Zaydos
2016-01-19, 02:28 AM
SHEPHERD OF DEATH
"Come my children. Tonight you rise, tomorrow you slay." – Vraskja, self proclaimed Necromancer Prince
The dead outnumber the living. Wherever you look. Wherever you go. The dead outnumber the living. A Shepherd of Death recognizes this, and calls to them the legions of the dead as their servants. A Shepherd of Death is a necromancer who has turned their eyes to the creation of legions. They do not merely create a skeleton or two to serve as bodyguards. They call the dead to them, creating their flock and they lead it a roving band of the night.
Becoming a Shepherd of Death
A Shepherd of Death must delve into the study of the undead, seeking out the knowledge of their creation, the arts to make them. Perfection in design can come later, however, a Shepherd of Death must learn how to create them in quantity. A Shepherd of Death studies this, studies the ways of the grave, the mind of death itself and becomes in tune with it. For some this means looking to Wee Jas, Vecna, and Nerull for guidance, listening the whispers of the gods of death and black sorcery. For others they instead turn purely to their own research, tapping into some of the same rituals that are used to become a lich, altering their own minds to tune into the pulse of death. For all, though, they learn to command the legions of the dead and to make them.
Prerequisites:
Alignment: Any Evil.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 10 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks.
Spells: Able to cast Animate Dead or use it as a spell-like ability or use The Dead Walk invocations.
Special: Must have made at least 24 undead creatures.
Class Skills
The Shepherd of Death's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skills Points at Each Level: 2 + int
HD Type: d4.
LevelBABFortRefWillSpecialSpellcasting
1st+0+0+0+2Herd of the Dead, Undead Attaché-
2nd+1+0+0+3Eyes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd+1+1+1+3Complex Commands +1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th+2+1+1+4Dead Legions+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th+2+1+1+4 Scholar of the Undead +1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th+3+2+2+5Tongue of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th+3+2+2+5Improved Animate Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th+4+2+2+6Countless Hordes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th+4+3+3+6 Greater Eyes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th+5+3+3+7Dead Conduit, The Dead Outnumber the Living-
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Shepherd of Death gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies. Who needs weapons when you have the dead at your behest?
Herd of the Dead: By performing an 8 hour ritual a Shepherd of Death can cause mass amounts of undead to rise to their cause. This ritual may only be performed during a night without a moon (either because it's a New Moon, the moon did not rise over the horizon during the period, or there is no moon), a full moon, or a night in which the moon is eclipsed. This ritual causes a number of undead creatures from the surrounding area to join the Shepherd of Death's cause, or animates the dead to fill the numbers. These dead rise and find their way to the Shepherd of Death over the course of the next week. They gain undead in 6 tiers, gaining a number of each tier as shown on the table below. Tier 1 are 1 or less HD skeletons and 2 or less HD zombies; tier 2 are 2-3 HD skeletons, 4 HD zombies, and ghouls; tier 3 are 4-5 HD skeletons, and 6 HD zombies; tier 4 are 6-7 HD skeletons, 8-10 HD zombies, and ghasts; tier 5 are 8-9 HD skeletons, 12-14 HD zombies, vampire spawn, and wights; tier 6 are 10-11 HD skeletons, 16-18 HD zombies, and mummies. While the Shepherd of Death may note a preference for what sort of undead is called but they must either already exist or have suitable corpses in the region (for example 'bipedal skeletons' would simply require dead bipeds, mummies would require desiccated corpses or mummies, ghouls would require dead cannibals, gluttons, or those who died of starvation, etc), and the DM is the final arbiter of what undead arrive. A DM should feel free to allow other forms of undead, generally at Tier = CR + 1, although they are advised to be careful with allowing incorporeal undead and swarms and to add at least 1, perhaps 2 or more, tiers to such creatures (CR + 2, +3, or higher).
