NOUMENON DRAKE
Image!The souls of dragons, ancient and powerful, permeate the land. Characters who learn to tap into this wellspring of energy find themselves aspiring to the Draconic Ideal.
MAKING A NOUMENON DRAKE A noumenon drake is a draconic meldshaper.
Abilities: Constitution (for hit points and meldshaping) and Charisma (for Ideals and other class features) are a noumenon drake's most important attributes.
Races: Azurin humans and the descendants of the Mishtai are the most common noumenon drakes.
Alignment: Any, though a noumenon drake may choose to express some Ideals over others based on her alignment.
Starting Gold: As bard.
Starting Age: As bard.
HD: d6
Class Skills A Noumenon Drake has all skills as class skills.
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int
Table: The Noumenon Drake
| Base
Attack |
Fort |
Reflex |
Will |
|
|
Essentia |
Chakra |
| Level | Bonus | Save | Save | Save | Special | Soulmelds | Pool | Binds |
| 1 | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Dragontouched, dragonmelds | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Ideal chakra bind (+1 capacity) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Scales | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Chakra bind (crown, feet, hands) | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Ideal infusion | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Breath | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | Ideal impetus | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 8 | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | Axiom of spirit | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 9 | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | Dual ideal, chakra bind (arms, brow, shoulders) | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 10 | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Essential doctrine | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 11 | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Rapid re-expression | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| 12 | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Ideal chakra bind (2 melds) | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| 13 | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | Improved Ideal infusion | 7 | 10 | 3 |
| 14 | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | Axiom of being, chakra bind (throat, waist) | 7 | 11 | 3 |
| 15 | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | Ideal chakra bind (+2 capacity) | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| 16 | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Quick re-expression | 8 | 13 | 4 |
| 17 | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | Chakra bind (heart) | 8 | 14 | 4 |
| 18 | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Ideal triad | 8 | 16 | 5 |
| 19 | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | Speedy re-expression | 9 | 18 | 5 |
| 20 | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | Axiom of will, chakra bind (soul) | 9 | 20 | 5 |
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Noumenon drakes are proficient with all simple weapons, as well as any natural weapons they gain through soulmelds or class features. They are also proficient with light armor and shields (but not tower shields).
Ideals: A noumenon drake idolizes the ancient, powerful souls of dragons, and seeks to emulate this most fundamental aspect of being in her own life. She focuses on a few different types of dragons which most closely represent her personal philosophies, and trains herself to mimic the abilities of her chosen few. These sets of abilities are known as Ideals. Each day, a noumenon drake chooses to express an Ideal that she knows, gaining one or more special abilities from the Ideal depending on her skill at expressing it (represented by her Idealist level). The number of Ideals a noumenon drake knows depends on her Idealist level, which is the sum of her levels in all classes which grant the ability to express Ideals; the noumenon drake's ability to use Ideal powers and her number of Ideal power daily uses are also determined by her Idealist level. See Chapter 1: Being an Idealist for rules, and Chapter 4: Draconic Ideals for full descriptions of all the Ideals.
Expressing an Ideal requires a good night's sleep and 1 hour of contemplation, after which the noumenon drake can access the abilities of her chosen Ideal. A noumenon drake can express only one Ideal at a time (but see Dual Ideal and Ideal Triad, below). The Ideal a noumenon drake expresses determines the energy type of her Scales and Breath class features, as well as which soulmelds can be bound to the Ideal chakra (see Dragonmelds and Ideal chakra bind , below). The caster level for any spell-like or supernatural abilities granted by a noumenon drake's Ideals is equal to her Idealist Level. (All Ideal powers which require spending one of these uses say so in the power description.)
Dragontouched (Ex): A noumenon drake gains Dragontouched as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. In addition, any draconic feats she selects function as if her draconic ancestors were of the same type as any Ideal she expresses. For example, a noumenon drake with the Draconic Heritage feat who expressed the Black Dragon Ideal would gain the benefit of Draconic Heritage (Black); if she switched the next day to the Gold Dragon Ideal, she would gain the benefit of Draconic Heritage (Gold) instead.
Dragonmelds (Su): A noumenon drake works with the primeval soul energy of dragons (and other species, as dragons have spread their progeny across almost every bloodline), shaping soulmelds of pure draconic animus. The Draconic Ideals that she knows and expresses guide her choices, as they guide every other aspect of her daily lives.
