Sanctified Blade Talents
As a sanctified blade gains experience, she learns a number of talents that aid her and her allies. Starting at 1st level, a sanctified blade gains one sanctified blade talent from any talent tree. She gains an additional sanctified blade talent for every 2 levels of sanctified blade attained after 1st level. A sanctified blade cannot select an individual talent more than once. These are considered sword saint talents when determining the prerequisites and effects of the Extra Sword Saint Talent feat, following all rules thusly.
Angels’ Choir Talent Tree
Sanctified blades have developed four very distinct fighting styles that represent precious virtues and light, and draw from them powerful techniques with which they bring low their enemies. One of the most unusual is that based off of angels, offering a wide array of tools for them to use in exterminating evil.
To promote good, one cannot stand idly by; a sanctified blade who focuses on this talent tree recognizes this, and with great swiftness makes to punish villains that rear their ugly heads, dancing around the battlefield and striking them with her shining sword faster than the eye can see.
The fight against evil is not all one giant crusade to slay anything and everything that wishes ill; to protect the weak is also key, a value which sanctified blades who specialize in the usage of shields wholeheartedly stand by, for they are the immovable object to stand in the way of evil’s supposedly unstoppable force.
Above all else, benevolence is the ultimate priority for sanctified blades, for what good is a sword not tempered with righteousness, or a shield with nobody to protect? Of all mortal creatures, few display the same level of kindness towards their beloved and sense of justice for the wicked as silver dragons, and any sanctified blade worth her salt will not hesitate to take after them.
As a sanctified blade gains experience, she learns a number of talents that aid her and her allies. Starting at 1st level, a sanctified blade gains one sanctified blade talent from any talent tree. She gains an additional sanctified blade talent for every 2 levels of sanctified blade attained after 1st level. A sanctified blade cannot select an individual talent more than once. These are considered sword saint talents when determining the prerequisites and effects of the Extra Sword Saint Talent feat, following all rules thusly.
Angels’ Choir Talent Tree
Sanctified blades have developed four very distinct fighting styles that represent precious virtues and light, and draw from them powerful techniques with which they bring low their enemies. One of the most unusual is that based off of angels, offering a wide array of tools for them to use in exterminating evil.
- Archangel’s Baritone: The sanctified blade may activate one talent that requires an immediate action per round as a free action instead, increasing the stamina cost by 5 points. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 5
- Cherub’s Tenor: As a swift action, by spending 15 stamina points, the sanctified blade grants herself fast healing/evil with a rate of healing per round equal to her Charisma modifier for 1 minute. By expending two uses of her lay on hands ability, the duration is doubled. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 7
- Dominion’s Countertenor: By spending 10 points of stamina, as a standard action, the sanctified blade may sing, shout, or belt out a righteous warcry, leaving any enemies within a 30 ft. radius shaken, unless they succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + ½ class level + Charisma modifier). By expending one use of her lay on hands ability, she can either increase the DC of this ability by 2, or leave all affected enemies frightened instead of shaken, but she may not expend two uses of lay on hands to have both effects. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 9
- Guardian Angel’s Hall: Once per day, the sanctified blade may reroll one d20 roll. She must take the second roll’s result, even if the result of the second roll is lower. At 12th level, she may reroll one d20 roll twice per day, but only once per d20. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 7
- Nephilim’s Orchestra: When using the Guardian Angel’s Hall talent, the sanctified blade may expend one use of lay on hands to add a sacred bonus to the reroll equal to ¼ of her class level. Prerequisite: Guardian Angel’s Hall
- Power’s Alto: The sanctified blade may use her sense evil ability by making a Perception check instead of Sense Motive. At 8th level, she may use her Charisma modifier instead of her Wisdom modifier for making Perception checks, and at 16th level gains a sacred bonus on attack rolls against creatures she correctly determines are evil through use of sense evil equal to her Charisma modifier.
- Principality’s Bass: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. She and any allies within her 15 ft. aura gain a +2 insight bonus to AC, which increases to +4 against evil creatures. At 8th level, the insight bonuses increase to +3 and +5 respectively, and at 16th level, they increase to +4 and +6 respectively.