The undead gathered by this ability are based off of the Shepherd of Death's character level plus their Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier (whichever determines the save DCs of their spells, if they have multiple types of spells they select which type of spell and associated ability score) plus special modifiers as follows: +2 if the ritual is performed in a region with a high density of undead (as determined by the DM); +1 if the ritual is performed in a region with Taint; +1 if the ritual is performed in a base of operations of the Shepherd of Death which they have acted out of for at least 3 months; -1 for each time the ritual has been performed by the Shepherd of Death in the last 3 months; and an additional -1 for each time the ritual has been performed by the Shepherd of Death in that site within the last 3 months. You control undead gathered by the ritual as if you had created them with Animate Dead but they do not count against that spell's limits and you cannot choose to release them, although if control is wrested from you they no longer count against the limit. Performing the ritual will never cause you to lose undead even if your score is reduced, it will simply not refill tiers which you are over your current maximum for.
Total ScoreTier 1Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4Tier 5Tier 6
5 or lower------
61-----
72-----
83-----
94-----
105-----
116-----
128-----
13101----
14151----
152021---
162521---
173031---
183531---
19404211-
20505321-
216063211
227574221
239095321
24110116321
25 or higher135137422
Undead Attaché: A Shepherd of Death’s does not care only for quality. They also gain the ability to create an elite undead servant. Typically this is a skeleton of their species. This undead attache uses the standard stats for such but gains HD equal to the Shepherd of Death’s character level, +1 to Str and Dex per 3 HD, an Intelligence score of 7 + ½ their Shepherd of Death class level, correspondingly feats and 2 + Int skill points per level (Spot and Listen are only class skills), and a +1 increase to natural armor per 4 Hit Dice. Unlike a normal undead the undead attache has BAB equal to +3/4 HD instead of ½. A Shepherd of Death may choose to instead gain a ghoul, zombie, or at DM’s discretion a shadow or wight. If they select a ghoul it has 2 less HD, corresponding loss of Str and Natural Armor bonuses, but uses a ghoul’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s, and uses its normal Intelligence. If they select a shadow it has 5 less hit dice, does not gain natural armor or a bonus to Strength and has a correspondingly reduced bonus to Dex, but uses a shadow’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s. If they select a wight it has 5 less hit dice, has correspondingly reduced bonuses, but uses a wight’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s and wight’s Intelligence. If they select a zombie it uses a zombie’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s, including partial actions only, and has BAB equal to hit dice and an additional +1 to Str, Dex, and Natural Armor.
If you dismiss your undead attache or it is destroyed you may create a new one by performing a ritual that takes 8 hours a night for each of three consecutive nights of the New Moon or Full Moon.
Spellcasting: Standard boilerplate, no increase at 1st or 10th level.
Eyes of the Dead (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is within constant mental connection with the undead they control. Beginning at 2nd level, as a standard action a Shepherd of the Dead may transfer their senses into the body of an undead they control through Animate Dead, Rebuke Undead, or Herd of the Dead. When they do so, they lose their own senses other than touch for 2 rounds, but can perceive through the chosen undead 1 round. They lose any Ex or Su sensory abilities they possess when doing so, but gain the undead creature’s, however they still use their own Search, Spot, and Listen skill modifiers. A Shepherd of the Dead may only use Eyes of the Dead to view from one undead creature’s perspective at a time.
Complex Orders: A Shepherd of the Dead is capable of providing a certain guidance to undead they control through their spiritual connection. Beginning at 3rd level a Shepherd of the Dead can give more complex commands to unintelligent and non-sentient undead as if the undead had roughly 5 Int.
Dead Legions: A Shepherd of the Dead commands legions not mere dozens. Beginning at 4th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to twice what is indicated on the table, however it takes 2 weeks for them all to arrive with ~1/2 their max of each tier (rounded up) arriving each week.
Scholar of the Undead (Ex): A Shepherd of the Dead naturally is a student of the undead, learning the ins and outs of their nature. Beginning at 5th level they gain a +6 bonus to knowledge (religion) checks made to identify undead creatures, or as part of Knowledge Focus when dealing with undead creatures.
Tongue of the Dead (Su): The dread connection with the dead that a Shepherd of the Dead possesses allows them to speak through their mouths and hear their whispers. At 6th level Add Speak with Dead as a 2nd level spell known and to their spell list(s). If the Shepherd of the Dead chose to advance an invocation using class instead of a true spellcaster on this level they instead gain the ability to use Speak with Dead as an invocation. In addition, they can talk through the mouth of any undead they are seeing through via Eyes of the Dead in their own voice.
