Okay, last one in this project. A while ago I set out to make prestige classes for Angelic Paragons, and now this is the last one. Woof, that took a while. Please PEACH, and thank you in advance for the help, as well as thank you to everyone who helped me with this project!
SpoilerWARNING: If you've read the fluff for Moriphractiel and Seraphitus elsewhere, skip to below the dotted line, that has the last paragraph of Moriphractiel's fluff from the base thread, then new stuff.
Long ago, two angels were born from the essense of good, whether previously mortal or purely divine in nature it is not known. These angelic twins, Seraphitus and Moriphractiel, fought side by side in the War of Pesh, aiding the celestial hosts, quickly making names for themselves. And so it was decided, by the powers of law and the gods, that after the signing of the Pact Primeval, all remaining angels would be divided between the two. Seraphitus advised the lawful angels from the Alabaster Spires in K'un-L'un, while Moriphractiel led mighty hunts across Panagea, the Beastlands and Arborea, training the chaotic angels to hunt and watch, ever ready.
As time passed new angels rose to the level of the twins, and they welcomed them with open arms, seeking new brothers-in-arms. But Seraphitus secretly councilled Moriphractiel to avoid the others, not trusting those who had not been born in times of test by flame, proving mettle by hardship and war. These were softer angels, born of mortal virtues and deeds, and were thus flawed by mortal natures. A dark seed was planted by these words in the mind of Moriphractiel, and he withdrew to Pangaea, taking the angels directly under his command to the demiplane as well. Where once he had been an angel of strict emotion, unbridled joy, limitless sorrow, titanic fury and unquenchable lust, he now was ruled by a new master, doubt. It gnawed at his soul, causing him to place his faith in the vast beasts of Pangaea over the other angelic paragons, even sending his host of angels away to serve his brother.
Often he would send his astral form out upon the planes, spying on the "machinations" of the other paragons, and often having dalliances with mortal women, leading in those formative days of mortalkind to the Bloodline of Moriphractiel, a bloodline now weak and muddied ages later. Those who carried this bloodline often became great heroes, or great villains, the angelic blood giving mighty strength, burning passions, and keen minds.
While Moriphractiel fought a shadow war against non-existent enemies, Seraphitus carried on with his own goals. The advent of the new angels had left Seraphitus with little to do, and many angels to do it with, and so he sought new goals and aspirations, joining the Blood War for a short time, fighting on neither side but revelling in the bloodshed and death as the fiends threw themselves at each other, endless waves of tanar'ri breaking on the iron-wrought shield walls of the baatezu. Whenever one side would gain the upper hand, he would capture and kill their spies, cripple their supply lines, destroy their diviners, anything to leave the forces without vital knowledge and resources that would guarantee victory. When news of his actions reached the ears of the gods, they brought Seraphitus forth in chains to stand trial.
All wrong-doing was scourged from Seraphitus by Scarumaiel using the mists of Avalon, and the gods sent Seraphitus to parley with the now estranged Moriphractiel, hoping to assuage his fears and bring him back to the host of angelic paragons. When Seraphitus finally found his brother, he was more animal than angel, a furious monster of tooth and claw, bristling wings battered by titanic clashes with the prehistoric denizens of Pangaea, formed covered in literal "vines of doubt", sprouted by the seed planted in his soul long ago by his brother. And Seraphitus smiled.
The mists desperately sought to extinguish the smoldering coals of evil within Seraphitus, and he in turn sought to place them in another. After confronting his brother, he reached out with a hand and touched his face, Moriphractiel looking into his brother's eyes, and the lost angel spoke but three words, "End this please." Seraphitus, a loving smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, let the mists slip forth into Moriphractiel's body, scourging his soul and mind, attempting to redeem him, instead leaving him with naught by his wild and monsterous form, his soul convalescing in Seraphitus' hands. With this, Seraphitus fled to the Outlands, and from there entered K'un L'un, stealing into his Alabaster Spires and setting about fortifying it against attack. Each of the angels under his command underwent an apotheosis, the male angels becoming foul dark-scaled drakes of shadow, and the females becoming beautiful winged creatures similar to the erinyes of Baator, though wrapped in sharps wires and blades, wearing metal masks, never showing their visages.
