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Zaydos
2016-09-10, 04:24 PM
Asphodel Grovetender

”Evil is a part of nature. Hopelessness is a plague that sweeps across the world, but sometimes a plague is needed. To reduce nature to the material world, is to insult Nature itself. No... You're beyond words now, aren't you?” Marov, defending himself to the (soon to be deceased) council of druids.

An Asphodel Grovetender is a druid of Hades, a priest of the profane nature of the Gray Wastes. The Outer Planes are at a core of the nature of the multiverse, but many who revere nature turn their back to them as dealing with things of man not nature. An Asphodel Grovetender, however, sees the natural role of the Gray Wastes and that it too is worth serving. They are priests of despair and plague, representing the senseless death that occurs in the wild, the drought that causes starving mothers to abandon their cubs, the stretching desertification that renders once verdant plains into nothing but dried out sand. On the Prime they serve mainly these causes, working to make certain that plagues, deserts, and natural disasters are not prevented by those who would wield magic to do so. On the Outer Planes however, they serve their primary duty as priests of the Gray Wastes themselves. On the Gray Wastes they act more like traditional druids, tending to its often precarious natural balance and preserving its wilderness from the horrors of the Blood War as well as they are able.



BECOMING AN ASPHODEL GROVETENDER

To become an Asphodel Grovetender one must be inducted into the order. This is a simple ceremony in which the would be Asphodel Grovetender swears their part to ancient pacts with the Gray Wastes itself and the powers which dwell in the Three Glooms. However simply saying the pact is not enough, one must always have traveled to the Gray Wastes to have touched its glory and power, only then can they find communion with it. Would be Asphodel Grovetenders must seek out the rare and scattered enclaves of the order, and if found worthy many of these enclaves are capable of providing a means by which to reach the Gray Wastes and find this communion, although to do so is dangerous for the weak of will.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Alignment: Any Evil.
Languages: Ability to speak Infernal.
Skills: Knowledge (nature) 12 ranks, Knowledge (the Planes) 6 ranks.
Special: Ability to call an Animal Companion.
Special: Must have visited the Gray Wastes.
Special: Must be initiated into the order by another Asphodel Grovetender.
Spells: Ability to cast 2nd level divine spells.

Class Skills
The Class Name's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int

Hit Dice: d8


LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialSpells
1st
+0
+0
+0
+2Erubian Companion, Fiendish Empathy, Spells of the Wastes, Tender of the Wastes-
2nd
+1
+0
+0
+3Contagion of Oinos, Plague Carrier+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3rd
+2
+1
+1
+3Tainted Summons, Warded by the Niflheim+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4th
+3
+1
+1
+4Harvest Hope, Touch of the Styx+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5th
+3
+1
+1
+4Harvest of Pluton, Pass through the Gates of Death+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

Weapon Proficiencies: An Asphodel Grovetender does not gain any new armor or weapon proficiencies.

Erubian Companion (Ex): An Asphodel Grovetender's pact with beasts becomes twisted and changed by their pact with the Gray Wastes. They can no longer summon regular animals as animal companions, gaining the ability to instead summon fiendish ones at -1 to their effective druid level (in addition to any normal reduction); these animal companions are considered native to the Gray Waste not the Prime. Levels in Asphodel Grovetender stack with levels in other classes for determining your effective druid level for animal companions as if Asphodel Grovetender levels were druid levels (so ranger 10/asphodel grovetender 3 has animal companion as an 8th level druid not a 6th). In addition if your effective druid level for animal companions is 7 or higher you may summon a Lesser Nightmare or a Canoloth as an animal companion instead of an animal (treat your effective druid level as 6 less for determining its benefits).

Lesser Nightmare and Canoloth companions of Asphodel Grovetenders gain additional benefits. A Lesser Nightmare's smoke does not impair the Asphodel Grovetender's vision at all, in addition if their effective druid level is 9 or higher the Lesser Nightmare gains flight 90-ft (good), if their effective druid level is 12 or higher the Lesser Nightmare may enter the Ethereal Plane as a move action for up to 1 round/druid level (for animal companions) per day, returning to the Prime as a move action (if this ability ends while in the ethereal it instantly returns to the Prime), rounds of this ability do not need to be consecutive and the Lesser Nightmare may bring its Asphodel Grovetender with it. A canoloth summoned this way by an Asphodel Grovetender has its DR increased by the same amount as its natural armor, and its blindsight increases by 10 ft per 3 levels beyond 9th a druid is for the purposes of animal companions. If the asphodel grovetender's effective druid level is at least 15 the canoloth may increase or decrease its size up to 1 size category away from medium as if using Enlarge Person or Reduce Person upon itself as a move action. The canoloth's reach is not increased due to the Enlarge Person effect due to it being a long and not tall creature, but its reach with its tongue increases to 30 ft or decreases to 15 ft if it makes itself small. It does however gain the normal +2 to Str or Dex and -2 to Str or Dex.

