Its the baby of three people: Methvezem, Pennarin, and Seker.
We have passed a little over a month working on this, not all of us together, but there always was someone looking it over for problems every single day.
The idea came from Methvezem, who provided a framework, flavor, and basic ideas for it. Being at a loss as how to fix the problems we both saw with it, I enlisted Seker to the rescue. A draft later we had a working first pass.
Seker provided a new direction to the class, as well as new abilities that complemented Methvezem's work, and the epic spell. I annoyed Seker every few days with the problems I'd uncover and we'd work them out. Later I wrote the fluff and introductory short story (thanks Greyorm for those weeks on end sessions, for they ultimately helped me!).
And here we are. We hope you enjoy it. We take questions weekdays from nine to five.
―――――――――――――
The Ritual
Ah'Navor knelt before the altar in supplication, awaiting the great privilege the queen would soon bestow upon her humble servant. She had chosen Ah'Navor as the recipient for the Transference of Scales, the holy ritual that would make him the greatest servant in the eyes of Badna after the queen herself.
Arranged in concentric circles around the queen and Ah'Navor lay the sanctified living sacrifices for the yearly ceremony that strengthened the Star of Badna's curse. But this year, those sacrifices would be used for a different purpose…
Abalach-Re stepped around the altar on which the giant sapphire rested, to stand in front of Ah'Navor, intoning the ritual’s words of power. Golden rivulets of light flowed from the drugged sacrifices across the vast room and into Abalach-Re’s outstretched hands. Within moments the sacrifices fell to the ground, their dead forms desiccated and ashen. The sounds of the dying were soon replaced by the quiet echoes of the vast room.
Ah'Navor spent the hours thereafter in prayer, the queen’s magic striking him in faint waves that penetrated deeply into his body, imparting power unto him in unfathomable ways.
After a time, he began to hear whispers without an apparent source; words in a language he had never heard, full of sounds suggestive of chanting birds, hissing snakes and blowing wind. He was hearing the queen’s thoughts in his mind! The realization nearly made him stumble in his prayers, which he was sure would have greatly displeased Badna in this moment of communion.
Long after his body had grown fatigued from lack of movement, Ah'Navor felt a rising, tingling sensation on his skin, which rapidly expanded to encompass first the flesh below, and then his very bones in a shower of pain that made him scream. In panic he opened his eyes and found himself floating above the shrine’s floor, his skin wreathed in cold, cobalt flames. Before him was the queen, who had shed her appearance like the serpent its old skin, unveiling for Ah'Navor’s sight her true appearance, which he had but seen once before, when he was ordained as her royal defiler.
His gaze followed her hand’s movement to her chest, whence she snapped a single scale with claws that could dent steel. His rising gaze was not swift enough to catch the small, glistening orb being expelled from her impossibly wide maw. Orb and scale both floated to a point in midair between Abalach-Re and Ah'Navor, each slowly spinning under the burning gaze of the chanting queen.
With a sudden rush, the orb and scale accelerated to slam into Ah'Navor, the scale striking his chest while the orb embedded itself in his abdomen, knocking the breath out of him. Ah'Navor felt a pain he would never forget for the rest of his life as the two objects burned through the cobalt radiance, turning it a dark red color around them. The now scorching crimson flames writhed madly as the scale buried itself in his chest, and the orb slowly disappeared within the inner folds of his abdomen, leaving but a slight bulge in his skin indicating its presence.
Ah'Navor felt his pain-wracked body plummet to the marble floor, his body casting hundreds of shadows from the wall candelabra, now that the magical flames had extinguished. His seared and nauseatingly bruised flesh still seemed to burn under his searching hand.
You are whole, intoned a voice in Ah'Navor’s mind, overpowering his feverish thoughts, filled with such certainty of his well-being that he lifted his head to meet the gaze of Abalach-Re, now become queen again. Rise, my chosen, my sweet, said the queen in her honeyed voice.
As Ah'Navor rose to obey her he felt a new organ stretch and awaken within him, and in a moment of clarity sensed the palpitating life of those sacrifices still alive at his feet, as if he had run his fingertips over all of their beating hearts at once. When he arose, the queen continued: You will find all of my enemies, all those that committed treason against me and their god Badna, and you will bring me back the very substance of their lives… starting with the traitor Farcluun.
The name of the traitor sent a pang of alarm in Ah'Navor’s tired heart. The queen, seeming to sense his distress, narrowed her eyes to cobalt slits as her smiling face turned to a snarl.
You will serve, the imperious voice commanded in his mind.
Monarch's Chosen
“The greatest power now flows within me.”
