Soul Chain Warrior (3.5e Class)

Soul Chain Warrior

The Soul Chain Warrior was originally an arcane experiment from a mad dark wizard facinated with infusing organic matter with non-organic materials. Once the wizard's studies were made public, some kingdoms soon started practicing with making their own soldiers into Soul Chain Warriors, while some Soul Chains were formed by fighters or mercenaries seeking an edge in battle. In rougher societies, the Soul Chain Warriors were formed out of captives and then made to fight in arenas for whatever sick reasons their masters wished. All that is truly known about the Soul Chain Warrior, is that they are incredibly deadly to all that oppose them on the battlefield. As Soul Chain Warriors use their chains more often, the magic that bonds steel to flesh slowly takes over their body, making them tougher and stronger in a slow, but steady process.

• (Please Note: All information below is listed for a Medium-sized character. Modifications will need to be made (mostly to damage rolls) for creatures of larger or smaller sizes.)

Making a Soul Chain Warrior

Soul Chain Warriors are a decent mix between ranged and melee fighters. Using their Soul-Bound chains to attack enemies and defend themselves against harm. When working in a party, they are often well suited when working with spell casters who can enhance the effectiveness of their attacks.

Abilities: Being a frontline fighter, Constitution helps with Hit Points. While a Soul Chain's spirit, Charisma and Dexterity, often determines many factors for the chains bound to his soul.

Races: Any race that values brute versatility and strength on the battlefield often finds the Soul Chain Warrior to be a worthwhile class option, even though the process of binding the soul to steel can often be very painful.

Alignment: Because of the various roles and reasons a Soul Chain Warrior may fight, they may be any alignment.

Starting Gold: 5d6 ×10 gp

Starting Age: Simple, As Barbarian.

Table: The Soul Chain Warrior

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Number of Chains
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+2	+0	Chain Strike, Bonus Feat	1
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+0	Bonus feat, Magic Chains	1
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+1	Constrict, Chain Grapple	1
4th	+4	+4	+4	+1	Climbing Chains, Improved Grab	1
5th	+5	+4	+4	+1	Minor Enchantment, Dual Targeting	2
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+2	Improved Grapple, Bonus Feat	2
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+2	Barbed Chains, Rend 1d6	2
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+2	Alignment Chains	2
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+3	Heart of Steel	2
10th	+10/+5	+7	+7	+3	Moderate Enchantment, Chain Critical	3
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+7	+3	Improved Targeting, Rend 1d8	3
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+8	+4	Body of Steel, Hardened Fist	3
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+8	+4	Soul Palm	3
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+9	+4	Major Enchantment, Rend 1d10	3
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+9	+5	Legs of Steel	4
16th	+16/+11/+6	+10	+10	+5	Adamantine Chains	4
17th	+17/+12/+7	+10	+10	+5	Greater Targeting, Rend 1d12	4
18th	+18/+13/+8	+11	+11	+6	Mind of Steel	4
19th	+19/+14/+9	+11	+11	+6		4
20th	+20/+15/+10	+12	+12	+6	Pure Steel, Greater Enchantment	5
Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Balance (DEX), Climb (STR), Craft (INT), Escape Artist (DEX), Intimidate (CHA), Jump (STR), Listen (WIS), Profession (WIS), Search (INT), Sense Motive (WIS), Spot (WIS), Swim (STR), Tumble (DEX), Use Rope (DEX).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Soul Chain Warrior.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Because Soul Chains come magically equipped with their chains for weapons, they are rarely trained in anything else, but should the need arise they are often proficient only with simple and commom weapons. A Soul Chain Warrior may use any Light or Medium Armor, but no shields, as the Warrior needs their hands to summon their chains.

Chain Strike (Su): From their palms they launch the chains that have been bonded to their soul. These chains have a reach equal to 5 times their Charisma Modifier. To hit with one of these chains, the Soul Chain Warrior must roll a ranged attack versus his/her opponent. A Soul Chain Warrior has the ability to alter the tips of his/her chains before using them, this must be decided as a free action at the beginning of each of his/her turns.these go up in damage by 1d12 every four levels. The chain tips and their associated abilities are as follows:

• Ball: 1d12 Damage; Critical 19-20/x2 (Bludgeoning), On critical hits, this tip is capable of damage the enemy armor (1d6)
• Spike: 1d12 Damage; Critical 20/x3 (Piercing), This tip works as though it has the Cleave Feat, passing through the first enemy and into any enemy within range that it can seek out this continues untill a target is not killed or a target is out of range.
• Blade: 1d12 Damage; Critical 18-20/x2 (Slashing), Capable of being used as a whip to disarm enemies, when using as a whip you gain improved disarm as a bonus feat.

Number of Chains: This column represents the maximum number of chains a Warrior may use per attack. A Soul Chain Warrior does not need any feats to use multiple chains without penalty for doing so, for even though they were magically installed, they are still a part of their body. They must roll a seperate attack for each chain used.When a Warrior gains the ability to target multiple enemies, he/she may distribute the chains among the targets as they see fit.

