#flesh colossus

[boiledkwamaegg]

I'm kind of in love with this thing, and I'm sure Faenil is too :)

This is Mayhem, the Flesh Atronach that Faenil built all by themself. I'd imagine making it took a long time since they collected the body parts through their evil organ harvesting methods, and its body parts are probably mostly comprised of mer races. When it was done and animated, Faenil threw it into some pocket dimension in oblivion so that they can summon it whenever they need to. They're very proud of their creation - not only is it a piece of artwork to them but they definitely consider it their own child as well. Faenil takes good care of it too, I'd imagine such an organic construct needs a lot of patching up and tending to every now and then, plus they have to make sure the flesh doesn't start to rot. Mayhem probably smells better than Faenil does, which says a lot about how much this thing means to them haha - Oh, and don't assume that this thing isn't conscious, it definitely has a personality too, but only Faenil seems to notice that.

Since Faenil is so insanely tall, you get J'zargo for scale.

[wirespun-wizard]

Flesh Colossus

[uesp]

Did You Know: The Flesh Colossus is a larger, more powerful version of the flesh atronach?

[dailycharacteroption]

Studious Librarian (Bard Archetype)

I enjoy archetypes based on scholars and the like, representing the gifts of knowledge and critical thinking being turned to practical ends.

The bards called studious librarians are another one of those “bard in name and skillset only” sharing their dilettante mastery of magic and knowledge, not to mention performances (which often take the form of oratory or even acting, recounting useful knowledge at a moment’s notice), while still being very different than a professional musician and storyteller.

These librarians, unlike their thematic cousins in the archivist archetype, focus more on researching lore in libraries and other repositories of knowledge, as well as magical esoteria, instead of the monster lore and ability to befuddle foes with droning lectures.

Regardless, they make great use of not only their on-hand knowledge but the bodies of work they have in their arsenal.

 As one might expect, these librarians are trained in binding spells into scrolls. However, their real strength comes from acquiring scrolls of other magical traditions (specifically other arcane traditions that support full casting), for they have the limited ability to rapidly understand the magic on such scrolls and adapt their own magical understanding, allowing them to cast the spells written on scrolls using their own magic without consuming the scroll itself, at least, a few times a day.

They also are adept at understanding the indexing or other organization of libraries and the like, making it much more likely for them to have a breakthrough when doing research.

Additionally, their minds are so keen they can recall much if given ample time to mull over a subject.

Going back to scrolls, the most powerful of these librarians can temporarily replace a spell they know with another taken from a bardic scroll, but doing so consumes the magic.

The bard class is already known for its versatility and knowledge, but this archetype replaces many performances with the ability to diversify their spell list further, drawing upon arcane magic known to arcanists, sorcerers, wizards, and witches. As such, I recommend building this archetype with the same principles in mind as a gadgeteer rogue, that is to say, getting as many magic items and scrolls as possible to have a trick for every situation. Though remember that you may be forced to occasionally consume the scrolls that are meant to be used for their special spellcasting. Also, the fact this archetype has some benefits for the research system from Ultimate Intrigue could be quite useful as well.

 There’s always something new to discover, and while librarians are more associated with archiving the discoveries of others, I can easily see them as being eager to discover new things on their own, or perhaps rediscovering mysteries thought lost.

  Horrific as it is, the Library of Flesh is whispered as a blasphemous, but invaluable trove of knowledge, its contents whispered about in scholarly circles, particularly those with an interest in multiple disciplines of the arcane. However, as if the fact that the collected works are tattooed onto preserved skin wasn’t enough, the whole archive is in fact alive, a flesh colossus discorporated among shelves and drawers.

 More than competent in many scholarly disciplines, Eekugh knows more about Ranaan library than any other archivist. The ratfolk has even perused the restricted section in great detail, making him a target if some sinister group were to go looking for information, but the old rat has more than his fair share of tricks up his sleeve.

 The party have made their way into a legendary haunted castle, chock full of the restless dead and the master’s monstrous servants. When they come across the library, they find the surprisingly mortal librarian. Normally, this could lead to a fight against a spellcaster with a surprisingly diverse array of magics, but he is also a greedy sort, eager to trade useful things for riches plundered from other parts of the castle.

[dailycharacteroption]

Silver Champion (Paladin Archetype)

 Outside of kobolds, wyvarans, and a few others, it’s rare to see humanoids worshipping the dragon gods, but not impossible. Some mortals find value in draconic philosophies, be it for good or ill.

Today’s subject in particular is a paladin archetype tied to Pathfinder’s goodly dragon god, Apsu. He is the patron of metallic dragons and other goodly dragons, and is a god of travelling wanderlust, the creation of good works, and helping those in need in a lawful way.

Indeed, these silver champions, as they are called, emulate Apsu in their wanderings, travelling from place to place and providing aid, particularly when evil dragons are the cause of local problems. What’s more, their adherence to Apsu’s philosophies attracts the attention of certain lesser dragons that seek to rise above their base and vicious nature, a change of heart that the champion spends their career nurturing.

If your setting does not include Apsu as a god, feel free to alter the archetype according whatever equivalent goodly dragon god exists in your setting, or perhaps a philosophy of emulating metallic dragons. Considering how this may alter domain choices and how that effects this archetype, choose your options wisely.

 As suggested earlier, this archetype gains access to the drake companion rules from Legacy of the Dragon. Additionally, as soon as the drake grows large enough that it could carry the paladin, it gains the mount ability for free.

