SOUL BINDER
Forge pacts and tether others to your will
"What is death but a shared cost?"
Soul Binders don’t just manipulate life and death, they link it. Vitality flows like data in their hands, distributed across allies, stolen from enemies, and stored for moments of need.
To others, they may appear selfless, always healing, shielding, sacrificing. But Soul Binders are anything but simple medics. They are networked organisms, bonding with others in a lattice of life. When one falls, another rises.
Some believe Soul Binders are the Void's answer to mortality. Others believe they’re an infection, making life a communal disease.
Soul Binders are rare individuals who walk the knife’s edge between vitality and decay. They are healers, hexers, and mediums, wielding the very essence of the soul like thread through a needle. While medics patch wounds and surgeons treat symptoms, Soul Binders commune with the unseen, they mend what others can’t even touch.
Their powers draw from life-force, memory, and death itself. A whisper from the afterlife might become a shield. A dying breath might be twisted into a curse. In their hands, a pulse of energy can knit flesh or shatter resolve.
Some are seen as saints. Others, heretics. Most are simply feared.
In ancient cultures and fringe colonies, they are called upon to perform rites no one else dares, to heal when hope is gone, or to bind the dying soul to the body for one final stand. But with every miracle comes a cost. A price in essence, willpower, or pieces of the self.
To be a Soul Binder is to know that death listens. And to speak back anyway.
LEVEL 1
Life Bond
Action"Their pain is mine. Their hope, mine to protect. The bond isn’t magic—it’s a vow."
— Lyran the Hollow-Spoken, Soul Binder of the Shattered Choir
For Soul Binders, healing is not distant. It is personal, visceral, and shared. Through Life Bond, they tether their very essence to others, becoming a living conduit for survival. They bleed so others don’t. They burn so others endure. It is selfless—and terrifying to witness.
The Soul Binder gains the following linked abilities:
Life Bond
As a Action, the Soul Binder may link their life force to a number of allies equal to their Foresight Mod.
These allies become Soul Bound, as does the Soul Binder while this link is active.
Bonded allies remain linked as long as they stay within 30ft and in line of sight.
Changing targets or severing bonds can be done as a Quick Action at the start of the Binder’s turn.
Life Exchange
The Soul Binder may sacrifice any amount of their own health, then divide that health evenly (rounded down) among any number of Soul Bound allies.
Does not require line of sight once bonded.
Cannot reduce the Soul Binder below 1 HP—if this would happen, the exchange fails.
This can be used to quickly heal multiple allies in dangerous conditions, even across spread-out formations.
Life Drain
"Every thread of life pulled from them winds back into me. It's not mercy. It's balance."
— Whisper of the Bone Garden
To a Soul Binder, life and death are never wasted—they are recycled. As they tear the essence from a foe, they weave it back into their own failing form. Wounds close. Breaths steady. The vitality they steal doesn’t just mend flesh—it reaffirms their claim to life.
Regenerates health equal to ⅓ of the Vitality Damage dealt
Whenever the Soul Binder deals Vitality Damage, they heal themselves for one-third (1/3) of the final damage dealt (rounded down).
This applies to all sources of Vitality damage—spells, abilities, and effects.
Cannot Overheal beyond max HP unless another ability allows it.
Soul Attack
Soul Binders don’t just burn flesh—they wound essence. Their magic doesn’t break bones, it fractures the spirit, striking deep into the life-force of their foes. To them, power isn't elemental—it's existential. Every spell is a question whispered into the soul: Are you strong enough to stay alive?
Converts all VoidCall damage dealt by the Soul Binder into Vitality Damage
Whenever a Soul Binder uses a VoidCall that deals damage, that damage is automatically converted to Vitality damage instead of its original type (Psychic, Fire, etc).
This affects all Voidcalls, curses, or spell-like abilities.
Vitality damage bypasses most resistances and affects both living and non-living targets equally—ideal against constructs, Voidborn, and corrupted entities.
