Page 205 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

aberration, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used Critical are quick ways to improve your combat ability. Power
up for the day. Attack and Cleave are also good choices. Don’t overlook
At 4th level, you can attempt to smite aberrations twice per Improved Sunder; some creatures that attack with tentacles
day. can be literally disarmed by a determined attack against their
Hard to Hold (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, you learn how natural weapons.
to wriggle free of the deadly tentacles that are so common If you want to multiclass while advancing as a topaz guard-
among aberrations and other psionics-using creatures. You ian, consider taking fighter levels. You want to gain a lot of

gain a bonus equal to your class level on all grapple checks to feats quickly, and the fighter class is simply the best for that.

resist or escape from a grapple. A level or two of cleric is not bad, either, since it helps your
Will save even more and gives you some spellcasting ability.
CHAPTER 9 THE ABERRATION HUNTER PLAYING A TOPAZ GUARDIAN The Topaz Order is naturally strongest and most well estab-
You are a courageous and honorable defender of your people. Resources
Compassion, piety, and love for your people have inspired you
lished in lands that face serious aberration threats. The church
to dedicate yourself to the unending battle against the darkest
and most terrible of foes. While other warriors facing such
enemies become grim and cynical, your faith in the righteous- of Heironeous does all it can to support the order in such
places. In general, a topaz guardian can obtain healing (or
ness of your cause shields you from such disillusionment. You other spellcasting services) from a cleric of Heironeous at 25%

are fighting the good fight, and your certainty helps to anchor of the normal cost, and his companions can obtain healing at

you against the foul darkness and mind-numbing horrors you 75% the normal cost.
must face. The church also goes to some trouble to provide topaz
While you embody the virtues of compassion and love for guardians with the magical firepower they need to fight their

your fellows, you understand that your enemies—aboleths, sworn enemies. A topaz guardian with a reputation for success

mind flayers, and other unhuman monstrosities—are creatures can borrow specific items necessary for his expeditions. If the

of irredeemable evil, deserving of nothing but the swiftest item is expended, the guardian is expected to compensate the

and most thorough destruction you can deliver. You are an church accordingly. The specific items available are left to the
implacable foe, and when you confront your sworn enemies, DM’s discretion, but in general, an item or items totaling no
you burn with a brilliant and righteous wrath that few can more than 10% of the wealth guidelines given on Table 5–1 in
withstand. By your courage and dedication you hope to set an the Dungeon Master’s Guide is not unreasonable. For example,
unforgettable example, so that your zeal might serve to ignite a 6th-level paladin/4th-level topaz guardian is a 10th-level
in others the will to combat evil. character, so items up to 4,900 gp in value (10% of 49,000) could
be borrowed. To borrow items, a topaz guardian must establish
Combat a good personal relationship with the locally presiding cleric
You live for the opportunity to bring aberrations and other of Heironeous, and he must possess a reputation for successful

such abominations within reach of your sword or fists. Thanks adventuring and personal integrity. Of course, it might take

to your training and your diadem, you can resist the insidious time to obtain unusual or specific items.
mental attacks of such monsters. Your superior combat skills
provide you with an uncanny ability to oppose the hordes of TOPAZ GUARDIANS IN THE WORLD
minions employed by master aberrations. The Topaz Order remains constantly vigilant for signs of

While you possess no shortage of physical courage and zeal aberration incursions—specifically, aboleth raids, grell
for your cause, you are not a witless thug. It’s true that you are hunts, neogi slaving raids, and mind flayer attacks. Individual

inclined to surprise your aberration foes by battering through members of the order seek out adventuring companies going
their defenses with speed and determination, but you will not into aberration-held areas and ask them to bring back news

recklessly throw away your life if you can help it. The best of mind flayer sightings or similar threats. Order members
weapon against an aberration outpost is a well-coordinated team also organize elite bands or companies (including adventur-
of heroes with a variety of skills and strengths, not a solitary ers) to raze aberration outposts and drive them back into the
avenger whose only alternatives are to conquer or die. Therefore, underground depths.
you look for opportunities to strip away the advantages of your
enemies by the clever use of your companions’ magic and skills Organization
so you can face them as you were meant to: holy steel against The Holy Order of the Supernal Topaz Defenders is divided
writhing tentacles, righteous zeal versus unhuman evil. into a number of relatively small chapters. Each chapter

includes anywhere from five to twenty clerics, paladins,
Advancement fighters, monks, and topaz guardians, all of whom share a

Qualifying for the topaz guardian prestige class requires chapter house or base of operations in a good-sized temple
forfeiting at least one feat that you are likely to miss. As you to Heironeous. The members of a chapter make an effort to
gain levels, you will probably want to catch up on the good assemble once a month to share news, install new members,
combat feats you missed earlier. Weapon Focus and Improved and recognize notable achievements. It’s not at all uncommon
204