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Seraphitus ever sits in his Alabaster Spires, never leaving his throne at the most reinforced part of the towers, at the heart of a keep so strongly fortified that the sounds of battle outside don't even shake the crystal goblet in his hand. Seraphitus is waited upon hand and foot by his "maidens", while his "beasts" war against the armies of the angelic paragons outside. Sometimes, while falling into a "deep sleep", Seraphitus will send out an astral form in the shape of a great black drake, smashing the armies of good, or destroying temples or libraries, ever lashing out at knowledge to make others weak, so that he might be strong.
Seraphitus' goals of destroying his foes, especially the other angelic paragons, requires him to sever them from their mortal Orders. To this end, he has also founded an order, called the Order of Oathbreakers, made up of those who had forsaken their oaths and bonds. This order, as well as battling and undermining the angelic orders when possible, destroy libraries and magical repositories in order to lessen the chance that others will learn of his foes. This has brought the order into an alliance with the rakshasa, mythic beasts who perform similar attacks for their own reasons. A mutual bond of fellowship, as much as can be shared by two paranoid and treacherous groups, has been founded between the two, even to the point of an alliance between Seraphitus and the rakshasa god Ravana, his only divine alliance.
Seraphitus appears as a small child most often, though he can change his age, mostly always appearing as the same beautiful man in various stages of life. He is always dressed in finery, furs and samite of such exquisite quality that it looks as if he could barely stand. He rarely does though, instead sitting in a gilded throne within his impregnable throne room, his wing resting to either side of his throne lazily and his silver curls kept neatly beneath a platinum circlet. Though he looks non-threatening, his eyes, starry expanses of void, seem to twinkle with malevolence and sadism, his childish smile almost a perverse grin when one looks again.
Oathbreaker of Seraphitus
Requirements
To qualify to become an oathbreaker of Seraphitus, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any evil
Skills: Bluff 9 ranks, Disguise 7 ranks, Hide 9 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, Sense Motive 4 ranks
Feats: Emblem of Seraphitus
Special: Must have the poison use ability as a class ability, feat or racial ability.
Oathbreaker of Seraphitushit dice:d6
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|+1|+0|+2|+2|Willing possession
2nd|+2|+0|+3|+3|Betrayal, ne’er failing light
3rd|+3|+1|+3|+3|Sneak attack +1d6
4th|+4|+1|+4|+4|Ceremony of wings
5th|+5|+1|+4|+4|Inspire hatred
6th|+6|+2|+5|+5|Ceremony of becoming, sneak attack +2d6
7th|+7|+2|+5|+5|Pact of ignorance
8th|+8|+2|+6|+6|Ceremony of flesh
9th|+9|+3|+6|+6| Sneak attack +3d6
10th|+10|+3|+7|+7|Darkness o’er all[/table]
Class Skills
The oathbreaker of Seraphitus’ class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points
6 + Int modifier
Willing Possession: Upon entering the class, an oathbreaker of Seraphitus is visited in her dreams by one of her lord’s fallen angels, either a maiden or beast of Seraphitus. Knowing his mortal servants’ minds intimately, he sends the one most suited to the oathbreaker’s skills and temperament (i.e. the oathbreaker chooses which she’d prefer basically).
An oathbreaker bonded with a maiden of Seraphitus gains the ability once per day for every two levels in this class to make her face resemble that of one of her enemies’ loved ones or hated enemies.
This counts as a gaze attack with a 30ft range (Will save, DC 10+ half oathbreaker’s class level + her Cha modifier), and her face’s appearance is subjective to each of her opponents loved ones and hated enemies. When using this ability, the oathbreaker can choose to incite shock, weariness, or despair with her gaze. If the enemies fail their saves, they are affected by a status affliction based on the emotions invoked. Shock causes the dazed condition, weariness the fatigued condition, and despair the sickened condition. The gaze attack remains active for a number of rounds equal to the oathbreaker's class level, and the conditions last for a number of rounds equal to the oathbreaker's Charisma modifier, though they allow a new save each round to shake them off. Creatures who gain boni aginast mind-affecting effects gain those bonuses on their saves against this ability, but boni against fear specifically do not apply.