An Asphodel Grovetender may only summon an Erubian Companion once per week and it is a calling effect to do so. An Asphodel Grovtender may not summon and release Erubian Companions frivolously or to create a massive army of fiendish creatures, should they do so they break their vows of their order and lose the ability entirely until they atone. An Asphodel Grovetender whose erubian companion is upon another plane than them may call it back to them as a full-round action at which point it appears adjacent to them.

Fiendish Empathy (Ex): An Asphodel Grovetender tends to the Gray Wastes, that realm where evil bubbles forth to infect the multiverse with despair and disease. As its tender an Asphodel Grovetender grows close to the forces of Evil within the planes. An Asphodel Grovetender adds their Asphodel Grovetender level to their level in classes which grant Wild Empathy for the purposes of Wild Empathy checks made to interact with evil aligned Magical Beasts or Outsiders. An Asphodel Grovetender may use Wild Empathy at no penalty when dealing with evil aligned Magical Beasts or Outsiders with 6 or less Intelligence (normally wild empathy only works on magical beasts with Int 1 or 2).

Finally when dealing with Outsiders with the Evil subtype an Asphodel Grovetender gains a circumstance bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy checks equal to 1/2 their Asphodel Grovetender level rounded up.

Spells of the Wastes: An Asphodel Grovetender's divine repertoire opens with their connection to the Gray Wastes. They may select a single divine spellcasting class they have levels in and add certain spells to its spell-list at the indicated level. If two levels are listed use the 2nd (lower) level for the purposes of spellcasting classes which have no greater than 4th level spells. The spells added are: Blasphemy (7th), Contagion (3rd/2nd), Contagious Touch (4th/3rd; SpC), Crushing Despair (4th/3rd), Darkness (2nd), Mass Contagion (5th/4th; SpC), and Unholy Blight (4th/3rd).

Tender of the Wastes (Ex): Asphodel Grovetenders are mortal tenders to the natural world of a world made of evil and despair. They are numbed to the effects of the Gray Wastes. Asphodel Grovetenders are immune to the entrapping effect of the Gray Wastes, and may ignore the effects of the River Styx for 1 round per Asphodel Grovetender level (of course one may still need to dry off if they go for a swim).

Spellcasting: At every level except 1st an Asphodel Grovetender gains spellcasting as if they had advanced a level in any one divine spellcasting class they possessed before hand; this is your standard PrC spellcasting advancement and I'm not putting the whole boilerplate.

There is one difference. If an Asphodel Grovetender advances the spellcasting of a base class which grants full BAB and divine spellcasting they gain a +1 to their BAB as well, and if they do so 4 times they gain another +1 to their BAB for a total of +2. This is so rangers can take the class and not just be punished.

Contagion of Oinos (Sp): An Asphodel Grovetender may channel the powers of Oinos to inflict its poxes upon their foes. Beginning at 2nd level twice per day an Asphodel Grovetender may use Mass Contagion or Contagious Touch as a spell-like ability (CL = character level).

Plague Carrier (Ex): An Asphodel Grovetender tends to the plane from which disease bursts forth like pus from a lanced pustule. Beginning at 2nd level an Asphodel Grovetender becomes unaffected by the effects of diseases (magical or otherwise), however they can still contract them and act as carries for these diseases. An Asphodel Grovetender's Erubian Compnaion gains this benefit as well.

Tainted Summon: An Asphodel Grovetender's ancient pacts with the Gray Waste and its masters allows them to summon its creatures. Beginning at 3rd level an Asphodel Grovetender when an Asphodel Grovetender casts Summon Nature's Ally to summon an animal it gains the Fiendish template. In addition whenever they summon an elemental (regardless of spell) it gains the Fiendish template. Finally they may summon the following creatures as if they were on the Summon Monster and Summon Nature's Ally lists at the indicated level: Canoloth (5th), Mezzoloth (6th), Nycoloth (8th).

