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This variant is a simple rule system that allows the abilities of weapons to improve along with those of their wielders. A character wielding a legendary weapon—whether that weapon is a sword, axe, bow, or even a magic staff—is eligible for one of the scion prestige classes presented below. As long as the wielder does not adopt the prestige class, the legendary weapon is simply a magic item with a small enhancement bonus (usually +1 or +2, or sometimes as high as +3 for truly powerful legendary weapons). But by taking levels in the prestige class, a character can unlock and utilize the weapon’s more advanced powers. Commonly, the wielder gains access to a suite of weapon-appropriate feats, special abilities tied to the weapon’s purpose, or even magical enhancements to the character’s own skills and abilities.
In every case, the scion prestige class associated with a particular weapon defines which of its abilities the wielder is eligible to benefit from. The descriptions of sample legendary weapons later in this section detail the specific abilities of each weapon. Thus, every scion is different, even with only four variations of the prestige class to choose from.
Scions come in as many varieties as there are legendary items, but each one falls into one of four distinct groupings based on the intended wielder of the item. Each sample weapon described in this section is tied to one of the following prestige classes (and the weapon description immediately follows the prestige class description).
This prestige class is for the wielders of legendary weapons made for the hands of fighters, barbarians, rangers, monks, and the occasional paladin.
This prestige class is meant for characters who wield legendary weapons of divine power for clerics, druids, and paladins.
This class is for characters who wield legendary weapons designed for use by arcane spellcasters, such as wizards, sorcerers, and sometimes bards.
This class is for those who wield legendary weapons that make use of or improve the wielder’s stealth, speed, or dexterity (in the general sense). Rogues are excellent candidates for this class, as are bards, rangers, and the occasional monk.
None of the scion prestige classes grant a character any new weapon or armor proficiencies. Thus, it is entirely possible for a scion to be not proficient with his legendary weapon unless he independently takes the necessary weapon proficiency feat.
In addition to meeting the prerequisites for the appropriate prestige class (which are dictated by the weapons themselves), a character wishing to adopt a scion class must also abide by certain other rules and restrictions.
A scion who does not meet the fighter level prerequisite for the Weapon Specialization feat may still select that feat, but only for the type of weapon (such as martial or exotic) that his legendary weapon is.
A scion who qualifies for the appropriate Weapon Specialization feat normally (that is, who has all the normal prerequisites for the feat) may select and apply the feat to any type of weapon.
Legendary weapons should never become permanently lost, for fate has a way of bringing them back to their rightful wielders. On a more practical level, the loss of a legendary weapon means that the character who has invested levels in the associated prestige class is denied most of the class’s special abilities until the weapon is regained, because the abilities are specifically tied to the weapon. Thus, as the GM, you must try to ensure that the weapon and its wielder do not stay separated for long—unless, of course, the purpose of the adventure is to recover the weapon. In most cases, the weapon should turn up at the end of an encounter, or should be near enough at hand that the wielder need only make a reasonable effort to reclaim it.
Each legendary weapon has its own hardness and hit points. Treat the item as if it had a greater hardness and more hit points based on its maximum possible enhancement bonus, even if the wielder has not yet qualified to benefit from that high a bonus.
That said, under ordinary circumstances, legendary weapons do not break: Any attempt to sunder such an item automatically fails, and the weapon is treated as having immunity to all effects that could otherwise destroy it (such as a disintegrate spell, a dragon’s breath weapon, and so on).
If an attacker is foolish enough to attempt to sunder a legendary weapon, the combatants should still make the opposed attack rolls, however. If the scion wins, the scion may immediately deal damage to the attacker’s weapon as though the scion had initiated the attack.
The only exception to this rule is if the person attacking the legendary weapon is herself wielding a legendary weapon. In this case, the attacker may deal damage to the defender’s weapon if she wins the opposed attack roll. However, the defender also immediately makes his own sunder attempt against the attacker’s legendary weapon. If the defender wins this second opposed roll, he may deal damage to the attacker’s weapon—even if his own weapon was damaged or destroyed by the attacker.
Repairing a broken legendary weapon should never be easy. It should be the result of an epic quest, perhaps involving aid from other planes, arduous rituals, and perilous voyages.
If the wielder of a legendary weapon somehow gains another legendary weapon linked to the same scion prestige class, she may only use the weapon as would a character with no levels in the weapon’s associated prestige class, and she may not transfer the benefits of her scion levels to the new weapon. If she were to acquire a weapon linked to a different scion prestige class, she could begin advancing levels in the scion prestige class for that weapon, assuming that she meets the requirements.
