Asa bint Aangul's page

Asa? Oh I suppose Asa might make a great guard recruit. I've seen her stop a man with a levelled glare, and level a man with a toppled chair, both. Heard she's been known to throw that tray of hers. Mind, I haven't seen it, but everybody's heard it. Kinda puts an edge on the glare, if you knwo what I mean. Well, that, and those dark eyes.

They're not from around here, not originally. Some place 'Ben Ali...' something, gypsy folk they were, settled here when they found they could sell food and dance and not so much need to sell things they'd been selling before. That's all rumor, though... Don't repeat it.

She's fit, that's sure. Hauls tables around like any stevedore might. Dances all night. Well, some nights. Good at it, too.

"Yes, I had heard that.", Asa said, folding a simple kapenia scarf, and putting it into her bag.

"He is a man of authority. And you will be his student."

"Yes, Father. But I was your student, first, and Mother's. And I have questions, there. But what were you hinting at?"

"Hrmf. You are not a child... Such a situation, might turn a girl's head..."

Asa smiled. "Father. My head has been turned, before." Her father's shock made it clear, he'd misheard her. "No. Do not go there, Father. I only mean, I am not a silly moth, to burn in the arms of this week's brightest flame. I am your daughter, and Mother's daughter, and Grandmother's... daughter. I take myself seriously. Do you doubt it?"

"No. No, Asa. You are as always, dutiful. Our Shieldmaid." Notes of sincere pride and playful mockery rang in her Father's voice, as only in a father's voice they might.

"Ah, that is the thing, that I would discuss. With this Gohren, am I to be a Shieldmaid? Is he to know, of the Kapenia styles? Of the shielded strike? Or am I to be, with him, just the tavern maid, who might throw a tray?" She smiled, teasingly, at first, but guiltily when her father scowled.

"You should not have done that. We are to be hidden. Until."

"Until. Until when? Until what?", she asked, the echoes of earlier askings making her single voice a chorus to them both.

"Your mother knew. Your grandmother, knew. And they told you, although you may not know it, yet..."

"No, I do not know it. I know the kapenia, the art to dress it, to wear it, to weild it like a sword, like a claw, like a spear. I know the shield, to cover, and strike, and tumble, and throw. And to combine them in the dance, so a turn is a strike, and a strike is a turning, and I am not where I was, but where I need to be next... I can dance, it was my first memory, the Dance. The shields you have made me, or made myself, are stacked like the wicker baskets they are. The kapenia, we must have a hundred of them, mine, and Mother's and Gran's, but I do not know why."

"You know. You do not yet understand." He had always said that.

"And you won't explain.", she pouted resignedly.

"Explain? I do not even know, let alone understand. You know, is what I know. That's all."

Asa sighed. This conversation always ended the same way, in unanswered question. She remembered the other question. "What of this Gohren, then?"

"What of him?"

"What can he know? What can he be shown that I know? What, of what I know, can I let him learn that I know? And how, am I supposed to keep such a secret from such a man, when he is teaching such things?"

Her father blinked at her. "I have no idea."

Magus Class Skills:
Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), and Use Magic Device (Cha)

Spells
> Kapenia Dancer, -1 spell for each spell lvl
> Skirnir, -1 spell for each spell level
> houserule, no magic at start (no spellbook, probably)

Arcane Pool (Su)

At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his magus level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the magus prepares his spells.

At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.

At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal.

Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property’s base price modifier. These properties are added to any the weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are decided when the arcane pool point is spent and cannot be changed until the next time the magus uses this ability. These bonuses do not function if the weapon is wielded by anyone other than the magus.

A magus can only enhance one weapon in this way at one time. If he uses this ability again, the first use immediately ends.

Spell Combat (Ex) - DELAYED to 8th level, shield only (Skirnir)

At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.

Spellstrike (Su)

At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier. See FAQ/Errata at right for more information.

