Archives of Nethys
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Heroic Scion
Source Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 76Regular people often quip about the eventful lives of legendary heroes with pithy witticisms such as “no good deed goes unpunished” or “no rest for the wicked.” Whatever the source of such wisdom, these words could correctly describe the never-ending struggle between good and evil and the fight for survival in a world of monsters and nefarious plots. For the most heroic adventurers, peril begets peril and one crisis often gives way to the next.
Such is the nature of growing in power. The pool of similarly powerful figures becomes smaller, and the stakes for future conflicts grow higher. For many such adventurers, it’s difficult to find peace, especially if a past rival resurfaces. Such foes might demand a reckoning with the same heroes who 76 defeated them before, and even if those heroes have gone on to the afterlife, they still may return to do battle with old foes once again.
These sons and daughters of destiny, known as heroic scions, return whenever trouble arises. Whether they return from the beyond as a reincarnated soul in a newborn body destined for glory or manifest within the soul of a hero who happens to be in the right place at the right time, the end result for the heroic scion is the same—the sudden recollection of astounding deeds and great victories from a past life. Academics debate whether these individuals share a similar soul born to fight against serious threats or whether every great power gives rise to a karmic enemy. Possibly the explanation is much simpler—great heroes come forward to battle great evil, and history remembers the champions of both sides.
A heroic scion’s purpose goes beyond mere revenge or simple misadventure. These fated figures possess a true destiny: to defeat an enemy capable of altering the course of mortal life or the cyclical frustration of an enduring adversary. Should a scion, or even a party of scions, achieves total victory over their quarry, the universe tends to provide a new enemy worthy of their might.
Scions come from every possible type of adventurer but share preternatural toughness as a common trait. While they return to life from death within a new body, they’re never exactly the same as their previous incarnation. Full details of their past lives are initially fleeting, but as the heroic scion grows in power, their old memories surface as their potency increases. Some might seek out old companions or their spiritual successors, while others soldier on alone, a unique thorn in the side of their equally timeless adversary.
Along with the heroic scion’s perseverance, they exhibit other gifts. Most possess a strong sense of self and are all but incorruptible in that regard. They remember the lessons of history’s great battles, having taken part in many themselves. Likewise, they recall their defeats and humiliations, yet they don’t dwell upon these in a negative way—instead seeking to learn from past mistakes so that when they’re faced with similar situations in this new incarnation, they can bring the wisdom of one who has suffered before to solve the problem. After so many years of conflict, heroic scions master familiar tactics and terrains and become experts in dealing with their recurring enemies. A heroic scion may rest when their nemesis is defeated but always remembers their place when the villain returns.
Choosing Your Hero
The heroic scion gives a player the chance to play the reincarnated soul of a previous PC who has perished and moved on to the afterlife. The previous hero need not be mythic, nor even as high a level as the current PC, but the merging of their life into the form of the heroic scion catapults both into the higher stratum of mythic power.Whether a player chooses a previous PC as their past life or selects another hero chosen from the world’s history, the player gets to decide if their current character identifies as that past hero or simply recalls their previous adventures as they live their new life as a heroic scion. If the player has no prior PC to choose from, they can also select a dead heroic NPC ally or notable figure from a previous campaign. The player should work with the GM to determine who their past life was and then strive to flavor their mythic destiny feats so they echo their reincarnated soul more accurately from a narrative and flavor standpoint.
Heroic Scion Dedication Feat 12
This Feat may contain spoilers from the Revenge of the Runelords Adventure Path
Rare Destiny MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 77
Archetype Heroic Scion
Destiny calls, and the soul of a dead hero reincarnates to take up the fight! Either an old enemy resumes their efforts to affect chaos and violence, or a new threat arises and you feel compelled to stand against it. You’ve stood against evil before, and the time is nigh for you to do so once again.
When you select this mythic destiny, work with your GM to determine the best choice for which previous PC or NPC serves as the source of your reincarnation. For the Revenge of the Runelords Adventure Path in particular, any PC who played a role in the Rise of the Runelords, Shattered Star, or Return of the Runelords Adventure Paths makes for a perfect fit—as would any allied NPC who, in your previous campaign, perished before the end.
A heroic scion comes into the world when a nemesis from their old adventures returns. In the case of this campaign, the heroic scion’s nemesis are the ancient runelords of Thassilon. In other campaigns, this nemesis can be a specific individual, a coterie of rivals, or an organization you’re destined to oppose. You instinctively know when your nemesis is active in the world. This knowledge may begin as nightmares or a feeling of inevitable conflict but grows stronger and more specific as you contemplate further. You also know when this entity or group has been fully defeated and ceases to operate at all. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks to Seek or Sense Motive whenever an ally or servant of your nemesis attempts to Lie to you, escape your notice, or Impersonate someone else.