Bonus Feat: At level 1 a Soul Chain Warrior gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat. At level 2 a Soul Chain Warrior gains Iron will as a bonus feat. At level 6 a Soul Chain Warrior gains Diehard as a bonus feat.

Chain Grapple (Su): Using his/her chains, a Soul Chain Warrior is capable of making grapple attempts at a distance, at this level the Soul Chain Warrior gains a +2 Bonus on each grapple check they make with each chain. This can be used to hold enemies still, or drag them closer, or even attempt to throw them (a Soul Chain Warrior doesn't need to do any test to make any of these abilities).

Magic Chains (Su): At 2nd Level, the chains are considered magic for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction and count as +1 Weapons. Once the chains have this magic ability the Warrior can apply their Charisma modifier to their Attack and Damage rolls when using the chains. This ability improves as the Soul Chain gets stronger. At 8th Level, the chains become aligned and count as +2 Weapons, being treated as an aligned weapon, mimicing the Warrior's alignment (Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic, Evil, Good) for the purpose of further bypassing damage reduction. When a Warrior reaches 16th Level, the chains become made of Adamantine, The chains also count as +3 Weapons increasing the ability to bypass hardness and damage reduction. At 20th Level the chains count as +4 Weapons

Climbing Chains (Su): At 4th Level, a Soul Chain Warrior may now use a fourth tip for non-combat situations. This tip is a grappling hook, and allows the Warrior to climb walls, scale cliffs, and otherwise reach previously unreachable areas. When using his/her chains in this manner, the Soul Chain Warrior adds in 1/2 their Charisma modifier (rounded up), as well as a +2 bonus for each chain they use, to their climb and tumble checks.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, the Warrior must hit with his/her chains. They can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. At level 6 the Soul Chain Warrior also gains Improved Grapple granting a +4 Bonus to their Grapple checks

Minor Enchantment (Sp): When a Warrior gains 5th level, the magic in their body that fuses the chains to their soul begins to mutate in a way that it manifests new powers through the chains, enchanting them slightly. Roll a 4-sided dice, this will decide the enchantment (found in Magic Weapons: DMG pg. 223):

• Defending
• Flaming
• Frost
• Shock

Dual Targeting (Ex): Due to heightened senses caused by the blossoming magical influence, the Soul Chain Warrior is able to direct his/her attacks upon two seperate targets at once with no penalty. Both targets must be in sight and within range of the chains.

Constrict (Ex): After a successful grapple, the chains can deal 1d6 points of damage each round as they begin to squeeze the victim to death. This damage is automatic

Barbed Chains (Su): Small spikes begin to petrude from the edges of the chains, raising the Constrict damage to 1d8 instead of 1d6. Upon reaching 16th Level, the chains become sharp as razors and covered in large, vicious spikes, causing the Constrict damage to raise to 1d10.

Heart of Steel (Su): Further use of the magic causes the spells used to bind the steel of the chains to the soul of the Warrior, resulting in better resistance. At 9th Level, the Soul Chain Warrior can add his/her Charisma modifier to their Constitution Score.

Moderate Enchantment (Sp): When a Warrior gains 10th level, the magic that holds the chains to their soul begins to change in a way that it creates stronger powers within the chains, making them slightly more formidable. Roll a 4-sided dice, this will decide the enchantment (found in Magic Weapons: DMG pg. 223):

• Bane: roll on the chart in the DMG pg 224 to figure out the foe
• Slow: As per spell, activates on hit, lasts for 1d6 rounds (Will DC = 10 + Warrior's Charisma Modifier + 3 for each chain used)
• Poison: 1d6 Constitution Damage every 1d6 rounds (Fort DC = 10 + Warrior's Charisma Modifier + 3 for each chain used)
• Confusion: As per spell, activates on hit, lasts for 1d6 rounds (Will DC = 10 + Warrior's Charisma Modifier + 3 for each chain used)

Rend (Ex): After successfully grappling an enemy, the barbed chains begin to tear the flesh from the victim's bones, dealing automatic extra damage in addition to the Constrict ability. The Warrior deals 1D6+CHA mod of damage. If more than one chain is grappling the enemy, then each chain after the 1st deals 1D4 additional damage.

Chain Critical (Ex): When using Chain Strike, your threat range is doubled.

Improved Targeting (Ex): With stronger, more awakened magic coursing through his/her veins, the Soul Chain Warrior is even more aware of the battlefield. These better senses allow the Warrior to attack a number of enemies equal to 1/2 their Charisma modifier (rounded up). The targets maybe to the direct left, right, or directly above, or below the Warrior, but not neccessarily within sight. When using this ability, a Soul Chain can strike at multiple targets with any number of available chains (see Number of Chains chart)

Body of Steel (Su): As the Soul Chain Warrior continues to delve deeper into the magic that gave him/her the ability to be soul-bound to the chains, they find their physical abilities being affected. At 12th Level, their skin becomes harder than normal due to continued use of the magic, granting them the ability to apply their Charisma Modifier, to their Armor Class as Natural Armor.