Improved Animate Dead: A Shepherd of the Dead does not rely only on their connection to the force of death to create undead, they still on occasion turn to Animate Dead. When you cast the spell, use it as a spell-like ability, or use the Dead Walk invocation, you can animate twice as many undead with a single casting and control twice as many total undead. In addition the material component cost is halved to 25 GP per 2 HD of undead animated.
Countless Hordes of the Dead: A Shepherd of the Dead command of the undead continues to grow. Beginning at 8th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to ten times what is indicated on the table for tier 1 and 5 times for higher tiers, however it takes one month for them to all arrive (roughly 1/10th every 3 days for tier 1, and 1/5th for higher tiers).
Greater Eyes of the Dead (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is skilled at the manipulation of their link with the dead. Beginning at 9th level when using Eyes of the Dead a Shepherd of the Dead retains their own senses and can use it as a swift action, free action if targeting their undead attache. If the Shepherd of the Dead’s senses through an undead creature overlap with theirs they gain a +2 bonus to Search, Spot, and Listen checks, and if the undead can view the Shepherd they are not flanked unless the undead is also flanked.
Dead Conduit (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is able to channel more than just senses through the connection with the dead. Beginning at 10th level a Shepherd of the Dead can cast spells of up to 3rd level through an undead creature they are seeing out the eyes of through Eyes of the Dead, or up to 6th level if it is their undead attache. You use them as the point of origin of the spell’s and if it is a touch range spell they may deliver the touch spell for you.
The Dead Outnumber the Living: A Shepherd of the Dead commands the legions of the long dead, causing them to rise to outnumber the living. Beginning at 10th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to one hundred times what is indicated on the table for tier 1 and 10 times for higher tiers, however it takes 100 for all the tier 1 undead to arrive (roughly 1/100th a day for tier 1, and 1/10th every 3 days for higher tiers).
"Come my children. Tonight you rise, tomorrow you slay." – Vraskja, self proclaimed Necromancer Prince
The dead outnumber the living. Wherever you look. Wherever you go. The dead outnumber the living. A Shepherd of Death recognizes this, and calls to them the legions of the dead as their servants. A Shepherd of Death is a necromancer who has turned their eyes to the creation of legions. They do not merely create a skeleton or two to serve as bodyguards. They call the dead to them, creating their flock and they lead it a roving band of the night.
Becoming a Shepherd of Death
A Shepherd of Death must delve into the study of the undead, seeking out the knowledge of their creation, the arts to make them. Perfection in design can come later, however, a Shepherd of Death must learn how to create them in quantity. A Shepherd of Death studies this, studies the ways of the grave, the mind of death itself and becomes in tune with it. For some this means looking to Wee Jas, Vecna, and Nerull for guidance, listening the whispers of the gods of death and black sorcery. For others they instead turn purely to their own research, tapping into some of the same rituals that are used to become a lich, altering their own minds to tune into the pulse of death. For all, though, they learn to command the legions of the dead and to make them.
Prerequisites:
Alignment: Any Evil.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 10 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks.
Spells: Able to cast Animate Dead or use it as a spell-like ability or use The Dead Walk invocations.
Special: Must have made at least 24 undead creatures.
Class Skills
The Shepherd of Death's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Knowledge (the Planes) (Int), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skills Points at Each Level: 2 + int
HD Type: d4.
LevelBABFortRefWillSpecialSpellcasting
1st+0+0+0+2Herd of the Dead, Undead Attaché-
2nd+1+0+0+3Eyes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd+1+1+1+3Complex Commands +1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th+2+1+1+4Dead Legions+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th+2+1+1+4 Scholar of the Undead +1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th+3+2+2+5Tongue of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th+3+2+2+5Improved Animate Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th+4+2+2+6Countless Hordes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th+4+3+3+6 Greater Eyes of the Dead+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th+5+3+3+7Dead Conduit, The Dead Outnumber the Living-
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Shepherd of Death gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies. Who needs weapons when you have the dead at your behest?
