#Ardril the Would-be King

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Class Feature Friday: Ardril, the Would-Be King (Champion Legendary Medium Spirit)

(art by PReilly on DeviantArt)

 With the champion spirit being what it is, it was surely inevitable that there would be a dragon slayer available to those seeking the power of a legendary warrior.

Unfortunately, little information is given about Ardril, the Would-Be King (not to be confused with Ardril Hestram of the Pathfinder Society), but she was an Ulfen warrior of great reknown, elevated to the status of folk hero after slaying several linnorms on her own.

This would normally qualify her as a Linnorm King several times over, giving her the right to stake her claim on her own private nation within the region. However, Ardril refused such accolades, asserting that she would only take a throne after she had slayed the legendary Fafnheir, the so-called “Father of Linnorms”.

However, the other Linnorm Kings, fearful of losing their positions of power should she succeed, or more likely, abandon that quest and take all that she was owed, sent soldiers to slay her. Though heavily injured, she survived this assassination and fled west to the mythologized Ulfen colony of Valen.

Given that she is now a legendary spirit, it can be assumed that she passed away on the trip or after arriving in Valen, but it wouldn’t be the first time mediums have called upon a spirit of a living person of legend, drawing upon the psychic impression of their deeds. Ardril’s fate is not officially recorded in the setting.

Interestingly, because of the colony’s location on the continent of Arcadia, Ardril’s spirit has spread among Arcadian mediums seeking the power of a foreign warrior and dragonslayer.

As we will see, Ardril is quite a powerful spirit for those seeking the power to take down single opponents.

 As a former Linnorm King in all but actual landed title, it only makes sense that in order to attract Ardril’s call, one must defeat a dragon of sufficient might without any assistance, and then endure Ardril’s memories of resisting countless linnorm death curses. Only then will she answer the medium’s call.

She also offers a special taboo to those seeking more power. Requiring the medium to never seek or accept positions of power while bonded to her. Easy enough for a warrior not interested in authoritative power, not so much for those seeking prestige.

A master of single combat, Ardril grants the medium the ability to challenge foes in a way similar to cavaliers, though in addition to the bonus damage to their chosen target, they also pierce any damage resistance and bolster their own resistances as well.

To the most powerful mediums, however, Ardril grants an additional boon in the form of souped-up versions of the minor linnorm death curses that some barbarians tap into, charging their weapons with deadly energy and promising two crippling magical curses to those that knock them unconscious or kill them.

Interested in a medium that can challenge like a cavalier? This legendary spirit certainly offers that. You’ll have to rely on what weapon proficiencies you have, but the potential for bonus damage against high-priority targets is there. The improved death curses at high level also offer bonus energy damage and a nice bite-back when you finally go down. As such, a tanky build comes to mind, favoring the champion and occasionally the guardian spirit, maybe occasionally the hierophant as well.

 Now, obviously like most legendary spirits, there is plenty of lore behind them, but it’s easy enough to reflavor any famous dragon slayer or knight as the source of this character option.

Also, consider why your character decided to pursue this spirit in the first place. Did they seek to emulate such a legendary hero? Do they share the same sense of honor, or merely reflect it when channeling the spirit? Perhaps they come from a place where duels are common and they wanted an edge in single combat?

 Driven out of his clan for “hearing voices”, Margak the ogre was forced to venture out on his own, learning to survive with the help of the whispers that gave him advice and even guided his body sometimes. After a harrowing encounter with a dragon that he only barely won, he heard a new voice, one claiming to be a mighty dragonslayer.

 A dragonslaying spirit called Ser Magnora has a special request for those who wish to become a vessel for her. Such interested mediums must retrieve her old sword, which is currently buried in the heart of the purrodaemon that slew her, who now wears the weapon as one of it’s many grim prizes.

 Not long after the Wyrmblood pact, a bond of lasting peace between the mortals and dragons of Vindmere, was signed, rumors began to creep in that a legendary dragonslayer long thought dead had returned. In truth, the spirit of the dragonslayer has taken over the medium that sought to channel them, and aims to disrupt the peace between the two groups.