The level of commitment that a legendary weapon demands from its wielder does not allow her to split her attention between two or more such weapons simultaneously. Thus, the owner of two legendary weapons must choose which commitment she wishes to focus on with each new character level, by virtue of her prestige class selection.
A wielder who no longer meets the prerequisites of his scion prestige class loses the ability to access the special abilities of his legendary weapon (as noted in the sample weapons below) that correspond to actual scion levels. He retains the basic features of the prestige class as given in its description (base attack bonus, base save bonuses, and even spellcaster levels, when appropriate), but the weapon supplies only the magical abilities it would grant to any wielder. Likewise, a scion who no longer possesses his legendary weapon (because of loss, destruction, theft, or some other reason) loses all the benefits that the weapon granted (though he still retains the basic features of the class). An ex-scion may not progress in the prestige class until he corrects the problem, either by once again meeting the requirements of the class or by regaining the weapon.
This restriction does not prevent a scion from taking levels in another class, or from using the abilities already gained as a scion while he does so. Unless the new class in some way violates the scion prerequisites (such as by requiring a different alignment), or the weapon’s description specifies penalties for advancing in another class, then the only drawback to pursuing a different class is that the scion is not gaining new powers from the weapon.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Bonus feat |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | — |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | — |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Bonus feat |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | — |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | — |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Bonus feat |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +2 | — |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +3 | — |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Bonus feat |
A battle scion has earned the right to fight with a particular legendary weapon, either because the weapon is an ancestral heirloom or because he upholds the principles for which the weapon was originally created. While characters of any class can eventually qualify for the battle scion class, those who wield weapons professionally—fighters, barbarians, rangers, and paladins—are ideal candidates.
No two battle scions are identical, by virtue of the weapons that grant them access to this prestige class. One scion might wield an heirloom weapon that provides him with the abilities needed to uphold the family’s honor. Another could be the scourge of an evil temple, using his legendary sword to prove that might does indeed make right. Yet another could be wielding an axe, hammer, or staff dedicated to his profession, or to his race, with abilities that draw on the strengths thereof.
For all the powers his sword grants him, a battle scion isn’t terribly different from any other fighter, barbarian, ranger, or paladin who uses his share of the treasure to upgrade his favorite weapon every so often. What really sets him apart is the fact that his weapon is leading him toward a particular destiny, if only by shaping his future advancement choices.
d10.
To qualify to become a battle scion, a character must fulfill the criteria given in his particular weapon’s entry. (For an example, see Drakeblade, below.)
The battle scion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).
2 + Int modifier.
The following are class features of the battle scion prestige class. A legendary weapon associated with the class provides a unique set of additional special abilities, which are detailed in the weapon’s description. (For an example, see Drakeblade, below.) These abilities accrue in addition to those already noted in the Special column on Table: The Battle Scion. However, because those abilities are functions of the weapon rather than the wielder, they are lost if the legendary weapon that granted them is lost. The features mentioned on Table: The Battle Scion are retained even if the weapon is lost.
At 1st level, a battle scion receives a bonus feat. Thereafter, he gains an additional bonus feat at 4th, 7th, and 10th level. These bonus feats must be drawn from the fighter bonus feat list. A battle scion must still meet all prerequisites to take a bonus feat.
Reputedly carved from the fang of a great wyrm red dragon, the bastard sword known as Drakeblade has served many masters over the centuries, from bloodthirsty warlords to treasure-seeking adventurers. It is a legendary weapon that provides many benefits to its wielder, but most of the benefits apply only if the wielder has levels in the battle scion prestige class.
Any character can wield Drakeblade as a +2 bastard sword and also gain the benefit of the bravery special ability described below. A battle scion who wields Drakeblade gains additional special abilities if the character fulfills the following criteria.
+9.
Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks.
Improved Critical (bastard sword), Iron Will.
Drakeblade has the following attributes.
20/55.
15th.