A noumenon drake can shape incarnum soulmelds, which are drawn from the combined list of soulmelds granted by the Ideals she knows (as described on the table below) and the list of
draconic soulmelds, which are available to every noumenon drake. She knows and can shape any soulmeld from this list. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a noumenon drake soulmeld is 10 + number of points of essentia invested in the soulmeld + the noumenon drake's Charisma modifier. Her meldshaper level is equal to her Idealist level.
A noumenon drake can shape only a certain number of soulmelds per day. Her base daily allotment is given on the table above; the maximum number of soulmelds that a noumenon drake can have shaped simultaneously is equal to her Constitution score minus 10, or the number of soulmelds allowed for her level, whichever is lower. At 1st level, she can shape one soulmeld at a time (assuming she has a Constitution score of at least 11). As she advances in level, she can shape an increasing number of soulmelds.
At 1st level, a noumenon drake also gains access to her personal pool of essentia, which can be invested into her soulmelds to increase their power. A noumenon drake's essentia pool's size is shown on the table above. The maximum quantity of essentia that can be invested in any single soulmeld is given in Magic of Incarnum, table 2.1. Each round as a swift action, a noumenon drake can reallocate her essentia investments in her soulmelds if she wishes. A noumenon drake does not study or prepare soulmelds in advance, but must have a good night's rest and must meditate for 1 hour to shape her soulmelds for the day.
Chakra binds: Beginning at 2nd level, a noumenon drake can bind her soulmelds to her chakras, granting her new powers based on the soulmeld and the chakra chosen. Binding a soulmeld to a chakra closes the body slot associated with that chakra (see Chakras, page 50 of Magic of Incarnum; however, the Ideal chakra, described below, does not close a body slot), so that she cannot also benefit from a magic item worn on the body slot associated with that chakra.
The number of chakra binds that a noumenon drake can have active at any one time depends on her level (see the Binds column on the table above). At 2nd level, she can bind a soulmeld to her Ideal chakra (see below). Beginning at 4th level, she can bind soulmelds to her crown, feet, or hands chakras. At 9th level, she can bind soulmelds to her arms, brow, or shoulders chakras. At 14th level, she can bind soulmelds to her throat or waist chakras. At 17th level, she can bind a soulmeld to her heart chakra, and she gains access to her soul chakra at 20th level.
Ideal chakra bind: At 2nd level, a noumenon drake gains access to a unique chakra: the Ideal chakra bind. This chakra is not associated with any location on the body, but rather represents her connection to the ancient, arcane soul energy of dragons and the Draconic Ideal. Only draconic soulmelds and the soulmelds associated with the noumenon drake's expressed Ideal may be bound to the Ideal chakra. Since the Ideal chakra doesn't match a body location, binding a soulmeld to this chakra doesn't restrict her use of magic items that take up a body location.
Any soulmeld bound to a noumenon drake's Ideal chakra has an essentia capacity 1 higher than the normal capacity for her other soulmelds, which increases to +2 capacity at 15th level. At 12th level, the noumenon drake can bind two soulmelds to her Ideal chakra simultaneously, both of which gain the expanded capacity.
Scales (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, a noumenon drake's skin thickens, forming scales similar to those of a dragon. She gains a natural armor bonus equal to her Constitution modifier, and energy resistance equal to her Charisma modifier against the energy type associated with her expressed Ideal. If the noumenon drake is expressing more than one ideal (see Dual Ideal or Ideal Triad, below), she gains resistance against every energy type associate with each of her expressed Ideals.
Ideal infusion (Su): Starting at 5th level, a noumenon drake learns to infuse the incarnum she wields directly with the power of her draconic Ideal. If the noumenon drake has a soulmeld bound to her Ideal chakra, she may spend a use of her Ideal powers as a swift action and choose a soulmeld bound to her Ideal chakra. If the chosen soulmeld is associated with one of the noumenon drake's expressed Ideals, she treats that soulmeld as if it were filled to its maximum essentia capacity (including the increase due to the effects of the Ideal chakra bind); if it is a draconic soulmeld, she instead gains the ability associated with that soulmeld, described below. In either case, this lasts for 1 round; however, once per day the noumenon drake may invest essentia in this class feature to increase the duration by 1 round per invested essentia. Once the amount of essentia invested is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours.