Herd of the Dead: By performing an 8 hour ritual a Shepherd of Death can cause mass amounts of undead to rise to their cause. This ritual may only be performed during a night without a moon (either because it's a New Moon, the moon did not rise over the horizon during the period, or there is no moon), a full moon, or a night in which the moon is eclipsed. This ritual causes a number of undead creatures from the surrounding area to join the Shepherd of Death's cause, or animates the dead to fill the numbers. These dead rise and find their way to the Shepherd of Death over the course of the next week. They gain undead in 6 tiers, gaining a number of each tier as shown on the table below. Tier 1 are 1 or less HD skeletons and 2 or less HD zombies; tier 2 are 2-3 HD skeletons, 4 HD zombies, and ghouls; tier 3 are 4-5 HD skeletons, and 6 HD zombies; tier 4 are 6-7 HD skeletons, 8-10 HD zombies, and ghasts; tier 5 are 8-9 HD skeletons, 12-14 HD zombies, vampire spawn, and wights; tier 6 are 10-11 HD skeletons, 16-18 HD zombies, and mummies. While the Shepherd of Death may note a preference for what sort of undead is called but they must either already exist or have suitable corpses in the region (for example 'bipedal skeletons' would simply require dead bipeds, mummies would require desiccated corpses or mummies, ghouls would require dead cannibals, gluttons, or those who died of starvation, etc), and the DM is the final arbiter of what undead arrive. A DM should feel free to allow other forms of undead, generally at Tier = CR + 1, although they are advised to be careful with allowing incorporeal undead and swarms and to add at least 1, perhaps 2 or more, tiers to such creatures (CR + 2, +3, or higher).
The undead gathered by this ability are based off of the Shepherd of Death's character level plus their Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma modifier (whichever determines the save DCs of their spells, if they have multiple types of spells they select which type of spell and associated ability score) plus special modifiers as follows: +2 if the ritual is performed in a region with a high density of undead (as determined by the DM); +1 if the ritual is performed in a region with Taint; +1 if the ritual is performed in a base of operations of the Shepherd of Death which they have acted out of for at least 3 months; -1 for each time the ritual has been performed by the Shepherd of Death in the last 3 months; and an additional -1 for each time the ritual has been performed by the Shepherd of Death in that site within the last 3 months. You control undead gathered by the ritual as if you had created them with Animate Dead but they do not count against that spell's limits and you cannot choose to release them, although if control is wrested from you they no longer count against the limit. Performing the ritual will never cause you to lose undead even if your score is reduced, it will simply not refill tiers which you are over your current maximum for.
Total ScoreTier 1Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4Tier 5Tier 6
5 or lower------
61-----
72-----
83-----
94-----
105-----
116-----
128-----
13101----
14151----
152021---
162521---
173031---
183531---
19404211-
20505321-
216063211
227574221
239095321
24110116321
25 or higher135137422
Undead Attaché: A Shepherd of Death’s does not care only for quality. They also gain the ability to create an elite undead servant. Typically this is a skeleton of their species. This undead attache uses the standard stats for such but gains HD equal to the Shepherd of Death’s character level, +1 to Str and Dex per 3 HD, an Intelligence score of 7 + ½ their Shepherd of Death class level, correspondingly feats and 2 + Int skill points per level (Spot and Listen are only class skills), and a +1 increase to natural armor per 4 Hit Dice. Unlike a normal undead the undead attache has BAB equal to +3/4 HD instead of ½. A Shepherd of Death may choose to instead gain a ghoul, zombie, or at DM’s discretion a shadow or wight. If they select a ghoul it has 2 less HD, corresponding loss of Str and Natural Armor bonuses, but uses a ghoul’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s, and uses its normal Intelligence. If they select a shadow it has 5 less hit dice, does not gain natural armor or a bonus to Strength and has a correspondingly reduced bonus to Dex, but uses a shadow’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s. If they select a wight it has 5 less hit dice, has correspondingly reduced bonuses, but uses a wight’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s and wight’s Intelligence. If they select a zombie it uses a zombie’s base stats instead of a skeleton’s, including partial actions only, and has BAB equal to hit dice and an additional +1 to Str, Dex, and Natural Armor.