In addition, the oathbreaker gains a death attack. If an oathbreaker studies her victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (oathbreaker’s choice). While studying the victim, the assassin can undertake other actions so long as her attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the oathbreaker or recognize the oathbreaker as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the oathbreaker’s class level + the oathbreaker’s Int modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim is rendered helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 1 round per level of the oathbreaker. If the victim’s saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the oathbreaker has completed the 3 rounds of study, she must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds.
If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the oathbreaker does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before she can attempt another death attack.
Levels in this class stack with levels in other classes that have death attack for the purpose of determining the effects and save of death attack.
An oathbeaker bonded with a beast of Seraphitus gains the ability to once per day gain a rush of power, the fallen angel taking over for the wounded and tired oathbreaker. When the oathbreaker has less than half her hit points left, she can enter a frenzy as an immediate action, immediately gaining temporary hit points equal to twice her class level as well as damage reduction (class level)/good or evil. Also, while in this frenzy the oathbreaker can use one-handed weapons while grappling and can make a grapple check while grappling to constrict her opponent. This constrict attack deals 2d6+1.5times the oahtbreaker's Strength. This frenzy lasts for three rounds plus one round per point of the oathbreaker's Con modifier, or until her current hit points are once again more than half of her total hit points, which ever occurs first.
Betrayal: Anytime a 2nd level oathbreaker of Seraphitus deals damage to a creature who is indifferent (i.e. anything that doesn't want to hinder, hurt or attack her, DM's final decision), friendly or helpful towards her with an attack, the victim must make a Will save (DC 10+ the oathbreaker’s class level + his Cha modifier) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds.
Ne’er Failing Light: A 2nd level oathbreaker of Seraphitus is able to tap into the holy energy she may have had before her fall and conversion to Seraphitus. If the oathbreaker has any feats that require the character to be good-aligned or exalted to take them, she is considered still eligible for them, though she cannot take new feats with these requirements. The oathbreaker must still fulfil all requirements of the feat not having to do with be exalted or good. For instance, if the oathbreaker has the Vow of Nonviolence, she cannot deal lethal damage or cause pain to humanoids or monstrous humanoids, but she is not bound to treating prisoners well or not using poisons (except on humanoids and monsterous humanoids), as those are requirements of being exalted, not the feat itself.
An oathbreaker with the Vow of Poverty feat may still carry and wield Firfiski (see below) without violating her vow.
The oathbreaker does not regain access to any of these feats though: Servant of the Heavens, Favoured of the Companions, Knight of the Stars, Acolyte of the Archangels.
Sneak Attack: If a 3rd level oathbreaker of Seraphitus can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage.
The oathbreaker of Seraphitus’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the oathbreaker of Seraphitus flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 3rd level, and it increases by 1d6 every three levels. Should the oathbreaker of Seraphitus score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.
Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, an oathbreaker of Seraphitus can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual -4 penalty.
An oathbreaker of Seraphitus can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The oathbreaker of Seraphitus must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An oathbreaker of Seraphitus cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.
If an oathbreaker of Seraphitus gets a sneak attack bonus from another source the bonuses on damage stack.
Ceremony of Wings: At 4th level, an oathbreaker of Seraphitus undergoes a ritual to become more in touch with her inner fallen angel, gaining the ability to call and dismiss magical wings as a move action. These wings provide a fly speed equal to twice the oathbreaker’s base speed at average maneuverability. The wings are either feathery (maiden) or leathery (beast).
Gaining this ability requires 10 uninterrupted minutes of work upon reaching 4th level for either the Order of Oathbreakers or the oathbreaker herself to inscribe scarification and tattoos in the shape of wings upon the oathbreaker’s back.
