The Avowed

P r o m i s e s o f P ow e r

1
 The Avowed
Promises of Power
playtest version 8 (full beta)
Authors: Forrest Heck, Katia Oakes
Additional Design: Michael Shih
Artwork: Tithi Luadthong, Gary Dupis
Publisher: Forrest Heck

Special thanks to everyone who's enjoyed, hated, or even just glanced at my work. You've all been a great help to me along
the way, and I wouldn't be here without you. I also want to thank Astral Corona and N. Jolly, as well as the people on several
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Based on the original roleplaying game rules designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and inspired by the third edition of
the game designed by Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, and Peter Adkison.

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Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the
material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

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The Avowed: Promises of Power is published by Forrestfire Studios under the Open Game License version 1.0a Copyright 2000
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

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 The Avowed

Foreword
GONNA BE HONEST, THIS PAGE IS HERE ENTIRELY
FOR A LAYOUT BUG THAT CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT
ADDING A PAGE SOMEWHERE

THERE'LL BE SOME FOREWORDS EVENTUALLY

PROBABLY IN THE FINAL VERSION

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PLAYTESTING

MAYBE SOME ART. I DUNNO. THIS PAGE IS GONNA

BE UGLY AS HELL UNLESS IT'S FULL OF SOMETHING
THOUGH.

SORRY.

ANYWAY THE CONTENT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS IN

ANOTHER CASTLE. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

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 The Avowed
Introduction
THERE'LL EVENTUALLY BE AN INTRODUCTION HERE
DISCUSSING WHAT THE CLASS IS ABOUT PROBABLY
I GUESS
Using This Book
This book is divided into five chapters, an appendix,
and one final section, as given in the overview below.
Chapter 1 (The Avowed): This chapter includes the
avowed, a new base class focused around using the
subsytem introduced in this book.
Chapter 2 (Pacts): This chapter details each of the
various pacts an avowed can make, fueling their power
and modifying how the class plays.
Chapter 3 (Clauses & Pulses): This chapter details
clausesan avowed's core abilities, and customization
options for aether pulses.
Chapter 4 (Feats): In addition to new feats for the
avowed, you'll also find several feats with altered
function for avowed characters, as well as reprintings
of each of the feats an avowed can gain as a bonus feat.
Chapter 5 (Character Options): This chapter includes
an archetype for the avowed class, several new class
feature substitutions, and a useful magic item.
Appendix: The appendix includes several unique
interactions of rules with the avowed (including
prestige class prerequisites and item use), as well as
alternate favored class bonus options for 90 races.
Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket: This "bonus" section
provides a set of variant rules for buying, selling, and
using souls in a campaign, along with a section on how to
handle soul-selling and suggested plot hooks for doing so.
Books Needed
To use this book, we recommend that you have the
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook on hand.
Otherwise, while the avowed references materials in
many other books, all of the rules you need to play an
avowed are included in this book.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 3
CHAPTER 1: THE AVOWED 4
CHAPTER 2: PACTS 7
Types of Pacts 7
Pact Descriptions 7
Celestial Pact 8
Court Fey Pact 10
Dragon Pact 11
Elemental Pact 13
Fiend Pact 15
Nation Pact 17
Old One Pact 19
Otyugh Pact 20
Self Pact 22
Shadow Pact 23
Making Pacts 24
CHAPTER 3: CLAUSES & PULSES 26
General Rules 26
List of Clauses and Shapes 27
Shapes 28
Least Clauses 33
Lesser Clauses 35
Greater Clauses 38
Final Clauses 42
CHAPTER 4: FEATS 46
CHAPTER 5: CHARACTER OPTIONS 51
Tinker Archetype 51
Class Feature Substitutions 53
Silver Shoes (New Magic Item) 53
APPENDIX 54
Avowed Rule Interactions 54
Favored Class Bonuses 54
Referenced Spells 57
MAGE'S MAGNIFICENT SKYMARKET 61
Souls: A Buyer's Guide 62
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 The Avowed
Chapter 1: The Avowed
"When I'm done, I'm headed down below... But I ain't done
yet, am I?"
Gibbons Engel, a fiend-pact avowed
There are many avenues to power. Study, faith,
training, birthright... The paths towards strength are
as innumerable as the stars in the sky, and for some,
just as unreachable. But there are easier paths towards
greatness. By seeking out and bargaining with another,
one can gain a mystical power. By coalescing this power
in the right manner, one can become an avowed.
An avowed is not merely someone who sold their
soul to a devil, nor did they simply trade for someone
else's magican avowed is a unique existence, a being
defined by a powerful psychic connection forged
between them and another. Through this connection,
they can warp the world around them, tugging at the
strings of reality and making their word law. Becoming
Gibbons Engel, an avowed
4
an avowed is simple, but growing as one is not easy.
Only those with enough willpower to take their pact and
expand it can create a strong enough link, and as such,
these individuals are greatly coveted by supernatural
beings from all ends of the planes.
Role: The avowed can take a great many roles in a
party, but tend to focus on destroying their foes with
aether pulses or debilitating them with their clauses.
Alignment: Any. Some pactmakers prefer avowed of
specific alignments, but pacts themselves have no hard
restrictions on alignment, and exceptions to a patron's
desires are not uncommon.
Starting Age: Intuitive.
Starting Wealth: 5d6 10 gp (average 175 gp.) In
addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth
10 gp or less.
Hit Die: d8.
CLASS SKILLS
The avoweds class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise
(Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise
(Cha), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana),
(Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception
(Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of
Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
CLASS FEATURES
The following are the class features of the avowed. An
avowed's caster level for any avowed class features is
equal to his class level plus any bonuses that might apply
from items or abilities.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: An avowed is
proficient with simple weapons and one martial weapon
of his choice. He is also proficient with light armor and
shields (except tower shields).
Pact: An avowed's power comes from a unique
psychic connection they've formed with another being.
Though these connections may take many styles, they
are colloquially known as "pacts," and are magically
etched on the beings of both the avowed and the other
party of the pact. At 1st level, an avowed chooses a single
pact from those listed in Chapter 2: Pacts. This psychic
connection also allows the avowed to use psychic skill
unlocks as if he could cast psychic spells (see Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game: Occult Adventures for more details).
Aether Pulse (Sp): An avowed's most basic ability is the
power to exert his will as a physical force. As a standard
action, he can recite a piece of his pact to fire a ray at
a creature or object within 60 feet. This ray requires a
ranged touch attack to hit, and unlike a normal spell-like
 The Avowed
Table 11: Avowed
Base Attack Fort Reflex Will Shapes Clauses
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special Known Known
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Clauses (least), aether pulse 1d8, pact 2* 1
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Bonus feat, pact sense 3 2
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Aether pulse 2d8 3 3
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Pact empowerment 4 4
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Aether pulse 3d8 4 5
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Clauses (lesser) 5 6
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Aether pulse 4d8 5 7
8th +6/+1 +6 +2 +6 Pact empowerment 6 8
9th +6/+1 +6 +3 +6 Aether pulse 5d8 6 9
10th +7/+2 +7 +3 +7 Ascension, bonus feat 7 10
11th +8/+3 +7 +3 +7 Clauses (greater), aether pulse 6d8 7 11
12th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 Pact empowerment 8 12
13th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 Aether pulse 7d8 8 13
14th +10/+5 +9 +4 +9 Patronage 9 14
15th +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +9 Aether pulse 8d8 9 15
16th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 Clauses (final), pact empowerment 10 16
17th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 Aether pulse 9d8 10 17
18th +13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +11 Bonus feat 11 18
19th +14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +11 Aether pulse 10d8 11 19
20th +15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +12 Pact empowerment 12 20

ability, it has both thought and verbal components. An spell resistance.

aether pulse deals 1d8 points of damage for every odd
class level the avowed possesses (1d8 at 1st level, 2d8
at 3rd level, and so on). It is equivalent to a spell whose
level is equal to 1/2 the avowed's class level (maximum
9th level). Its save DC, if applicable, is equal to 10 +
1/2 the avowed's class level + the avowed's Charisma
modifier.
Aether pulses count as a type of weapon for the
purposes of feats such as Weapon Focus, and such feats
apply to all the avowed's shapes (including shapes
used through weapons, such as aether channel) as well.
Likewise, aether pulses are their own weapon group for
the purposes of abilities and effects. Unless noted by a
shape, the avowed is never considered to be wielding
or gripping the aether pulse, and can't use Vital Strike
with his aether pulse. Likewise, an avowed cannot apply
metamagic feats to his aether pulses. However, the
Ability Focus (aether pulse) feat will add a +2 bonus to
the save DCs of any aether pulses he makes, and feats
that modify spell-like abilities (such as Quicken Spell-
Like Ability) work normally with aether pulses.
Unless affected by a modulation clause, an aether pulse
is not subject to spell resistance. Individual modulation
clauses will note whether or not they are blocked by
If a clause, shape, or other ability deals damage equal
to some fraction of an avowed's aether pulse, this damage
is dealt in d8s, and determined by dividing the number
of dice in the aether pulse's normal base damage. For
example, a 9th-level avowed (aether pulse 5d8) who uses
a shape that deals 1/2 his aether pulse's base damage
would deal 2d8 points of damage with the shape.
If an aether pulse deals damage of an energy type, it
gains that type as a descriptor (though immunities only
apply to the damage in question, for aether pulses that
deal multiple types of damage).
Clauses (Sp): An avowed has access to a small group
of special powers. These powers, called clauses, stem
from the details of their pact, and are a special type of
spell-like ability. An avowed can use his clauses at will,
with the following qualifications:
Unlike other spell-like abilities, a clause has both
thought and verbal components. They provoke attacks of
opportunity as normal unless otherwise stated, and the
avowed can cast defensively normally (albeit with a +10
increase to the check DC from the thought component).
The avowed's caster level for his clauses is equal to his
class level.
As clauses are not actually spells, they do not benefit

5
 The Avowed
from the Spell Focus feat or similar abilities. However,
an avowed can take Ability Focus (clauses) to increase
his save DCs, and feats that modify spell-like abilities
(such as Quicken Spell-Like Ability) work normally with
clauses.
There are four different grades of clauses: least, lesser,
greater, and final. At 1st level, an avowed has access
to least clauses. At 6th level, he gains access to lesser
clauses, at 11th level, greater clauses, and at 16th level,
final clauses. In addition, there are some clauses denoted
as "pact clauses." These are granted by pact abilities, and
cannot be gained in any other fashion.
An avowed learns one clause at every class level he
gains. In addition, at every even-numbered avowed level,
he can also replace a clause he knows with a clause of
the same or lower grade, in addition to learning a new
clause. An avowed can only select a given clause once.
If a clause prompts a saving throw, its DC is equal to
10 + 1/2 the avowed's class level + the avowed's Charisma
modifier. Most clauses do not allow spell resistance
(as noted in their descriptions); however, if a clause
emulates a spell effect that is affected by spell resistance,
so too does the clause.
If a clause has a duration longer than instantaneous,
the avowed can dismiss it for any or all of its targets as a
standard action.
More information on the types of clauses and how they
function can be found in Chapter 3: Clauses & Pulses.
Pulse Shapes: An avowed has a number of specialized
shapes he can use with his aether pulse. A shape is used
to change how an aether pulse functions, altering its
area, damage, or delivery mechanism. Some shapes
allow the avowed to target multiple creatures or an
area, and others allow the avowed to channel his aether
pulse through a weapon (or wield it as a weapon itself).
Whenever the avowed uses his aether pulse, he can
choose to apply a single shape he knows to the effect.
This does not require an action, and in fact may change
the action required to use the aether pulse.
At 1st level, an avowed knows two shapes, one of his
choice and one bonus shape granted by his pact. He
cannot select the same shape twice at 1st level; both
must be different. At every even-numbered class level,
the avowed learns one additional shape. Shapes can be
selected multiple times, increasing their power each
time the avowed does so. Each time the avowed learns
a new shape, he can also replace a shape he knows with
another shape choice (in addition to learning the new
shape). He may not replace the shape gained from his
pact, and may not exchange the shape gained at 1st
level for a selection of the same shape as the one he
gained from his pact.
Bonus Feats: At 2nd, 10th, and 18th levels, an avowed
gains a bonus feat from the following list: Ability Focus,
Aether Duelist,* Aether Equilibrium,* Aether Outburst,*
Aether Torrent,* Aetheric Armor,* Chokehold, Combat
6
Casting, Deadly Aim, Embodiment of Aether,* Empower
Spell-Like Ability, Extra Clause,* Flyby Attack, Greater
Grapple, Improved Grapple, Intuitive Recitation,*
Lingering Pulse,* Merciful Pulse,* Mystic Reflexes,*
Overcharge Modulation,* Pactbound Guardian,*
Piranha Strike, Point-Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise
Shot, Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Rapid Grappler, Silent
Recitation,* Skillful Pact,* Spirited Swordsmanship,*
Steadfast Personality, Steel's Betrayal,* Village Burner,
Weapon Finesse, or Weapon Focus.
He must still meet the feat's prerequisites, and several
of these feats have alternate effects when applied to an
avowed's class features, as noted in Chapter 5: Feats.
Bonus feats marked with an asterisk (*) are new feats
introduced in that chapter.
Pact Sense (Su): At 2nd level, an avowed gains a
sense related to his pact. See the individual pacts for
more details.
Pact Empowerment (Su): At 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th,
and 20th levels, an avowed gains an ability from his
pact. The exact abilities a particular avowed gains are
detailed in the individual pacts; see the Pacts section on
the next page for more details. Some pacts grant unique
clauses; no avowed without the proper pact can learn
these clauses, and they cannot be selected normally. If a
pact ability prompts a saving throw, its DC is equal to 10
+ 1/2 the avowed's class level + the avowed's Charisma
modifier.
Ascension (Su): Flight is one of the surest signs of
power that one can possess. Starting at 10th level, an
avowed gains a fly speed equal to his base land speed,
with good maneuverability. If he has other fly speeds
(such as from the take flight clause), he also increases
those fly speeds by 30 feet and their maneuverabilities
by one step.
Patronage (Su): At 14th level, an avowed has attained
power that lets him become a patron for other avowed.
He can bestow a mid-campaign pact on another being,
as described on page 24, granting them the benefits of
his own pact (even if it isn't a Patron pact).
Avowed Rules Interactions
The avowed class' abilities function slightly differently
than from spells and spellcasters, but still use many of
the same rules. The ways that an avowed interacts with
caster level increases, prestige classes, and some specific
magic items are listed in the Appendix on page 54.
Racial Favored Class Bonuses
Any sapient being possessed of enough willpower can
become an avowed. As such, every race has access to
the following alternate favored class bonus.
All: Gain 1/6 of an avowed bonus feat.
In addition, different races tend to have their own talents
and specialties, as listed in the Appendix on page 54.
 The Avowed

Chapter 2: Pacts
The pacts that an avowed can form are as varied as the
avowed themselves. However, though the exact details
of what is offered and what is given are unique to those
who make them, pacts tend to share particular aspects
and abilities. A pact between a human and a particular
type of demon will often be similar to that formed by
a different humanoid and a different demon of that
type. While each type of pact has different origins and
connotations, every pact has the following features.
Some pacts grant unique clauses. Any clause learned
through a pact is only available to characters with that
pact's ability; an avowed cannot choose to learn it as he
levels up.
Name
The name of the pact's source; some pacts are gained
from specific creatures, and some are more general; the
specifics of how pacts are made with such creatures are
detailed at the end of this chapter.
Description
A description of who makes these pacts, what they tend
to entail, and common titles an avowed may carry.
Skills
Each pact grants the avowed two additional class skills
that are relevant to the pact or its parties.
Bonus Shape
An avowed chooses one of the two listed shapes to gain
at 1st level. The other may be chosen normally later on.
Attunement
The process of making a pact has side-effects on the
avowed; for some pacts, these are subtle, but others
are more overt. An avowed gains his pact's attunement
ability at 1st level.
Patron Pacts
By far the most common pact made, a patron pact
is a bargain between an avowed and a particularly
powerful or unique supernatural being. As the majority
of an avowed's power comes from the pact itself, a
patron loses very little on their side of the bargain. The
payment they take in exchange varies from patron to
patron, but tends to involve service using the avowed's
newfound powers.
Occasionally, a patron pact is made that includes a
promise of power for the avowed's bloodline; as a result,
many avowed are born into their power. By discovering
the details behind their ancestor's bargain, they can gain
the same powers that were granted to them (sometimes
freely, though more rarely, they too must pay a price to
access the pact).
Symbiotic Pacts
Symbiotic pacts differ from patron pacts in that they
are two-way. The psychic bond created by the pact is
not a mere bargain for symbiotic pactmakers, but a
powerful tether between them. Though the individual
pactmakers may not be personally powerful, this pact
ensures that as one gains power, so too does the other,
each drawing strength from the connection they've
forged.
Esoteric Pacts
Esoteric pacts are rare, unique, and not, strictly, pacts.
Unlike the pacts forged by an avowed and another,
esoteric pacts are a method of self-empowerment. By
creating a special psychic link and enforcing it on the
world, an esoteric avowed can contract with abstract
concepts, uncaring beings, or even their own pride,
gaining powers that few others possess.

Sense
The special sense that an avowed gains at 2nd level.
Each of these senses are constant supernatural abilities.
If a pact sense has an effect that requires concentration,
doing so is a move action that can be done while
concentrating normally on other effects.

Pact Empowerments
At 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels, an avowed's
pact grants him a new ability unique to the pact. A pact
empowerment is a supernatural ability.

7
 The Avowed
Celestial Pact (Patron)
It takes a great deal of influence to convince a celestial
to make a pact. A creature of law may give out its
blessing because it is expected to, a creature of evil
may do so expecting greater gain later, and a creature
of chaos may do so just because it can. A creature of
good, however, must be concerned with the potential
uses of its power; unlike a paladin or clerics power, a
pact cannot be revoked once it is made. It is with great
caution, then, that a celestial opts to make a pactan
empowerment to protect someone in need, a blessing
on someone who has proven time and time again they
can resist corruption, or a reward for someone who has
sacrificed everything in the service of what is noble and
right are common reasons for celestial pacts to be made.
Of course, not all celestials stay good. Fallen celestials
seem more prevalent than other creatures, thought to
be because they are the most likely to see what is still
good in their wayward comrades. Unwilling to kill
what can still be redeemed, rogue celestials may escape
their pursuers, making a bargains with mortals to gain
power and influence. No longer concerned with the
consequences, the sheer recklessness with which these
rare entities are willing to make pacts makes fallen
celestial pacts seem nearly as prevalent as those made
by their considerably more numerous siblings.
As the powers granted by the pact are inherently
selfless in nature, putting their bodies on the line for
those of their allies, celestial-pact avowed are usually
known as martyrs, though in cases where the avowed
is particularly faithful and illustrious, they are often
canonized, and granted the title of saint.
Celestial Pact Features
The following are the celestial pact's features.
Skills: Heal, Knowledge (planes).
Bonus Shape: Aether channel or aether wrath. A
celestial-pact avowed's aether pulses often take the
appearance of brilliant light and golden, celestial flames.
Attunement: As a free action, you can call a halo
of celestial fire into being around you. This halo both
protects you and keeps allies from being harmed. The
halo glows with the same intensity as a torch, and while
it's active, you gain 2 temporary hit points at the start of
each of your turns, up to a maximum of 2 + 2 per avowed
level at any given time. These temporary hit points
stack with temporary hit points from other sources,
as normal. In addition, you gain rune of penance as a
bonus clause.
Sense: You can sense the hostility and emotional
states of others. You may use your Charisma instead of
Wisdom on Sense Motive checks, and as a free action,
you can read the intents of each creature within 30 feet
as if you had taken 10 on a Sense Motive check against
them.
8
Celestial Pact Empowerments
The following are the celestial pact's empowerments.
Heavenly Body (4th): The power of your pact has
allowed your strength of body to carry over to strength
of magic. You add 1/2 your Constitution bonus (if any)
as a sacred bonus to your aether pulse and clause save
DCs. In addition, at the end of each of your turns, you
gain a bonus on attack and damage rolls for 1 round
based on how much damage you've taken since the end
of your last turn. This bonus on damage rolls is doubled
when applied to abilities that do not involve attack rolls
or combat maneuver checks (such as aether blast).
Damage Taken Attack and Damage Bonus
19 +1
1019 +2
2029 +3
3039 +4
40+ +5
Rune of Detention (8th): Your rune of penance clause
gains an additional effect, allowing you to temporarily
halt and imprison those who dare strike your allies.
Whenever a creature marked by your rune of penance
damages an ally other than you, you become aware
of the action and can choose to discharge the rune
as a free action (even if it isn't your turn), ending its
current effect (after granting your ally fast healing)
on the opponent. The rune expands into a prison-like
cylinder of light, and that creature must succeed at a
Reflex save or become trapped in their space. While
trapped, they are unable to move willingly from their
space (even with teleportation effects), and unable to
perceive anything more than 30 feet away from them.
This effect lasts for 1 minute, though the creature can
make another Reflex save during each of its turns as
a standard action; success means they can move up to
half their speed and stop being imprisoned by the rune.
Otherwise, this effect surrounds and follows them until
it expires, even if they are moved by another creature.
At 12th level, the distance at which an imprisoned
creature cannot perceive things is reduced to 20 feet.
At 16th level, it is reduced to 10 feet. At 20th level, an
imprisoned creature can only perceive the spaces
adjacent to it.
Purifying Radiance (12th): You can take the ills of
others onto yourself. By praying or meditating with
another creature for 1 hour, you use the heal (or harm,
if the other creature is healed by negative energy) and
atonement spells on that creature. You do not need to
provide the material components for this atonement
spell, even if you're using it to redeem a cleric or druid.
Using this ability inflicts 1 temporary negative level
 The Avowed
on you that lasts for one week. This negative level is
inflicted even if you are normally immune to negative
levels.
Cleansing Fire (16th): Your celestial fires burn away
impurities in the soul, leaving others with a blank slate.
Whenever you would reduce a creature to 0 or fewer hit
points, you can instead reduce them to 1 hit point. If you
do, that creature becomes helpless for 8 hours and you
may have their alignment shift one step towards yours
on each axis (good/evil and lawful/chaotic).
This ability does not change the creature's personality
in any way; it merely cleanses their soul of their prior
acts, allowing them a truly open path forwards. Many
fall back to evil after being cleansed, but just as many
turn over a new leaf.
However, regardless of their decision, the flames
leave them numb and peaceful for a brief moment;
their attitude towards you and your allies changes to
indifferent (though it can be changed later as normal),
and they can, by meditating for 1 hour, gain the effect of
the atonement spell to become any alignment they wish
(and regain alignment-based powers, if applicable).
Rune of Protection (20th): At 20th level, you ascend
to a purer form. You gain damage reduction 10/evil and
the alignment subtypes for your alignment (for example,
if you are lawful good, you gain the good and lawful
subtypes). In addition, you gain rune of protection as a
bonus clause.
Often, saints take the battle directly to the forces of evil.
Celestial Pact Clauses
The following two clauses are granted by the celestial
pact, and cannot be selected normally.
RUNE OF PENANCE
Pact (1st); free action; spell resistance no
You mark an opponent you can see within 10 feet per caster
level with a rune of penance. This rune lasts for 1 minute,
and while marked by this rune, any time that opponent
damages a creature other than you, the damaged creature
gains fast healing 5 for 1 round per 10 damage taken. This
ability stacks with itself to increase the duration of the fast
healing; for example, if your marked opponent deals 20
damage to one of your allies (granting that ally fast healing
for 2 rounds), then another 30 damage in the next round,
the ally would have gained fast healing for a total of 5
rounds (and already used one of them).
You can use this clause once per round, and can have any
number of opponents marked with its effect at any given
time, though the rune ends if they move out of range
A non-mindless creature under the effect of this clause
is aware you have this ability, and any consequences of
triggering it (including from other abilities).
RUNE OF PROTECTION
Pact (9th); immediate action; spell resistance no
You shield an ally from death or destruction, sending them
away to keep them alive in their moment of need. You can
use this clause whenever an ally you can perceive within
30 feet of you would be reduced to 0 or fewer hit points.
That ally is instead reduced to 1 hit points (and stable),
then transported to a safe location, as if by the wish spell.
This location varies from person to person, but is always a
place that they call home, and not immediately dangerous.
If the ally is not willing to be transported by this effect, it
fails entirely. If you use this clause on a creature that would
be destroyed at 0 hit points, you instead reduce them to 1
hit point and cause them to become helpless for 8 hours
after they're transported. Once a creature is affected by this
clause, they cannot be affected again for 24 hours.
What is a Rune?
The celestial pact makes extensive use of a form of
imagery that we at Forrestfire Studios call runes. These
are intended to represent angelic halos, beacons of
light, and holy words of power, and do not, necessarily,
have to be letters, glyphs, or even "runic."
Players and GMs using the celestial pact should
think about what their avowed's personal power looks
likeis it a representation of their patron? Something
flowing from within them; their convictions? Is it
merely an energy they tap, regardless of its origin?
These questions might all lead to determining what
sort of thematics the avowed's abilities take on, and
what their "runes" actually look like.
9
 The Avowed
Court Fey Pact (Patron)
Court fey are creatures of contradictions, simultaneously
free-spirited and impulsive, and yet bound by law to an
extent that would make a devil shudder at the tyranny.
The lords and ladies of the faerie realms are well known
for their positions in local myths and legends. Indeed,
theyre frequently bound to, in some sense, the stories
that develop around them, as though they were a set
of rules all their own that must be abided by. This,
along with their rather alien mentality, makes their
dispositions remarkably difficult to judge, even for the
more experienced at interacting with them.
Fey pacts are one of the most common ones formed. Fey
are beings of bargains and trades sealed by law, and to
make a pact with a mortal for power iswhile somewhat
out of the ordinaryno stranger than an elf engaging
in a trade deal with a dwarf. What they ask, however, is
always rather abstract. Childhood memories, a strand
of hair from a loved one, or even the supplicants Name
itself. Services in their favor are also common, though
they can vary from being as complex as assassinating a
rival to ensure the crown to shining their shoes on a street,
or as absurd as inverting every book on a certain shelf in a
certain library, and only those books. They are inherently
capricious, but they will always repay their favors.
Ultimately, court fey care most about the emotional
resonance of their payment, and this alongside their
natural affinity with pacts and bargains leads many
to believe that they were the first to pact with mortals.
Whether or not this is true, the ramifications of their
pacts echo in the folklore of many smaller settlements-
whether they may be worshipped as deities, or viewed
inherently as a force of nature, they are never taken
lightly- or at least, not for long.
While those pacted with court fey arent accorded
anything approaching equal status in faerie, they are at
least known to them and occasionally allowed among
their company. As such, they are known as "courtiers."
Court Fey Pact Features
The following are the court fey pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (nature), Stealth.
Bonus Shape: Aether blade or aether rounds. Fey-
pact avowed tend towards elegant, light weaponry and
magic-enhanced archery.
Attunement: As an immediate action when a
melee attack is made against you, you use fey magic
to misdirect it. You must be aware of the attack to use
this ability. Make a melee or ranged attack roll at your
highest bonus with a weapon you are wielding. If you
make a ranged attack roll, it does not provoke attacks of
opportunity. If the result is greater than the attack roll
10
of the melee attack against you, the attack is deflected.
If there is at least one creature other than you and your
attacker within your reach, you can choose to redirect
the attack to one of them, using your opponent's attack
roll. Resolve the attack against that creature as if they
had been the initial target, even if they would normally
have been out of range.
Sense: You automatically detect the presence or
absence of illusion effects within 30 feet. This does not
reveal the location of illusions or which objects are
illusory, only that they are there. If you wish, you can
exclude specific effects that you are aware of from this
sense.
Court Fey Pact Empowerments
The following are the court fey pact's empowerments
Fairy Ring (4th): As a move action, you may mark
a square you occupy with a ring of mushrooms for a
number of rounds equal to your avowed level. Once
per round as a free action, you may return to that circle.
This is a teleportation effect, and you may only have
one Fairy Ring at a time. If you use this ability to make a
new one, the older one withers and fades.
Furtive Manipulator (8th): Creatures that cannot
observe you (such as by being invisible or successfully
using Stealth against them) take a 2 penalty on saving
throws against your abilities (including abilities that
cause them to become aware of your presence). In
addition, any time a creature succeeds at their saving
throw against a mind-affecting effect you used on them
while they were unaware of you gains no indication
that you used the effect at all (not even a chill or bad
feeling that might have normally come with succeeding
at a save).
Fetch (12th): You gain fetch as a bonus clause.
Fairy Circle (16th): You gain fairy circle as a bonus
clause.
Fair Folk (20th): Creatures that are unaware of your
presence (such as by being invisible or successfully
using Stealth against them) are treated as willing for
the purposes of clauses, abilities, and effects originating
from you. In addition, when you reach 20th level, you
gain a fey realm of your own. This realm is created the
moment you gain this ability, as if by a permanent create
greater demiplane spell, except that its area is always
100 1-mile cubes instead of one acre. Your fey realm has
the Bountiful, Shape, Seasonal, Structure, and Morphic
features, with the manifestations of each determined
by you when you gain this ability. In addition, you gain
homecoming as a bonus clause.
 The Avowed
Court Fey Pact Clauses
The following three clauses are granted by the court fey
pact, and cannot be selected normally.
FAIRY CIRCLE
Pact (9th); 1 hour; spell resistance no
You use teleportation circle, as the spell. Unlike a normal
clause, you must provide the 1,000 gp amber dust material
component in order to use it. Otherwise, the effect fails.
If you also provide 22,500 gp worth of diamond dust as
a material component, the teleportation circle you create
becomes permanent, as if the permanency spell had been
cast on it.
FETCH
Pact (4th); 1 hour; spell resistance no
Dragon Pact (Patron)
Among mortal beings, true dragons are the undisputed top
of the food chain. Possessing natural sorcery, elemental
power, and immense physical strength, these monsters
are known across the planes as dangerous enemies and
powerful allies. However, as awe-inspiring as they are,
dragons rarely go through their lives completely alone.
A wyrmling relies on stronger beings to keep it safe, an
adult dragon might look for companionship, allies, or
minions, and when a mighty wyrm needs someone
around, someone will be there for them.
As such, dragon-pact avowed are not particularly rare.
Dragons tend to ask for treasure, service, or both in
exchange for their patronage, and expect their avowed
to come to their aid when needed. On the flip side, many
true dragons are loyal to their minions (or protective of
their "possessions"), and an avowed can generally count
on their assistance when they themselves need help.
The titles a dragon-pact avowed might possess vary.
Dragons are highly proud and individualistic, and so
they tend to bestow personalized ranks and epithets
upon their favored subordinates.
Dragon Pact Features
The following are the dragon pact's features.
Skills: Climb, Knowledge (history).
Bonus Shape: Aether breath or aether rampage. A
dragon-pact avowed's claws and breath are reminiscent
of the great monsters he's contracted with.
Attunement: You count as being dragon type when
it would be advantageous for you to do so, and become
immune to sleep and paralysis effects.
Sense: You can sense material wealth, such as gold,
silver, jewels, and magic items. You know whether or
not such objects are within 30 feet of you (even through
walls and other barriers), and by concentrating as a
move action, you can pinpoint the exact location of the
You use lesser simulacrum, as the spell, save that you require
a body parthair and fingernails sufficeof the creature
to be mimicked. The simulacrum has a starting attitude
towards you one step higher than normal, but otherwise
acts as normal for the creature, even believing that it is
the creature in question. If you expend 250 gp worth of
rare plants and vines per Hit Die of the simulacrum, the
duration changes to instantaneous.
HOMECOMING
Pact (7th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You move yourself and others to or from your realm. This
clause functions as the plane shift spell, except that it only
works on yourself and willing creatures, and you can only
travel to the realm created by your pact (or to the material
plane, if you are already on your demiplane).
most valuable object within range. If you wish, you can
exclude the possessions of yourself and other beings of
your choice from this sense.
Dragon Pact Empowerments
The following are the dragon pact's empowerments.
Draconic Infiltrator (4th): Like a true dragon, you
can take another form to blend into society. You gain an
alternate form. This works like the alter self spell, except
that the form you take is the same every time (chosen
when you gain this ability). Changing form is a standard
action, and you can remain in your alternate form for as
long as you wish.
Unlike normal transformative magic, however, this
form is as much a change of mind as it is body. You gain
a +10 bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks to convince
others that you are your alternate form (in addition to
the normal +10 bonus on Disguise checks for magical
alteration), and your alternate form can have a different
alignment than you (chosen initially when you gain this
ability, but subject to change based on your actions
in that form). When in your alternate form,you are
treated as having that form's alignment for all spells,
magic items, and abilities that rely on alignment. For
the purpose of meeting a qualification for a feat, class,
or any ability, you are only eligible if both of your
alignments meet the requirements.
Any attempts to scry or otherwise locate you work
only if you are currently in the form the creature is
attempting to locate (or if the creature knows that both
forms are you). Otherwise, the spell or effect has no
effect, revealing nothing but darkness, as if the target
were invalid or did not exist.
At 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels, you gain another
alternate form you can take with this ability. These forms
function exactly like the first.
11
 The Avowed
Hoarding Instinct (8th): Like your draconic superiors, Dragon Pact Clause
you begin to collect a hoard of your own, basking in your The following clause is granted by the dragon pact, and
wealth and gaining confidence and power from it. You cannot be selected normally.
gain a natural bonus to your AC (or increase your existing
natural armor bonus, if any, by the same amount), an REALM-ENDING BREATH
insight bonus on saving throws, and a competence bonus Pact (9th); standard action; spell resistance no
on Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks You exhale a blast of elemental power like nothing your foes
based on how much wealth (including money, goods, and have ever seen. You create a spread shaped like either a 75-
magic items) you have on your person at a given time. foot cone or a 150-foot line. This spread deals 10d8 points of
Hoard Value AC Bonus Save Bonus Skill Bonuses damage each of acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic damage
4,000 gp +1 +1 +2 to each opponent and unattended object within the area
(dealing full damage before hardness). A successful Reflex
16,000 gp +2 +1 +4 save halves each element's damage. A creature only receives
36,000 gp +3 +2 +6 one saving throw to halve this damage, and the evasion class
64,000 gp +4 +2 +8 feature does not apply (a creature with improved evasion
takes full damage on a failed save).
100,000 gp +5 +3 +10
This clause counts as a breath weapon for the purposes
If your campaign includes a variant that reduces the of abilities and effects, as well as for requirements and
expected wealth of a character by some fraction of prerequisites. Using this shape does not provoke an attack
their normal amount (such as the Automatic Bonus of opportunity.
Progression), the required value of your hoard should If you use the Empower Spell-Like Ability or Maximize
be reduced by an equal fraction. Spell-Like Ability feats with this clause, these feats only
Sorcerous Rebound (12th): As an immediate action, apply to a single element's damage, not each one.
when you succeed at a saving throw against a spell Using this clause is stressful, and when you use it, you
or spell-like ability, you can make a caster level check cannot use it again in the following turn.
(DC 11 + the spell or spell-like ability's caster level). If
you succeed, the entire effect is negated, as if it were
counterspelled.
Draconic Infusion (16th): The power of dragons flows
in your veins, and by sharing your blood with another,
you can empower them, too. When you gain this ability,
you gain a +2 bonus to one of your ability scores and
learn one new least clause.
In addition, by performing a ritual with a willing
recipient that takes one minute, you can grant them a +2
inherent bonus to a single ability score. Unlike a normal
bonus, this stacks with any existing or future inherent
bonuses they gain, up to a maximum of +5. They also
gain the ability to use a single least clause of your choice
at will (caster level 1st). If you grant them a modulation
clause, they also gain the ability to use an aether pulse
as a 1st-level avowed (they do not, however, gain any
shapes). A character can only receive this benefit once
(even if multiple dragon-pact avowed try), and once it's
been given, it remain with them indefinitely.
Realm-Ender (20th): Your body is perfectly adapted
to unleashing devastating elemental power. Each of
your energy resistances increase by 10 (if you did not
have an energy resistance of a given type, you instead
gain resistance 10 to it). In addition, you learn realm-
ending breath as a bonus clause.