Soul Palm (Su): The magic in your body can be liberated 1 + Warrior's Charisma Modifier per day in a palm attack, affecting the soul of your opponent. The target is stunned for 1d8 rounds (Will DC = 10 + Warrior's Charisma Modifier)

Hardened Fist (Su): When making an unarmed strike, you deal 1D6 damage. On a critical, only this die is multiplied. If the enemy is grappled, you deal +1D4 for each chain that is used to grapple that enemy.

Legs of Steel (Su): The magic that binds flesh and steel continues its course through the body of the Soul Chain Warrior. At 15th Level, the Warrior now applies 1/2 of his/her Charisma modifier to their Dexterity score, but they apply their full Charisma modifier to their Reflex Save, and gain an additional 10ft of movement speed. At this stage, they also no longer need food or drink to survive, but are still required to sleep if needed.

Major Enchantment (Sp): The dark magic is getting much stronger, and with it, the chains themselves are mutating to take on increasingly more powerful abilities. Upon reaching 14th Level, the Soul Chain Warrior rolls 1d4 twice, the first is a new (or stacked) enchantment off the Minor Enchantment list, and the second is a more powerful enchantment:

• Flaming Burst
• Shocking Burst
• Icy Burst
• Wounding

Greater Targeting (Ex): With the power of the magic helping to control their senses, the Soul Chain Warriors can literally detect an enemy in any direction within the range of their chains. Because of these improved senses, they may also attack a number of enemies equal to their Charisma modifier, as long as they have enough chains available to do so.

Mind of Steel (Su): With the magic of the binding nearly in control, it begins to seep into the mind of the Warrior, giving them better focus and mental abilties. Upon reaching 18th Level, a Soul Chain Warrior adds their full Charisma modifier to their Will save, and 1/2 of their Charisma modifier to their Wisdom Score. Once a Warrior reaches this level, they not only do not need to eat or drink, but they no longer require sleep or rest, as the magic that binds the steel to their soul keeps them energized alone.

Pure Steel Being (Su): The peak of binding between flesh and steel, magic and mortal have become one with each other. Here, at 20th Level, a Soul Chain gains a number of beneficial construct-like traits:

• Immunity to mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, patterns, etc).
• Immunity to poison, sleep effects, and disease.
• No longer subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain.
• No longer required to eat, sleep, or breathe.
• Gains 2d8 × their Charisma modifier worth of extra Hit Points
• Add (again) full Charisma modifier to Armor Class as Natural Armor
• Physically the Warrior takes on a metallic look. Their hair and eyes change to a metal-like color like gold, silver, platinum, steel, brass, copper, or iron.

Greater Enchantment (Sp): With the binding of flesh and steel at its peak, the magic flows through the chains with rivers of sheer power. Upon reaching 20th Level, a Soul Chain Warrior rolls another 1d4 twice, with first result being a second or stacked power from the Moderate Enchantment list, and the second roll being from the following list:

• Brilliant Energy
• Thundering
• Double Critical Threat Range
• Roll once off the Major Enchantment list, and roll again off this list.

Campaign Information

Playing a Soul Chain Warrior

Religion: This depends ultimately on the reasons why the Warrior underwent the process to bind steel to flesh through magic. There are those that do it for the purpose of defending the weak, in which they very well might have a strong religion, but there are those as well who seek only power and greed.

Other Classes: Soul Chain Warriors tend to work with those that are capable of enhancing their attack and defence. Because he/her is strictly melee-oriented, this often leaves them open to long-range and spell attacks, so anyone who can keep those attacks at bay while the Warrior is tearing and shredding with his/her chains is seen as a great asset.

Combat: A Soul Chain works best by approaching combat by focusing on the ability to grapple and rip the flesh from his/her victim with various grapple-based attacks. Though at higher levels, when one is able to focus on greater numbers of enemies, one might focus more on dispatching larger numbers by striking quickly with a spread of chains.

Advancement: When multi-classing, it is quite often that a Soul Chain will take ranks in Rogue, often to grant them abilities to sneak up and deal incredible amounts of damage between sneak attacks and the Rend attack. Spell-casting classes are limited, as the Soul Chain Warrior needs his/her palms for releasing their chains.

Soul Chain Warriors in the World

“	"You wish to fight me for this mere girl... Fine, I like a challenge... Let's see if you can reach me before I tear you in half. I wager you won't ever get closer than twenty feet."	”
—Otterlan Dessian, Vellorean Soul Chain Warrior of the Stygian Guard

Daily Life: Soul Chain Warriors are often guards or mercenaries, using their talents for battle and protection of others.

NPC Reactions: When a Soul Chain is discovered, they are often treated with fear and loathing. Many who do not understand the Soul Chain Warrior see them as abominations to their race, but those who appreciate their unique talents often give them great respect.

Soul Chain Warrior Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (Arcana) can research Soul Chain Warriors to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (Arcana)

DC	Result
5	Your research yeilds no new information.
10	You discover that Soul Chain Warriors are the product of a vicious experiment to meld steel with flesh.
15	You have found information telling you exactly what Soul Chain Warriors are capable of as they get stronger.
20	With the information you have gathered, you are able to compose a roster of all the known Soul Chain Warriors in the region, with their names, occupation, and place of residence.

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