Akashic Minds: The Vitalist (Patreon)

Akashic Vitalist (Vitalist Archetype)

The powers of the mind can easily tap into the akashic record, allowing someone gifted in the psionic arts to have an access to that realm beyond mere mortals. Some of these users of psionics utilize their gifts to veilweave, rather than manifest powers. Some vitalists choose to follow this path, adapting their unique methods to work alongside and synergize with their veils.

Veilweaving: An akashic vitalist learns to shape the magical power known as akasha into powerful veils, which are drawn from the radiant veil list. They know and can shape any veil from this list. The akashic vitalist uses their Wisdom as their veilweaving modifier, and has a veilweaving level equal to their class level. The saving throw DCs of the akashic vitalist’s veils are equal to 10 + the essence invested in the veil + the akashic vitalist’s veilweaving modifier.

The akashic vitalist 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 every 2 levels thereafter, to a maximum of 10 veils at 19th level.

At 1st level, the akashic vitalist gains access to a pool of essence which can be invested into their veils and other essence receptacles to increase their power. The akashic vitalist gains 1 point of essence at each class level, and gains an additional point of essence at levels 11 through 20.

This replaces the vitalist’s power points per day, powers known, maximum power level known, and medic powers class features.

Psionic Weaving: Despite having no power points, the akashic vitalist can still gain psionic focus.

Akashic Collective: An akashic vitalist cannot manifest psionic powers through their collective, instead they can utilize their veils through their collective. Collective members are always treated as if they were in range of the akashic vitalist for their veils. This includes touch attacks, whether they be melee or ranged, and any effect normally limited to a specific range. If the akashic vitalist has a veil shaped that grants them an aura, they can choose to include their collective members under its effects each turn even if they would not otherwise by in range.

This modifies the vitalist’s collective class feature.

Chakra Binds: At 3rd level and every three levels thereafter, the akashic vitalist gains the ability to bind veils directly to their chakras, unlocking potent new abilities. The akashic vitalist gains the ability to bind slots in the following order: Hands, Head, Headband, Neck, Belt, and Body.

Improved Essence Capacity: The akashic vitalist’s mental command over their essence has improved their ability to invest it. At 3rd, 9th, and 15th level the maximum essence capacity of all their essence receptacles increases by 1.

Akashic Pulse: Rather than spending 1 power point as a free action to activate their pulse, the akashic vitalist instead takes 1 point of essence burn as a free action.

This modifies the vitalist’s pulse class feature.

Expanded Knowledge: At 9th level, and again at 18th level, the akashic vitalist gains a single feat that meets the following criteria: any akashic feat or any feat that enhances or modifies their veilweaving or essence (such as the Enhanced Capacity or Extra Essence feats).

This modifies the vitalist’s expanded knowledge class feature, but not for the purposes of archetype compatibility.

Akashic Vitalist Methods

The following changes are made to a vitalist’s methods when selected by an akashic vitalist.

Guardian Method

Guardian’s Veil: A guardian gains the ability to shape the Ablation Field veil each day. This does not count against the number of veils they have shaped, and it can be shaped in the same slot as another veil, as the Twin Veil feat. If the guardian has no other sources of DR, their DR is treated as DR 0/— for the purposes of being increased by this veil. When shaping this veil, the guardian treats it as if it were a Body slot veil, and may bind it using their Body slot when they gain the ability to do so normally.

This replaces the guardian power class feature.

Guardian’s Expertise: At 11th level, the guardian grants the benefits of the shape effect of their Ablation Field to their allies in their collective. If they have no other sources of DR, their DR is treated as DR 0/— for the purposes of being increased by this veil.

This modifies the guardian’s expertise class feature.

Intercessor Method

Intercessor’s Veil: An intercessor gains the ability to shape the Iron Crown veil each day. This does not count against the number of veils they have shaped, and it can be shaped in the same slot as another veil, as the Twin Veil feat.

This replaces the intercessor power class feature.

Intercessor’s Expertise: At 11th level, the intercessor gains a +2 bonus to the saving throw DCs of their veils and spell-like abilities with the mind-affecting descriptor.

In addition, the intercessor can now read and speak any language.

This modifies the intercessor’s expertise class feature.

Mender’s Method

Mender’s Veil: A mender gains the ability to shape the Immaculate Touch veil each day. This does not count against the number of veils they have shaped, and it can be shaped in the same slot as another veil, as the Twin Veil feat.

This replaces the mender power class feature.

Mender’s Expertise: At 11th level, the mender can use their Immaculate Touch to return the recently deceased to life. They can use their immaculate touch on a creature that has died within 1 round + 1 round per point of essence invested in the veil. When doing so, apply the healing from this veil to the creature. If the healed creature’s hit point total is at a negative amount less than its Constitution score, it comes back to life and stabilizes at its new hit point total. If the creature’s hit point total is at a negative amount equal to or greater than its Constitution score, the creature remains dead. Creatures brought back to life this ability gain a temporary negative level that lasts for 1 day.

Creatures slain by death effects cannot be saved using this ability.

This modifies the mender’s expertise class feature.

Soulthief Method

Soulthief’s Veil: A soulthief gains the ability to shape the Plaguebringer Gauntlets veil each day. This does not count against the number of veils they have shaped, and it can be shaped in the same slot as another veil, as the Twin Veil feat.