- Ah'Navor, chosen of Abalach-Re
Some sorcerer-monarchs have taken loyal defilers under their guidance and transformed them through the arts of sorcery and the Way to make them better able to serve. Through transforming the subjects by imbuing them with their own power, the sorcerer-monarchs were better able to understand the nature of their own transformation, at the same time creating a loyal follower who could be used as a source of power in time of need. Able to tap the life energy from animals and intelligent beings, and then store the energy within themselves for their own use, some of the chosen are unaware the store of energy can be tapped by their master and can only question the drained feeling that occasionally washes over them. Chosen are marked with a greater taint of defilement―the brand of their dragon master―which they carry proudly as a symbol of their favored status. Chosen are often told at creation that their master has powers of life and death over them, or they at least assume as much.
Most dragons are sorcerer-monarchs, and as such tend to exclusively choose humans as their closest servants. Other dragons do not share the monarchs’ historical views on races, and may themselves be of another race than human. As such most chosen are human or half-elven, although other races are possible. Most chosen come from the ranks of simple defilers, but some also have levels of arch defiler, leech, or royal defiler. Their dragon master always forbids them from extensively studying the Way; ensuring their own supremacy over dragonhood.
To become a chosen, a character must take part in a day-long ritual, known as the Transference of Scales, performed by their dragon master. The ritual varies from one dragon to another, but always involves a dragon scale, an obsidian orb, and sorcerous incantations. After the ritual’s completion, a chosen often discovers his body has changed in minor ways; pointed teeth, forked tongue, vertically-slit or colored eyes, a whiff of sulphur about him, or even no external ears. NPC monarch’s chosen can be found roaming the wastes in pursuit of their master’s enemies, collecting the betrayers’ life energies. Beyond the role of collecting energy abroad in times of need, the chosen have sorcerous duties within their master’s domain. Some serve as royal defilers or into similar positions; usually above the law. Most chosen are part of the monarch’s favorites―beings that especially amuse and interest him. When within the city-state or a client village, a chosen often covers his appearance by wearing a mask and robes.
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements:
To qualify to become a monarch's chosen, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Any living nondragon.
Alignment: Any nongood.
Skills: Diplomacy 6 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 12 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 12 ranks.
Feats: Great Fortitude, any one metamagic feat.
Spells: Able to cast 4th-level arcane spells.
Special: Must be a defiler.
Special: Must have the spell monarch's choosing cast upon him prior to taking this class.
Class Skills:
The monarch's chosen’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
This is beyond awesome!!!
You guys are the kings!
Overall I think this came out quite well.
Sorry I am a bit burned out at the moment, else I would have been more help.
At first, this PrC was called the Dragon's Liege and was to be based on the monster cultists PrCs, being the second I did after the Scion of the Worm. As Pennarin pointed out, the Chosen has gone thru many changes and has come out as an (IMHO) incredible class, particularly with the addition of the epic spell by Seker.
For the mechanics, the draw of the defiler should be written as being usable at will and in which conditions.
. It is perfect in everyway....., except for a few very minor vagracies ;)
have one of my rarely given chickens of approval. ;)It is perfect in everyway....., except for a few very minor vagracies ;)
And those are?
Edited Text:
Some sorcerer-monarchs have taken loyal defilers under their guidance and transformed them, through the arts of sorcery and the Way, to make them better able to serve. By transforming the subjects by imbuing them with their own power, the sorcerer-monarchs were better able to understand the nature of their own transformation, and at the same time create a loyal follower who could be used as a source of power in time of need. Able to tap the life energy from animals and intelligent beings, and then store the energy within themselves for their own use, some of the chosen are unaware the store of energy can be tapped by their master; and can only question the drained feeling that occasionally washes over them. The Chosen are marked with a great taint of defilement―the brand of their dragon master―which they carry proudly as a symbol of their favored status. The Chosen are often told at creation that their master has the power of life and death over them, or they at least assume as much.
Most dragons were champions of Rajaat, and as such tend to exclusively choose humans for their closest servants. Other dragons do not share the champions’ historical views on race, and may be of another race themselves. As such, most of the chosen are human or half-elven, although other races are possible. Most of the chosen come from the ranks of simple defilers, but some also have levels of arch defiler, leech, or royal defiler. Their dragon master always forbids them from extensively studying the Way; ensuring their own supremacy over dragonhood.
To become a chosen, a character must take part in a day-long ritual known as the Transference of Scales, performed by their dragon master. The ritual varies from one dragon to another, but always involves a part of the dragon's body, an obsidian orb, and sorcerous incantations. NPC monarch’s chosen can be found roaming the wastes in pursuit of their master’s enemies, collecting the betrayers’ life energies. Beyond the role of collecting energy abroad in times of need, the chosen have sorcerous duties within their master’s domain. Some serve as royal defilers or into similar positions; usually above the law. Most chosen are amoung the monarch’s favorite pawns―beings that especially amuse and interest him. When within the city-state or a client village, the chosen often covers their appearance by wearing a mask and robes.