- Seraph’s Contralto: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. All damage dealt by her swordskills, as well as any bonus damage afforded by her talents, is converted to fire or holy damage, whichever is most advantageous. By expending one use of her lay on hands ability, she may deal an additional 1d6 fire/holy damage with her melee attacks and with swordskills for a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier, increasing to 2d6 at 8th level and 3d6 at 16th level. This sustained mode uses up 15 points from the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 5
- Throne’s Mezzo-Soprano: By spending 10 stamina points as a swift action, the sanctified blade may move up to her full base speed (as per her current movement type) without provoking attacks of opportunity. This does not count towards the total movement for her turn. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 3
- Virtue’s Soprano: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. All evil enemies that enter her 15 ft. aura must make a Will save (DC 10 + ½ class level + Charisma modifier) or be Immobilized for a number of rounds equal to the sanctified blade’s Charisma modifier. Those who succeed on the save cannot be affected by the sanctified blade’s usage of this talent for 1 minute. This sustained mode uses up 25 points from the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 15
To promote good, one cannot stand idly by; a sanctified blade who focuses on this talent tree recognizes this, and with great swiftness makes to punish villains that rear their ugly heads, dancing around the battlefield and striking them with her shining sword faster than the eye can see.
- Iron Flash: By spending 5 points of stamina as a swift action, the sanctified blade replaces the range of her next melee attack or swordskill a range of Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. for every two class levels); this does not affect the area of effect of any swordskills it is used for, only the range. If her weapon was sheathed and she draws it as part of the attack or swordskill initiation, the attack or swordskill does an additional 2d6 damage.
- Mythril Flash: By spending an additional 5 stamina points, when using the Iron Flash talent, the sanctified blade may make a free bull rush, disarm, sunder, or trip attempt on the target that does not provoke attacks of opportunity, adding her Charisma modifier to her CMB. If her weapon was sheathed and she draws it as part of the attack or swordskill initiation, the attack or swordskill does an additional 4d6 damage instead of 2d6. Prerequisite: Iron Flash
- Adamant Flash: By spending an additional 10 stamina points, when using the Iron Flash talent, the sanctified blade bypasses all damage reduction and hardness with their attack or swordskill. If her weapon was sheathed and she draws it as part of the attack or swordskill initiation, the attack or swordskill does an additional 6d6 damage instead of 2d6; this talent cannot be used in conjunction with the Mythril Flash talent. Prerequisites: Iron Flash, Mythril Flash, Sanctified Blade 7
- Reaching Blade: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. While this mode is active, the reach of all of her weapons gains a 5 ft. increase. If her weapon was sheathed and she draws it as part of an attack or swordskill initiation while this sustained mode is active, she gains a +2 competence bonus on her attack roll or increases the DC of her swordskill by 1. This sustained mode uses up 15 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool.
- Dancing Blade: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. While this mode is active, she gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC that increases by +1 for every four sanctified blade levels, and gives a +2 competence bonus to her initiative that increases by +1 for every six levels. This sustained mode uses up 20 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: At least one Brilliant Sword talent, Sanctified Blade 5
- Readied Blade: Whenever the sanctified blade is in a sustained mode from the Brilliant Sword tree, she may sheathe her weapon as a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity once per round. She may do this twice at 8th level, and three times per round at 16th level.
- Singing Blade: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. While this mode is active, she increases her base land speed by 10 feet, and gains a competence bonus to her AC equal to her Charisma modifier against attacks of opportunity. When targeted by an attack of opportunity, she may make an attack of opportunity in return against the one attacking her first. This sustained mode uses up 30 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: At least two Brilliant Sword talents, Sanctified Blade 13
- Glimmering Dance: As an immediate action, the sanctified blade may spend 5 stamina points to make a Perform (dance) check when targeted by an attack. If the check matches or exceeds the attack roll, the attack misses and the sanctified blade may take a free 5 ft. step.
