the Jester
Legend
This prestige class is designed for a specific deity. The campaign's main religion is sort of monotheistic, with Galador, the god of the light, as the deity; and Bleak, the Black Sun, is the devil figure. The Black Cardinals are agents of Bleak who are elevated in the Dark Church to a high status.
The BLACK CARDINAL
Just as Galador elevates the brightest of his followers into the church of the Light, in a cunning mockery of the Galadorian rituals Bleak elevates the most vile and evil of his followers to the status of a Black Cardinal. Woe to those who follow the Light when a black cardinal arrives- his powers of deception and darkness are great, and stand in direct conflict with the Galadorians’ mission of light and law.
Most black cardinals begin as clerics of Bleak, though some rise from the ranks of the blackguards or other classes. A few especially potent black cardinals have been fallen paladins, and even rangers sometimes take up the path as well.
Hit Die: d8
Prerequisites: Bluff (3 ranks), Knowledge (religion) (9 ranks). Sacrificial Mastery plus any one Vile feat. Any evil alignment. Must be a worshiper of Bleak. Must be able to cast deeper darkness as a divine spell.
Class Skills: Bluff (cha), Concentration (con), Disguise (cha), Forgery (int), Knowledge (religion) (int), Sleight of Hand (dex), Spellcraft (int). Skill points per level: 2+int bonus.
Base Attack: Medium (as cleric)
Good Saves: Fort and Will
Poor Saves: Ref
The BLACK CARDINAL
Level-- Special Abilities-- Spells
1-- Master of darkness, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2-- Deceptive +1, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3-- +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4-- Deceptive +2, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5-- Master of lies
6-- Deceptive +3, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7-- Bonus domain
8-- Deceptive +4, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9-- Vile spells, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10-- Deceptive +5, mind blank, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The black cardinal gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells: The black cardinal continues to advance as a divine spellcaster at nearly every level.
Master of Darkness (Su): Any spell with the Darkness descriptor that the black cardinal casts is more powerful than most of her spells. Her caster level is considered to be three higher for such spells. Conversely, she can no longer cast spells with the Light descriptor.
Deceptive (Ex): The black cardinal is untrustworthy and a liar. Beginning at 2nd level, she gets a competence bonus on Bluff, Disguise, Forgery and Sleight of Hand checks. Every two levels, this bonus increases by one.
Master of Lies (Su): If a black cardinal of 5th of higher level succeeds at a Bluff check against a creature, she can make a verbal suggestion (as the spell) to that creature (Will save, DC 13 + cha bonus, negates, but even then the creature is unaware of the attempt). The black cardinal can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her charisma bonus.
Bonus Domain: At 7th level, the black cardinal gains access to the Darkness domain. If she already has this domain, she may choose another of Bleak’s domains. If the character does not have a domain slot at each spell level, she gains one.
Vile Spells (Su): A 9th-level black cardinal deals one point of vile damage with any spell she casts that deals damage. Furthermore, any worshipper of Galador in the area of any of her spells with the Darkness descriptor takes one point of vile damage.
Mind Blank (Su): A 10th-level black cardinal is constantly under the effect of a mind blank spell.
Ex-Black Cardinals: If a black cardinal stops worshipping Bleak or turns from evil, she loses all spells and abilities associated with this prestige class. Furthermore, a powerful demon or force of darkness will be dispatched by Bleak to teach the offender the penalty for betrayal.
The BLACK CARDINAL
Just as Galador elevates the brightest of his followers into the church of the Light, in a cunning mockery of the Galadorian rituals Bleak elevates the most vile and evil of his followers to the status of a Black Cardinal. Woe to those who follow the Light when a black cardinal arrives- his powers of deception and darkness are great, and stand in direct conflict with the Galadorians’ mission of light and law.
Most black cardinals begin as clerics of Bleak, though some rise from the ranks of the blackguards or other classes. A few especially potent black cardinals have been fallen paladins, and even rangers sometimes take up the path as well.
Hit Die: d8
Prerequisites: Bluff (3 ranks), Knowledge (religion) (9 ranks). Sacrificial Mastery plus any one Vile feat. Any evil alignment. Must be a worshiper of Bleak. Must be able to cast deeper darkness as a divine spell.
Class Skills: Bluff (cha), Concentration (con), Disguise (cha), Forgery (int), Knowledge (religion) (int), Sleight of Hand (dex), Spellcraft (int). Skill points per level: 2+int bonus.
Base Attack: Medium (as cleric)
Good Saves: Fort and Will
Poor Saves: Ref
The BLACK CARDINAL
Level-- Special Abilities-- Spells
1-- Master of darkness, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2-- Deceptive +1, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3-- +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4-- Deceptive +2, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5-- Master of lies
6-- Deceptive +3, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7-- Bonus domain
8-- Deceptive +4, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9-- Vile spells, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10-- Deceptive +5, mind blank, +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The black cardinal gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells: The black cardinal continues to advance as a divine spellcaster at nearly every level.
Master of Darkness (Su): Any spell with the Darkness descriptor that the black cardinal casts is more powerful than most of her spells. Her caster level is considered to be three higher for such spells. Conversely, she can no longer cast spells with the Light descriptor.
Deceptive (Ex): The black cardinal is untrustworthy and a liar. Beginning at 2nd level, she gets a competence bonus on Bluff, Disguise, Forgery and Sleight of Hand checks. Every two levels, this bonus increases by one.
Master of Lies (Su): If a black cardinal of 5th of higher level succeeds at a Bluff check against a creature, she can make a verbal suggestion (as the spell) to that creature (Will save, DC 13 + cha bonus, negates, but even then the creature is unaware of the attempt). The black cardinal can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her charisma bonus.
Bonus Domain: At 7th level, the black cardinal gains access to the Darkness domain. If she already has this domain, she may choose another of Bleak’s domains. If the character does not have a domain slot at each spell level, she gains one.
Vile Spells (Su): A 9th-level black cardinal deals one point of vile damage with any spell she casts that deals damage. Furthermore, any worshipper of Galador in the area of any of her spells with the Darkness descriptor takes one point of vile damage.
Mind Blank (Su): A 10th-level black cardinal is constantly under the effect of a mind blank spell.
Ex-Black Cardinals: If a black cardinal stops worshipping Bleak or turns from evil, she loses all spells and abilities associated with this prestige class. Furthermore, a powerful demon or force of darkness will be dispatched by Bleak to teach the offender the penalty for betrayal.