Further Notes:
1. There should be two spaces after every period. I have made this change for all the things I have edited, but not the other parts of the text.
2. The plural of Monarch's Chosen, is Monarch's Chosen. The same is true for the word chosen itself, if you wish to imply more than one chosen, it would be "the chosen", rather than chosens. I have also changed this, in the text I edited, but not the other text.
Death Knell (Sp): The monarch's chosen gains the ability to use the death knell spell as a spell-like ability, at will. By 5th level he can use this spell-like ability as an immediate action whenever a creature is reduced to -1 hp or less. By 9th level the chosen can use this spell-like ability whenever creatures are reduced to -1 hp or less within a 10 ft. radius of himself.
What is the caster level for this spell-like ability? Also, you normally have to touch a creature to use this spell on them; at which level does this restriction no longer apply? 5th or 9th?
For the 5th level ability it doesn't state a range or an conditions other than a creature being reduced to -1 hp or less. Maybe you should include the pharse: "within reach". If you don't have to touch the creature, to use this ability, then you should state that it can only be used once per turn or specify a range like you did for the 9th level ability.
Edited Text:
Draw of the Defiler (Su): The monarch's chosen can drain the life energy of nearby living beings at will. Living beings within a 10 ft. radius of the chosen suffer 1 point of damage per chosen level, e.g. a 5th level monarch’s chosen would inflict 5 points of damage to all creatures caught in the radius. Using this ability is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
Obsidian Well (Su): The monarch's chosen can store life energy, drained through his draw of the defiler ability, in the obsidian orb stored within him. As the chosen advances in the class this orb grows and bonds with the chosen, becoming an inseparable part of him. Each 8 hp drained counts as 1 HD. A chosen may store up to 50 HD per monarch’s chosen level this way.
Tainted Aura: The chosen is tainted by the dragon magic within him, in such a way that people and animals begin to take notice of his tainted aura. People feel uncomfortable and wary when the chosen is present and animals whimper when he approaches. The chosen suffers a -1 circumstance penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information and Handle Animal checks for every odd level he gains in this class. But, he receives a similar circumstance bonus to Intimidate checks. This tainted aura has a range of 5 feet per monarch's chosen level.
Fell Healing (Sp): Starting at 2nd level, a chosen gains the power to use the stored life energy gathered within his obsidian well. By draining its stored energy, the chosen can gain a form of fast healing for a short period of time. As a standard action the chosen may spend a number of HD from the obsidian well, up to his monarch’s chosen level, to gain fast healing 1 for 1 round per HD spent. This ability improves to fast healing 2 at 6th level, and fast healing 3 at 10th level.
Draconic Skin (Ex): The monarch's chosen slowly grows small scales all over his body, gaining a +1 natural bonus to Armor Class at 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th levels.
Monarch's Choosing
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 34
Components: V, S, M, F, Ritual
Casting Time: 1 day
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 306,000 Cp; 7 days; 12,240 XP. Seed: metamorphosis (DC 28), contact (DC *). Factors: telepathic bond between caster and participant (+115 DC), drain participant through telepathic bond (+5 DC). Mitigating factor: 5,000,000 Cp structure (-50 DC), increase casting time to 1 day (-22 DC), one additional participant contributing a 4th level spell (-7 DC), burn 2,500 points of experience (-25 DC), 10d6 backlash (-10 DC).
This spell transforms the target by imbuing it with a single scale of a dragon, as well as melding in its body an orb of energy storing, which allows the target to progress in the Monarch’s Chosen prestige class. The target must provide an arcane spell as part of the casting process. This spell creates a telepathic bond between the target and the caster, allowing them to converse at any distance on the same plane. However, there is a dark side to this bond, as the dragon who casts the spell can choose to drain the target at anytime of its life energy as per the dragon magic and energy storing class abilities of the Athasian Dragon prestige class. Through this spell’s connection, the dragon can, at will, choose to drain either the target's own life force, weakening or killing him, or the stored energy from the target's obsidian well ability (if it has taken levels in the Monarch's Chosen prestige class). Only a character who has cast the defiler metamorphosis I spell may cast this spell. The casting also requires the caster to lose his psionic focus and spend 68 power points. The spell must be cast within a specialized focus structure designed specifically for the defiler metamorphosis spells, costing no less than 5,000,000 Cp.
Material Component: An orb of energy storing 1-inch in diameter.
XP Cost: 2,500 XP.
So the master can only drain the obsidian orb if it has taken levels in the PrC as well? Or did you mean "as if"?