To any character other than a battle scion who meets the above requirements, Drakeblade appears to be worth as much as a Medium +2 bastard sword that grants the bravery special ability (market price 14,335 gp).
| Battle Scion Level |
Ability Gained |
|---|---|
| — | Bravery |
| 1st | Bane (dragons) |
| 2nd | Resistance to energy 10 |
| 3rd | Enhancement bonus +3 (+5 against dragons) |
| 4th | Intimidating presence |
| 5th | Resistance to energy 20 |
| 6th | Enhancement bonus +4 (+6 against dragons) |
| 7th | Dodge bonus |
| 8th | Resistance to energy 30 |
| 9th | Frightful presence |
| 10th | Enhancement bonus +5 (+7 against dragons) |
Drakeblade provides a number of special abilities to its wielder, depending on the character’s class level in the battle scion prestige class (see the table below).
When first acquired, Drakeblade functions as a +2 bastard sword. Anyone who wields it, whether a battle scion or not, also benefits from the bravery ability (see below).
The wielder of Drakeblade has immunity to a dragon’s frightful presence ability. All allies within 30 feet of the wielder gain a +4 morale bonus on saves against the frightful presence of dragons.
When wielded by a battle scion, Drakeblade gains the bane (dragons) special ability. Its enhancement bonus is treated as 2 points higher when attacking a dragon, and it deals an extra 2d6 points of damage on a successful strike against a dragon.
Once per day, when a battle scion of 2nd level or higher wielding Drakeblade is dealt at least 1 point of damage from any type of energy (acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic), the scion gains resistance 10 to that form of energy for 1 hour thereafter (including against the damage that activated the ability). For example, if the scion were engulfed in a fireball, the resistance would immediately take effect, reducing the damage taken by the fireball (and any other source of fire damage for the next hour) by 10 points.
Once the energy type is determined, it cannot be changed for the current use of the ability. If two or more types of energy strike the scion simultaneously, he may select the energy type against which his resistance protects.
When a battle scion attains 5th level, the resistance granted by this ability increases to 20 points. At 8th level, it increases to 30 points.
A battle scion of 4th level or higher wielding Drakeblade may add his class level as a bonus on Intimidate checks made against dragons (or one-half his class level as a bonus on Intimidate checks made against nondragons).
At 7th level and higher, a battle scion wielding Drakeblade gains a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class against creatures at least two size categories larger than himself.
A battle scion of 9th level or higher wielding Drakeblade can unsettle foes with his mere presence. This ability takes effect automatically whenever the scion attacks or charges. Creatures within a radius of 60 feet are subject to the effect if they have fewer Hit Dice than the scion’s character level.
A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a Will save (DC 10 + class level + scion’s Cha modifier) remains immune to that scion’s frightful presence for one day. On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds. Even dragons can be affected by the scion’s frightful presence.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Spells per Day/Spells Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 8th | +6 | +6 | +2 | +6 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 9th | +6 | +6 | +3 | +6 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 10th | +7 | +7 | +3 | +7 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
A faith scion wields his legendary blade in the name of his deity—or, in the case of a druid, in the service of nature. A legendary weapon usually comes into the hands of a faith scion either as a gift from his religious order or as a blessing from his deity. Because of the divine nature of these weapons, clerics, druids and paladins are ideally suited for this prestige class, though other classes can also qualify.
A divinely influenced legendary weapon should be rare and unique. Certainly no deity would create multiple copies of one weapon as a matter of course, and few religious orders can afford to do so. Thus, each weapon should grant different abilities, except in special cases. For example, duplicate weapons might be created especially to combat the enemies of a church, or perhaps to destroy (or create) undead. A divine legendary sword of an order devoted to healing might even be less a weapon than an instrument for easing the suffering of others.
A faith scion usually has high status within his religious order. His possession of a legendary weapon implies that he has the favor of his deity, or that he is more in tune with nature than others of his order, in the case of a druid. Depending on the alignment of his deity, though, his ownership of the weapon could be construed as an invitation to try to take it from him.
d8.
To qualify to become a faith scion, a character must fulfill the criteria given in his particular weapon’s entry. (For an example, see Hammer of the Dwarffather, below.)
The faith scion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).
A cleric who gains additional class skills from his domain can treat those skills as class skills for the faith scion class. See Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells for more information.
2 + Int modifier.
The following are class features of the faith scion prestige class. A legendary weapon associated with the class provides a unique set of additional special abilities, which are detailed in the weapon’s description. (For an example, see the Hammer of the Dwarffather, below.) These abilities accrue in addition to those already noted on Table: The Faith Scion. However, because those abilities are functions of the weapon rather than the wielder, they are lost if the legendary weapon that granted them is lost. The features mentioned on Table: The Faith Scion are retained even if the weapon is lost.
