Epic Characters

Alternate Aspect's Progression

Epic characters who go on adventures and overcome challenges while manifesting their Alternate aspect gain experience points just as any regular character, gaining levels accordingly (see the "Beyond 1st Level" section in chapter 1 of the Player's Handbook).

Additionally, for every 30,000 XP you earn above 355,000 XP in your Primary aspect, you gain a level in your Alternate aspect.

The Amagus

The first time you perform the manifest aspect rite, you choose a small personal object to be your amagus. That object must be on your person during the whole performance of the rite, otherwise it is interrupted. That object becomes a magic item as soon as you finish performing the rite, and you become bonded to each other.

The following rules apply to you and your amagus:

• You can only be bonded to one amagus at a time.
• An object can't be the amagus of more than one epic character at the same time.
• An amagus can't be stored into another amagus (see the "The Rite" section at the end).
• Your amagus always carries over to your other aspect when you perform the manifest aspect rite.
• You must have your amagus in your possession during the whole performance of the manifest aspect rite, otherwise it is interrupted.
• A creature that tries to remove your amagus from your person must first make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it wastes its action that turn doing nothing. If a creature tries this while you are unconscious, you become aware of the creature's intentions and can choose to either remain unconscious or become conscious (no action required).
• While you are bonded to an amagus, you can cast the locate object spell at will to locate it, without needing material components.

Destroying an Amagus

An amagus must be destroyed in some special way. Otherwise, it is impervious to damage.

Each amagus has a weakness by which its creation can be undone. Learning this weakness might require extensive research or the successful completion of a quest. The DM decides with the player how his or her epic character's amagus can be destroyed. Some suggestions are provided here:

• The amagus must be melted down in the volcano, forge, or crucible in which a character first bonded to it.
• The amagus must be dropped in the River Styx.
• The amagus must be swallowed and digested by the tarrasque or some other ancient creature.
• The amagus must be bathed in the blood of a god or an angel.
• The amagus must be struck and shattered by a special weapon crafted for that purpose.
• The amagus must be pulverized between the titanic gears of Mechanus.

In any case, epic characters instantly know if their amagus has been destroyed. Their Alternate aspect ceases to manifest forever, and they instantly revert to their Primary aspect, unconscious. If they are manifesting their Primary aspect when their amagus is destroyed, they must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw, taking 10d10 psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much on successful one.

Nonmagical items stored into the amagus are destroyed along with it, while magic items fall to the ground in the amagus's space, or, if it is being worn or carried by a creature, in that creature's space.

Epic characters that have their amagus destroyed can use the rules for a first amagus and start manifesting a completely new Alternate aspect.

Dropping to 0 Hit Points

An epic character follows the general rules of dropping to 0 hit points as normal, whatever aspect they're manifesting at the time (see the "Dropping to 0 Hit Points" section in chapter 9 of the Player's Handbook).

Being Restored to Life

If a spell, such as raise dead, has the sole purpose of restoring a regular character to life (but not undeath), that spell has the exact same effects on an epic character, whatever aspect they're manifesting at the time.

The Rite

Here are the rules for performing the manifest aspect rite. While manifesting your Alternate aspect, you can perform the manifest aspect rite to revert to your Primary aspect at any time, regardless of your level. You must, however, satisfy all other prerequisites, such as having the material component in your possession.