Maerok
2008-06-28, 12:50 AM
Hound of Orcus
Hounds of Orcus are feared necromancers who have combined the art of enhancing the undead with the obsession for personal power. They draw on their necromantic studies to develop new capabilities for use against their enemies. A Hound is an officer of the undead and to Orcus's forces marshaled all over the planes. Some even follow Tenebrous, the shadow that was; this divine vestige was shed when Orcus resumed his title long ago. These followers are often shunned, however.
Nevertheless, a Hound of Orcus is always in 'good' company. Once one has had their fill of personal modifications, they will turn to augmenting their legion; in a way the Hound is their own test subject, sparing the mindless soldiers until the improvement is perfected.
HD: d6
Requirements
Alignment: Any evil
Feats: Corpsecrafter and a Corpsecrafter feat
Deity: Must worship Orcus, or Tenebrous
Class Features: Charnel Touch, Negative Energy Burst
Spellcasting: Able to spontaneously cast third level arcane spells
(Intended Entry: Dread Necromancer, Level 6)
Class Skills (2+Int modifier per level): Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Knowledge (arcane), Knowledge (planes), Knowledge(religion), Profession, Spellcraft
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Hound gains no proficiencies with weapons or armor.
Rebuke Undead: Each level of the Hound of Orcus progresses rebuking undead.
Negative Energy Progression: Hound of Orcus levels stack with Dread Necromancer levels for determining Charnel Touch and Negative Energy Burst uses and effects.
Embezzle (Su): As a Hound of Orcus progresses, he applies some of his own necromantic discoveries to his own body. At this level and later on, he chooses one of his Corpsecrafter feats to develop for his own personal use. If he has none left to choose, he waits until he has the proper feat before the effects are applied.
Bolster Undead: He gains immunity to fear effects and may be bolstered, as if undead (receiving a +2 profane bonus to Will saves instead for one round per class level).
Corpsecrafter: The Hound adds his class level to his hitpoints.
Deadly Chill: Charnel Touch deals an extra CL/2 cold damage, if desired.
Destructive Retribution: The Hound may either Maximize or Widen his Negative Energy Burst as he uses it, as if that metamagic had been applied to it. Only one effect can be applied at a time.
Hardened Flesh: The Hound gains a +2 profane bonus to natural armor, which stacks with existing natural armor.
Nimble Bones: The Hound gains a +2 bonus to initiative and gains a +10 enhancement bonus to his base land speed.
Bonus Feat: The Hound gains a new Corpsecrafter feat he qualifies for. If none are left, he may choose Spell Focus, Skill Focus, or a Tomb Tainted feat instead.
Dark Radiance (Su): The presence of a Hound on the battlefield diminishes the hope of defeating his legion and drains good energy. All creatures within 10 feet of the Hound, including himself, gain positive energy resistance equal to his class level.
Pale Mount (Ex): A Hound adds his class level as a bonus to Ride checks on undead creatures. There is a normal -2 penalty to riding undead creatures.
Demonic Enhancement (Su): A Hound gains the ability to enhance his corpsecrafting techniques with even more sinister knowledge. Alternatively, he may take another instance of Embezzle. If he has none left to choose, he waits until he has the proper feat before the effects are applied.
Bolster Undead: Undead cannot be rebuked.
Corpsecrafter: Undead gain a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength or Dexterity instead; chosen on an individual basis.
Deadly Chill: On a critical hit, an extra 1d6 cold damage is dealt.
Destructive Retribution: When an undead explodes, all living creatures that move through that area until the end of the next round suffer 1d6 negative energy damage per 4 HD on a failed save (use same DC, but reduced by 1).
Hardened Flesh: Undead with damage reduction add "good" to the highest DR; DR 5/bludgeoning becomes DR 5/bludgeoning and good.
Nimble Bones: Undead gain a climb speed of 5 feet per 4 HD.
