Sword Mage

[Gman]

The Sword Mages fascination with blades of all types is his mantle. He has either Manufactured or otherwise procured many magical swords that he has issued to his lieutenants as needed.

The Sword mages cloak of swords is a powerful magical item constructed of heavy fabric and magically flexible swords that meld with the fabric. Each sword provides a new layer of protection to the wizards person. Some speculate that he once had the service of a fiend from another plane who could transform the semblance of magical items; Supposedly the creature turned a cloak of protection, a chime of opening and othe magical items into swords the wizard added to his cloak. Perhaps the Sword Mage can still call on that particular fiend at will, or perhaps he has learned the trick himself- occasionally rumours claim that he has added a new item to his arsenal, thus increasing the threat he poses in the Heartlands.

The Sword mage himself seems obsessed with personal power, He values strong offensive spells, while in nature his magical items tend to be defensive in nature. It is said he enjoys personal duels with wizards and even nonwizards, trusting in his magic and skill at arms (not to mention his items) to see him through any conflict.

His chief retainers are nearly as feared as Ghoere's Iron guard. Some are dual class fighter/mages while others are rogues of the highest order.

Like the sword mage himself, each retainer guards his ture identity with his life. When operatin "openly" each henchman wears a full-face, silver cloth mask with a black sword biscecting the face. They are seldom seen in this garb - but when they are, fear follows them.

The Sword Mages "rumoured" ability to contact other planes and bring across fiends as servants is genuine. He exploits this ability when necessary, summoning powerful beings to achieve the darkest goals.

[Gman]

Personally I would like to give him three points of stats +1 Str +1 Int and +1 Dex (just his entitled level increases!)

[Thelandrin]

Don't forget that BR 2nd Ed stat blocks are usually not fully accurate to deliberately inspire some mystery about the characters.

Also, the stats of the notable characters tend to be extremely high, so extra stat points aren't generally necessary.

[Gman]

His description suggests some fighter classes - and a spell list to "Buff " himself up if he/she likes dueling so I put it out there to see what others thought - thought if fitted with the character description.
2nd ed description was 10 level wizard.

Keen Sabre was my addition based on his description as a magic sword collecter. Cloak of swords is as 2nd ed converted.

Didn't think he was necessarily a Vos noble.

His stats to me seemed above average but not especially remarkable for the character write up particuarly considering 3rd ed rules. But as you say the DM can modify them for their own game.

Wasn't sure what to do with the Fiend summoning ability and how to write it up but he/she definately has one.

Blood Powers need work.
Has resistance and alter self but should probably have more considering his bloodline score.

[Elton Robb]

The sword mage needs two more class levels: Wizard or fighter.

[Thelandrin]

Well, having counted his stats via pointbuy, the Sword Mage has 44 pts (and that's assuming that he raised his Dex, Con & Int given here by 1 each).

[Gman]

To account for The Swordmages fighting prowess in "The book of Magecraft" and his joy in dueling opponents he has already been given 2 extra levels from his 2nd edition character.

The (cr 14) Rating is to take account of bloodline and Fiend powers - Not that they have been fully written up yet.

Fiend summoning and command??
Special spells. summoning command and protection from fiends.
Special Bloodline power - not in normal rules for contacting and controlling fiends??
Ancestral link/pact with fiends. (could be a template)
Additional Magic item(s)?

What do people think of Mehgevail (sp) sense as a Voryn blood power for him/her - it would account for the speed at he found sources and set them up (pretty much before anyone including High mage Aelies noticed) ?

[ShadowMoon]

Well in regard of The Sword Mage's fiend summoning specialization, You can give him/her few levels in Warlock (core class, D&D3.5 Complete Arcane) and/or The Thaumaturgist (prestige class, D&D3.5 Dungeon Master Guide)...

[Gheal]

Thaumaturgist won't do any good - this PrC for divine spellcasters only. But if he/she/it controls a gate from the Shadow world to more distant planes and research such forbidden spell as planar binding - it'll do the trick. IMO, fiends must look at him favorably - there's not much summons from Aebrinus these days...

[AndrewTall]

But if he/she/it controls a gate from the Shadow world to more distant planes and research such forbidden spell as planar binding - it'll do the trick.

Well, demons can be an elastic term - the Swordmage could be summoning things from the Shadow World rather than a 'classic' lower planes - some of the inhabitants are quite unpleasant, and given the mutability of (at least parts of) the shadow World theoretically I don't see why the summoned thing could be quite literally someone's worst nightmare...