If you dismiss your undead attache or it is destroyed you may create a new one by performing a ritual that takes 8 hours a night for each of three consecutive nights of the New Moon or Full Moon.
Spellcasting: Standard boilerplate, no increase at 1st or 10th level.
Eyes of the Dead (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is within constant mental connection with the undead they control. Beginning at 2nd level, as a standard action a Shepherd of the Dead may transfer their senses into the body of an undead they control through Animate Dead, Rebuke Undead, or Herd of the Dead. When they do so, they lose their own senses other than touch for 2 rounds, but can perceive through the chosen undead 1 round. They lose any Ex or Su sensory abilities they possess when doing so, but gain the undead creature’s, however they still use their own Search, Spot, and Listen skill modifiers. A Shepherd of the Dead may only use Eyes of the Dead to view from one undead creature’s perspective at a time.
Complex Orders: A Shepherd of the Dead is capable of providing a certain guidance to undead they control through their spiritual connection. Beginning at 3rd level a Shepherd of the Dead can give more complex commands to unintelligent and non-sentient undead as if the undead had roughly 5 Int.
Dead Legions: A Shepherd of the Dead commands legions not mere dozens. Beginning at 4th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to twice what is indicated on the table, however it takes 2 weeks for them all to arrive with ~1/2 their max of each tier (rounded up) arriving each week.
Scholar of the Undead (Ex): A Shepherd of the Dead naturally is a student of the undead, learning the ins and outs of their nature. Beginning at 5th level they gain a +6 bonus to knowledge (religion) checks made to identify undead creatures, or as part of Knowledge Focus when dealing with undead creatures.
Tongue of the Dead (Su): The dread connection with the dead that a Shepherd of the Dead possesses allows them to speak through their mouths and hear their whispers. At 6th level Add Speak with Dead as a 2nd level spell known and to their spell list(s). If the Shepherd of the Dead chose to advance an invocation using class instead of a true spellcaster on this level they instead gain the ability to use Speak with Dead as an invocation. In addition, they can talk through the mouth of any undead they are seeing through via Eyes of the Dead in their own voice.
Improved Animate Dead: A Shepherd of the Dead does not rely only on their connection to the force of death to create undead, they still on occasion turn to Animate Dead. When you cast the spell, use it as a spell-like ability, or use the Dead Walk invocation, you can animate twice as many undead with a single casting and control twice as many total undead. In addition the material component cost is halved to 25 GP per 2 HD of undead animated.
Countless Hordes of the Dead: A Shepherd of the Dead command of the undead continues to grow. Beginning at 8th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to ten times what is indicated on the table for tier 1 and 5 times for higher tiers, however it takes one month for them to all arrive (roughly 1/10th every 3 days for tier 1, and 1/5th for higher tiers).
Greater Eyes of the Dead (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is skilled at the manipulation of their link with the dead. Beginning at 9th level when using Eyes of the Dead a Shepherd of the Dead retains their own senses and can use it as a swift action, free action if targeting their undead attache. If the Shepherd of the Dead’s senses through an undead creature overlap with theirs they gain a +2 bonus to Search, Spot, and Listen checks, and if the undead can view the Shepherd they are not flanked unless the undead is also flanked.
Dead Conduit (Su): A Shepherd of the Dead is able to channel more than just senses through the connection with the dead. Beginning at 10th level a Shepherd of the Dead can cast spells of up to 3rd level through an undead creature they are seeing out the eyes of through Eyes of the Dead, or up to 6th level if it is their undead attache. You use them as the point of origin of the spell’s and if it is a touch range spell they may deliver the touch spell for you.
The Dead Outnumber the Living: A Shepherd of the Dead commands the legions of the long dead, causing them to rise to outnumber the living. Beginning at 10th level the number of undead called by Herd of the Dead increases to one hundred times what is indicated on the table for tier 1 and 10 times for higher tiers, however it takes 100 for all the tier 1 undead to arrive (roughly 1/100th a day for tier 1, and 1/10th every 3 days for higher tiers).