Invariel
2004-07-31, 03:38 PM
The Necromancer raised his hands and a brilliant blue bolt of energy leapt from them, heading toward the frail Sorcerer. A quick thought flashed through the Sorcerer's mind, and the answer he received from his familiar managed to soothe him. At exactly that same moment, the Sorcerer's familiar leapt in front of the beam, absorbing it into herself. The familiar, focussing her inner energies, transferred a part of the energy into the Sorcerer, who felt slightly revitalised as he began chanting a spell of his own. The tables had been turned.
The Shields of the Inv Ariel are an ancient order, created by a high Sorceress, Ariel, whose beauty was legendary, but whose frailty was also well known. Legend has it that the beautiful Sorceress walked into a bar one evening when an evil wizard cast a deadly enchantment her way. One of the warriors in the bar intercepted the deadly enchantment, and in thanks, the Inv took the man as her familiar and this order was born.
The purpose of any Shield is to protect, and the same holds true with these people-gone-familiars. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages, but being a defender is tough work.
Prerequisites
In order to become a Shield of Inv Ariel, the following requirements must be met:
{table]
Feats:
Iron Will[br]Improved Unarmed Strike[br]Alertness
Skills:
Spellcraft, 5 ranks
BAB:
+5
Special:
You must first take a hit by a malign spell for an Arcane spellcaster, who must then accept you as his/her familiar.
Hit Dice:
d8
Skill Points:
4 + Intelligence modifier per level
[/table]
Skills
The Shield of Inv Ariel's class skills (and relevant ability) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills) (int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (int), and Swim (str).
Advancement
{table]
Level
BAB
F / R / W
Special
1
+0
+2 / +0 / +2
Osmosis [1][br] Familiar[br] Symbiosis
2
+1
+3 / +0 / +3
Inner Healing [1]
3
+2
+3 / +1 / +3
Spell Transfer[br] Spell Burst [1]
4
+3
+4 / +1 / +4
Inner Healing [2][br] Steel Mind [1]
5
+3
+4 / +1 / +4
Prepare Spell[br] Energy Discharge[br] Spell Burst [2]
6
+4
+5 / +2 / +5
Inner Healing [3][br] Osmosis [2]
7
+5
+5 / +2 / +5
Steel Mind [2][br] Spell Burst [3]
8
+6 / +1
+6 / +2 / +6
Inner Healing [4]
9
+6 / + 1
+6 / +3 / +6
Spell Burst [4]
10
+7 / +2
+7 / +3 / +7
Inner Healing [5]
[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
A Shield of Inv Ariel may use any Simple, Martial or Exotic weapon and may wear any type of armour though at later levels this may be a hindrance, as spell failure will take its toll. Note that while the Shield may use these weapons and armours, they do not immediately gain the knowledge to use them.
Special Abilities and Descriptions
Osmosis (su): At first level, the Shield of Inv Ariel gains the ability to absorb his Shield level in spell levels, provided he makes a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level + the caster's level - the Shield's class level), has enough Shield levels remaining to absorb the spell, and the spell was cast with hostile intent at either him or the arcane spellcaster to whom he is a Shield. If successful, the spell has no effect, and the Shield absorbs a number of spell levels equal to the level of the absorbed spell. At sixth level, the Shield is able to absorb twice his Shield level in spell levels.
Symbiosis (su): At first level, the Shield of Inv Ariel forms a symbiotic bond with her arcane spellcaster, and will take upon herself one half of all damage done to the one she is Shielding. This ability functions through the arcane link between the two, and is non-operational whenever spells are disrupted, or when the Shield and her arcane spellcaster are more than a mile apart from each other. It also does not function if the Shield is damaged at the same time as the arcane spellcaster, and the spellcaster (but not the Shield) can choose to take all of the dealt damage.
Familiar (ex): At first level, the Shield becomes something similar to a familiar for his arcane spellcaster. The spellcaster must first dismiss his own familiar in favour of the Shield, at which time the Shield gains all of the abilities of a familiar, while still retaining the ability to earn experience points, class levels, and the like. Note that this transfer is nigh-instantaneous, ad the spellcaster does not need to wait the year-and-a-day that the spellcaster must normally wait. However, if the spellcaster is currently in his year-and-a-day state, he cannot accept a Shield as his familiar-equivalent. The spellcaster can see through his Shield's eyes, communicate telepathically with him, and can deliver touch attacks through his Shield. If the Shield and spellcaster are separated by a range of more than one mile, the Shield and spellcaster will still be able to sense each other and communicate telepathically, but the spellcaster will not be able to cast touch spells through his Shield, and the Shield will not be able to absorb damage done to his spellcaster (see above). Furthermore, as a Shield of Inv Ariel, he is able to activate wands if his arcane spellcaster would also be able to use the wand in question. If a Shield of Inv Ariel dies (reduced to below -10 hit points), the arcane spellcaster suffers the shock of the death, and all applicable penalties, and these penalties are not removed even if the Shield is subsequently raised, resurrected, or otherwise brought back to life. If the spellcaster dismisses the Shield of Inv Ariel, the Shield loses all of his class abilities until he manages to become a Shield for another arcane spellcaster, at which time all of the class abilities are restored.
