Rising Phoenix
2009-09-12, 05:44 AM
Well I think it's about time I gave something back to this wonderful community. This is the first full fledged prestige class I've bothered creating so I am hoping on some constructive critisism. I hope it's worthy of your attention !:smallsmile:
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The Songbird
“A little bird told me…”
Marcus Thymetouched, a Songbird
Kindness begets kindness they say and that’s what Eleonora of the Roses (the first known Songbird) received when she opened the doors to a lords’ aviary, releasing all the birds trapped within. Three nights after her deed of mercy, she felt something small and warm land on her shoulder and a tiny voice whispered.
“Eleonora, Eleonora…as you helped us…so shall we…We know what you seek…We know where it is…We know whether light or darkness lies within ones’ heart…and we shall tell these to you, all of them…for you freed us…and we shall free you in return…”
Becoming a Songbird:
To become a Songbird one must first perform a deed of kindness towards an avian creature. This can range from simply opening the door of a small cage ‘accidentally’ to breaking into a menagerie releasing all the animals kept within. Regardless of the act if any of the avian creatures feels that the person who released or saved them is of pure enough heart, it will return to him or her with a proposal no sooner or later then three days or nights. The proposal, in effect a simple deal, is as follows: Birds, creatures of the air that look down upon the earth and thus see and hear many secrets, will help the character from now on so long as he or she continues to help birds in any way he or she can.
Bards are particularly well suited to becoming Songbirds, but the simple act of kindness required can be performed by anyone with a good heart and thus near any kind aligned person can enter this Prestige Class.
NPC Songbirds seem to know a lot of stuff that they should not and can travel great distances quite fast. They guard their secret carefully to prevent harm to their feathered friends and it is rare for two songbirds to know each other. Thanks to their huge network of allies songbirds are often the first people to get word of stirring evil and their kind and cheerful nature often ensures that many more creatures apart from birds call them friends.
DMs should offer access to this prestige class as a surprise reward to an unsuspecting PC, if only to show them that small acts of kindness can return great rewards.
Requirements:
AL: Any non evil
Feats: Animal Affinity
Skills: Handle Animal: 4 ranks, Knowledge (Nature): 4 ranks, Listen: 8 ranks, Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance): 8 ranks.
Special: The potential candidate must perform act of kindness towards an avian creature without having knowledge of the possible reward the creature has to offer. Once the ‘pact’ has been made, the character must continue to be kind towards avian creatures, otherwise he or she immediately loses all the advantages gained by this PrC and may not continue advancement in it. Whether eating an avian creature consists an unkind deed is entirely up to the DM to decide.
Note: An avian creature is a creature that is a bird or looks like a bird. Thus for the purpose of this prestige class any creature of the animal or magical beast that looks like a bird or that is an augmented, non-undead, non-aberration versions of such a creature is considered an avian creature.
The Songbird HD d6
{table=head]Level|BAB |Fort |Ref |Will |Special
1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+2|A Little Bird Told Me So, Bardic Music
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+3|I Have A Friend; Winged Messenger; +1 Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+3|
+3|Birds of a feather flock together
4th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|Springs’ dawn chorus; +1 Existing Spellcasting Class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
[/table]
Class Skills: 6+Int mod/ lv,: Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Listen, Move Silently, Perform (all skills taken individually), Sense Motive, Speak Language and Survival.
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Songbirds do not gain any new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells per day: At 2nd level and again at 4th, the character gains spells per day, and spells known if applicable, as if she had gained a new level in one of her spellcasting classes she belonged to before she entered this prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefits associated with gaining a level in that class and if she had levels in multiple spellcasting classes before entering this prestige class she must chose to which one the new spellcasting level applies.
A little bird told me (Ex): The first thing birds teach a Songbird is their language. She can now communicate ‘verbally’ (really a series of chirps, whistles, quacks…) with any avian creature that is capable of producing sound at will. Birds will only teach their language only to those they really trust and thus being able to do so is a good sign to a bird that this individual is a friend. For this reason all mundane birds are considered to have a friendly starting attitude towards a Songbird. Other good or neutral aligned avian creatures are also likely to be friendly towards the Songbird, but this is entirely up to the DM. Evil creatures are unlikely to care about acts of kindness performed by the Songbird, but they may be curious enough to refrain attacking on sight and ask how she learnt their language.