Warded of Niflheim (Ex): An Asphodel Grovetender is at home in the emotionless wastes of Hades, striding through them like an unholy phantom. Beginning at 3rd level an Asphodel Grovetender may move through any natural terrain on the Gray Wastes at their normal speed, this does not increase their speed when climbing or swimming but does prevent terrain which would further slow such movement, and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. Magically manipulated terrain still affects them normally. They gain total immunity to the effects of the River Styx on the Gray Wastes (but not other planes).

In addition an Asphodel Grovetender gains total immunity to Charm effects, and Fear effects which would normally cause them to be Shaken have no effect and if they would be Frightened, Panicked, or Cower they are Shaken instead; they are immune to any other detrimental effects of Fear effects. Their Waste gnawed emotions make it hard for spells of friendship and fright to affect their minds.

Harvest Hope (Su): An Asphodel Grovetender learns to reap the harvest of the Lower Planes. The Gray Wastes grow but two things death and despair, and an Asphodel Grovetender learns how to harvest hope and in so doing sow despair. Beginning at 4th level an Asphodel Grovetender may once per day steal the morale bonuses of all creatures within 10 ft per 2 character levels as a standard action. If these morale bonuses are from an outside effect such as bardic music or a spell they immediately end upon the original targets and the Asphodel Grovetender gains their bonuses for the duration. If they are instead from a continuous effect such as a permanent class feature, an always active worn item, a soulmeld, or a bound vestige, the bonuses are merely lost by the original recipient for 10 minutes and the Asphodel Grovetender gains those bonuses. Essentia in a soulmeld (or other essentia receptacle) which granted the morale bonus cannot be shifted from it for the duration. If a creature or item created a continuous morale bonus and is within range they lose the ability that created the bonus for this duration (a marshal's auras for example), and if a bard was performing a bardic music song which granted a morale bonus (Inspire Courage for instance) they cannot use that bardic music performance for the duration. The Asphodel Grovetender gains all stolen morale bonuses but within normal stacking rules; if 3 enemies had +2 morale bonus to attacks, saves, skill checks, +4 morale bonus to attack and damage, and one that granted a +3 morale bonus to AC and attack rolls they would only gain +4 morale bonus to attack not +9, +4 to damage, +2 to saves and skill checks, and +3 to AC.

Touch of Styx (Su): An Asphodel Grovetender learns to instill their touch with a portion of the mind-destroying power of the River Styx. Beginning at 4th level an Asphodel Grovetender may twice per day imbue their touch with the power of the River Styx as a touch attack. A touched creature takes 1d8 Intelligence damage and has up to 10 minutes of their memories deleted. The Asphodel Grovetender may delete memories dealing with an event known to them, or simply in a certain time frame. The target is allowed a Will save (DC 13 + Asphodel Grovetender level + Wis modifier) to resist the memory deletion, but the Intelligence damage is unaffected. The Asphodel Grovetender may choose to delete memories without inflicting Intelligence damage or inflict Intelligence damage without deleting memories.

Harvest of Pluton (Su): An Asphodel Grovetender is able to harvest the last energy of the dying, using it to fuel their own powers. Beginning at 5th level whenever an Asphodel Grovetender coup de graces a creature and kills it they may harvest a portion of its life energy. Doing so allows an Asphodel Grovetender to reclaim an expended spell (or if a spontaneous caster spell slot) of a level based upon the creature's hit dice. If they have 1/2 to 2 HD the Asphodel Grovetender regains a single 0 level spell. If they have 3 to 8 HD they regain a single 1st level spell. If they have 9 to 14 HD they regain a single 2nd level spell. If they have 15 to 20 HD they regain a single 3rd level spell. If they have 21 or greater HD the Asphodel Grovetender regains a single 4th level spell. An Asphodel Grovetender may regain no more than 1 level worth of spells per character level (treat level 0 spells as 1/2 a level), and creatures with Int 2 or less are considered to have 1/2 their actual Hit Dice for this effect (so it would take a 42 HD vermin or animal to provide a 4th level spell). In addition when an Asphodel Grovetender harvests a creature's life energy this way, even if they do not regain a spell slot due to having already used this ability too often, the target's soul is sent to the Gray Waste after death instead of its normal abode. The soul is still free to return through magical means (such as Raise Dead) but unless action is taken they are doomed to an eternity of torment as a larva or being whittled away to nothing by the Gray Wastes. An Asphodel Grovetender is typically reluctant to over use this ability as it can lead to disruption of the natural balance of the Planes.

