Page 161 - Serpent Kingdoms

PRESTIGE CLASSES

Weapon and Armor Profi ciency: Ancient masters gain no once per day. She gains one additional use per day of this ability
profi ciency with any weapon, armor, or shield. at 8th level.
Attraction (Sp): An ancient master can plant a compelling Shadow Concealment (Su): At 6th level, an ancient master
attraction in the mind of any subject within 25 feet of her. The at- gains the ability to take on shadow form for 1 minute per an-
traction can be toward a particular person, object, action, or event. cient master level. While in this state, she becomes incorporeal,
The target takes all reasonable steps to get close to the person, appearing as a shadowy image of herself. She gains a +10 circum-
fi nd the object, attend the event, or perform the action designated, stance bonus on Hide checks while this ability is in effect. The
though it does not suffer from blind obsession and does not take ancient master gains one additional use per day of this ability at
extreme risks to do so. The subject can recognize danger but does 9th level.
not fl ee unless the threat is immediate. If the ancient master speci- Baleful Teleport (Sp): At 7th level, an ancient master can
fi es herself as the object of the attraction, she cannot command disperse miniscule portions of a target creature or object weigh-
the subject indiscriminately, though the subject does listen to her ing no more than 300 pounds. The target takes 9d6 points of
(even if it disagrees). This ability grants the ancient master a +4 damage from this attack. A successful Will save (DC 10 + an-
bonus on Charisma checks made to infl uence the subject for the cient master level + ancient master’s Cha modifi er) halves the
duration of the effect. Attraction lasts for 1 hour. This ability is damage. A target under a dimensional anchor effect is immune
usable once per day at 1st level and an additional once per day to baleful teleport. This ability is usable once per day at 7th level
every three ancient master levels thereafter (twice per day at 4th and twice per day at 10th level. This ability is the equivalent of
level, three times per day at 7th level, and four times per day at a 5th-level spell.
10th level). This ability is the equivalent of a 1st-level spell. Claws of the Vampire (Sp): When an ancient master reaches
Conceal Thoughts (Sp): At 2nd level, an ancient master can 8th level, she can cause the fi ngers on both her hands (if she
protect her own thoughts (but not those of any other creature) has any) to grow to wicked, 2-inch-long points. She gains a claw
from analysis. She gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against attack (base damage 1d8 points) that does not provoke an attack
divination effects that reveal emotions or thoughts and a +20 of opportunity. Whenever she uses this attack, she heals one-
circumstance bonus on Bluff checks made to oppose Sense half the base damage that she deals with claws of the vampire.
Motive checks. This ability is always active. She can use this ability in conjunction with feats, abilities, or
Body Equilibrium (Ex): A 3rd-level or higher ancient master spells that allow additional attacks in the same round. This effect
can adjust her body density to match that of any solid or liquid lasts for 1 hour per ancient master level and can be used once
she stands on. Thus, she can walk on water, quicksand, or even a per day. This ability is the equivalent of a 4th-level spell.
spider’s web without sinking or breaking through. (This ability Mind Probe (Sp): Once per day, a 9th-level or higher ancient
does not confer any resistance to particularly sticky webs.) She master can read the thoughts of any one living creature within
can move at her normal speed, but she cannot run on an unfi rm 30 feet that fails a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ancient master level
surface without sinking or breaking through. If she falls while + ancient master’s Cha modifi er). All the target’s memories and
using this ability, damage from the impact is halved. This ability knowledge are accessible to her, from memories deep below the
is usable at will. surface to those easily called to mind. She can learn the answer to
Levitate (Sp): Upon reaching 4th level, an ancient master one question per round, to the best of the target’s knowledge. She
can use levitate (caster level equals ancient master level) once can also probe a sleeping target, though it may make a Will save
per day. She gains one additional use per day of this ability at (DC 10 + ancient master level + ancient master’s Cha modifi er) to
7th level and another at 10th level. wake after each question. Targets that do not wish to be probed
Dimension Door (Sp): At 5th level, an ancient master can can attempt to move beyond the ability’s range unless somehow
use dimension door (caster level equals ancient master level) hindered. The ancient master poses the questions telepathically

TABLE 12–1: THE ANCIENT MASTER
Class Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Attraction 1/day
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Conceal thoughts
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Body equilibrium
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Attraction 2/day, levitate 1/day
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Dimension door 1/day
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 Shadow concealment 1/day
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 Attraction 3/day, baleful teleport 1/day, levitate 2/day
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 Claws of the vampire 1/day, dimension door 2/day
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 Mind probe 1/day, shadow concealment 2/day
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Attraction 4/day, baleful teleport 2/day, disintegrate 1/day, levitate 3/day

160

620_96566_SerpentKi144-167.indd 160 5/13/04, 7:51:56 AM