Akashic Might: Scholar, Stormbound, Striker, Rajah (Patreon)

This article contains two veilweaving archetypes for the Scholar and the Striker, and two spheres of might archetypes for the Stormound and the Rajah, allowing you to more easily meld the two systems on a single character!

Kshatriya (Rajah Archetype)

Warrior-lords of unparalleled skill and leadership, kshatriya lead their armies in a display of grandeur invoking both magical and martial might.

Proficiencies: Kshatriya are proficient with simple weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers. In addition, if this is this character’s first level in any class, they may select a martial tradition of their choice.

This alters the rajah’s weapon and armor proficiencies.

Combat Training: A kshatriya may combine combat spheres and talents to create powerful martial techniques. Kshatriya are considered Adept combatants and use Charisma as their practitioner modifier.

This replaces the rajah’s maneuvers, maneuvers readied, and stances known class features.

Lordly Practitioner: Whenever one of the kshatriya’s class features refers to their initiation modifier, the kshatriya uses their practitioner modifier instead.

Kshatriya’s Mandate: Whenever the kshatriya uses their royal mandate ability they regain their martial focus rather than being able to swap a readied maneuver. They may still reallocate their essence as part of this ability.

This ability modifies the rajah’s royal mandate ability. A kshatriya may still take other archetypes that modify or remove their royal mandate ability.

Vassalage (Su): A kshatriya can make attacks and utilize their combat talents through their entitled allies within Close (25 feet plus 5 feet per two rajah levels) range of them. The kshatriya uses special rules when attacking and utilizing their combat talents through their allies, listed below.

When performing an attack action or a combat maneuver as a standard action, the kshatriya may use an entitled ally’s space and reach as if it were their own for this attack, but uses their own weapons. The kshatriya still suffers any penalties for attacking a creature they cannot see.

Attacks and combat maneuvers made using this ability are treated in all ways as if the kshatriya had made the attack or maneuver (for the purposes of attack bonus, weapon used, feats, the effects of boosts or spells, and the like). Ranged attacks made through allies with this ability do not provoke attacks of opportunity.

When using a combat sphere ability that has additional effects on the kshatriya (such as allowing movement, teleporting them, or granting bonuses), the kshatriya is the one who gains such effects. For example, if the kshatriya uses the shove ability of the Brute sphere as a move action, the kshatriya may move up to half their speed, and then make a melee touch attack through one of their entitled allies.

If a sphere ability allows an attack or combat maneuver and isn’t performed as an attack action, the kshatriya can choose to make it through their ally with the rules noted above. If the kshatriya grapples or impales a creature using their vassalage feature, the grapple or impale automatically ends if the ally you made the grapple or impale through moves out of reach of the grappled or impaled creature. The kshatriya suffers the normal penalties for grappling or impaling a creature, and must use their actions to maintain a grapple as normal.

Finally, the kshatriya treats their base attack bonus from rajah levels as equal to their class level for attacks, combat maneuvers, and combat sphere effects made through their vassalage class feature. They also gain a bonus to damage rolls on attacks made using this feature equal to the number of title veils they have shaped onto other creatures.

Kshatriya Crossroads: The kshatriya uses their class level in place of their base attack bonus from rajah levels when using any combat sphere abilities that rely on base attack bonus to determine their effects (but not for attacks or combat maneuvers made using those abilities, unless they are made through their vassalage ability), and for the purposes of meeting the prerequisites of feats and combat talents. At 1st level, the kshatriya chooses one of the following benefits. Once the choice is made, it cannot later be changed.

Spear of the Sky Sovereign: When making an attack, maneuver, or combat sphere ability through their vassalage ability the kshatriya may use their practitioner modifier in place of their Strength or Dexterity modifier. In addition, when making non-vassalage attacks they can use their practitioner modifier in place of their Strength or Dexterity modifier for the roll. If they do, they do not add their Strength modifier (or any ability score substituted for it) to the damage roll, though other abilities that add damage above and beyond the normal modifiers still function normally.