Pacts are often formed by seemingly unlikely partners.

12
 The Avowed
Elemental Pact (Symbiotic)
The primordial, alien manifestations of the elemental
planes are capricious, single-minded entities that are
surprisingly eager to form pacts. For those seeking
power without a concern for the ethical ramifications,
burning a forest to the ground or destroying a dam
can often be all it takes for an elemental to create the
psychic link to the inner planes necessary to channel the
primal elements. Elementals, however, trend towards
neutrality, and a more thoughtful bargainer may make
their pact by finding a way to spread their element
without destroying peoples lives, such as by diverting a
river through an aqueduct or teaching a technologically
primitive race how to harness the powers of lightning.
Elementals rarely have the long-term planning ability
to demand favors or bargains, and prefer immediate
gratification. To an elemental, the most important thing
is that they spread, whether literally through the world
or through the minds and bodies of mortalsand the
metaphysical power of an avowed is a victory to them;
turning the figurative into the literal.
Elemental-pact avowed are often mistaken for
sorcerers, but the preferred form of address among
them depends on the favored manifestation of their
element. Windcaller or earthcaller are common
choices, though a particularly arrogant avowed may
blaspheme against the masters of the elemental planes,
and choose to go by firelord.
Elemental Pact Features
The following are the elemental pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (planes), Survival.
Bonus Shape: Aether blast or aether cascade. An
elemental-pact avowed's aether pulses take on an
appearance similar to his element, even if it's not
dealing damage of that type.
Attunement: Choose air (electricity), earth (acid), fire
(fire), or water (cold). You gain resistance to the listed type
of energy equal to twice your avowed level. In addition,
whenever you use an aether pulse, you can have it deal
that energy type instead of its normal damage type. Your
choice of elemental attunement also determines how the
rest of the pact functions. In addition, you can survive
on the plane of your element. You do not take damage
from the plane's default effects on the plane of fire, can
breathe underwater on the plane of water (or in the zone
created by your elemental dominion clause, at 20th level),
do not suffocate on the plane of earth, and so on.
Sense: You can sense your element. As a move action,
you can focus, learning the location of all sources of
your element (air, earth, fire, or water) within 30 feet
of you. When you do, you can focus on a single source
of this element, making a specialized Perception check
that uses your Charisma instead of your Wisdom. You
learn information about the example of your element
(be it an object, creature, or merely a phenomenon)
as if you had examined it closely with this Perception
check. If the source is a magical effect, you can make
a Knowledge (arcana) or Spellcraft check as well to
identify it, as if you had examined it for three rounds
with detect magic.
Elemental Pact Empowerments
The following are the elemental pact's empowerments.
Overwhelm (4th): If you have energy resistance to a
given type of energy (including from your attunement
ability), your attacks and abilities ignore points of
energy resistance of that type equal to your own. For
example, if you chose fire as your element for this pact,
you would ignore twice your avowed level in resistance
to fire, thanks to your attunement ability. Immunities a
target possesses function as normal.
Consolation Flare (8th): Once per round, when
a creature succeeds on a saving throw against one
of your aether pulses or clauses, you may have that
creature take damage equal to 1/2 your aether pulse's
base damage (no save). This damage is the type that you
chose for your attunement ability.
Elemental Ally (12th): You become immune to your
element's associated damage type, gain your element as
a subtype, and as a swift action, you can summon an
elemental of your element's type to grant momentary
aid. When you do, you summon a Small or Medium
elemental of your element into an unoccupied space
you can see within 30 feet. It immediately makes a single
slam attack (if it has any targets you wish it to attack),
and otherwise remains for 1 round before vanishing. It
takes no further combat actions after its slam attack, but
can flank normally. In each of your turns, you can take
another swift action to maintain the summon, allowing
the elemental to remain for another round. If you do, it
can take one move action and make a single slam attack,
but still takes no other combat actions. You can only
have one elemental summoned at any given time with
this ability.
In addition, as a full-round action, you can use
plane shift as a spell-like ability to move yourself and
your equipment to your element's plane or back to the
material plane.
Control Elements (16th): When you use the Elemental
Ally ability, you can summon a Large-sized elemental
instead of a smaller one. In addition, you gain control
elements as a bonus clause.
Elemental Dominion (20th): When you use your
Elemental Ally ability, you can summon a Huge-sized
elemental instead of a smaller one. In addition, you gain
elemental dominion as a bonus clause.
13
 The Avowed
Elemental Pact Clauses
The following two clauses are granted by the elemental
pact, and cannot be selected normally.
CONTROL ELEMENTS
Pact (7th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use one of the following effects, based on the element
you chose for your pact:
Air: You use control winds, as the spell. In each round
that you concentrate on this effect, the winds bear you
aloft (even if you're outside of the currently affected area),
allowing you to move up to your speed as part of the
action to concentrate.
Earth: You use move earth, as the spell, except that
its base casting time is 1 standard action for a 150-foot
square (up to 10 feet deep), and then 1 extra minute per
additional 150-foot square, instead of 10 minutes per. This
can potentially allow you to lower creatures down, but as
the effect does not break the ground's surface, trapping
a creature in a way other than reducing its elevation is
normally impossible.
Fire: You touch an object and burn or melt it, turning
up to a 10-foot cube worth of material into lava. If you
use this ability on an object of greater size than a 10-foot
cube, you transform only a 10-foot cube of it (which will
then damage the rest of the object). Attended items and
unattended magic items receive a Reflex save against this
effect, and if you attempt to touch an object held or worn
by another creature, you must succeed at a melee touch
attack. In addition, when you use this clause, you gain the
benefits of the Sustained Force function of the telekinesis
spell, but you can only lift and manipulate fire and lava
A fire elemental will offer a pact in exchange for the simplest things; all it wants is to watch the world burn.
14
with it. The lava created by this ability cools to stone 1
minute after you stop manipulating it.
Water: You use control water, as the spell. If you use
this ability in a place with no water, you create one 10-foot
cube worth of water in contiguous spaces within range to
control per two caster levels. This water disappears once
the effect ends.
ELEMENTAL DOMINION
Pact Zone (9th); standard action; spell resistance no
You summon a piece of an elemental plane to your
presence, creating a spread-shaped zone with a radius
of 60 feet, centered on your position. This area gains all
the environmental and planar traits of your associated
elemental plane (the elemental plane of air, earth, fire, or
water). For example, if your element is fire, creatures within
the area take 3d10 points of fire damage per round, objects
ignite, and fire spells and spell-like abilities are cast at +2
CL. If your element is water, the area fills with water, and
water spells and spell-like abilities are similarly enhanced. If
your element is earth, however, the zone functions slightly
differently from the original plane. The area fills with porous
dirt that blocks line of sight and line of effect, but does not
cause creatures to suffocate within it. Creatures can move
by digging at half speed, and creatures with burrow speeds
or that can earth glide use those speeds normally.
In addition, all damage of your element's type is increased
by half (50%, as the Empower Spell feat) within the area.,
This does not stack with Empower Spell or similar effects.
This clause remains in effect for 1 year, after which the
plane you used it on reasserts itself.
 The Avowed
Fiend Pact (Patron)
Fiends are one of the most common patrons for avowed;
denizens of the lower planes' propensity for corrupt
bargains lends a certain ease to forming the ties required
to empower an avowed. The bargains tend to involve
service on the material plane, often fighting the forces
of good, corrupting innocents, or merely standing ready
for further instruction.
Some fiends ask for the avowed's soul as well, but this
is relatively rare; an avowed is much more useful as an
ally or minion than as a currency, and by leaving the
avowed's soul their own, a fiend fosters ill-placed good
will. More commonly, a fiend will offer their pact on
the condition that the avowed commits an act of pure
evil, putting him on a path that ensures his soul will
eventually find its way in the fiend's grasp regardless.
Fiend-pact avowed are called by many names, from
titles bestowed by their patrons to insults screamed by
paladins that hunt them. However, the most common
term for a fiend-pact avowed is "warlock."
Fiend Pact Features
The following are the fiend pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (planes), Knowledge (religion).
Bonus Shape: Aether circus or aether rampage. A
fiend-pact avowed's aether pulse seems to be seemingly-
uncontrolled blasts of dark fire, and his aether rampage
is reminiscent of the fiend he contracted with.
Attunement: Whenever you deal damage to a creature
that is flanked (including by other creatures), denied
their Dexterity bonus to AC, or believes you to be an
ally, all morale bonuses on the creature are suppressed
and they take a 1 penalty on all saving throws for 1
round. This effect applies after the ability or attack that
damaged them (including any additional effects that
might have been inflicted).
Starting at 6th level, the penalty you inflict with this
ability becomes cumulative (though it still only lasts 1
round). You can inflict a maximum penalty of 2 at 6th
level, 3 at 12th level, and 4 at 18th level. If you use an
area-of-effect aether pulse that deals 1d8 points of damage
per caster level, you increase the current penalty against
a given creature damaged by it by 2 instead of 1.
Sense: You can sense the desires of creatures within
30 feet. This works like a constant detect desires effect,
except that it senses within 30 feet of you, and can be
concentrated on as a move action.
Fiend Pact Empowerments
The following are the fiend pact's empowerments.
Disquieting Gaze (4th): Those touched by your power
are left unsettled or terrified. Once per round, when
you penalize a creature with your attunement ability,
you can make an Intimidate check to demoralize that
creature as a free action, even if it isn't your turn and
regardless of the distance between you and them. A
successful demoralization with this ability, the creatures
attitude towards you is temporarily improved as though
you had used Intimidate to coerce themthough this is
unlikely to have any effect during the combat itself.
Temptation (8th): You gain temptation as a bonus
clause.
Soul Eater (12th): You feed on the souls of others.
Once per round, when you damage a creature with an
aether pulse, you sap some of their immortal essence,
gaining temporary hit points equal to 1/2 that creature's
Hit Dice. These temporary hit points last for 1 minute
or until used, and successive uses of this ability overlap,
rather than stacking. If you killed the creature with
your aether pulse, you instead gain temporary hit points
equal to that creature's Hit Dice.
Soulreaver (16th): You gain soulreaver as a bonus
clause.
Dark Metamorphosis (20th): You become a true
fiend in your own right. You count as an outsider with
the evil subtype whenever it would be advantageous
for you, and if you had sold your soul to your patron, it
returns to your ownership. Whenever a creature you've
penalized with your attunement would regain hit points,
they instead gain no hit points, and you gain temporary
hit points equal to the healing they would have received.
These temporary hit points last for 1 minute or until
used, and stack with those granted by your Soul Eater
ability (though not with other temporary hit points
granted by this ability).
In addition, when you reach 20th level, you gain
a dark realm of your own. This realm is created the
moment you gain this ability, as if by a permanent create
greater demiplane spell, except that its area is always
100 1-mile cubes instead of one acre and it is located
somewhere on a lower plane of your choice. Your
realm has the Alignment, Gravity, Seasonal, Shape, and
Structure, with the manifestations of each determined
by you when you gain this ability. In addition, the realm
contains a permanent portal to the lower plane it is
located on, that you can open and close as a free action.
This realm's borders are just as absolute as a normal
demiplane's, even though it exists within an existing
non-astral and non-ethereal plane.
Whenever you would gain a soul gem (normally with
the soulreaver clause, but if your campaign includes
the optional rules for selling souls on page 25, then you
might have other ways), you can choose to have the
creature's soul imprisoned within your realm instead of
within a gem. They lose all of their abilities, and cannot
take actions unless you allow them to. While you are
in your realm, you can torment, converse with, or even
free these souls as you please. Once per week, you can
15
 The Avowed
Fiends are among the most dangerous outsiders to traffic with, but remain a common patron thanks to the reliability with
which they deliver their sides of bargains.
use true resurrection as a spell-like ability on one of
the souls you've claimed, inflicting a geas/quest on that
creature in the process if they choose to return to life.
In addition, you gain homecoming as a bonus clause.
Fiend Pact Clauses
The following three clauses are granted by the fiend
pact, and cannot be selected normally.
HOMECOMING
Pact (7th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You move yourself and others to or from your realm. This
clause functions as the plane shift spell, except that it only
works on yourself and willing creatures, and you can only
travel to the realm created by your pact (or to the material
plane, if you are already on your demiplane).
SOULREAVER
Pact (8th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use powerful dark magic, grasping at the souls of those
around you. All opponents within 30 feet must succeed at
a Will save or die immediately. A creature with greater than
half its normal maximum hit points remaining gains a +4
bonus on its saving throw. A creature with full hit points
16
instead gains a +8 bonus on its saving throw. This is a death
effect. Any creature killed by this clause has its soul stolen,
crystallized into a gemstone in your possession as if they
had sold it to you (see the Selling Souls sidebar on page 25,
or the appendix on page 62).
In addition, you gain 5 temporary hit points per creature
affected, regardless of how many souls you successfully stole.
These temporary hit points last for 1 minute or until used, and
successive uses of this ability overlap, rather than stacking.
TEMPTATION
Pact (4th); full-round action; spell resistance yes
You give an enemy a taste of power. Choose a creature you
can perceive within 30 feet. That creature must succeed at
a Will save or immediately take a standard action of your
choosing (even if it isn't their turn). If they do not have the
ability to take this action (such as if you chose for them to
cast a damaging spell on their allies, but the target does not
have any damaging spells remaining), the creature does not
take the action, instead becoming staggered for 1 round.
If they deal damage to a creature they consider an ally,
then you may affect the damaged creature with your
attunement as if you had damaged them while they were
flanked.
 The Avowed
Nation Pact (Esoteric)
Though still rare, nation-pact avowed are nonetheless the
most common of esoteric pacts, in part because its entirely
possible to do so without even intending to. Enough
patriotic fervor, an act in defense of ones country, and
a devout oath of servitude can be all it takes to form the
psychic bond characteristic of avowed with the citizens
and, indeed, the concept of a person's nation itself.
When someone does make a conscious and deliberate
pact with their nation, its often validated by the rulers or
people of their nation, and thus their coronations tend to
be major public events. Gaining the powers of a nation
pact can prove ones loyalty and belief before the eyes of
onlookers, and such events been used to absolve peoples
intentions in public trials. However, the act of service to
ones nation need not be continued, and traitorous pact-
makers may slaughter their countrymen under an occult
flag of their victims nation.
A nation-pact avowed is often bestowed a noble
title or military rank by the nation they work under
captain or lord before the avoweds name are rather hit, their target is also affected as if they were hit with
common, though they are nearly always ceremonial. As
a whole, however, they are simply known as patriots.
Nation Pact Features
The following are the nation pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nobility).
Bonus Shape: Aether barrage or aether lance. A
nation-pact avowed tends to incorporate ornate
heraldry and sigils of his nation into the appearance of
his aether pulse.
Attunement: You create a zone of control around
you. Opponents treat your threatened area as difficult
terrain.
Sense: You can detect the nationality of others. At any
given time, you know if a creature with Intelligence 3
or higher that is not a citizen of your nation is within
30 feet of you. As a move action, you can pinpoint such
creatures and determine their nation of origin. This
sense is blocked by the undetectable alignment spell and
any other effect that would foil the detect evil spell. Such
protected creatures are sensed as if they were citizens
of your nation.
Nation Pact Empowerments
The following are the nation pact's empowerments.
Nationalistic Fervor (4th): You gain a specialized
version of the ranger's favored enemy and favored terrain
class features. While you are within the boundaries of
your nation, you gain a +2 bonus on initiative checks
and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and
Survival checks. When traveling within your nation, you
normally leave no trail and cannot be tracked (though
you may leave a trail if you wish).
In addition, you gain a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge,
Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against
creatures that are not citizens of your nation, citizens
that are rebelling against your nation, and citizens that
are currently committing treason against your nation.
Likewise, you gain a +2 bonus on aether pulse attack and
damage rolls against them, and can make Knowledge
checks untrained when attempting to identify these
creatures.
Each of the bonuses granted by this ability increase to
+4 at 12th level, and +6 at 20th level. This ability counts
as favored enemy and favored terrain for the purposes
of meeting requirements and prerequisites.
On My Command (8th): Your presence imbues your
soldiers with speed and competence. As a standard
action, you can allow a willing ally that you can perceive
to make a single attack with a weapon they are wielding.
This attack is made as a free action (even though it isn't
their turn), and they gain a bonus on their attack roll
equal to your Charisma bonus (if any). On a successful
your aether pulse. You may apply a modulation to this
aether pulse, but not a shape. You may use this ability on
yourself, if you wish.
Squad Tactics (12th): You gain the ability to use
your On My Command ability as a swift action as well
as a standard action. You may only it once per round,
however. If you use it as a standard action, you can
allow up to two allies (including you) to move up to
their speed, then make an attack as if by your on my
command ability. This movement provokes attacks of
opportunity as normal. At 18th level, you can affect up
to three allies when you use activate on my command
as a standard action.
Hearts Beat As One (16th): When you use your On
My Command ability, you and your allies momentarily
bond souls, sharing your spirits and aiding each other.
Each ally who is affected by that ability (including
yourself) can choose to reduce their current hit points
by any amount, forming a combined pool of healing
that you can distribute to any of the allies you affected
with the ability (even ones who donated hit points to
the pool).
True Patriot (20th): Your pact sense improves. You
can now sense all types of treason regardless of your
location (even on other planes), and even sense treasons
before they happen. You detect a minor treason (such as
breaking a law or aiding a criminal) 1 minute before it
happens, a moderate treason (such as attacking officers
of your government, defecting from your military, or
killing your citizens) 1 hour before it happens, and a
major treason (such selling state secrets, dealing to both
sides of a war, or attacking your ruler) 1 day before it
happens, learning the time and location of the act, but
17
 The Avowed
no other details. Whenever you sense a major treason,
you may use plane shift and teleport as spell-like
abilities (caster level 20th) once each in the next minute.
In addition, you gain call for aid as a bonus clause.
Nation Pact Clause
The following clause is granted by the nation pact, and
cannot be selected normally.
CALL FOR AID
Pact (9th); standard action; spell resistance no
You send a message into the ether and your nation answers,
the power of its people manifesting as an army of ephemeral
soldiers under your command. When you use this clause,
you summon a unique type of troop called an aether army.
It appears immediately and acts on your initiative, following
your orders to the letter. You can only have one aether
army summoned at any one time, and can dismiss it as a
free action If your aether army is destroyed, the ephemeral
soldiers fade, but you can resummon them by using this
clause again. Otherwise, they remain for 24 hours.
Your aether army is automatically summoned when you
use the plane shift or teleport spell-like abilities of your True
Patriot pact empowerment.
AETHER ARMY A troop cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed,
N Medium humanoid (troop)
Init as creator; Senses as creator; Perception as creator
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 19 (+9 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 126 (12d8+72)
Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +12
Defensive Abilities troop traits, Improved Iron Will
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee troop (3d6+5 and 5d8 aether pulse)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +9; CMB +14; CMD 27
Feats Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Lightning
Reflexes, Toughness, Improved Iron Will
Languages Common
SQ aether army, answered call
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Aether Army (Su): An aether army is a manifestation of a
patriot's will and belief in his nation. As such, it carries a
small part of his power, dealing 5d8 points of additional
damage (as if by an aether pulse) with its troop attack.
Answered Call (Ex): An aether army's purpose is to defend
its avowed's allies and destroy their enemies. As such, it
does not deal troop damage to any of its creator's allies,
and can always tell the avowed's allies from their enemies.
18
The avowed's allies do not need to make Concentration
checks to use abilities within the troop.
Troop Subtype: A troop is a collection of creatures that acts
as a single creature, similar to a swarm, but typically as part
of a military unit. A troop has the characteristics of its type,
except as noted here. A troop has a single pool of Hit Dice
and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed,
and a single armor class. A troop makes saving throws as
a single creature. A single troop occupies a 20-foot-by-20-
foot square, equal in size to a Gargantuan creature, though
the actual size category of the troop is the same as that of
the component creatures. The area occupied by a troop
is completely shapeable, though the troop must remain
in contiguous squares. A troop has a reach equal to that
of the component creatures based on size or armament.
A troop can move through squares occupied by enemies
and vice versa without impediment, although the troop
provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A troop can
move through any area large enough for its component
creatures. The exact number of a troop's component
creatures varies, but in general, a troop of Small or Medium
creatures consists of approximately 12 to 30 creatures.
A troop is never staggered or reduced to a dying state
by damage.
except by area effects that include such effects. A
troop can grapple an opponent.
A troop is immune to any spell or effect that targets
a specific number of creatures (including single-
target spells such as disintegrate and multiple target
spells such as haste), though it is affected by spells or
effects that target an area or a nonspecific number of
creatures (such as fireball or mass hold monster).
A troop takes half again as much damage (+50%) from
spells or effects that affect an area. If a troop is rendered
unconscious by nonlethal damage, it disperses until its
hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.
Creatures with the troop subtype don't make standard
melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to
any creature within reach or whose space they occupy
at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed.
A troop's stat block has troop in its Melee entry
with no attack bonus given. Unless stated otherwise,
a troop's attacks are non-magical. Damage Reduction
sufficient to reduce a troop attack's damage to 0 or
other special abilities can give a creature immunity
(or at least resistance) to the troop's attacks. Some
troops also have other special attacks in addition to
normal damage. Troops threaten all creatures within
their reach or within their area, and attempt attacks
of opportunity as normal with their troop attack.
Because of the chaos of combat, spellcasting or
concentrating on spells within the area of a troop or
within its reach requires a caster level check (DC 20
+ spell level). Using skills that involve patience and
concentration requires a successful DC 20 Will save.
 The Avowed
Old One Pact (Patron)
Alien beings of incomprehensible power lurk in the
depths of the planes and deep in space. Uncaring,
terrifying monstrosities, even knowing their names has
been enough to drive mortal scholars mad. To stare into
the abyss and know that you are only here because the
cosmic arm of a mad god has never had cause to go near
your world can shatter the minds of the weak-willed
and break the wills of those who resist. There are those
whose reaction to learning of these horrors is mindless
servitude, desperately hoping for the mercy of a god
who cannot comprehend their insignificant lives. There
are those who attempt to fight against it, struggling for
all their lives to protect the world from the destruction
of a god whose very existence warps reality in ways a
mortal cannot survive. Then, there are those who look
upon these impossible beings and see an opportunity.
To make a pact with a great old one requires a degree
of recklessness, regardless of the circumstances. To
survive contact with them, a mortal mind needs an
intermediarywhether that be with the rare great
old one willing to take a human form, a madman who
hears their whispers, or an aberrant cultist whose mind
survived contact with their god. To make a pact with
a great old one, like any god, often requires spreading
their influence. Doing so is always a risky proposition,
and a socially conscious avowed will often struggle
to find a way to gain the blessing of a great old one
without harming the world. Good-aligned great old
one pactmakers often seek to mitigate the effects of
their previous actions, though rare cunning ones with
a warped style of thinking can contrive a mutually
beneficial scheme, bringing madness and despair upon
their enemies.
The prevalence of great old one pacts among their
maddened followers has lead to them, for the most part,
being known as "cultists," even though many followers
and indeed, most adventurershave no interest in
serving the dark beings beyond what is absolutely
necessary.
Old One Pact Features
The following are the old one pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (planes).
Bonus Shape: Aether grasp or aether swarm. An
old one-pact avowed's aether pulse tends to have a
maddening simplicity of appearance that gently tears at
minds that view it. Though this does not have any real
effect, many find these powers to be slightly unsettling.
Attunement: Fear conditions that affect you are
downgraded by one step (from panicked to frightened,
frightened to shaken, and shaken to unafraid). In
addition, whenever you lose real hit points (not
temporary hit points) equal to or more than half your
normal maximum hit points in a single round, you can
discorporate as a free action (even if it isn't your turn,
and even if you couldn't otherwise take that action),
becoming an untargetable and undamageable cloud of
acrid smoke for up to 2 rounds. If you use this ability in
response to someone else's action, it takes place after
that action.
During this duration, you can move through other
creatures' spaces and ignore difficult terrain, but
cannot end your turn in another creature's space.
While in this form, you cannot take any actions (not
even free actions) other than speaking, using telepathy
to communicate, and movement.
At the start of each of your turns during this duration,
you heal for 1/4 of your maximum hit points. At the end
of each turn during this duration (or at the end of the
second round), you may end this effect, reforming in
your space and becoming able to act normally again. If
you end this effect prematurely, any remaining healing
you could have gained is lost.
If your campaign uses the massive damage variant
rules, this ability means that you are not at risk of death
from massive damage.
Sense: You always know whether or not another
creature within 30 feet is currently suffering from
a fear condition or mind-affecting effect (including
morale effects), and whether or not they're a creature
you can perceive. As a move action, you can pinpoint
the location of each such creature within 30 feet, even
through walls and other barriers. If you wish, you can
exclude yourself and other beings of your choice from
this sense.
Old One Pact Empowerments
The following are the old one pact's empowerments.
Falter (4th): You gain telepathy out to a range of 50
feet + 10 feet per avowed level, and your alien powers
can affect even the most guarded minds. If you use a
mind-affecting or fear effect on a creature that would
normally be immune, you can treat them as not immune.
However, such creatures gain a +3 resistance bonus on
saving throws (if any) against your mind-affecting and
fear effects.
Obey (8th): You channel the authority of the great
old one you represent, causing lesser beings to follow
your orders without question. As a swift action, you can
use command (as the spell) against a creature within
the range of your telepathy, except that its save DC
is equal to your clause save DC and it does not allow
spell resistance (as normal for a supernatural ability),
and you can only use the Drop or Fall commands.
Alternatively, you can use this ability as a standard
action, in which case you can use any of the commands
available. They do not need to understand your words
or even speak any languages to receive this command;
19
 The Avowed
merely being in contact with your power is enough.
Wither (12th): You passively leak otherworldly power
into your surroundings, withering those around you.
At the end of each of your turns, every other creature
within 30 feet takes 2 points of damage to a physical
ability score of your choice (even if they would normally
be immune), and all non-creature plants within the
area immediately wither and die. A creature damaged
by this ability heals 2 points of the ability damage it
took at the end of each of its turns outside of the area
of this ability (for example, a creature damaged could
run away and heal the ability damage taken at the end
of its turn).
You can suppress or resume this ability as a free
action. If you wish, you may affect an area with a smaller
radius (reducing its radius in 5-foot increments). In
addition, you can choose to allow a number of creatures
equal to your Charisma bonus to ignore the effects of
this ability and your Flee and Shatter abilities, when
Otyugh Pact (Symbiotic)
The strange creatures known as otyughs are often thought
of as vile abominations or dangerous lurkers. Because
of their filthy dietary habits and often-repulsive lairs,
these aberrations are commonly assumed to be merely
mindless beasts, but they are in fact fairly intelligent,
and often form alliances and bargains with others in
exchange for food or protection.
An otyugh pact is one such alliance; rarely, an otyugh
has the psychic talent and willpower required to create
the bond needed, and sometimes otyughs are sought-
out by potential avowed to form a pact with. While
these beings are not nearly as supernaturally adept
as most patrons, a symbiotic pact with an otyugh is
surprisingly powerful, granting the avowed power over
filth and, ironically, an affinity for cleanliness.
Scent Messages
Otyughs can communicate through scent, although the
messages are very rudimentary. The are some common
messages, and what they smell like.
Rotting fish: "Danger is near"
Smoke: "Come quickly"
Flowers: "Stay away"
Sour apples: "I am hungry, got food?"
Rancid meat: "No food here"
Wet fungus: "Delicious food here"
Rotten potatoes: "Bad food here"
Ammonia: "Time for a moot"
Overripe fruit: "Looking for a mate"
Vinegar: "Intruders"
Onion: "I am lost"
Old wine: "I am injured and need help"
20
you gain them later. You may change which creatures
are safe as a free action.
Flee (16th): Your otherworldly powers grow stronger.
At the end of each of your turns when using your Wither
ability, all creatures within range must succeed at a Will
save or become shaken for as long as they remain within
range. Successive failed saves against this ability escalate
the fear as normal (to frightened, then panicked). If this
effect causes a creature to become panicked, they also
become confused for 1 hour (as the confusion spell).
Shatter (20th): Your presence permanently damages
the minds of those around you. You gain a new order you
can give with the command effect of your Obey ability:
"shatter." You can use this command as a swift action,
and a creature that fails its saving throw against it has
its mind shatter, becoming permanently confused (as the
insanity spell). Whenever a creature becomes confused
by your Flee ability, you may drive them insane in the
same manner.
Otyugh-pact avowed are not particularly common,
and their titles are few. Thanks to their association with
otyughs, some call them "filth lords" or similar epithets,
but the aberrations themselves recognize them on sight,
and know them as "friends."
Otyugh Pact Features
The following are the otyugh pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (dungeoneering), Survival.
Bonus Shape: Aether grasp or aether rampage. An
otyugh pact avowed's aether pulse often takes the shape
of an otyugh's tentacles.
Attunement: You become immune to the effects
of disease (but can still carry diseases without being
affected). You can choose to have contagious diseases
you carry not infect others. In addition, whenever you
would become nauseated, you become sickened for the
same duration instead.
Sense: You gain the scent ability, and can generate
unique scents of your own, marking an object with a
particular scent that allows you to communicate with
those who know the scents in question (see the Scent
Messages sidebar). These scents remain until cleaned
off by or a stronger scent infuses the area or object.
Otyugh Pact Empowerments
The following are the otyugh pact's empowerments.
Filth Absorption (4th): As a standard action, you can
absorb filth and detritus. You clean that area completely,
consuming all disease, grime, food, and trash within 5
feet. This functions as a remove disease spell targeting
all adjacent creatures (caster level equal to your avowed
caster level) and a prestidigitation to clean the area. If
you cure someone of a disease, you become infected with
 The Avowed
it. In addition, whenever you damage a creature with Disease Application (16th): By concentrating for
an aether pulse, you can infect them with one disease 10 minutes, you can condense up to half your class
you carry to them. This works as if they had caught it level in diseases you are currently infected with into a
normally, except its save DC is equal to your aether pulse transparent liquid you can spray on an object or 5-foot
save DC. section of ground within your reach. Any creature that
Pathogen Acceleration (8th): As a standard action, touches the object or enters the space must succeed
you can cause all diseases within 60 feet of you to at a Fortitude save (DC equal to your clause save DC)
immediately prompt a saving throw against their effects. or contract all of the diseases at once. Any further
This save does not count towards curing the disease, but saves against the diseases also use this save DC. The
a failed save deals damage or applies effects as normal. sprayed disease can smell like whatever you like, and
Trash Animation (12th): As a standard action, you can only be removed with a remove disease spell cast
give detritus in an area a semblance of life. This on the object or area (even though it normally targets
functions as an animate objects spell (caster level equal a creature). You can only have one such object or area
to your avowed caster level), except that it targets trash, created at once; if you create another, the older one
loose objects, and even secured objects (such as floor loses its potency.
tiles) in the area to create a single, unique creature. Trash Awakening (20th): You can create a brand-
This object is treated as an animated new soul, awakening sapience in the animated
object of the maximum size you swarm of detritus you've created with your
could create with the spell, Trash Animation ability. In order to do so, you
except it has the swarm must spend 1 day in meditation with the swarm,
subtype (gaining traits as at which point it gains Intelligence, Wisdom,
if it were made of Tiny and Charisma scores of 3d6 (rolled
creatures). Unlike a separately for each, and replacing
normal swarm, your the latter two's existing scores).
animated trash can It gains skills and feats as
still use its natural normal for a creature of its
attacks, and it can be Hit Dice, chosen by you.
a larger size than When you awaken a
a 10-foot cube swarm of trash, it is no
(for example, a longer under your control,
Huge swarm of but also no longer requires
trash created with your power to maintain
this ability is 15 itself. An awakened
feet on a side, swarm of trash is
and composed of friendly to you,
nine 5-foot cubes). but generally
You may assign will not risk
any combination its newfound
of abilities with sapience in
your trash swarm's battle unless
construction points. you offer it
You may only something in
have one animated return (in
object created with this effect, it is
ability at any one time, but it an NPC that you
lasts for as long as you wish Though otyughs lurk in foul places, they're far more can convince to aid you as
or until it strays further than amicable than one might expect. normal). You can then use
medium range (100 feet + 10 feet per Trash Animation to create a new
caster level) from you. You can dismiss it animated swarm of trash (and potentially
as a free action at any time, and if you use this ability awaken it too, if you wish).
to animate a different collection of objects, the older In addition, you can have up to two animated swarms
one is automatically destroyed (but can later have its created at a given time, rather than just one, and they
collection of trash reanimated, if you use this ability can stray as far as 1 mile from you before disassembling
again). into their component parts.