1. There should be two spaces after every period. I have made this change for all the things I have edited, but not the other parts of the text.
Big pet peeve: NO. THERE SHOULD NOT. And let me be clear. NO. THERE SHOULD NOT BE TWO SPACES AFTER EVERY PERIOD. Forget what your typing instructor told you. It is ONLY true/necessary if you are using a typewriter.
Modern computers utilize proportional fonts that give the proper spacing after a period and allow the eye to note the beginning of a new sentence (which was the whole reason to use two spaces after a period on a typewriter). A second space is unecessary and, in fact, both erroneous from a perspective of design standards, and worse it is very distracting to the reader's eye over long blocks of text.
So, DON'T USE TWO SPACES unless you are using a monospaced font or a typewriter, or I swear I'll hunt you down and beat you with a stick while screaming obscenities.
Thank you.
Also, you refer to sorcerer-monarch or simply monarch in several instances where the statement seemingly applies to all dragons, rather then just those who rule city-states.
The first part of the fluff text is pure fluff, thus all dragons are refered to as monarchs, since nearly all dragons are monarchs.
Further down in the fluff text are references to the rules, where "monarch" should be replaced with "dragon" or "dragon master".
I applied your modifications.
I think all spells contain sorcererous incantations :P
Its a ritual, not a spell. The rules say its an epic spell, but all the recipient knows is that its a "ritual". After all, it lasts an entire day and must be cast in a 5,000,000 Cp structure.
A recipient of the spell who's unaware of the existence of epic spells might believe this to be a kind of arcane ritual, closer to UA's Incantations than actual spells.
Able to tap the life energy from animals and intelligent beings, and then store the energy within themselves for their own use, some of the chosen are unaware the store of energy can be tapped by their master; and can only question the drained feeling that occasionally washes over them.
I didn't apply this ";" symbol because I don't agree on its use. I don't know english rules (the way I write is innate), yet I feel a "and" can't follow a ";" the way you made it happen in that phrase.
1. There should be two spaces after every period. I have made this change for all the things I have edited, but not the other parts of the text.
I don't agree with you here.
What is the caster level for this spell-like ability?
Caster level for this spell-like ability is equal to the character's level in the monarch’s chosen class.
Also, you normally have to touch a creature to use this spell on them; at which level does this restriction no longer apply? 5th or 9th?
For the 5th level ability it doesn't state a range or an conditions other than a creature being reduced to -1 hp or less. Maybe you should include the pharse: "within reach". If you don't have to touch the creature, to use this ability, then you should state that it can only be used once per turn or specify a range like you did for the 9th level ability.
The improved version of the spell-like ability that he gets when he reaches 9th level is now a near equivalent of consumptive field, a spell in Libris Mortis:
Death Knell (Sp): The monarch's chosen gains the ability to use the death knell spell as a spell-like ability, at will. By 5th level he can use the spell-like ability as an immediate action whenever a creature is reduced to -1 hp or less.
By 9th level the spell-like ability becomes the equivalent of a 3rd-level spell and is now a 10 ft.-radius spherical emanation centered on the chosen, affecting all creatures in the area reduced to -1 hp or less; the chosen’s effective caster level now goes up by 1 per death caused by this ability, to a maximum of 1/2 the chosen’s original caster level.
Caster level for this spell-like ability is equal to the character's level in the monarch’s chosen class.
So the master can only drain the obsidian orb if it has taken levels in the PrC as well? Or did you mean "as if"?
The only way to fill the orb is to posess the Draw of the Defiler ability, thus you need to be a chosen to even start to fill the orb.
I didn't apply this ";" symbol because I don't agree on its use. I don't know english rules (the way I write is innate), yet I feel a "and" can't follow a ";" the way you made it happen in that phrase.
Pen is correct. No "and"s or other coordinating conjnctions after semicolons (and, but, or, for, nor, so, or yet). They don't work like that. They serve to break up overly long sentences into seperate, discrete but connected statements. They should not be used to create fragment sentences. They can also be used for purposes of clarity to seperate list items whose individual items have to use commas.
Must ask, does Oronis have his own version of this process?
"Now that is a mighty fine idea, boy!"
More on it after the Avangion rules come out.
Can someone tell me what language this is, and why I chose it?
After a time, he began to hear whispers without an apparent source; words in a language he had never heard, full of sounds suggestive of chanting birds, hissing snakes and blowing wind.
Must ask, does Oronis have his own version of this process?
Very interesting idea you have there, but as Pennarin pointed out, we must wait for the epic rules detailling the avangion.
Pop-Quiz everyone!
Can someone tell me what language this is, and why I chose it?
The halfling's language?
While in this form, a chosen cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for *SNIP* Ride)
:OMG!