Due to her being able to talk their language the Songbird may ask birds (and avian creatures) questions. They will usually be eager to answer, but will not necessarily know the answer. For example a magpie may know where lady Khaal keeps the jewelry in her room and a hawk may know where the bandits’ lair is in the wilderness, but a bird is unlikely to be able to understand politics to serve as a spy, unless it’s awakened.
Barding Music: Bard levels and Songbird levels stack for the number of uses/day and abilities granted from the Bardic Music class ability. If the character didn’t have access to this ability prior to entering this prestige class, she gains no benefit unless later on she gains levels in Bard allowing for the stacking to happen normally
I have a friend (Su): Upon entering the second level a Songbird is able to form a mystical bond with a bird. He or she effectively gains a familiar (see page 52 of the PHB for how to gain a familiar and its abilities) with the following differences. Anyone can gain the familiar from the ‘I have a friend’ class feature and the abilities of the familiar are determined by all of the characters level, not just the arcane spell casting one.
If you already have a familiar, the levels of the Songbird prestige class stack with the class levels that grant you a familiar for the determination of its abilities. You do not gain a second familiar from this ability.
The familiar gained from the ‘I have a friend’ class feature must be a bird. Thus Ravens, Hawks, Owls, Screech Owls, Parrots, Thrushes, Gulls and Hummingbirds are all appropriate familiars as is the Corrolax (MM 2 page 50) if the character selects Improved Familiar as one of his later feats. In addition Songbirds have access to the Nightingale (treat as Thrush in terms of statistics, DMG page 203) which grants +3 to Perform (Oratory) checks.
Winged Messenger (Sp): By humming softly and offering a handful of feed a Songbird can attract a small bird to whisper a message to. Effectively she can cast the spell animal messenger (PHB page 198) for the cost of 1 use of her daily Bardic Music ability with the difference that the animal to serve as a messenger must be a bird. If the character does not have access to the Bardic Music ability, she can use this ability three times per day. The caster level for this ability is equal to your Songbird level along with any Bard levels you may have.
Birds of a feather flock together (Sp): With an urgent tune on her flute or a quickly sang prayer a Songbird can ask his feathered allies for aid. For the use of two uses of her daily Bardic Music ability a Songbird can effectively cast summon swarm (PHB 289) at a caster level equal to her Songbird level plus her Bard levels if any with the following differences. The swarm summoned is always composed of birds (that can be of multiple species, the abilities’ name is somewhat of a misnomer) and must be cast above ground (so using this ability in a room next to an open window will usually work, but using it deep underground will probably not work, unless there are birds or avian creatures in that cave, in which case it works normally). Statistic wise a bird swarm uses the Bat Swarm statistics (page 237 MM), but it doesn’t have blindsight (note, however, that a very few bird species do use echo location). If Tome of Magic is available use the statistics for the variant entry on the Murder of Crows on page 87, or just use the entry as is if it suits the character.
If the character does not have Bardic Music as a class ability, she can use this ability once per day.
Springs’ Dawn Chorus (Su): Spring is the season of rejuvenation, joy and new beginnings. Upon entering the 4th level of this, birds, the heralds of spring, teach the Songbird how to truly praise and appreciate spring. A Songbird with 12 ranks in Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance) can now play or sing a tune that refreshes and improves the attitude of creatures around her and momentarily break the woes of winter. When she chooses to do so all creatures in a 60 ft radius around her must make a will save (DC 10+ Songbirds lv+ ½ any Bard levels she may have+ her Charisma modifier) or immediately cease any actions they are doing (including hostilities) and listen for as long as the Songbird continues to perform+ a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier. Any creatures that fall under the effect of Springs’ Dawn Chorus are considered to be fascinated, though any hostile actions towards them allow for a second saving throw to shake of the effects. Additionally all the creatures that fail their will save turn cheery, improving their attitude to friendly towards each other for as long as the ability is in effect.