21
 The Avowed
Self Pact (Esoteric)
The pact of the self is unique among the bonds an
avowed can form, even compared to other esoteric pacts.
It is rare indeed that a being's sense of self is strong
enough to make this pact, and rarer still that the being
is aware of how to do so. A pact of the self is most often
gained through extensive training, self-empowerment,
and meditation, though occasionally one can be made as
a result of unbridled arrogance or self-assuredness. In
such a case, all it really takes is for the potential avowed
to swear on their own namethe power will flow,
henceforth.
The results tend to be the same regardless: a self-pact
avowed is a being of supernatural perfection. The pact
enhances his mind and body alike, elevating him to a
standing above lesser beings. Some self-pact avowed
claim regal titles such as "noble" or "lord," regardless
of their social standing, but the most common word for
these rare mages is "paragon."
Self Pact Features
The following are the self pact's features.
Skills: Climb, Swim.
Bonus Shape: Aether channel or aether blade. A self-
pact avowed's aether pulse has a very personal display
that varies from avowed to avowed.
Attunement: You gain Improved Unarmed Strike as
a bonus feat. Whenever you take the full attack action,
you may make one additional unarmed strike attack
by taking a 2 penalty on all of your attack rolls during
the action, as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat. In
addition, you add your Charisma bonus (if any) as an
armor bonus to your AC whenever you are unarmored
and unencumbered.
Sense: You can sense the general strength of others.
As a move action, you can focus on a creature within 30
feet. When you do so, make a Perception check, using
your Charisma instead of your Wisdom to determine
your bonus. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + the
creatures Hit Dice + the creatures Charisma modifier.
If the creature is trying to hide, lay low, or otherwise
go unnoticed (no action needed on their part), add +10
to the DC, and if they are actively fighting or displaying
their power, subtract 10 from the DC. If you succeed,
you determine how many Hit Dice they have, their base
attack bonus, and the highest level spell or power they
can cast (if any). If a creature with at least 10 more Hit
Dice than you have is within 30 feet, you automatically
detect their presence, though you do not automatically
know any details about them and do not automatically
pinpoint their location.
22
Self Pact Empowerments
The following are the self pact's empowerments.
Mind and Matter (4th): Your pact has strengthened
you, body, mind, and soul. You gain a bonus equal to
your Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws.
This does not stack with similarly untyped Charisma
bonuses on saves (such as from a paladin's divine grace
or the who help themselves clause).
Strength of Body (8th): Your speed and reaction time
improve, allowing you to deliver extra blows where
others could only strike once. Once per turn (including
other creatures' turns), when you make a melee attack,
you can also make an unarmed strike against the same
creature. This attack is made at your highest attack
bonus, with a 2 penalty, and can be made even if the
target would normally be unreachable (such as if you
hit with a reach weapon).
Force of Will (12th): You can power through even
the most debilitating effects. As a standard action,
you can cleanse yourself of up to one non-permanent
effect that is currently affecting, or one of the following
conditions: blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened,
entangled, exhausted, fascinated, fatigued, frightened,
nauseated, panicked, paralyzed, petrified, shaken,
sickened, staggered, or stunned. Alternatively, as a full-
round action, you can end any number of the above
conditions or effects. You can use this ability even if
you would normally be unable to take these actions as a
result of conditions on you.
Indomitable (16th): Your soul strengthens, allowing
you stubbornly cling to life, even when your return
seems impossible. Whenever you would die outright
from an effect, you are instead reduced to 1 hit point
and stable. You no longer gain negative levels from
being returned to life by spells and effects, and your
soul cannot be trapped or destroyed. If your soul was
owned by someone else, it returns to your ownership,
and it cannot be sold or bought again (a prospective
buyer becomes aware of this when they attempt to buy
it). You can be returned to life by raise dead, resurrection,
and similar effects regardless of the state of your body
(so long as some piece of it is in the spellcaster's hands),
and regardless of the amount of time that has passed
since you died.
Perfection of Form (20th): You have transcended,
becoming perfection in a mortal frame. You no longer
take penalties for aging (and lose such penalties if you
had already taken them), and no longer automatically
fail saving throws and miss attack rolls on natural 1s.
In addition, you automatically confirm critical hits
without having to roll.
 The Avowed
Shadow Pact (Patron)
Deep within the plane of shadow lurk a group of strange,
alien creatures. These beings, known by scholars as
nevercast shadows, are unique among the denizens of
the primordial dark. They are true natives of the plane
of shadow, rather than originating as the shadow of a
material plane resident, and hold a great and terrifying
power over the fabric of darkness as a result.
However, unlike most shadows, the nevercast cannot
exist within the light. Illumination is anathema to
them, and though they have many goals and desires,
a nevercast shadow tends to have one core desire, at
the deepest parts of its mind: to escape the darkness
and walk in the light. Whether they want to explore,
to learn, or to destroy, the nevercast have an innate,
instinctual fascination with their opposite, and as such,
they are easy to make pacts with. Most of the time, all
the avowed needs to do is promise to search for a way
to achieve the nevercast's wish.
A shadow-pact avowed is often bestowed a title by his
patron, but to others, they tend to be known as "shades."
Shadow Pact Features
The following are the shadow pact's features.
Skills: Knowledge (planes), Stealth.
Bonus Shape: Aether retaliation or aether swarm. A
shadow-pact avowed's aether pulse often appears to be
his shadow, ripped up from the floor to attack his foes.
Attunement: Whenever you are within an area
of darkness (dim light or lower), each of your speeds
is increased by 5 feet per avowed level. This increase
only applies while you remain in darkness; if you move
into an area of light and you've already moved further
than your normal speed would allow, your movement
ends (though it doesn't cost you any extra actions). If
you move at least your base speed in a single round,
you gain a +4 bonus to AC and spell resistance against
hostile effects equal to 10 + your class level. Both of
these benefits last until the start of your next turn.
Sense: You can see perfectly in darkness (even magical
darkness). Unlike other pact senses, this does not have a
range limit; you can see as far as you could in light.
Shadow Pact Empowerments
The following are the shadow pact's empowerments.
Shadow Blend (4th): In illumination other than bright
light, you blend into the shadows, gaining concealment
(20% miss chance). If you already had concealment, the
miss chance gained from concealment increases to 50%
(though this does not count as total concealment). You
can suppress or resume this ability as a free action.
Shadow Step (8th): You gain the ability to travel
through your shadow to another shadow you can see. As a
move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity,
you can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space
with a shadow in it. For the purpose of this ability, any
Using Nevercast Shadows
Nevercast shadows are not a monster that exists in
the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game; these alien beings
live deep in the plane of shadow, and generally avoid
combat unless directly attacked, preferring to spend
their time drifting or watching others.
A nevercast shadow's game statistics tends to
be unique, even among other shadow beings. They
share very few traits beyond their origin and ability
to manipulate shadows. In order to stat a nevercast
shadow, as a starting point the GM should grant an
existing monster shadow conjuration and shadow
evocation as at-will spell-like abilities and the following
abilities from the shadow pact: Shadow Blend, Shadow
Step, Shadow Form, and Nowhere to Hide.
area of dim light counts as having shadows. In brighter
areas, you can use this ability to teleport to any space that
is both adjacent to a creature or unattended object and
something they could cast a shadow on. At 12th, 16th, and
20th levels, the range of this ability increases by 30 feet.
At the GM's option, other spaces might be considered to
have shadows as well.
Shadow Form (12th): As a full-round action, you can
merge with nearby shadows. You gain the incorporeal
subtype and become nearly imperceptible: to all eyes,
you're just a shadow without anything casting it. While
you're in your shadow form and not in an area of
bright light, you gain a bonus on Stealth checks equal
to your caster level and can make such checks while
being observed, without needing any sort of cover or
concealment. While you remain in your shadow form,
you cannot leave surfaces; you must remain within 5
feet of something you can cast a shadow on at all times
or this ability ends. Otherwise, it lasts until you dismiss
it as a free action.
Nowhere to Hide (16th): You gain blindsight out
to a range of 120 feet, except that it only allows you to
perceive things in areas of darkness (dim light or lower).
In addition, you gain a +2 bonus on all rolls and checks
(including but not limited to attack rolls, damage rolls,
saving throws, opposed skill checks, and the like)
against creatures within an area of darkness, and such
creatures take a 2 penalty on all rolls and checks
against you and your abilities.
Bringer of Night (20th): You become a true being of
shadow, darkening the world merely by existing. You
gain the ability to project a 120-foot-radius field of
dim light around you. Light effects within the area are
automatically dispelled, and nonmagical light sources
are automatically snuffed out. Any time you use a clause
that creates an area of darkness or dim light (such as
the nightfall or writhe clauses), you can have it fill your
zone of dim light, rather than using its normal area. You
can suppress or resume this ability as a free action.
23
 The Avowed
Making Pacts
Unlike many classes, an avowed's abilities come from
not from training, study, heritage, or even belief, but
from a combination of his willpower and the seed of
magic gifted by his pact partner. As such, any character
has the potential to become an avowed.
Sometimes, taking one's first avowed level involves
bit more collaboration between the player and the GM
than a normal class; the pact system necessitates, in
many cases, the creation of a new NPC and plot hooks
to go with them. As such a player should always be
allowed to access a "no strings attached" pact for their
characterperhaps they inherited their ancestor's pact,
were gifted their power free of charge, or possibly even
don't know (in-character or out-of-character) the origin
of their power, simply gaining mysterious abilities over
the course of their adventures.
When a character takes a level of the avowed class,
they have the option to immediately retrain any
number of their previous levels (including skill ranks
and feats, if necessary) into avowed levels at no cost. If,
after retraining, they no longer qualify for feats they
possess, they may either keep those feats (losing access
to them until they regain the prerequisites) or exchange
them for feats on the avowed bonus feat list.
If a player wishes to make a more involved pact, the
GM should work together with them to build a story
for their pact and patron that fits well with the existing
characters and campaign. Otherwise, the details of
pacts vary from pact partner to pact partner.
Patron Pacts
As noted on page 7, a patron pact requires very little
involvement from the patron themselves. A patron
can be any particularly magical being, ranging from
outsiders to fey to even creatures like krakens, rakshasa,
and sphinxes. When a patron pact is made, the patron
provides a "seed" of power, from which the abilities
of the avowed grow. There are no hard requirements
on the exchange for this powersome patrons ask for
payment or services, but some are willing to give their
patronage free of charge.
There is no taking this power back, however. Once
an avowed is created, the patron has no special control
or influence over them by dint of their donation,
though some might take steps to gain such leverage
over their new ally. Patron pacts are one of the more
common ancestral pacts; a creature can bargain to have
their power granted to their future children and their
children, possibly allowing their descendents freer
access to the powers of the avowed than most.
Symbiotic Pacts
Symbiotic pacts, unlike patron pacts, do involve a
significant investment of power and effort on the part
24
of both of the pact partners. This is because the pact is
two-way: not only does the avowed gain power, but the
partner does as well.
As the avowed gains levels, the partner might gain
levels in the class as well (or advance by Hit Dice), as
determined by the GM. This might mean that the avowed
and their partner want to adventure together to pool
their resources, and in such a case, a player might be
allowed to take the Leadership feat or a similar ability
to gain access to their partner as a cohort, once they're
sufficient level to do so.
Most partners, however, have their own lives and
goals, and though they'll keep in touch with the avowed,
they do not adventure alongside them. In part this is
because of the nature of the pact itselfthe avowed and
his partner are bound together at the soul. If one dies,
the other can feel it, knowing the location of their death
(even across the planes). If one or the other is present
when their partner is returned to life with raise dead
or a similar effect, the spellcaster casting the spell only
requires half the normal material components. Thus,
while staying together might be a good option, many
symbiotic pact partners use each other as insurance
against the dangers of an adventuring life.
Esoteric Pacts
Uniquely among pacts, esoteric pacts require no partner.
An esoteric pact is formed when a prospective avowed
meets the right conditions and possesses the right will.
These pacts have no costs to acquire, and no creature to
hold leverage over the avowed. However, they are rare
in comparison to the other two types, precisely because
of the conditions required. With no patrons to seed the
avowed's power, and no partners to share power with,
the avowed must pull himself up by his own bootstraps,
in a sense, to gain his abilities. Once they do, though,
they tend to be uniquely powerful mages as a result.
Ancestral and Inherited Pacts
Though they are not a true subset of pacts, inherited
pacts do not follow the same "rules" as other pacts.
Any of the three types of pacts can be inherited along
a bloodline, even esoteric pacts. This is most common
for patron pacts, as one can bargain to share the power
down their line, but symbiotic pacts often empower the
avowed and his partner such that their children gain
their powers too, and esoteric pacts, depending on the
nature of the avowed, might pass from the avowed to
his offspring, allowing them much easier access to the
abilities than the avowed needed.
A character that inherited a pact might have a great
family or ancestor they look up to, or possibly need to
investigate their lineage to find the source, if the power
has lain dormant for generations.
 The Avowed
Player Collaboration
Lastly, it might happen that two (or more) players want
to link up their characters' stories, playing an avowed
and his patron or partner, with both as PCs. In such a
case, we recommend, for patron pacts, statting up the
patron with whatever combination of race and class fits
the concept, then running the avowed alongside them.
For symbiotic pacts, both the avowed and the partner
should gain the benefits of the pact regarding returning
from death, but the details of the partner could be more
difficult to figure out.
One possibility we recommend is to write a backstory
involving a more powerful than normal pact that
transformed the partner into a form closer to the
avowed themselves. For example, an air elemental
might become a sylph, changing shape to more easily
adventure with others, then taking avowed levels and
choosing abilities that thematically tie them to their true
nature. Similarly, a fiend might become a tiefling. There
are no set rules for playing many types of monsters,
though, so these sorts of characters should be handled
on a case-by-case basis by the players and GM.
New Drawbacks
The following abilities are listed as drawbacks because
they present clear downsides to the avowed, both
narratively and mechanically. If your campaign does
not use drawbacks (or if a character already has a
drawback), but a player still wishes to use one of these
effects, they should be allowed to gain these effects
anyway, even at the expense of personal power.
Indebted: You have sold your soul to another. You gain
the indebted subtype (see the sidebar to the right), with
a being determined by you and your GM as the owner of
your soul. If you later regain ownership of your soul, you
lose this drawback and must replace it with another one,
or lose the bonus trait you had gained from it.
Physical Contract: Your pact takes a physical form.
You gain a physical contract. You take a 1 penalty on
saving throws against the abilities of any creature that
has your physical contract on their person. You must
possess the pact class feature to select this drawback.
Physical Contract
SLOT none CL see text WEIGHT
AURA strong
Sometimes, when a creature becomes an avowed, the
process of creating their bond involves an item or contract
representing the bargain. This object becomes a physical
contract, and its caster level is equal to the avowed's class
level, but its aura is always strong (of no particular school).
The forms of these contracts vary from pact to pact;
demons' contracts tend to be very informally-worded and
handwritten, while celestial contracts are often symbolic
representations. A devil invariably fills their contract with
legalese specifying exactly who is obligated in what ways,
and an otyugh's physical contract might simply be a trinket
it dug out of the trash for its new friend. The only true
consistency between physical contracts is that they are
always small enough to be held in one hand by the avowed,
and they weigh nothing, even if the object they used to
be had a significant weight. The exception to this is if an
avowed has a masterwork weapon or armor sized for them
on hand when they gain this drawback. If they do, they
may have that object become their physical contract. An
already-magical item cannot become a physical contract,
but a physical contract can later be magically enhanced.
A physical contract's purpose is to represent its avowed's
psychic bond. It details the current capabilities (even those
the avowed has gained since the start of his pact) of the
avowed. A creature reading or otherwise examining the
physical contract can make a Perception check (DC 10 +
the avowed's caster level) to decipher it, learning the level
of avowed its owner has attained, what pact they made,
and what clauses they know, as well as any feats from the
avowed bonus feat list they've taken (even if they weren't
taken as bonus feats).
An avowed always knows the direction of and distance
to his physical contract, as long as it's on the same plane. If
it is on another plane, he knows that it's on another plane,
but cannot automatically determine which one.
DESTRUCTION
A physical contract cannot be destroyed without first
killing (or destroying, in the case of a construct or undead
avowed) the avowed who owns it, at which time it can be
destroyed as a normal item of its type.
Selling Souls
When an avowed sells his soul to a patron, he retains
the soul itself, but it flows through the planes to them
after his death.
Indebted (new subtype): Your soul is owned by
another. When you die, it passes to their possession,
crystallizing into an indestructible gemstone and
allowing them to do whatever they wish with it. You
cannot be raised from the dead unless your soul's
current owner allows it. However, if your soul gem is
physically present when a spellcaster uses raise dead,
resurrection, or a similar ability, the spellcaster does not
need your body on hand, and only requires half the
normal material components. The gem is consumed in
the process of casting the spell. If you later die again, a
new gem is created.
The owner of a soul gem can crush it as a standard
action, releasing the soul sealed within and allowing it
to pass to its proper afterlife.
More information on the ownership of souls can be
found in the appendix on page 62.
25
 The Avowed
Chapter 3: Clauses & Pulses
As noted on page 5, an avowed's aether pulse and clauses
are a special type of spell-like ability. Using a clause is
a standard action unless noted in its description, and
unlike normal spell-like abilities, aether pulses and
clauses require thought and verbal components (see the
sidebar below).
Every clause has the following features:
Name
The name that a clause is generally known by. The exact
names differ from avowed to avowed and pact to pact,
but the effects remain the same.
Grade
The grade of the clause. An avowed gains access to least
clauses at 1st level, lesser clauses at 6th level, greater
clauses at 11th level, and final clauses at 16th level.
Spell Level Equivalent
The clause's spell level equivalent is listed on the same
line as the grade in parentheses. For the purposes of
concentration check DCs, globe of invulnerability effects,
and the like, a clause is treated as a spell of its level
equivalent.
Action
The clause's activation action. Clauses are normally
standard actions, but some require the avowed take
other types of actions to use them.
Thought Components
Thought components represent mental constructs
necessary for the ability's function, such as picturing
a dragon in vivid detailand the results of its fiery
breathin order to activate the aether breath clause.
Thought components are so mentally demanding that
they make interruptions and distractions extremely
challenging. The DC for any concentration check for
an ability with a thought component increases by 10.
An avowed using an ability with a thought component
can take a move action before beginning to activate
the ability to center himself; he can then use the
normal DC instead of the increased DC.
Verbal Components
A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To
provide a verbal component, an avowed must be able
to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils
the incantation (and thus the ability). An avowed who
has been deafened has a 20% chance of spoiling any
ability with a verbal component that he tries to use.
26
Shapes and Modulations
In addition to normal clauses, there are two special types
of clauses, with their own rules for how they're used.
Applying shapes and modulations to an aether pulse is
done as part of that ability's action, and an avowed can
only apply one of each to a given aether pulse. Shapes and
modulations use the level of the aether pulse they are used
with, and do not have their own spell level equivalents.
Shapes: Shapes alter how an aether pulse works, and
can only be learned through the shapes class feature.
Whenever an avowed uses his aether pulse, he can
apply up to one shape to it, potentially altering its effect
or action needed. Shapes do not have grades; instead, a
shape can be selected up to four times.
Modulations: Modulations alter what an aether pulse
does, and are learned the same way as normal clauses.
Whenever an avowed uses his aether pulse, he can apply
up to one modulation to it. Some modulations cause the
aether pulse to be subject to spell resistance; as noted
in their descriptions. The effect of a modulation applies
to all attacks or damage that the aether pulse does. If a
modulation causes the aether pulse to deal a different
type of damage, it gains that type as a descriptor.
Special Rules
Though they still follow the general rules for shapes
and clauses, weaponlike shapes and clauses that create
specialized area effects have additional rules.
Iaijutsu and Weaponlike Shapes: When the aether
blade, aether lance, and aether rampage shapes are used
with an aether pulse, the avowed is treated as having
drawn the "weapon" created as part of activating the
shape. This allows them to interact with abilities like
Mithral Current maneuvers from Dreamscarred Press'
Path of War: Expanded. Once they've been drawn by
creating them with their shape, they can be sheathed
normally while they're still active (such as using
Mithral Current stances), and recreated in the next
round (at which point the avowed is treated as drawing
the weapon again).
Zones: Some clauses have the zone descriptor noted
in their description. These clauses create unique area
effects that cannot overlap with another zone. If a new
zone completely covers another zone, the older zone
ends. Otherwise, where there's an overlap, the newer
zone takes effect, suppressing older zones in its area.
 The Avowed
List of Clauses
Shapes
Aether Barrage: You fire your aether pulse as a series of
rays.
Aether Blade: You create a short-lived weapon of pure
energy, allowing you to make a melee touch attack.
Aether Blast: Your aether pulse becomes an explosion.
Aether Breath: You create a line or cone of energy.
Aether Cascade: Your aether pulse chains from one target
to another.
Aether Channel: You charge melee and thrown weapons
with destructive energy.
Aether Circus: You transform your aether pulse into a
massive volley of short-ranged bolts.
Aether Grasp: You grapple a target, then fire a point-
blank aether pulse.
Aether Lance: Your aether pulse is an melee line attack.
Aether Rampage: You form natural weapons out of your
aether pulse.
Aether Retaliation: You reactively fire an aether pulse.
Aether Rounds: You charge ranged projectile attacks you
make with destructive energy.
Aether Swarm: You create a cloud of minute constructs
that devour your foes.
Aether Wrath: Your aether pulse becomes a cylinder.
Least Clauses
Air Lock: You control the characteristics of nearby air,
adjusting the environment to your liking.
Athletic Edge: You gain a +6 bonus on Acrobatics, Climb,
and Fly checks.
Aquatic Affinity: You gain a swim speed, can breath
underwater, and can walk on water.
Blend In: You gain a +6 bonus on Disguise, Sleight of Hand,
and Stealth checks.
Bonechilling Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals cold damage
and slows targets' movements.
Cover of Darkness: You gain a deflection bonus to AC
and concealment against ranged attacks.
Deafening Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals electricity
damage and makes a thunderclap that deafens targets.
Dusk Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals nonlethal damage
and fatigues targets.
Frightening Pulse:M Your aether pulse causes targets to
become shaken.
Hidden Knowledge: You gain a +6 bonus on Knowledge
checks and can make Knowledge checks untrained.
Hunter's Instincts: You gain the scent ability and leave
no tracks.
Lifeleech Pulse: Your aether pulse steals life from a target
and redistributes it to one ally (including you).
Light Show: You create one of several light effects.
Lock and Key: You create an explosive arcane lock effect.
Nightfall: You create an area of darkness.
One With Nature: You can speak with animals and gain
the wild empathy ability.
Pest Control: You create a fog that's toxic to others.
Personal Gravity: You ignore difficult terrain and can
move on surfaces as if by spider climb.
Resonance Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals sonic damage,
ignores hardness, and shatters objects.
Reveal Your Secrets: You identify an object, as the spell.
Sickening Pulse:M Your aether pulse sickens targets.
Sightseer: You can see in the dark and detect invisible
creatures.
Silver Tongue: You gain a +6 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy,
and Intimidate checks.
Weatherproofing: You grant an ally an endure elements
effect and protection from your area aether pulses.
Who Help Themselves: You add your Charisma bonus on
saving throws of one type.
Lesser Clauses
Abrasive Pulse:M Your aether pulse reduces the damage
reduction and spell resistance of affected creatures.
Airspace Control: You create a region of difficult terrain
that grants you concealment.
Binding Disagreement: You curse a target, offering them
terms that can remove the curse.
Caustic Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals acid damage and
continues to deal acid damage for several rounds.
Center of Attention: You fascinate nearby creatures for
as long as you concentrate + 5 rounds.
Chameleon Clause I: You gain a changeable clause.
Create Friendship: Charm a creature.
Dragon's Teeth: You animate a corpse and control it.
Escape Clause: You fake your death, leaving a corpse
behind and turning invisible for one round.
Exit Stage Right: You teleport a short distance and leave
an illusion of yourself behind.
Facechanger: You alter your appearance or steal another's.
Fade from Sight: You become invisible, as the spell.
Firewalker: You gain resistance to an energy type.
Fist of the Sky: You create a hand of force that grabs, lifts,
and performs combat maneuvers for you.
Fly on the Wall: You create a Fine-sized scout.
Frostbite Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals cold damage
and additional Dexterity damage.
Gravedigger: You use create pit. At higher caster levels,
the pit gets bigger.
Gravity Pulse:M Your aether pulse affects targets with a
flightbreaker and slow effect.
Inferno Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals fire damage and
sets targets ablaze.
Scream: You cause opponents to become shaken when
you use your aether pulse.
Sixth Sense: You gain blindsense out to 30 feet.
27
 The Avowed
Solar Pulse:M Your aether pulse blinds targets. Final Clauses
Take Flight: You gain a fly speed. Agonizing Pulse:M Your aether pulse nauseates targets.
Unbind Spell: Use dispel magic, and on a failed dispel Always Ready: You use foresight and can communicate
check, you follow it up with another in the next round. telepathically with creatures under its effect.
Wall of Pain: You create a wall that wracks creatures with Annihilation Pulse:M Your aether pulse disintegrates objects
unbearable pain. it touches.
Greater Clauses Banish Into Light: You steal a creature's shadow.
Breach: You puncture a hole in reality, disrupting time
Akashic Pulse:M Your aether pulse steals essence and
and distance in the area.
dazes targets.
Chameleon Clause III: You gain a changeable clause.
Ash Flow: You create a moving cloud of volcanic ash.
Create Weakness: You make a creature vulnerable to an
Balefire Wall: You make a wall of extraplanar fire that can
energy type.
burn those normally immune to flames.
Emaciating Pulse:M Your aether pulse inflicts negative
Bewitch: You use the suggestion spell and may wipe
levels.
memories of the suggestion from the target.
Fire-Eater: You become immune to a type of energy.
Chameleon Clause II: You gain a changeable clause.
Flesh Sculptor: You use baleful polymorph, but can also
Cloaked in Shadow: You can use Stealth in darkness while
turn the target into a plant.
observed. Opponents near you who can't perceive you
Fractured Shadows: You become a swarm.
take a 4 penalty to Strength and Dexterity.
Inescapable Domain: You create a short-lived dimensional
Concussive Pulse:M Your aether pulse knocks targets back.
lock that creatures have difficulty entering and leaving.
Ether Pulse:M Your aether pulse is made of invisible force.
Into the Night: You use the shadow walk spell.
Frozen Isolation: You trap a creature in a prison of ice.
March of the Damned: You use flesh wall, except you can
Kinetosis Pulse:M Your aether pulse inflicts motion sickness
order the wall to move.
on its targets.
Now You See Me: You use greater invisibility, can tell when
Immortality Clause: You gain temporary hit points
someone can see you anyway, and can blind such
equal to your caster level and do not age for 24 hours.
creatures by ending the effect.
Maddening Pulse:M Your aether pulse confuses targets.
Pactbound Retribution: You use bloodsworn retribution,
Rebind Spell: Counter or undo a dispel magic effect.
as the spell.
Roaring Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals sonic damage
Relinquish: Use break enchantment or control summoned
and terrifies creatures that are weaker than you.
creature spells, or counterspell with greater dispel magic.
Secret Message: You use sending and can obscure your
Ruin: You create an earthquake that also affects creatures
identity while doing so.
as if by antipathy.
Shadow Strands:Z You make a shadow-infused solid fog
Shadow Realm:Z You create a massive area of darkness
that hinders your foes.
that disorients and warps directions within.
Slumber for Eternity: You put a creature to sleep until
Shear Space: You create a gap in space that behaves like
they're forcibly woken. A successful save exhausts them.
an indestructible, opaque wall of force.
Spell Consumption: You use greater dispel magic, and
Singularity: You create a point of extreme gravity.
gain temporary hit points based on the spells dispelled.
Soul Shackle: You use leashed shackles, except it deals
Stained-Glass Mirror: You use a veil effect that damages
additional damage based on distance.
those who disbelieve it.
Such Fragile Playthings: You use enemy hammer, and
Stutter Step: You teleport a short distance as an immediate
can control the bodies of creatures you damage for 1
action, gaining a 50% miss chance against an attack.
round.
Tar Trap: You create an area of burning tar.
Switcheroo: You swap places with a creature in response
Waking Nightmare:Z You create an area of shadow-
to an attack.
infused terrain that entangles and unsettles creatures.
Time-Splitting Pulse:M Your aether pulse briefly severs
Weakening Pulse:M Your aether pulse deals additional
targets' connection to time, stunning them for 1 round.
Strength damage.
Winding Woods:Z You create a zone that disorients and
redirects creatures' movements.
Writhe:Z You create an area of darkness or daylight filled
with a black tentacles effect that damages Wisdom.

