+The Companions

Campaign Setting
Adventures
Characters

+The World of Angaria

Geography
Empires
Society & Gods

+The Path of the Paragon

Adventures
Characters
Journals

+Game Information

Reference
d20 Additions
Prestige Classes
Monsters
Tools

+About

Who are we?
Updates

SwordMage (Prestige Class)

Fiana, or "warband," is one of the most elite fighting forces for good on the face of Talanu. Combining breathtaking feats of swordsmanship and dazzling displays of wizardry, the mere presence of a contingent of Swordmages is often enough to make the bad guys give up and go home.

To become a Fiana one must be chosen, usually by a member in the field looking for new recruits. Once chosen, the prospective warrior-mage travels to the monastery fortress of Caer Mawr on the isle of Trigasha. This warren, built into the side of a hill, serves as home and study area for the new members. The land surrounding the compound has been set up as a training ground, and is justly infamous for the difficulty and severity of its challenges. Warriors the world over come to test themselves there (whether they are Fiana-in-training or not).

Fiana are trained in all forms of combat, but specialize in armed melee. When they arrive at Caer Mawr, they pick a weapon type with which they will work for the rest of their lives. Besides weapon forms, the students are taught aerial combat, something that Scathach emphasizes above all else, (she herself can fly under her own power).

Once a Fiana completes training and becomes 1st level, she is free to do as she wishes and go where she will. Many Fiana take up positions of authority in the armies of good rulers, while others resume their former career, (often adventuring). A Swordmage's only stricture is that they return to Caer Mawr for 1 week out of the year, to speak with Scathach and renew their spirit.

Ostensibly, the Fiana are under the control and blessing of the Militant Scarlet Order, the monks who live on the island and run their own fighting school of sorts. In reality, however, the monks leave all governance to the academy's mysterious head instructor, Scathach. Without a doubt the finest trainer in the world, she was already living in the warrens of Caer Mawr when the first monks came to the island.

History

When the monks first arrived, they were unaware of her presence. As soon as they began to investigate the tunnels of her home, however, they knew something was wrong. Members sent in to investigate would disappear, only to be found again the next morning, naked and confused, hanging by their feet from a tree in the center of the settlement.

Soon after this began the Master of the Order, Shavila, approached the tunnels and began to say a blessing, believing that there must be evil spirits in the tunnels. Upon completion of the prayer, Scathach leaped out as if from nowhere and declared that she was no ghost, but a warrior defending her home. Startled, the Master's men leaped to the attack, and as he watched in amazement she dispatched all of them in the blink of an eye without injuring a single one!

Shavila was perplexed. The monks had already planned to use the complex as a training facility. The beautiful, deadly woman standing in front of him, however, was requiring that he kill her in order to accomplish their goals. What was worse, he was not at all certain that they could do it without losing many men, and in the end would destroy what appeared to be an amazing military resource.

In a move of what he believed to be unparalleled brilliance, he offered Scathach a deal. He challenged her to single combat, unarmed. If she won, she could keep her home. If he won, he would use the warren for his purposes, and enroll her as an instructor of his men for a year and a day.

When the headmaster came to, Scathach told him that she would gladly be an instructor anyway, and listed off the supplies she would need to start work on the training facilities...

As mentioned above, Fiana are chosen by those in the field charged by Scathach with finding new members. Occasionally, however, an applicant will come to Caer Mawr and request admittance. Even more rarely there will appear an extraordinary individual who is given the chance to become Fiana without the years of study. These few are given an extensive series of tests, tailored by Scathach for the individual. One applicant's test went as follows -

He was stripped naked, had his hair put in braids, and was given nothing but a shield and spear. He was then charged with running 10 miles through dense underbrush. If his stride faltered, or a twig of the forest was broken, or a braid of his hair was disturbed or caught in a tree branch, he was disqualified. To make things more interesting, 10 members of the Fiana followed him for the course, raining down spear upon him.

He passed the test.