Inner Healing (su): At second level, and each second level thereafter, the Shield is able to channel her absorbed spell energy into healing energy for either herself or her arcane spellcaster at a rate of 1d4 per spell level a number of times per day equal to half her Shield level. At the time of using this ability, the Shield declares how many spell levels she wishes to convert at a time. Therefore, Niobe, a 4th level Shield of Inv Ariel can perform Inner Healing twice per day, turning as many absorbed spell levels as she wishes into 1d4 of healing to either herself or her arcane spellcaster. Similarly, Phaedrig, a 10th level Shield of Inv Ariel can also convert his absorbed spell levels into 1d4 points of healing per spell level he wishes to use in this manner, but may do so five times per day. This counts as a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, and if struck while trying to perform Inner Healing, the Shield must succeed at a Concentration check (DC 15 + damage done ) or lose the spell levels without healing.
Spell Transfer (su): At third level, the Shield gains the ability to transfer his absorbed spell levels into his arcane spellcaster, enabling the spellcaster to cast more spells per day. When the Shield transfers spell levels in this way, the spellcaster decides how to prepare additional spells. Spellcasters who need to memorize spells must begin this process within one hour of receiving the spell levels, while spontaneous casters gain the additional spells per day. For example, Niobe transfers her four absorbed levels into her Wizard spellcaster, who now may memorize any combination of spells totalling four levels (including the conversion of a one level spell into two cantrips), and Patrick can transfer any amount of his twenty absorbed levels into his Sorceress spellcaster who now has enough mental energy to cast any number of additional spells totalling twenty. This counts as a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, requiring a Concentration check (DC 20 + damage done + number of spell levels being transferred) if successfully struck. A Shield can only transfer a number of spell levels per day as his spellcaster has class levels in the appropriate class, and can only transfer spell levels to the class which initially accepted him as a familiar, even if the spellcaster belongs to two classes which each can have a familiar.
Spell Burst (su): At third level, and each two levels thereafter, the Shield is able to burn off a number of spell levels to provide her weapon(s) with magical damage enhancements of 1d6 per spell level, may not exceed the Shield's level divided by two (max 5d6), and may only be used once per day plus once for every two levels beyond the third. These bonuses last for ten minutes, and only remain as long as the enchanted weapon(s) remain in the possession of the Shield, or her spellcaster. This bonus is immediately dispelled if the weapon is unequipped, disarmed, or otherwise rendered unused. Imbuing a weapon in such a manner is a standard action which does not provoke an attack of opportunity, and the weapon must be held by the Shield in order to be enchanted, though as mentioned, can be handed to the Shield's spellcaster. This damage is non-elemental and magical in nature for the purposes of damage reduction.
Steel Mind (ex): At fourth level, a Shield of Inv Ariel becomes immune to all mind-dominating spells and effects, as he is now familiar enough with his spellcaster that his mind may not be controlled. At seventh level, he also earns a +5 circumstance bonus against all illusion spells mimicking his spellcaster.
Prepare Spell (sp): At fifth level, the Shield is able to prepare any spell that his spellcaster would be able to prepare, at a cost of an equivalent number of spell levels. In order to prepare the spell properly, the Shield must have sufficient Intelligence or Charisma (as dictated by the class of the Shield's spellcaster) to cast the spell (10 + desired stat), and make a successful Spellcraft check (DC 18 + spell's level) or lose the spell levels and (10% chance) suffer 1d6 per spell level of damage due to the magical feedback. Furthermore, the Shield can read scrolls prepared by his spellcaster, and his spellcaster may now cast Read Magic through him, enabling him to read scrolls in this manner as well, though the Shield must meet all of the relevant requirements to actually cast the spell, though the spellcaster could cast it from the scroll remotely through the shared bond between Shield and spellcaster.
Energy Discharge (su): At fifth level, a Shield of Inv Ariel may discharge up to five spell levels in an explosive burst of magical energy. This burst has a short range (10 ft + 10 ft / Shield level) and deals 1d6 per spell level discharged of nonelemental, magical damage. This burst harms everything within its range, except for the Shield and her spellcaster. Releasing this energy counts as a full-round action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Furthermore, if a Shield is reduced to 0 hit points or below at or beyond this level, she releases all of her stored spell levels in an explosive burst as a final attempt to protect her spellcaster.
