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.

Sacred Weapon (Su): The godsblade apostate adds conductive to the list of weapon special abilities with which to enhance his sacred weapon.

Hex: At 3rd level, a godsblade apostate gains the witch’s hex ability and may select one hex. Every three levels beyond 3rd, he can choose an additional hex. This ability and major hex replace bonus feats.

The godsblade apostate may choose any hex listed in the witch’s hex class feature that does not oppose his alignment, or from the following hexes restricted to the Godsblade Apostate multiclass archetype.

Deathwatch (Su): A godsblade apostate can determine the condition of creatures near death. This acts as deathwatch, but the effect lasts for 1 minute.

Detect Infidel (Su): A godsblade apostate can detect worshipers of other deities (mortal worshipers, outsider servants, and so on). This acts as detect the faithful, but allows the godsblade apostate to determine the location and presence of worshipers of specific deity. The specific deity is determined when the hex is used.

Divine Investiture (Su): A godsblade apostate can expend two uses of his fervor as part of using this hex to bestow a blessing of divine providence upon a number of allies equal to his Wisdom modifier within 30 feet. This grants the affected allies the benefits of any one of the following currently active class features he possesses: blessing, sacred weapon, sacred armor. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 the godsblade apostate’s level (minimum 1). Once a creature has benefited from the divine investiture hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours.

Moral Conviction (Su): A godsblade apostate can release a 30-foot burst of energy that causes any creature of an opposing alignment to become sickened whenever it comes within 30 feet of him. The effect lasts for a number of hours equal to the godsblade apostate’s level. A Fortitude save negates effect. If an affected creature is a member of an enemy sect, the creature is nauseated instead. Once a creature has been subject to the moral conviction hex, it cannot be affected by it again for 24 hours. This hex has no effect on a creature that is already sickened (or nauseated if from an enemy sect). Unlike normal sickened or nauseated conditions, the effect ends as soon as the creature leaves the 30-foot area or the hex’s duration expires, whichever comes first.

Stabilize (Su): A godsblade apostate can release a burst of divine energy that stabilizes a number of allies within 30 feet equal to her Charisma modifier and prevent them from dying. This acts as stabilize, but the target become disabled and its hit points increase to 0. Once a creature has benefited from the stabilize hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours.

Major Hex: At 12th level, a godsblade apostate gains the witch’s major hex ability. The godsblade apostate may choose any major hex listed in the witch’s major hex class feature that does not oppose her alignment, or from the following major hexes restricted to the Godsblade Apostate multiclass archetype.

Curse Ward (Su): Once per day, whenever the godsblade apostate rolls a saving throw against a curse (such as a witch’s hex, or a bestow curse spell), he may reroll the saving throw as an immediate action. The godsblade apostate must decide to use this hex before the results of the saving throw are revealed. He must take the second roll, even if it is worse.

Delay Curse (Su): A godsblade apaostate can suppress the effects of a single curse on a creature. This acts as abeyance and the effect lasts for 24 hours. Once a creature has benefited from the halt curse major hex, it cannot benefit from it again, even if the hex is used by a different godsblade apostate, or the abeyance spell is cast upon the creature.

Unwilling Conversion (Su): A godsblade apostate can expend two uses of his fervor as part of using this hex to temporarily convert a creature from an enemy sect to his own. This acts as charm person, but the target’s alignment is temporarily changed to that of the godsblade apostate and is considered in all ways as a faithful member of the godsblade apostate’s sect. This effect lasts for a number of minutes equal to his godsblade apostate level. Will save negates this effect. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of this major hex again for 1 day.

If the target creature casts divine spells (has levels in cleric, warpriest, or other divine spellcasting class), the creature now receives its spells from the godsblade apostate’s deity until the duration of the hex expires. Once this effect ends, the affected creature is considered to have grossly violated the code of conduct of its god and loses all spells and class features, except for its armor, shield, weapon proficiencies, and bonus feats. The creature cannot thereafter gain levels in its divine spellcaster class until it atones for its deeds (see the atonement spell).

Ex-Warpriests: An ex-warpriest can trade any or all his warpriest class levels for an equal number of levels in the Godsblade Apostate multiclass archetype.

Table: Godsblade Apostate