28
 The Avowed
Shapes
Shapes do not have grades or level requirements to
take them, and can be selected multiple times. Each
additional time an avowed takes a shape, he gains the
next step of its effect. A shape can be taken up to four
times, and the benefits for doing so are cumulative.
If the avowed is currently using an ongoing shape
with his aether pulse, he cannot use different aether
pulse until it ends unless otherwise specified. For
example, an avowed who uses aether blade must wait
until his next turn to use a different aether pulse, and
an avowed that's maintaining aether grasp cannot use
aether pulses other than further aether grasps. Shapes
that are activated as free actions do not provoke attacks
of opportunity for their activation (but might for their
attacks). Such shapes can only be used once per round,
and using one prevents the avowed from using the
others.
AETHER BARRAGE
Shape; full-round action
This shape is a specialized full attack with your aether pulse.
During this full attack, you can use aether pulse multiple
times in place of your normal attacks (taking the normal
iterative penalties if you have a high enough base attack
bonus to make extra attacks), and can make one additional
attack, as if you were under the effect of a haste spell. This
does not stack with the haste spell itself or similar effects.
When using this shape, you cannot gain extra attacks other
than from your base attack bonus or this effect. As such,
Rapid Shot and similar feats do not function with it, and
you cannot combine the shape with another weapon. Your
aether pulse attacks each use the same modulation applied
to this shape (if any), and can be targeted against the same
or different creatures, just like a normal full attack.
2nd Selection: This shape's range increases, allowing you
to make attacks against targets within medium range (100
feet + 10 feet per caster level).
3rd Selection: You add your Charisma bonus (if any) to
the damage of each ray.
4th Selection: The rays you fire veer towards targets,
negating any miss chances that would otherwise apply,
such as from concealment. You still have to aim the rays
at the right square, if you can't perceive the targets. Rays
mistakenly shot into an empty space do not veer and hit
invisible enemies, even if they are nearby.
AETHER BLADE
Shape; free action
You channel your aether pulse to create a weapon-like mass
of energy. This aether blade is treated as a one-handed
weapon for all purposes, and vanishes after 1 round.
Attacks with your aether blade are melee touch attacks
that deal damage equal to your aether pulse's base damage
+ your Strength modifier (or 1-1/2 times your Strength
modifier, if wielded in two hands), and threaten a critical
hit on a natural 20. Weapon Finesse may also be used with
an aether blade, even though it isn't a light weapon.
2nd Selection: Your aether blade can extend, allowing
you to use it as a reach weapon. You can still attack adjacent
creatures with it.
3rd Selection: Your aether blade gains an enhancement
bonus on attack and damage rolls of +1 per three caster
levels (minimum +1, maximum +6).
4th Selection: You gain a limited form of the pounce
ability. When you charge while wielding your aether blade,
you can make a full attack with it (but not any other
weapons). If you have the aether duelist feat, you can make
attacks with both aether blades.
AETHER BLAST
Shape; standard action
You create a spherical spread of energy within 60 feet that
deals your aether pulse's base damage to everything caught
within its area. A successful Reflex save halves this damage.
The radius of the spread is determined by your caster level,
as listed on the table below. If you wish, you may make a
spread with a smaller radius (reducing its radius in 5-foot
increments).
Caster Level Spread Radius
1st5th 10 ft.
6th10th 15 ft.
11th15th 20 ft.
16th20th 25 ft.
21st+ 30 ft.
2nd Selection: The amount of damage dealt by your aether
blast increases to 1d8 per caster level (for example, a 9th-level
avowed would deal 9d8 points of damage instead of 5d8).
3rd Selection: The range of your aether blast increases,
allowing you to center the spread within medium range
(100 feet + 10 feet per caster level).
4th Selection: When you use your aether blast, you
may create a second spread within range that functions
identically to the first (including modulations and being
able to reduce its radius, if you wish). A creature or object
that is within the area of both spreads is only affected once,
however.
AETHER BREATH
Shape; standard action
When you learn this shape, choose line or cone. When you
use this shape, you exhale to create a line- or a cone-shaped
spread (depending on your choice) of horrific energy that
deals your aether pulse's base damage to everything caught
within its area. A successful Reflex save halves this damage.
29
 The Avowed
This shape counts as a breath weapon for the purposes
of abilities and effects, as well as for requirements and
prerequisites. Using this shape does not provoke an attack
of opportunity. The length of your breath is determined by
your caster level, as listed on the table below. If you wish,
you may have your breath fill a smaller area (reducing its
length in 5-foot increments).
4th Selection: The energy of your breath takes on a
sticky texture. Creatures that fail their Reflex saves against
your aether breath also become entangled for a number of
rounds equal to the number of times you've selected this
shape.
AETHER CASCADE

Caster Level Cone Length Line Length Shape; standard action

If your aether pulse hits, it arcs to another valid target you
1st5th 15 ft. 30 ft. can see within 30 feet of the target hit. You can repeat
6th10th 30 ft. 60 ft. this process a number of times equal to your caster level
11th15th 45 ft. 90 ft. (including the first arc). You can only attack a given target
once per use of this shape.
16th20th 60 ft. 120 ft.
2nd Selection: This shape's range increases, allowing you
21st+ 75 ft. 150 ft. to make your first attack against a target within medium
2nd Selection: Your breath's energy continues to blaze. range (100 feet + 10 feet per caster level) and subsequent
At the start of your turn after breathing, all creatures who attacks against targets within close range (25 feet + 5 feet
failed their Reflex saves against your aether breath take per two caster levels) of the last target hit.
damage equal to your aether pulse's base damage (no 3rd Selection: Your aether cascade can loop back to one
save). If you used a modulation clause with this shape that of the targets you've already struck, attacking them again
changed its damage type, this extra damage is that type, with an arc. You can use this ability once per use of the
but no other effects of the modulation clause are inflicted. aether cascade shape.
3rd Selection: You can use both the line and the cone 4th Selection: You can arc your aether cascade to targets
version of this shape, regardless of which you chose the first you can't see from your own position. You can perceive
time you selected it. from within a given target's space as you hit them, in order
to choose your next target.
AETHER CHANNEL
Shape; free action
You charge your body and weapon with the power of your
aether pulse, rather than firing it off at a foe. Until the start
of your next turn, your melee and thrown weapon attacks
deal additional damage equal to the base damage of your
aether pulse. If you used a modulation clause with this
shape, its effects apply to this additional damage. If you
are attacking with multiple weapons (including natural
weapons) in a given round, or with weapons that resolve
as touch attacks, you only add half your aether pulse's base
damage, instead of the full amount.
2nd Selection: When you use this shape, your base attack
bonus from avowed class levels is equal to your avowed
level until the start of your next turn. This increase only
applies when making melee and thrown weapon attacks,
but functions as normal BAB in all ways, including gaining
iterative attacks on a full attack and meeting prerequisites.
3rd Selection: When you use this shape, you can make
one additional weapon attack during a full attack this
round, as if you were under the effect of a haste spell. This
does not stack with the haste spell itself or similar effects.
4th Selection: You gain the pounce ability while your
aether channel is in effect, allowing you to make a full attack
when you charge.

Aether channel fills one's weapons with power.

