Steel Keepers are elite martial guardians of the Island of Whym, each bonded to a magically crafted sword that grows alongside its wielder. A Steel Keeper’s blade does not merely deal unusual damage; it develops techniques, defenses, movement powers, and spectacular manifestations based on the wielder’s convictions and fighting style. No two Steel Keepers are exactly alike.
A sword is not carried. It is awakened.
Martial duelist, protector, skirmisher, and supernatural weapon specialist
At a glance
Hit die d10
ConstitutionYou gain proficiency with martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields. You can use Dexterity or Strength for the attack and damage rolls of your bonded weapon.
You receive a Steel Keeper Blade, a magical one-handed or two-handed melee weapon of your choice. It is bonded to you, cannot be willingly used by another creature, and returns to your hand as a Bonus Action from within 60 feet. Choose two Blade Manifestations from the Steel Keeper Blade Manifestations list.
Once on each of your turns when you hit with your Bonded Blade, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage. The damage type is determined by your blade’s current manifestation. This damage increases to 2d6 at level 11.
You gain a Fighting Style feat for which you qualify. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace this feat with another Fighting Style feat.
You gain a subclass of your choice. Your subclass grants features at levels 3, 6, 10, and 14.
When you use your Action to attack with your Bonded Blade, you can make one additional attack as part of that Action.
Your Bonded Blade’s critical hit range becomes 19-20. When you score a critical hit, you can immediately move up to half your Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
You gain one Blade Manifestation from the Steel Keeper Blade Manifestations list. You can change one of your chosen manifestations whenever you finish a Long Rest.
You gain a second use of your class resource, Steel Resonance. You regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest, and regain one use when you roll Initiative if you have none remaining.
You gain a Steel Keeper feature from your subclass.
Your Resonant Strike deals 2d6 extra damage. In addition, once per turn when you hit with your Bonded Blade, you can apply one additional effect from a Blade Manifestation you know without spending Steel Resonance.
You gain one Blade Manifestation from the Steel Keeper Blade Manifestations list. You can change one chosen manifestation whenever you finish a Long Rest.
You gain a Steel Keeper feature from your subclass.
When you fail a saving throw, you can expend one Steel Resonance to reroll it, adding your Strength or Dexterity modifier to the new roll. You must use the new roll.
Your Bonded Blade’s magical abilities ignore Resistance to their damage types. In addition, your Bonded Blade counts as an artifact for the purpose of overcoming magical barriers and protections.
You gain one Blade Manifestation from the Steel Keeper Blade Manifestations list. You can change one chosen manifestation whenever you finish a Long Rest.
Ability Score Improvement and Epic Boon
Your Bonded Blade reaches its perfect awakening. Once per Long Rest, you can use an action to unleash its ultimate manifestation, choosing one option from the Perfect Blade Manifestations list. The effect lasts for 1 minute and does not require Concentration.
ConstitutionHit points per Steel Keeper level
Saving throwsStrength and Constitution saving throw proficiency; medium armor and shield access; reactive damage reduction and teleportation through blade manifestations.
ArmorLight armor, medium armor, shields.
WeaponsSimple weapons and martial weapons.
ToolsOne artisan’s tool or musical instrument.
Saving ThrowsStrength and Constitution.
SkillsChoose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Survival, and Vehicles (Water).
Skill choicesAcrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Survival, Vehicles (Water)
ResourceSteel Resonance: You have a number of uses equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all uses on a Long Rest and one use when you roll Initiative with none remaining. Your Steel Keeper features describe when you spend it.
MulticlassingPrerequisite: Strength or Dexterity 13. When multiclassing into Steel Keeper, you gain proficiency with martial weapons and one skill from the Steel Keeper skill list. You do not gain a Bonded Blade until you gain the class’s Bonded Blade feature.
The Steel Keeper is a non-caster.
Its Steel Resonance and Blade Manifestations reproduce the dramatic scale of high-level magic through weapon-bound supernatural techniques; these abilities are magical but are not spells unless a feature specifically says otherwise.
Choose manifestations that define your bonded sword’s damage, defenses, movement, and supernatural techniques.
Your blade can deal acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage instead of its normal damage. As a Bonus Action, you can change the chosen type until the end of your next turn.
When you hit a Large or smaller creature, you can push it up to 10 feet. You can use this effect a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per Long Rest.
As a Bonus Action, your blade extends into a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Creatures in the line make a Dexterity saving throw, taking damage on a failure or half as much on a success. Uses Steel Resonance.
When a creature you can see within 30 feet is hit by an attack, you can use your Reaction to teleport beside it and reduce the damage by plus your proficiency bonus. Uses Steel Resonance.
As a Bonus Action, you mark one creature you can see within 60 feet for 1 minute. Once per turn when you hit the marked creature, you deal an extra psychic damage and learn its location until the end of your next turn. Uses Steel Resonance.
You gain a climb Speed equal to your Speed and can move across liquids during your turn. Until the turn ends, you can also run across vertical surfaces without falling. Uses Steel Resonance.
When you hit a creature, you can force it to make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, it is Restrained by spectral chains until the end of your next turn. Uses Steel Resonance.
As an Action, you create a 10-foot-radius shimmering barrier centered on yourself for 1 minute. You and allies inside gain Half Cover, and ranged attacks passing through the barrier have Disadvantage. Uses Steel Resonance.
Choose one spectacular capstone expression for your blade’s perfect awakening.
For 1 minute, your Bonded Blade creates a 60-foot-radius storm of cutting wind. Enemies treat the area as Difficult Terrain, and you can make one extra blade attack against a different creature whenever you take the Attack action.
For 1 minute, each hit with your Bonded Blade creates a duplicate strike against a second creature within 15 feet of the target, dealing the weapon’s damage without adding your ability modifier.
For 1 minute, you gain a Fly Speed of 60 feet, Resistance to all damage, and Advantage on saving throws. Your Bonded Blade emits bright light for 60 feet.
For 1 minute, when you hit a creature, you can force it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it is stunned until the start of your next turn. A creature can be affected by this manifestation only once per turn.
For 1 minute, a 20-foot-radius protective field follows you. You and allies inside have Advantage on saving throws, and hostile creatures cannot teleport into or out of the field.
The blade becomes a fortress that walks.
The battlefield is only another angle of attack.
The sword remembers every storm it has survived.
Steel Keepers are elite martial guardians of the Island of Whym, each bonded to a magically crafted sword that grows alongside its wielder.
A Steel Keeper’s blade does not merely deal unusual damage; it develops techniques, defenses, movement powers, and spectacular manifestations based on the wielder’s convictions and fighting style. No two Steel Keepers are exactly alike.
Steel Keepers feel like cinematic duelists who adapt their bonded blade to the scene.
Choose a manifestation that supports your current plan, spend Steel Resonance on dramatic reversals or control effects, and stay mobile rather than trading attacks without purpose.
A candidate must find a Steel Keeper mentor, survive a period of service, and complete a personal trial chosen by the Bonding Hall.
During the final rite, the candidate reaches for an unawakened blade; if the sword accepts them, it bonds permanently and manifests its first powers. The Kiri Clan leads the rite, but any proven master may sponsor an outsider.
Steel Keepers are admired as heroic defenders but watched carefully because their blades can develop unpredictable powers.
In Whym, carrying one is a mark of distinction; elsewhere, it may be mistaken for a sign of royal service, piracy, or dangerous arcane experimentation.
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