Spear of the Sun King: Once per round, when the kshatriya hits a creature with an attack, or succeeds on a combat maneuver using their vassalage ability, they can create a 30-foot line or 15-foot cone of light and fire through the target. Opponents within the affected area must succeed at a Reflex save or take 1d6+1 points of damage per odd-numbered class level. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the kshatriya’s class level + their practitioner modifier. This damage comes from an akashic pulse of power, and as such is not reduced by damage reduction, hardness, resistances, or immunities. The target of the initial attack or combat maneuver does not take this damage, even if they are within the affected area. At 8th level and again at 15th level, the area of this line and cone increases by 10 and 5 feet respectively.

Spear of the Moon Queen:  Once per round when one of the kshatriya’s entitled allies is targeted by an attack, make an attack of opportunity against that target before the attack is rolled. If the kshatriya burns their martial focus as part of using this ability, it does not count against their once per round use of this ability and does not require a use of one of their attacks of opportunity. This attack is made through the entitled ally, and is treated as if it was made using the kshatriya’s vassalage ability. The kshatriya must be able to legally attack the target with whatever weapons they are wielding at the time they use this ability. A target must be within the allies reach to retaliate with a melee weapon, or within the range of the kshatriya’s ranged weapon. If the kshatriya hits with this attack, in addition to the attack's normal effects, the target must roll twice when making the provoking attack, taking the lower result. If this result is a critical threat, they must roll twice and take the lowest result on the confirmation roll as well.

This replaces the rajah’s crossroads ability.

Sovereignty: At 10th level, the kshatriya becomes a leader in both body and spirit, becoming immune to fear effects and gaining a number of additional points of essence equal to the essence capacity of their veils. The kshatriya also gains the ability to invest essence in an entitled ally. An invested ally gains an insight bonus to all saving throws equal to the essence invested. The kshatriya gains this bonus as well if they are within Close range of the invested ally. The kshatriya can invest multiple entitled allies using this ability, though they must invest essence in each ally individually.

Additionally, the kshatriya gains the Leadership sphere with the Follower package. If they already have the Follower package, or if the Leadership sphere is not being used in your game, they instead gain a bonus combat talent of their choice.

This replaces the rajah’s regality ability.

Stormfury (Stormbound Archetype)

Hit Die: The stormfury uses a d10 as their hit die from their stormbound levels.

This modifies the stormbound’s hit die.

Base Attack Bonus: The stormfury’s base attack bonus from stormbound levels is equal to their class level.

This modifies the stormbound’s base attack bonus.

Proficiencies:  Stormfuries are proficient with simple weapons, as well as light armor and bucklers. In addition, if this is this character’s first level in any class, they may select a martial tradition of their choice. If the stormfury wears metal armor or uses a metal shield, they treat the essence capacity of theirStorm veils as 2 less (minimum 0).

This modifies the stormbound’s weapon and armor proficiencies.

Combat Training: A stormfury may combine combat spheres and talents to create powerful martial techniques. Stormfurys are considered Expert practitioners and use Wisdom as their practitioner modifier.

This replaces the stormbound’s veilweaving, essence and chakra binds class features.

Improved Storm Capacity: At 3rd level, and again at 9th and 15th level, the stormfury increases the essence capacity of their Storm veils and their storm powers by 1.

This replaces the stormbound’s improved essence capacity class feature.

Record Keeper (Scholar Archetype)

Veilweaving: A record keeper learns to shape the magical power known as akasha into powerful veils. The record keeper uses their Intelligence as their veilweaving modifier, and has a veilweaving level equal to their class level. The saving throw DCs of the record keeper’s veils are equal to 10 + the essence invested in the veil + the soulforge’s veilweaving modifier.

At 1st level, the record keeper selects a number from the vizier veil list equal to their Intelligence modifier, and treats those as their veil list for this ability. At each level after 1st, they select one additional veil and add it to their veil list. Permanent increases to their Intelligence score allow them to add more veils to their list.