30
 The Avowed
AETHER CIRCUS
Shape; standard action
You create a fusillade of energy bolts that swarm across
nearby space. Using this shape does not provoke attacks
of opportunity. When you use this shape, you choose a
number of targets within 10 feet of you, based on your caster
level (see the table below), and affect them as if you had hit
them with your aether pulse. You cannot target attended
objects with this shape, and a target with total cover from
you cannot be affected. If you cannot perceive something,
you can still target it, but must choose the correct space
(and suffer a 50% chance of not affecting them even on a
correct guess).
Caster Level Number of Targets
1st3rd 2 to escape as normal but cannot attempt to reverse the
4th6th 4 grapple against you unless they can reach you.
7th9th 8 shape and maintain the grapples started with it. You must
10th13th 16
14th16th 32
17th19th 64
20th+ Unlimited
2nd Selection: This shape's range increases to 20 feet.
3rd Selection: This shape's range increases to 30 feet.
4th Selection: This shape's bolts veer around corners
and unerringly track their targets. Total cover no longer
protects against the shape, so long as there is a gap or
way to reach the target within the range of the effect. In
addition, they no longer suffer a chance of failure against
targets you cannot see.
AETHER GRASP
Shape; standard action
You imbue your body with your power, allowing you to
detonate an aether pulse at point-blank range against a
creature. When you use this shape, make a grapple attempt
against a creature within your reach. Neither this grapple
attempt nor this shape provoke attacks of opportunity,
and you only need one free hand to make this grapple
attempt. You gain a bonus equal to your Charisma bonus
(if any) on combat maneuver checks when using this ability,
including to maintain the grapple.
If you successfully grapple the target, you discharge
your aether pulse against them, dealing your aether pulse
damage to them and affecting them with the modulation
applied alongside this shape (if any). You also discharge
another aether pulse against them when you successfully
maintain your grapple.
Knowing this shape counts as Dexterity 13, Improved
Unarmed Strike, and Improved Grapple for the purposes of
taking feats that have Improved Grapple as a prerequisite.
In addition, for the purposes of taking such feats, your
base attack bonus from avowed class levels is equal to your
avowed level.
While this shape uses a grapple as its primary mechanic,
it does not necessarily have to be wrestling or a hold. Some
other possibilities might be to create a "jaw" of aether to
latch onto your foe, to wrap the target in mystic threads, or
even just to hold them telekinetically as well as physically.
2nd Selection: You may use your caster level instead of
your base attack bonus on combat maneuver checks when
using this ability, including to maintain the grapple.
3rd Selection: When you use this ability, you can make
your grapple attempt against any creature you can see
within 30 feet. If you succeed, you do not move them to
an adjacent space as you would for a normal grapple. The
target remains grappled in their space, and can attempt
4th Selection: You no longer need a free hand to use this
still follow all the other rules of grappling.
AETHER LANCE
Shape; standard action (see text)
Your aether pulse becomes a beam that you thrust forward
through your foes. Using this shape does not provoke
attacks of opportunity. When you use this shape, you
create a line-shaped burst with a length equal to your
natural reach + 10 feet. Make a single melee attack roll and
compare it to the AC of each creature caught in the line.
The line deals damage to each creature hit equal to your
aether pulse's base damage + 1-1/2 times your Strength
modifier. It threatens a critical hit on a natural 20, and you
use the same damage roll for each target. Weapon Finesse
may also be used with an aether lance, even though it isn't
a light weapon.
After making your attack with your aether lance, you can
move to the furthest unoccupied space within the line as
a free action. This movement does not provoke attacks of
opportunity.
In addition to using aether lance as a standard action, you
can use it as part of a charge. When you do, you attack with
an aether lance at the end of the charge instead of making
a normal weapon. It gains the normal +2 on the attack roll,
but any additional effects that your attack would have
applied (such as damage from a martial strike) are only
applied to the closest target hit. You cannot combine an
aether lance with the pounce ability.
If you wish, you may have your aether lance fill a smaller
area (reducing its length in 5-foot increments).
2nd Selection: The length of your aether lance increases
by 10 feet, and it gains an enhancement bonus on attack
and damage rolls of +1 per three caster levels (minimum
+1, maximum +6).
31
 The Avowed
3rd Selection: The length of your aether lance increases by
a further 10 feet, and its damage increases to 1d8 per caster
level + 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier (for example,
a 9th-level avowed would deal 9d8 + 1-1/2 his Strength
modifier, instead of 5d8 + 1-1/2).
4th Selection: The length of your aether lance increases
by a further 10 feet, and when you use it, you may increase
its width to 10 feet (draw the line as normal, then extend it
by 5 feet in all directions perpendicular to the line).
AETHER RAMPAGE
Shape; free action
When you first learn this shape, choose claws, slams,
tentacles, or wing attacks. When you use this shape, you
wrap your arms in energy, creating a set of natural weapons
that extend from your hands. You gain two primary natural
attacks of the type that you chose when you learned this
shape. They remain until the start of your next turn, deal
damage equal to your unarmed strike's damage plus your
aether pulse's base damage, and threaten a critical hit on a
natural 20. They are otherwise treated as normal weapons
of their type, except they take up your hands, much like
claws.
2nd Selection: The natural weapons from this shape gain
a +1 enhancement bonus per 4 caster levels (minimum
+1). If they already had an enhancement bonus (such as
from an amulet of mighty fists), you instead increase that
enhancement bonus by this amount. This allows you to
gain an enhancement bonus greater than +5, and a total
bonus greater than +10.
3rd Selection: You gain the rend special ability with your
aether rampage. Once per round, when you hit a creature
with both of the natural weapons from this shape, you deal
additional damage as if you had hit again with one of them,
plus 1-1/2 your Strength or Charisma bonus (if any).
4th Selection: As a standard action, you can make an
attack with both of the natural weapons from this shape.
AETHER RETALIATION
Shape; immediate action
You react to a foe, firing off an aether pulse at close range to
deter further attacks. You can use this shape after a melee
attack is made against you (regardless of whether or not
it hits), and can use it even if you're currently maintaining
or using another shape. You fire an aether pulse at your
attacker, making a ranged touch attack to hit them. This
aether pulse does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If
you possess the aether blow ability, you instead make a
melee touch attack (even if they're out of reach).
2nd Selection: When you use this shape, you can forgo
the attack and instead deal your aether pulse's base damage
to everything within 5 feet of you. A successful Reflex save
halves this damage.
3rd Selection: When you use the area-of-effect version
of this shape, you can choose to affect everything within 10
feet of you instead.
32
4th Selection: A creature hit by your aether retaliation
(if you used it to attack) or that fails its Reflex save (if you
used the area-of-effect version) is pushed 5 feet directly
away from you by the energy.
AETHER ROUNDS
Shape; free action
You charge your ranged weapons, enhancing their force
and power with your aether pulse. Until the start of your
next turn, your ranged projectile weapon attacks deal
additional damage equal to the base damage of your aether
pulse. If you used a modulation clause with this shape, its
effects apply to this additional damage. If you are attacking
with multiple weapons (including natural weapons) in a
given round, or with weapons that resolve as touch attacks,
you only add half your aether pulse's base damage, instead
of the full amount.
2nd Selection: Your aether rounds ignore the effects of
weather and wind (including wind wall and similar effects).
3rd Selection: You can create phantom ammunition
out of aether, generating and loading each shot as a free
action just before you fire. This ammunition is treated as
magic for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction
and affecting incorporeal creatures, and vanishes after the
attack (regardless of whether you hit). You can freely mix
attacks with this ammunition and normal ammunition, if
you wish.
4th Selection: Once per round, when you miss with a
ranged projectile weapon attack while using this shape,
you can choose to reroll that attack against any valid target
within range (including the initial target).
AETHER SWARM
Shape; standard action (see text)
You transform your aether pulse into innumerable motes of
energy often shaped like swarming insects or pests. When
you use this shape, you fill two contiguous 5-foot cubes
within 10 feet of you with your aether swarm. Your aether
swarm can share spaces with creatures freely, and at the
end of each of your turns, every creature other than you
within the area of the swarm is automatically damaged by
your aether pulse.
The swarm remains until the start of your next turn, at
which point you can choose to maintain it by concentrating
as a move action. When you do, you can move it up to
15 feet in any direction. You can reorganize the cubes that
make up your aether swarm freely, so long as each is still
adjacent to at least one other after the movement ends.
When you maintain your aether swarm, you can keep the
same modulation clause (if any) or apply a new one.
You cannot use another aether pulse while you maintain
your aether swarm, but can use clauses and other abilities
freely.
2nd Selection: When you kill or destroy a creature with
your aether swarm, their body is used as fuel for another
swarm. You create a second aether swarm, starting with
 The Avowed
as many of its spaces as possible within or adjacent to
that creature's space. This second swarm does not carry a
modulation clause, and its damage stacks with that of the
first. You maintain and move both swarms with the same
action. You can only have a single extra aether swarm at
any one time.
3rd Selection: Your aether swarm takes up four 5-foot
cubes, and can be moved up to 20 feet in any direction
when you maintain it.
4th Selection: Your aether swarm takes up eight 5-foot
cubes (the space of a normal swarm creature), and can be
moved up to 30 feet in any direction when you maintain it.
AETHER WRATH
Shape; standard action
You create a cylinder-shaped spread of energy within 60 feet
that deals your aether pulse's base damage to everything
caught within its area. A successful Reflex save halves
this damage. The radius and height of the cylinder are
determined by your caster level, as listed on the table below.
Least Clauses
AIR LOCK
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You shift air, heat, and moisture around you, allowing you
to create a region of comfortable weather within 30 feet of
you. You can adjust the air temperature to anywhere from
40F to 90F, and may reduce (or increase) nonmagical
wind conditions to a pleasant breeze within the area.
If you wish, you may have the area disperse incoming
precipitation towards the edges, keeping you dry. This
effect remains centered on you for 24 hours, and you can
use this clause again to change how you've affected the
surrounding environment. Creatures within the area gain
a +4 bonus on saving throws against gas-based attacks or
effects, and you can disperse such a effect within the area as
a standard action. In addition, creatures within the area gain
a +2 bonus on saving throws against effects that deal fire or
cold damage. You can suppress or resume these protections
as a free action.
ATHLETIC EDGE
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You imbue yourself with power that lets you move faster
and easier. For 24 hours, you gain a +6 bonus on Acrobatics,
Climb, and Fly checks.
AQUATIC AFFINITY
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You alter your body to become at home in the water. For
24 hours, you swim speed equal to your base land speed,
can breath water as well as air, and can walk on water as if
it were solid ground. If you have the aquatic subtype and
If you wish, you may make a cylinder with a smaller radius
or height (reducing each variable in 5-foot increments).
Caster Level Cylinder Radius Cylinder Height
1st5th 5 ft. 10 ft.
6th10th 10 ft. 100 ft.
11th15th 15 ft. 1,000 ft.
16th20th 20 ft. 10,000 ft.
21st+ 25 ft. 100,000 ft.
2nd Selection: The amount of damage by your aether
wrath increases to 1d8 per caster level (for example, a 9th-
level avowed would deal 9d8 points of damage instead of 5d8).
3rd Selection: The range of your aether wrath increases,
allowing you to center the cylinder within medium range
(100 feet + 10 feet per caster level).
4th Selection: When you use your aether wrath, you
may center its starting point (the bottom of the cylinder)
anywhere within range, even if you don't have line of sight
or line of effect to that location. The bottom of the cylinder
is then centered there, just as if you had used it normally.
no land speed, this clause instead gives you a land speed
equal to your base swim speed and the ability to breath
air as well as water (you still gain the water walking effect).
BLEND IN
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You imbue yourself with power that makes you hard to
notice and remember. For 24 hours, you gain a +6 bonus
on Disguise, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth checks.
BONECHILLING PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse takes the form of a freezing, biting wind
that deals cold damage. Any creature damaged by it has their
movement speeds reduced by half for 1 round. Successive
hits with a bonechilling pulse increase the duration of this
effect, rather than further halving movement speeds.
COVER OF DARKNESS
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You wrap yourself in solid shadows, obscuring your form and
turning away blows. For 24 hours, you gain concealment
(20% miss chance) against ranged attacks and a +1 deflection
bonus to AC. This deflection bonus increases by +1 for every
five caster levels you possess ( up to a maximum of +5 at
20th level).
DEAFENING PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse deals electricity damage, and the arc of
lightning creates a resounding clap of thunder that deafens
33
 The Avowed
a creature damaged by it for 1 minute unless they succeed
at a Fortitude save. In addition, a creature damaged by this
aether pulse becomes dazzled for 1 minute (no save).
DUSK PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance yes
You draw matter from the plane of shadows, striking the
target's strength and leaving them in a torpor. Your aether
pulse deals nonlethal damage and fatigues a creature
damaged by it for 1 minute unless they succeed at a
Fortitude save.
FRIGHTENING PULSE
Least Modulation; Spell Resistance yes
You imbue your aether pulse with the essence of terror. A
creature damaged it must succeed at a Will save or become
shaken for 1 minute. This effect cannot create a stronger
fear condition than shaken. A creature that is immune to
being shaken is still affected by the rest of your aether pulse.
HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You tap into a well of knowledge beyond your being. For 24
hours, you gain a +6 bonus on Knowledge checks, and can
make checks with those skills untrained.
HUNTER'S INSTINCTS
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
Your senses sharpen and your presence dampens. For 24
hours, you gain the scent ability and leave no tracks behind
you, as if by a pass without trace spell.
LIFELEECH PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse creates a short-lived link between a
target and another creature, transferring life force from
the former to the latter. Once per round, when you deal
damage to a creature with this aether pulse, you may have
an ally you can see within 60 feet gain temporary hit points
equal to half the damage dealt. These temporary hit points
cannot bring the creature above their maximum hit points,
and last for 1 minute or until used.
LIGHT SHOW
Least (3rd); free action; spell resistance see text
You use your choice of the dancing lights, daylight, light, and
spotlight (see the Appendix) spells. You can only have one of
these spells active at once (if you use this clause again, the
previous effect ends), and can only use a given spell once per
round, but can otherwise freely use the listed spells.
LOCK AND KEY
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You use arcane lock, as the spell. When someone opens
your arcane lock, either by dispelling it or unlocking it with
34
a Disable Device check or knock spell, it explodes, dealing
damage equal to your aether pulse's base damage to each
creature within 5 feet of the lock. A successful Reflex save
halves this damage. This clause's effect can be found and
disabled as if it were a magic trap with Disable Device and
Perception check DCs equal to 10 + your caster level.
NIGHTFALL
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You usher a cloud of darkness into existence. When you
use this clause, you create a darkness effect (as the spell)
surrounding an object you touch, except that its duration
is 24 hours. You are aware of the location of each creature
within this darkness, though this does not allow you to
ignore the miss chance from not seeing them. At caster
level 10th, you can create a deeper darkness effect with this
clause instead of darkness. You can only have one area of
darkness created with this effect at a time; if you use this
clause again while one already exists, the older one ends.
ONE WITH NATURE
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You transform your very being, becoming closer to the
natural world. For 24 hours, you gain the benefits of the
speak with animals spell and the wild empathy ability as a
druid of your avowed level.
PERSONAL GRAVITY
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You can adjust your frame of reference and how gravity
affects you. While this doesn't allow you to fly, you become
incredibly light, allowing you to walk on top of difficult
terrain, ignoring it completely. In addition, you can walk on
walls and ceilings as easily as you do floors, gaining the of
the spider climb spell, except you do not need a free hand
to climb. Each of these effects last for 24 hours.
PEST CONTROL
Least (1st); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a cloud of poisonous mist that saps the vitality
of others. When you use this clause, you make a 10-foot-
radius spread of mist centered on your location. This mist
does not block line of sight, but creatures within it gain
concealment. In addition, other creatures in the cloud are
fatigued for as long as they remain within it (no save).
Small insects such as mosquitos that enter the cloud die
instantly (though this does not have any effect on monstrous
vermin and the like, and the movements of swarms disperse
the mist enough that they are merely fatigued, rather than
killed). If you wish, you can create a mist that only has this
effect, rather than fatiguing all creatures.
This mist lasts for 1 minute, and does not move with you.
A moderate wind (11+ mph), such as from a gust of wind
spell, disperses the fog in 1 rounds. A fireball, flame strike, or
similar spell immediately disperses the mist.
 The Avowed
RESONANCE PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals sonic damage and ignores hardness.
In addition, choose one of the following effects:
Any object damaged by it is affected as if by a area-
of-effect version of the shatter spell (attended objects
are not affected unless you specifically target them or
their bearer rolls a natural 1 against an area shape, as
normal).
One object damaged by it is affected as if by the
single-target version of the shatter spell.
REVEAL YOUR SECRETS
Least (1st); standard action; spell resistance no
You read an object's true powers. When you use this clause,
you can attempt to ascertain the properties of a magic item
you touch, as if you had concentrated on the identify spell for
3 rounds. You can still only identify an object once per day.
SICKENING PULSE
Least Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse saps the target's health. A creature
damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or become
sickened for 1 minute.
Lesser Clauses
ABRASIVE PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse drills through defenses both physical and
magical. A creature damaged by it must succeed at a Will
save or any damage reduction and spell resistance it has are
reduced by 5 points for 1 minute. Successive uses of this
modulation stack, but a creature can only have its DR or
SR reduced once per round by this effect, regardless of how
many times you damage them with an aether pulse.
AIRSPACE CONTROL
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a telekinetic field that subtly enhances your
movements and hinders your foes'. For 24 hours, all other
creatures treat spaces within 5 feet of you as difficult terrain,
and you gain concealment (20% miss chance).
BINDING DISAGREEMENT
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance yes
With a touch, you emulate the bestow curse spell against
a creature. When you do so, you must vocalize a term or
action the creature can take (such as "confess your crimes
to the proper authorities," "climb to the highest peak of the
SIGHTSEER
Least (2nd); standard action
Your eyes pierce the mortal world. You can see invisible
creatures, as if by the see invisibility spell. In addition, you
can see perfectly in darkness of any kind (even magical
darkness). Both of these benefits last for 24 hours.
SILVER TONGUE
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You psychically enhance your social skills. For 24 hours, you
gain a +6 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks.
WEATHERPROOFING
Least (1st); standard action; spell resistance yes
With a touch, you grant a creature (or yourself) the benefits
of the endure elements spell for 24 hours. In addition, a
creature under the effect of this ability is unaffected by
your aether pulses that create an area of effect (including
through abilities such as the Lingering Pulse feat, and extra
effects granted by shapes such as aether spark).
WHO HELP THEMSELVES
Least (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You use a bit of magic to make your own luck. For 24 hours,
you gain a bonus equal to your Charisma modifier (up to
a maximum of your avowed level) on Fortitude, Reflex, or
Will saves (chosen when you use this clause). You can only
gain this bonus to one save at once, but can use this clause
again to change which save you've selected.
far northern mountains," or even an impossible task, if you
wish). If the creature takes that action, the curse is lifted, as
if by a remove curse spell. A creature cursed by this clause is
always aware of what the terms of their curse is, even if they
do not speak your language or did not hear you say them.
CAUSTIC PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals acid damage, and any creature hit
by it takes 1 point acid damage per damage die of the
aether pulse at the start of each of your turns for 1 round
per 5 caster levels. A creature can only take this additional
damage once per round, regardless of how many times you
hit them with a caustic pulse.
CENTER OF ATTENTION
Lesser (5th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You send out a wave of psychic energy, causing others
to look your way. All opponents within 40 feet that can
perceive you must succeed at a Will save or become
fascinated for as long as you concentrate on this clause (up
to a maximum of 1 round per caster level) and 5 rounds
thereafter. This effect only works on creatures with less Hit
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 The Avowed
Dice than you have caster levels, and any hostile actions
taken towards them end the fascinate condition, as normal.
After being fascinated, a creature's attitude towards you
improves by one step. This is a mind-affecting effect.
CHAMELEON CLAUSE I
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You temporarily gain access to a least clause you do not
already know. For 24 hours, you can use that clause freely,
but cannot use this one. This clause's effect cannot be
dispelled or suppressed; you retain the use of the new
clause until it ends.
CREATE FRIENDSHIP
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You charm a creature you can see within 60 feet, as if by
the charm monster spell (Will negates). This effect lasts for
1 day per caster level, but you can only have one creature
charmed at once; if you successfully charm another
creature with this clause, the previous charm ends.
DRAGON'S TEETH
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You touch a corpse and draw an imprint of its former
life back to it. When you use this clause, you can use
animate dead on a single body, without requiring material
components. The body is turned into an undead creature
as normal and remains animated under your control until
you lose control of it or use this clause without material
components again, at which point it crumbles to dust. You
may also dismiss it as a free action, causing it to be destroyed.
Alternatively, if you provide the proper amount of onyx
gems (as listed in the animate dead spell), you can emulate
the spell fully, permanently creating a skeleton or zombie
under your command.
ESCAPE CLAUSE
Lesser (3rd); immediate action; spell resistance no
You cloak yourself in shadows and use those same shadows
to fake your own death. You can only use this clause in
response to being targeted by or caught within the area
of an opponent's attack or effect. You become invisible (as
the invisibility spell) until the end of your next turn and
immediately can move up to 5 feet without provoking
attacks of opportunity. If you used this clause in response
to an attack, that attack suffers a 50% miss chance unless
the attacker can see invisible creatures. The invisibility
from this clause ends if you take any action other than a
free action, after you complete that action (or as you take
it, in the case of an offensive action). After using this clause,
you are staggered for 1 round.
In addition, you create an semi-real illusory duplicate
in the space you occupied when you used this clause;
this duplicate appears to be your corpse (including any
disguises, magical or otherwise, that you wear), though a
36
thorough examination (Perception DC 10 + your caster
level) will reveal its true nature. Equipment taken from
the false corpse is useless, but seems real until used. The
body you create disperses into shadowstuff after one hour,
vanishing without a trace.
EXIT STAGE RIGHT
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You teleport to a space within close range (25 feet + 5 feet
per 2 caster levels), leaving a major image of yourself in your
previous space. The image reacts to attacks and events as if
you were concentrating on it, and lasts for 1 round.
You do not need to be able to see the space you're teleporting
to, but if you arrive in a place that is already occupied or if there
is no open space within range, you take 1d6 points of damage
and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface
within 100 feet of the intended location.
FACECHANGER
Lesser (2nd); full-round action; spell resistance no
You alter your appearance to any form you could assume
with a disguise self spell. This clause has two effects on your
appearance, and lasts until you revert to your normal form
(a standard action) or use this clause again.
For your body, the change is physical in nature rather
than illusory. Your ability scores do not change when
you use this ability, though you may lose access to
natural attacks (such as claws) if you do not include
them in your new appearance.
For your clothing and equipment, the change is
illusory, as a normal disguise self spell.
You may use this ability to disguise as a specific individual,
receiving the normal bonus for magical alteration on the
Disguise check. In addition, as part of this clause, you can
touch a single creature (making a melee touch attack, if
applicable). If you do, that creature must succeed at a Will
save or you can copy their appearance perfectly, gaining a
further bonus on Disguise checks to pretend to be them
equal to your caster level.
FADE FROM SIGHT
Lesser (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You vanish from visibility, becoming invisible (as the
invisibility spell) for 24 hours or until you take an action
that ends the effect.
FIREWALKER
Lesser (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You shield your body from energy. When you use this
clause, choose one type of energy (acid, cold, electricity,
fire, negative energy, positive energy, or sonic). You gain
resistance to that type of energy equal to your caster level
for 24 hours. You can only gain resistance from this clause
to one energy type at once, but can use this clause again to
change which type you've selected.
 The Avowed
FIST OF THE SKY
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a floating hand of telekinetic force in an space
you can perceive within 60 feet of you. This hand can be
directed to take one of the following actions as part of this
clause:
It grabs at a creature within 5 feet of it. That creature
must succeed at a Reflex save or become unable to
move from their space until they escape the hand
(which they can attempt to do so by making another
Reflex save as a standard action).
It makes a combat maneuver attempt against a creature
within 5 feet of it. Its combat maneuver bonus is equal
to your caster level + your Charisma modifier, and
its combat maneuver defense is equal to 10 + your
caster level + twice your Charisma modifier. It ignores
an opponent's special size bonus (if any) to CMB and
CMD.
It gently lifts an object. The hand can lift up to 100
pounds per caster level, and can be directed to drop
what it's holding as a free action.
The hand created by this clause lasts for 1 round per caster
level, and in subsequent turns, you can direct it again as a
standard action, allowing it to move up to 30 feet and take
another one of the actions listed above.
FLY ON THE WALL
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a Fine-sized construct called a scout. It has 2
hit points, AC 20, and saving throws equal to your own.
A scout's appearance varies from avowed to avowed, but
always appears as the same sort of creature (often tied to
the avowed's pact). The scout has a movement speed of 20
feet and a climb speed of 20 feet. Its bonus on Climb and
Stealth checks is equal to 8 + your caster level.
Your scout takes no actions of its own. However, you can
direct it to move up to its speed as a move action, and can
always perceive the scouts surroundings as though you
were in the scouts location (including any special senses
you might have). You can only have one scout created at
once; if you use this clause again while one already exists,
the older one fades into nothingness.
FROSTBITE PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals cold damage, and any creature
damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or also
take 4 points of Dexterity damage. A creature can only take
Dexterity damage from this effect once per round, no matter
how many times you damage them with an aether pulse.
GRAVEDIGGER
Lesser (2nd); standard action; spell resistance no
You use create pit (as the spell). Starting at caster level
11th, you can choose to make a pit 15 feet on a side (large
enough to trap Huge creatures). Starting at caster level
16th, you can choose to make a pit 20 feet on a side (large
enough to trap Gargantuan creatures).
GRAVITY PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse magically increases the force of gravity on
a target. A creature damaged by it must succeed at a Will
save or become slowed (as the spell) and dragged towards
the ground by a flightbreaker effect (see page 57). A target
only makes one save, and these effects each last for one
minute.
INFERNO PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals fire damage, and any creature
damaged by it must succeed at a Reflex save or be ignited
for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma bonus
(minimum 1). At the start of each of your turns, each
creature ignited by you takes fire damage equal to 1/2 your
aether pulse's base damage, and each creature adjacent to at
least one ignited creature them takes half that damage (no
save). Multiple ignitions do not stack (they instead extend
the duration that a creature burns for), and a creature can
only take damage from ignition once per round, whether
or not they themselves are ignited.
Unlike normal flames, it's difficult to put out these fires.
As a standard action, an ignited creature can make another
Reflex save against the same save DC to end the burning.
Otherwise, they continue to burn for the duration, even if
they die or are destroyed before it ends.
INSECTILE TRANSFORMATION
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use beast shape II as the spell, except that you take the
form of a vermin creature instead of an animal.
SCREAM
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You alloy yourself with a tiny piece of otherworldly power. For
24 hours, every time you use your aether pulse, opponents
within 30 feet of you must succeed at a Will save or become
shaken for 1 minute. A creature with at least 4 fewer Hit Dice
than you have caster levels is instead panicked on a failed
save. You can suppress or resume this ability as a free action,
and can only affect a given creature once per round with it.
SIXTH SENSE
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You reach out psychically, "seeing" what you might not
otherwise be able to. For 24 hours, you gain blindsense out
to 30 feet.
SOLAR PULSE
Lesser Modulation; spell resistance yes
37
 The Avowed
Your aether pulse takes the form of a blinding flash of
searing light. A creature damaged by it must succeed at a
Reflex save or become blinded for 1 round.
TAKE FLIGHT
Lesser (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You gain a fly speed equal to your base land speed for 24
hours, with good maneuverability.
UNBIND SPELL
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You use dispel magic, as the spell. In addition, if you used the
targeted version of the effect, it repeats against the same
target at the start of each of your turns for 1 round per 5
caster levels (potentially dispelling multiple effects).
WALL OF PAIN
Lesser (3rd); standard action; spell resistance yes
You create a wall of writhing red mist, taking the form of a
sheet up to 40 feet long or a ring with a radius of up to 15
feet (both forms are 20 feet high). It lasts for as long as you
concentrate, plus 1 round per caster level. The wall provides
total concealment to creatures on the other side. Although
the wall provides no physical resistance, a creature must
succeed on a Will save or be halted at its edge as agony wracks
its entire body, ending its move action (though a creature
can move away or attempt to move through the wall again
if it has another move action). This is a mind-affecting pain
effect. A creature can attempt to pass the wall any number
of times, but for each failed attempt within the last 24 hours
it suffers a cumulative 1 penalty on its Will save.

Greater Clauses
AKASHIC PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance yes
Lashing out at the target with tendrils of primal magic, your
aether pulse bewilders those it hits. A creature damaged
by it pulse takes 1 point of essence burn (if they have
any essence), and must succeed at a Will save or become
dazed for 1 round. Whenever you inflict essence burn with
this modulation, you gain 1 point of temporary essence,
up to a maximum equal to your Charisma modifier. This
temporary essence lasts for 1 hour.
ASH FLOW
Greater (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a flowing cloud of ash and cinders, causing
one contiguous 10-foot cube per 5 caster levels within
long range (400 feet + 40 feet per caster level) to become
difficult terrain and block all sight (even darkvision) inside
and through it. This cloud lasts for 1 round per caster
level, and you can move it as a move action that does not
provoke attacks of opportunity. When you do, you can
move each cube up to 40 feet in any direction. You can
reorganize the cubes that make up your ash flow freely, so
long as each is still adjacent to at least one other after the
movement ends.
BALEFIRE WALL
Greater (5th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You create a wall of fire, as the spell, except the fire is from
a pure, extraplanar source. This fire may come from one
of many locations (devils call theirs hellfire, the celestial All avowed eventually fly, but some were born for the skies.
equivalent is a soul-piercing light, and elementals conjure
searing flames from deep within the plane of fire), but BEWITCH
functions the same way in each case. Damage from this Greater (4th); standard action; spell resistance yes
effect ignores fire resistance and fire immunity. If a creature You use suggestion, as the spell. When the duration ends
is reduced to 0 hit points or fewer by this effect, its body or the task is completed, the target must succeed at a Will
is turned completely to ash, though its possessions are left save with a 5 penalty or entirely forget that you suggested
untouched. the course of action (believing that they did it of their