That gives a whole new meaning to the term "dragon rider". What sort of mounts are standard for each Monarch, do ya think?
(emphasis added by myself)
Otherwise, looks good. I'm gonna give it a more in-depth glance a bit later. Right now, food awaits.
That gives a whole new meaning to the term "dragon rider". What sort of mounts are standard for each Monarch, do ya think?
Don't read more into it than's really there...
The section of paragraph that mentions Ride is standard for....what is it standard for, Seker? (Seker added that section.)
Don't read more into it than's really there...
The section of paragraph that mentions Ride is standard for....what is it standard for, Seker? (Seker added that section.)
Its standard for the barbarian's rage. At first draft, I only permitted Intimidate and Balance, because I saw the chosen in an animalistic rage as unable to use the others skills, while a barbarian still can.
Great work!!!!!!!!
now convincing the animal is another issue
now convincing the animal is another issue
Well mow that the chosen has a Tainted Aura, shoul it be removed you think?
Big pet peeve: NO. THERE SHOULD NOT. And let me be clear. NO. THERE SHOULD NOT BE TWO SPACES AFTER EVERY PERIOD. Forget what your typing instructor told you. It is ONLY true/necessary if you are using a typewriter.
Modern computers utilize proportional fonts that give the proper spacing after a period and allow the eye to note the beginning of a new sentence (which was the whole reason to use two spaces after a period on a typewriter). A second space is unecessary and, in fact, both erroneous from a perspective of design standards, and worse it is very distracting to the reader's eye over long blocks of text.
So, DON'T USE TWO SPACES unless you are using a monospaced font or a typewriter, or I swear I'll hunt you down and beat you with a stick while screaming obscenities.
Thank you.
I see.... I was not aware of this. I won't ever correct anyone on that again, just as long as you promise not to explode :P
Oh, not that this relates specifically to your comment, but I have no idea how to use semi-colons properly; that was actually a mistake
(irony anyone)Well mow that the chosen has a Tainted Aura, shoul it be removed you think?
Don't you mean "Well meow"? ;)
Seriously though, I for one think it should stay. After all, the Chosen is to next best thing to a Dragon. Anything with that much defiling mojo is gonna be tainted.
Let me rephrase that:
Well now that the chosen has a Tainted Aura, should access to the Ride skill in the Dragon Shape ability be removed?
(Tainted Aura gives a penalty to Handle Animal checks, and the fluff says animals are freaked out and do not approach.)
Very imaginative and original you guys.
And yes, kill the access to the Ride skill.
All three of you have some cotton candy.
As much as I'm tired of seeing the "Hey! Look at this new PrC idea, isn't it grand?" thread I must say that this one takes the cake.
Very imaginative and original you guys.
All three of you have some cotton candy.
OMG! Nyt said a good thing about a PrC!
I must be dead.....right, no pulse, what I feared.Thanks Nyt :D
.As much as I'm tired of seeing the "Hey! Look at this new PrC idea, isn't it grand?" thread I must say that this one takes the cake.
What about posting them for feedback, and not for a pat on the back? ;)
Very imaginative and original you guys.
(...)
All three of you have some cotton candy.
Thanks Nyt :D
Death Knell (Sp): The monarch's chosen gains the ability to use death knell as a spell-like ability, at will. The save DC against this ability is 12 + the chosen's Charisma modifier.
By 5th level he can use the spell-like ability as an immediate action whenever a creature is reduced to -1 hp or less.
By 9th level the spell-like ability becomes a 10 ft.-radius spherical emanation centered on the chosen, affecting all creatures in the area reduced to -1 hp or less; the chosen’s effective caster level now goes up by 1 per death caused by this ability, to a maximum of 1/2 the chosen’s original caster level. The save DC against this ability is 13 + the chosen's Charisma modifier.
The caster level is equal to the chosen’s arcane spellcaster level.
What about posting them for feedback, and not for a pat on the back? ;)
Sorry, not sure what you mean there. I think a typo is throwing me off though.
Let me clarify though. I'm tired of mechanic threads period, mainly cause I'm burned out on mechanics and have been for some time (not the community's fault), plus I'm trying to wrap my brain around my own ruleset since I want to run again soon, which the former is not helping with (not the community's fault either).
This in essence is *why* I don't post to these threads much, whether it's to say "hey change x to y" or "good job", I'm so freaking numb with it all that I can't really give any feedback, positive or negative, other than rant, and I know that won't be helpful, so I choose not to post.
It was just coincidence that I read this particular thread and saw what you guys were trying to do with the PrC, and it caught me by surprised, since most of the other threads of PrCs (no offense intended, just personal taste) didn't really grab me. Don't get me wrong, there were some good ideas, but they didn't make me sit on the edge of my chair like this one did.