Pass through the Gates of Death (Sp): An Asphodel Grovetender may use Plane Shift as a spell-like ability 1/day. They may only do so to travel to the Gray Wastes or their home plane however; if native to the Gray Wastes they may choose a single Prime Material World or another Outer Plane as their possible target other than the Gray Wastes. Their caster level for this ability is equal to their Character Level.



PLAYING AN ASPHODEL GROVETENDER

An Asphodel Grovetender is a divine spellcaster, usually a druid, with a connection to nature which has chosen to heed the call of the nature of one of the Outer Planes, but not merely any Outer Plane but that plane which is the cesspool from which the most soul-crushing aspects of Evil swell forth. As such they find little kinship in the company of other humans, and must find a balance between maintaining their sacred role of wardens of nature and their own selfish greed.

Combat: An Asphodel Grovetender primarily rely on their erubian companion and their own magical powers in combat. Having reduced or no wild shape, they are likely to shift their focus more towards laying buffs on their allies, or towards summoning more allies to assist them. Their exact strategy depends upon whether they were druids or rangers (or the odd Shaman) before becoming Asphodel Grovetenders.

Advancement: After completing Asphodel Grovetender many choose to return to their previous path, continuing to advance their animal companion that way and their spellcasting.

Resources: While Asphodel Grovetenders often lose access to many resources that a druid might possess, they are part of an organized sect which stretches across multiple prime material planes even if only weakly. Upon the Gray Wastes especially they have access to an expansive intelligence network in the form of their fellow members of the sect (whether Asphodel Grovetenders, or lower level druids, rangers, and laymen), and the sect is on good terms with the yugoloths of the plane (according to Asphodel Grovetenders a full-fledged Grovetender who dies is guaranteed to become a yugoloth without first becoming worn into the evil of the Plane as a petitioner), exchanging services as divine spellcasters or in simply using their Harvest of Pluton ability to ensure souls arrive in the Gray Waste.



ASPHODEL GROVETENDERS IN THE WORLD

"They're perversions one and all. That Waste, that realm of Evil and taint, is no part of the natural world, or at least it has no part in our world. I say we destroy them all, destroy them and their pox upon the world, whatever claims they make to be serving Nature!" - Alderic Thunderrune, high druid of the Stormsky Sect.

Asphodel Grovetenders are beings of two worlds in many cases. Those which remain upon the Gray Waste differ from those that travel the planes, and both differ from those who return to the Prime. Asphodel Grovetenders in the Gray Waste are little different from any other Evil nature worshipers, they are even respected by the non-Outsiders who live in the Waste due to their healing and plant growth abilities being used to sustain such communities... in exchange for personal rewards and acts of reverence to the Plane; although other times they are the scourge that wipes the community from the face of the plane through growing the dangerous plants of the Gray Waste and spreading the plagues of Oinos.

Planar Asphodel Grovetenders fare worse. While they are recognized as being merely a part of the nature of the Great Wheel they are still part of what many consider its worst side and attempts to spread its touch, to keep the right amount of Evil in even the Upper Planes are often met with harsh resistance. That said it is Asphodel Grovetenders who take their teachings to the Prime which are often the most hated. They lack the strong backing of Baator's, or the Abyss's, propaganda machine, and often come directly head to head with traditional nature worshipers who see the Plane of Evil as an aberration which has no place in Nature. The sect is considered circumspect and heterodox at best, with many non-evil druidic orders actively seeking to destroy it.

Daily Life: Asphodel Grovetenders act in many ways like a typical druid on a day to day scale. They have chosen an aspect of nature, its ability to inflict death, suffering, and despair, and focus on its protection. They come into conflict with those that seek to use magic (or technology) to prevent natural ecological degradation, cure plagues, or fix droughts and other natural disasters. Some take it a step further and actively scheme to propagate such things, but for the most part Asphodel Grovetenders are simply rather stoic nature priests with a certain mercenary streak.

Organizations: Asphodel Grovetenders are an organized psuedo-druidic sect. The sect is dedicated to the Gray Waste's role as the natural wellspring of despair, plagues, and suffering, and to a lesser extent of Evil itself. All Asphodel Grovetenders are members of this sect, although not all members have levels in this prestige class. In addition to spreading and preserving the forces that the Gray Wastes represent on the Prime Asphodel Grovetenders still serve the original duties of their order, that is tending to the groves and wildernesses of the Gray Wastes. If people want actual rules for the organization using Organization rules (Complete Champion, PHBII) let me know and if I find the motivation I might be able to hammer something out, never actually used or designed anything for those rules, though.



