Vessel and Guardian System

## **Vessel System**

“
 It is said that the greatest of adventurers are able to dominate creatures of incommensurable powers and host them in their equipment. The legendary hero, Galibad, was said to have one such creature hosted in each part of his equipment. The stories said he fought without using any magical item or potions but with him came mythical creatures that fought beside him and lent him their power.

”

### **Scaling and Function**

Unlike the Guardian Templates which attune to a creature and add to their strength, the vessel system relies on equipment. During your adventures, you may happen to find merchants selling haunted or possessed items or creatures that will inhabit (willingly or not) pieces of equipment such as weapons, armor, or accessories. This piece of equipment loses all magical properties inherent to it and becomes a Vessel.

At certain Levels (total, not individual Class Levels), the ability and number of Vessels you may command increases, often at the expense of Attunement Slots.

* *At 1st Level, a Vessel replaces all Attunement Slots.*

* *At 5th Level, you may have a Vessel and one Attuned Item.*

* *At 10th Level, you may have two Vessels but no Attunement Slot or a Vessel and two Attuned Items.*

* *At 15th Level, you may have three Vessels but no Attunement Slot, two Vessels and two Attunement Slots or one Vessel and three Attunement Slots.*

* *At 20th Level, you may have six Vessels but no Attunement Slot or three Vessels with three Attunement Slots.*

### **Power and Risk**

The effect of your Vessel will depend heavily on the creature that inhabits it. Here are some examples of the benefits you may gain through a Vessel:

* *Temporary fusion of the creature and you, granting you a temporary boost in power.*

* *Summoning the creature inside.*

* *Using the creature’s inherent magical or supernatural abilities as your own.*

* *The creature shields you from attacks and grants you a bonus to AC and all Saving Throws.*

Not all Vessels are created equal as the creature inside largely determines the power level of that Vessel. If you are too weak compared to the creature inside, it is possible that you might become the inhabitant of the Vessel in its stead and lose control over your body.

## **Guardian System**

“
 Throughout Luctus lies dormant creatures of immense and mythical strength... to some they embody the spiritual essence of the countries they reside in...to others, they are merely a tool to attain greater power.

”

### **Scaling and Function**

Unlike the Vessel System which attunes to an item and borrows power from the creature inside, the Guardian System imbues a person with a mythical creature’s essence, empowering them beyond the ken of mortals. During your adventures, you may gain the trust or admiration of Mythical-Grade Creatures, creatures that have existed since the Dawn of Ages, immortal and powerful. Such creatures sometimes take a liking to mortals and decide to lend them a part of their power in exchange for protection, amusement or service.

### **Power and Risk**

The boost in power you obtain from a Mythical Creature derives directly from its own abilities. Unlike Vessel Abilities, the enhancements you obtain are often more practical as your body or mind becomes stronger, you gain a bonus in Ability Scores suited to the Mythical Creature. All Guardians are able to further their bond with the Mythical Creature they’re a Guardian for and obtain even greater power as their essences meld further together. You also unlock some thematic abilities, some examples of which can be found in the following links:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qVwVtgMnvsFhDk1O0D4dXW0gMoXqJNJNSt00MZxmpOM/edit?usp=sharing