At each faith scion level, a character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a faith scion, the player must decide to which class to add each faith scion level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.
Faith scion levels stack with other class levels for determining the effectiveness of the following abilities: animal companions, lay on hands, special mount, turn or rebuke undead, wild shape (including additional daily uses or increased range of sizes or creature types), and wild empathy. For instance, a 5th-level druid/6th-level faith scion could assume wild shape four times per day (including Tiny creatures), and would add 11 (plus Cha modifier) to his wild empathy checks. His animal companion would be treated as that of an 11th-level druid.
The Hammer of the Dwarffather is said to have been crafted by the dwarven gods and symbolizes the glory of the dwarven race.
Any character can wield the Hammer of the Dwarffather as a +2 adamantine warhammer and also gain the benefit of the Craft bonus and lore of souls special ability described below. A faith scion who wields the Hammer of the Dwarffather gains additional special abilities if the character fulfills the following criteria.
Dwarf.
Lawful good.
+7.
Craft (armorsmithing) or Craft (weaponsmithing) 10 ranks.
Armor Proficiency (heavy), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (warhammer).
Ability to cast protection from evil as a divine spell.
Should the wielder of the Hammer of the Dwarffather become an alignment other than lawful good, or attack a lawful good, lawful neutral, or neutral good-aligned dwarf, he loses all special abilities granted by the faith scion prestige class. To regain these abilities, the scion must receive an atonement spell from a dwarf cleric.
A wielder of the Hammer of the Dwarffather must strike the hammer against an anvil at least once every seven days. Failure to perform this task reduces the hammer’s enhancement bonus by 1. Multiple failures are not cumulative (that is, if the hammer goes two weeks without striking an anvil, the reduction does not increase to 2).
The Hammer of the Dwarffather has the following attributes.
30/76.
15th.
To any character other than a faith scion who meets the above requirements, the Hammer of the Dwarffather appears to be worth as much as a Medium +2 adamantine warhammer that grants the Craft bonus and lore of all souls special ability (market price 21,812 gp).
| Faith Scion Level |
Ability Gained |
|---|---|
| — | Craft bonus |
| — | Lore of souls |
| 1st | Smite evil 1/day |
| 2nd | Fortitude of souls +2 |
| 3rd | Throw and return |
| 4th | Enhancement bonus +3 |
| 5th | Smite evil 2/day |
| 6th | Fortitude of souls +4 |
| 7th | Enhancement bonus +4 |
| 8th | Fortitude of souls +6 |
| 9th | Smite evil 3/day |
| 10th | Enhancement bonus +5 |
The Hammer of the Dwarffather provides a number of special abilities to its wielder, depending on the character’s class level in the faith scion prestige class (see the table below).
When first acquired, the Hammer of the Dwarffather functions as a +2 adamantine warhammer. Anyone who wields it, whether a faith scion or not, also benefits from the Craft bonus and lore of souls ability (see below).
The owner of the Hammer of the Dwarffather gains a +5 insight bonus on all Craft checks related to stone or metal.
This bonus increases by an additional +1 for every faith scion class level gained, including 1st level.
Three times per day, the owner of the Hammer of the Dwarffather can use a full-round action to consult the knowledge of his dwarven ancestors. This gives the character a bonus on any one Knowledge check (made as part of the action) equal to his faith scion level (if any) + his Wisdom bonus (if any). (At the GM’s discretion, if the Knowledge check is directly related to dwarvenkind, the bonus granted by the character’s faith scion level is doubled.) The check is treated as a trained skill check, even if the character has no ranks in that Knowledge skill.
Once per day, a faith scion wielding the Hammer of the Dwarffather may smite evil with an attack. The attack may be a melee attack or a ranged attack, but must be delivered by the Hammer of the Dwarffather. The wielder adds 4 to his attack roll and deals 2 extra points of damage per faith scion level. If the wielder accidentally smites a creature that is not evil, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day.
A wielder may use this ability twice per day at 5th level and three times per day at 9th level.
A faith scion of 2nd level or higher wielding the Hammer of the Dwarffather derives endurance from the support of his ancestors, gaining a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution. At 6th level, the bonus increases to +4, and at 8th level to +6.
