#adaptive ooze

 If there is any iconic archetype among superheroes, one of them must be the “animal power” superhero, whose superhuman abilities revolve around emulating an animal. Spider-man, Hawkman, Black Panther, Toad, et cetera. Oftentimes, these abilities are “proportional” in the case of animals smaller than the hero, while others may add the strength of a larger animal to their own, or perhaps be even stronger than that.

This is distinct from heroes that embrace an animal motif without having similar powers, or any powers at all, of course, but that is neither here nor there. Today, we are looking at the wildsoul archetype for vigilante, which grants a power set based on an animal to the vigilante.

Interestingly, the wildsoul is a rare occasion, perhaps the only one, where an archetype in Pathfinder has been updated by Paizo with additional content for that particular archetype, specifically in Blood of the Beast, which added the feline option to the archetype.

Regardless, each animal aspect adds a different arsenal of powers for the vigilante to use, as we shall soon see.

 Each wildsoul picked one animal to emulate, gaining powers as they level up.

The first option is arachnid, granting them an uncanny sense for danger, the ability to shoot sticky webs at foes, climb on walls, swing from strands of webbing, and even do so indefinitely without using resources at their greatest level of mastery. All combined, these powers let the vigilante do whatever a spider can.

The next option is falconine, where they emulate a bird of prey, initially growing feathers to slow their falls, enhancing their eyesight, growing wings for true flight, and even emulating the lethal attack dive used by many raptors (the classification of bird, not the dinosaur).

With the ursine option, the wildsoul emulates the might of a bear, growing claws, biting jaws, thick, durable fur, and even outright transforming into a bear.

Finally, the added feline option, which grants the senses, agility, pouncing attack, and reflexes of all manner of cats large and small.

What’s interesting about this archetype is that unlike many other vigilante archetypes, this does not replace the vigilante specialization, meaning you can choose to be a stalker or avenger vigilante and combine it with any of these “natural courses”. Certainly many of them favor one over the other, such as arachnid and feline favoring stalker, but you could also choose to be a web-spitting warrior that binds foes to keep them from escaping as they approach, or perhaps a stealthy bear that unleashes a deadly pummeling from out of nowhere. Your options are diverse, but just remember that you lose out on some customization for replacing around half of your vigilante talents.

 An archetype like this is just begging for homebrew additions to it. The fact that Paizo added another option for it is proof enough of that. Just remember it’s hard to keep your cover if you use your powers in your social identity, even more so than other vigilantes.

What is also interesting to think about is where this archetype comes from narratively. Is your character blessed by the spirits of nature? A god? Are they the result of strange alchemy or science?

  Wildsouls don’t just exist on earth-like worlds with earth-like fauna. The lashunta occasionally develop this power as well, a common aspect being that of the shotalashu lizards, which strike a parallel with feline aspect seen on other worlds.

 The White Raven is a figure shrouded in mystery, able to shift to a partially avian form while hunting her prey, who seem to exclusively members of an alchemy guild. Could their perhaps be some connection between them? They certainly use ever-changing adaptive oozes in many of their experiments.

 Getting some closure with today’s entry, because this is actually one of two archetypes I missed in my first loop through the alphabet.

In any case, the totem guide, first printed in Animal Archive and then reprinted in Ultimate Wilderness, represents something of an even more mystical bond between a character and their animal/plant/vermin companion. While said guides are not that much smarter than other companions, they are bonded not just to the caster, but also to the forces of nature itself, embodying the wisdom and guidance of those spirits.

In this way, the character can look to their companion for wisdom and advice, as well as count on them in combat against otherworldly forces!

 Thanks to their connection to nature spirits, these companions can provide useful supernatural guidance at any time. However, their real power comes from when the master channels their own power through the companion, resulting in even greater forms of magical blessings and guidance. Everything from sensing specific species of flora and fauna, looking briefly into the future, sending a guide to bring others to you (which could be in the form of the normal helping hand spell, or perhaps in the form of a spectral version of the companion), Reading the further future or fate, speaking to the natural world to learn about their surroundings, or finding the true path.

The guide can also speak with their master and others of their species through a bestial tongue, relaying information.

As they grow in power, these blessed beasts are blessed with natural weapons that pierce the eldritch as if magical and silvered.

Later on, this blessing even strikes true against the incorporeal, and their hide is proof against the otherworldly touch of such beings. What’s more, their spirits and bodies are warded against foul necromancy that would seek to turn the master’s dear ally against them as an undead.

A fun archetype which can give you a lot of useful divination utility on tap, not to mention the ability to strike true against DR and incorporeal resistances that animal companions normally struggle against. However, you will need to expend more resources to protect them against area effect and mind-affecting magics, so keep that in mind. You might also want to consider pairing this archetype up with animal companions that only have a single natural attack as well, since they wouldn’t be bothered by the lack of multiattack, but that remains up to you. Obviously this archetype works best for druids and hunters, since they can utilize the full suite of bonus spells available with this archetype, but in theory you could use it with limited results with other classes or archetypes.

Given their sacred nature, I can imagine that these companions may be the most commonly decorated companions out there, with their master or those devoted to the natural forces adorning them with jewelry, fine armor, body painting, and more. After all, to the nature-inclined, such guides are often seen as living avatars of the faith.

  Something unnatural has awakened beneath Curnok Marsh, a force heralded by it adaptive ooze minions. While versatile in their arts, the druid Ustark and his wizened crocodile companion know they cannot face these creatures and their true master alone.

 Far-removed from her people, Janria the lashunta druid follows the way of the Green One, forming a pact with a surprisingly wise juvenile treant named Barkscar, named for the lightning scorch mark on his chest.