38
 The Avowed
own volition and that any conversation you had did not
broach the topic). A successful break enchantment or wish
can remove this effect, allowing them to remember your
conversation, but dispel magic and similar effects cannot.
CHAMELEON CLAUSE II
Greater (5th); standard action; spell resistance no
You temporarily gain access to a least or lesser clause you
do not already know. For 24 hours, you can use that clause
freely, but cannot use this one. This clause's effect cannot
be dispelled or suppressed; you retain the use of the new
clause until it ends.
CLOAKED IN SHADOW
Greater (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
For 24 hours, you can use the Stealth skill while being
observed so long as you are in an area of dim light or
darker (even against creatures who can see in the dark).
In addition, opponents within 20 feet of you who cannot
perceive you (generally by failing their Perception check
against you) take a 4 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. If
you attack an unaware creature from a position of stealth,
this penalty applies against the attack, even though they
are now aware of you.
CONCUSSIVE PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse is charged with concussive force. A target
damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or be
pushed 25 feet directly away from you. A creature applies
their special size bonus (or penalty) on CMB checks to
this saving throw. If this causes a target to collide with an
obstacle (such as a solid object or another creature), both
they and the thing they collided with take bludgeoning
damage equal to 2d6 + your Charisma bonus (if any). This
modulation can affect objects, constructs, and undead.
Alternatively, if you use this modulation with a shape
that creates an area of effect, you can cause creatures
damaged by it to be pushed in a straight line to the edge of
the area, stopping when it collides with another creature or
solid object (and taking damage as noted above, if they do).
ETHER PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals force damage (affecting incorporeal
and ethereal creatures as well as corporeal ones), and
is completely invisible. Though its effects on creatures
and objects function as normal, creatures who can't see
invisible things are treated as flat-footed the first time in
a given round that you affect them with an ether pulse. If
it normally requires a save, they may have reduced options
against it, if it requires an attack roll, then you target their
flat-footed AC, and so on.
FROZEN ISOLATION
Greater (6th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You surround a creature within close range (25 feet + 5 feet
per two caster levels) in a prison of black ice. This prison lasts
for 1 round per caster level and blocks both line of sight and
line of effect. The target can make a Reflex save to escape
being initially trapped. The prison is impenetrable from the
outside, and at the start of each of the creature's turns within
it, they take 1d6 points of cold damage. As a standard action,
the target can make a Fortitude save against this effect to
push their way out of the prison, escaping. On a successful
save, the prison shatters and melts into nothingness; on a
failed save, the creature takes 1d4 points of Strength damage.
If the target's total Strength damage equals its Strength score,
it dies (or is destroyed), freezing solid within the prison.
KINETOSIS PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse inflicts a particularly debilitating form of
motion sickness against creatures it damages. This effect
lasts for 1 minute. When an affected creature moves any
distance (be it by a move action, forced movement, or
ability), that creature takes a cumulative 1 penalty on
attack rolls and saving throws per 5 feet it moved (up to
a maximum penalty of 5). This penalty lasts for 1 round.
Teleportation is especially sickening; any time a creature
teleports or is teleported while under this effect, they take
the maximum penalty (5) for 1 round, as if they had
moved.
IMMORTALITY CLAUSE
Greater (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You enhance your bodys durability and life force, gaining
temporary hit points equal to your caster level. These hit
points last for 24 hours or until used. You do not age while
these temporary hit points remain.
MADDENING PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse shatters the minds of those it strikes. A
creature damaged it must succeed at a Will save or become
confused for 1 minute. A creature immune to confusion is
still affected by the rest of your aether pulse.
REBIND SPELL
Greater (6th); immediate action; spell resistance no
You reweave the loose energies of magic that's just been
ended. You can use this clause to undo the dispelling of
a single effect (including from dispel magic, greater dispel
magic, and even mage's disjunction). You must use this
clause within 1 round of the effect being dispelled, at which
point the effect continues as if it had never ended. You
cannot use this to restart effects that were counterspelled
(even by dispel magic) or voluntarily dismissed.
39
 The Avowed
ROARING PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance no
Your aether pulse deals sonic damage, and any creature
targeted by or within the area of it with fewer Hit Dice than
your caster level must succeed at a Will save or become
panicked for 1 round. On a successful save, a creature is
instead shaken for 1 round, during which time it cannot
attacks against you or use abilities that include you as a
target. This modulation is a mind-affecting fear effect, but
a creature that is immune to it is still affected by the rest of
your aether pulse.
SECRET MESSAGE
Greater (5th); 10 minutes; spell resistance no
You use sending, as the spell, except that you can attempt
to conceal the origins of your message. If you do, after the
recipient hears your message and responds (or opts not to),
the recipient must succeed at a Will save or forget everything
about the sending but the message they received, including
the message they sent back (if any), and your identity. This
secondary effect is a mind-effecting effect, but the initial
sending is not.
SHADOW STRANDS
Greater Zone (3rd); standard action; spell resistance no
You fill an area with thick strands of semi-real shadows,
obscuring sight and hindering movement. This functions as a
To cultists, monsters from the far reaches of the reality are things of beauty. To others, they're beings of terror.
To madmen, they might be both.
40
solid fog spell, except that creatures must succeed at a
Strength check (DC 10 + your Charisma modifier) to move
through the area. For every 5 by which the check is failed,
the creature loses 5 feet of the movement they could have
taken (treating themselves as if they had already moved
that far). Because of the composition of the effect, wind will
not disperse the shadowy webbing. While this is a darkness
effect, it obscures all sight, even the ability to see in magical
darkness.
SLUMBER FOR ETERNITY
Greater (6th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You manipulate the mind of a creature within close range
(25 feet + 5 feet per 2 caster levels). That creature must
succeed at a Will save or fall asleep immediately. They
remain sleeping until they're shaken awake (a full-round
action on the part of another creature) or take more
damage in a single round than your caster level. Sounds
and lights do not cause them to wake up. On a successful
save, the creature is instead exhausted for 1 round.
SPELL CONSUMPTION
Greater (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use greater dispel magic, as the spell. If you successfully
dispel an effect, you gain temporary hit points equal to twice
that effect's caster level. These temporary hit points last for
1 minute or until used.
 The Avowed
STAINED-GLASS MIRROR
Greater (6th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You use veil, as the spell. Any creature that succeeds at a
Will save to disbelieve its effects or successfully dispels it
(other than you) immediately takes 1d6 points of damage
per caster level as the illusion shatters into their mind. This
damage is a mind-affecting effect, and can only be dealt to
a creature once per 24 hours, regardless of how many times
they disbelieve your stained-glass mirrors.
STUTTER STEP
Greater Zone (5th); immediate action; spell resistance no
You teleport to an unoccupied space you can perceive
within 5 feet per 2 caster levels. If you used this clause in
response to an attack or ability, there is a 50% chance that
it misses you completely (otherwise, you teleported too
late and are affected normally, even if the clause takes you
out of the effect's range or area).
TAR TRAP
Greater; standard action; spell resistance no
You create a 20-foot-radius spread of burning tar on the
ground within medium range (100 feet + 10 feer per caster
level). This tar lasts for 1 minute before fading away, and
moving through it is difficult and dangerous. The area
is treated as difficult terrain, and any creature moving
through it takes 1d6 points of fire damage for every space of
the tar they enter (larger creatures will take more damage).
A creature within the area that takes no movement
during their turn risks sinking into the burning tar, and
must succeed at a Reflex save at the end of their turn or
become trapped, unable to move from their space without
spending a full-round action to pull themselves out. A
trapped creature takes 1d6 points of fire damage per space
of tar they occupy at the start of each of their turns while
trapped, and does not have to make another Reflex save
against sinking in on a turn they pull themselves out.
WAKING NIGHTMARE
Greater Zone (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You weave shadows and fear together to build a nightmare
in reality. When you use this clause, you create a number
of 10-foot cubes equal to your caster level within medium
range (100 feet + 10 feet per caster level). Each cube must
be touching another cube, and any creature that enters the
area created by this spell must succeed at a Will save or
become entangled and shaken for as long as they remain
within the area. Immunity to fear effects protects against
being shaken, but not from being entangled. A creature
that leaves and re-enters the area must make another
saving throw.
The area created by this clause may look however you
wish, but it always obscures sight (including darkvision),
granting concealment (20% miss chance) to everything
within the area. Anything with at least 5 feet of your
waking nightmare between it and a creature trying to see it
instead gains total concealment (50% miss chance, and the
attacker can't use sight to locate the target).
WEAKENING PULSE
Greater Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse saps the strength of those it strikes. Any
creature damaged by it also takes a 4 penalty to Strength.
(no save) for 1 minute. Further uses of this ability stack
(increasing the penalty and resetting the duration), but a
creature can only be penalized by this effect once per round,
no matter how many times you damage them with an aether
pulse.
WINDING WOODS
Greater Zone (6th); 1 minute; spell resistance no
You infuse an area with subtly disorienting magic. When
you use this clause, you create a spread-shaped zone at your
position with a radius of 40 feet per caster level. This zone
lasts for 24 hours, and it is a mind-affecting illusion effect.
There is no visible indication of the zone from outside, and
you are immune to its effects.
Any creature that ends its turn within the zone must
succeed at a Will save or fall prey to its effects. For as long
as they remain within the zone, that creature's movements
are disoriented. Any time they try to move, they instead
move in a random direction (taking paths around barriers
or intervening creatures, if necessary), rationalizing their
movements as following the only paths available to them.
To an affected creature, the zone seems to become a twisting
maze appropriate to the location it's in (for example, a
forest would seem to have paths formed by thick groups of
trees, and a city might have endless alleyways). At the end
of each turn within the zone, a creature can make another
Will save to escape the illusion. However, even if they do
so, and if they leave the zone and later return, they must
continue to make saves if they end their turn within your
winding woods.
WRITHE
Greater Zone (5th); standard action; spell resistance no
A yawning portal to the beyond opens, allowing the writhing
tentacles of an unseen horror to reach through, grasping
wildly for anything foolish enough to step within its reach.
When you use this clause, you create a black tentacles effect
(as the spell), except that the tentacles have an additional
bonus on their CMB checks equal to your Charisma bonus,
and a creature grappled by them takes 1 point of Wisdom
damage at the start of each of your turns. In addition, that
effect's spread is filled with an otherworldly light that acts as
either a darkness effect or a daylight effect (your choice when
you use this clause) for as long as it remains in existence.
41
 The Avowed
Final Clauses
AGONIZING PULSE
Final Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse causes extreme, debilitating pain. A
creature damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or
become nauseated for 1 minute. This is a pain effect.
ALWAYS READY
Final (9th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You use foresight (as the spell). You can communicate
telepathically with any creatures within 100 feet that are
affected by this clause.
ANNIHILATION PULSE
Final Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse strikes completely destroys its targets.
Any object damaged by it or force effect targeted by it is
disintegrated (as the disintegrate spell). If the aether pulse
affects an area, it disintegrates all objects within its area. If
used against a large or thick object, it bores up to 10 feet
deep into the object (stopping otherwise). This can allow
it to continue past a barrier that would block line of effect,
if it completely disintegrates said barrier. The aether pulse
stops if it fails to disintegrate enough of a gap to continue
(such as if it hits an 11-foot-thick wall). If a creature is
reduced to 0 or fewer hit points by this aether pulse, they
are also disintegrated.
BANISH INTO LIGHT
Final (8th); swift action; spell resistance no
You can steal a shadow, severing its owner's ties to the
very concept of darkness. You can use this clause against
a creature you can see within close range (25 feet + 5 feet
per 2 caster levels). That creature must succeed at a Will
save or have its shadow stolen. A creature affected by this
ability is permanently banished from the darkness, taking
a 4 penalty on saves against your abilities and losing any
abilities it had that let it see in the dark (but not alternate
senses like blindsight). In addition, the creature cannot
benefit from concealment and sight-based miss chances
(such as from a displacement spell or gleaming armor).
This even allows a blind creature to see and attack them
freely (though it does not allow the banished creature to
use abilities they could not otherwise use on a blinded
creature, such as gaze attacks). In addition, such a creature
no longer benefits from invisibility, though it can make
Stealth checks as normal if it isn't trying to hide behind a
source of concealment. This condition cannot be removed
except with a wish, miracle, or similar effect. Alternatively,
if an affected creature successfully uses the steal combat
maneuver against you, they can choose to take their
shadow back instead of stealing an object.
42
BREACH
Final (9th); standard action; spell resistance: no
With an ear-splitting crack, you break open a hole in reality,
letting a cascade of unreal, maddening power flow into the
world. When you use this clause, choose a point in space
you can perceive within long range (400 feet + 40 feet per
caster level). This point bursts with an otherworldly light
that acts as either a darkness effect or a daylight effect (your
choice when you use this clause), except that its radius is 100
feet. Any creature that can see the area, as well as creatures
within the area, become entangled. The effect, in many cases,
is visible for miles, depending on where you place it.
In addition, everything within 100 feet of your breach
point becomes distorted. Distance and time become
less relevant; any creature who attempts to move within
the area must succeed at a Will save to be able to move
normally, otherwise, all of their movement take them
directly towards the center point of the effect for 1 round.
A creature makes another save if they move again in their
next turn, whether or not they succeeded on the previous
ones. Ranged attacks have a 50% miss chance, from the
same phenomenon.
This effect lasts for 1 hour before reality scabs over the
hole you've made. If you create a breach overlapping with
the area of another one, creatures who suffer from its
effects move towards the nearest tear in reality.
CHAMELEON CLAUSE III
Final (7th); standard action; spell resistance no
You temporarily gain access to a least, lesser, or greater
clause you do not already know. For 24 hours, you can use
that clause freely, but cannot use this one. This clause's
effect cannot be dispelled or suppressed; you retain the
use of the new clause until it ends.
CREATE WEAKNESS
Final (7th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You create a weakness where there was previously none.
When you use this clause, choose one creature you can
perceive within 30 feet. That creature must succeed at a
Fortitude save or become vulnerable to your choice of acid,
cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage for 24 hours. If you
later use this clause on them again, its effects don't stack;
you reset the duration and can choose a new vulnerability,
if you wish. A creature that is immune to the energy type
chosen instead loses their immunity for the duration of
this effect. Though it prompts a Fortitude save, this clause
functions normally against creatures without Constitution
scores.
 The Avowed
EMACIATING PULSE
Final Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse strikes at the target's life directly. A
creature damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or
gain 2 temporary negative levels. These negative levels fade
after 24 hours without becoming permanent.
FIRE-EATER
Final (7th); standard action; spell resistance no
You absorb energy, ignoring its effects. When you use this
clause, choose one type of energy (acid, cold, electricity,
fire, negative energy, positive energy, or sonic). You become
immune to damage of that energy type for 24 hours. You
can only gain immunity from this clause to one energy
type at once, but can use this clause again to change which
type you've selected.
FLESH SCULPTOR
Final (5th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You use baleful polymorph (as the spell), except that you
can also mimic plant shape II to transform a creature into a
Small plant creature, in addition to beast shape III.
FRACTURED SHADOWS
Final (8th); full-round action; spell resistance no
You shed your body, discorporating into a cloud of small
motes of energy, similar to that of an aether swarm. You gain
the swarm subtype, and are treated as a swarm of Diminutive-
sized creatures. This means you gain the following traits:
You are immune to weapon damage.
You cannot be tripped or grappled, and you cannot
grapple an opponent.
You occupy eight 5-foot cubes of space, which must
remain contiguous with each other, but are otherwise
completely shapeable. When you move, you move
each cube individually, but must end your movement
with each cube adjacent to at least one other cube.
You are immune to any effect that targets a specific
number of creatures (including single-target spells
such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-
affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects,
patterns, and phantasms), which treat you as a single
creature.
You take half again as much damage (+50%) from
effects that affect an area.
For purposes of determining the effects of wind on a
swarm, you are treated as a diminutive creature.
You cannot make attacks, with the exception of your
swarm attack, attacks made as part of clauses, and
aether pulses (see below).
You cannot use your possessions; they are melded
into your form (though items that grant you bonuses
continue to do so).
You gain a swarm attack. At the end of each of
your turns, you deal 1d8 points of damage per
caster level to each creature within your space. Any
creature damaged by this effect must also succeed
at a Fortitude save against your clause save DC or
become nauseated for 1 round.
You can enter and pass through the spaces of
other creatures freely. You neither provoke nor can
take attacks of opportunity, and spellcasting or
concentrating on spells within the area of your space
requires a caster level check (DC 20 + spell level) on
the part of the spellcaster. Using skills that involve
patience and concentration requires a DC 20 Will save.
While using this clause, you are staggered. You cannot
prevent or remove this condition for as long as you're a
swarm. When you first activate the clause as a full-round
action, you can move up to your speed as part of the action.
In further rounds, you can use aether pulses and clauses
that require standard actions. Your ability scores and game
statistics have not changed except as noted above, so
attacks and abilities function normally. You can aim effects
from any of your spaces, though some pulse shapes (such
as aether channel) will be useless in swarm form, as you
cannot use your weapons.
If you are reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, this effect
ends, and you reform in one of your spaces of your choices.
Otherwise, dismissing this clause's effect is a free action,
and you can remain a swarm for as long as you wish.
INESCAPABLE DOMAIN
Final (7th); 1 round; spell resistance yes
You create an impenetrable arena from which none
can escape. This functions as the dimensional lock spell,
except its duration is 1 round per caster level. Whenever
a creature attempts to cross the boundary of the effect,
you can halt the creature's as an immediate action. That
creature's movement ends in the space they tried to cross
the boundary from (the action is still spent). They then
cannot attempt to enter or exit the arena of this clause for
1 round.
INTO THE NIGHT
Final (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use shadow walk (as the spell). While traveling with
this spell at night, you move with doubled speed.
MARCH OF THE DAMNED
Final (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use flesh wall, as the spell (see page 57), except that
you do not need to have corpses on hand to create it.
Once per round, as a free action, you can direct the wall to
march, moving up to 5 feet in any direction. If it moves into
a creature's space, that creature must make a Reflex save
or become trapped in the wall, as if they'd tried to move
through it. A successful save means they can move up to 5
feet without provoking attacks of opportunity in order to
escape the wall's advance.
43
 The Avowed
If you used this clause without any corpses on hand
to animate, your magic creates corpses to fill the needed
space, but you can only create up to one zombie per caster
level out of the wall. If you do have corpses to use, you can
create one additional zombie per corpse incorporated into
the wall. You can only have one flesh wall from this clause
created at a given time; if you use the clause again, the
older one ends.
NOW YOU SEE ME
Final (4th); standard action; spell resistance no
You become completely invisible (as the greater invisibility
spell) for 24 hours. In addition, you automatically know
when a creature can see you (such as with a see invisibility or
true seeing effect, but not with blindsight or similar senses),
and the precise location of that creature, regardless of
distance between the two of you. Whenever you're seen by
one or more creatures, you can dismiss this clause's effect
as a free action (even if it isn't your turn). Each creature
that could see you while you were invisible must succeed
at a Reflex save or become blinded for 1 round. Similarly,
if this clause is dispelled, it causes a flash of light towards
the creature that dispelled it, blinding them if they fail a
Reflex save.
PACTBOUND RETRIBUTION
Final (6th); standard action; spell resistance no
You use bloodsworn retribution, as the spell (see page 57).
RELINQUISH
Final (6th); immediate action; spell resistance no
You assert that your power is greater than that of others. You
use your choice of break enchantment, control summoned
creature (see page 57), or the counterspell function of the
greater dispel magic spell. You can only use this ability on
a given effect or summoned creature once every 24 hours.
RUIN
Final (8th); standard action; spell resistance no
With a cataclysmic rumble, you tear a city to the ground
and salt the earth under it, driving those away. You use
earthquake, as the spell, except that the area also falls under
the effect of the antipathy spell for 2 hours per caster level.
SHADOW REALM
Final Zone (9th); 1 minute; spell resistance no
Shadows creep upwards and the sun seems to go out as you
call a region of deep shadow into the world. For the next 24
hours, the space within 1 mile of your location (regardless
of line of effect) when you used this clause is plunged into
darkness, reducing light as if by a darkness spell, except it
cannot be dispelled except by removing this effect entirely.
In addition, your shadow realm warps distances and
directions, disorienting all within. Attacks made inside or
into the area suffer a 50% miss chance from concealment
44
(though it is not treated as total concealment). Perception
checks made inside the area are made at a 10 penalty. Any
area effect used within the area has a 20% chance of falling
off-target and becoming centered 1d10 x 5 feet in a random
direction from where the effect's originator intended.
Any time a creature teleports into or within your shadow
realm, that creature must succeed at a Will save or their
teleport ends in a different location than they intended.
On a failed save, the creature ends their teleport 1d% x 5
feet away in a random direction from their intended target.
If this would place the creature within an occupied space
or solid object, they are shunted to the nearest unoccupied
space, taking 1d6 points of damage.
Finally, any time a creature moves (in any way, be it a
5-foot step, forced movement, a charge, or even falling)
within your shadow realm, they must succeed at a Will save
or they move in a random direction instead. This can move
the creature into a dangerous location if the roll does not
go their way.
You are immune to the effects of your own shadow realm,
but your allies are not. Allies within 100 feet of you gain a
+5 bonus on saving throws against its effects, however.
SHEAR SPACE
Final (8th); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a gap in reality that nothing can cross. This
works like a wall of force spell, except that it is immune to
all damage and blocks line of sight entirely. Disintegrate can
still destroy this wall of force (it drills a new pathway across
the gap you opened), and this clause is suppressed within
the area of a dimensional lock spell or similar effect.
SINGULARITY
Final (9th); standard action; spell resistance no
You create a localized black hole, warping space to bring
extreme gravity to the area. Choose a grid intersection
within medium range (100 feet + 10 feet per caster level)
of you. You can choose a point within an object or that
you don't have line of sight or line of effect to, if you wish.
When you use this clause, everything within 60 feet of the
black hole gets pulled towards it. Creatures within reach of
the ground or an anchored object can make a Reflex save
to grab hold of it, staying where they are. Otherwise, they
are pulled 20 feet towards the central point (stopping and
taking falling damage if they hit an obstacle)
The black hole remains in existence for 1 minute per
caster level, during which time it causes the following
effects at the end of each round:
Everything within 60 feet of the black hole is pulled
20 feet towards it, as when the clause was first used.
Creatures within reach of the ground or an anchored
object can make new Reflex saves to stay in place.
Any creature or object whose space touches the
center point takes 1d6 points of damage per caster
level. This damage ignores hardness, and objects take
 The Avowed
full damage. If an object (but not a creature) occupies
multiple spaces touching the center point, it takes
this damage for each space.
Creatures attempting to move away from the center point
must succeed at a Climb check (or a Fly check, if in the air)
to do so (DC 15 + your Charisma score), and even on a
success, they only move at half speed. You are not immune
to the effects of your singularity; if you're within the area,
you must make Reflex saves and checks like anyone else.
Incorporeal creatures are immune to the pull of this effect,
but not the damage if they're at the center.
If multiple singularity effects share the same area, they
overlap, pulling creatures and objects towards each at once
(resolve this by moving something 20 feet towards one,
then 20 feet towards the next, and so on, in random order).
SOUL SHACKLE
Final (6th); standard action; spell resistance yes
Deep and painful chains hook into the subjects very
essence of being. You use leashed shackles, as the spell
(see page 57), except affected creatures take 3d6 points of
damage at the end of their turns for every 5 feet they are
from the anchor point.
SUCH FRAGILE PLAYTHINGS
Final (6th); standard action; spell resistance yes
You use enemy hammer, as the spell (see page 57), except
that a creature damaged by the effect must also make a Will
save or be affected as though by an unaugmented control
body effect for 1 round, except that it uses your Charisma
instead of your Intelligence, and can affect a creature of any
size and shape.
SWITCHEROO
Final (7th); immediate action; spell resistance yes
You use your magic to warp space, switching places with
another creature to save yourself. You can only use this
clause in response to being targeted by or caught within the
area of an opponent's attack or effect. Choose a creature
you can perceive within 30 feet. That creature must succeed
at a Will save or switch places with you, becoming the new
target of the attack or effect. You may even use this on your
attacker, warping space to cause them to paradoxically
strike themselves. This is a teleportation effect. If there is
not enough room at your location for the target to exist,
then the clause fails.
Control Body
The such fragile playthings clause references a psionic
power from Dreamscarred Press' Ultimate Psionics
called control body. Its effect is reproduced here, with
the changes made by such fragile playthings.
Control Body: You control the actions of the
creature you affected with such fragile playthings. You
do not gain mental contact with the subject, since you
are actually forcing limb movements independent of
the targets mind. You can force the subject to stand up,
sit down, walk, turn around, and so on, but operating
the vocal cords is too difficult. You can also hold the
subject immobile, rendering it helpless. You cannot
force the subject to manifest powers, cast spells, or use
any special ability that is not a function of just its body
movements. If you lose line of sight to the subject, the
effect of this power ends.
If you force the subject to engage in combat, its
attack bonus is equal to your base attack bonus +
your Charisma bonus, and its bonus on damage rolls is
equal to your Charisma bonus. A subject of this power
cannot make attacks of opportunity. The subject gains
no benefit to Armor Class from its Dexterity, but it does
gain a bonus to its AC equal to your Intelligence bonus.
Although the subjects body is under your control,
the subjects mind is not. Creatures capable of taking
purely mental actions (such as manifesting powers) can
do so. The subject may make an additional Fortitude
save each round you maintain concentration.
The subject is treated as being staggered and may
only perform a single move action or standard action
under your direction each round.
You cannot be the target of your own control body
power.
TIME-SPLITTING PULSE
Final Modulation; spell resistance yes
Your aether pulse is imbued with energy that disrupts
its targets' connection to the timestream. A creature
damaged by it must succeed at a Fortitude save or become
stunned for 1 round. This effect works on creatures that
would normally be immune, but such creatures gain a +5
resistance bonus on their saving throw.
An object in motion that is damaged by this aether pulse
stops its movement for 1 round, before continuing as if it
hadn't been affected.
45
 The Avowed
Chapter 4: Feats
Though the following feats are intended for avowed, any
character who meets their prerequisites can take them.
Some feats grant the avowed a specialized shape; these
specialized shapes are only available through the feats
that grant them, and cannot be chosen normally.
Aether Equilibrium
You can fire your weapons unerringly at close range.
Prerequisites: Aether circus selected at least twice,
aether rounds selected at least twice.
Benefit: As a standard action, you can gain the benefits
of aether rounds until the start of your next turn, then
fire your weapon against targets within half your aether
circus' range. You may only attack a given creature once
during this ability, and you are limited to the number
of targets you could normally affect at once with aether
circus. You use the same attack and damage rolls for each
target. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity for
using this ability, and may reload your weapon as a free
action during it. Your attacks have the same targeting
restrictions as an aether circus, and if you have selected
that shape four times, they veer around total cover as if
they were bolts from that ability.
Aether Duelist
You can form a pair of aether weapons.
Prerequisites: Aether blade shape known.
Benefit: When you use the aether blade shape, you
can create two blades instead of one. The second blade
is treated as a light weapon, and each aether blade has
its number of damage dice halved (the number of dice is
rounded down for the off-hand blade, to a minimum of
1d8, and rounded up for the main hand blade). You take
the normal penalties for fighting with two weapons.
In addition, you can use your Charisma instead of
your Dexterity to qualify for Two-Weapon Fighting
and feats that list it as a prerequisite. If you possess
the Embodiment of Aether feat, you can also use your
Strength instead of your Dexterity to qualify for such
feats.
Aether Outburst
You can center a massive explosion on yourself.
Prerequisites: Aether retaliation selected at least twice.
Benefit: You learn the aether outburst shape.
AETHER OUTBURST
Shape; standard action
You create a burst of aether centered on yourself that deals
1d8 points of damage per caster level to everything within
the area. A successful Reflex save halves this damage, and
you are unaffected by the effect. The radius of the burst
46
is determined by your caster level, as listed on the table
below. If you wish, you may make a burst with a smaller
radius (reducing the distance in 5-foot increments).
Caster Level Burst Radius
1st5th 20 ft.
6th10th 30 ft.
11th15th 40 ft.
16th20th 50 ft.
21st+ 60 ft.
Aether Torrent
Targets struck by your aether pulse violently disgorge
blasts of energy
Prerequisites: Aether cascade selected at least three
times, aether wrath selected at least three times.
Benefit: You learn the aether torrent shape.
AETHER TORRENT
Shape; standard action
You create a line-shaped spread of energy with a length
of 30 feet, then a second 30-foot line originating from
any creature within the first line, and a third 30-foot line
originating from any creature within the second line. These
lines deal your aether pulse's base damage to everything
caught within any of their areas. A successful Reflex save
halves this damage, and a given creature or object only
takes this damage once, even if they are within multiple
overlapping lines.
At caster level 15th, you create a fourth 30-foot line
originating from a creature within the third line, and at
caster level 20th, you create a fifth 30-foot line originating
from a creature within the fourth.
Aetheric Armor (Combat)
Your magic helps you move more freely when clad in
steel.
Prerequisites: Avowed level 1st; either Embodiment
of Aether or Str 15 and Cha 15.
Benefit: You gain proficiency with medium and heavy
armor, and your movement speeds are not reduced for
wearing such armor.
Embodiment of Aether
Your pact has fundamentally altered your soulit's as
much part of your body as your arms and legs are, and
your physical strength leads to spiritual power.
Prerequisites: Aether pulse class feature.
Benefit: You can use your Strength instead of
your Charisma to determine the save DCs of your
aether pulse, clause, and pact abilities, as well as for
 The Avowed
determining the effects of such abilities that rely on
Charisma. In addition, you add your Strength bonus (if
any) as a bonus on concentration checks and Use Magic
Device checks. If you die, a powerful imprint of your
soul remains affixed to your body, allowing you to be
returned to life by raise dead, resurrection, and similar
effects with only half the normal material component
cost.
Extra Clause
You learn an extra clause.
Prerequisites: At least 1 lesser clause known.
Benefit: You learn an extra clause of any grade up to
one lower than the highest-grade clause you know. You
cannot learn a shape with this feat.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Each
time you do, you choose a different clause.
Intuitive Recitation
Your clauses can be cast through words alone.
Prerequisites: Ability to use clauses.
Benefit: You no longer need thought components for
your aether pulse and clauses.
Lingering Pulse
Your aether pulse leaves a dangerous cloud of energy
behind.
Prerequisites: Aether blast, aether breath, aether
lance, or aether wrath selected at least three times.
Benefit: When you use one of the above shapes that
you have selected at least three times, you can fill the
area of the shape with a dangerous cloud of roiling
power for 4 rounds, in addition to its normal effects.
Any creature that enters or starts its turn within the
cloud takes damage equal to 1/2 your aether pulse's
base damage. A creature can only take this damage
once per round, and does not receive a save against this
effect. If you used a modulation clause with this shape
that changed its damage type, this extra damage is that
type, but no other effects of the modulation clause are
inflicted. If you create multiple overlapping clouds with
this effect, the most recent one applies, and a creature
still only takes damage once per round.
Merciful Pulse
You can use your avowed abilities nonlethally.
Prerequisites: Aether pulse 1d8.
Benefit: You can choose to deal nonlethal damage
with your aether pulse and clauses. The damage retains
any of the other damage types it might have. If you use a
modulation that changes your aether pulse to nonlethal
damage (such as dusk pulse), you can choose to deal
lethal damage with it.
Mystic Reflexes
Your pact grants you enhanced reaction times.
Prerequisites: Aether blade, aether channel, aether
rampage, or aether retaliation selected at least once.
Deaf Oracles and Clauses
If a character has an ability that would apply Silent
Spell to all of their spells to counteract their deafness
(such as by being an oracle), they also apply the Silent
Recitation feat (see the next page) to all of their clauses.
Benefit: You are always treated as threatening spaces
within your reach, and you can fire an aether pulse as an
attack of opportunity. Doing so does not provoke attacks
of opportunity, though it's still counted as a ranged
attack. You may not apply a modulation or shape to an
aether pulse fired as an attack of opportunity, but you
may still attack with any weaponlike shapes you have
active.
In addition, you add your Charisma bonus to the total
number of attacks of opportunity that you can make
per round. These additional attacks of opportunity
dont stack with those granted by Combat Reflexes, but
this benefit counts as Combat Reflexes for the purpose
of satisfying feat prerequisites and prestige class
requirements. You can make attacks of opportunity
while youre flat-footed.
Overcharge Modulation
You can supercharge your aether pulse at the expense
of complexity.
Prerequisites: Empower Spell-Like Ability (aether
pulse), aether pulse class feature, at least one modulation
clause known.
Benefit: Choose one modulation clause you know.
Whenever you use that modulation with your aether
pulse (including alongside a shape), you can choose to
empower it, as if by the Empower Spell-Like Ability feat,
without expending a use of that feat. If you do, no effects
of the modulation beyond changes to the damage type
or type of damage (if any) are applied to the aether pulse.
In addition, your aether pulses using this modulation
(regardless of whether or not you altered its function
with this feat) ignore resistance to its damage, and
creatures that would normally be immune take half
damage instead of none.
Special: Whenever you gain access to a new grade
of clauses, you can choose to change this feat's selected
modulation to another one that you know (including
one you just learned).
Pactbound Guardian
Your patron has given you a mystical ally.
Prerequisites: Avowed level 2nd.
Benefit: You gain a familiar, as a wizard of your
avowed level. Its share spells ability allows you to
share the effects of clauses you use on yourself with
the familiar, and its deliver touch spells ability allows
you to have it deliver clauses (but not aether pulses or
shapes) that require you to make a touch attack.
47
 The Avowed
Silent Recitation
Your clauses can be cast through thought alone.
Prerequisites: Ability to use clauses.
Benefit: You no longer need verbal components for
your aether pulse and clauses. If a clause requires you
to speak (such as binding disagreement), you must still
do so.
Skillful Pact
You're an expert at your pact's associated skills.
Prerequisites: Pact ability, 5 ranks each in your
pact's associated skills.
Benefit: You gain the skill unlocks (see Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game: Pathfinder Unchained) for your pact's
two associated skills, as if you had taken the Signature
Skill feat for both of them.
Spirited Swordsmanship
Your strength comes not from physical conditioning, but
from your desire to succeed allowing you to move by
thought alone.
Prerequisites: Aether pulse class feature.
Benefit: You can use your Charisma instead of your
Strength or Dexterity for your attack and damage rolls
with the aether blade, aether lance, and aether rampage
pulse shapes. When used in this way, your Charisma
modifier to damage is multiplied by 1/2 for a shape
wielded in an off-hand and multiplied by 1-1/2 for one
wielded in two hands. Aether lance is considered to
be wielded in two hands for this purpose, and aether
rampage adds your full Charisma modifier, as it grants
primary natural attacks.
In addition, you can use your Charisma instead of
your Strength or Dexterity for your attack rolls when
using the aether channel and aether rounds shapes
(whether or not the attack is melee or ranged). If you do,
you do not add your Strength, Dexterity, or Charisma
modifier on the damage roll, even if you are using a
composite bow.
Steel's Betrayal (Combat)
You channel power through your foe's armor, striking
them from all sides.
Benefit: Whenever you make a touch attack, you
can choose to instead make your attack roll against the
target's non-touch AC. If you do, you gain a bonus on the
damage roll equal to the sum of that creature's armor
bonus, shield bonus, and natural armor bonus to AC
(up to a maximum bonus equal to your character level).
If you are attacking with multiple weapons (including
natural weapons) in a given round, both the bonus to
damage, and the maximum bonus, are reduced by half
(to a minimum of +1).
You cannot use this feat in conjunction with Power
Attack, Deadly Aim, or Piranha Strike.
48
Adjusted Feats
The following feats have special adjustments when used
by an avowed on his class features, as listed in the
Avowed section of each one.
Ability Focus
One of this creature's special attacks is particularly
difficult to resist.
Prerequisite: Special attack.
Benefit: Choose one of the creature's special attacks.
Add +2 to the DC for all saving throws against the special
attack on which the creature focuses.
Special: A creature can gain this feat multiple times.
Its effects do not stack. Each time the creature takes the
feat, it applies to a different special attack.
Avowed: An avowed can take this feat and choose
aether pulse, clauses, or pact abilities. Ability Focus (aether
pulse) increases the save DCs of all of the avowed's aether
pulses, including the DCs of saves against modulation
clauses. Ability Focus (clauses) increases the save DCs
of all other clauses, but not modulation clauses. Ability
Focus (pact abilities) increases the save DCs of any of the
avowed's class features from his pact.
Empower Spell-Like Ability
One of this creature's spell-like abilities is particularly
potent and powerful.
Prerequisite: Spell-like ability at caster level 6th or
higher.
Benefit: Choose one of the creature's spell-like abilities,
subject to the restrictions below. The creature can use
that ability as an empowered spell-like ability three
times per day (or less, if the ability is normally usable
only once or twice per day).
When a creature uses an empowered spell-like ability,
all variable, numeric effects of the spell-like ability are
increased by half (+50%). Saving throws and opposed
rolls are not affected. Spell-like abilities without random
variables are not affected.
The creature can only select a spell-like ability
duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to 1/2
its caster level (round down) 2.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times. Each
time it is taken, the creature can apply it to a different
spell-like ability.
Avowed: An avowed can always select his aether
pulse with this feat, regardless of his caster level and his
aether pulse's effective spell level. He must still be caster
level 6th to take the feat, however, and if he uses an
aether pulse that has an effect over multiple rounds, he
must expend an additional use of this feat each round
to continue gaining the increased effects.
Quicken Spell-Like Ability
This creature can use one of its spell-like abilities with
next to no effort.
Prerequisite: Spell-like ability at CL 10th or higher.
 The Avowed
Benefit: Choose one of the creature's spell-like
abilities, subject to the restrictions described in this
feat. The creature can use the chosen spell-like ability
as a quickened spell-like ability three times per day (or
less, if the ability is normally usable only once or twice
per day).
Using a quickened spell-like ability is a swift action
that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The
creature can perform another actionincluding the
use of another spell-like ability (but not another swift
action)in the same round that it uses a quickened
spell-like ability. The creature may use only one
quickened spell-like ability per round.
The creature can only select a spell-like ability
duplicating a spell with a level less than or equal to 1/2
its caster level (round down) 4.
A spell-like ability that duplicates a spell with a casting
time greater than 1 full round cannot be quickened.
Normal: The use of a spell-like ability normally
requires a standard action (at the very least) and
provokes an attack of opportunity.
Special: This feat can be taken multiple times. Each
time it is taken, the creature can apply it to a different
one of its spell-like abilities.
Avowed: An avowed can always select his aether
pulse with this feat, regardless of his caster level and his
aether pulse's effective spell level. However, he cannot
use a shape on a Quickened aether pulse (he may only
use its base form). He must still be caster level 10th to
take the feat, however.
Other Referenced Feats
Though these feats are not adjusted for avowed, they
appear on the avowed bonus feat list, and as such are
reproduced here for ease of reference.
Chokehold (Combat)
While grappling, you can cut off an opponent's air and
blood supply.
Prerequisites: Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed
Strike, base attack bonus +6 or monk level 5th.
Benefit: While you have an opponent up to one size
category larger than you grappled, you can attempt
a grapple combat maneuver with a 5 penalty on the
check. If you succeed, you have pinned your opponent
and hold the opponent in a chokehold. When you
maintain the grapple, you also maintain the chokehold.
A creature in a chokehold cannot breathe or speak, and
thus cannot cast spells that have a verbal component.
An opponent you have in a chokehold has to hold his
breath or begin suffocating. Any creature that does not
breathe, is immune to bleed damage, or is immune to
critical hits is immune to the effects of your chokehold.
When the grapple is ended, so is the chokehold.
Combat Casting
You are adept at spellcasting when threatened or
distracted.
Benefit: You get a +4 bonus on concentration checks
made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability when
casting on the defensive or while grappled.