- Illuminating Dance: When activating the Glimmering Dance talent, the sanctified blade may spend an additional 5 stamina points to move 10 feet instead as a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If she has a sheathed weapon, she may draw it and make a free attack with it before making this movement, but only so long as the one who attacked her is within melee range. Prerequisites: Glimmering Dance, Sanctified Blade 7
- Brilliant Dance: As an immediate action, the sanctified blade may spend 10 stamina points when making a saving throw to replace the saving throw with a Perform (dance) check. If the check is successful, then she may immediately move adjacently to the enemy who triggered the saving throw, regardless of distance, so long as the enemy is in sight; this movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If she has a sheathed weapon, she may draw it and make a free attack against the enemy that deals +3d6 damage if successful. Prerequisites: Glimmering Dance, Illuminating Dance, Sanctified Blade 11
The fight against evil is not all one giant crusade to slay anything and everything that wishes ill; to protect the weak is also key, a value which sanctified blades who specialize in the usage of shields wholeheartedly stand by, for they are the immovable object to stand in the way of evil’s supposedly unstoppable force.
- Angering Sheen: As a swift action, after a successful shield bash, the sanctified blade may make a Bluff check (DC 10 + ½ target’s HD + Wisdom or Charisma modifier). If successful, the target suffers a penalty on all attacks made against anyone except for the sanctified blade equal to the sanctified blade’s Charisma modifier for a like number of rounds. The sanctified blade may affect a maximum number of enemies with this talent equal to her Charisma modifier.
- Blinding Sheen: When the sanctified blade activates the Angering Sheen talent, she may follow an adjacent enemy affected by Angering Sheen if and when they move, regardless of whose turn it is, spending 5 points of stamina to do so. Prerequisite: Angering Sheen
- Agonizing Sheen: When the sanctified blade activates the Angering Sheen talent, she may spend 10 stamina points to force any attack made by affected enemies that does not target her to provoke a shield bash as an attack of opportunity, so long as the enemy is within reach. Prerequisites: Angering Sheen, Sanctified Blade 7
- Winged Shell: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. While this sustained mode is active, she may throw her shield when making a shield bash, with a range of 20 feet. The shield bounces off of the target (or some other nearby surface if it misses) and returns to the sanctified blade’s hand unerringly after every attack. This sustained mode uses up 20 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: At least one Radiant Shield talent, Sanctified Blade 5
- Flying Shell: Whenever the sanctified blade has the Winged Shell sustained mode active, she threatens all squares within the range of her thrown shield bash, and may throw her shield as an attack of opportunity. Prerequisite: Winged Shell, Sanctified Blade 9
- Shield of Radiance: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. While this sustained mode is active, the sanctified blade may set her shield against incoming cone and line effects, making an attack roll with her shield and comparing it to a DC of 15 + effect’s level (½ creature’s HD if the effect has no level) + relevant ability modifier, which if successful, line attacks immediately end upon the sanctified blade’s shield and are negated, starting with her. Cone effects are negated in a line behind the sanctified blade from the direction of the attack. Additionally, she may fight defensively without penalty. Prerequisite: At least three Radiant Shield talents, Sanctified Blade 15
- Shimmering Defense: The sanctified blade applies her shield bonus against touch attacks, and adds her shield bonus as a competence bonus to Reflex saves. Prerequisites: Shield Focus, Sanctified Blade 3
- Sturdy Shield: As an immediate action, when targeted by an attack, the sanctified blade may spend 5 stamina points to make a shield bash, adding her shield bonus to the attack roll. If the shield bash exceeds the attack roll, the attack is negated.
- Polished Shield: As an immediate action, when targeted by a spell, the sanctified blade may spend 10 stamina points to make a shield bash, adding her shield bonus to the attack roll, and comparing it to a caster level check from the caster. If the shield bash exceeds the caster level check, then the spell is negated. Prerequisite: Sturdy Shield, Sanctified Blade 5
- Gleaming Shield: The sanctified blade may spend an additional 10 stamina points to activate either of the Sturdy Shield or Polished Shield talents and apply the effects to an adjacent ally. Prerequisite: Sturdy Shield, Polished Shield
Above all else, benevolence is the ultimate priority for sanctified blades, for what good is a sword not tempered with righteousness, or a shield with nobody to protect? Of all mortal creatures, few display the same level of kindness towards their beloved and sense of justice for the wicked as silver dragons, and any sanctified blade worth her salt will not hesitate to take after them.
