Halidan
2014-01-19, 02:56 AM
I'm also tempted to call this a False Cleric. It is really a hybrid of the Ur-Priest and the Tainted Scholar [going mad and it making you more powerful in the process].
Revised Taint Rules
Depravity: This represents how tained you've become by the influence of the Elder Gods.
Stages of Depravity
Minor Depravity: 0-10
Moderate Depravity: 11-25 - You are noticing your will has begun to slip and take a -1 on all Will Saves.
Severe Depravity: 25-40 - Your will is severly weakened and you take a -3 on all Will Saves. You gain a bonus feat, a gift from the Elder Gods, in recompense to tempt you to stay in such dangerous waters...if your Depravity drops below 25 you lose this bonus feat.
Possessed by the Elder Gods: 41+ [No Save]
Gaining Depravity
Anything involving Compulsion magic, the siphoning of souls, the summoning of evil outsiders, or the casting of Evil spells opens you to the corrupting influence of the Elder Gods. If you should attempt such, you risk their influence over you growing. You must succeed on a DC 15 Will Save or gain 1 Depravity.
In addition, some places in the world [such as temples dedicated to the Elder Gods] are so steeped in Depravity that every second you spend there endangers your very soul. Your first warning will be the DC 15 Will Save to avoid gaining a point of Depravity as the influence frequently extends for half a mile or more beyond the actual source. Every hour you remain within such a location, you must make another Will Save or gain Depravity.
Healing Depravity
Any spell that cures conditions [such as Remove Disease] or heals HP can be used to cure Depravity. It cures one point of Depravity per Spell Level instead of the normal effect.
Protection from Depravity
For 100gp, you can purchase various sacred relics that have been blessed by a holy order that provide some protection against the Elder God's influence. Posessing such an object provides a +3 sacred bonus to Will Saves against Depravity and the first time you fail such a Will Save, it absorbs it and is destroyed instead of you taking the point of depravity [at the player's option]. While you can carry multiple such items, they ultimately can only be used one at a time and must be worn after observing the proper rituals. Donning a new relic of this nature takes 5 rounds [30 seconds] and the uttering of a prayer.
These are items such as Jade Amulets, Holy Symbols made from Gold, etc. Feel free to make up your own.
Depravity is a mind affecting compulsion and immunity to compulsions will provide you with total protection. Immunity fixes your Depravity in stone [you cannot gain additional Depravity and you cannot lose Depravity].
Tainted Scholar
The Dark Powers are always willing to help a brilliant young man reach his full potential and surmount all obstacles...
Prerequisites: You must not be immune to mind affecting compulsions. If it is impossible for the Elder Gods to win, why would they tempt you?
Alignment: You are entering a class that encourages human sacrifice. This an evil act and you therefore must be of an Evil alignment.
Hit Die: d4
Class Skills: Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Table: Tainted Scholar
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|0th|1st|2nd|3rd
1st|+0|+0|+0|+2| Damned, Priestbane, Forbidden Lore, Conduit to the Elder Gods, Scribe Scroll | 3 | 1 | - | - |
2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3| Minor Apotheosis | 4 | 2 | - | - |
3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3| Priestbane +3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
4th|+2|+1|+1|+4| Moderate Apotheosis | 4 | 3 | 2 | - |
5th|+2|+1|+1|+4| Priestbane +4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
6th|+3|+2|+2|+5| Final Apotheosis | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Scholars are proficient with the club, dagger, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield. Armor interferes with a scholar's movements, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.
Damned (Su)
A Tainted Scholar's soul is claimed by the Elder Gods when she dies. No method of restoring life (such as Raise Dead or Reincarnation) will bring her back.
Once you enter the Tainted Scholar class, you may not gain levels in any other class. By entering this class, you also lose 2 Wisdom.
Priestbane (Su)
At 1st level, a Tainted Scholar considers all Clerics, Inquisitors, and Paladins as his Favored Enemy. She gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, and Sense Motive checks against all members of these professions. Likewise, she gets a +2 bonus on caster level checks to dispel Divine magic from such classes. A Tainted Scholar can sense the divine magic that 'taints' the souls of Clerics, Inquisitors, and Paladins automatically recognizing them.