Centurion of Orcus (Su): The most powerful Hounds of Orcus lead armies that devastate both mortal and mystic battlefields. Undead he creates gain a +2 bonus to attacks, saves, and AC while within 60 feet of him; undead he commands or controls through spells or rebuking gain a +1 bonus instead while within 60 feet. Any spell of first level or lower he or an ally casts on himself are granted to all undead he has created within 60 feet as long as they are within that range; spells of second level apply within 30 feet. Despite the spell's actual duration, only the first round per caster level of the effect apply; only the following spells apply:
1st - divine favor, endure elements, entropic shield, expeditious retreat, feather fall, hide from animals, jump, mage armor, magic fang, pass without trace, protection from *alignment*, resist energy, sanctuary, shield, shield of faith, undetectable alignment
2nd - barkskin, blur, bull's strength, cat's grace, false life, pass without trace, protection from arrows, protection from energy, see invisibility, status, spider climb, undetectable alignment
For example, a level 13 wizard casts cat's grace on the Hound; for 13 rounds his undead gain the +4 enhancement bonus while within 30 feet. The spell continues to affect him for 13 minutes.
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Rebuke; Negative Energy Progression|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Bonus Feat|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Dark Radiance; Pale Mount|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+6|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Centurion of Orcus|+1 level of existing spellcasting class[/table]
http://images.epilogue.net/users/ztiev/Death_Knight_of_Orcusi.JPG
New Corpsecrafter Feats:
Funeral Shrouds [Corpsecrafter]
Your undead are proof against some forms of magical detection.
Benefits: Undead cannot be detected by detect undead or detect *alignment* spells of a caster level less that their HD. All Disguise checks applied to the undead are increased by 4.
Embezzle -> You gain a +4 bonus to your own Disguise checks, and may take 10 to disguise yourself or others even in stressful or rushed situations.
Diabolic Enhancement -> Undead created are automatically disguised (the check is automatically 1d20 + your Disguise ranks + all other modifiers) when created, if you wish. They appear as their former selves. You maky take 10 if this feat was Embezzled.
Shadowborn [Corpsecrafter]
Your undead do not falter in the extreme dark.
Benefits: Undead can see in magical darkness out to 5 feet, plus 5 feet per 4 HD.
Embezzle -> You may see five feet into magical darkness.
Diabolic Enhancement -> Undead gain uncanny dodge and evasion (or the improved version at HD 15) while in magical darkness. They aren't caught off guard by attacks against them inside it.
Hounds of Orcus are feared necromancers who have combined the art of enhancing the undead with the obsession for personal power. They draw on their necromantic studies to develop new capabilities for use against their enemies. A Hound is an officer of the undead and to Orcus's forces marshaled all over the planes. Some even follow Tenebrous, the shadow that was; this divine vestige was shed when Orcus resumed his title long ago. These followers are often shunned, however.
Nevertheless, a Hound of Orcus is always in 'good' company. Once one has had their fill of personal modifications, they will turn to augmenting their legion; in a way the Hound is their own test subject, sparing the mindless soldiers until the improvement is perfected.
HD: d6
Requirements
Alignment: Any evil
Feats: Corpsecrafter and a Corpsecrafter feat
Deity: Must worship Orcus, or Tenebrous
Class Features: Charnel Touch, Negative Energy Burst
Spellcasting: Able to spontaneously cast third level arcane spells
(Intended Entry: Dread Necromancer, Level 6)
Class Skills (2+Int modifier per level): Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Knowledge (arcane), Knowledge (planes), Knowledge(religion), Profession, Spellcraft
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Hound gains no proficiencies with weapons or armor.
Rebuke Undead: Each level of the Hound of Orcus progresses rebuking undead.
Negative Energy Progression: Hound of Orcus levels stack with Dread Necromancer levels for determining Charnel Touch and Negative Energy Burst uses and effects.
Embezzle (Su): As a Hound of Orcus progresses, he applies some of his own necromantic discoveries to his own body. At this level and later on, he chooses one of his Corpsecrafter feats to develop for his own personal use. If he has none left to choose, he waits until he has the proper feat before the effects are applied.
Bolster Undead: He gains immunity to fear effects and may be bolstered, as if undead (receiving a +2 profane bonus to Will saves instead for one round per class level).
Corpsecrafter: The Hound adds his class level to his hitpoints.
Deadly Chill: Charnel Touch deals an extra CL/2 cold damage, if desired.
Destructive Retribution: The Hound may either Maximize or Widen his Negative Energy Burst as he uses it, as if that metamagic had been applied to it. Only one effect can be applied at a time.