Requirements

Class features

Drawback: -2 on the use of any other than the chosen weapon.

Spell Advancement: +1 level in previous arcane caster class per 2 levels of Fiana.

Evasion: As the Rogue ability.

Improved Attack: +1 for every 2 levels with chosen weapon type (when wearing medium or lighter armor).

Improved Armor Class: +1 for every 2 levels (when wearing medium or lighter armor and wielding chosen weapon type).

Mind Over Matter: -20% to arcane spellcasting failure in light or medium armor.

Defensive Casting: Spellcasting does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Quickened Still-spell: Choose 1 spell of 3rd level or less that can be cast without somatic components, and can be cast as a free action. The spell must be one which affects only the caster. Most Fiana use this spell to fly at a moment's notice, or when pinned or grappled.

Consecrated Weapon: Dedicates a specific weapon, NOT weapon type, with which the Fiana may perform special feats. The weapon must be of masterwork quality or greater. Magical weapons are the most common. The wielder must also have used the weapon for at least one year. The Fiana cannot take up the CW until 20th lvl (total character level).

Upon reaching the number of experience points necessary for 10th lvl, advancement in the Swordmage class stops and the Fiana must make the journey to Caer Mawr for the Rite of Consecration. (Note that the Fiana is not actually 10th lvl at this time, as she does not gain any of the 10th lvl abilities). This process traditionally takes place during Nevioth and culminates on Deepnight. During this time the Fiana goes through many rites of preparation and cleansing, readying his mind and body for the melding that is to come. He or she also uses Weapon-smithing to place special runes on the weapon. These runes will blend with any runes that already exist.

Once the actual bonding has begun, the Fiana channels the XP they have been saving, (that which just made them a candidate for 10th lvl), into the weapon, using their own life force to create an unbreakable mystic bond. This experience drain may not be regained through magical means, (unless so ordained by a deity). After creating the weapon they can once again advance as a Swordmage, and after 19,000 experience points may progress to the 10th lvl of experience.

Once created, the chosen weapon may never be cast aside for a different one, EVER. If the weapon is lost, the wielder always knows in which direction it lies, and approximately how far. If the weapon is destroyed, the wielder may recreate the weapon, identically, through a special ceremony, (again lasting up until Deepnight). Using a Masterwork weapon, and expending 2 levels worth of XP, the original weapon will be recreated.

While using the consecrated weapon, the Swordmage gains the following benefits:

• One additional attack per round at main attack bonus.
• +5 to all attack rolls that involve more than simply attacking - i.e. called shots, disarming, etc.
• Weapon cannot be fumbled or dropped.
• Wielder gains the Improved Critical, Improved Missile Deflection*, and Great Cleave feats.
• 3 times per day, the Swordmage may use her weapon to discharge one attack spell of 5th lvl or lower directly at the victim of a blow. These spells must be preset into the weapon, and count against the Swordmage's total number of spells allowed per day. They stay in the weapon until dispelled or the mage dismisses them, which is a free action.
• Once per day, the wielder can make himself completely immune to one form of attack (fire, cold, acid, physical blows, etc.) for 3 rounds. This is a free action, and does not invoke an attack of opportunity. The rounds of protection must run consecutively.

*As Missile Deflection, save that 1 missile per round per 3 levels of Fiana may be deflected.

However, the ritual that binds the wielder and weapon together also forever alters the recipient. From that point forward, a Fiana is completely dedicated to that specific class of weapons, making the use of different weapon types all the more difficult, if not impossible. The penalty to use other sorts of weapons drops to -4. Furthermore, the Fiana takes on a geas, which forbids him from using different weapon classes. For example, Malakon's chosen weapon is longsword. His geas prevents him from using anything except for swords, and he is at -4 to use any type of sword except for his chosen type. He can pick up and wield a mace at -4 if necessary, but at that point he has violated geas.

If the Fiana violates the geas, he loses all Fiana class abilities save spellcasting. The loss remains until he journeys to Caer Mawr and spends a week atoning for Scathach.