LEVEL 2
Echoed Pain
"Strike me and you'll feel the ripple claw of my allies."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
The Soulbinder's suffering never stays confined. It echoes through the soul threads—pain shared, multiplied and returned. What harms one, harms many.
The attacker takes 1 Vitality damage for each Soul Bound ally (max 3)
This damage cannot be redirected or prevented by the attacker's resistances
Overflowing Life
"The body knows how to heal. I just give it more to work with."
— Vicar Aylen, Crimson Vein Sermons
Through sheer will and connection to the bond, the soulbinder pushes their own vitality past its natural limit. Overflowing life turns healing into surplus, letting energy spill over in moments of intensity.
When you recover health using Life Drain, any healing beyond your max HP becomes Temporary Health up to a total equal to your Foresight mod.
This Overheal cannot stack beyond your Foresight mod
Lasts until lost through damage or at the end of the scene
Sacrificed: Speed
Quick Action"Life is the first currency. Time is the second."
— Theras Ilun, Blood-Marked Duelist
By sacrificing part of their own life essence, the soulbinder shifts time's rhythm around a bonded ally. This subtle acceleration (or delay) can turn the tide in tense, high-stakes encounters.
Cost: Quick Action, Pay 5 Health
Choose one Soul Bound target. You may:
Move them up or down in the attack order for this turn
Cannot stack or affect the same target more than once per round
LEVEL 3
Redirected Bond
Reaction"Pain moves. I just decide where it lands."
— Sevi Mareth, Bone-Threader of Durael
Through careful manipulation of the soul threads, the Soul Binder can divert a portion of incoming pain, redirecting it between bonded allies in moments of urgency.
You may shift up to (Foresight ÷ 2) damage from one Soul Bound to another Soul Bound within range
This redirection occurs before other damage mitigation
Cannot reduce target below 1 Health
Soul Ward
"To bleed for another is strength. But to shield them with pain... that is devotion."
— Mother Elien, the Fleshweaver
Each time the bond is tested through injury, it strengthens. Soulbound allies instinctively protect themselves, hardening their defenses in response to shared harm.
That ally gains +1 Defence until the start of their next turn
If the ally is below half their maximum Health, they gain +2 Defence instead
Void Network
"Distance is meaningless. The bond is the voice."
— Archivist Brelt, Notes on the Bleed
The soulbinder's web tightens across the void. Bonded souls now hear one another across any space, their thoughts delivered in moments of silence and need.
All Soul Bound targets can communicate telepathically with one another
This communication transcends language, distance, and even magical silence
Only thoughts intentionally shared are heard
LEVEL 4
Improved Bond
"Stranger or foe, the thread still binds."
— Ena Vel, Speaker of Strands
The Soul Binder's bond deepens, allowing it to reach into the neutral spaces between enemies and allies alike. Those untouched by the conflict may yet feel the tether draw tight.
You may now apply Life Bond to neutral targets (non-hostile, non-allied)
This does not grant control over their actions, but allows you to share and move vitality as normal
Outstretched Bond
"Distance is no limit. The bond listens still."
— Archivist Brelt, Notes on the Bleed
As the web expands, the bond strengthens across greater spans. Even distant allies feel the Soul Binder's touch as the range of their connection widens dramatically.
Increase the range of Life Bond to 60ft
You do not need Line of Sight if you are already Soul Bound
Parasitic Link
Action"We heal together, whether they wish it or not."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
By forging a parasitic weave between two connected souls, the Soul Binder enables shared healing—both a gift and a burden, uniting recovery through the tether.
Choose one Soul Bound target
When that target regains health, you and they each regain half that amount
This cannot be triggered by healing from your own Life Bond
Lasts for 1 minute or until the effect is broken
LEVEL 5
Improved Exchange
"We share not as equals—but as we choose."