Inspire Hatred: Three times per day as a standard action a 5th level oathbreaker of Seraphitus can ignite passionate and unreasoning hatred in one or more creatures within 30ft. The oathbreaker must indicate an object of hatred for the targets. The oathbreaker can affect a number of target equal to half his class level. Each target must be able to hear the oathbreaker, and is entitled to a Will save (DC 10+ oathbreaker’s class level+ her Cha modifier). If the target fails, he/she is filled with hatred towards the indicated object of hatred, and attacks it to the exclusion of all others. If the affected creature is attacked, he/she can defend him/herself normally, but returns as soon as possible to attacking the object of his/her hatred. This effect is considered mind-affecting and lasts for a number of rounds equal to the oathbreaker’s class level plus twice her Charisma modifier.
Ceremony of Becoming: Upon reaching 6th level, an oathbreaker undergoes another ritual to become even further bonded with the fallen angel possessing her.
If the oathbreaker is bonded with a maiden of Seraphitus, she gains a special touch attack. Once per day, the oathbreaker of Seraphitus can touch a target and make her forget the oathbreaker's specific features and identifying details. This acts as a modify memory spell (Will save negates DC 10+ oathbreaker's class level+ Cha modifier). Also, for one day per oathbreaker level the target cannot communicate about the events surrounding her encounter with the oathbreaker (DM's discretion on what involves and doesn't involve the encounter). Speech turns to gibberish, writing to unintelligible scrawl, etc. If the target is forced to communicate on the subject continuously, after a minute of this failure to communicate the target suffers the effect of a wrack spell.
Also, the oathbreaker's gaze attack improves. She can now incite obsession as well as the others, and inciting shock now causes the stunned condition, weariness the exhausted condition, and despair the nauseated condition (it only lasts one round), while obsession causes the fascinated condition. The oathbreaker can still choose to cause the lesser conditions if desired.
If the oathbreaker is bonded with a beast of Seraphitus, she gains the powerful build ability, essentially making her considered large size for the purpose of rolls and checks when it would be beneficial. Also, she can breathe a cone of force, dealing 1d6 points of damage per class level (Reflex for half DC 10+ oathbreaker’s class level+ her Con modifier) in a 30ft cone. Once this ability is used, it cannot be used for 1d4 rounds.
Gaining this ability requires 30 uninterrupted minutes of work upon reaching 6th level for either the Order of Oathbreakers or the oathbreaker herself to inscribe scarification and tattoos upon the oathbreaker’s face, head and neck.
Pact of Ignorance: Once per week a 7th level oathbreaker of Seraphitus can invoke the pact that Seraphitus forged with the rakshasa when he began his defense of the Alabaster Spires. When a oathbreaker would take damage that would drop her to -1 hit points or below, she can take an immeidiate action to summon a rakshasa, who is disguised as her. This raksha takes the damage and continues to fight in the oathbreaker’s stead for one round per class level, and at the same time, the oathbreaker receives the benefit of a dimension door spell as if cast by a caster of her character level.
Ceremony of Flesh: Upon reaching 8th level, an oathbreaker of Seraphitus undergoes the last rite of her order, becoming a true mortal vessel of Seraphitus’ machinations. The Order of Oathbreakers, when perfoming this ritual, is gifted a small piece of celestial or fiendish flesh by their patron, taken from his foes. The oathbreaker consumes this flesh at the height of the ritual.
An oathbreaker bonded with a maiden of Seraphitus gains the ability to store her armour, firfiski and up to 50 lbs of other objects within her body. These items do not count towards encumberance when stored, and can be stored and retrieved as a free action. While the oathbreaker is unarmoured, unarmed and unencumbered, the tattoos across her flesh disappear, removing the ability of those with Knowledge (religion) ranks to identify her. She also becomes totally unthreatening to others (Opponent's Sense Motive check vs. Oathbreaker's Bluff check, with the Oathbreaker gaining a bonus equal half her class level) granting her a +4 bonus on attacks and damage against flat-footed opponents, as well as to the DC of her death attack.
