibility Only a dwarf who is an accomplished armorsmith or weapEssentia Pool 3; Capacity 2; Chakra Binds 1; onsmith can become an ironsoul forgemaster. A character Soulmelds 1 with skill points to spare (for example, a ranger or a rogue) Soulmelds and Essentia Investment (CL 3rd): can accumulate the necessary ranks in Craft without sacriBlademeld (+1 longsword with hardness 15, hp 20, +3 ficing other useful skills, but ultimately the forgemaster is bonus on saves; demoralizing shout; bound to not a skill-user. A cleric, fighter, or other low-skill character throat chakra) with a good Intelligence score can also meet this requireCobalt Charge 1 (+1 insight bonus on attack rolls ment easily and is a much more appropriate candidate for and damage rolls when charging) the prestige class. Cobalt Power 2 (+2 insight bonus on attack rolls and The second major requirement for entry is the ability ability checks to avoid bull rush, overrun, and to shape soulmelds. Since one of the greatest benefits of sunder attacks; +2 insight bonus on damage rolls this class is continuous improvement of the character’s made with Power Attack) meldshaping abilities, taking a level of incarnate is a more effective way to meet this prerequisite than taking a feat Abilities Str 19, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10 that grants the ability to shape a soulmeld, or even taking SQ blademeld, blademeld chakra binds (crown, feet, a couple of levels in soulborn. The ironsoul forgemaster hands, arms, brow, shoulders, throat, waist), rebind is generally a better melee combatant than the typical blademeld incarnate, so the best candidate is one who combines
IRONSOUL FORGEMASTER
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