The Shields of the Inv Ariel are an ancient order, created by a high Sorceress, Ariel, whose beauty was legendary, but whose frailty was also well known. Legend has it that the beautiful Sorceress walked into a bar one evening when an evil wizard cast a deadly enchantment her way. One of the warriors in the bar intercepted the deadly enchantment, and in thanks, the Inv took the man as her familiar and this order was born.
The purpose of any Shield is to protect, and the same holds true with these people-gone-familiars. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages, but being a defender is tough work.
Prerequisites
In order to become a Shield of Inv Ariel, the following requirements must be met:
{table]
Feats:
Iron Will[br]Improved Unarmed Strike[br]Alertness
Skills:
Spellcraft, 5 ranks
BAB:
+5
Special:
You must first take a hit by a malign spell for an Arcane spellcaster, who must then accept you as his/her familiar.
Hit Dice:
d8
Skill Points:
4 + Intelligence modifier per level
[/table]
Skills
The Shield of Inv Ariel's class skills (and relevant ability) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills) (int), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (int), and Swim (str).
Advancement
{table]
Level
BAB
F / R / W
Special
1
+0
+2 / +0 / +2
Osmosis [1][br] Familiar[br] Symbiosis
2
+1
+3 / +0 / +3
Inner Healing [1]
3
+2
+3 / +1 / +3
Spell Transfer[br] Spell Burst [1]
4
+3
+4 / +1 / +4
Inner Healing [2][br] Steel Mind [1]
5
+3
+4 / +1 / +4
Prepare Spell[br] Energy Discharge[br] Spell Burst [2]
6
+4
+5 / +2 / +5
Inner Healing [3][br] Osmosis [2]
7
+5
+5 / +2 / +5
Steel Mind [2][br] Spell Burst [3]
8
+6 / +1
+6 / +2 / +6
Inner Healing [4]
9
+6 / + 1
+6 / +3 / +6
Spell Burst [4]
10
+7 / +2
+7 / +3 / +7
Inner Healing [5]
[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
A Shield of Inv Ariel may use any Simple, Martial or Exotic weapon and may wear any type of armour though at later levels this may be a hindrance, as spell failure will take its toll. Note that while the Shield may use these weapons and armours, they do not immediately gain the knowledge to use them.
Special Abilities and Descriptions
Osmosis (su): At first level, the Shield of Inv Ariel gains the ability to absorb his Shield level in spell levels, provided he makes a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level + the caster's level - the Shield's class level), has enough Shield levels remaining to absorb the spell, and the spell was cast with hostile intent at either him or the arcane spellcaster to whom he is a Shield. If successful, the spell has no effect, and the Shield absorbs a number of spell levels equal to the level of the absorbed spell. At sixth level, the Shield is able to absorb twice his Shield level in spell levels.
Symbiosis (su): At first level, the Shield of Inv Ariel forms a symbiotic bond with her arcane spellcaster, and will take upon herself one half of all damage done to the one she is Shielding. This ability functions through the arcane link between the two, and is non-operational whenever spells are disrupted, or when the Shield and her arcane spellcaster are more than a mile apart from each other. It also does not function if the Shield is damaged at the same time as the arcane spellcaster, and the spellcaster (but not the Shield) can choose to take all of the dealt damage.
Familiar (ex): At first level, the Shield becomes something similar to a familiar for his arcane spellcaster. The spellcaster must first dismiss his own familiar in favour of the Shield, at which time the Shield gains all of the abilities of a familiar, while still retaining the ability to earn experience points, class levels, and the like. Note that this transfer is nigh-instantaneous, ad the spellcaster does not need to wait the year-and-a-day that the spellcaster must normally wait. However, if the spellcaster is currently in his year-and-a-day state, he cannot accept a Shield as his familiar-equivalent. The spellcaster can see through his Shield's eyes, communicate telepathically with him, and can deliver touch attacks through his Shield. If the Shield and spellcaster are separated by a range of more than one mile, the Shield and spellcaster will still be able to sense each other and communicate telepathically, but the spellcaster will not be able to cast touch spells through his Shield, and the Shield will not be able to absorb damage done to his spellcaster (see above). Furthermore, as a Shield of Inv Ariel, he is able to activate wands if his arcane spellcaster would also be able to use the wand in question. If a Shield of Inv Ariel dies (reduced to below -10 hit points), the arcane spellcaster suffers the shock of the death, and all applicable penalties, and these penalties are not removed even if the Shield is subsequently raised, resurrected, or otherwise brought back to life. If the spellcaster dismisses the Shield of Inv Ariel, the Shield loses all of his class abilities until he manages to become a Shield for another arcane spellcaster, at which time all of the class abilities are restored.
