Early in the campaign, the Glantrian fire mage found religion when the group passed through Thothia and met with an underground sect of Rathanos opposed to the Night Spider. He kept with the faith throughout the entire campaign, and I eventually came up with this class for the character. I based it on the Elemental Savant from Tome & Blood, but slightly modified to work around his Secret Craft abilities, some of which were duplicated by the Savant PrC. Given that it was associated with Rathanos, I felt that it should be open to both wizards and clerics.
Chosen of Rathanos
by Byron's GhostHit dice: d6
REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge (Religion): 4 ranks
Spellcraft: 8 ranks
Spellcasting: Ability to cast arcane or divine spells of at least third level. Base class must have some sort of fire connection, such as an evoker or elemental specialist wizard or a cleric with the Fire domain.
Feats: Spell Focus or Energy Substitution with fire spells
Special: Must be a follower of the Immortal Rathanos, and have had some previous mystical contact with him.
Special: Must be trained in Thothia by the Cult of Rathanos.
CLASS SKILLS
Alchemy, Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (arcane), Knowledge (religion), Profession, Scry, Spellcraft.
Skills points: 2 + Int modifier
WEAPONS/ARMOR: None gained
ADVANCEMENT TABLE
| Level | Att | Fort | Ref | Will | Caster level? | Special |
| 1 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Yes | Elemental Transition I, Master of Flames |
| 2 | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Yes | Fire Focus +1 |
| 3 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Yes | Fire Penetration +1 |
| 4 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | No | Elemental Transition II, Light of Knowledge |
| 5 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Yes | Fire Focus +2 |
| 6 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Yes | Gift of Flame |
| 7 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | No | Elemental Transition III, Infernal Shield |
| 8 |
+4 |
+2 | +2 | +6 | Yes | Fire Penetration +2 |
| 9 | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Yes | Gift of Flame |
| 10 | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | No | Elemental Transmutation, Fiery Allegiance |
SPELLCASTER PROGRESSION
The character gains a new caster level at the indicated levels of the prestige class, just as if he had taken a level in his previous class. This can be an arcane or divine level; however, if the caster had both arcane and divine spells before taking the prestige class, he must pick which class he wishes to add to at each level.
ELEMENTAL TRANSITION
The spellcaster becomes closer and closer to her chosen elemental type, as per the Elemental Savant prestige class. This has the following benefits:
I (1st level): Immune to sleep spells, gain darkvision 60'
II (4th level): Immunity to stunning and paralysis
III (7th level): Immune to all nonmagical diseases and poisons
MASTER OF FLAMES
As a chosen of Rathanos, the character is closely aligned with fire creatures of all types. He gains a +2 circumstance bonus to all social rolls dealing with fire creatures. Fire creatures summoned by spell (but not circle ability) are treated as if they had been Augmented: they gain +1 hp per hit die and a +1 circumstance bonus to all attack and damage rolls.
FIRE FOCUS:
The spellcaster adds +1 to the DC of the saving throw of all fire spells. This stacks with Spell Focus.
FIRE PENETRATION:
The spellcaster adds +1 to the roll to defeat the spell resistance of all fire creatures. This stacks with Spell Penetration.
LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE:
When using Contact Outer Plane to call the Elemental Plane of Fire, the character gains a +2 bonus to the Intelligence roll, and has a reduced risk of being lied to (roughly half). For divine casters who use Commune, they cast that spell as if they were two levels higher, thus allowing two more questions to be asked than normal.
Additionally, the character gains the spell-like ability to scry by staring into a roaring fire and awaiting visions. This works as 4th-level arcane spell, and may be used a number of times per day equal to the character's Wisdom bonus (minimum once).
INFERNAL SHIELD:
The spellcaster gains a spell resistance of 20 + caster level when resisting fire-based spells. Once per day, he may heal himself of damage up to twice his character level. However, this healing must be all at once, and requires a great fire for the character to step through. This supernatural ability is a full-round action.
GIFT OF FLAME:
The character may choose one of the following feats for free: Energy Admixture, Sacred Spell, Spell Focus Conjuration, or Spell Focus Invocation. Wizards using Sacred Spell may apply it only to fire spells.
ELEMENTAL TRANSMUTATION:
The spellcaster transcends his humanity and gains the abilities of an elemental creature, as per the Elemental Savant ability Elemental Perfection. Therefore he is no longer affected by spells which target humanoids, but may be affected by spells which target outsiders. The caster is no longer affected by magical aging effects, but still ages normally and will die when his time is up. He does not gain aging penalties to attributes, although bonuses still accrue.
The character gains the speed, movement, special attacks, and special qualities of a medium fire elemental, except that save DC for any abilities is 20 + the spellcaster's wisdom bonus. With this, however, the character gains the fire subtype, meaning that he will now take double damage from all cold or water-based attacks if the saving throw is failed. Finally, the caster is completely immune to all normal and magical fire, if this is not already the case.
FIERY ALLEGIANCE:
Considered to be an elemental being, the spellcaster has a much easier time dealing with fire creatures. He gains a +4 circumstance bonus on all social rolls with fire beings. Any fire creature that is summoned using spells (but not circle abilities), such as Planar Binding, will automatically be friendly to the caster. Finally, the caster's bonus to casting Contact Outer Planes with the elemental plane of fire raises to +4 to the Intelligence check, and fire creatures will never give a false answer to him.