Godsblade Apostate (Warpriest/Witch)

It is known that those who have been touched by the hand of divinity are forever changed by it. There are enigmatic forces that are not afraid to capitalize on this, targeting former and current agents of the divine such as warpriests. Such warpriest become known as godblade apostates, and wield a twisted form of their former power for their new patrons. (Original concept by Christos Gurd)

Primary Class: Warpriest.

Secondary Class: Witch.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The godsblade apostate may select three witch skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal warpriest class skills. The godsblade apostate gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The godsblade apostate is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and the favored weapon of his deity. He is also proficient with all types or armor (heavy, light, and medium) and with shields (except tower shields). If the godsblade apostate worships a deity with unarmed strike as its favored weapon, the godsblade apostate gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat.

Aura (Su): This is exactly like the warpriest’s ability of the same name, except that the godsblade apostate has a particularly powerful aura (as a cleric) corresponding to his own alignment, rather than his deity's alignment.

Divine Patronage: Whenever a godsblade apostate uses his hexes or any witch related ability, he uses his Wisdom instead of his Intelligence to determine the effects of those abilities.

Blessings (Su): This is exactly like the warpriest’s blessing ability, except for the following changes. At 1st level, a godsblade apostate may select only one blessing granted by his deity. He must also select a witch’s patron. This patron is a vague and mysterious force, granting the godsblade apostate additional power for reasons that he might not entirely understand. While these forces need not be named, they typically hold influence over one of the forces listed in the witch’s patron spells class feature. A godsblade apostate cannot select a patron that is in opposition to his chosen blessing. For example, a godsblade apostate that has selected the darkness blessing could not choose the light patron.

At 2nd level, a godsblade apostate’s gains new spells from his patron. These spells are automatically added to the godsblade apostate’s list of spells. The spells gained depend upon the patron chosen. At 2nd level the godsblade apostate adds his first patron spell to his list of 1st-level spells, and each subsequent spell to his next level of spells every three levels thereafter, up to his sixth patron spell at 17th level.

In addition, the godsblade apostate can cast bestow curse (as a spell-like ability) as a minor blessing. At 10th level, he can cast greater bestow curse (as a spell-like ability) as a major blessing.