Inner Healing (su): At second level, and each second level thereafter, the Shield is able to channel her absorbed spell energy into healing energy for either herself or her arcane spellcaster at a rate of 1d4 per spell level a number of times per day equal to half her Shield level. At the time of using this ability, the Shield declares how many spell levels she wishes to convert at a time. Therefore, Niobe, a 4th level Shield of Inv Ariel can perform Inner Healing twice per day, turning as many absorbed spell levels as she wishes into 1d4 of healing to either herself or her arcane spellcaster. Similarly, Phaedrig, a 10th level Shield of Inv Ariel can also convert his absorbed spell levels into 1d4 points of healing per spell level he wishes to use in this manner, but may do so five times per day. This counts as a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, and if struck while trying to perform Inner Healing, the Shield must succeed at a Concentration check (DC 15 + damage done ) or lose the spell levels without healing.
Spell Transfer (su): At third level, the Shield gains the ability to transfer his absorbed spell levels into his arcane spellcaster, enabling the spellcaster to cast more spells per day. When the Shield transfers spell levels in this way, the spellcaster decides how to prepare additional spells. Spellcasters who need to memorize spells must begin this process within one hour of receiving the spell levels, while spontaneous casters gain the additional spells per day. For example, Niobe transfers her four absorbed levels into her Wizard spellcaster, who now may memorize any combination of spells totalling four levels (including the conversion of a one level spell into two cantrips), and Patrick can transfer any amount of his twenty absorbed levels into his Sorceress spellcaster who now has enough mental energy to cast any number of additional spells totalling twenty. This counts as a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, requiring a Concentration check (DC 20 + damage done + number of spell levels being transferred) if successfully struck. A Shield can only transfer a number of spell levels per day as his spellcaster has class levels in the appropriate class, and can only transfer spell levels to the class which initially accepted him as a familiar, even if the spellcaster belongs to two classes which each can have a familiar.
Spell Burst (su): At third level, and each two levels thereafter, the Shield is able to burn off a number of spell levels to provide her weapon(s) with magical damage enhancements of 1d6 per spell level, may not exceed the Shield's level divided by two (max 5d6), and may only be used once per day plus once for every two levels beyond the third. These bonuses last for ten minutes, and only remain as long as the enchanted weapon(s) remain in the possession of the Shield, or her spellcaster. This bonus is immediately dispelled if the weapon is unequipped, disarmed, or otherwise rendered unused. Imbuing a weapon in such a manner is a standard action which does not provoke an attack of opportunity, and the weapon must be held by the Shield in order to be enchanted, though as mentioned, can be handed to the Shield's spellcaster. This damage is non-elemental and magical in nature for the purposes of damage reduction.
Steel Mind (ex): At fourth level, a Shield of Inv Ariel becomes immune to all mind-dominating spells and effects, as he is now familiar enough with his spellcaster that his mind may not be controlled. At seventh level, he also earns a +5 circumstance bonus against all illusion spells mimicking his spellcaster.
Prepare Spell (sp): At fifth level, the Shield is able to prepare any spell that his spellcaster would be able to prepare, at a cost of an equivalent number of spell levels. In order to prepare the spell properly, the Shield must have sufficient Intelligence or Charisma (as dictated by the class of the Shield's spellcaster) to cast the spell (10 + desired stat), and make a successful Spellcraft check (DC 18 + spell's level) or lose the spell levels and (10% chance) suffer 1d6 per spell level of damage due to the magical feedback. Furthermore, the Shield can read scrolls prepared by his spellcaster, and his spellcaster may now cast Read Magic through him, enabling him to read scrolls in this manner as well, though the Shield must meet all of the relevant requirements to actually cast the spell, though the spellcaster could cast it from the scroll remotely through the shared bond between Shield and spellcaster.
Energy Discharge (su): At fifth level, a Shield of Inv Ariel may discharge up to five spell levels in an explosive burst of magical energy. This burst has a short range (10 ft + 10 ft / Shield level) and deals 1d6 per spell level discharged of nonelemental, magical damage. This burst harms everything within its range, except for the Shield and her spellcaster. Releasing this energy counts as a full-round action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Furthermore, if a Shield is reduced to 0 hit points or below at or beyond this level, she releases all of her stored spell levels in an explosive burst as a final attempt to protect her spellcaster.