Creatures that have strong ties to nature (i.e. most animals, fey, plants and some magical beasts) are particularly vulnerable to this ability taking -4 on their saving throws as the melody causes them to start to sing and dance. Plant creatures in particular are not immune to its effects as it causes their sap to move in that ‘rejuvenating’ manner. As a secondary benefit any craftsman, performer or worker who hears this melody is so inspired that his efforts yield double the amount of progress or money he would do or earn in that day.
Using the Springs’ Dawn Chorus ability consumes three uses of her daily Bardic Music ability and is considered to be a mind effect. A character that doesn’t have access to Bardic Music cannot use this ability.
I know why the caged bird sings (Su): The cage bird sings because of sorrow for it has lost the freedom of the sky. Upon reaching the fifth and final level of the Songbird prestige class the birds she freed in the past now grant her the freedom of the skies. The songbird effectively gains the ability to wildshape (see page 37 of the PHB on rules regarding wildshape) into a diminutive to small in size bird. Each use costs two uses of her bardic music ability and another two uses for each additional hour she decides to remain wildshaped. Extending the duration in this manner does not require the songbird to revert to her original form.
If the character has no access to the Bardic Music ability they can instead wildshape a total number of times equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum once) per day for one hour per use. They can extend the one hour limit by an extra hour by spending 1 additional use of their wildshape ability and they not have to revert to their original form to do so. If the character already has wildshape this ability does not stack in any way with that class feature and is treated independently for its uses.
While wildshaped a character cannot cast spells unless they have the Natural Spell Feat (page 98 PHB). They can, however, use their Bardic Music abilities so long as they have ranks in Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance). (Note: The feat Melodic Casting from Complete Mage page 44 does allow the user to cast spells while wild shaped so long as they use their Bardic Music ability to sing and dance).
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Edit:This is done, I think and is hopefully more readable. Please P.E.A.C.H. :smallsmile:. I do have some concerns that the Springs' Dawn Chorus ability may be a tad overpowered.
To do list : more fluff when I have the time!
Thanks for reading,
R.P.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Songbird
“A little bird told me…”
Marcus Thymetouched, a Songbird
Kindness begets kindness they say and that’s what Eleonora of the Roses (the first known Songbird) received when she opened the doors to a lords’ aviary, releasing all the birds trapped within. Three nights after her deed of mercy, she felt something small and warm land on her shoulder and a tiny voice whispered.
“Eleonora, Eleonora…as you helped us…so shall we…We know what you seek…We know where it is…We know whether light or darkness lies within ones’ heart…and we shall tell these to you, all of them…for you freed us…and we shall free you in return…”
Becoming a Songbird:
To become a Songbird one must first perform a deed of kindness towards an avian creature. This can range from simply opening the door of a small cage ‘accidentally’ to breaking into a menagerie releasing all the animals kept within. Regardless of the act if any of the avian creatures feels that the person who released or saved them is of pure enough heart, it will return to him or her with a proposal no sooner or later then three days or nights. The proposal, in effect a simple deal, is as follows: Birds, creatures of the air that look down upon the earth and thus see and hear many secrets, will help the character from now on so long as he or she continues to help birds in any way he or she can.
Bards are particularly well suited to becoming Songbirds, but the simple act of kindness required can be performed by anyone with a good heart and thus near any kind aligned person can enter this Prestige Class.
NPC Songbirds seem to know a lot of stuff that they should not and can travel great distances quite fast. They guard their secret carefully to prevent harm to their feathered friends and it is rare for two songbirds to know each other. Thanks to their huge network of allies songbirds are often the first people to get word of stirring evil and their kind and cheerful nature often ensures that many more creatures apart from birds call them friends.
DMs should offer access to this prestige class as a surprise reward to an unsuspecting PC, if only to show them that small acts of kindness can return great rewards.
Requirements:
AL: Any non evil
Feats: Animal Affinity
Skills: Handle Animal: 4 ranks, Knowledge (Nature): 4 ranks, Listen: 8 ranks, Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance): 8 ranks.