The record keeper can only shape a limited number of veils per day. They can shape 1 veil at 1st level, and gain the ability to shape 1 additional veil each day at 2nd, 5th, and 9th level.

At 1st level, the record keeper gains access to a pool of essence which can be invested into their veils and other essence receptacles to increase their power. The record keeper gains 1 point of essence at 1st level, and every 2 levels thereafter.

This replaces the scholar’s medical training, flashbangs, advanced medical training, and expert medical training class features.

Scholar’s Knack: A record keeper gains access to the following scholar’s knacks:

Binder’s Knack

The scholar has learned to bind veils to a single one of their chakra slots. When they gain this knack, they select a single chakra slot from the following list. The listed chakra must be of a listed level equal to or lower than their scholar level to select it.

Hands (2nd level), Feet (4th level), Head (6th level), Wrists (8th level), Shoulders (10th level), Headband (12th level), Neck (14th level), Belt (16th level), Check (18th level), Body (20th level).

This scholar’s knack can be selected multiple times, granting a new chakra bind each time it is selected.

Essential Knack

The scholar has learned to tap more deeply into their store of essence, drawing forth more power. The scholar gains an additional 2 points of essence.

This scholar’s knack can be selected multiple times; once for every 4 class levels beyond 2nd level.

Shaper’s Knack

Prerequisites: Scholar level 13

The scholar learns to shape an additional veil each day.

This scholar’s knack can be selected one additional time at 17th level.

Veiled Combatant (Striker Archetype)

Combat Training: A veiled combatant may combine combat sphere and talents to create powerful martial techniques. Veiled combatants are considered Proficient practitioners and use their Constitution as their practitioner modifier.

This modifies the striker’s combat training class feature.

Veilweaving: A veiled combatant learns to shape the magical power known as akasha into powerful veils, which are drawn from the deavic veil list. The veiled combatant has learned to integrate their veils so thoroughly with their martial training that they use their Constitution as their veilweaving modifier and to determine the saving throw DC of their veils. The veiled combatant can shape a single veil each day at 1st level, gaining the ability to shape an additional veil at 3rd level, and every 4 levels thereafter. Despite shaping veils using the daevic veil list, the veiled combatant does not gain the ability to shape Blood veils.

At 1st level the veiled combatant also gains access to their own personal pool of essence which can be invested into veils and other essence receptacles to increase their power. The veiled combatant gains 1 point of essence at 1st level, increasing by an additional point at 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter.

Chakra Binds: At 2nd level, 4th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, the veiled combatant gains the ability to bind veils directly to their chakra, unlocking potent abilities. They gain the ability to bind veils to their chakra in the following order: Hands, Feet, Wrists, Shoulders, Belt, Neck, Chest.

Tense Akasha: The veiled combatant has adapted their veilweaving to the flow of battle, allowing them to use the raw energy of combat to fuel both their veils and their attacks. A veiled combatant begins the day with no tension, but can gain tension in the following ways (a veiled combatant cannot gain tension from each of these more than once per round and a striker must be in combat to gain tension):

• Offensive Pressure: Whenever the veiled combatant successfully damage a creature with an unarmed strike, with a manufactured or natural weapon attack made using a veil, or with a veil ability used as a standard action, they gain 1 tension.
• Defensive Determination: Whenever the veiled combatant takes damage from an attack originating from a creature (including spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities), they gain 1 tension. A veiled combatant does not gain tension from attacks made against them while they are flat-footed or unaware.
• Focusing Flow: Whenever the veiled combatant spends a non-free action to invest or reallocate their essence, they gain 1 tension.

The veiled combatant's tension goes up or down throughout the day, but usually cannot go higher than their Constitution modifier (minimum 1), though some feats, abilities, and magic items may affect this maximum. At 3rd level and every three levels afterward, their maximum tension increases by 1. If a veiled combatant spends 1 minute or longer outside of combat, they lose all tension they possess.

This modifies the striker’s tension ability.