Hardened Flesh: The Hound gains a +2 profane bonus to natural armor, which stacks with existing natural armor.
Nimble Bones: The Hound gains a +2 bonus to initiative and gains a +10 enhancement bonus to his base land speed.
Bonus Feat: The Hound gains a new Corpsecrafter feat he qualifies for. If none are left, he may choose Spell Focus, Skill Focus, or a Tomb Tainted feat instead.
Dark Radiance (Su): The presence of a Hound on the battlefield diminishes the hope of defeating his legion and drains good energy. All creatures within 10 feet of the Hound, including himself, gain positive energy resistance equal to his class level.
Pale Mount (Ex): A Hound adds his class level as a bonus to Ride checks on undead creatures. There is a normal -2 penalty to riding undead creatures.
Demonic Enhancement (Su): A Hound gains the ability to enhance his corpsecrafting techniques with even more sinister knowledge. Alternatively, he may take another instance of Embezzle. If he has none left to choose, he waits until he has the proper feat before the effects are applied.
Bolster Undead: Undead cannot be rebuked.
Corpsecrafter: Undead gain a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength or Dexterity instead; chosen on an individual basis.
Deadly Chill: On a critical hit, an extra 1d6 cold damage is dealt.
Destructive Retribution: When an undead explodes, all living creatures that move through that area until the end of the next round suffer 1d6 negative energy damage per 4 HD on a failed save (use same DC, but reduced by 1).
Hardened Flesh: Undead with damage reduction add "good" to the highest DR; DR 5/bludgeoning becomes DR 5/bludgeoning and good.
Nimble Bones: Undead gain a climb speed of 5 feet per 4 HD.
Centurion of Orcus (Su): The most powerful Hounds of Orcus lead armies that devastate both mortal and mystic battlefields. Undead he creates gain a +2 bonus to attacks, saves, and AC while within 60 feet of him; undead he commands or controls through spells or rebuking gain a +1 bonus instead while within 60 feet. Any spell of first level or lower he or an ally casts on himself are granted to all undead he has created within 60 feet as long as they are within that range; spells of second level apply within 30 feet. Despite the spell's actual duration, only the first round per caster level of the effect apply; only the following spells apply:
1st - divine favor, endure elements, entropic shield, expeditious retreat, feather fall, hide from animals, jump, mage armor, magic fang, pass without trace, protection from *alignment*, resist energy, sanctuary, shield, shield of faith, undetectable alignment
2nd - barkskin, blur, bull's strength, cat's grace, false life, pass without trace, protection from arrows, protection from energy, see invisibility, status, spider climb, undetectable alignment
For example, a level 13 wizard casts cat's grace on the Hound; for 13 rounds his undead gain the +4 enhancement bonus while within 30 feet. The spell continues to affect him for 13 minutes.
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Rebuke; Negative Energy Progression|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Bonus Feat|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Dark Radiance; Pale Mount|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|Embezzle|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+6|Demonic Enhancement|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Centurion of Orcus|+1 level of existing spellcasting class[/table]
http://images.epilogue.net/users/ztiev/Death_Knight_of_Orcusi.JPG
New Corpsecrafter Feats:
Funeral Shrouds [Corpsecrafter]
Your undead are proof against some forms of magical detection.
Benefits: Undead cannot be detected by detect undead or detect *alignment* spells of a caster level less that their HD. All Disguise checks applied to the undead are increased by 4.
Embezzle -> You gain a +4 bonus to your own Disguise checks, and may take 10 to disguise yourself or others even in stressful or rushed situations.
Diabolic Enhancement -> Undead created are automatically disguised (the check is automatically 1d20 + your Disguise ranks + all other modifiers) when created, if you wish. They appear as their former selves. You maky take 10 if this feat was Embezzled.
Shadowborn [Corpsecrafter]
Your undead do not falter in the extreme dark.
Benefits: Undead can see in magical darkness out to 5 feet, plus 5 feet per 4 HD.
Embezzle -> You may see five feet into magical darkness.
Diabolic Enhancement -> Undead gain uncanny dodge and evasion (or the improved version at HD 15) while in magical darkness. They aren't caught off guard by attacks against them inside it.