Special: The potential candidate must perform act of kindness towards an avian creature without having knowledge of the possible reward the creature has to offer. Once the ‘pact’ has been made, the character must continue to be kind towards avian creatures, otherwise he or she immediately loses all the advantages gained by this PrC and may not continue advancement in it. Whether eating an avian creature consists an unkind deed is entirely up to the DM to decide.
Note: An avian creature is a creature that is a bird or looks like a bird. Thus for the purpose of this prestige class any creature of the animal or magical beast that looks like a bird or that is an augmented, non-undead, non-aberration versions of such a creature is considered an avian creature.
The Songbird HD d6
{table=head]Level|BAB |Fort |Ref |Will |Special
1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+2|A Little Bird Told Me So, Bardic Music
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+3|I Have A Friend; Winged Messenger; +1 Existing Spellcasting Class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+3|
+3|Birds of a feather flock together
4th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|Springs’ dawn chorus; +1 Existing Spellcasting Class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+4|
+4|I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
[/table]
Class Skills: 6+Int mod/ lv,: Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Listen, Move Silently, Perform (all skills taken individually), Sense Motive, Speak Language and Survival.
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Songbirds do not gain any new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells per day: At 2nd level and again at 4th, the character gains spells per day, and spells known if applicable, as if she had gained a new level in one of her spellcasting classes she belonged to before she entered this prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefits associated with gaining a level in that class and if she had levels in multiple spellcasting classes before entering this prestige class she must chose to which one the new spellcasting level applies.
A little bird told me (Ex): The first thing birds teach a Songbird is their language. She can now communicate ‘verbally’ (really a series of chirps, whistles, quacks…) with any avian creature that is capable of producing sound at will. Birds will only teach their language only to those they really trust and thus being able to do so is a good sign to a bird that this individual is a friend. For this reason all mundane birds are considered to have a friendly starting attitude towards a Songbird. Other good or neutral aligned avian creatures are also likely to be friendly towards the Songbird, but this is entirely up to the DM. Evil creatures are unlikely to care about acts of kindness performed by the Songbird, but they may be curious enough to refrain attacking on sight and ask how she learnt their language.
Due to her being able to talk their language the Songbird may ask birds (and avian creatures) questions. They will usually be eager to answer, but will not necessarily know the answer. For example a magpie may know where lady Khaal keeps the jewelry in her room and a hawk may know where the bandits’ lair is in the wilderness, but a bird is unlikely to be able to understand politics to serve as a spy, unless it’s awakened.
Barding Music: Bard levels and Songbird levels stack for the number of uses/day and abilities granted from the Bardic Music class ability. If the character didn’t have access to this ability prior to entering this prestige class, she gains no benefit unless later on she gains levels in Bard allowing for the stacking to happen normally
I have a friend (Su): Upon entering the second level a Songbird is able to form a mystical bond with a bird. He or she effectively gains a familiar (see page 52 of the PHB for how to gain a familiar and its abilities) with the following differences. Anyone can gain the familiar from the ‘I have a friend’ class feature and the abilities of the familiar are determined by all of the characters level, not just the arcane spell casting one.
If you already have a familiar, the levels of the Songbird prestige class stack with the class levels that grant you a familiar for the determination of its abilities. You do not gain a second familiar from this ability.
The familiar gained from the ‘I have a friend’ class feature must be a bird. Thus Ravens, Hawks, Owls, Screech Owls, Parrots, Thrushes, Gulls and Hummingbirds are all appropriate familiars as is the Corrolax (MM 2 page 50) if the character selects Improved Familiar as one of his later feats. In addition Songbirds have access to the Nightingale (treat as Thrush in terms of statistics, DMG page 203) which grants +3 to Perform (Oratory) checks.
Winged Messenger (Sp): By humming softly and offering a handful of feed a Songbird can attract a small bird to whisper a message to. Effectively she can cast the spell animal messenger (PHB page 198) for the cost of 1 use of her daily Bardic Music ability with the difference that the animal to serve as a messenger must be a bird. If the character does not have access to the Bardic Music ability, she can use this ability three times per day. The caster level for this ability is equal to your Songbird level along with any Bard levels you may have.
