Prestige Class: Bladebond

The bladebond masters body, mind, weapon, and will. He devotes his strength and his life to the service of a master or an ideal he accepts as greater than himself. Some bladebonds become masters in their own right, but even one who becomes an emperor sees himself as a servant of some higher power.

Most characters who become bladebonds aspire to the class from the beginning of their careers. Often, other bladebonds or elite military organizations train likely young men and women in the principles of service, the arts of war, and the purity of mind and body necessary to become a bladebond. Even those who do not qualify at the end often become powerful adventurers.

A bladebond can be a lone adventurer, serving an ideal or attempting to fulfill a lifetime goal. Some bladebonds swear fealty to great lords and rise to become trusted bodyguards, warlords, or leaders in the lord's service. Fighters and defenders know the strenuous road a kensai must travel, and some tread that path. While it might be thought that a rogue would make a poor bladebond, such characters are not unheard of and can be deadly adversaries.

Hit Die: d10.

Requirements

To qualify to become a bladebond, a character must fulfull all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any lawful. Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Concentration 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks, Ride 5 ranks.

Feats: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (any weapon).

Special: Must complete an oath of service (see last page) to either an overloard or an ideal.

Class Skills

The kensai’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local and nobility) (Int), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int Modifier.

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Signature weapon
2	+1	+0	+0	+3	Power surge
3	+2	+1	+1	+3
4	+3	+1	+1	+4	Ki projection
5	+3	+1	+1	+4	Withstand
6	+4	+2	+2	+5
7	+5	+2	+2	+5	Ki projection
8	+6	+2	+2	+6	Instill
9	+6	+3	+3	+6
10	+7	+3	+3	+7	Ki warlord