At 3rd level, Priestbane's bonus is increased from +2 to +3. At 5th level, Priestbane's bonus is increased from +3 to +4.
Forbidden Lore (Su)
The power of a mage or cleric is written in their blood. Bleed them and take it for yourself, servant of the Elder Gods. It is this power, before all others, that tempts a Tainted Scholar onto this dark path. The power to take the magic of the Gods themselves and bring it under the Scholar's control. No mere Wizard could perform such a feat.
You may choose to steal a single spell when you perform a coup de grace on a Cleric, Paladin, or Inquisitor. If you choose to do so, you must pen the spell in their blood into your spellbook and succeed on a Knowledge (Religion) check equal to 20+Spell Level. If successful, you add this spell to your spell list as if it were an Elder spell. This new spell is unique to you and will not function for any other spellcaster.
You may choose to steal a single spell when you perform a coup de grace on a spellcaster that casts spells from the Sorcerer/Wizard list. If you choose to do so, you must pen the spell in their blood into your spellbook and succeed on a Knowledge (Arcana) check equal to 20+Spell Level. If successful, you add this spell to your spell book.
You cannot use this ability and Dark Artifice on the same target. Use of this ability increases your Depravity by the spell level you added to your spellbook unless you succeed on a DC 20 Will Save.
Conduit of the Dark Gods
All spells cast by a Tainted Scholar are Elder [evil] spells. For purposes of qualifying for feats, Elder spells are counted as both Arcane and Divine. A Tainted Scholar's caster level for Elder spells is also considered to be both an Arcane and Divine caster level for purposes of qualifying for feats.
A scholar casts Elder spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list presented in Spell Lists. A scholar must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the scholar must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a scholar's spell is 10 + the spell level + the scholar's Intelligence modifier.
A scholar can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Tainted Scholar. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).
A scholar may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the scholar decides which spells to prepare.
When casting a spell, a scholar must succeed on a Will Save equal to the DC of the spell or gain a point of Depravity. If a spell has no Save DC, then the DC for this save is 10 + the spell level + the scholar's Intelligence modifier. Any bonus to saves against mind-affecting effects applies to this save.
Minor Apotheosis (Su)
You realize you have made a dangerous, dangerous mistake. You must choose to fight to keep your soul or given in to the temptations of the Elder Gods.
Resist
You have chosen to resist the siren song of the Elder Gods and the powers they tempt you with. You are not yet immune to the corrosive influence of the Elder Gods and your will is weakening...
Your Wisdom and Constitution scores are reduced by 2 each.
You gain Moderate Depravity [15] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
You gain a slotless magical tatoo on your body that grants +2 Profane Bonus to Intelligence. If dispelled or destroyed, it re-appears in 1d20 minutes. A Knowledge Arcana check (DC 20) reveals the tattoo as the mark of an Elder God. Most who choose this path place it someplace private that few will ever see to avoid drawing suspicion. You may be fighting their influence but you will be ever marked by it.
You gain the Half-Undead racial quality.
Darkvision 60'
+2 racial bonus on saving throws vs. Disease and Mind-Affecting Effects
Take no penalties from energy-draining effects but still die if you have more than HD. After 24 hours, any negative levels are removed without any additional saving throws.
Half-undead creatures are harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy. A half-undead creature with the fast healing special quality still benefits from it.
Surrender
You have chosen to surrender to the will of the Elder Gods and embrace the dark temptations they offer you. In return, of course, you will adapt to service their needs...
Your Wisdom and Constitution scores are reduced by 2 each.
You gain Moderate Depravity [15] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
You gain a slotless magical tatoo on your body that grants +2 Profane Bonus to Intelligence. If dispelled or destroyed, it re-appears in 1d20 minutes. A Knowledge Arcana check (DC 20) reveals the tattoo as the mark of an Elder God. Most who choose this path place it someplace private that few will ever see to avoid drawing suspicion.
You no longer need to make saving throws against Depravity when casting spells granted to you by the Elder Gods.
The DM will provide you with tasks to perform from time to time, to show your loyalty to the Elder Gods. Should you fail to obey, the Elder Gods may claim your soul and end your life.
Moderate Apotheosis (Su)
The influence of the Elder Gods cannot be denied. You feel them jostling your elbow with every action.