Akashic Techniques: The veiled combatant has learned to spend tension to augment their veils. They gain the following tension techniques:

2 Tension

• Critical Focus: The veiled combatant increases the critical threat range of their unarmed strikes and manufactured and natural weapon attacks made using a veil by 1 until the beginning of their next turn; this bonus stacks with other increases to the veiled combatant’s critical threat range, but is applied last.
• Flowing Investment: For every 2 points of tension the veiled combatant spends on this tension technique, they treat one of their veils as if it were invested with an additional point of essence until the beginning of their next turn. This can cause a veil to be treated as if it were invested with more essence than the veiled combatant’s essence capacity.

3 Tension

• Immediate Focus: The veiled combatant can spend an immediate action to reallocate their essence.

This replaces the striker’s critical knuckle, perfect offensive, and rapid pummel tension techniques.

Striker Art: If one of the veiled combatant’s striker arts would only apply to an unarmed strike, it instead applies to the veiled combatant’s unarmed strikes, and any manufactured or natural weapon attack made using a veil.

This modifies the striker’s striker art class feature.

Tension Training:  At 5th level, and every six levels thereafter, the veiled combatant learns new ways to gain tension; they can select one of the following new methods through which to gain tension (a veiled combatant cannot gain tension from any of these more than once per round); a veiled combatant cannot regain tension if any of these tension training abilities are used against a helpless or unaware creature, or on a creature that has fewer Hit Dice than half the veiled combatant’s character level:

• Critical Offense: Whenever the veiled combatant confirms a critical hit with an unarmed strike or a manufactured or natural weapon attack made using a veil, they gain 1 tension.
• Deadly Offense: Whenever the veiled combatant reduces a creature’s hit points to 0 or less with an unarmed strike or a manufactured or natural weapon attack made using a veil, they gain 1 tension.
• Deceptive Taunt: Whenever the veiled combatant makes a successful Bluff check to feint in combat against a creature, they gain 1 tension.
• Threatening Taunt: Whenever the veiled combatant makes a successful Intimidate check to demoralize a creature, they gain 1 tension.
• Victorious Defense: Whenever the veiled combatant makes a successful saving throw against a non-harmless effect, they gain 1 tension.

This modifies the striker’s tension training ability.

Striker Arts: A veiled combatant gains access to the following striker arts:

Adaptive Twin (Requires Striker 8)

The veiled combatant may shape and bind an additional veil in either their Hands or Feet slot, chosen when they shape their veils for the day. This veil still counts against their total veils shaped and must be invested with essence separately from any other veil shaped in that slot. This ability stacks with other abilities that allow the veiled combatant to shape multiple veils in a single slot, such as the Twin Veil feat.

Adaptive Twin, Improved (Requires Stiker 14)

The veiled combatant must have the Adaptive Twin striker art to select this striker art.

In addition to the Hands and Feet slots, the veiled combatant may choose between their Wrists and Shoulders slots when choosing the veil slot for their Adaptive Twin striker art.

Adaptive Twin, Perfect (Requires Striker 20)

The veiled combatant must have the Improved Adaptive Twin striker art to select this striker art.

When the veiled combatant chooses their veil slot for their Adaptive Twin striker art, they may choose any veil slot they are able to bind.

Armory of Veils

The veiled combatant adds four veils with the [enhanced (weapon or armor)] descriptor to their veil list. The veiled combatant may take this striker art multiple times.

Bloody Binding

The veiled combatant gains the ability to shape Blood veils, and at 12th level gains the ability to bind Blood veils.

Enduring Critical

Whenever the veiled combatant uses their critical focus tension technique, its effects last for an additional number of rounds equal to their Constitution modifier.

Enduring Flow

Whenever the veiled combatant uses their flowing investment tension technique, its effects last for an additional round.

Improved Flow (Requires Striker 5)

The veiled combatant reduces the total tension cost of their flowing investment technique by 1 (to a minimum of 1). This striker art can be gained once at 5th level, plus an additional time for every 6 levels thereafter.

OGL and Legal attached.