Mind Sword (Paladin Archetype)
Despite how similar their names are, today we’re looking at the mind sword, not the mind blade twice! In all seriousness though, this is a fun archetype right here, perfect for adding a mystical flair to the paladin class.
Whether it be a boon from a goodly deity associated with occult secrets, the result of study into esoteric lore, or perhaps the blending of natural psychic potential with divine power, the mind sword is a fusion of divine warrior and telekinetic master.
Named for their tendency to wield their weapon of choice with their minds, rather than their hands, these paladins are as deadly at range as they are up close, but they also sport an impressive array of defenses as well, making them uniquely suited to dealing with threats that attack the mind.
Using raw force of personality, these warriors can command their weapon to fly through the air to strike foes before returning to their hands, much in the same way as a universalist wizard, but benefiting from the warrior’s superior skill with arms. Furthermore, eventually they can learn to send their weapon to unleash a barrage of attack, even against multiple foes.
This is, however, at the cost of their ability to heal with a touch. However, they do retain a rudimentary ability to heal, curing conditions rather than injury itself.
As they grow in power, these warriors learn a variety of psychic spells, filtered through a divine lens. These spells fall under a few broad categories, including telekinetic actions, extrasensory, and the largest and most prevalent category, a variety of psychic defenses which can be undercast, giving them access to a multitude of emergency wards and auras to protect themselves and allies from attack, particularly of a mental nature.
If a bit of occult flavor would excite you, this archetype is certainly available to spice up your paladin. Given the lack of proper healing abilities outside of spells, the support role of this archetype must be filled by their new spells and others in their arsenal. Also, with their ability to strike from afar, a weapon bond seems like a natural choice, enhancing their favored weapon with the right enhancements, then attacking both in melee and at range.
The curious blurring of the lines between psychic and divine magic is definitely an interesting aspect of this archetype. Regardless of its true nature, there are definitely occult scholars out there that would love to research this melding in earnest. For their part, the paladins are likely to be all too happy to keep it all a secret, lest it be used without their god’s blessing.
The tritons of Kherim Atoll quietly meditate in the transmogrified remains of their patron, a powerful cetaceal agathion, which became the formation. The strange divine properties of the stone have awakened strange powers in them, and their most powerful guardians wield mighty tridents from afar, aiming them by will alone.
On quest from the Sacred Order of the Flying Hammer, Brother Heigzig currently seeks a shard of fiend-tainted elemental essense, lest it be used to conjure forth an army of wicked elementals. A party assisting him in this will benefit greatly from the many mystical protections he can generate, not to mention his mighty warhammer.
Constantly working for redemption, the peri known to mortals as Flamegiver has been teaching the ways of paladinhood to many a culture across the material plane. Her most favored order follows her on each new mission, travelling between worlds to spread the word of righteous good. Wielding their force of will as much as their swords, they can cut down foes from afar with a controlled blade if need be.