Magus Arcana

As he gains levels, a magus learns arcane secrets tailored to his specific way of blending martial puissance and magical skill. Starting at 3rd level, a magus gains one magus arcana. He gains an additional magus arcana for every three levels of magus attained after 3rd level. Unless specifically noted in a magus arcana’s description, a magus cannot select a particular magus arcana more than once. Magus arcana that affect spells can only be used to modify spells from the magus spell list unless otherwise noted.

(Editor's Note: A complete list of magus arcana can be found here: Magus Arcana)

Spell Recall (Su) - REPLACED

Bonus Feats

At 5th level, and every six levels thereafter, a magus gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as combat, item creation, or metamagic feats. He must meet the prerequisites for these feats as normal.

Knowledge Pool (Su) - REPLACED

Medium Armor (Ex)

At 7th level, a magus gains proficiency with medium armor. A magus can cast magus spells while wearing medium armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a magus wearing heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component.

Improved Spell Combat (Ex)

At 8th level, the magus’s ability to cast spells and make melee attacks improves. When using the spell combat ability, the magus receives a +2 circumstance bonus on concentration checks, in addition to any bonus granted by taking an additional penalty on the attack roll.

Fighter Training (Ex)

Starting at 10th level, a magus counts 1/2 his total magus level as his fighter level for the purpose of qualifying for feats. If he has levels in fighter, these levels stack.

Kapenia Dancer

For some Varisians, their traditional dances pulse with the power of their ancestors. These dancers incorporate their kapenias—scarves embroidered with the history of the bearer’s clan—into their dances, weaving deadly whirling steps with the power of their ancestors.

The kapenia dancer is an archetype of the magus class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A kapenia dancer is proficient in simple weapons and bladed scarves. Additionally, a kapenia dancer can wield a bladed scarf as a one-handed melee weapon. A kapenia dancer is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers the normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored.
Diminished Spellcasting

A kapenia dancer can cast one fewer spell of each level than normal. If this reduces the number to 0, he can cast spells of that level only if his Intelligence allows bonus spells of that level.
Canny Defense (Ex)

At 1st level, when a kapenia dancer is wielding a bladed scarf, he gains the canny defense ability.

This is identical to the duelist prestige class ability of the same name, save that his magus level (rather than his duelist level) affects his Armor Class.
Weapon Focus (Ex)

At 1st level, a kapenia dancer gains Weapon Focus (bladed scarf) as a bonus feat.
Kapenia Dancer Arcana

A kapenia dancer gains access to the following magus arcana. He cannot select any arcana more than once.

Elasticity (Su): As a free action, the kapenia dancer can spend 1 point from his arcane pool in order to grant a bladed scarf he’s wielding reach until the end of his turn. A kapenia dancer can use this arcana in tandem with other magus arcana.

Kapenia Curse (Su): Choose an ability score upon taking this arcana. Whenever the kapenia dancer scores a critical hit with a bladed scarf, he may expend 1 point from his arcane pool to deal 1d4 points of damage to that ability score of the creature struck. This arcana can be selected multiple times, but a different ability score must be chosen each time. The kapenia dancer must be at least 9th level before selecting this arcana.

Spirit Fingers (Su): Whenever the kapenia dancer scores a hit with a melee weapon, he can spend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to immediately attempt a steal combat maneuver.

Spirit Step (Su): Whenever the kapenia dancer scores a critical hit with a bladed scarf, he may expend 1 point from his arcane pool to teleport to any point within 30 feet. The kapenia dancer’s turn ends after being teleported. The kapenia dancer must be at least 12th level before selecting this arcana.

Magus Arcana: The following magus arcana complement the kapenia dancer archetype: arcane cloak, dispelling strike, hasted assault, maneuver mastery, prescient attack, prescient defense.

Skirnir

Sometimes called a shield-vassal or shieldmaiden, the skirnir has learned to infuse his power into his shield.
Diminished Spellcasting

A skirnir casts one fewer spell of each level than normal. If this reduces the number to 0, he may cast spells of that level only if his Intelligence allows bonus spells of that level.

Arcane Bond (Su)

At 1st level, a skirnir gains a shield (except for a tower shield) as an arcane bond item. This is identical to the wizard class ability, but the skirnir may only bond with a shield, not a familiar or other item.

