The First Blade

# Herald, The First Blade

*Harsh flourishes decorate the armor of this ironclad giant, as though it were the war regalia of some merciless warlord.*

## The First Blade CR 15

**Source** *Inner Sea Gods pg. 288**(Amazon)*

**XP** 51,200

CN Large outsider (chaotic, extraplanar, herald)

**Init** +5; **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., ironsense 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +23

**Aura** rage (100 ft.)

### Defense

**AC** 30, touch 10, flat-footed 29 (+20 armor, +1 Dex, –1 size)

**hp** 261 (18d10+162); regeneration 5 (adamantine)

**Fort** +20, **Ref** +12, **Will** +8

**Defensive Abilities** fortification (75%)B4; **DR** 15/adamantine and law; **Immune** magic, poison; **Resist** cold 10, sonic 10

### Offense

**Speed** 30 ft.

**Melee** 2 slams +29 (2d10+16/×19–20 plus bleed)

**Ranged**nuclear resonator +29 (2d10+16/×19–20), atom gun +29 (2d10+16/×19–20)

**Space** 10 ft., **Reach** 10 ft.

**Special Attacks** bladed slam, bleed (1d10), powerful blows

**Spell-Like Abilities** (CL 18th; concentration +19)

At will—*instant summons*(any nonmagical weapon)

3/day—*chill metal*(DC 13), *heat metal*(DC 13), *repel metal or stone*, *wall of iron*

1/day—*blade barrier*(DC 17)

### Statistics

**Str** 32, **Dex** 13, **Con** 28, **Int** 10, **Wis** 15, **Cha** 13

**Base Atk** +18; **CMB** +30 (+32 bull rush or overrun); **CMD** 41 (43 vs. bull rush or overrun)

**Feats** Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (slam)

**Skills** Acrobatics +22, Climb +32, Intimidate +22, Knowledge (history) +21, Perception +23, Sense Motive +23

**Languages** Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Infernal, Protean

**SQ** change shape (swarm form; see below), lord of battle, no breath

### Ecology

**Environment** any (Elysium)

**Organization** solitary

**Treasure** standard

### Special Abilities

**Bladed Slam (Ex)** The First Blade’s slam attacks deal bludgeoning and slashing damage. Its slams count as natural weapons or manufactured weapons (whichever is most beneficial to it) for the purpose of spells that enhance attacks, and as adamantine, chaotic, and magic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness.

**Ironsense (Ex)** The First Blade automatically detects iron objects within 60 feet, just as if it possessed the blindsight ability.

**Immunity to Magic (Su)** The First Blade has the same immunity to magic as an iron golem. It can lower this resistance for 1 round as a standard action.

**Lord of Battle (Ex)** The First Blade is proficient in all weapons and counts as an 18th-level barbarian and fighter for the purposes of all prerequisites.

**Rage Aura (Su)** Willing creatures within 100 feet of the First Blade gain the effects of *rage*automatically, whether they are allies or enemies of the herald. Those who choose not to be affected are immune to the aura until they leave the area and return.

**Swarm Form (Su)** The herald can transform into a floating swarm of Tiny sharp metal fragments. In this form it has the swarm subtype, cannot make slam attacks, gains the distraction ability (DC 28), and can make a swarm attack that deals 4d6 points of slashing damage to its targets.

Said to have been formed from an unthinking sliver of steel dashed from Gorum’s blade during one of his violent clashes with a god-beast felled long ago, the First Blade is a living tool of war. Inspired by Gorum’s divine bloodlust, the First Blade continues to do battle in the service of its divine master. It has been reforged through the eons into a manifestation of Gorum’s perfect warrior, and now serves as the war god’s herald, traveling where its master desires. The herald answers only the calls of those who please Gorum in battle—weakling priests who beg for salvation from deadly foes never have their entreaties answered. Tales tell of the herald appearing amid lesser battles and, upon finding them to be mere skirmishes or clashes among weaklings, slaughtering all involved in disgust.

The appearance of the First Blade transforms to match a style of armor that’s impressive to those it will be facing in battle. Regardless of its form, it typically stands about 15 feet tall and weighs nearly 5 tons.