Warrior of Legend (Pathfinder Second Edition Archetype)
(art by queenofeagles on DeviantArt)
If you know your mythology, you’ve probably noticed a trend where a legendary super-mighty warrior seems to be able to take on any challenger… until they come across the one thing that is destined to kill them.
Achilles and the arrow that pierced him (regardless of if it was in the heel or not), the spear that struck low Cu Chulainn, Hippolytus getting dragged behind his own chariot, Baldr getting shot with an arrow of mistletoe, the version of Power Girl who was from a universe where Kryptonians were weak to wood… There are a lot of heroes that have been slain or been at risk of being slain by very specific things, as if they were ordained to be immune to all death save for one specific danger, which might even seem innocuous at first glance.
And more often than not, these one weaknesses end up being… underwhelming, painfully so for such legendary undefeated warriors. Take Heracles, whose story as a mortal ends with him being mortally poisoned before he finished himself off with his own funeral pyre and ascended to godhood. Being poisoned seems like such a pathetic end for such a mighty hero, but it’s also brilliant because narratively it proves that Heracles could only be beaten at subterfuge, not in an open contest of might. Conversely, Jason of the Argonauts fame went out like the tool that he was when the rotting prow of the Argo fell on him in his sleep (after he, you know, dumped the powerful witch who loved him in a bid to get royal power.)
It is these warriors we look to for inspiration with today’s subject. These so-called warriors of legend seem to favor simple weapons and light armor, uncannily seeming to brush off wounds and danger… except for one that they must always look out for.
Perhaps their future was ordained by the gods, or by an oracle that saw the path laid out for them, or perhaps they are empowered by fate itself. Either way, the result is a warrior that while not quite mythic on their own, seems to have an aura of legendary might about them, making them seemingly invincible. For most, this strange power is a happy accident or even just a sort of narrative armor, but for others, they or a benefactor may be literally twisting fate in their favor, only to ensure a very specific doom. Regardless, they’ll have plenty of opportunity to make their legend grow… as long as they stay away from wives prone to teasing people with sewing needles.
So this is another class archetype exclusive to the fighter, and so accordingly it gains some benefits at first level before you take the dedication feat. Firstly, their fighter training alone never gives them proficiency in armor heavier than medium, nor do they train with shields. But they do receive training in both acrobatics and athleticism, rather than only one. They also become exceptionally tough. However, their fighter training is almost exclusively in spears and polearms. What’s more, one type of physical damage is anathema to them, dealing extra damage to them as well as inflicting upon them feelings of dread, as if they are already one foot in the grave.
The base dedication for the archetype comes with training in how to use the haft of their signature weapons to parry blows, as well as causing them to fight harder when they feel their doom is near.
Though the specter of their destined end looms over them, these warriors often exhibit a rush of defiant energy when the shadow of that fate rears it’s ugly head, giving them a surge of adrenaline and vital energy.
But these warriors do not just defy their destined end, they also prove quite mighty, and some have a knack for knocking back multiple foes at once with a mighty swing of their weapon.
Like some destined hero pairs, a few warriors of legend develop a strong bond with another, able to communicate wordlessly from a good distance and be aware of each other’s physical condition. However, this bond also means that their partner shares the same dread with them, making both quite vulnerable to death.
Despite this, some endeavor to protect their partners, actively parrying or even intercepting blows meant for their ally selflessly, even if it means their doom.
The curse that affects these warriors is debilitating, but drives the warrior onward, and when suffering it, they can unleash some of that negativity back to empower their attacks, sapping the life of foes with their weapon.
Moving back to the bonded partner thing, many such warriors are known to fight with a renewed, fatalistic fury when their bonded partner lies dying nearby, determined to destroy the perpetrator even if they die in the process.
Knowing that any battle where their weakness shows up might be their last, these warriors can enter a stance that makes them even more vulnerable but promises mutually assured destruction, granting them more opportunities to react to foes, either to strike when they drop their guard or when they themselves are struck by the foe, driving their weapon into that enemy even as they stand transfixed upon the point of the very weapon that endeavors to end their story.
Over time, these fighters become more and more aware of the full details of their prophesized doom, and prove adept at recovering from their doomed state when facing a lesser foe that they know is not the executor of their end, despite how they arm themselves.
Powerful warriors of legend eventually become so mighty that the other physical damage types they are not vulnerable to become significally weaker against them, either deflecting off hardened skin or seemingly pulled by fate into glancing blows.
Some also prove quite able to sweep multiple foes near them off their feet as well, or at least drive them back.
True masters of this path understand the fine line between their power and the curse that serves as it’s price, and so can enter their mutual destruction stance with the same amount of effort it takes to breathe.
This is a fun archetype, granting some neat abilities at the cost of being vulnerable to a single damage type. Playing with this archetype means skirting the edge with your doomed condition to reap the benefits. That being said, I do have some thoughts. I feel like the feat that grants resistance to the other two damage types does not need to be 14th level before you can take it. Maybe 10? Secondly, the archetype also borrows the Unbalancing Sweep feat from barbarian/mauler, which is neat, but entirely superfluous when the Clear the Way feat which is unique to this archetype is better in every way. Sure, it doesn’t let you choose to trip, but it works the same way and lets you shove up to five targets instead of three and even move half you speed afterwards, at less than half the level requirement! Beyond that, this archetype is a fun way to make a powerful and dangerous fighter that turns a weakness into strength.
I can imagine that one can have a lot of complex feelings about being a warrior of legend. Do they fear their destined demise? Do they strive to live their lives to the fullest knowing that any day might be their last? Additionally, what if they’re not actively aware of the curse? In such a case, they might not know to be cautious around foes that use such weaponry beyond a deep unease they feel when they suffer a wound from such a weapon.
Demonstrating great might and equally impressive acumen in the political arena, King Nuberin won his throne defeating demons and dragons. However, though he is a fair ruler, he knows he will die violently, to a heavy crushing blow to the back of the head, no doubt from someone he trusts. So, he endeavors to make his nation as prosperous and stable as can be.
Deeply fascinated by the prophecy surrounding him and his death, there are few warriors of legend quite like Billibramble the gnome, as his lack of discretion on who he chooses to fight makes it feel like he’s obsessed with either fulfilling that prophecy early or defying it by dying to literally anything else but a cutting weapon.
In the lightless depths, there is a legend of a mighty cavern elf warrior that felled a horrible jah-tohl mindsnatcher in battle, for he did not fear it’s piercing fangs nor it’s shredding claws, and indeed, he brought it low, only to be crushed under it’s bulk in it’s death throes. Most use this story as a cautionary tale, but some versions of the tale mention that the elegant halberd he used is still down there, imbedded in the carapace of the beast.