NPC Reactions

As priests of plague and suffering few NPCs, even Evil aligned ones, are well disposed to Asphodel Grovetenders. They tend to get along best with others who serve Vile causes, as such can find a common cause in that their own acts are likely to coincide with an Asphodel Grovetender's goals. Good aligned characters are likely to react to an Asphodel Grovetender with hatred and if they know what order they serve total distrust, or open violence, especially from Good-aligned druids. Evil aligned druids are torn on Asphodel Grovetenders, some see them as just other Evil druids, perhaps a little misguided in their dedication to an Outer Plane, but comrades in a common cause at least, others see them as absolute fools and perversions of nature like their Good aligned counterparts do.

ShneekeyTheLost
2016-09-15, 12:42 AM
I like it!

You mention specifically this is the 'rebalanced planar shepherd', and sure, I can see the correlation. But you also give the Blighter a stiff shot on the chin as well, by being a thematically and mechanically solid Evil Druid.

They lose Wildshape advancement, which REALLY hurts Druids, but in exchange they get a better companion (that lesser Nightmare, for example, gives amazing mobility, and the Canoloth is a perfect meatshield), some additional spells (not particularly powerful, but not bad either), a few thematic resistances/immunities, and some solid class abilities.

Harvest Hope is situational, but when the situation happens, it is absolutely BRUTAL. This ability can shut down a DFI Bard pretty handily... and 'gets those bonuses' means he now gets all those extra dice of damage. Nasty!

Touch of Styx is another very handy ability. INT Damage can ruin a caster's day. Drop their Int below 10 and watch them be unable to cast anything. Granted, it is a touch, and by this time that's gonna be difficult against a Wizard... but if you make it, this is amazing. The other use of this ability is useful in several situations that I can think of.

Harvest of Pluton, as written, has very little chance of ever going off. How often do you CDG at that level? More useful as an NPC BBEG type ability, threatening another NPC with a fate worse than simple death, but an endless torture of the soul as well. The other capstone ability is a very welcome 'get home' card. Useful if someone decided to try and strand you on a random plane.

Zaydos
2016-09-15, 12:52 AM
I like it!

You mention specifically this is the 'rebalanced planar shepherd', and sure, I can see the correlation. But you also give the Blighter a stiff shot on the chin as well, by being a thematically and mechanically solid Evil Druid.

Well I wasn't thinking about Blighter at all as I made this. If I was going to make a Blighter redux I'd split it into two classes (Anti-Druid, and Necro-Druid).


They lose Wildshape advancement, which REALLY hurts Druids, but in exchange they get a better companion (that lesser Nightmare, for example, gives amazing mobility, and the Canoloth is a perfect meatshield), some additional spells (not particularly powerful, but not bad either), a few thematic resistances/immunities, and some solid class abilities.

That was the intent.


Harvest Hope is situational, but when the situation happens, it is absolutely BRUTAL. This ability can shut down a DFI Bard pretty handily... and 'gets those bonuses' means he now gets all those extra dice of damage. Nasty!

Doesn't actually affect DFI. Now non-dfi, but DFI gives you damage by:


Each ally so inspired loses the standard morale bonus on weapon attack rolls and damage rolls. Instead, he deals an extra 1d6 points of fire damage with his weapons for every point of morale bonus that your inspire courage ability would normally add to the attack roll.

It is not as written a morale bonus. That said it'd be thematically appropriate and I do like the idea, but short of specifically mentioning Dragonfire Inspiration I can't think of a way to RAW make it work on DFI. As for RAI... I knew it didn't technically work on DFI and didn't feel it needed to specifically work on DFI but at the same time I don't really think it needs not to, it's just sort of a *shrug whatever fits your table*.


Touch of Styx is another very handy ability. INT Damage can ruin a caster's day. Drop their Int below 10 and watch them be unable to cast anything. Granted, it is a touch, and by this time that's gonna be difficult against a Wizard... but if you make it, this is amazing. The other use of this ability is useful in several situations that I can think of.

Harvest of Pluton, as written, has very little chance of ever going off. How often do you CDG at that level? More useful as an NPC BBEG type ability, threatening another NPC with a fate worse than simple death, but an endless torture of the soul as well. The other capstone ability is a very welcome 'get home' card. Useful if someone decided to try and strand you on a random plane.

Think I should switch Harvest Hope and Harvest of Pluton? Or maybe make it whenever you kill a creature (though that I'd be sort of worried about being too much which is why it's coup de grace as it is)?

And thanks for the review, it's always nice to get one (whether it's criticism, preferably the constructive kind, or just 'I like this, it looks like it works well').