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unosarta
2010-11-13, 10:56 PM
A combination of the Ebon Initiate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163297) and Spirit Shaman.

Deathspirit Necrolyte

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/301/f/7/raven_spirit_by_genzoman-d31p1eb.jpg
[1] (http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/301/f/7/raven_spirit_by_genzoman-d31p1eb.jpg)

I speak with the dead, and beckon their spirits hither. My very life force has taken on the aspects of death. My souls wrenches with the power of untold dead, and my eyes take in the visage of the Greatest Gate. Sing your tortured hymns to me, those who have fallen! Cry your anguish to the sun, and extinguish the rays with your pain! Burn the hope of the living, and scorn the life that you once held. Death makes the strongest stronger, and I am here to drink up your strength!

A Deathspirit Necrolyte is a commander of the undead, fueling them and being fueled by their negative energy. They defile the ground on which they walk, and legions of the dead lesion the earth behind them. They are able to turn their own spirit into a living embodiment of death itself.

BECOMING A DEATHSPIRIT NECROLYTE
How you would normally become a member of this prestige class.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Skills: Knowledge (Nature) 9 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 9 ranks
Feats: Spell Focus (Necromancy)
Special: Netherchannel +2d6; Spirit Companion class feature.
Spellcasting/Invocations: able to cast 2nd level divine spells, able to use lesser invocations, as well as the Call the Waking Dead invocation

Class Skills
The Deathspirit Necrolyte's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skills Points at Each Level: 4 + int

Hit Dice: d8

{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spellcasting/Invocations

1st|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2| Deathspirit, Power from the Gate|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

2nd|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Carnal Strength|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

3rd|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Legion of the Damned|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

4th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Chill of the Grave|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

5th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Seek the Gate|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

6th|
+4|
+5|
+2|
+5|Greater Carnal Strength|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

7th|
+5|
+5|
+2|
+5|Nether Overchannel|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

8th|
+6/+1|
+6|
+2|
+6|Imbue the Dead Ones|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

9th|
+6/+1|
+6|
+3|
+6| Open the Gate|+1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class

10th|
+7/+2|
+7 |
+3|
+7| Free the Spirit| +1 level of Divine Spellcasting Class/+1 level of Invocation-using Class[/table]

Weapon Proficiencies: The Deathspirit Necrolyte does not gain proficiency with any armor or weapons.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: At every level, the Deathspirit Necrolyte gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a Deathspirit Necrolyte, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining sells per day.

Invocations: At each level, the Deathspirit Necrolyte gains new invocations known and an increase in caster level as if he had also gained a level in an invocation-using class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. (This includes eldritch blast) He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he has more than one invocation-using class before becoming a Deathspirit Necrolyte, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining caster level and invocations known.

Deathspirit (Su): The Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Spirit Companion becomes an embodiment of death. It retains its form, but grows deathly black, and opalescent. The Deathspirit Necrolyte may channel his Nether Channel ability through the Deathspirit by touching it, allowing the Deathspirit to channel the Netherchannel. The Deathspirit Necrolyte may make a ranged touch attack in this way, if he has a Nether Shape invocation that allows him to do so. The Deathspirit may make a melee touch attack against a opponent and deal the damage of the Nether Channel. It gains a bonus to the touch attack equal to the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s base attack bonus, plus his Charisma modifier, and gains an additional bonus equal to one half of the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s class levels.

Power from the Gate: The Deathspirit Necrolyte adds all necromancy spells to his spell list, but loses all spells that channel positive energy. If the Deathspirit Necrolyte would gain a spell that have two different spell levels, he takes the lower of the spell levels.

Carnal Strength (Su): Starting at second level, the Deathspirit Necrolyte may consume the undead he controls as a standard action. By having his Deathspirit inhabit the same square as an undead he controls, the Deathspirit Necrolyte may destroy the undead. He heals a number of hit points equal to twice the undead’s Hit Dice. He also gains a number of temporary hit points equal to one half of his effective character level.

Legion of the Damned (Su): Starting at third level, the Deathspirit Necrolyte may ignore any material components of a spell or invocation that would summon, create, or control undead, besides the corpses necessary for the creation of the undead. The Deathspirit Necrolyte’s levels also stack with any he possessed before entering this prestige class that grant Rebuke Undead for the purposes of controlling the undead.

Chill of the Grave (Su): Starting at fourth level, the Deathspirit Necrolyte may send his Deathspirit to inhabit another living creature and fill it with the chill of the grave as a standard action. The Deathspirit Necrolyte may imbue his Deathspirit with a Nether Channel, and if it moves into the square of an opponent, it deals the damage of the Nether Channel without the need for a touch attack. The damage dealt by this attack is one half cold damage, one half negative energy. He also adds his Charisma modifier to the damage. Any creature killed by this damage’s body remains whole, as if under the effects of a Gentle Repose spell.

