Pact of the Sword-Bearer

Sword Bearers are sorcerers, that use their blades, along with simple spells to aid their combat ferocity. As such, these class of sorcerers do not remain sorcerers, as they make a pact with the God of Blades, Susanoo', becoming warlocks... perhaps shunned by other Sorcerers for the defilement of their magical affinity...

Sword Bearers as depicted and commanded by Susanoo', only use Katanas, Odachis or Wakizashis (essentially curved longswords, greatswords and shortswords), most choosing to use their katanas over their spells. Any other weapon is not permitted, as per the creed of the pact... Those sword bearers that use any other weapon, or follow any other oath, are immediately disregarded for by Susanoo, losing the subclass as a result of it...

 

This subclass is not multi-classable, and restricted in terms of weapons.

Level 3: Sanso

The Katanas, Odachis and Wakizashis that Sword Bearers wield are known as Sanso. There are only 6 Sanso in existence, most of these blades hidden behind walls of labor that one must provide to prove to each blade that they are worthy of wielding them.

Each blade once gained, becomes a +1,+2 and +3 weapon that is attuned to you, at levels 6, 10 and 14 respectively. You may only use one blade at a time, and are able to switch to another blade after a short rest.

Listed below are the blades that you gain after specific levels after completion of a quest or questline of their own (with DM's preference over flavor), and their respective abilities, please note that each blade has three abilities that are unlocked at levels 6, 10 and 14 respectively, while most of the powerful blades can only be gained after reaching certain levels. You begin your journey with Enten, and unravel the blades on your path in the order they are shown below (click links to learn more, as these weapons are all separated for ease):

• Enten

• Cloud-Gourger (Requires 1 Quest to unlock)

• Magatsumi (Requires 2 - Part questline)

• Kumeyuri (Requires 3 - Part Questline)

• Tobimune (Requires 3 - Part questline)

• Muramasa (Requires 4 - Part questline)

Please note, all buffs with expending a pact slot, last for a duration of one minute and no more. Once each blade's separate ability is used, they cannot be used again until a long rest.

Level 6: Datenseki

Sword Bearers learn to use their spirit energy to cast spells through their bonded blades, as well as using their blades with their spells in tandem, to overcome their opponents, and fulfil their pact to Susanoo'.

You gain a unique resource known as Spirit Energy. You may have charges of this resource upto a maximum of twice your proficiency bonus.

Whenever you land a successful hit on an enemy with your chosen Sanso, you gain charges equal to half your Charisma modifier rounded down. Once you gain 5 charges, as a bonus action you may expend and convert those charges into a Pact Slot, to power your spells and Sanso abilities. You may convert Spirit Energy into a pact slot this way upto a maximum number of times, equal to your proficiency bonus.

Additionally, when casting spells or cantrips that have a casting time of 1 action, you may use your bonus action to make an attack with your bonded weapon on the enemy (this obviously will do one attack only, even with multi-attack cantrips such as Eldritch Blast).

Level 10: Iai Stance

As you journey with your respective Sanso, you begin to understand that patience and timing is what makes a Sword Bearer deadly, rather than arrogant strikes, and as such... you learn a technique known as Iai-jutsu, a technique known to sheathe your sword, focusing your concentration and patience on striking swiftly with your speed, while being accurate. You may sheathe and unsheathe your blade as a free action once per turn. When your blade is sheathed, you may expend 5 charges of your Spirit Energy to perform different abilities with your blade:

• White Purity Style: You hold your blade's hilt in an unorthodox reverse grip, allowing you to fuel explosive power into the first strike with your blade on your turn. When you attack an enemy creature, your blade deals an additional die of the weapon's base damage + your proficiency bonus to the damage roll of the first attack made after unsheathing your blade.,

• Iai-ken: You may ready an action when you sheathe your blade, to enter a reactionary state to enemy attacks on you. While using it, you may use your extra attack(s) with any readied actions to attack, you may take.

• Cleave: You may sheathe your blade and move upto enemies, making a spinning cleave with your blade. When using this attack, you forgo all extra attacks, and instead target all creatures within your reach with a cleave (single attack roll). Enemies attacked in this way take 2d4 extra slashing damage.

Level 14: Patience of the Sword Bearer

Your journey thus far has been swift, with efforts for your mortal toil to show through your swordsmanship. You begin to connect with your blade, as you perform an 8hr ritual when bonding with your preferred blade to unlock its true power.

As a bonus action you may expend 2 Pact slots and 10 charges of your Spirit Energy to gain one of the following benefits for a duration of one minute:

• When using your blade with Pact of the Blade, you may add your charisma modifier to your attack and damage rolls (again, if already using Pact of the Blade)
• Your Devouring Blade Eldritch invocation lets you make 2 extra attacks rather than 1.
• Your movement speed increases by 20ft as you learn to rush through the battlefield. Additionally, you may disengage as a bonus action.