#sunsoul

Bao'Zhai - Tabaxi/Cat Sun Soul Monk.

 “Hold on a tick, Kyle. The warlock class doesn’t exist in Pathfinder!”

You’re right, it doesn’t.

For those who are unaware, the reason why warlocks are a thing in D&D and not in Pathfinder is because of the Open Games License for D&D 3.5, from which Pathfinder is based. This allows other companies to make content for or derived from 3.5 edition as long as they only reference material from the three core books of the setting, or from rare exceptions such as the psionics book or Epic Level Handbook. As such, because the warlock was first introduced as a class in books that came later (Complete Arcane, I think), it continued to make the jump forward into 4th and 5th edition, but could not do so into Pathfinder.

However, the thing about “warlocks” is that they are a common noun, not a specific label like “mind flayer” or “beholder” and other product identity subjects that other media has to make intellectually distinct in order to reference, homage, or parody.

In Old English, “warlock”, derived from “waerloga” means “betrayer” or “deceiver”, and came to be used for the male equivalent of “witch”, the reasoning being that a man practicing magic had turned their back on their oaths to god, and whatnot. Of course, witch is a gender-neutral term to begin with, so the distinction is likely moot.

There is, however, some value in this etymology for today’s version of the warlock. An archetype of the vigilante class, these mystics study their magic in secret, using it publicly only under an assumed identity. This could be because the society they live in persecutes arcane practitioners (or perhaps the traditions practiced by certain groups within that society) or some other reason that they cannot allow themselves to be associated with such arts.

Whether they are traditional vigilantes, villains, or just mages in secret, their power is undeniable. While not as potent as a full caster, they can combine their power with the subtle arts to strike from secret and aid clandestine activities.

Really, the only things connecting this archetype to the warlock of other game systems lies in their reliable magical projectiles and the dubious nature of their craft.

 While not as proficient in armor as other vigilantes, they are more skilled, putting their scholarly ways to work.

Studious as they are, these mystics cast spells much in the same way as a wizard or magus, preparing them from a spellbook and casting them. They study much the same spells as a wizard, though due to their mixed discipline they lack the capacity for the highest-level spells, only getting into the middle range.

Perhaps their most iconic ability is their mastery of arcane secrets to fire arcane bolts of energy with minimal expenditure of energy, allowing them to fire such bolts repeatedly all day. These bolts can be fired as projectiles or conducted in melee combat. At first, they are treated as ordinary attacks, but eventually become magically conductive enough to strike through armor. They also start out as one of the four major energy types, but as they master the art, they learn to deal other types of damage.

These vigilantes also have access to special talents that they may choose to take, such as charging their weapons with various enchantments, including their mystic bolts, shrouding themselves in elemental protection for both defense and attack, gaining a familiar, creating a temporary simulacrum to fill in for them in social situations, allowing them to go do vigilante work while maintaining a public presence, and even store items in a tattoo for concealed storage or even casting.

Given their ability to cast spells from one of the most diverse spell lists in the game, this vigilante archetype can lend itself to a lot of different builds. I personally recommend an even mix, with perhaps a focus on spells that improve your stealth, as well as utility spells for all sorts of situations, with some protection and offense for those important moments. Hit and run tactics are a must for you, so keep that in mind.

 In addition to whatever their other motivations are, these mystics are very likely very interested in acquiring more magical items and lore in order to improve their abilities. However, that can potentially lead down a dark path if they begin crossing the lines in their magical research, a very real risk if all their magic is already considered evil.

  Though a beaming, bright and sunny sunsoul ifrit by day, Caulane cannot abide the cruelties of the new regime around her. Therefore, at night, she dons blue robes and a mask, becoming Coldflame, a vigilante spellcaster who fires bolts of freezing cold and chilling spells alike, though she also sports blasts of other elements for emergencies.

 It isn’t so much that Nerra can’t publicly use her magic because it is forbidden, but because if she did, others would question its source. She rightfully surmises that her tutor, a stranded contemplative, would cause quite a stir if discovered, so she dons the disguise of The Mentalist, performing spells of telekinesis and enchantment to help others.

Moriyah! My Curse of Strahd character! 

She’s a Sun Soul monk, and currently yearns to punch Strahd in his face. XD 

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Context: We’re at a magic school and a necromancer is trying to teach our sunsoul monk necromancy. 

Teacher: Raise the zombie. 

Monk: No. 

T: Raise the zombie. 

M: No. 

T: Raise the zombie. 

M: No. 

T: Raise the zombie. 

M: No. 

T: Raise the zombie.