Resist
Your will is severly weakened by their influence. Can you hold out and complete your transformation or will you go mad and become their puppet?
The mind is weakened by the unnatural power you channel. [-2 Wisdom]
The profane bonus from your tattoo is increased to +4 Intelligence.
You gain Severe Depravity [25] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
Surrender
The Elder Gods find you worthy of greater blessings, servant.
You show your foolishness by placing your faith in the Elder Gods [-2 Wisdom].
The profane bonus from your tattoo is increased to +4 Intelligence.
You gain Severe Depravity [25] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
Final Apotheosis (Su)
Resist
Victory!
Your sacrifices via Forbidden Lore no longer are being taxed by the Elder Gods and your uses of Dark Artifice grant you double the normal value.
You have broken the Elder God's hold on your soul. You complete your transition into becoming Undead and gain immunity to Depravity.
Surrender
You are an Avatar of the Elder Gods on the mortal plane. Their thoughts are your thoughts. Their plans, your obsessions.
Your will is still your own, just barely, but you had best not hit that 41 threshold for Depravity my friend...
You are permanently protected by Nondetection as if you had cast it yourself [DC 21].
Choose one of the 'false' Gods [the actual Gods in the setting, not one of the Elder Gods]. You now appear as that alignment when interacting with all spells and effects regardless of your original alignment. You may change your choice by sacrificing a cleric or paladin of your new 'false' God's priesthood.
Forbidden Lore was replaced with Priestbane:
[S]Forbidden Lore
Every time you gain a Forbiden Lore, you may choose one of the following options:
Stolen Arcana: A spell from the Druid or Cleric spell list is added to your list of spells known. It may be of any spell level you can cast.
Profane Knowledge: Choose a Knowledge skill, you gain the Skill Focus bonus feat for that Knowledge skill as a gift from the Elder Gods.
Unfettered Lunatic: You never doubt, never question. You gain +2 to Initative and +2 to saves against Fear.
Priestbane: You can sense if someone knows Divine spells.
A Lens of Evil: Gain Spell Focus (Evil) or Greater Spell Focus (Evil) as a bonus feat.
Revised Taint Rules
Depravity: This represents how tained you've become by the influence of the Elder Gods.
Stages of Depravity
Minor Depravity: 0-10
Moderate Depravity: 11-25 - You are noticing your will has begun to slip and take a -1 on all Will Saves.
Severe Depravity: 25-40 - Your will is severly weakened and you take a -3 on all Will Saves. You gain a bonus feat, a gift from the Elder Gods, in recompense to tempt you to stay in such dangerous waters...if your Depravity drops below 25 you lose this bonus feat.
Possessed by the Elder Gods: 41+ [No Save]
Gaining Depravity
Anything involving Compulsion magic, the siphoning of souls, the summoning of evil outsiders, or the casting of Evil spells opens you to the corrupting influence of the Elder Gods. If you should attempt such, you risk their influence over you growing. You must succeed on a DC 15 Will Save or gain 1 Depravity.
In addition, some places in the world [such as temples dedicated to the Elder Gods] are so steeped in Depravity that every second you spend there endangers your very soul. Your first warning will be the DC 15 Will Save to avoid gaining a point of Depravity as the influence frequently extends for half a mile or more beyond the actual source. Every hour you remain within such a location, you must make another Will Save or gain Depravity.
Healing Depravity
Any spell that cures conditions [such as Remove Disease] or heals HP can be used to cure Depravity. It cures one point of Depravity per Spell Level instead of the normal effect.
Protection from Depravity
For 100gp, you can purchase various sacred relics that have been blessed by a holy order that provide some protection against the Elder God's influence. Posessing such an object provides a +3 sacred bonus to Will Saves against Depravity and the first time you fail such a Will Save, it absorbs it and is destroyed instead of you taking the point of depravity [at the player's option]. While you can carry multiple such items, they ultimately can only be used one at a time and must be worn after observing the proper rituals. Donning a new relic of this nature takes 5 rounds [30 seconds] and the uttering of a prayer.
These are items such as Jade Amulets, Holy Symbols made from Gold, etc. Feel free to make up your own.
Depravity is a mind affecting compulsion and immunity to compulsions will provide you with total protection. Immunity fixes your Depravity in stone [you cannot gain additional Depravity and you cannot lose Depravity].