Three times per day, a faith scion of 3rd level or higher wielding the Hammer of the Dwarffather can treat the weapon as a throwing returning weapon. Activating this ability is a free action, and it lasts for 1 round.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Spells per Day/Spells Known |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 8th | +4 | +2 | +2 | +6 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | +1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class |
Sometimes a magic weapon is not so much a weapon as a magic device in the shape of a weapon. The spell scion is the ideal wielder for a legendary weapon of this sort. Spellblades and similar items are weapons of significant arcane power, and their wielders often have great magical destinies. Such a character might wield a fey sword, or a demon blade, or a magic staff that is actually an important symbol of his or her arcane order.
Wielding an arcane legendary weapon is a great responsibility because the weapon contains so much magical power. Arcane spellcasters who recognize a particular weapon usually afford the wielder more respect—or perhaps fear—than they might another of their ilk who was not so equipped.
d6.
To qualify to become a spell scion, a character must fulfill the criteria given in her particular weapon’s entry. (For an example, see Kaiein, below.)
The spell scion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
2 + Int modifier.
The following are class features of the spell scion prestige class. A legendary weapon associated with the class provides a unique set of additional special abilities, which are detailed in the weapon’s description. (For an example, see Kaiein, below.) These abilities accrue in addition to those already noted on Table: The Spell Scion. However, because those abilities are functions of the weapon rather than the wielder, they are lost if the legendary weapon that granted them is lost. The features mentioned on Table: The Spell Scion are retained even if the weapon is lost.
At each spell scion level, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (metamagic or item creation feats, and so on). If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a spell scion, the player must decide to which class to add each spell scion level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.
Created by a wizard from pure elemental fire, Kaiein is a conduit between the wielder and the Elemental Plane of Fire. The staff is made of polished obsidian and is wreathed at all times in wispy blue-white flame. This flame deals no damage to the wielder.
Any character can wield Kaiein as a +1 flaming/ +1 flaming quarterstaff and also gain the benefit of the resistance to fire special ability described below. A spell scion who wields Kaiein gains additional special abilities if the character fulfills the following criteria.
Any nonlawful.
Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 5 ranks, Spellcraft 10 ranks.
Empower Spell.
Ability to cast 4th-level arcane spells, including at least three spells with the fire descriptor.
Must have been reduced to -1 or less hit points on at least one occasion from a hit that dealt fire damage.
If Kaiein is grasped by a creature with vulnerability to cold, the weapon’s flame goes out temporarily. This renders all the staff’s special abilities (except for its enhancement bonus) inactive. The creature grasping the staff takes 1 point of fire damage in every round when the weapon remains grasped.
Kaiein must be kept in a warm environment to remain at full power. If the staff spends at least 1 hour in an area where the temperature is below 50°F, its flame goes out temporarily. This renders all the staff’s special abilities (except for its enhancement bonus) inactive. This loss of special abilities can be postponed by dealing at least 5 points of fire damage to Kaiein every hour. (Damage dealt to the staff “counts” for this purpose even if the staff actually takes no damage, such as because of its hardness.)
Kaiein has the following attributes.
14/45.
15th.
To any character other than a spell scion who meets the above requirements, Kaiein appears to be worth as much as a Medium +1 flaming/+1 flaming quarterstaff that grants the resistance to fire ability (market price 24,600 gp).
| Spell Scion Level |
Ability Gained |
|---|---|
| — | Resistance to fire 5 |
| 1st | Resistance to fire 10, empowered spells |
| 2nd | Recall spell 1/day |
| 3rd | Fire shield |
| 4th | Resistance to fire 20 |
| 5th | Enhancement bonus +2/+2, recall spell 2/day |
| 6th | Plane shift |
| 7th | Resistance to fire 30 |
| 8th | Recall spell 3/day |
| 9th | Enhancement bonus +3/+3 |
| 10th | Immunity to fire |
Kaiein provides the following special abilities to its wielder, depending on the character’s class level in the spell scion prestige class (see the table below).
When first acquired, Kaiein functions as a +1 flaming/ +1 flaming quarterstaff. Anyone who wields it, whether a spell scion or not, also benefits from the resistance to fire ability (see below).
The wielder of the staff gains resistance to fire 5, even if she has no levels in the spell scion class.
A spell scion who wields the staff gains resistance to fire 10. At 4th level, the resistance improves to 20, and at 7th level to 30. This resistance does not stack with any other resistance to fire the wielder may have.