Arcane Pool

At 1st level, a skirnir can use his arcane pool to grant an enhancement bonus to a weapon as normal, as well as to his shield, paying the arcane pool cost separately for each. At 5th level and above, he can also add the following shield special abilities: animated, arrow catching, arrow deflection, bashing, blinding, fortification (any), reflecting, spell resistance (any).

Sorcerous Shield (Ex)

At 1st level, skirnirs are proficient with all types of shields, including tower shields, and do not suffer an arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while using a shield. They treat their magus levels as their fighter levels for the purpose of qualifying for shield-related feats.

This ability replaces spell combat.

Spellstrike (Su)

At 1st level, a skirnir may use this ability with a weapon or shield bash attack.

Shield Pool (Ex)

At 4th level, as a free action, a skirnir may spend 1 point from his arcane pool to add his shield bonus to AC (not including enhancement bonuses) on a concentration check to cast defensively. He may also use a touch attack or shield bash with his shield in conjunction with any pool strike magus arcana.

This ability replaces spell recall.

Spellshield (Su)

At 7th level, as a standard action, a skirnir may store a magus spell in his shield by spending 1 point from his arcane pool per level of the spell. This functions as the spell storing weapon special ability, but activates only on a successful shield bash by the skirnir and is not limited to spells of 3rd level or less.

This ability replaces knowledge pool.

Shielded Spell Combat (Su)

At 8th level, a skirnir gains the spell combat ability, but only when wielding his bonded shield. A skirnir may use his shield hand to perform somatic components for magus spells, forfeiting the shield’s bonus to AC until the beginning of his next turn; if the bonded shield is a buckler, he retains its bonus to AC. At 14th level, he gains the benefits of improved spell combat.

At 19th level, he retains his shield’s bonus to AC when using any type of shield with spell combat.

This ability replaces improved spell combat, greater spell combat, and greater spell access.
Greater Spellshield (Su)

At 16th level, a skirnir may activate a stored spell as an immediate action after being struck in combat. He may choose to have the spell affect himself or the creature that struck him.

This ability replaces counterstrike.

Ben Ali (Son of Ali), not Benalia. Yes, the MTG Benalish Hero IS an inspiration. But I don't intend the MTG Benalia. I am, however, very much enjoying my private joke of 'Benalish Waitress'. You see, when inflation hit MTG powers, I used to complain about it by saying my Benalish Hero can only get a job, now, as a waitress. "It's not a shield... it's a tray!" That Asa is a waitress, and the daughter of a Son of Ali, and a Skirnir... makes me smile. I'll scrub the bio of copywrong.

Asa's maternal line, I intend to have hidden some seeds or clues or such for the working of magic, in the 'crying bowl' ("I remember Gran crying over it, saying she'd lost something. Many times. I asked what, one time. She said she could no longer remember. But that I would. She... was very old.") So the bowl will be discovered as a shield and crypto key, and the kapenias will be discovered as a sort of spellbooks, and as a journal of the fading and forgetting of magic. Eventually. When it fits your plot.

I expect Asa bint Aangul and her father Mahmed bin Ali (and her mother Aangul, and her grandmother, who Asa only ever called grandmother, though I expect she knows her actual name...) came to Danel when Asa was a child. They have kept largely apart from local culture, though they are a part of it. That needs explaining. They run a tavern, perhaps a small inn, if there is any traffic to support such. This of course puts them into contact with people. But in their own time, they are largely private.

They explain this time with the beautiful decorated weavings Asa produces (taking 10 for 21), but much of the time is actually fitness and combat training. Mahmed is her coach, and no slouch himself, though he does seem so, when calling for Asa from behind the tavern's bar. Asa seems to do all the mobile work of the place. Aangul passed some years ago, during a time when Asa was curiously encouraged to 'see if you can hide under Gram's bowl...'. She could! But when she came out, her mother had died, fallen from a horse while riding. Asa has not yet learned to ride, perhaps as a result. She has also not touched the bowl, though it is prominent in their home.