— Neral Vey, Bloodweft Arbiter
No longer bound by balance, the Soul Binder can choose how to divide life essence in moments of shared strain. One may give more than they receive, or take more than they give.
When using Life Exchange, you may now choose to split the exchanged Health unevenly between you and your Soul Bound target
You decide who receives or gives more of the shared vitality
Improved Statistic
"Your edge isn’t always a weapon. Sometimes, it’s just being better than you were yesterday."
— Universal Tactica, Entry 5.01: Growth Beyond Gear
Every cycle survived, every challenge overcome, every system pushed to its limit—it adds up. Whether your body has hardened, your mind sharpened, or your instincts honed, you've reached a new threshold. This isn’t just improvement.
This is advancement.
Increase any one Statistic by +1
You may not exceed the stat cap of 6
This increase reflects physical, mental, or cybernetic growth—interpret freely during character development
Mind Bind
Action"There's no hiding truth from the tether."
— Theras Ilun, Blood-Marked Duelist
By tapping into the mental currents of the bond, the Soul Binder pierces the veil of intent. What a bonded soul means to do becomes clear—unless they resist the intrusion.
You may attempt to read the intentions of a Soul Bound target
They must pass a Psychic Defence(tn12 + Intelligence)
On failure, they must reveal their immediate intent to you
LEVEL 6
Hostile Bond
"The bond binds all. Friend. Foe. It makes no distinction."
— Mother Elien, the Fleshweaver
The Soul Binder's mastery now reaches into hostility. With force of will, even enemies can be entangled in the threads of vitality.
You may now apply Life Bond to hostile targets
You do not gain control over them, but may transfer vitality as with any bonded entity
Hostile targets may resist with a Psychic Defence check `(tn13 + Foresight)`
Shared Experience
"What you see, I see. What you feel, I bear."
— Seer Talon, Eye of the Chain
The bond deepens into sensation and perception. The Soul Binder can extend their awareness beyond the self, drawing sight and sound from any bonded ally.
You may use the senses (sight and hearing) of a Soul Bound target
You may only view through one target at a time
Shared Trauma
Reaction"If pain must be borne, let us divide it."
— Vicar Aylen, Crimson Vein Sermons
When struck, the Soul Binder can fracture the harm between themselves and an ally, lessening the burden for both by sharing the injury through the tether.
You may choose one Soul Bound target
That target takes half the incoming damage
You only take the remaining half
LEVEL 7
Bonded Thoughts
"Say nothing. I already know your angle."
— Maren Silt, Void Gambler
The psychic feedback of the soulthread allows for subtle manipulation of social dynamics. The bond carries more than just vitality—it carries intent, trust, and leverage.
You gain advantage on Persuasion, Gambling, and Negotiation checks against any Soul Bound target
Applies to contested social rolls and passive influence alike
Sacrificed: Body Swap
Quick Action"Time and place are illusions. The bond knows the true axis."
— Ena Vel, Speaker of Strands
With enough vitality, a Soul Binder may invert the positions of two linked souls in an instant, turning the battlefield into a chessboard of flesh.
Cost: Quick Action - Pay 10 Health
You and a Soul Bound target immediately swap positions
May only be used if both are willing and neither is incapacitated
Cannot be used to escape binding effects or locked spaces
Sacrificed: Condition Swap
Quick Action"Pain is not yours alone. Let me bear it for a while."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
Wounds and burdens can be shifted along the threads. With a conscious offering of vitality, a Soul Binder may reassign the suffering of one to another.
Cost: Quick Action - Pay 5 Health
Choose two Soul Bound targets
Move one negative condition (e.g., Bleeding, Burning, Weakened) from one to the other
LEVEL 8
Improved Life Drain
"Every wound they take is a chance for me to thrive."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
As the Soul Binder hones their life-stealing techniques, they refine how much of that stolen vitality restores them. Wounds close faster now, the transfer more efficient than ever.