Deadly Aim (Combat)
You can make exceptionally deadly ranged attacks by
pinpointing a foe's weak spot, at the expense of making
the attack less likely to succeed.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can choose to take a 1 penalty on all
ranged attack rolls to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged
damage rolls. When your base attack bonus reaches
+4, and every +4 thereafter, the penalty increases by
1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must
choose to use this feat before making an attack roll and
its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage
does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not
deal hit point damage.
Flyby Attack
This creature can make an attack before and after it
moves while flying.
Prerequisite: Fly speed.
Benefit: When flying, the creature can take a move
action and another standard action at any point during
the move. The creature cannot take a second move
action during a round when it makes a flyby attack.
Normal: Without this feat, the creature takes a
standard action either before or after its move.
Greater Grapple (Combat)
Maintaining a grapple is second nature to you.
Prerequisites: Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed
Strike, base attack bonus +6, Dex 13.
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus on checks made to
grapple a foe. This bonus stacks with the bonus granted
by Improved Grapple. Once you have grappled a
creature, maintaining the grapple is a move action. This
feat allows you to make two grapple checks each round
(to move, harm, or pin your opponent), but you are not
required to make two checks. You only need to succeed
at one of these checks to maintain the grapple.
Normal: Maintaining a grapple is a standard action.
Improved Grapple (Combat)
You are skilled at grappling opponents.
Prerequisite: Dex 13, Improved Unarmed Strike.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity
when performing a grapple combat maneuver. In addition,
you receive a +2 bonus on checks made to grapple a foe.
You also receive a +2 bonus to your Combat Maneuver
Defense whenever an opponent tries to grapple you.
Normal: You provoke an attack of opportunity when
performing a grapple combat maneuver.
49
 The Avowed
Piranha Strike (Combat)
You make a combination of quick strikes, sacrificing
accuracy for multiple, minor wounds.
Prerequisites: Weapon Finesse, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: When wielding a light weapon, you can
choose to take a 1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and
combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee
damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (-50%)
if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon
or secondary natural weapon. When your base attack
bonus reaches +4, and for every 4 points thereafter,
the penalty increases by 1 and the bonus on damage
rolls increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat
before the attack roll, and its effects last until your next
turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks
or effects that do not deal hit point damage. This feat
cannot be used in conjunction with the Power Attack
feat.
Point-Blank Shot (Combat)
You are especially accurate when making ranged attacks
against close targets.
Benefit: You get a +1 bonus on attack and damage
rolls with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet.
Power Attack (Combat)
You can make exceptionally deadly melee attacks by
sacrificing accuracy for strength.
Prerequisites: Str 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can choose to take a 1 penalty on all
melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain
a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to
damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making
an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed
weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon
that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage
rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (50%) if you are
making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary
natural weapon.
When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every
4 points thereafter, the penalty increases by 1 and the
bonus to damage increases by +2.
You must choose to use this feat before making an
attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn. The
bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects
that do not deal hit point damage.
Precise Shot (Combat)
You are adept at firing ranged attacks into melee.
Prerequisite: Point-Blank Shot.
Benefit: You can shoot or throw ranged weapons
at an opponent engaged in melee without taking the
standard 4 penalty on your attack roll.
Rapid Grappler (Combat)
You are a quick hand at grappling.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Greater Grapple, Improved
Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike, base attack bonus
50
+9 or monk level 9th.
Benefit: Whenever you use Greater Grapple to
successfully maintain a grapple as a move action, you
can then spend a swift action to make a grapple combat
maneuver check at a 5 penalty.
Steadfast Personality
You rely on your assuredness and sense of self to help
keep your mind clear.
Benefit: You gain an insight bonus on Will saving
throws against mind-affecting effects equal to your
Charisma modifier (minimum 0).
Village Burner
You can unleash wide, strafing blasts of energy towards
the ground while in flight.
Prerequisites: Flyby Attack, must possess a breath
weapon.
Benefit: While using your breath weapon with the
Flyby Attack feat, you can strafe the ground with a
larger area of effect. As long as you move in a straight
line, you can use your breath weapon for a distance of
up to half your fly speed. To determine the affected area,
find the area that your breath weapon would normally
affect, then extend its effects the desired distance in a
straight line. Measure the extended distance from the
center of the area.
For example, if a dragon with a 60-foot cone breath
weapon breathed was flying at an altitude of 30 feet
and breathed directly downwards while in flight for
80 feet of distance, its breath weapon would cover an
oblong area 30 feet wide and 110 feet long (because the
dragons cone-shaped breath affects a 15-foot radius
circle on the ground from that altitude, it would create
a rectangle 80 feet long and 30 feet wide, with 15-foot
radius semicircles on each end).
Weapon Finesse (Combat)
You are trained in using your agility in melee combat, as
opposed to brute strength.
Benefit: With a light weapon, rapier, whip, or spiked
chain made for a creature of your size category, you may
use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength
modifier on attack rolls. If you carry a shield, its armor
check penalty applies to your attack rolls.
Special: Natural weapons are light weapons.
Weapon Focus (Combat)
Choose one type of weapon. You can also choose
unarmed strike or grapple (or aether pulse, if you are
an avowed) as your weapon for the purposes of this feat.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon,
base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you
make using the selected weapon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its
effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it
applies to a new type of weapon.
 The Avowed
Chapter 5: Character Options
Archetypes and Class Options
Each alternate class feature presented in an archetype
either replaces or alters one or more specific class
features from the base class.
When an archetype includes multiple alternate class
features, a character must take all of themoften
blocking the character from ever gaining certain
standard class features, but replacing them with
other options. All class features of the base class that
arent mentioned among the alternate class features
of an archetype remain unchanged and are acquired
normally when a character reaches the appropriate
level. If an alternate class feature replaces a base
class feature, the archetype doesnt count as having
that base class feature for the purpose of meeting any
requirements or prerequisites. On the other hand, if an
alternate class feature alters an existing class feature,
it is considered to be the core class feature for the
purposes of meeting any requirements or prerequisites,
even if it was renamed.
A character can take more than one archetype, but
none of the alternate class features can replace or
alter the same class feature of the base class.
If a class feature has a series of improvements
(such as a fighters weapon training or a rangers
favored enemy), it can be replaced either entirely
or partially. By default, an alternate class feature
replaces the entire original class feature and
all of its improvements. For example, if a class
feature states that it replaces trap sense
without mentioning a specific bonus, it
replaces trap sense entirely.
If an alternate class feature replaces one
instance of a class feature thats part of a
series, the next time the character would
gain an improvement to that ability, the
new improvement counts as the lower-
level ability that was replaced by the
archetype, and all subsequent
improvements follow suit. For
example, if the barbarians
3rd-level trap sense
+1 were replaced,
the barbarian
would gain
trap sense +1 at 6th level, trap sense
+2 at 9th level, and so on.
Acia Entect, a tinker
Tinker (Avowed Archetype)
"Three rules: don't touch anything I don't hand you, don't
forget your command words, and for the love of god,
don't forget your backup weapons before we go into the
dungeon."
Acia Entect, a tinker, to their party
For many, equipment is the lifeblood of adventure. On
top of their aesthetic and monetary value, magic items
grant enhanced abilities, great powers, and defensive
utility. While they are not strictly necessary, most
adventurers swear by them, accumulating a terrifying
arsenal by the time they reach the peak of their strength.
Tinkers are no exception. These avowed dispense
of traditional pacts, developing unique methods of
creating and using items, fueled by the power that
would normally have been directed towards other
abilities. A tinker is just as deadly with a beam of aether
or an invocation of their pact as a normal avowed, but
in their hands, wands, staves, and magic swords are far
more dangerous weapons.
Pact: While a tinker still gains a pact, they
gain their pact abilities more slowly than
a normal avowed. At 1st level, a tinker
gains the pact skills and attunement
ability of their pact as normal. At
2nd level, they gain the pact sense
of their pact. However, they do not
gain pact empowerments at the
same rate as a normal avowed. The
tinker gains their pact's 4th-level
pact empowerment ability at
8th level, and the 8th-level pact
empowerment ability at 16th
level. They do not gain the 12th-,
16th-, or 20th-level pact empowerment
abilities.
This ability alters pact and pact
empowerment.
Aether Spark (Sp): A tinker has
access to a unique pulse shape that no
other type of avowed can gain. They
gain the first selection of aether spark
at 1st level, instead of their pact's
normal bonus shape. They
otherwise choose shapes
as normal. This ability
alters pulse shapes.
51
 The Avowed
AETHER SPARK
Shape; see text
You can channel your aether pulse through a wand (but not
other spell trigger items). You automatically succeed on
your Use Magic Device check to activate the wand when
using it with this shape. You activate the wand as normal,
except it has one of the following additional effects, based
on the type of spell contained within it:
If the spell is a targeted spell that deals damage, any
creature damaged by it is also affected as if you had hit
them with an aether pulse.
If the spell affects an area and deals damage, any
creature damaged by it is also affected as if you had
hit them with an aether pulse. A successful save
against the spell (if applicable) halves the aether
pulse's damage. If the spell does not normally allow a
save, creatures and objects caught within the area can
make a Reflex save (against your aether pulse's normal
save DC) to take half damage from the aether pulse.
If the spell is a targeted spell that does not deal
damage, make a ranged touch attack roll for your
aether pulse. You use the same attack roll for each
target, and any target both affected by the spell and
hit by your attack roll is affected as if you had hit them
with an aether pulse. This ranged attack roll does not
provoke attacks of opportunity.
Unlike normal shapes, you cannot apply a modulation
alongside this aether pulse. You can only damage a given
creature with your aether pulse once per use of this ability,
even if the spell continues to affect them. A creature
further than long range (400 feet + 40 feet per caster level)
from you is unaffected by the aether pulse from this shape.
If a wand's spell falls into none of the above categories, you
cannot use your aether pulse alongside it with this shape.
2nd Selection: When you use this shape with a wand, you
can use your aether pulse's save DC for the wand's effects,
instead of its normal save DC.
3rd Selection: When you use this shape with a wand, you
can use your avowed caster level for the wand's effects, instead
of its normal caster level.
4th Selection: You can choose to activate a wand
without expending a charge. If you do, its normal effect
does not occur, but you can still use an aether pulse through
it as if you had used that spell normally (determining what
creatures are affected by the aether pulse and how). If you
use aether spark in this manner, you can choose to apply a
modulation to the aether pulse.
First Step: When the tinker gains their 1st level in the
avowed class, they begin tinkering with items in order
to learn how to make them. The tinker gains a wand
with 50 charges of a 1st-level spell of their choice from
any spell list. This wand has peculiarities that cause it to
function only for the tinker who created it; others find
it completely useless, and as such, if sold, it only nets a
price of 3d10 gold pieces.
52
Tinkering (Ex): A tinker gains their name from the
unique ease with which they can understand and create
magic items. At 1st level, a tinker gains Disable Device
as a class skill, and can find and disable magical traps
like a rogue can. In addition, they can use their Charisma
instead of their Dexterity when making Disable Device
checks, instead of their Intelligence when making Craft
and Spellcraft checks, and instead of their Wisdom
when making Perception checks to find traps (magical
or otherwise).
At 4th level, a tinker gains the ability to fake magic
when creating magic items. The tinker can take 10 on Use
Magic Device checks, even if threatened or distracted,
and when crafting an item, the tinker can emulate
spells that they might not have been able to use. In
order to create a spell trigger or spell completion item,
the tinker's caster level must be at least the minimum
required to cast the spell or spells in question.
When attempting to create a magical item for which
they do not possess a prerequisite spell, the tinker can
attempt to replicate the spell through their psychic
power with a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the level of the
spell being replicated). If successful, they can create the
item as if they had cast the prerequisite spell. The tinker
must possess any material components necessary for
casting the spell that they are replicating. If the item
being created requires multiple spells, they must make
this check for each spell they intend to replicate. If
they fail the skill check, they may not try again for that
spell while creating that itemthe item creation DC
increases as normal for the creation of an item without
a prerequisite spell in such a case.
Starting at 12th level, a tinker tends to continually
fiddle with the mechanics of wands they create. Any
time the tinker creates a wand, they can change the
spell stored within it to another spell of the same level
as a free action, up until its first use (at which point the
spell selected is locked in).
At 20th level, the tinker can be truly said to have
mastered their art. After reaching 20th level, tinker
creates a single minor artifact of their choice by spending
1 week constructing it. This first minor artifact does
not cost the tinker anything; they can construct it from
whatever materials they have on hand. In addition, the
tinker can create further minor artifacts they know of.
A minor artifact is considered to have a market price
of 300,000 gp for these purposes, and requires the Craft
Wondrous Item feat to construct.
This ability replaces the clause gained at 1st level, and
alters pack empowerment (see the pact class feature).
Bonus Feats: A tinker can select item creation feats in
addition to the normal list of avowed bonus feats. This
ability alters bonus feats, but does not make the tinker
archetype incompatible with other archetypes that alter
or replace the bonus feats class feature.
 The Avowed
Class Feature Substitutions
Class feature substitutions are similar to archetypes,
except that a member of the appropriate class can
always choose to gain them, so long as they still have
the class feature that the class feature substitution
alters or replaces. When determining if a character can
select a substitution, apply any archetypes first before
the replacements or alterations of the substitution.
The choice to select a substitution is made at the level
the ability it alters or replaces is gained, and cannot
later be changed. If the substitution alters or replaces
multiple class features, this choice is made at the level
of the lowest-level class feature it interferes with.
Aether Blow (Sp)
The avowed's base aether pulse is a melee strike.
Class: Avowed.
Replaces: Aether pulse.
Replacement: At 1st level, the avowed gains the
aether blow ability instead of aether pulse. This ability
functions in all ways as the normal aether pulse class
feature, except that using it is a melee touch attack that
does not provoke attacks of opportunity (not even for
being a spell-like ability). Pulse shapes work normally
(as if the avowed had the aether pulse class feature), and
modulations can be applied to an aether blow just like a
normal aether pulse.
Balefire Infusion (Ex)
The avowed has an affinity for cosmically pure fire.
Class: Avowed.
Replaces: The bonus feats gained at 2nd and 10th
levels.
Replacement: At 2nd level, the avowed gains
Empower Spell-Like Ability (aether pulse) as a bonus feat,
even if he doesn't meet the prerequisites. Whenever he
uses this feat with an aether pulse, it becomes infused
with extraplanar fire. This fire may come from one of
many locations (devils call theirs hellfire, the celestial
equivalent is a soul-piercing light, and elementals
conjure searing flames from deep within the plane of
fire), but functions the same way in each case.
The extra damage added by the Empower Spell-Like
Ability feat is a special type of fire damage instead of the
aether pulse's normal damage type (even if you applied a
modulation clause). This fire ignores fire resistance and
fire immunity. If a creature is reduced to 0 hit points or
fewer by this damage, its body is turned completely to
ash, though its possessions are left untouched.
If the avowed wishes, he may accept 1 point of burn
to convert the entire aether pulse to this type of damage,
instead of just the damage from the feat. He does not
expend a use of the Empower Spell-Like Ability (aether
pulse) when doing so (even if he's already used it three
times in the day).
For each point of burn he accepts, the avowed takes
1 point of nonlethal damage per character level. This
damage can't be healed by any means other than
getting a full night's rest, which removes all burn and
associated nonlethal damage. If the avowed is immune
to nonlethal damage, he instead temporarily reduces
his maximum hit points by an equal amount (this
reduction vanishes after a full nights rest, as with the
nonlethal damage normally taken). An avowed who
has accepted burn never benefits from abilities that
allow him to ignore or alter the effects he receives from
nonlethal damage.
At 10th level, the avowed gains Quicken Spell-Like
Ability (aether pulse) as a bonus feat, using it in exactly
the same manner (including accepting burn to use it
without expending a use of the feat, and changing the
damage type if he does so).
If the avowed already possessed the Empower Spell-
Like Ability (aether pulse) or Quicken Spell-Like Ability
(aether pulse) feats when this ability would grant them,
he can immediately retrain it, at no cost, for the same
feat with a different spell-like ability selected.
New Magic Item
PRICE
Silver Shoes varies
Normal 9,000 gp
Greater 40,000 gp
SLOT feet CL 10th WEIGHT 1 lb.
AURA moderate transmutation
These well-crafted shoes, which are not necessarily made
of silver, are named in reference to a pair of shoes given
to a particularly famous avowed by her patron. They
function similarly to boots of speed, but their construction
attunes them to a particular avowed pact, which must be
possessed by the wearer in order to use them.
As a free action, the wearer of these boots speed can
will them to speed her up for 1 round, allowing her to act
as if affected by the haste spell, except that she can only
make the extra attack granted by the spell using a weapon
affected or made by an aether pulse (such as an aether
blade or a weapon empowered by aether channel). A pair
of normal silver shoes allow the wearer to use this effect for
10 rounds per day (which need not be consecutive). A pair
of greater silver shoes function whenever the wearer likes,
and have no limit on their use.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS COST varies
Normal 4,500 gp
Greater 20,000 gp
Craft Wondrous Item, haste
53
 The Avowed
Appendix
Avowed Caster Level
An avowed's caster level with his aether pulse and clauses
is similar to the caster level of a spellcaster. Feats, traits,
and similar abilities that increase the caster level of a
spellcaster will likewise function for an avowed, as will
items (such as an orange prism ioun stone). Likewise, he
meets caster level prerequisites using his avowed caster
level.
Any increase to an avowed's caster level that lasts
longer than 24 hours (such as the Magical Knack trait
or the aforementioned ioun stone) will also increase
his aether pulse damage, as if he were an avowed of his
caster level. He cannot gain a higher base damage than
10d8 in this way.
Avowed and Prestige Classes
Avowed can enter prestige classes meant for spellcasters
and progress their abilities. For the purposes of prestige
class requirements, an avowed is treated as being able
to cast arcane, divine, and psychic spells of a level up
to 1/2 his avowed caster level. For example, a 6th-level
avowed could enter the eldritch knight prestige class
(which requires 3rd-level arcane spells).
When taken by an avowed, any prestige class level
that would normally advance a character's spellcasting
can instead advance the avowed's aether pulse damage,
caster level, clauses known (and grade available), and
shapes known. An avowed can only gain this benefit
once per level, however, even if he enters a prestige
class such as the mystic theurge that offers progression
to two classes.
Magic Item Interactions
While most of an avowed's class features work normally
with items that affect spell-like abilities, the following
two items in particular have unique interactions with
the avowed.
Conductive Weapons: When a conductive weapon is
used to deliver an aether pulse or aether blow, the avowed
may not apply a pulse shape to the delivered ability, and
if he has already used a modulation clause during this
round, he must either apply the same modulation to the
delivered ability, or not apply any at all (he cannot use a
different modulation than the one already used).
Ioun Stone (Orange Prism): As noted at the start of
this appendix, items that increase the caster level of a
spellcaster will likewise function for an avowed. As such,
orange prism ioun stones increase an avowed's caster
level with his aether pulse and clauses by +1, as normal
for its effect.
54
Racial Favored Class Bonuses
Though any creature can take the alternate favored
class bonus listed on page 6, many races have their
own specialties and specializations. The following are
alternate favored class bonuses for individual races.
Several of these races are found in Ultimate Psionics or
Bloodforge by Dreamscarred Press.
Aasimars: Add +1 foot to each of the avowed's fly
speeds. This option has no effect unless the avowed
has selected it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a fly
speed of 34 feet is effectively the same as a 30-foot fly
speed.
Aellars: Add +1 foot to each of the avowed's fly speeds.
This option has no effect unless the avowed has selected
it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a fly speed of 34
feet is effectively the same as a 30-foot fly speed.
Alicorns: Add +1 foot to the length of the avowed's
aether lance. This option has no effect unless the
avowed has selected it 5 times (or another increment of
5); a 14-foot line is effectively the same as a 10-foot line.
Androids: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a
point of electricity damage.
Astomoi: Gain a +1 bonus on concentration checks
when using avowed class features.
Blinklings: Add +1 foot to the distance of any
movement and teleportation done as part of clauses.
This option has no effect unless the avowed has selected
it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a move of 14 feet
is effectively the same as a 10-foot move.
Caligni: Add +1/4 to the avowed's caster level with
the cover of darkness clause. If the avowed does not
know the cover of darkness clause, he gains it as a bonus
clause when he has selected this option 4 times. If he
knew it before he selected this option the 4th time, he
gains a different least clause of his choice as a bonus
clause. The avowed cannot exchange cover of darkness
for a different clause after selecting this option at least
4 times.
Catfolk: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with the
aether rampage shape.
Changelings: Gain a +1/3 bonus on Will saves against
charm and compulsion effects.
Decataurs: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with
the aether lance shape.
Deep One Hybrids: The avowed can go 1 further day
before needing to make saving throws against his sea
longing racial trait.
Dhampirs: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1 point
of bleed damage. This damage is considered to be one
instance of bleed damage when dealt.
 The Avowed
Dreigi: Outsiders with the evil subtype and fey take a
1/4 penalty on saves against the avowed's class features.
Dromites: Gain a +1/3 bonus on saves against effects
that deal damage of or carry a descriptor matching the
type of energy resistance gained from the dromite's
chitin racial trait.
Drow: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Duergar: Gain a +1/2 bonus on checks made to craft
magic items.
Dwarves: Gain a +1 bonus on Appraise checks.
Elans: Gain a +1 bonus on concentration checks when
using avowed class features.
Elves: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with the
aether rounds shape.
Fetchlings: Add +1/4 to the avowed's caster level with
the nightfall clause. If the avowed does not know the
nightfall clause, he gains it as a bonus clause when he
has selected this option 4 times. If he knew it before he
selected this option the 4th time, he gains a different
least clause of his choice as a bonus clause. The avowed
cannot exchange nightfall for a different clause after
selecting this option at least 4 times.
Forgeborn: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
Gamla: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Ghorans: Add +1/4 to the avowed's effective druid
level with the wild empathy ability from the one with
nature clause. If the avowed does not know the one
with nature clause, he gains it as a bonus clause when
he has selected this option 4 times. If he knew it before
he selected this option the 4th time, he gains a different
least clause of his choice as a bonus clause. The avowed
cannot exchange one with nature for a different clause
after selecting this option at least 4 times.
Gillmen: The avowed can go 1 further day before his
water dependence weakness harms him.
Gnolls: The avowed's aether pulses deal +1/2 of a
point of damage to creatures he flanks or that are flat-
footed. This bonus is doubled if the aether pulse does
not use an attack roll.
Gnomes: Add +1/4 to the avowed's effective druid
level with the wild empathy ability from the one with
nature clause. If the avowed does not know the one
with nature clause, he gains it as a bonus clause when
he has selected this option 4 times. If he knew it before
he selected this option the 4th time, he gains a different
least clause of his choice as a bonus clause. The avowed
cannot exchange one with nature for a different clause
after selecting this option at least 4 times.
Goblins: Gain 1/4 of a bonus trait. The traits granted
by this ability come from the psychic connection of the
avowed's pact, possibly giving him skills, inclinations, or
memories that he didn't have before. He must meet any
additional qualifications for these traits, but they can
be of the same type as other traits he possesses, unlike
other traits. If he later gains other traits (such as with
the Additional Traits feat), those traits can share types
with the bonus traits from this favored class option as
well. If the avowed selects a trait that grants money or
equipment, those items materialize when he gains the
trait, created from his power.
Grendles: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
Gripplis: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with the
aether rounds shape.
Half-Bugbears: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Intimidate
checks.
Half-Elves: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Half-Giants: Gain a +1/2 bonus on damage rolls with
the aether circus shape.
Half-Gnolls: Add +1 foot to the avowed's land speed.
This option has no effect unless the avowed has selected
it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a speed of 34 feet
is effectively the same as a 30-foot speed.
Half-Goblins: Gain 1/4 of a bonus trait. The traits
granted by this ability come from the psychic connection of
the avowed's pact, possibly giving him skills, inclinations,
or memories that he didn't have before. He must meet
any additional qualifications for these traits, but they can
be of the same type as other traits he possesses, unlike
other traits. If he later gains other traits (such as with
the Additional Traits feat), those traits can share types
with the bonus traits from this favored class option as
well. If the avowed selects a trait that grants money or
equipment, those items materialize when he gains the
trait, created from his power.
Half-Hobgoblins: Gain 1/6 of a bonus combat feat.
Half-Orcs: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Half-Sahuagin: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Spellcraft
checks.
Halflings: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with
thrown weapon attacks while using the aether channel
shape.
Hexbreathers: Gain a +1/3 bonus on Knowledge
(arcana) checks and a +1/4 bonus to caster level with
the binding disagreement clause.
Hobgoblins: Gain 1/6 of a bonus combat feat.
Houri: Add 1/6 to the save DCs of the avowed's mind-
affecting avowed class features.
Humans: Gain 1/4 of a bonus trait. The traits granted
by this ability come from the psychic connection of the
avowed's pact, possibly giving him skills, inclinations, or
memories that he didn't have before. He must meet any
additional qualifications for these traits, but they can
be of the same type as other traits he possesses, unlike
other traits. If he later gains other traits (such as with
the Additional Traits feat), those traits can share types
with the bonus traits from this favored class option as
well. If the avowed selects a trait that grants money or
equipment, those items materialize when he gains the
trait, created from his power.
Ifrits: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a point
of fire damage. When he uses inferno pulse, ignited
creatures take an additional +1 damage per round.
55
 The Avowed
Kestrel: Add +1 foot to each of the avowed's fly speeds.
This option has no effect unless the avowed has selected
it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a fly speed of 34
feet is effectively the same as a 30-foot fly speed
Kijin: Gain a +1/4 bonus on caster level checks to
overcome spell resistance.
Kitsune: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks.
Kobolds: Gain a +1/2 bonus on checks made to craft
magic items.
Lashers: Whenever the avowed damages a creature
with an aether pulse, that creature takes a 1/2 penalty
on CMB checks and to their CMD for 1 minute. This
penalty does not stack with successive aether pulses
(but another hit will reset its duration).
Lashunta: Gain 1/3 of a daily use of the lashunta's
detect thoughts spell-like ability, and increase the save
DCs of the lashunta's racial spell-like abilities by 1/3.
Lizardfolk: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with
the aether rampage shape.
Lurkers: Gain a +1/3 bonus on Intimidate checks and
a +1/6 bonus to caster level with the scream clause.
Maenads: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a
point of sonic damage.
Merfolk: Add +1 foot to the avowed's land speed. This
option has no effect unless the avowed has selected it 5
times (or another increment of 5); a speed of 9 feet is
effectively the same as a 5-foot speed.
Merg: Gain a +1 bonus on Escape Artist checks.
Murks: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a
point of acid damage.
Nagaji: Add 1/6 to the save DCs of the avowed's mind-
affecting avowed class features.
Norals: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Oggr: The avowed's aether pulses deal +1/2 of a point
of damage to creatures he flanks or that are flat-footed.
This bonus is doubled if the aether pulse does not use
an attack roll.
Ophiduans: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Use Magic Device
checks.
Orang-Pendaks: Whenever the avowed damages a
creature with an aether pulse, that creature takes a 1/2
penalty on CMB checks and to their CMD for 1 minute.
This penalty does not stack with successive aether pulses
(but another hit will reset its duration).
Orcs: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with melee
attacks while using the aether channel shape. This
ability can be selected by half-orcs in addition to orcs.
Oreads: Add +1 foot to each of the avowed's burrow
speeds. This option has no effect unless the avowed has
selected it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a burrow
speed of 19 feet is effectively the same as a 15-foot
burrow speed.
Ornibus: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/3 of a
point of profane damage.
Pipers: Add 1/6 to the save DCs of the avowed's mind-
affecting avowed class features.
56
Rana: Gain a +1/4 bonus on caster level checks to
overcome spell resistance.
Ratfolk: The avowed's aether pulses deal +1/2 of a
point of damage to creatures he flanks or that are flat-
footed. This bonus is doubled if the aether pulse does
not use an attack roll.
Reptoids: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Disguise checks
to pretend to not be a reptoid, and on Bluff checks to
support such a disguise.
Samsarans: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy,
and Intimidate checks against creatures over 100 years
of age.
Shabti: Gain a +1/3 bonus on saves against charm
and compulsion effects.
Skinwalkers: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with
the aether rampage shape.
Sobek: Whenever the avowed damages a creature
with an aether pulse, that creature takes a 1/2 penalty
on CMB checks and to their CMD for 1 minute. This
penalty does not stack with successive aether pulses
(but another hit will reset its duration).
Spring Children: Add +1/4 to the avowed's effective
druid level with the wild empathy ability from the one
with nature clause. If the avowed does not know the one
with nature clause, he gains it as a bonus clause when
he has selected this option 4 times. If he knew it before
he selected this option the 4th time, he gains a different
least clause of his choice as a bonus clause. The avowed
cannot exchange one with nature for a different clause
after selecting this option at least 4 times.
Sthein: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with the
aether barrage shape.
Sulis: The avowed increases one of his racial energy
resistances by 1.
Suqur: Add +1 foot to each of the avowed's fly speeds.
This option has no effect unless the avowed has selected
it 5 times (or another increment of 5); a fly speed of 34
feet is effectively the same as a 30-foot fly speed.
Sylphs: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a
point of electricity damage.
Tengus: Gain a +1/3 bonus on damage rolls with the
aether blade shape.
Thrallspawn: Gain a +1/3 bonus on Will saves against
charm and compulsion effects.
Tieflings: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/3 of a
point of profane damage.
Triaxians: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Knowledge (nature)
checks.
Trixies: Gain 1/4 of an additional daily use of the
Profane Damage
Several of these favored class bonuses add profane
damage to the avowed's aether pulses. Profane damage
deals full damage to incorporeal targets and deals
damage as if the weapon were evil-aligned.
 The Avowed
trixie's sprite form ability.
Undines: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of a
point of cold damage. If he uses bonechilling pulse, he
increases the duration of its movement speed reduction
by 1/4 of a round.
Vanaras: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks.
Vishkanyas: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Perception checks.
Watchers: Gain a +1/2 bonus on checks made to craft
magic items.
Wayangs: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Stealth checks.
Woodborn: Add +1/4 to the avowed's effective druid
level with the wild empathy ability from the one with
nature clause. If the avowed does not know the one
with nature clause, he gains it as a bonus clause when
he has selected this option 4 times. If he knew it before
he selected this option the 4th time, he gains a different
least clause of his choice as a bonus clause. The avowed
cannot exchange one with nature for a different clause
after selecting this option at least 4 times.
Wulfkin: The avowed's aether pulse deals +1/2 of
a point of cold damage. If he uses bonechilling pulse
creatures damaged by it have their movement speed
reduced by a further 1 foot. This option has no effect
unless the avowed has selected it 5 times (or another
increment of 5); a 4-foot reduction in movement speed is
effectively the same as a 0-foot reduction in move speed.
Wyrwood: Gain a +1/2 bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Xephs: Add +1 foot to the distance of any movement
and teleportation done as part of clauses. This option
has no effect unless the avowed has selected it 5
times (or another increment of 5); a move of 14 feet is
effectively the same as a 10-foot move.
Referenced Spells
Many avowed abilities use existing spells to determine
their effects. For ease of use, we've reprinted any
spells referenced that do not appear in the Pathfinder
Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook.
BLOODSWORN RETRIBUTION
School: necromancy; Level: cleric 6, paladin 4, ranger 4
Casting Time: 1 round
Components: V, S, M (your blood)
Range: personal
Target: you
Duration: special (see text)
When you cast this spell, you cut yourself and swear an oath
of retribution on your own blood. You decide how much
damage you want to take from this attack, up to 25 points.
This damage cannot be healed for as long as the spell is in
effect. Anytime you perform an attack, save, or check that
is directly related to the oath and brings you closer to the
fulfillment of that oath, you gain a morale bonus to that
roll equal to the number of hit points of damage you took
from the oath divided by 5. The GM is the final arbiter over
whether or not an action qualifies for this bonus. When
you fulfill the oath (or choose to forsake it), the spell ends,
and the lost hit points can be healed as normal.
CONTROL SUMMONED CREATURE
School: enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting];
Level: bard 3, cleric/oracle 4, sorcerer/wizard 4, summoner/
unchained summoner 3
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one summoned creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; Spell Resistance: yes
You seize control of a summoned creature by disrupting
the bond between it and the caster who summoned
it. If the creature fails its save, you may command it as if
you had summoned it. The original caster can attempt
to regain control of the creature as a standard action by
making an opposed Spellcraft check against you. When
your spell ends, control reverts to the original summoner.
If the summoning spell ends before this spell ends, the
remaining duration of this spell is lost.
CREATE PIT
School: Conjuration (creation); Level: Sorcerer/wizard 2,
summoner 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S, F (miniature shovel costing 10 gp)
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: 10-ft.-by10-ft. hole, 10 ft. deep/2 levels
Duration: 1 round + 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: No
You create a 10-foot-by10-foot extradimensional hole
with a depth of 10 feet per two caster levels (maximum
30 feet). You must create the pit on a horizontal surface
of sufficient size. Since it extends into another dimension,
the pit has no weight and does not otherwise displace the
original underlying material. You can create the pit in the
deck of a ship as easily as in a dungeon floor or the ground
of a forest. Any creature standing in the area where you first
conjured the pit must make a Reflex saving throw to jump
to safety in the nearest open space. In addition, the edges
of the pit are sloped, and any creature ending its turn on a
square adjacent to the pit must make a Reflex saving throw
with a +2 bonus to avoid falling into it. Creatures subjected
to an effect intended to push them into the pit (such as
bull rush) do not get a saving throw to avoid falling in if
they are affected by the pushing effect.
Creatures who fall into the pit take falling damage as
normal. The pit's coarse stone walls have a Climb DC of
25. When the duration of the spell ends, creatures within
the hole rise up with the bottom of the pit until they are
standing on the surface over the course of a single round.
57
 The Avowed
ENEMY HAMMER
School: transmutation; Level: sorcerer/wizard 6
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S, M (puppet strings)
Range: long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Targets: one creature
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance: yes
You grab a creature with telekinesis and use it to batter
nearby opponents or objects. You must target a specific
creature when casting this spell and once you select that
creature you cannot switch to another. Each round, as a
standard action, you can attempt to hurl the target at any
creature or object within 30 feet of it. You must make an
attack roll whenever you use the target as a weapon. The
attack bonus for this attack is equal to your caster level plus
either your Intelligence or Charisma modifier (whichever
is higher). If you successfully hit the new target with the
creature both it and the creature take damage based on
the creature's size.
Creature Size Damage Dealt
Fine 1d4
Diminutive 1d6
Tiny 1d8
Small 1d10
Medium 2d6
Large 2d6
Huge 2d10
Gargantuan 3d6
Colossal 3d8
The target creature can make a Fortitude Saving Throw
each time you attempt to use it as a weapon. If it makes
its Saving Throw it can act normally, but if it fails its save
it loses all actions for the round and ends its turn prone in
a square adjacent to the target of your attack. However, if
the creature chooses to resist your efforts to move it, taking
no other actions for the round, it gets a +4 circumstance
bonus on its Saving Throw. The spell ends immediately if
the target creature dies or is destroyed.
FLESH WALL
School: necromancy [evil]; Level: cleric 6, shaman 6, sorcerer/
wizard 6, spiritualist 5, summoner 5, witch 6
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S, M (one corpse for every 5-ft. square of
the wall), DF
Range: medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: a wall of corpses with an area of up to one 5-ft.
square/level (S)
Duration: concentration + 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: none; Spell Resistance: no
58
You animate corpses, forming them into a wall of joined
flesh and limbs. The wall inserts itself into any surrounding
nonliving material if its area is sufficient to do so. The wall
cant be created so that it occupies the same space as a
creature or another object. The wall must be vertical, but
can be shaped as you see fit.
The wall is considered to be undead. It uses your Will
saving throw to resist channel energy.
A flesh wall is 2 feet thick. Each 5-foot square of the wall has
12 hit points and DR 5/slashing. A section of wall whose hit
points drop to 0 is breached. As a move action, you can cause
the flesh wall to constrict, shrinking it by a 5-foot square to
fill the hole. Additionally, as a standard action, you can cause
a 5-foot square of the wall to permanently detach, forming
a human zombie under your verbal control (this zombie
doesnt count against your normal limit of commanded
undead). The zombie reverts back into a normal corpse when
the spells effect ends. Each 5-foot square of the wall makes
a single slam attack against an adjacent enemy on your turn,
as a human zombie. The squares of the wall threaten their
adjacent squares and can even provide flanking.
Creatures can force their way slowly through the wall by
making a Strength check as a full-round action. The DC to
move through the wall is equal to 15 + your caster level. A
creature that fails the check is trapped in the wall, takes 3d6
points of crushing damage, and is denied its Dexterity bonus
to AC against the walls slam attack. The creature can make
an attempt to escape the wall on its next turn.
You can use zombies already under your control as the
material components for a flesh wall. However, they and any
other corpses in the wall revert back to inanimate corpses
when the spell ends.
FLIGHTBREAKER
School: transmutation; Level: alchemist 3, inquisitor 3,
magus 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, summoner 3, witch 3
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S, F (a small stone)
Range: long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: one creature
Duration: 1 minute/Level
Saving Throw: Fort negates (object)
Spell Resistance: yes
The victim of this spell is subject to a powerful personal
gravitational effect. If the subject fails her saving throw, she
is rendered incapable of flying for the duration; she loses
any and all fly speeds she possesses, is treated as having
no ranks in the Fly skill, and cannot hover, leap, or levitate
higher than ten feet from the ground. If the victim is flying
when she is affected by this spell, she falls to the ground
slowly and takes no falling damage.
 The Avowed
LEASHED SHACKLES
School: evocation [force]; Level: inquisitor 4, sorcerer/wizard 6
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range: medium (100 ft. +10 ft./level)
Target: one creature
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Reflex negates; Spell Resistance: yes
You create shackles of force that attach to the targets limbs.
You designate an object or location within 30 feet of the
target for the shackles to anchor themselves to; this must
be the ground, a wall, or a sturdy structure for the anchoring
to occur. The target is entangled, and cannot move more
than 30 feet from the anchor point of the spell. The shackle
itself cannot be attacked (though it can be dispelled), but
if the object or area it is attached to is broken, the target is
free to move away (though it is still entangled).
SPOTLIGHT
School: evocation [darkness, light]; Level: bard 3, cleric 3,
druid 3, inquisitor 3, magus 3, occultist 3, paladin 3, shaman
3, sorcerer/wizard 3, witch 3
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range: long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: one creature
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Saving Throw: Reflex partial; Spell Resistance: yes
You create a mobile area of bright light centered on one
target while simultaneously suppressing other light sources
surrounding it. The light level in the target's space increases
to bright light, causing the target to take any penalties that it
would normally take in bright light. In addition, all mundane
light sources (and magic light sources of 3rd spell level or
lower) within 20 feet of the target's space are suppressed,
shedding no light as long as they remain within this spell's
affected area and reverting the area normally affected by
those light sources to their unmodified illumination levels.
The effects of spotlight are centered on the target and
move as the target does. As a result, the target takes a 20
penalty on all Stealth checks for the spell's duration and
cannot benefit from concealment normally provided by
darkness, as though illuminated with faerie fire.
If the target succeeds at its Reflex save, the spotlight is
created in the target's square but does not move with the
target, and it hinders the Stealth checks only of creatures
within that square.

