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Azure Ascetic
"There are a few of us who have learned the real secret of soul energy... and have managed to share it with others.  It's not an easy path you have chosen, but I think, in the end, that you will find yourself better for it."
--Sorrin Fleer, azure ascetic, to an aspiring pilgrim

Some anchorites learn to connect, not only to the strength and power of their own soul, but to the combined soul-energy of all creatures who have ever lived, otherwise known as incarnum.  These "azure ascetics" learn to increase the power and versatility of their spellshape auras by combining them with soulmelds, essentia, and chakra binds.

Becoming an Azure Ascetic
The most obvious path to becoming an azure ascetic includes levels in the anchorite class, as it grants the ability to project spellshape auras, and levels in an incarnum class.  However, any spellshaper can gain a slightly weaker aura by taking the Spellshape Aura feat, and any character can gain access to soulmelds, essentia, and chakra binds through the relevant feats, allowing those of wildly varying backgrounds to enter this class.

Entry Requirements
   Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks
   Arcane Formulae: Ability to shape 2nd-level formulae
   Meldshaping: Ability to bind a soulmeld to a chakra
   Special: Must be able to project at least one spellshape aura

Table: The Azure Ascetic					HD: d6
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Base Attack Bonus +0 +1 +1 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5	Fort Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3	Ref Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3	Will Save +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +6 +7	Formulae Known 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0	Formulae Prepared 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1	Special Aura bind I, aura investment Aura bind I, chakra bind (crown, feet, hands) Aura bind I, soulmeld projection Aura bind II, spellshape infusion Aura bind II, improved aura investment Aura bind II, chakra bind (arms, brow, shoulders) Aura bind III, improved soulmeld projection Aura bind III, greater aura investment Aura bind (heart), improved spellshape infusion Aura bind (soul), chakra bind (throat, waist)	Meldshaping — +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class — +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class +1 level of existing class

Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level): Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana, religion, the planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis).

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the azure ascetic.

   Formulae: At each indicated level, you gain a new formula known from any of the circles of formulae to which you have access.  In addition to meeting the formula's prerequisite, your spellshaping ability score must be equal to at least 10 + the formula's level in order to learn it.  You add your full azure ascetic levels to your shaper level to determine your total shaper level and your highest-level formulae known.
   At each indicated level, you gain an additional formula prepared per day.

   Meldshaping: At each indicated level, you increase your meldshaper level, the number of soulmelds you can shape, the number of chakra binds you can create, and your essentia pool as if you had gained a level in a meldshaping class to which you belonged prior to gaining the azure ascetic level. You do not, however, gain any other abilities of that class, such as new tiers of chakra binds.  If you had more than one meldshaping class before becoming an azure ascetic, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining your essentia pool, meldshaper level, and the number of soulmelds and chakra binds available.

   Aura Investment (Su): At 1st level, you learn the most basic technique of the azure ascetic, that of investing essentia into your spellshape aura.  You may invest essentia into any spellshape aura you project at any time, as if it were a soulmeld.  For each essentia you invest in a spellshape aura, your effective shaper level for that aura increases by +1.

   Aura Bind (Su): Also at first level, you learn to bind your spellshape auras to your chakras.  Choose one of your least chakras (crown, feet, or hands); you may use one of your daily chakra binds to bind your spellshape aura to that chakra.  You gain access to another least chakra at level 2 and 3; for levels 4 thru 6, choose a lesser chakra (arms, brow, or shoulders) at each level; and at levels 7 and 8, choose a greater chakra (throat or waist) to gain access to.  At level 9 you can bind a spellshape aura to your heart chakra, and at level 10 you can bind a spellshape aura to your soul chakra.  You may bind a spellshape aura you project to any chakra you have access to through this ability, even if you do not have the ability to bind soulmelds to that chakra; each spellshape aura you project can be bound to only one chakra at a time.  The benefit of binding a spellshape aura to a given chakra is described in the table below; each benefit applies to any creature affected by the bound spellshape aura.

Chakra	Benefit
Crown	Gain a +1 bonus to Will saves to resist enchantment spells and effects for each essentia invested in the aura.
Feet	Gain a +1 bonus to Reflex saves to take half damage from area-of-effect spells for each essentia invested in the aura.
Hands	Gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls with spellshape attacks for each essentia invested in the aura.
Arms	Gain a +2 bonus to opposed checks for each essentia invested in the aura.
Brow	Gain blindsense at a range of 10 feet per essentia invested in the aura
Shoulders	Reroll a natural 1 on a saving throw once per minute for each essentia invested in the aura.
Throat	Gain damage reduction equal to three times the number of essentia invested in the aura, bypassed only by spellshape attacks.
Waist	Each round, ignore 3 points of energy damage (of any type) per point of essentia invested in the aura.
Heart	Gain fast healing equal to 3 times the number of essentia invested in the aura.
Soul	Gain spell resistance equal to 10 + three times the number of essentia invested in the aura, which applies only to spells and spell-like abilities cast by enemies.

   Chakra Binds: As you attain higher levels, you can bind your soulmelds and magic items to your chakras, gaining new powers based on the combination chosen. At 2nd level, you can bind your soulmelds or magic items to your least chakras (crown, feet, and hands), in addition to any other chakras you have available. When you attain 6th level, your lesser chakras (arms, brow, and shoulders) become available for chakra binds, and at 10th level you can bind soulmelds or magic items to your greater chakras (throat and waist).

   Soulmeld Projection (Su): Once you reach 3rd level, you learn to project the effects of your soulmelds the same way you would a spellshape aura.  At any time as a swift action, you can choose to forego the normal effect of a spellshape aura you project (including the effect of an aura bind, if applicable) to grant the benefit of any soulmeld you have shaped to all allies within range of your spellshape aura.  You do not project the effects of the soulmeld's chakra binds, if applicable, only its base effect. You may reallocate your essentia as part of the same swift action.

   Spellshape Infusion (Su): Beginning at 4th level, you learn to blend spellshaping and incarnum to an even greater degree.  Once per round as a free action, you may expend a prepared formula to gain 1 temporary essentia point which lasts for one round.  You can immediately invest that essentia as part of the same action.

   Improved Aura Investment (Su): At 5th level, the essentia capacity of your spellshape auras increases by 1.

   Improved Soulmeld Projection: Starting at 7th level, whenever you use your soulmeld projection ability, if the soulmeld is bound to a chakra, any creatures affected by your soulmeld projection also gain the benefit of an aura bind for that chakra.

   Greater aura investment (Su): Upon reaching 8th level, the essentia capacity of your spellshape auras again increases by 1.  In addition, whenever you shape a formula from the same circle as an aura you have essentia invested in, that formula gains a bonus to its effective shaper level equal to the amount of essentia invested in the spellshape aura.

   Improved Spellshape Infusion: At 9th level, your blending of incarnum and spellshaping is masterful.  Whenever you use your spellshape infusion ability, you instead gain temporary essentia equal to half the level of the formula you expended, rounded up.

Playing an Azure Ascetic
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Combat
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Advancement
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Resources
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Azure Ascetics in the World
"Something."
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Organization
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NPC Reactions
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Azure Ascetic Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (religion) can research azure ascetics to learn more about them.  When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including the information from lower DCs.

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Azure Ascetics in the Game
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Adaptation
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