Three times per day, a spell scion wielding Kaiein can empower (as the Empower Spell feat) any arcane spell she casts that has the fire descriptor. She may apply this effect to any spell whose level is equal to or less than her spell scion level, and may even apply it to spell-like abilities cast by the staff itself. Activating this power is a free action and has no effect on the spell’s level or its casting time.
As a free action, a spell scion of 2nd level or higher can recall any arcane spell she has just cast, as long as that spell has the fire descriptor, up to a maximum spell level equal to her spell scion level. She either restores that spell to her list of prepared spells (if she prepares spells) or regains that spell slot (if she does not prepare spells). She may only recall a spell cast in the same round that she uses this ability.
This ability can be used once per day at 2nd level, twice per day at 5th level, and three times per day at 8th level.
Once per day, when wielded by a spell scion of 3rd level or higher, Kaiein can wreathe the wielder in a warm fire shield of blue flames.
When Kaiein is wielded by a spell scion of 5th level or higher, the staff’s enhancement bonus improves from +1/+1 to +2/+2. The bonus increases to +3/+3 when the wielder attains 9th level as a spell scion.
Once per day, Kaiein can transport a spell scion of 6th level or higher to the Elemental Plane of Fire, just as if it had cast plane shift. Additional willing characters can accompany the scion, as described in the plane shift spell. The effect is more accurate than normal for plane shift, delivering the scion 5 to 500 yards (not miles) from her intended destination. The spell scion must have her own method of return, since Kaiein provides no return trip.
At 10th level, a spell scion wielding Kaiein gains immunity to fire.
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Bonus class skill |
| 2nd | +1 | +1 | +3 | +0 | Bonus special ability |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | — |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | — |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Bonus class skill |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Bonus special ability |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | — |
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +2 | — |
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +3 | — |
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Bonus special ability |
Some legendary weapons are meant for the hands of the quick and the silent. A swift scion might inherit her weapon or acquire it “by accident,” but the weapon is no less part of her destiny than is the legendary weapon of any other scion. Characters of any class can become swift scions, but rogues, bards, rangers, and monks benefit most from the special abilities of the legendary weapons associated with this class.
Swift scions wield their weapons for a wide variety of purposes. A rogue may use it to supplement her income, while a monk might merely seek to master its use. A bard could draw upon the power of her weapon’s rich history to enhance her music, while a ranger might use it as part of the hunt. Of all legendary weapons, the ones associated with the swift scion class are the most focused in their application. Each tends to favor rogues, monks, rangers, or bards specifically, rather than a broad range of classes as the other legendary weapons do.
d6.
To qualify to become a swift scion, a character must fulfill the criteria given in her particular weapon’s entry. (For an example, see Nightphantom, below.)
The swift scion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex).
6 + Int modifier.
The following are class features of the swift scion prestige class. A legendary weapon associated with the class provides a unique set of additional special abilities, which are detailed in the weapon’s description. (For an example, see Nightphantom, below.) These abilities accrue in addition to those already noted on Table: The Swift Scion. However, because those abilities are functions of the weapon rather than the wielder, they are lost if the legendary weapon that granted them is lost. The features mentioned on Table: The Swift Scion are retained even if the weapon is lost.
At 1st level, 5th level, and 9th level, a swift scion may choose an additional class skill from the following list: Appraise (Int), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis), and Use Magic Device (Cha). Once designated, that skill is considered a class skill for the swift scion prestige class.
At 2nd level, 6th level, and 10th level, a swift scion may choose an additional special ability from the following list. She may select the same ability more than once if desired, and the effects stack where appropriate.
A swift scion may gain a number of new spells per day and spells known (if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (metamagic or item creation feats, and so on). If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a swift scion, the player must decide to which class to add each swift scion level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.
A swift scion may choose to gain an extra two daily uses of the bardic music ability, provided that she already has the ability. She doesn’t gain any new bardic music abilities, nor do her existing bardic music abilities improve in effectiveness.
If a swift scion has an enhancement bonus to her speed from a class feature, she may choose to increase this enhancement bonus by 10 feet. This enhancement bonus follows the same rules as her existing enhancement bonus to speed (for instance, a monk who selects this feature only benefits from the enhancement bonus when wearing no armor).
A swift scion can choose to gain a +4 bonus on bardic knowledge checks. (If the character doesn’t have the bardic knowledge class feature, this benefit has no effect.)
A swift scion may choose to gain the improved evasion ability, provided that she already has the evasion ability.