Tainted Scholar
The Dark Powers are always willing to help a brilliant young man reach his full potential and surmount all obstacles...
Prerequisites: You must not be immune to mind affecting compulsions. If it is impossible for the Elder Gods to win, why would they tempt you?
Alignment: You are entering a class that encourages human sacrifice. This an evil act and you therefore must be of an Evil alignment.
Hit Die: d4
Class Skills: Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier
Table: Tainted Scholar
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|0th|1st|2nd|3rd
1st|+0|+0|+0|+2| Damned, Priestbane, Forbidden Lore, Conduit to the Elder Gods, Scribe Scroll | 3 | 1 | - | - |
2nd|+1|+0|+0|+3| Minor Apotheosis | 4 | 2 | - | - |
3rd|+1|+1|+1|+3| Priestbane +3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
4th|+2|+1|+1|+4| Moderate Apotheosis | 4 | 3 | 2 | - |
5th|+2|+1|+1|+4| Priestbane +4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
6th|+3|+2|+2|+5| Final Apotheosis | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
[/table]
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Scholars are proficient with the club, dagger, heavy crossbow, light crossbow, and quarterstaff, but not with any type of armor or shield. Armor interferes with a scholar's movements, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.
Damned (Su)
A Tainted Scholar's soul is claimed by the Elder Gods when she dies. No method of restoring life (such as Raise Dead or Reincarnation) will bring her back.
Once you enter the Tainted Scholar class, you may not gain levels in any other class. By entering this class, you also lose 2 Wisdom.
Priestbane (Su)
At 1st level, a Tainted Scholar considers all Clerics, Inquisitors, and Paladins as his Favored Enemy. She gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, and Sense Motive checks against all members of these professions. Likewise, she gets a +2 bonus on caster level checks to dispel Divine magic from such classes. A Tainted Scholar can sense the divine magic that 'taints' the souls of Clerics, Inquisitors, and Paladins automatically recognizing them.
At 3rd level, Priestbane's bonus is increased from +2 to +3. At 5th level, Priestbane's bonus is increased from +3 to +4.
Forbidden Lore (Su)
The power of a mage or cleric is written in their blood. Bleed them and take it for yourself, servant of the Elder Gods. It is this power, before all others, that tempts a Tainted Scholar onto this dark path. The power to take the magic of the Gods themselves and bring it under the Scholar's control. No mere Wizard could perform such a feat.
You may choose to steal a single spell when you perform a coup de grace on a Cleric, Paladin, or Inquisitor. If you choose to do so, you must pen the spell in their blood into your spellbook and succeed on a Knowledge (Religion) check equal to 20+Spell Level. If successful, you add this spell to your spell list as if it were an Elder spell. This new spell is unique to you and will not function for any other spellcaster.
You may choose to steal a single spell when you perform a coup de grace on a spellcaster that casts spells from the Sorcerer/Wizard list. If you choose to do so, you must pen the spell in their blood into your spellbook and succeed on a Knowledge (Arcana) check equal to 20+Spell Level. If successful, you add this spell to your spell book.
You cannot use this ability and Dark Artifice on the same target. Use of this ability increases your Depravity by the spell level you added to your spellbook unless you succeed on a DC 20 Will Save.
Conduit of the Dark Gods
All spells cast by a Tainted Scholar are Elder [evil] spells. For purposes of qualifying for feats, Elder spells are counted as both Arcane and Divine. A Tainted Scholar's caster level for Elder spells is also considered to be both an Arcane and Divine caster level for purposes of qualifying for feats.
A scholar casts Elder spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list presented in Spell Lists. A scholar must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the scholar must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a scholar's spell is 10 + the spell level + the scholar's Intelligence modifier.
A scholar can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Tainted Scholar. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).
A scholar may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the scholar decides which spells to prepare.
When casting a spell, a scholar must succeed on a Will Save equal to the DC of the spell or gain a point of Depravity. If a spell has no Save DC, then the DC for this save is 10 + the spell level + the scholar's Intelligence modifier. Any bonus to saves against mind-affecting effects applies to this save.