59
 The Avowed
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Legendary VI: Legendary Armor Copyright 2012, Purple Duck Games; Author: Marc Radle.
Mindscapes, Copyright 20032004, Bruce R. Cordell. All rights reserved.
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based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
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Peterson, Erica Balsley, Kevin Baase, Casey Christofferson, Lance Hawvermale, Travis Hawvermale,
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Patrick Lawinger, and Bill Webb; Based on original content from TSR.
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 Mages
Magnificent The Avowed

Winter 20162017

SOULS: A buyer's guide

Everything you need to know about
buying, selling, and trapping souls
for fun and profit.

See
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page

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Hundreds of products for all corners of the alignment spectrum!
Souls: A Buyer's Guide
Many avowed patrons and indeed, many otherworldly
beings unrelated to avowedtraffic in souls. Fiends
buy and steal them, celestials work to save them, some
undead eat them... The soul is a valuable, yet plentiful
commodity. Almost every being has a soul of their own,
so for one looking to buy, there are a lot of options to
choose from. So what, then, is a mortal to do if they want
to break into the soul trade? Well, it's as easy as finding
the right seller. We've assembled this special issue of
Mage's Magnificent Skymarket to assist prospective
soul traders with entering the field, including a bargain
from one of our sponsors to help get you started!
Variant: Sellable Souls
In many campaigns, the exact mechanics of selling
souls is best left for the GM to decide. The Selling Souls
sidebar on page 25 has information for handling the
fiend-pact avowed and their soul-stealing capstone,
and the Indebted drawback is included for players who
wish to roleplay having their character's soul owned by
another in a more normal campaign.
However, in some games, especially with the avowed
class in use, players might want a more expansive
set of rules for buying, selling, and trading souls. The
following variant is intended to fill that void, allowing
those opportunistic enough to use it for material or
spiritual gain. This variant offers two different methods
of handling the sale of souls:
Method 1: Free Market
In this version of the variant, any character can access
the feats and options for selling souls, whether or not
they're mortal or immortal, or if they've already sold
their own soul. A GM might consider granting any (or
all) of the soul trade feats as bonus feats to characters, in
order to encourage the use of these mechanics without
sacrificing a character's viability.
Method 2: Pyramid Scheme
In this version of the variant, in order to buy a soul, a
character must either be an otherworldly being or
have sold their soul (generally by taking the Indebted
drawback or possessing a damnation feat). At the GM's
option, a given character can bargain for souls without
the subtype. Such a character gains the ability to buy
souls from others as if they had the Dark Bargain feat,
but does not gain any other benefits. They must take the
soul trade feats normally in order to grant supernatural
powers, healing, or any payments other than what they
themselves can offer. Like with Method 1, the GM should
consider granting soul trade feats as bonus feats to those
interested in using them.
62 Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket
When a Soul is Sold
As noted on page 25, when a soul is sold, the creature
who sold their soul gains the following subtype:
Indebted (new subtype): Your soul is owned by
another. When you die, it passes to their possession,
crystallizing into an indestructible gemstone and
allowing them to do whatever they wish with it. You
cannot be raised from the dead unless your soul's
current owner allows it. However, if your soul gem is
physically present when a spellcaster uses raise dead,
resurrection, or a similar ability, the spellcaster does
not need your body on hand, and only requires half the
normal material components. The gem is consumed in
the process of casting the spell. If you later die again, a
new gem is created.
The owner of a soul gem can crush it as a standard
action, releasing the soul sealed within and allowing it
to pass to its proper afterlife.
When this transaction is made, ownership passes to the
person who bought it. Souls are non-refundable; if the
original owner of the soul wants their soul back, they
must buy it from its current owner.
When someone steals a soul, either by pilfering the
physical soul gem of or using an ability that outright
takes the soul (such as a fiend-pact avowed's soulreaver
clause), this works slightly differently. In order to
properly "own" a stolen soul, its holder must both
possess the soul (in the form of a soul gem) and they
must consider the soul to be theirs. Without the proper
intent, the soul is still owned by someone else, and as
such, someone who is unable to think of another's core
of their being as their property cannot free a soul from
a soul gem.
In any case, souls can be used for many things. It's
exceedingly difficult to destroy a soul, but they have a
certain energy that can be tapped when creating magic
items and casting spells (see the Soul Components feat
for more details).
In games that incorporate alignment, buying a soul
is, in almost every case, an act of true evil. There are
very few cosmically-good reasons to take someone else's
soul, and those who commonly abuse these powers
and transactions tend to be following dark paths in life.
However, some celestials and similar outsiders have
been known to buy the souls of their favored champions,
for reasons such as protecting them from harm, aiding
them more easily, or their own secret purposes. Likewise,
non-outsider beings often traffic in souls as well. Overall,
however, the purchase of souls should always be done
with close cooperation between the GM and players.
 Exact market prices, guaranteed!
Selling Souls to Fiends
Though a character might make deals and trade souls
with many types of beings, the most common creature
that traffics in souls is the fiend. This section mostly
discusses their deals and practices when doing so, in
order to aid players and GMs who want to incorporate
soul-selling into their games.
Brokering the Deal
Generally, in order to trade a soul (one's own or
otherwise), a prospective seller or buyer must be able to
locate or contact a fiend in such way. Some spells, such
as planar ally, might be useful in this regard, though
spells like planar binding have been known to aggravate
the fiend instead. Most commonly, trades are made with
a fiend that is already on the plane of the petitioner for
other reasons. The petitioner may seek these fiends out,
following rumors or using their own magical talents in
order to do so.
Alternatively, the fiend may catch wind of a mortal
collecting souls, and approach to offer their services in
exchange for them. Once contact is made, the petitioner
and the fiend must both learn of the others expectations
regarding the value of the goods and services being
offered.
The Worth of a Soul
A deal with a fiend involves a held soul, offered in
exchange for a favor from the receiving party. This
favor is commonly an action taken upon the material
plane or the fiends own plane, though what exactly this
action is will differ, depending on the exact details of
the deal and the temperament of the fiend. If the fiend
is not suitable to the task, the favor could involve a
referral to a more powerful or more suitable associate,
who will in turn demand their own tribute.
In game terms, a soul does not have any particular gp
value; though souls do have many uses, much of their
worth is in narrative power. A soul can be used as a
bargaining chip or payment to a fiend for services, but
generally, it must be purchased or traded for via some
sort of transaction. As such, for the purposes of character
wealth by level, souls and soul gems collected by player
characters should be treated as having a value roughly
equivalent to the services that can be gained by selling
it or trading it to a fiend. If a soul has a particularly
high value to fiends (such as if it comes from a great
hero, terrible villain, or important pawn), then the GM
should assign it a value and make sure that the players
are aware of how it can be used. Likewise, if the players
deal with a particular fiend, some souls might be worth
more or less, based on the fiend's individual desires and
preferences.
Soul gems used by characters for their own benefits
(such as the construction of magic items) have no gp
value, and are not considered to be treasure.
To order, arrange a mixture of 1 drop of ichor, 7 drops of lemon juice (or a suitable citric substitute), 3 pints of
wine, and a single silver piece in the standard-issue summoning diagram provided at the back of this issue.
Individual Fiends
Fiends may possess certain proclivities that may modify
their pricing. Any given fiend may prefer their souls to
be from individuals of certain genders, ages, or races.
They may particularly enjoy souls from a certain social
class, or souls from individuals who possessed a specific
phobia or indulged heavily in a certain vice.
A devil may value their own time more than a soul,
and may charge a higher price than normal for their
favor as a result. A daemon or a demon may find
themselves always in the need of another soul, willing
to undertake risky or menial tasks in exchange for a
lesser reward. The reverse is equally possible; A devil
in debt to a more powerful entity may be pressured
into unfavorable deals, or a demon may simply mark
up their prices on a whim.
Even with the temptation of a soul, a fiend may be
unwilling to perform tasks that put themselves at great
risk, and will not honor a favor if it would damage their
own interests. In addition, some may prefer some tasks
to others. Some fiends may hold a grudge against others,
outright refusing deals with mortals who have also
dealt with their enemies.
If a devil or a demon were to be given the same task,
in all likelihood they would not accomplish it in the
same way. Even outsiders of the same type are likely to
approach a task differently based on their personality
or inclinations. Unless their instructions are incredibly
strict, beyond the task they were directly ordered to
complete, it is difficult to predict the outcome and
possible consequences.
If the setting means that certain fiends are known
within certain circles of the material plane, with the
proper knowledge checks, potential soul traders may
receive clues about the quirks of individual fiends.
These could provide the trader tools during negotiations
the first time they speak to a fiend directly, as well as
afterwards.
Working Relationships
Fiends are more than simply hirelings to call upon. Any
given fiend has their own motivations for working with
mortals, and has more resources than can simply be
offered to the first person that approaches them with a
soul. In order to draw upon more of what they have at
their disposal, it is important for an aspiring customer
to establish a working relationship with individual
fiends. Likewise, fiends will try and keep connections
with past customers, maintaining contact through
messengers or magic.
After a first successful transaction, some fiends will
try to continue a working relationship with the client.
This is often to create a steady supply of souls, and to
establish a petitioners dependence on their assistance.
63
Hundreds of products for all corners of the alignment spectrum!
They can offer their own services more generously than
normal for their favored customer. A fiend may feign
companionship, offering the mortal a sympathetic ear
as a bridge for additional business. For tasks they can
not or will not perform personally, they can potentially
offer referrals to associatesfor a price. These
associates, in turn, may attempt to cultivate a similar
relationship with the client.
A fiends goal in these transactions is not to tempt
or corrupt the individuals involved. Most fiends are
comfortable in the knowledge that these exchanges
are enough to bring a mortal to their realms once
their time comes. Most often, a fiend accepts these
trades to expand their own power within their realms
with the acquisition of souls, and to cultivate potential
allies upon the material plane. Daemons are a notable
exception to this, as they consume souls. A daemon may
be sated for a time, but a cunning petitioner may offer
souls generously, to establish a daemons goodwill... Or
a dependence on their supply of souls.
Some fiends are malicious enough to cause harm to
their client, for any number of reasons. Most commonly,
this reason is retribution for a perceived slight, such as
an insulting offer or order, or an attempt to manipulate
the fiend into damaging their own interests with the
favor. Fiends may then misinterpret their clients orders,
manipulate events to come crashing down upon their
client in some way, or outright attack them personally
or with proxies. However, acting in such a way too often
destroys their reputation as a reliable ally, meaning
most fiends will not resort to this lightly. Likewise, if a
petitioner misleads a fiend or cheats them in some way,
they should expect both retribution from the affected
fiend, and distrust from others in any further deals
they may try to broker. A measure of distrust is to be
expected among these contractors, but both fiends and
petitioners will take notice to a consistent pattern of
betrayal from the other side.
Sample Plot Hooks
Sometimes the roles of the fiend and the petitioner
are reversed, and the fiend requires aid in some way.
Morals may choose to assist fiends to cultivate their
working relationship, and of course to receive rewards
in exchange for their services.
Several of these situations give the client leverage
over the fiend in some way. However, use of them in an
attempt to directly blackmail a fiend in some way can
only end badly. Merely the knowledge that the mortal
holds their secret is enough for a fiend to sweeten deals
in their clients favor.
The following plot hooks might be good starting
points for players and GMs looking to incorporate soul-
trading into their games, or expansions of plotlines
already in play.
64 Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket
A Fiend in Need: The next time a fiend the PCs have
dealt with is called, a weaker underling answers the call
instead to explain that the fiend is indisposed. Perhaps
the fiend has been captured and bound in a circle, or
was otherwise sealed away by the forces of good or a
personal enemy. Either way, if the client manages to find
and free the fiend, they may receive special treatment
from the fiend in future business transactions.
Childhood Fiends: A fiend has offspring (half-fiends)
upon the material plane. Depending on their age, the
fiend may have different requests to make of their client.
The fiend may wish for their client to find, protect and
raise their half-fiends children (or any combination
of the three), in exchange for regular payments or
other rewards. Older half-fiend children may serve as
contacts or go-betweens for the client and their parent.
In the case of older children, the fiend may actually be
estranged from them, and may wish for their client to
mend relations between them and their offspring.
Fiendly Rivalry: The fiend has a vendetta of some
sort with another fiend. This rival could be a fiend of the
same type as the first, or a different kind entirely. Either
way, the fiend requires their mortal ally to tip events on
the material plane in their favor, by hindering their rival
in some way. The party may encounter resistance from
the rivals servants, as well as the forces of good, who
are entirely confused by the matter. These tasks may be
comically petty or world-changing in scope, depending
on the fiends involved. A long-running vendetta could
prove to be the seed of an entire campaign. Naturally, the
fiend offers rewards whenever they successfully hinder
their rival.
Man's Best Fiend: A badly injured hellhound, hellcat,
or other animalistic fiend, trapped on the material plane,
was found by a young child. Not knowing the difference
between them and their native counterparts, the child
has nursed it back to healthand while the fiend is now
back to health, they feel obliged to protect their new
companion as a potential future agent and ally. However,
when the child begins manifesting the powers of an
avowed, the relationship threatens to become public
knowledge, and the fiend calls upon the player's help
to protect both themselves and the child. If successful,
the fiend (and their avowed companion) may become
available to aid the party, trading favors for souls.
With Fiends Like These: A fiend turns to a regular
customer for aid in a personal matter. For whatever
reason, the fiend cannot resort to their normal resources
to address the problem. It may be an embarrassing
matter that requires a mortals intervention. Perhaps
a personal item has been stolen, or a mortal consort of
the fiend is in danger. The fiend could promise a favor
with no need for a payment, or a large material reward
of some kind, simply to make the problem go away or
for whatever they hold dear to be retrieved safely and
secretly.
 Exact market prices, guaranteed!
Soul Trading Character Options
On the player side of things, there are several unique
ways to use souls to one's advantage, presented here.
As noted before, a player should always discuss these
options with their group and GM before selecting them.
Other Methods of Soul Trapping
The methods of collecting and binding souls presented
in this variant are a bit different than existing methods
within the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. This design
choice is intentional; unlike more traditional versions
of capturing souls, the crystallized soul gems gained
through the Dark Bargain feat and indebted subtype are
indestructible, and follow their own rules. In a sense,
the goal of this change is to make souls a little more
special and importanta soul's value does not come
from its originator's Hit Dice, but from their history and
life, and what these things mean to others.
Some spells, such as Trap the Soul and Soul Bind
might be adjusted to function within this new setup.
Trap the Soul creates a gem with a soul in it, but not
a soul gem; the spell traps a living creature's body and
spirit together, without actually taking their soul. Soul
Bind, on the other hand, does trap a soul within a gem;
at the GM's option, it might create the same sort of
indestructible soul gem that these rules refer to.
Finally, some monsters, such as daemons, that traffic
in and consume souls should traffic in both traditional
(breakable) stolen souls, and the more powerful soul
gems that result from a soul being willingly given by its
original owner. Even such creatures, however, cannot
destroy soul gems; a daemon that consumes a soul gem
created uses these rules absorbs it into its body, but does
not destroy it. Killing the daemon in question allows a
character to retrieve the souls the daemon has eaten
and free them.
New Feats
The following feats and options allow characters to buy,
sell, and steal souls. Before taking these feats, a player
should always ask their GM and fellow players about
the tone of their game and which version of this variant
ruleset is being used. However, any character can take
these feats, even those of non-evil alignments.
Dark Bargain (Soul Trade)
You can buy and sell souls.
Benefit: You gain the ability to traffic in souls. After
convincing a creature with Intelligence 3 or greater to
grant you ownership of their soul, that creature gains
the indebted subtype (see the previous page), with you
as their soul's new owner. You cannot use this ability
on a creature that has already sold their soul or does
not have a soul, and a creature cannot be tricked or
magically coerced into giving their soul to you.
To order, arrange a mixture of 1 drop of ichor, 7 drops of lemon juice (or a suitable citric substitute), 3 pints of
wine, and a single silver piece in the standard-issue summoning diagram provided at the back of this issue.
Creatures whose souls you own take a 2 penalty on
saving throws against your abilities, and once per day
for a given creature whose soul you own, you can use
one of the charm monster, lesser restoration, remove
fear, or stabilize spells on them as spell-like abilities
(caster level equal to your character level).
Diabolical Resources (Soul Trade)
You wield more tempting benefits for prospective sellers.
Prerequisites: Dark Bargain, character level 9th.
Benefit: Creatures whose souls you own take a
further 2 penalty on saving throws against your
abilities (stacking with that of Dark Bargain). Once
per day for a given creature whose soul you own, you
can use one of the neutralize poison, remove blindness/
deafness, remove curse, or remove disease spells on
them as spell-like abilities (caster level equal to your
character level). In addition, you can emulate the
atonement and fabricate spells once each on a given
creature's behalf, once they've sold you their soul. You
(or they) must provide the material components for the
fabricate spell, but not for the atonement (even if the
option chosen would normally require it).
Dark Overlord (Soul Trade)
Your ownership of souls is absolute.
Prerequisites: Dark Bargain, Diabolical Resources,
character level 15th.
Benefit: Creatures whose souls you own take a
further 2 penalty on saving throws against your
abilities (stacking with that of Dark Bargain and
Diabolical Resources). Once per day for a given creature
whose soul you own, you can use one of the dominate
person, harm, heal, magic jar, or resurrection spells on
them as spell-like abilities (caster level equal to your
character level). You must provide 1/4 of the normal
material components for the resurrection ability of this
feat (instead of the normal 0 for a spell-like ability, or
1/2 for a resurrection using a soul gem).
Soul Components (Item Creation, Soul Trade)
You can use bound souls as part of your magic,
Prerequisites: Ability to create magic items or caster
level 1st.
Benefit: You can create items that use soul gems as
raw materials. In addition, if you use a soul gem as an
additional focus for a spell or spell-like ability, creatures
with a familial relation (by blood or not) to the creature
whose soul is bound in the gem take a 2 penalty on
saving throws against the effect. If you do not possess
the Dark Bargain feat, you do not have the ability to
take souls of your own, and must buy or trade for the
soul gems themselves to use this feat.
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Hundreds of products for all corners of the alignment spectrum!
Soulbound Magic Items
Souls, while valuable for their power over their original
owners, can also be used in the creation of certain items,
magical and otherwise. Normally, the Soul Components
feat is required to make items in this way, but a skilled
enough craftsman can ignore the prerequisite by adding
+10 to the DC to create the item.
Despite soul gems' normal indestructibility, a crafter
with the right knowledge can warp their forms, shaping
them to cover a blade, adjusting their characteristics to
make them supple and flexible instead of solid gemstones,
and similar effects. As a result, soulbound items have a
wide range of possible appearances.
Similarly to buying souls, using souls in this way
is, in most cases, an act of pure evil. However, there
are definitely situations, particularly with voluntarily-
donated souls, where it might not be. A weapon with the
souls of three ancient heroes bound into it, to help the
warriors of the future, fits the concept just as well as one
full of tormented commoners.
Intelligent Items
A soul gem can be used in the construction of an intelligent
magic item. Unlike the other ways of using bound souls,
using a soul gem in this way affords the soul a certain
amount of freedom. The resultant intelligent item's will
is that of the being trapped within, though it is still
tempered by the binding. The mental ability scores
of the intelligent item are increased to that of the
soul when it was alive, at no additional cost. The
item's creator may still choose to create the item with higher
mental ability scores,, though doing so costs the normal
amount. In addition, the alignment of the intelligent item is
that of the bound soul, and it gains a bonus to its Ego score
equal to 1/2 the soul's Hit Dice in life.
Lich Phylacteries
Phylacteries, thanks to their unique methods of construction
and the purpose they are created for, have a particular
affinity with bound souls. When performing the ritual to
become a lich and constructing a phylactery, a spellcaster
with the Soul Components feat can incorporate soul gems
into the item, affording their hiding place a much greater
protection than it would otherwise have, and binding the
souls to their will.
For every soul gem used in the construction of a lich's
phylactery, the cost to create it is reduced by 1,121 gp and
5 sp (decreasing the time to create the phylactery as well).
The phylactery gains 1 hit point and increases its hardness
Soulbound weaponry tends to be built with angular designs, to take
advantage of the extreme hardness of the material.
66 Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket
by 1/4 per soul incorporated into it. The lich is then
considered to possess each of the souls bound into their
phylactery for the purposes of their Soul Components feat,
and gains a +10 bonus on any Knowledge checks to know
information that any the bound souls are aware of.
Destroying the phylactery frees all the souls bound
within it
Soulbound Armor and Weapons
Some craftsmen look at soul gems' physical indestructibility
and see not a prison, but an opportunity. As only the current
owner of a soul gem can break it, weapons incorporating
the gems in their striking surfaces can become unstoppable
forces in the right hands, and armor can deflect blows
it might not otherwise have stood against. However, the
construction of such an item must be handled carefully,
so as to not turn the impacts absorbed by the soul
gems back on the item itself. These items, when
crafted properly, have unique properties, similar to
adamantine, and are always masterwork quality (the
cost of which is included in the prices given below).
Weapons created in this way have a natural ability
to bypass hardness when sundering weapons or
attacking objects, ignoring hardness of 30 or
less. Armor made in this way grants its wearer
damage reduction of 3/ if it's light armor,
4/ if it's medium armor, and 5/ if it's
heavy armor, and the armor check penalty
is lessened by 1, as normal for masterwork
armor. A piece of ammunition created in this way
has the same properties as weapons, but is still
destroyed on hit, except for the soul gem contained
within it.
Items made in this way have their normal hardness
and hit points; the souls bound within strengthen
their prisons but not the rest of the item. Items
cannot incorporate both soul gems and other special
materials. If the item is destroyed, the soul gems are
unharmed, and can be recovered for freeing or reuse.
Type of Item Item Price Modifier
Ammunition +200 gp and 1 soul gem per item
Light Armor +7,500 gp and 3 soul gems
Medium Armor +15,000 gp and 7 soul gems
Heavy Armor +22,500 gp and 9 soul gems
Weapon +5,000 gp and 3 soul gems
 Exact market prices, guaranteed!
Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket summoning diagram. For transaction use only.

place summoning
mixture here

cut along line

Do not reproduce.

cut along line

To order, arrange a mixture of 1 drop of ichor, 7 drops of lemon juice (or a suitable citric substitute), 3 pints of
wine, and a single silver piece in the standard-issue summoning diagram provided at the back of this issue. 67
Hundreds of products for all corners of the alignment spectrum!

68 Mage's Magnificent SkyMarket