Also, the oathbreaker's gaze attack once again improves. She can now focus her gaze as a standard action to target one creature, which intensifies the effects but causes the area effect of the gaze attack to cease working until the start of the oathbreaker's next turn. Inciting shock in this way causes the paralyzed condition, weariness the staggered condition (only with respects towards actions available) and a -4 to AC, attacks and saves, despair the disabled condition (only with respects to actions available, taking a standard action (or some free) causing 1 point of damage and moving at half speed), while obsession causes the confused condition.
An oathbreaker bonded with a beast of Seraphitus gains regeneration 10, which is overcome by good-aligned or evil-aligned weapons. She also gains the ability to once per encounter turn a regular attack into a smite attack, gaining a bonus on attacks equal to her Charisma modifier, and a bonus on damage equal to her level. This smite attack also carries a small amount of the beast's poison (Dmg Primary: 1d6 Str & Dex damage/Secondary: 1 Str & Dex drain, DC 10+ oathbreaker's level + Con or Cha modifier, whichever is higher)
Gaining this ability requires 1 uninterrupted hour of work upon reaching 8th level for either the Order of Oathbreakers or the oathbreaker herself to inscribe scarification and tattoos on the oathbreaker’s chest, shoulders and arms.
Darkness O’er All: Once per encounter, a 10th level oathbreaker of Seraphitus can surround herself with an aura out to 50ft. This aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to the oathbreaker’s Charisma modifier. The oathbreaker is considered to have partial concealment from her opponents, and all supernatural or spell-like abilities, as well as spellcasting, gain a 20% failure chance. This effect affects spells that have targets or target areas within the aura. The oathbreaker also gains spell resistance equal to 20+ her charisma modifier. If the oathbreaker wishes, she can end the effect early in order to gain a bonus to her attack, damage and AC for one round equal to the number of rounds she had left.
And now the feat
Emblem of Seraphitus (Vile)
You have forsaken all other oaths prior to pledge your life to the Order of Oathbreakers and their fallen master. In exchange for your sworn fealty, you gain the mystical and forgotten knowledge of how to wield the favoured weapon of the Order, and you become a consummate professional at getting answers through violence.
Benefit: You gain proficiency with the Firfiski (see below) as well as gaining a +1 bonus to attacks with the weapon. Also, victims of torture by you do not gain the usual +4 bonus to Bluff checks, as you are well aware of their desire to say anything to make the pain stop.
Special: In order to take this feat, you must have betrayed a major oath or code of conduct that your previously held (i.e. you are a fallen paladin, ex-monk, ex-healer, ex-cleric, ex-samurai, ex-knight, or have betrayed a sworn oath in character). Any character with ranks in Knowledge (religion) can identify you as a member of the Order of Oathbreakers with a Knowledge (religion) check (DC = your ranks in Disguise - your level in Oathbreaker of Seraphitus).You lose access to these feats if you have them: Servant of the Heavens, Favoured of the Companions, Knight of the Stars, Acolyte of the Archangels, Bloodline of Moriphractiel, Brand of the Nine Hells, Disciple of Darkness or Thrall to Demon.
Firfiski
Elven for “the void between light and darkness”, this title was originally applied to Seraphitus to refer to his fall from light and his animosity towards both the celestials and fiends. His mortal Order designed a unique weapon, a small rapier thin point of metal, that instead of having a handle has a series of rings that slip over the wielder’s knuckles, making the weapon a strange thing to wield, but a vicious and painful weapon in the hands of the Order.
{table=head]Firfiski|Light Exotic Weapon|Cost 10gp|Damage:1d6|Crit:18-20/x2|piercing|1 lb.[/table]
Special: A character can only gain proficiency with this weapon through the Emblem of Seraphitus feat. When the wielder confirms a critical hit with this weapon, the weapon leaves a grievous bleeding wound that continues to deal 1 point of damage each round until healed with a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any sort of healing magic.