So kudos to you three again, I think this and that one monster Kath came up with is the best pieces of designed material I have seen for DS in a long time.
Sorry for rambling on too, this went longer than I wanted it to, heh.
After looking at the Scourge Maiden PrC in Shinning South (FR), I decided to modify the entry for Death Knell to include save DCs, since death knell allows for a save. I've chosened Charisma as the basis for the save, thinking such a Sp would be way too powerful if it were based on Intelligence.
That looks much better.
Pop-Quiz everyone!
Can someone tell me what language this is, and why I chose it?
After a time, he began to hear whispers without an apparent source; words in a language he had never heard, full of sounds suggestive of chanting birds, hissing snakes and blowing wind.
Heh, since no one came up with the answer to both elements of the question, here's the full answer:
Its halfling, probably ancient halfing at that.
It's used for the language in which Abalach-Re thinks the words of her spell because, in RaFoaDK, halfing was the oldest language Hamanu knew, and he used it for his epic spells.
One thing I'm not sure though, and this Seker could tell me, is weither the requirement of "having cast the defiler metamorphosis I spell" should be kept. Its an important point because Seker designed the epic spell with a 5,000,000 Cp mitigating factor in mind...
The Ritual
Ah'Navor knelt before the altar in supplication, awaiting the great privilege the queen would soon bestow upon her humble servant. She had chosen Ah'Navor as the recipient for the Transference of Scales, the holy ritual that would make him the greatest servant in the eyes of Badna after the queen herself.
Arranged in concentric circles around the queen and Ah'Navor lay the sanctified living sacrifices for the yearly ceremony that strengthened the Star of Badna's curse. But this year, those sacrifices would be used for a different purpose…
Abalach-Re stepped around the altar on which the giant sapphire rested, to stand in front of Ah'Navor, intoning the ritual’s words of power. Golden rivulets of light flowed from the drugged sacrifices across the vast room and into Abalach-Re’s outstretched hands. Within moments the sacrifices fell to the ground, their dead forms desiccated and ashen. The sounds of the dying were soon replaced by the quiet echoes of the vast room.
Ah'Navor spent the hours thereafter in prayer, the queen’s magic striking him in faint waves that penetrated deeply into his body, imparting power unto him in unfathomable ways.
After a time, he began to hear whispers without an apparent source; words in a language he had never heard, full of sounds suggestive of chanting birds, hissing snakes and blowing wind. He was hearing the queen’s thoughts in his mind! The realization nearly made him stumble in his prayers, which he was sure would have greatly displeased Badna in this moment of communion.
Long after his body had grown fatigued from lack of movement, Ah'Navor felt a rising, tingling sensation on his skin, which rapidly expanded to encompass first the flesh below, and then his very bones in a shower of pain that made him scream. In panic he opened his eyes and found himself floating above the shrine’s floor, his skin wreathed in cold, cobalt flames. Before him was the queen, who had shed her appearance like the serpent its old skin, unveiling for Ah'Navor’s sight her true appearance, which he had but seen once before, when he was ordained as her royal defiler.
His gaze followed her hand’s movement to her chest, whence she snapped a single scale with claws that could dent steel. His rising gaze was not swift enough to catch the small, glistening orb being expelled from her impossibly wide maw. Orb and scale both floated to a point in midair between Abalach-Re and Ah'Navor, each slowly spinning under the burning gaze of the chanting queen.
With a sudden rush, the orb and scale accelerated to slam into Ah'Navor, the scale striking his chest while the orb embedded itself in his abdomen, knocking the breath out of him. Ah'Navor felt a pain he would never forget for the rest of his life as the two objects burned through the cobalt radiance, turning it a dark red color around them. The now scorching crimson flames writhed madly as the scale buried itself in his chest, and the orb slowly disappeared within the inner folds of his abdomen, leaving but a slight bulge in his skin indicating its presence.
Ah'Navor felt his pain-wracked body plummet to the marble floor, his body casting hundreds of shadows from the wall candelabra, now that the magical flames had extinguished. His seared and nauseatingly bruised flesh still seemed to burn under his searching hand.
You are whole, intoned a voice in Ah'Navor’s mind, overpowering his feverish thoughts, filled with such certainty of his well-being that he lifted his head to meet the gaze of Abalach-Re, now become queen again. Rise, my chosen, my sweet, said the queen in her honeyed voice.
As Ah'Navor rose to obey her he felt a new organ stretch and awaken within him, and in a moment of clarity sensed the palpitating life of those sacrifices still alive at his feet, as if he had run his fingertips over all of their beating hearts at once. When he arose, the queen continued: You will find all of my enemies, all those that committed treason against me and their god Badna, and you will bring me back the very substance of their lives… starting with the traitor Farcluun.