- Blessed Talons: By spending 5 points of stamina as a swift action, the sanctified blade’s next attack or swordskill deals an additional 2d6 holy damage, and evil dragons, evil outsiders, and undead must make a Will save (DC 10 + ½ class level + Charisma modifier) or be staggered for 1d4 rounds, ignoring all immunities. The attack or swordskill deals full damage to incorporeal creatures, and if the sanctified blade targets a creature who is possessed by some other creature with the attack or swordskill, then the possessing creature takes full damage, leaving the host unharmed.
- Sacred Talons: By spending an additional 10 stamina points, when using the Blessed Talons talent, the sanctified blade instead deals an additional 4d6 holy damage, and evil dragons, evil outsiders, and undead who fail the Will save are instead dazed for 1d4 rounds, ignoring all immunities. Prerequisites: Blessed Talons, Sanctified Blade 5
- Celestial Talons: By spending an additional 15 stamina points, when using the Blessed Talons talent, the sanctified blade instead deals an additional 6d6 holy damage, and evil dragons, outsiders, and undead who fail the Will save are instead stunned for 1d4 rounds, ignoring all immunities. Prerequisites: Blessed Talons, Sacred Talons, Sanctified Blade 11
- Argent Dragon’s Wrath: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. All weapons she wields are treated as having the holy enchantment, and she is constantly under the effect of protection from evil, which cannot be dispelled (but can be suppressed for 1 round if targeted with dispel or similar effects, treating it as the spell with the sanctified blade’s class level instead of a caster level when determining the dispel check’s DC). This sustained mode uses up 20 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: At least one Silver Dragon talent, Sanctified Blade 5
- Argent Dragon’s Wings: As a swift action, the sanctified blade may activate this talent as a sustained mode. She gains a flight speed equal to twice her base land speed with average maneuverability. Though they aren’t what gives her flight, the pair of draconic wings made of white and silver light that manifest from her back make her shed light as though she was the target of a torchlight spell. This sustained mode uses up 30 points of the sanctified blade’s current and maximum stamina pool. Prerequisites: At least two Silver Dragon talents, Sanctified Blade 9
- Argent Dragon’s Willpower: When activating either the Argent Dragon’s Wrath sustained mode or Argent Dragon’s Wings sustained mode, the sanctified blade may let that mode use up an additional 10 points of her current and maximum stamina pool to give herself spell resistance equal to 12 + her class level and a +4 bonus to her saving throws. Any effects that fail to bypass her spell resistance heal the sanctified blade for twice the spell's level. Prerequisites: Argent Dragon’s Wrath, Argent Dragon’s Wings, at least one other Silver Dragon talent, Sanctified Blade 13.
- Emerald Respite: By spending 10 points of stamina as a swift action, the next attack or swordskill the sanctified blade uses that successfully deals damage also heals either the sanctified blade or one of her allies within 30 feet 3d6 hit points. At 8th level, this restores 6d6 hit points, and at 16th level, restores 9d6 hit points. Prerequisite: Sanctified Blade 3
- Sapphire Mercy: By spending 10 points of stamina as a swift action, the next attack or swordskill the sanctified blade uses that deals damage also grants a sacred bonus to her AC or on all of her saving throws equal to her Charisma modifier. By spending 15 points of stamina instead, she may grant this bonus to an ally within 30 feet. Prerequisites: Emerald Respite, Sanctified Blade 5
- Ruby Blessing: As an immediate action, the sanctified blade may spend 10 stamina points to reroll a single saving throw with a +4 bonus; she must keep the result of the second roll, even if it is lower. By spending 15 stamina points instead, she may allow an ally within 30 feet to reroll their saving throw. Prerequisites: Emerald Respite, Sanctified Blade 7
- Diamond Benediction: When the sanctified blade suffers an effect (including death effects) that would reduce her to 0 hit points or lower, she may, as an immediate action, expend all of her current stamina points (minimum 5). She survives the effect at 0 hit points, and for every 5 stamina points expended beyond the first 5, she is healed 1d6 hit points. If she spends at least 20 stamina points, the sanctified blade can use this talent upon an ally who is about to die or be reduced to 0 hit points or lower, healing them by 1d6 for every 5 stamina points beyond 15 that are spent. Prerequisites: Emerald Respite, Sapphire Mercy, Sanctified Blade 15