Psi-Guardian
By Mark A. Jindra and Scott Brocius

Created by psions to be bodyguards, like their arcane counterparts (shield guardians), psi-guardians are constructs that protect their masters with powers and stamina.

A psi-guardian is an imposing humanoid figure of metal, stone, and crystal that, when fashioned, is keyed to a particular amulet. Henceforth it regards the wearer of that amulet to be its master, protecting and following that person everywhere (unless specifically commanded not to do so).

A psi-guardian obeys its master's verbal commands to the best of its ability, although it is not good for much beyond combat and possibly simple manual labor. It can also be keyed to perform specific tasks at specific times or when certain conditions are met. The wearer of the amulet can call the psi-guardian from any distance, and it will come as long as it is on the same plane.

COMBAT

Call Weaponry (Su): The psi-guardian can manifest the call weaponry power up to 3 times per day. The guardian calls forth a weapon when it enters combat or when instructed by its master. The quality of the weapon is based on the level of the creator: If the level of the creator is unknown, it defaults to 16th level. See Table 1-1 for the weapon type and quality.

Table 1-1: Call Weaponry Effects

Construct Traits: A psi-guardian is immune to mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, necromantic effects, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects. The creature is not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, or death from massive damage. It cannot heal itself but can be healed through repair. It cannot be raised or resurrected. A psi-guardian has darkvision (60-foot range).

Displacement (Su): Melee and ranged attacks made against the psi-guardian miss 50% of the time unless the attacker can locate the construct by some means other than sight. True seeing or a similar effect negates this ability. Displacement can be manifested at will.

Fast Healing (Ex): A psi-guardian regains lost hit points at the rate of 5 per round. Fast healing does not restore hit points lost from starvation, thirst, or suffocation, and it does not allow the psi-guardian to regrow or reattach lost body parts.

Find Master (Su): No matter the distance, as long as they are on the same plane, the psi-guardian can find the amulet wearer (or just the amulet if it is removed after the guardian is called).

Forced Empathic Bond (Sp): The wearer of the keyed amulet can activate this defensive ability if within 100 feet of the psi-guardian. Similar to the power of the same name, this transfers to the guardian half the damage that would be dealt to the amulet wearer. This ability functions even though the psi-guardian has no metabolism. (See the forced empathic bond power in the "Master More Powers of the Mind" article for more information.)

Guard (Ex): The psi-guardian moves swiftly to defend the amulet wearer by its side. It blocks blows and disrupts foes. All attacks against the amulet wearer suffer a -2 deflection penalty.

Power Storing(Sp): The psi-guardian can store one power of 4th-level or lower that is placed into it by another creature. It "manifests" this power when commanded or when a predetermined situation arises. Once this is used, it can store another power (or the same power).

Construction

A psi-guardian costs 125,000 gp to create. This cost includes the construct's physical body, the keyed amulet, and all the materials that are consumed or become a permanent part of them. This cost includes 5,000 gp for the body and 500 gp for the amulet.

The first task is creating the body, which is a humanoid figure of bronze, stone, steel, and crystal. The construct's master can assemble the body or can hire someone else to do the job. Creating the body requires a successful Profession (engineering) or Craft (sculpture) check (DC 16).

The second requirement is creating a keyed amulet from bronze and crystal, which requires a successful Craft (metalworking) check (DC 12)

After the body and amulet are fashioned, the creature must be animated through an extended ritual that requires two weeks to complete. Understanding the ritual requires a 12th-level character with the Craft Universal Item feat. The creator must labor for at least 8 hours each day, which includes 4 hours of intense meditation in a specially prepared laboratory or workroom. The chamber is similar to both an alchemist's laboratory and a smithy and costs 1,000 gp to establish.

When not working on the ritual, the character must rest and can perform no other activities except eating, sleeping, or talking. If personally constructing the creature's body, the creator can perform the building and ritual together. If the creator misses a day of the ritual, the process fails and must be started again. Money spent is lost, but XP spent are not. The psi-guardian's body can be reused as can the chamber.

Completing the ritual drains 2,000 XP from the creator and requires call weaponry, displacement, ectoplasmic armor, know location, forced empathic bond, and true creation, which must be manifested on the final day of the ritual. The creator must manifest the powers personally, but they can come from outside sources such as power stones or dorjes.

Amulet

If the keyed amulet is destroyed, the guardian ceases to function until a new one is created. If the wearer dies but the amulet is intact, the psi-guardian carries out the last command given.