The name of the traitor sent a pang of alarm in Ah'Navor’s tired heart. The queen, seeming to sense his distress, narrowed her eyes to cobalt slits as her smiling face turned to a snarl.
You will serve, the imperious voice commanded in his mind.
Monarch's Chosen
“The greatest power now flows within me.”
- Ah'Navor, chosen of Abalach-Re
Some sorcerer-monarchs have taken loyal defilers under their guidance and transformed them through the arts of sorcery and the Way to make them better able to serve. Through transforming the subjects by imbuing them with their own power, the sorcerer-monarchs were better able to understand the nature of their own transformation, at the same time creating a loyal follower who could be used as a source of power in time of need. Able to tap the life energy from animals and intelligent beings, and then store the energy within themselves for their own use, some of the chosen are unaware the store of energy can be tapped by their master and can only question the drained feeling that occasionally washes over them. Chosen are marked with a greater taint of defilement―the brand of their dragon master―which they carry proudly as a symbol of their favored status. Chosen are often told at creation that their master has powers of life and death over them, or they at least assume as much.
Due to their historical views on races the sorcerer-monarchs tend to exclusively choose humans as their closest servants. As such most chosen are human or half-elven, although other races are possible. Most chosen come from the ranks of simple defilers, but some also have levels of arch defiler, leech, or royal defiler. Their dragon master always forbids them from extensively studying the Way; ensuring their own supremacy over dragonhood.
To become a chosen, a character must take part in a day-long ritual, known as the Transference of Scales, performed by his dragon master. The ritual varies from one monarch to another, but always involves a dragon scale, an obsidian orb, and sorcerous incantations. After the ritual’s completion, a chosen often discovers his body has changed in minor ways; pointed teeth, forked tongue, vertically-slit or colored eyes, a whiff of sulphur about him, or even no external ears. All monarch’s chosen serve sorcerer-monarchs who once were Champions of Rajaat, as only those entities possess the Energy Storing ability necessary to cast the epic spell that empowers the chosen. NPC monarch’s chosen can be found roaming the wastes in pursuit of their master’s enemies, collecting the betrayers’ life energies. Beyond the role of collecting energy abroad in times of need, the chosen have sorcerous duties within their master’s domain. Some serve as royal defilers or into similar positions; usually above the law. Most chosen are part of the monarch’s favorites―beings that especially amuse and interest him. When within the city-state or a client village, a chosen often covers his appearance by wearing a mask and robes.
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements:
To qualify to become a monarch's chosen, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Any living nondragon.
Alignment: Any nongood.
Skills: Diplomacy 6 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 12 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 12 ranks.
Feats: Great Fortitude, any one metamagic feat.
Spells: Able to cast 4th-level arcane spells.
Special: Must be a defiler.
Special: Must have the spell monarch's choosing cast upon him prior to taking this class.
Class Skills:
The monarch's chosen’s class skills (and key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
This kind of change would also give a character that completes this change and then tries for dragon metamorphosis an edge that while it is not as powerful as a full champion gives them something similiar energy storing wise.
The only thing I'd ask a bit more about is the last ability:
Dragon Apotheosis: At 10th level, the chosen finishes the transformation started by the casting of the monarch's choosing spell. The chosen's type changes to dragon. The character no longer ages and no longer suffers from the penalties of aging, nor can he die of old age.
Although I like this, would an SK invite this sort of competition? (Discuss
)Although I like this, would an SK invite this sort of competition? (Discuss
IMO I do not think the SK would see the MC as competition- they would be just another tool, one that they had a rather large degree of control over. The SK totally controls who gets this PrC for the most part and if something like this was given, then the person getting this PrC would be a really trusted and long-time servant of the SK. If I was the SK I would even work into the spell a hook that would allow me to gain total control or kill the MC with a though if needed- a kind of insurance policy if you will to ensure loyalty- like a modified geas spell hooked to a contigant death spell or something along those lines.
IMO I do not think the SK would see the MC as competition- they wo If I was the SK I would even work into the spell a hook that would allow me to gain total control or kill the MC with a though if needed- a kind of insurance policy if you will to ensure loyalty- like a modified geas spell hooked to a contigant death spell or something along those lines.
That's the sort of thing I was thinking about, if the MC were to have ideas above their station and who can trust an evil character anyway... ? Look at the SKs and Rajaat.
Through this spell’s connection, the dragon can, at will, choose to drain either the target's own life force, weakening or killing him, or the stored energy from the target's Obsidian Well class feature (if it has taken levels in the Monarch's Chosen prestige class).
I'd say your deterent's already there.
I'd say your deterent's already there.
So I must have misread that- but does that ability allow a SK to drain the life from the MC whenever they want?