Seek the Gate (Su): Starting at fifth level, any creature that the Deathspirit Necrolyte kills becomes a zombie after they die, under the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s control. They last a number of hours equal to one half of the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Charisma modifier.

Greater Carnal Strength (Su): Starting at sixth level, when the Deathspirit Necrolyte uses his Carnal Strength ability, he heals a number of hit points equal to four times the Hit Dice of the undead, and he gains a number of temporary hit points equal to his effective character level. He also heals a number of points of ability damage or drain equal to his Charisma modifier. If he has damage or drain on more than one Ability score, he must choose one ability score to heal. He also gains a +4 profane bonus to any of his Ability scores, for a number of minutes equal to the Hit Dice of the sacrificed undead.

Nether Overchannel (Su): Starting at seventh level, once per day as a full round action, the Deathspirit Necrolyte may create a number of Deathspirits equal to one half of his Deathspirit Necrolyte levels, in addition to the one he already possess. These function exactly like the Deathspirit he already possess, having the same shape and size, and count as if they are already charged with the Deathspirit Necrolytes Nether Channel. They appear anywhere within 30 feet of the Deathspirit Necrolyte. They last 3 rounds, before dissipating, leaving only the original Deathspirit. When the Deathspeaker Necrolyte channels his Nether Channel ability into the original Deathspirit, it also counts as if it were channeled into the extra Deathspirits. It takes a standard action to maintain the Deathspirits, and if at any time the Deathspirit Necrolyte stops maintaining the Deathspirits, they dissipate; however, during this time, it is only a swift action for the Deathspirit Necrolyte channel the Deathspirits with his Netherchannel ability. The summoned Deathspirits may only use a move or standard action per round.

Imbue the Dead Ones: Starting at eighth level, whenever the Deathspirit Necrolyte summons, creates, or controls an undead, he may imbue them with a spell or invocation as a free action. If a spell, they may cast that spell once, after which it dissipates. The Deathspirit Necrolyte also looses this spell, as if it were cast. If it is an invocation, the undead gains use of that Invocation for a number of rounds equal to the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Charisma modifier. The Deathspirit Necrolyte looses access to the invocation during that time, but as soon as the invocation fades from the undead, or the undead dies, he regains use of it.

Open the Gate (Su): Starting at ninth level, any creature that the Deathspirit Necrolyte kills comes back as a ghost, under the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s control. It lasts a number of rounds equal to one half of the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Charisma modifier. He may choose whether to use this ability or Seek the Gate after killing an enemy.

Free the Spirit (Su): Starting at tenth level, if the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Deathspirit inhabits the same square as an opponent for 2 or more rounds, that opponent must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + Deathspirit Necrolyte levels + the Deathspirit Necrolyte’s Charisma modifier) or die. If they make the save, the Deathspirit must inhabit their square for another 2 rounds before being able to do so again. This effect is not subject to spell resistance, and is not counted by immunities as if it were a death effect.

PLAYING A DEATHSPIRIT Necrolyte
Deathspirit Necrolytes combine the powers of the darkest death with the spirit world, to power and control undead. They thirst for the negative energy of their creations, and long to draw in their spirits.
Combat: Most Deathspirit Necrolytes either focus on creating undead, or using their Nether Channel ability. A few use both, but because they both use the same actions, it becomes rather hard. Most use the spells they gain from their Spirit Shaman levels in order to buff themselves and allies, as well as their creations.
Advancement: Most prestige classes that advance both invocations and divine spellcasting work very well for the Deathspirit Necrolytes, such as the Enlightened Spirit prestige class, if Nether Channel is counted as equivalent to Eldritch Blast. Otherwise, invocation advancing prestige classes work fine if the Deathspirit Necrolyte uses more of their invocations, than spells, and a divine spellcasting prestige class works if they use more of their spells. Alternatively, simply more levels in either Spirit Shaman and Ebon Initiate are never hurtful.
Resources: Truly, Deathspirit Necrolytes are more often than not alone in the world. Many fear their power, and most do not trust their ability with death, and that alone is enough for most to hate them.

DEATHSPIRIT NECROLYTES IN THE WORLD
”This black phantasm entered the subject’s body. I presume that it were of an ethereal state, to be so able to do so. It then sucked the life from the dead man, his organs shriveling up, and his body became a most peculiar cold. We must know more on this subject.” Killian Thomas, County Coroner in the city state of Peliask.

Deathspirit Necrolytes are feared, and fearsome. Some of the greatest examples of necromancers in the world were once Deathspirit Necrolytes.
Daily Life: Most Deathspirit Necrolytes spend at least an hour or two every day communicating with the spirit world, as well as the world of the dead, which are usually counted as close to the same thing. They generally spend their days either protecting the dead from those who would wish to bring them up from their graves, or else doing that very act. A large number do adventure, as a way to make an income, as well as for the access to death they gain from it.
Notables: Two of the most famous of any Deathspirit Necrolytes were Siriana Mortiphagi, and Gillord Sinmaker. Siriana is best known for eradicating an entire town and turning their corpses into undead, and Gillord for killing her soon after.
Organizations: There are few actual organizations specifically for Deathspirit Necrolytes, however they do tend towards necromantic cabals, and other such havens for the necromantically inclined.