Breath (Su): Upon reaching 6th level, a noumenon drake unlocks a new reflection of the Draconic Ideal, gaining the ability to breathe a blast of energy at her foes. As a standard action, the noumenon drake deals 1d4 energy damage per three Idealist levels (rounded down) to all foes in a line of length equal to 5 feet per class level. Opponents gain a Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 Idealist level + Charisma modifier) for half damage; the type of energy is given by the noumenon drake's expressed Ideal. If the noumenon drake is expressing more than one ideal (see Dual Ideal or Ideal Triad, below), she chooses one type of energy associated with one of her Ideals when she activates the ability. Once she uses this ability, a noumenon drake may not use it again for 1d4 rounds.
In addition, a noumenon drake may invest essentia in this class feature as she would any other essentia receptacle, subject to the same limits on amount of essentia that can be invested at one time. If she does so, she increases the damage die size of her breath weapon by one step for each invested essentia.
Ideal impetus (Su): When a noumenon drake achieves 7th level, she learns how to enhance her draconic Ideals with her reservoir of soul power. She may invest essentia in this class feature as she would any other essentia receptacle, subject to the same limits on amount of essentia that can be invested at one time. If she does so, she gains an enhancement bonus to her Idealist level with her expressed Ideal equal to the amount of invested essentia. If the noumenon drake is expressing more than one Ideal, she must choose one, and may choose a different Ideal each time she reallocates her essentia. This ability does not allow the noumenon drake to access a new tier of abilities from her expressed Ideal, only increases her effective Idealist level for determining the effects of her Ideal powers.
Axiom of spirit (Su): Starting at 8th level, a noumenon drake learns to sense the fabric of soul energy which permeates living things. By spending a use of her Ideal powers, she gains the ability to see any creature with a soul, as per the Lifesense feat (except that it works on souled creatures instead of living creatures), for 1 round. In addition, once per day the noumenon drake may invest essentia in this ability to increase the duration of the effect by 2 rounds per invested essentia. Once the amount of essentia invested is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours.
Dual ideal: A noumenon drake of 9th level or higher learns the ability to express two Ideals simultaneously, gaining the benefit of both Ideals. She can still only change one at a time with the Rapid Re-expression class feature (see below) or other means of changing her expressed Ideal.
Essential doctrine (Su): At 10th level, a noumenon drake learns the solemn truth that sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice a part for the good of the whole. As a move action, the noumenon drake can sacrifice her ability to use her Ideal powers (and her ability to spend uses of her Ideal powers for other effects) for any number of rounds. If she does so, she gains 1 temporary essentia per tier of Ideal powers that she has unlocked (i.e., 1 for Wyrmling powers, 2 for Juvenile, 3 for Adult powers, etc.), which lasts for an equal number of rounds. She may invest her temporary essentia as part of the same action.
Rapid re-expression (Su): Beginning at 11th level, a noumenon drake learns to change her focus more quickly than normal. Once per day, she can change her expressed Ideal by spending a full-round action meditating, which does not provoke attacks of opportunity. In addition, once per day the noumenon drake may invest essentia in this ability to gain an additional daily use of this ability per invested essentia. Once the amount of essentia invested is chosen, it cannot be altered and remains invested for 24 hours.
Improved Ideal infusion (Su): Whenever a noumenon drake of 13th level or higher uses her Ideal Infusion ability, the effect lasts for twice as long (2 rounds + 2 rounds per invested essentia).
Axiom of will (Su): Starting at 14th level, a noumenon drake is so steeped in residual soul energy that it becomes quite difficult for other creatures to control her actions or thoughts. By spending a use of her Ideal powers as an immediate action, the noumenon drake gains an insight bonus to saves vs a single mind-affecting effect equal to three times the amount of essentia invested in this class feature. She may invest essentia in this class feature as she would any other essentia receptacle, subject to the same limits on amount of essentia that can be invested at one time.
Quick re-expression: Upon reaching 15th level, whenever a noumenon drake uses her Rapid Re-expression class feature, it requires a standard action instead of a full-round action.
Ideal triad: At 18th level, a noumenon drake learns the ability to express three Ideals simultaneously, gaining the benefit of all three Ideals. She can still only change one at a time with the Rapid Re-expression class feature and similar effects.
Speedy re-expression: Beginning at 19th level, whenever a noumenon drake uses her Rapid Re-expression class feature, it requires a move action instead of a standard action.
Axiom of being (Su): Upon reaching 20th level, a noumenon drake takes control of her own life, becoming a force in the world on par with the dragons she idolizes. By spending a use of her Ideal powers as a full-round action, she may reshape and/or rebind any soulmelds she has shaped, allowing her to shape different melds, change occupied and bound chakras, and reallocate her essentia.
