Much like other skalds, an ancestral warrior is a storyteller and poet, regaling bygone legends to inspire their
allies. All ancestral warriors have inherited a legendary
weapon from those that came before them, hoping to
forge a new legend worthy of the weapon’s new wielder.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
An ancestral
warrior is proficient with all simple weapons and with
one martial or exotic weapon of his choice (except for
a
firearm). This choice must match the form of his
weapon of legend (see below).
This alters the ancestral
warrior’s weapon proficiencies.
Weapon of Legend (Ex)
At 1st level, an ancestral
warrior inherits a weapon of legend passed down
through his family line, tales of which have been spoken
of to inspire allies to victory. The ancestral warrior
begins play with this weapon at no cost. At 1st level, the
weapon of legend is already a masterwork weapon; as he
grows in strength, the weapon’s power grows with him,
as shown in Table: Weapon of Legend. The power of
the weapon only functions when wielded by the ancestral
warrior. The ancestral weapon cannot be enhanced using
item creation feats. If his weapon is ever damaged, it is
restored to full hit points the next time the skald regains
his spells. If the weapon is lost or destroyed, it can be
replaced after 1 week in a special ritual that costs 200
gp per skald level plus the cost of the masterwork item.
This ritual takes 8 hours to complete.
If the weapon is lost or destroyed too many times, the
warrior’s ancestors may deem him unworthy to wield the
weapon and refuse to return it to him. If this happens,
he immediately loses the ancestral warrior archetype and
gains the normal abilities of a skald. A quest may be
given to the skald to regain favor in his ancestor’s eyes,
subject to GM discretion. Depending on his actions, an
atonement spell can also redeem the ancestral warrior and
allow him to regain his weapon of legend.
This ability
replaces bardic knowledge and scribe scroll.
Inspire Legends (Su)
At 1st level, the ancestral
warrior can use his raging song to regale the deeds and
heroics of past bearers of his weapon of legend. The
ancestral warrior chooses one of the following: attack
rolls, armor class, saving throws, or skill checks. Allies
affected by inspire legends receive a +1 morale bonus
to the chosen ability. The bonus increases by +1 at 5th,
11th, and 17th levels. The ancestral warrior can choose
a different bonus each time he starts the performance.
Allies affected by inspire legends are treated as if
under the effect of an inspired rage raging song for all purposes involving the skald’s rage powers.
This ability
replaces the inspired rage raging song.
Bonus Feats
At 2nd level, and every five levels
thereafter, an ancestral warrior gains a combat feat as
a bonus feat.
This ability replaces versatile performance
and well-versed.
Enchanting Legend (Su)
At 6th level, whenever
the ancestral warrior is using his inspire legends
performance, his weapon of legend temporarily grows
in power. He chooses from the following special weapon
properties: defending, distance, flaming, flaming burst, frost,
ghost touch, icy burst, keen, returning, seeking, shock, shocking
burst, speed, thundering, or vorpal. At first, he can only
grant his weapon of legend properties whose total
bonuses are +1 or less. Every three levels past 6th, the
total properties he can grant to his weapon of legend
increases by +1, up to a total of +5. Duplicate abilities
do not stack. He can change which abilities he gains each
time he uses inspire legends.
This ability replaces the
rage powers gained at 6th level and at 18th level.
Speak with the Ancients (Sp)
At 7th level, the
ancestral warrior can ask his ancestors for guidance, as
the spell commune. He must use its normal casting time,
but does not need to provide material components. He
may do this once per day, plus an additional time per day
at 13th and 19th levels.
This ability replaces lore master.
Shared Legend (Su)
At 12th level, the ancestral
warrior can grant allies affected by inspire legends the
benefit of one of the weapon properties he granted
his weapon of legend (using enchanted legend). The
property granted cannot have an equivalent bonus
higher than +2, and duplicate abilities do not stack.
This
ability replaces the rage power gained at 12th level.
Legend Realized (Sp)
At 20th level, the ancestral
warrior can inspire his allies to greatness. As a full-round
action, he can assure his allies of victory, as the spell
heroic invocation, using his ancestral warrior level as his
caster level. This ability can be used once per day. This
ability replaces master skald.