Unlike other paladins, these champions do not gain access to the same spell list as other paladins, instead having a heavily limited spell list in the form of all the lower-level spells from every domain and subdomain associated with Apsu, which gives them a spell list of various offensive and defensive buffs for both them and the drake, some utility spells, and even a few offensive spells in the form of the 4th-level area-effect “smite” spells for good and law and the ever-versatile dragon’s breath spell. It is, however, ironic that Apsu’s subdomain of Construct is included in this list, since the spells that the construct domain replaces in the artifice domain are too high of level to even be included on this ad-hoc spell list at all. Furthermore, silver champions do not develop the reserves of magical energy required to cast spells with the same potential as other paladins, limiting their spells per day.

This archetype gives up a lot for the drake companion. Half their smites and mercies, a few of their auras, and the ability to burn lay on hands to channel energy. Additionally, their spellcasting is rather limited. Does this make it a bad archetype? I don’t think so. It does, however, mean that you’ve got to know what you’re doing to make the build work. Flanking builds are a strong choice, as is rushing for the aerial mounted build. Be sure to keep your drake close, since as written, it’s really hard to replace a drake if it dies.

 We talked about altering this archetype to accommodate other dragon gods before, but consider how appropriate it would be to do an antipaladin archetype dedicated to Dahak, Apsu’s estranged son, and arch-nemesis? It’s a homebrew just waiting to happen, and said Crimson Champions (because Dahak is red-scaled, naturally) may indeed be more common than their goodly counterparts on account of most drakes being more chaotic, violent creatures.

For their part, the fact that their drake companions are willful, selfish, and pragmatic by nature is likely a constant form of contention for the silver champions. However, the wise among them are always respectful of the dragons, and the clever will help their drakes come around to their way of thinking of their own accord.

  For years, dragons of all types have been slaughtered, their hoards plundered. However, no one has come forward claiming these kills. Working with the Silver Champions of Stonepike, the party has discovered where all the corpses are being taken. A lich, forgotten by time, plans to create a terrible servant, a flesh colossus made from draconic bodies, built to channel their dread magic.

 Belowground, silver champions have less need to have flying mounts, so their drake companions are often smarter and have volatile breath weapons. Such is the case with Sir Mar Bel, a svirfneblin outcast who found the light of the Perfected Gem, a goodly deity who favors the underground.

 Byzoi joined up with Ser Avalia on a whim initially, figuring that sticking with her would give her a significant hoard. Now a fully grown desert drake, he cannot help but feel lost now that she has gone missing, having discovered the value of her teachings. He would do anything to find out what happened to her, and get her back.

[dailycharacteroption]

Class Feature Friday: Champion Spirit (Medium Spirit)

Finally moving on from variations of archmages, let’s take a moment to focus on the champion spirit!

In general, champion spirits, like the mythic path for which they are named, were warriors of various stripes, whether they were soldiers, gladiators, barbarian braves, or just individuals with a penchant for physical violence.

Mediums seeking to make contact with such a spirit would do well to search out places of violence, most notably battlefields and arena, though anywhere with a long history of bloodshed, or a short but recent history of the same can do in a pinch.

As you might expect, champion spirits aid their medium by granting them some of their prowess in battle.

 Accepting the aid of a champion spirit at its base level grants greater mastery with weaponry, physical might, and resistance to bodily harm.

Those who participate in the séance to call such a spirit find their weaponry biting deeper into foes.

The price, however, is that the spirit has little patience for magic or thinking through problems, favoring violent or physical solutions to what vexes them.

Some of these spirits distrust magic so much as to compel their medium to avoid accepting even beneficial spells, while others demand the medium focus on a single weapon while they are bonded, or demand their medium act honorably and be prepared to accept and honor single duels when challenged.

The least of the powers granted by champions is full knowledge and mastery of all martial weapons and a single exotic weapon, which varies by spirit.

The spirit puppeteering the medium’s body about in combat, they are capable of attacking supernaturally swiftly within such a short period, unleashing an onslaught of attacks.

That speed also lends itself to powerful charges, the medium not only using their momentum to drive home their attacks, but also allowing them to unleash a full slew of attacks during that time.

The most powerful mediums are able to glean greater combat techniques from their champion spirits, learning a handful of combat tricks, each spirit potentially granting a different set of techniques.

If you’re playing a medium that occasionally acts as a melee fighter, this spirit can be very useful indeed. Mediums that enjoy casting their spells will want to keep their influence level low (or high if they’re of the reanimated variety). Naturally, you should focus on combat feats of your choice if you wish to main the champion spirit.

 These spirits are typically warriors, though some may simply be those who know their way around a weapon, such as criminals. Regardless, their combatative focus might come from a desire to prove themselves, or some manner of warrior’s code. The exact motivations of individual spirits can mean the difference between a rampage and a mere shift in goals if the medium loses control.

  A patch of dwindling grape vines is the only reminder of last night’s incident, when a vine leshy suddenly went berserk and wandered into town square, brandishing an axe and shouting about making the invaders pay. Investigation will show that the leshy in question was a medium. What spirit were they channeling, and did they lose control of it?

 It’s been a decade since the Blue Bleeder, a flesh colossus made from the bodies of the Long Branch tribe, was finally destroyed, but the spirits of the woad-painted bodies that formed it did not rest easy. Incorporeal and corporeal undead alike arise from that battlefield all the time, but not all spirits are hostile. Indeed, mediums from other tribes in need of a warrior’s spirit sometimes venture there before setting out on a quest to gain their guidance.

 The holy sword of Ser Vendra has been stolen, the thief proclaiming himself the holy knight reborn. Authorities seeking to reclaim it have been met by expert, but nonlethal, swordplay, and an unearthly feminine voice escaping his lips, proclaiming his assertions again. Half the clergy wants him dead for heresy, and the other half wonders if this is some roundabout way of Ser Vendra fulfilling her oath to return when needed.

[wirespun-wizard]

Flesh mech drones