Birds of a feather flock together (Sp): With an urgent tune on her flute or a quickly sang prayer a Songbird can ask his feathered allies for aid. For the use of two uses of her daily Bardic Music ability a Songbird can effectively cast summon swarm (PHB 289) at a caster level equal to her Songbird level plus her Bard levels if any with the following differences. The swarm summoned is always composed of birds (that can be of multiple species, the abilities’ name is somewhat of a misnomer) and must be cast above ground (so using this ability in a room next to an open window will usually work, but using it deep underground will probably not work, unless there are birds or avian creatures in that cave, in which case it works normally). Statistic wise a bird swarm uses the Bat Swarm statistics (page 237 MM), but it doesn’t have blindsight (note, however, that a very few bird species do use echo location). If Tome of Magic is available use the statistics for the variant entry on the Murder of Crows on page 87, or just use the entry as is if it suits the character.
If the character does not have Bardic Music as a class ability, she can use this ability once per day.
Springs’ Dawn Chorus (Su): Spring is the season of rejuvenation, joy and new beginnings. Upon entering the 4th level of this, birds, the heralds of spring, teach the Songbird how to truly praise and appreciate spring. A Songbird with 12 ranks in Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance) can now play or sing a tune that refreshes and improves the attitude of creatures around her and momentarily break the woes of winter. When she chooses to do so all creatures in a 60 ft radius around her must make a will save (DC 10+ Songbirds lv+ ½ any Bard levels she may have+ her Charisma modifier) or immediately cease any actions they are doing (including hostilities) and listen for as long as the Songbird continues to perform+ a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier. Any creatures that fall under the effect of Springs’ Dawn Chorus are considered to be fascinated, though any hostile actions towards them allow for a second saving throw to shake of the effects. Additionally all the creatures that fail their will save turn cheery, improving their attitude to friendly towards each other for as long as the ability is in effect.
Creatures that have strong ties to nature (i.e. most animals, fey, plants and some magical beasts) are particularly vulnerable to this ability taking -4 on their saving throws as the melody causes them to start to sing and dance. Plant creatures in particular are not immune to its effects as it causes their sap to move in that ‘rejuvenating’ manner. As a secondary benefit any craftsman, performer or worker who hears this melody is so inspired that his efforts yield double the amount of progress or money he would do or earn in that day.
Using the Springs’ Dawn Chorus ability consumes three uses of her daily Bardic Music ability and is considered to be a mind effect. A character that doesn’t have access to Bardic Music cannot use this ability.
I know why the caged bird sings (Su): The cage bird sings because of sorrow for it has lost the freedom of the sky. Upon reaching the fifth and final level of the Songbird prestige class the birds she freed in the past now grant her the freedom of the skies. The songbird effectively gains the ability to wildshape (see page 37 of the PHB on rules regarding wildshape) into a diminutive to small in size bird. Each use costs two uses of her bardic music ability and another two uses for each additional hour she decides to remain wildshaped. Extending the duration in this manner does not require the songbird to revert to her original form.
If the character has no access to the Bardic Music ability they can instead wildshape a total number of times equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum once) per day for one hour per use. They can extend the one hour limit by an extra hour by spending 1 additional use of their wildshape ability and they not have to revert to their original form to do so. If the character already has wildshape this ability does not stack in any way with that class feature and is treated independently for its uses.
While wildshaped a character cannot cast spells unless they have the Natural Spell Feat (page 98 PHB). They can, however, use their Bardic Music abilities so long as they have ranks in Perform (any art that produces sound or that involves dance). (Note: The feat Melodic Casting from Complete Mage page 44 does allow the user to cast spells while wild shaped so long as they use their Bardic Music ability to sing and dance).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit:This is done, I think and is hopefully more readable. Please P.E.A.C.H. :smallsmile:. I do have some concerns that the Springs' Dawn Chorus ability may be a tad overpowered.
To do list : more fluff when I have the time!
Thanks for reading,
R.P.