Page 160 - Serpent Kingdoms

caled Ones have access to a number of prestige classes
that take advantage of their unique abilities. The fol-
Slowing prestige classes are specifi c to certain races of
Scaled Ones, or to those who hunt such creatures. Requirements
Illustration by Dennis Crabapple Most Yuan-ti grow forgetful and sleepy as they age, but a few To qualify to become an ancient master, a character must fulfi ll
Ancient Master

all of the following criteria.
Race: Yuan-ti.
of the most powerful and strongest-willed abominations grow
Alignment: Any evil (usually chaotic evil).
mightier of mind while their bodies are failing. They acquire
additional psionic powers and gradually become recognized as
Base Attack Bonus: +9.
the “ancient masters” of the race. Some become
ranks.
religious zealots, founding new temples or
taking over existing ones and fanati- Skills: Concentration 15 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 10
Special: Access to an extensive magical
cally furthering whatever aims Sseth library, a tutor of any race who possesses
shows them in dream-visions. Others at least fourteen sorcerer or wizard class
withdraw from Yuan-ti tribal politics levels, or any psionic powers or psionic
and then society as a whole to live class levels.
in isolated seclusion, much the way
many study-obsessed human wizards Class Skills
do. Like human mages, such Yuan-ti
typically build or take over fortresses in The ancient master’s class skills (and
which to carry out their business. the key ability for each skill) are Ap-
These ancient masters often engage in praise (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft
truly ambitious breeding experiments, or (any) (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowl-
take up strange hobbies with astonishing edge (all skills taken individually) (Int),
vigor and enthusiasm. One tale tells of an Speak Language, and Spellcraft (Int).
ancient master who crafted full-sized, See Chapter 4 of the Player’s Handbook
blown-glass replicas of attractive for skill descriptions.
humans. Another describes one who Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int
stole all the tomes from Candlekeep, modifi er.
translated them into other tongues,
and then covertly returned them. Class Features
Hit Die: d8.
All the following are class features of the an-
cient master prestige class.

An ancient master

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