Fate has deemed you incredibly hard to kill. You reduce the DC of recovery checks by 1.
Choose one skill that’s not a Lore skill, based on the themes of your reincarnated heroic source. Your GM can help you determine a list of appropriate skills to choose from. When you employ an action using that skill, you may spend a Mythic Point to attempt the associated check at mythic proficiency.
Finally, you gain the Additional Lore feat for a special Lore skill subcategory—Incarnation Lore. This Lore skill allows you to become aware of or recall your past exploits. When you increase your proficiency in Incarnation Lore, you remember more about your previous adventures. Certain heroic scion feats require you to attempt an Incarnation Lore check, such as when you attempt the following activity granted you by this feat.
Flash of Memory [free-action]
Source Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 77Spend a Mythic Point and attempt an Incarnation Lore check at mythic proficiency to Recall Knowledge in place of making any other Lore check (other than Incarnation Lore).
Avoid Fate's Gaze Feat 14
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 77
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Your past and current enemies may know you by reputation, but spying on you with magic is much more difficult. Whenever you attempt a saving throw against a scrying or effect, you do so at mythic proficiency. Scrying effects that attempt to observe you that don’t allow saving throws to resist (such as clairaudience or clairvoyance) treat you as if you were concealed and actively trying to Hide or Sneak unless they are mythic as well.
I've Been Here Before Feat 14
Exploration MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 77
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
You adapt quickly to new settings and terrains. When you make your daily preparations in a region you’ve never visited before (such as a city, geographical region, or small demiplane, but not in a dungeon, structure, or other location that focuses on encounter mode play), you spend part of that time introspectively digging into the memories of your past life to get a feel for the adventure that awaits. Choose one of the following Exploration activities: Avoid Notice, Defend, Investigate, Scout, or Search. You perform that exploration activity at full speed rather than at half speed, and any skill check you attempt as a result of this Exploration activity is made at mythic proficiency. These benefits end as soon as you enter a new region, as determined by the GM.
Internal Dialogue [reaction] Feat 14
Fortune MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Frequency once per 10 minutes
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Trigger You fail a skill check.
Past experiences or even past selves whisper words of advice and encouragement when you need them. Roll an Incarnation Lore check and use that result instead of your failed skill check result.
My Reputation Precedes Me Feat 14
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Long years of brave exploits haven’t gone unnoticed. Whether you know just the right things to say or those you’re speaking with recognize you as a reincarnated hero, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks made to Gather Information or Make An Impression, and to Intimidation checks made to Coerce. At 18th level, these circumstance bonuses increase to +3. If you spend a Mythic point when you attempt such a check, you do so at mythic proficiency.
Reincarnated Companion Feat 14
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication; familiar or nimble or savage animal companion
You’re not alone in having a legendary past life—so too does your companion. This previous life might be the return of an animal companion or familiar a previous PC of yours had that perished, or it could be the reincarnation of an entirely different legendary creature. It could even be the returning spirit of a close friend or ally who stood by your side. If you have an animal companion, it gains one specialization of your choice. If you have a familiar, it gains two additional familiar abilities. If your fated companion is slain, you can replace it at no cost when you perform your daily preparations.
To Thine Own Self [reaction] Feat 14
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Trigger You fail a saving throw against an effect that would alter your memory or cause you to become controlled by another creature.
Awareness of your past perils protects you from those who would manipulate your thoughts. Attempt to counteract the triggering effect using your Incarnation Lore modifier as your counteract modifier and half your level as your counteract rank.
Daunting Spell [one-action] Feat 16
Concentrate Mythic SpellshapeSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Your enemies feel the inevitability of defeat once they feel the potency of your magic. If your next action is to Cast a Spell that allows a saving throw, your spell gains the emotion, fear, and mental traits. The spell gains the following success and failure effects in addition to any other effects it would normally have. If the target is your nemesis or an ally of your nemesis, use mythic proficiency to determine your spell’s attack bonus and save DC; if the spell has multiple targets, all targets must be your nemesis or allied with your nemesis for you to use mythic proficiency.
Critical Success The target is unaffected by the daunting spell.
Success The target is frightened 1.
Failure The target is frightened 2 and stupefied 1 for as long as they remain frightened. If the daunting spell has a duration, the affected creature can’t reduce their frightened condition from this effect below 1 until the spell’s duration ends.
Critical Failure As failure, but frightened 3 and stupefied 2.
Let Death Be My Weapon Feat 16
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
You recall your death in vivid detail, and the fear, pain, and uncertainty you suffered are blunted by the truth of your reincarnation. Pain and agony brought on by your foes can be endured and even turned back upon them when you feel yourself at death’s door. Whenever you have the doomed, dying, or wounded condition, you gain that condition’s value as a status bonus to damage rolls when you make melee or ranged weapon Strikes. If you have multiple conditions, only the highest value condition counts for setting the amount of this damage bonus. You also gain the following free action.