Through this spell’s connection, the dragon can, AT WILL, choose to drain either the target's own life force, weakening or killing him, or the stored energy from the target's Obsidian Well class feature (if it has taken levels in the Monarch's Chosen prestige class).
I'd be inclined to say yes :P
The recipient of the spell is treated as being next to the SK - no matter the distance - for the purpose of being a target of Energy Storing or Dragon Magic.
Mess with the big boy and zap!
Also, and I do not know what the ruling is on this, but maybe psionic powers of the telepathy discipline used by a SK can be made to affect the MC through their telepathic link. Does anyone has any idea on this? MAybe standard ranges/line of sight apply though. If it worked it would mean the SK can at any time and any distance probe or mind read or wathever his MC, ensuring loyalty.
(If the SK is dead the MC is free. No other SK can use its Energy Storing or Dragon Magic feature on him. Note that SKs still choose innordinately loyal, read fanatical, characters to make into MCs, so if the SK dies the MC will not betray the goals/desires of his SK. In short, a MC is not Tithian.)
Given the power conveyed by the transformation ensuring an instant kill via a permanent link is viable, the SK could see through the MCs eyes (talk through him... that would be scary).
Should have read that bit more closely :D
Given the power conveyed by the transformation ensuring an instant kill via a permanent link is viable, the SK could see through the MCs eyes (talk through him... that would be scary).
Kind of like a crystal ball or a familiar- but with the range being as long as both are on the same plane would be a good explanation. I see no reason that the SK could not use the link to use his telepathic powers- again kind of like a familiar in that the MC would be considered the origin of the power.
I'm a believer in free will making for better stories than magical obedience.
As for the telepathy link, its just a link guys: if you think its ok the SK can use telepathy psionic powers on the MC through it then I guess you must be ok about demons and devils being able to do the same with their own telepathy link with all living things...
I think that proposal of mine was bad as I defined it, that is as piggybacking off of the telepathy link.
If the SK wanted he could design a cheap epic spell that creates a powerful telepathic link between caster and target, and allows telepathy discipline powers to work over it, at any distance.
I wouoldn't make it an intrinsec part of the MC though, as SKs don't seem strong on the whole thought police ideals.
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 34
Components: V, S, M, F, Ritual
Casting Time: 1 day
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 306,000 Cp; 7 days; 12,240 XP. Seed: metamorphosis (DC 28), contact (DC *). Factors: telepathic bond between caster and participant (+115 DC), drain participant through telepathic bond (+5 DC). Mitigating factor: 5,000,000 Cp structure (-50 DC), increase casting time to 1 day (-22 DC), one additional participant contributing a 4th level spell (-7 DC), burn 2,500 points of experience (-25 DC), 10d6 backlash (-10 DC).
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Do the burned xp come from the Monarch or from the recipient of the spell?
If it's from the Monarch, I think most of them would rather reduce the DC by sacrificing say 100 HD of slaves rather than use their own xp.
Myriad
This kind of change would also give a character that completes this change and then tries for dragon metamorphosis an edge that while it is not as powerful as a full champion gives them something similiar energy storing wise.
First off I have to jump into the line with all those whoe said it befor me: GREAT PrC!! Thankx for your time giving us that! I surely will find a way to incorporate this into my campaign.
In regards to the text quoted above: YES that would be nice to have incorporated into the PrC!
Go seker go Do the burned xp come from the Monarch or from the recipient of the spell?
If it's from the Monarch, I think most of them would rather reduce the DC by sacrificing say 100 HD of slaves rather than use their own xp.
Myriad
As its in the spell description and its the Monarch who casts the spell those XP surely do come from the caster = Monarch.
Regarding the use of slaves, this is surely quite a possibility and it looks like a sertain Monarch from the mood-intro to the PrC already did exactly that. ;) If you do it or not is the choice of the caster. So no need to include that in the spell description.
Regarding the use of slaves, this is surely quite a possibility and it looks like a sertain Monarch from the mood-intro to the PrC already did exactly that. ;) If you do it or not is the choice of the caster. So no need to include that in the spell description.
The fluff story can be interpreted to mean anything. It can mean the slaves are drained so it will cost Abalach-Re less to cast the spell, or it can simply mean that she may have chosen to use her Dragon Magic for the casting of that particular epic spell.
Xular, me too I would like to see this PrC go forward with changes, although I have no idea how to proceed. Transforming it back again to what it was so it can be cast by all those dragons out there - not just the SKs - would be a start, and adding some kind of synergy to the PrC or spell which would make becoming a dragon easier/less costly for the MC would be good too.
I really see MCs as a good first step towards dragonhood. In a world where such information is highly restricted by the powerful, MCs are put smack in the middle of it all and made a small part of it in their own right.