Soul Blade (Legendary Samurai Archetype)

The spirit of one’s ancestors is always watching over legendary samurai, regardless of if they believe so. Yet sometimes, these ancestors wish to take a more active role in their descendants lives.

Soul blades are those who have the power and knowledge of their lineage at their fingertips (even if they would wish otherwise).

Spirit Weapon (Su)

At 1st level, a soul blade receives a mundane weapon of their choice, this weapon is treated as broken to all who would use it except the soul blade. While wielding the weapon, its appearance changes to that of a perfectly crafted version of itself, being treated as masterwork by the soul blade. In addition, this spirit weapon houses the soul of the soul blade’s ancestors.

A spirit weapon is an intelligent weapon and has the following traits: Intelligence: This is the intelligence score of the spirit weapon. It starts at 9 and increases by 1 for every two levels of the legendary samurai (at 3rd level, 5th level, and so on).

Wisdom and Charisma: As the legendary samurai increases in level, so do the Wisdom and Charisma of the spirit weapon. These abilities start at 6 and increase by 1 for every two levels of legendary samurai.

Ego: A spirit weapon starts with an ego of 3, and that ego increases as the spiritual weapon becomes more powerful, as per Table 2-1: Spirit Weapon Progression below. In cases where a wielder and the spirit weapon come into conflict, like any intelligent item, a spirit weapon can attempt to exert its dominance (see Intelligent Items). Due to its flexible and powerful nature, a spirit weapon has a nonstandard ego progression.

Languages and Skills: A spirit weapon starts with Common as a language. As the spirit weapon increases in Intelligence, it manifests knowledge of languages and arcane lore.

Upon reaching an Intelligence of 12, it gains a bonus language of the GM’s choice, and gains 1 rank in Knowledge (arcana). Each time the sword gains a bonus to Intelligence, it gains another language and another rank in Knowledge (arcana).

Senses: A spirit weapon is aware of everything around it like a creature that can see and hear. It can be blinded and deafened as if it were a creature. It uses the saving throws of its legendary samurai, even if the legendary samurai is not currently wielding the spirit weapon.

This ability replaces challenge and advanced blade.

TABLE 2-1: SOUL BLADE PROGRESSION

SOUL BLADE CLASS Level	ENHANCEMENT BONUS	INT	WIS/ CHA	EGO	SPECIAL
1st–2nd	+0	9	6	3	Alertness, spiritual weapon strike, telepathy, unbreakable
3rd-4th	+1	10	7	5	Spirit store, weapon bond
5th–6th	+2	12	8	8	Kiai resonance
7th–8th	+2	13	9	10	–
9th–10th	+3	14	10	12	Teleport weapon
11th–12th	+3	15	11	14	Greater spirit store
13th–14th	+4	16	12	16	Spirit drinker
15th–16th	+4	17	13	18	–
17th–18th	+5	18	14	22	–
19th–20th	+5	19	15	24	Bonded mastery

Soul Blade Ability Descriptions

A spiritual weapon has special abilities (or imparts abilities to its wielder) depending on the wielder’s legendary samurai level. The abilities are cumulative. A spiritual weapon normally refuses to use any of its abilities when wielded by anyone other than its legendary samurai, and acts as a masterwork weapon of its type.

Alertness (Ex)

While a soul blade is wielding their spiritual weapon, they gain the Alertness feat.

Spiritual Weapon Strike (Sp)

As a free action, the soul blade can spend 1 spirit, gaining a +1 on attack and damage rolls with their spirit weapon for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, this bonus increases by +1 (to a maximum of +5 at 17th level).

Telepathy (Su)

While a soul blade is wielding or carrying their spiritual weapon, they can communicate telepathically with it in a language that the legendary samurai and the spiritual weapon share.

Unbreakable (Ex)

A spiritual weapon is unable to have the broken status or be destroyed as long as the soul blade is alive.

Spirit Store (Su)

At 3rd level, a soul blade can imbue their spiritual weapon with 1 spirit as a free action. If they do so, that spirit remains, even if the soul blade is out of combat (this spirit still counts against the maximum spirit a soul blade can possess). While storing this spirit, the soul blade gains the listed enhancement bonus on Table 2-1: Soul Blade progression, and the soul blade can spend this spirit as though they possessed it. The spiritual weapon can hold this spirit for 24 hours before it harmlessly dissipates, and a spiritual weapon can only store 1 spirit at a time.

Weapon Bond (Ex)

At 3rd level, a spiritual weapon can be enhanced as though its owner possessed the Craft Magical Arms and Armor feat, treating its owner as though they possess whatever spells would be required to enhance it. In addition, a spiritual weapon does not need to have a +1 enhancement bonus to be granted a melee or ranged weapon special ability, but it cannot have a modified bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +5.

Kiai Resonance (Su)

At 5th level, whenever the soul blade spends 1 or more spirit on a kiai art, the next attack made with the spiritual weapon receives a bonus to damage equal to the soul blade’s Charisma modifier. This attack must be made within 1 minute or this bonus is lost.

Teleport Weapon (Sp)

A soul blade of 9th level or higher can call their spiritual weapon from as far as 1 mile away as a standard action, causing it to instantaneously teleport to their hand.

Greater Spirit Store (Ex)

At 11th level, a spiritual weapon can store up to 2 spirit.

Spirit Drinker (Su)

At 13th level, whenever a spiritual weapon confirms a critical hit while in the heat of combat, it gains 1 spirit; if it is already storing 1 spirit, this new spirit replaces the old spirit. Confirming a critical hit on a helpless or unaware creature or on a creature that has fewer Hit Dice than half the soul blade’s character level does not allow them to gain spirit.

Bonded Mastery (Su)

At 19th level, if a soul blade is in possession of their spiritual weapon at the start of combat,

Form of the Spirit (Sp)

At 20th level, a soul blade can spend 2 spirit as a standard action. If they do, they can summon the spirit of their weapon, treating this as summon monster IX.

This ability replaces last stand.