This replaces the soulthief power class feature.

Mender’s Expertise: At 11th level, the soulthief can use their Plaguebringer Gauntlet’s as a ranged touch attack out to a range of 60 feet, in addition to using it as a melee touch attack. They may use either their Strength or their Dexterity for this touch attack.

In addition, whenever the soul thief deals damage to a creature using a veil (but not weapon attacks grants by a veil, or by veils that deal damage in place of or add damage to weapon attacks) that has at least half as many Hit Dice as the soulthief’s veilweaving level, the soulthief is healed for 50% of the damage dealt (rounded down).

This modifies the soulthief’s expertise class feature.

Akashic Vitalist Archetypes

The following archetypes can be applied to the Akashic Vitalist, allowing them to take archetypes normally allowed to a vitalist that may otherwise be incompatible.

Akashic Lifemonger (Duergar, Akashic Vitalist Archetype)

The Greater Good (Su): The lifemonger can touch a member of their collective as a melee touch attack that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If the touch is successful, the lifemonger deals 1d6 points of nonlethal damage to the creature touched, and heals themself for an equal number of hit points. This healing cannot be redirected to the creature touched.

At 4th level and every 3 levels thereafter, the nonlethal damage dealt and healing gained increase by 1d6. A lifemonger may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Wisdom modifier.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s transfer wounds class feature.

Fortifying Energy (Su): At 2nd level, the lifemonger gains a number of temporary hit points equal to their class level when using the greater good ability. These temporary hit points last for one minute.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist method’s bonus to transfer wounds.

Lull the Sleeper (Su): At 8th level, the lifemonger can spend a swift action and expend their psionic focus to perform a quick ritual designed to keep the sleeper from waking up, but which also improves the performance of anyone in the collective who joins in the ritual. The lifemonger and any member of the collective who spends a swift action on their own turn gain a +1 insight bonus to attack rolls until the beginning of their next turn. This insight bonus increases by +1 every four vitalist levels thereafter.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s swift aid class feature.

I Know Best (Su): At 9th level, a lifemonger can force sleeping creatures and members of their collective, even unwilling members of his collective, to perform actions he deems best. Once every ten minutes, the lifemonger can expend their psionic focus to manifest the mind control power using their veilweaving level as their manifester level without paying a power point cost, but may only target creatures that are sleeping. Whether the creature makes the save or not, it wakes up.

In addition, the lifemonger can manifest mind control normally over his collective regardless of range, although it still allows the target creature a saving throw to resist the effect.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s expanded knowledge feat normally gained at 9th level.

Touched by Madness (Su): A lifemonger of 14th level can share the knowledge of the sleeper with others, temporarily warping their minds. Once every ten minutes, when the lifemonger uses steal health, they can choose to forego dealing damage and instead cause the affected creature to permanently lose its grip on reality, taking no other action but babbling incoherently. A successful Will saving throw (DC 10 + half the vitalist’s level + the vitalist’s Wisdom modifier) negates the effect, and a creature affected by this ability can be cured through the use of powerful healing such as greater restoration or heal.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s steal life ability.

Akashic Sadist (Akashic Vitalist Archetype)

Exquisite Agony (Su): When a member of the akashic sadist’s collective dies, instead of needing to make a save to avoid taking damage, the sadist gains a number of temporary essence equal to half the Hit Die of the creature killed (minimum 1). These points of temporary essence last a number of rounds equal to the sadist’s Wisdom modifier.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s knacks class feature.

Lingering Pain (Su): An akashic sadist of 3rd level learns to make wounds more painful than usual. Any time the sadist inflicts hit point damage on a creature and the sadist is maintaining psionic focus, it also causes bleed damage equal to half the sadist’s level unless the target makes a successful Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the sadist’s class level + the sadist’s Wisdom modifier).

This ability replaces the additional veil shaped the akashic vitalist gains at 5th level.

Empowered In Pain (Su): At 5th level, the akashic sadist can empower their healing at the cost of the health of a member of their collective. Whenever the akashic sadist heals hit point damage to a creature using a supernatural or spell-like effect, or using one of their veils, the akashic sadist can increase the healing by 50% (rounded up) by expending their psionic focus and causing a number of hit points in damage to one member of their collective equal to the additional healing that would be granted by this ability. The member targeted by this damage cannot be the recipient of the healing (whether directly or through effects such as collective healing) and may attempt a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the vitalist’s class level + the vitalist’s Wisdom modifier) to negate the effect, but doing so means the healing is not increased by 50% and psionic focus is still expended. The sadist cannot inflict this damage upon themself.

This ability replaces the akashic vitalist’s request aid class feature.

Reprinted Veils

Ablation Field

Class: Daevic, Helmsman, Nexus, Radiant, Vizier

Slot: Chest

Saving Throw: none

The armor surrounding your form becomes fortified, nullifying attacks made against you.

While this veil is shaped, any DR or hardness that you possess is increased by 1.

Essence: For every point of essence invested in this veil, the bonus to DR or hardness increases by 1.

Chakra Bind (Chest): While this veil is bound to your chest chakra, you gain the constant benefits of the energy adaptation power with a manifester level equal to your veilweaver level.

OGL and Legal attached.