NPC Reaction
Most NPCs view the Deathspirit Necrolytes with the same sort of fear as they view Necromancers, as those who can control and morph death and those who are dead.

DEATHSPIRIT NECROLYTES IN THE GAME
Deathspirit Necrolytes are not as powerful as many Tier 1 classes, losing ninth level spells entirely, and they are those who control undead, which tends to be less powerful than traditional spellcasting.
Adaptation: Really, the “Gates” can be morphed into any sort of deathly motif from any campaign setting. Everything else is pretty much free of any campaign setting specific flavor.
Encounters: Most encounters that the party would have with a Deathspirit Necrolyte would be unfriendly, seeing as most Deathspirit Necrolytes tend to be more evil than good. Besides that, it truly depends on the Deathspirit Necrolyte that they are encountering. Often, for those Deathspirit Necrolytes who control undead primarily, they fight from the shadows, using their Deathspirits to channel Nether Channel.


Sample Encounter
A dark woman waits on the hollow log. The moonlight drips down onto her face, the mask of a crow’s visage covers her face, and at her feet curls a tiny fox, a shadowy black. Her body is covered with feathers, and her hands sport long finger nails. She strokes the little fox. His body uncurls, and he floats up, his red eyes lazily moving towards the party. He speaks in slow susurrations, and low whispers. “They have come, master.”

She looks at the party for but a moment, and then preens her feathers before speaking. “It looks as if I have been found. Well, Kirrsk, it is time to play.”

The fox grins.
EL 13:

Siriana Mortiphagi
Neutral Evil/Female/Human/ (Spirit Shaman 3/Ebon Initiate3/Deathspirit Necrolyte7)
Init +2, Senses: Listen +16, Spot +16
Languages Common
------------------------------------------------
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (10+2[Dex]+4[Armor])
[b]hp 75 (13d8+13 HD)
Fort +17, Ref +11, Will +20
------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Base Atk +9, Grp +8
Atk Options Nether Channel [touch] +11 (5d6+10)
Combat Gear Masterwork Chainshirt
Spells Prepared
0th—Create Water, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead
1st—Entangle, Chill Touch, Obscuring Mist
2nd—Command Undead, Spectral Hand, Fog Cloud
3rd—Vampiric Touch, Contagion
4th—Animate Undead, Ice Storm
5th—Unhallow

Invocations Least: Call the Walking Dead, Nether Spear, Allure of the Dead, Breath of the Freezing Night, Desecration Aura, Focused Channel
Lesser: Necrotic Bolt, Call the Restless Dead, The Dead Shall Rise, Ghost Step, Aura of Decay[/i]


Supernatural Abilities Carnal Strength, Nether Overchannel
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 20
Feats Spell Focus (Necromancy), Tomb Tainted Soul, Corpsecrafter, Bolstered Resistance, Deadly Chill, Destruction Retribution, Nimble Bones
Skills Knowledge (Nature) +16, Knowledge (Religion) +16, Spot +16, Listen +16

Mulletmanalive
2010-11-14, 05:37 AM
You've used Carnal [of sex and copulation] where you meant to use Charnal [of death and the dead] in the names. Which is bizarre.

I've been meaning to ask this of DM of Darkness as well, doesn't the competition rules state that you have to use "Official" 3.5 material as reference?

[It matters not to me, hell, i hate the idea that stuff is official in a game, but with all the RAW lovers around here, you'd think someone would have noticed the rule...]

unosarta
2010-11-14, 10:05 AM
You've used Carnal [of sex and copulation] where you meant to use Charnal [of death and the dead] in the names. Which is bizarre.
That actually came up in the contest thread, and no, carnal was intended. Carnal does have that meaning, which is only of sexual context, but it also means of the body, or flesh. The idea being that the Deathspirit Necrolyte consumes the bodies of the undead under their control, and gains power from it. Charnel didn't really make much sense in that context.


I've been meaning to ask this of DM of Darkness as well, doesn't the competition rules state that you have to use "Official" 3.5 material as reference?

[It matters not to me, hell, i hate the idea that stuff is official in a game, but with all the RAW lovers around here, you'd think someone would have noticed the rule...]

I think Errant stated that using non-official base classes was fine by him, in the contest thread.

[Edit]: Ah, yes found it.



Everyone seems more or less positive on using homebrew classes, so the rule will be if you are going to use a homebrew base class, post it here with a link for me to check it out. Chances are good that I will be 90% or more likely to let you use it (especially if it's from here). I will disallow Lightning Warrior type stuff so be warned :P

-X