Minor Apotheosis (Su)
You realize you have made a dangerous, dangerous mistake. You must choose to fight to keep your soul or given in to the temptations of the Elder Gods.
Resist
You have chosen to resist the siren song of the Elder Gods and the powers they tempt you with. You are not yet immune to the corrosive influence of the Elder Gods and your will is weakening...
Your Wisdom and Constitution scores are reduced by 2 each.
You gain Moderate Depravity [15] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
You gain a slotless magical tatoo on your body that grants +2 Profane Bonus to Intelligence. If dispelled or destroyed, it re-appears in 1d20 minutes. A Knowledge Arcana check (DC 20) reveals the tattoo as the mark of an Elder God. Most who choose this path place it someplace private that few will ever see to avoid drawing suspicion. You may be fighting their influence but you will be ever marked by it.
You gain the Half-Undead racial quality.
Darkvision 60'
+2 racial bonus on saving throws vs. Disease and Mind-Affecting Effects
Take no penalties from energy-draining effects but still die if you have more than HD. After 24 hours, any negative levels are removed without any additional saving throws.
Half-undead creatures are harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy. A half-undead creature with the fast healing special quality still benefits from it.
Surrender
You have chosen to surrender to the will of the Elder Gods and embrace the dark temptations they offer you. In return, of course, you will adapt to service their needs...
Your Wisdom and Constitution scores are reduced by 2 each.
You gain Moderate Depravity [15] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
You gain a slotless magical tatoo on your body that grants +2 Profane Bonus to Intelligence. If dispelled or destroyed, it re-appears in 1d20 minutes. A Knowledge Arcana check (DC 20) reveals the tattoo as the mark of an Elder God. Most who choose this path place it someplace private that few will ever see to avoid drawing suspicion.
You no longer need to make saving throws against Depravity when casting spells granted to you by the Elder Gods.
The DM will provide you with tasks to perform from time to time, to show your loyalty to the Elder Gods. Should you fail to obey, the Elder Gods may claim your soul and end your life.
Moderate Apotheosis (Su)
The influence of the Elder Gods cannot be denied. You feel them jostling your elbow with every action.
Resist
Your will is severly weakened by their influence. Can you hold out and complete your transformation or will you go mad and become their puppet?
The mind is weakened by the unnatural power you channel. [-2 Wisdom]
The profane bonus from your tattoo is increased to +4 Intelligence.
You gain Severe Depravity [25] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
Surrender
The Elder Gods find you worthy of greater blessings, servant.
You show your foolishness by placing your faith in the Elder Gods [-2 Wisdom].
The profane bonus from your tattoo is increased to +4 Intelligence.
You gain Severe Depravity [25] if you do not have it already. This is the minimum level of depravity you possess at all times.
Final Apotheosis (Su)
Resist
Victory!
Your sacrifices via Forbidden Lore no longer are being taxed by the Elder Gods and your uses of Dark Artifice grant you double the normal value.
You have broken the Elder God's hold on your soul. You complete your transition into becoming Undead and gain immunity to Depravity.
Surrender
You are an Avatar of the Elder Gods on the mortal plane. Their thoughts are your thoughts. Their plans, your obsessions.
Your will is still your own, just barely, but you had best not hit that 41 threshold for Depravity my friend...
You are permanently protected by Nondetection as if you had cast it yourself [DC 21].
Choose one of the 'false' Gods [the actual Gods in the setting, not one of the Elder Gods]. You now appear as that alignment when interacting with all spells and effects regardless of your original alignment. You may change your choice by sacrificing a cleric or paladin of your new 'false' God's priesthood.
Forbidden Lore was replaced with Priestbane:
[S]Forbidden Lore
Every time you gain a Forbiden Lore, you may choose one of the following options:
Stolen Arcana: A spell from the Druid or Cleric spell list is added to your list of spells known. It may be of any spell level you can cast.
Profane Knowledge: Choose a Knowledge skill, you gain the Skill Focus bonus feat for that Knowledge skill as a gift from the Elder Gods.
Unfettered Lunatic: You never doubt, never question. You gain +2 to Initative and +2 to saves against Fear.
Priestbane: You can sense if someone knows Divine spells.
A Lens of Evil: Gain Spell Focus (Evil) or Greater Spell Focus (Evil) as a bonus feat.