Your Life Drain now restores Health equal to half the damage dealt (instead of one-third)
Applies to all valid targets, including those bonded or hostile
This effect stacks with other enhancements to healing unless stated otherwise
Sacrificed: Luck
Action"Luck is a current. Bleed a little, and you can change its direction."
— Maren Silt, Void Gambler
The Soul Binder may spend vitality to nudge fate's balance. With a small offering, they can empower or weaken another's moment of chance—turning failure into hope or success into hesitation.
Cost: Pay 10 Health
Choose one Soul Bound target
That target gains advantage or disadvantage on their next roll this turn (your choice)
This effect must be declared before the flip is made
Spell Bind
"Let them cast through me, for the bond is the bridge."
— Archivist Brelt, Notes on the Bleed
The Soul Binder opens new channels in the weave, allowing their magical energy to flow through the threads of life. Spells can now bend space, drawing line of sight and range from bonded allies.
You may cast spells as if they originate from any Soul Bound target
Both line of sight and range may be calculated from the bonded target's location
The target does not suffer any effects from the spell unless explicitly included
Only applies to spells you cast yourself
LEVEL 9
Diversified Exchange
"I give what I can, to those who need. Not always equally—but always purposefully."
— Mother Elien, the Fleshweaver
Life flows like a resource to be distributed. The Soul Binder no longer divides healing evenly—they can now allocate it strategically across multiple bonds.
When using Life Exchange, you may give health to multiple Soul Bound targets
Each chosen target receives half of the amount of Health you paid
Hidden Bond
"The thread doesn't need eyes. It knows."
— Ena Vel, Speaker of Strands
Sight is no longer a requirement for connection. The Soul Binder can sense and establish bonds through memory, intuition, and the unseen threads of fate.
You no longer need line of sight to use Life Bond on a target
The target must still be within range and known to you (not hidden or disguised)
This allows bonding through walls, fog, or concealment
Unilateral Bond
"Their thoughts echo louder now. I can feel the tremble before it becomes fear."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
With greater empathy and psychic reach, the Soul Binder becomes more resilient to manipulation. The bond acts as a buffer against intrusion, sharpening the mind and reinforcing resolve.
You gain advantage on Psychic Defence, Mental Defence, and Void Reading rolls against Soul Bound targets
This includes any checks made to detect lies, resist mental effects, or read intentions
Does not apply against non-bonded sources
LEVEL 10
Bound by Blood
Action"If they fall, I will rise. If I fall—then only the bond will know."
— Vossan Nere, Voice of the Vein
This is the apex of the Soul Binder's art: an unbreakable, life-saving tether that allows them to intercept death itself. Bonds forged in suffering now carry the strength to defy the end.
All Soul Bound allies gain +1 Defence and Resistance to Vitality Damage
Once per long rest, when a Soul Bound ally would be reduced to 0 Health, you may take the full damage in their place
If this would reduce you to 0 Health, you instead enter a "Death Ward" state for 2 rounds
While in Death Ward, you remain at 1 Health and may act normally; if not healed before it ends, you die permanently
Improved Statistics
Whether through relentless training, neural recalibration, cybernetic tuning, or sheer survival instinct, you've reached a new level of multi-channel optimization. This isn't a simple stat boost—it’s an evolutionary step, one that reinforces multiple pillars of your being.
You’re not just better.
You’re more.
Increase two different Statistics by +1
No individual stat may exceed the cap of 6
This improvement can represent:
A blend of mental and physical growth
Dual-core cybernetic upgrades
A mutation-enhanced progression
Or a culmination of your narrative arc
Life Interest
Action"They borrowed strength. I collect the interest."
— Theras Ilun, Blood-Marked Duelist
No longer does vitality flow passively. The Soul Binder can reclaim health with purpose, converting it directly into power for redistribution—at cost, and on demand.
Cost: Action
As a Action, choose a Soul Bound target
Drain health from them equal to your Foresight
This drained health may immediately be used to pay for Life Exchange or other ability costs that require health