Singing Sword (Apath)

	Unofficial rules compendium
	Contents 1 Class Information; 2 Class Abilities 2.1 Singing Weapon (Su); 2.2 Weapon Bond (Su); 2.3 Ego (Ex); 2.4 Absorb Weapon (Su); ; 3 Spells 3.1 Singing Sword Curse; ;
	Contents 1 Class Information; 2 Class Abilities 2.1 Singing Weapon (Su); 2.2 Weapon Bond (Su); 2.3 Ego (Ex); 2.4 Absorb Weapon (Su); ; 3 Spells 3.1 Singing Sword Curse; ;

A singing sword is a bard that can take the form of a weapon, usually a sword. Wether the singing sword was orioginally a humanoid that learned to take on the form of a weapon, or an intelligent weapon that learned to take the form of a humanoid matters little.

Some singing swords are actually created by a curse. In this case, the archetype can apply to any class, but classess other than the ones it is listed for is likely to receive far fewer benefits.

Class Information

This is an archetype for bards, clerics, oracles, and [skalds, a character that assumes the shape of a sword to support her companions.

Hit Die: d8.

Class Abilities

The singing sword has all normal features, plus the ones noted.

Singing Weapon (Su)

The singing sword selects a type of weapon when she first takes a level in this class; this is usually a sword, but can be any weapon the singing sword is familiar with. This item can be of any size. At will she can assume the form of the chosen weapon, gaining the hardness of the item but keeping her own hit points. She retains her own attributes, but her physical attributes are limited to the following effects: Strength: Add her Strength modifier to the damage of the weapon. Constitution: Add her Constitution modifier to the Hardness of the weapon. Dexterity: Add her dexterity modifier to attack rolls and combat maneuver rolls made with the weapon. She counts as a magic weapon for the purpose of penetrating damage reduction. These bonuses stack with abilities gained from absorb weapon, below.

In singing weapon shape, she cannot take any physical actions, she needs to be wielded by another character to realize her potential as a weapon. She can still perceive her surroundings, speak, cast spells, and employ bard performances. She ignores any somatic components of her spells, and her spellcasting doesn't attract attacks of opportunity. She can access any items on her person, including material components. The singing sword does not age, eat, breathe, sleep, or execrate. It is not subject to critical hits and effects that allow a Fortitude save (unless the effect is harmless, or affects an object). When wielded or carried it takes a sunder combat maneuver to hit the singing sword.

If rendered unconscious in creature form, the singing sword assumes her weapon form. When killed, she reverts to her creature form. True seeing sees both the creature form and the weapon form.

Weapon Bond (Su)

A singing sword can forge or break a bond with a creature as a standard action, becoming partners. An old bond is automatically broken if a new bond is made. When thus bonded, the singing sword can take the form of any weapon for which her partner possesses the Weapon Focus feat, and becomes a weapon suited to the size category of its wielder. The partners can sense the other's mood, health, and the approximate distance and direction between them. If either can use a teleport power, they can choose to unerringly teleport to the partner if the partner is within rage.

As a full-round action, the singing sword can allow a bonded wielder to take one standard action. This happens on the singing sword's initiative, and unlike a readied or delayed action it has no effect on the wielder's initiative. Effectively, the wielder can act twice per round, on its own initiative and on the singing sword's initiative.

Ego (Ex)

A singing sword has an Ego of 10 + its Charisma bonus + ¼ its hit dice. If wielded by a creature with an alignment opposed to her own when in weapon form, on either the law-chaos or good-evil axis, the wielder takes a number of hit points of damage equal to the singing sword's Ego. This damage bypasses all damage reduction and energy resistance. If the singing sword and its wielder are bonded, this damage no longer applies.

The singing sword and its wielder may not agree. Either party can try to force the issue and dominate the other as an immediate action. The wielder makes a Will save with a DC equal to the singing sword's Ego. On a success, the wielder can control the sword, as dominate monster. If the saving throw fails, the singing sword can dominate the wielder. A dominated wielder of an opposed alignment no longer takes ego damage, and can forcibly create or break a weapon bond.

Absorb Weapon (Su)

The singing sword can absorb and use the abilities of other magical weapons. As a full-round action when in creature form, the singing sword can move a single weapon to or from a personal extra-dimensional space. This extra-dimensional space can hold only weapons, and can hold one weapon, plus an additional weapon at level 5 and every 5 levels thereafter. A singing sword cannot store an intelligent weapon or another singing sword this way.

As a move action, the singing sword can imbue its weapon form with any enchantments or magical qualities, or material of any one of the weapons she has in storage. This does not include qualities inherent to the type of weapon stored, such as threat range, reach, or the disarm weapon quality.

When the singing sword is in its creature form, it is possible to steal a weapon from her extra-dimensional space if it is known to be there; this is about as hard as stealing an item carried in a backpack.

Spells

The following spell bestows the singing sword archetype.

Singing Sword Curse

Necromancy (curse) Level: cleric 5, bard 4, magus 5, sorcerer/wizard 5, witch 4
Components: V, S, F (iron ring)
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: touch
Target: one creature or intelligent weapon touched
Duration: permanent
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: yes

The cursed creature gains the singing sword archetype. If the target is an intelligent weapon, it needs to be generated as a character of a race and class suitable to its personality and a level equal to twice its enhancement bonus, including qualities that cost as enhancement bonuses. Anyone wearing the iron ring that was used as the focus item gains a +5 bonus on Will saving throws against the cursed singing sword's Ego.