Some immortals take up the defense of a sole person, and protect them above all others. Be they hired, inspired, or simply forced into it, a sworn protector sword saint is known for devotion and service to their chosen ward. These sworn protectors are highly valued, as they are quite skilled and effective at deterring threats.
The sworn protector is an archetype of the sword saint class, available only to immortal sword saints.
Archetype Main Ability Scores:
The sworn protector mainly focuses on STR for martial combat and CHA for their class features.
Archetype Feature Replacements:
1st – Aegis. 2nd – Force of Personality. 3rd – Warleader.
Prerequisite
The sworn protector must have the linking racial trait.
Guardianship (Ex)
At 1st level, the sworn protector may select a ward that she is linked to, a person whom she must protect no matter what the cost. When in combat and the sworn protector’s ward is within 10 feet of her ward’s position, the ward gains a +1 morale bonus to their AC and savings throws. This bonus increases by +1 at 5th level, and every four levels after that (9th, 13th, and 17th level). Additionally, the sworn protector may add her guardianship bonus to her attack and damage rolls as a morale bonus if the ward is within the sworn protector’s guardianship range. This radius increases by 10 feet at 6th and again at 12th level. A sworn protector may only have one ward at a time. To select a ward, the sworn protector must take ten minutes discussing tactics and practicing with her ward so that she may learn how best to protect him, and from there on, she practices those tactics when she readies her swordskills. A sworn protector may dismiss a creature as her ward at anytime or when she stops linking as a free action.
This ability augments and replaces the aegis class feature, and if an ability uses the sword saint’s aegis bonus for anything, then substitute with his guardianship bonus instead.
Defensive Intercept (Ex)
With swift speed and trained instincts, a sworn protector is capable of sudden bursts of speed in the defense of a chosen ward. At 2nd level, a number of times per day equal to 1 + her Charisma modifier, she may leap to her ward’s defense with lightning speed. As an immediate action, the sworn protector moves up to her base speed to a space within 10 feet of a ward who is being subjected to an attack or effect that would cause harm, to thereby grant her guardianship benefits. This movement is subject to attacks of opportunity. If the sworn protector is too distant to reach her ward, she cannot use this ability.
This ability replaces force of personality.
Improved Linking (Su)
At 3rd level, the sworn protector can use her racial linking ability as a standard action and can be used a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier instead.
This ability replaces warleader.