If a swift scion has at least one favored enemy, the bonus gained on damage rolls and certain skill checks against any one favored enemy improves by +2. The character doesn’t gain any additional favored enemies by selecting this ability.
If a swift scion has the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, she may choose to increase the damage dealt by her unarmed strikes. Treat this as if the character’s monk level had increased by four. For instance, a 6th-level monk/2nd-level swift scion who selects this ability would increase her unarmed strike damage from 1d8 to 1d10. (If the character has no monk levels, she gains unarmed damage as a 4th-level monk.)
If a swift scion has the uncanny dodge class feature, she may select improved uncanny dodge. Her swift scion levels stack with her levels in other classes that grant uncanny dodge to determine the minimum rogue level required to flank the character.
If a swift scion has the sneak attack ability, she may choose to increase the extra damage it deals by 2d6 points.
If a swift scion has the Track feat, she may select this special ability. A swift scion with this ability can move at her normal speed while following tracks without taking the normal -5 penalty. She takes only a -10 penalty (instead of the normal -20) when moving at up to twice normal speed while tracking.
If a swift scion has the trap sense ability, she can take this special ability to increase her bonus on Reflex saves and to AC against traps by 1.
A cabal of halfling clerics created the bow called Nightphantom long ago. Since then, it has been passed down along a line of elite rangers and rogues, but was recently lost when its wielder was slain while away from her village.
Any character can wield Nightphantom as a +2 composite shortbow (+2 Str bonus) and also gain the benefit of the stealth special ability described below. A swift scion who wields Nightphantom gains additional special abilities if the character fulfills the following criteria.
+6.
Hide 10 ranks, Move Silently 10 ranks.
Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Stealthy.
The wielder must be of Small size.
Nightphantom does not grant its stealth ability to a wielder who is not of Small size, though its enhancement bonus is still effective.
Nightphantom has the following attributes.
15/55.
15th.
To any character other than a swift scion who meets the above requirements, Nightphantom appears to be worth as much as a Small +2 composite shortbow (+2 Str bonus) that grants the stealth ability (market price 10,525 gp).
| Swift Scion Level |
Ability Gained |
|---|---|
| — | Stealth |
| 1st | Invisibility |
| 2nd | Ghost touch |
| 3rd | Ephemeral presence (trackless) |
| 4th | Enhancement bonus +3 |
| 5th | Dreamstrike arrows |
| 6th | Greater invisibility |
| 7th | Enhancement bonus +4 |
| 8th | Ephemeral presence (scentless) |
| 9th | Etherealness |
| 10th | Enhancement bonus +5 |
Nightphantom provides a number of special abilities to its wielder, depending on the character’s class level in the swift scion prestige class (see the table below).
When it is first acquired, Nightphantom functions as a +2 composite shortbow (+2 Str bonus). Any Small character who wields it, whether a swift scion or not, also benefits from the stealth ability (see below).
The wielder of Nightphantom may use her Wisdom bonus (if any) as a bonus on her Hide and Move Silently checks.
A swift scion wielding Nightphantom can become invisible once per day as a free action. The effect lasts for 1 round per class level.
For a swift scion of 6th level or higher, the invisibility granted by this power is the equivalent of greater invisibility. The duration remains 1 round per class level.
When Nightphantom is wielded by a swift scion of 2nd level or higher, any arrow fired from the bow can damage incorporeal creatures as if it had the ghost touch special ability.
A swift scion of 3rd level or higher bearing Nightphantom leaves no trail and cannot be tracked.
At 8th level, a swift scion bearing the weapon no longer gives off a scent. Creatures with the scent ability cannot detect her presence by means of that ability, nor can she be tracked by scent.
When Nightphantom is wielded by a swift scion of 4th level or higher, the bow’s enhancement bonus improves from +2 to +3. The bonus increases to +4 at 7th level and +5 at 10th level.
Three times per day (but no more than once per round), a swift scion of 5th level or higher can fire a special arrow from Nightphantom. The arrow strikes as a touch attack (ignoring armor, shield, and natural armor bonuses to AC). The arrow deals only half the normal damage, but the damage dealt is Wisdom damage, not hit point damage. Bonus damage dice, if any, do not apply to the damage dealt by a dreamstrike arrow.
At 9th level or higher, a swift scion bearing Nightphantom can become ethereal for up to 10 rounds per day (which need not be spent all at one time) Activating this power, or deactivating it to become material, is a standard action.