Share Death's Promises [free-action]
Source Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78Trigger Your turn begins;
Requirements You are gaining a bonus to damage from Let Death Be My Weapon;
Spend a Mythic Point.
You gain a status bonus to damage equal to double the bonus you're receiving from Let Death Be My Weapon that lasts for 1 minute. During this time, this status bonus doesn’t decrease or increase if the value of your doomed, dying, or wounded condition decreases or increases.
Momentary Respite [free-action] Feat 16
Healing MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 78
Archetype Heroic Scion
Frequency once per day
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Trigger You lose Hit Points from persistent damage.
Your sense of destiny manifests as rapid physical healing. Spend a Mythic Point. You regain 8d8 Hit Points and remove any persistent damage condition affecting you. Until the end of your next turn, you’re immune to persistent damage (though you would take any other effects of an attack or spell that would also give you persistent damage).
Vigorous Victor Feat 16
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 79
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Long years of success have not only shown you where your limits lie, they’ve expanded them. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to saving throws against effects that would cause you to become drained, enfeebled, fatigued, sickened, or slowed. Whenever you attempt such a save, you can spend a Mythic Point do so at mythic proficiency. The bonus increases to +3 at 18th level.
On My Best Day [one-action] Feat 18
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 79
Archetype Heroic Scion
Frequency once per hour
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Be they in your current life or your previous one, you’ve had many heroic moments that continue to inspire you. Even past failures or humiliations can become a source of inspiration—or at least, an opportunity to make up for a past error on this new day. Attempt an Incarnation Lore check against a very hard DC of your level.
Critical Success You gain a +3 status bonus to AC and resistance to physical damage equal to your level until the end of your next turn. You can Sustain this effect for up to 1 minute.
Success As critical success, but the status bonus is +2 and the resistance is equal to half your level.
Failure You gain a +1 status bonus to AC until the end of your next turn.
Critical Failure You gain a +1 status bonus to AC against the next attack made against you until the end of your next turn.
Telling Blow [one-action] Feat 18
Flourish MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 79
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Your determination empowers a telling blow to defeat your most powerful enemies. Spend a Mythic Point. Make a Strike at mythic proficiency. If the Strike hits, you deal an extra die of weapon damage. You can spend additional Mythic Points after determining the outcome of the attack to deal one more die of weapon damage per extra Mythic Point spent. If the target of your attack is your nemesis or an ally of your nemesis, you gain two die of weapon damage per extra Mythic Point spent.
If you have no Mythic Points remaining after using this ability, you gain the fatigued condition.
To Me! [two-actions] Feat 18
Auditory Emotion Mental Mythic VisualSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 79
Archetype Heroic Scion
Frequency once per day
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
Two lives spent in adventuring groups has given you a special gift for bolstering party morale and pushing your allies to achieve greater ends when they work as a team. Spend a Mythic Point to rally your allies to your side to regroup or push your advantage. Stride and then make a melee Strike. As soon as your turn is over, your allies within 30 feet who can see and hear you may Stride in your direction as a free action, but don’t have to. Your allies control their own movement and may move in such a way as to avoid obstacles or creatures, but if they Stride, they must be at least 5 feet closer to you than where they were when they started by the end of this movement. If yours or an ally’s movement this round triggers reactions, you or your ally uses mythic proficiency to determine their AC or to attempt a saving throw to resist the reaction. If an ally is within melee range of the target of the Strike you made with this ability, that ally may also make a melee Strike against that enemy as a reaction instead of Striding toward you.
Any Strikes from To Me! made against your nemesis, be they Strikes you make or Strikes made by allies, use mythic proficiency.
Eternal Hero Feat 20
MythicSource Pathfinder Adventure Path #219: Lord of the Trinity Star pg. 79
Archetype Heroic Scion
Prerequisites Heroic Scion Dedication
You might be protected by divine intervention or the necessity of cosmic balance. You might be watched over by agents of destiny or fate. You could even be simply someone whose luck and skill have always worked together to ensure your triumph, no matter the odds you might face. Whatever the explanation, you’re almost impossible to kill. You reduce the DC of recovery checks by 1 (this is cumulative with the reduction from the Heroic Scion Dedication feat). Whenever your doomed condition would increase to 4 or more, it doesn’t increase. The first time each day you would be reduced to 0 Hit Points or outright killed by magical means, you instead remain at 1 Hit Point and become immune to all damage until the end of your next turn.
If you finally do die, you can spend a Mythic Point as a free action to immediately reincarnate—manifesting in a new body with the same statistics (save for potential changes to your ancestry and ancestry feats) within 15 feet of where your death occurred. Each time you repeat this reincarnation, the cost to do so increases by 1, so that after your third reincarnation, you can no longer swiftly return (as no mythic character can ever have more than 3 Mythic Points at one time).
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