Evil / Undead Class : Thrall of Pazuzu
Thralls of Pazuzu are dangerous foes, not only in combat but in diplomatic situations. They live to spread the word of their dark patron, tempting others to ask for his aid and in so doing spread chaos and evil like a blight. When they cannot tempt others into serving their master's will they call upon his favored minions - all creatures that fly or swarm - to aid in their unholy crusade. A thrall of Pazuzu views creatures that cannot fly as pitiful and foolish, and often uses the seduction of flight as a promise to those who would call upon Pazuzu for aid.
Sorcerers, bards, and clerics all make excellent thralls of Pazuzu, as they often have fairly high Charisma scores, diplomatic skills, or spells that can influence of others. Those who can't fly on their own and can't meet the ability to cast spells to gain this ability typically call on Pazuzu to gain some form of flight, often by using a wish granted by the demon prince.
Thralls of Pazuzu rarely work together with other thrall preferring to lead small, secretive lives in cities or locations where one would not expect demonic influence. They often seek to create new cults dedicated to Pazuzu, usually deceiving the members into believing they are venerating some other (usually fictional) god. Cult members who wish to advance to the highest levels of these cults find that they must call upon the Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms several times before they are accepted.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Thrall of Pazuzu, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Chaotic evil
- Skills: Bluff 9 ranks, Diplomacy 9 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 5 ranks, Sense Motive 5 ranks.
- Feats: Persuasive, Thrall To Demon,
- Special: Must be able to fly naturally, or must be able to cast at least 2 different spells that grant flight or the ability to move upward through the air; featherfall would not qualify, but levitate and air walk would. Similarly, spells like alter self or polymorph fulfill one of the spell requirements, as does the wildshape ability.
Special: Must have convinced another creature to call upon Pazuzu's aid without having resorted to magic.
Class Skills
The thrall of Pazuzu's class skills are Bluff, Diplomacy, Forgery, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Listen, Sense Motive, and Spot.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Feature
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Thralls of Pazuzu are proficient with no weapons, armor, or shields.
Bonus Feat or Spells: When a thrall of Pazuzu attains 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 10th level, she gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class, or else she gains a feat of her choice. If the thrall chooses +1 spellcasting level, she does not gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. This essentially means that she adds the new level to the level of whatever other spellcasting class she has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.
If the character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a thrall of Pazuzu, she must decide to which class she adds the level for purposes of determining spells per day.
A thrall of Pazuzu is free to choose the bonus feat at one opportunity and the spellcasting level the next time the decision arises, or vice versa, Characters who are not spellcasters must choose the bonus feat.
Temptation (Ex): The thrall of Pazuzu is a master of temptation. She gains a +2 profane bonus on any Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate checks made to attempt to convince a creature to perform an action against its nature. Additionally, when a thrall of Pazuzu casts a spell or uses a spell-like ability from the school of Enchantment, she adds +1 to the DC to resist the spell's effects and a +2 on any rolls made to penetrate spell resistance.
Breath of Pazuzu I (Su): Once per day, a thrall of Pazuzu may exhale a single locust swarm from her mouth as a standard action. The locust swarm persists for a number of rounds equal to the thrall's class level plus her Charisma modifier or until it is slain. At least one square of the swarm's space must be adjacent to the thrall's space. The thrall can create the swarm so it occupies the space of creatures (including herself). This swarm never distracts, damages, or otherwise harms the thrall who created it.
Flight (Ex): The thrall of Pazuzu grows a single pair of black raven wings at 2nd level, gaining a fly speed of 20 feet (average). If the thrall already has a fly speed, her fly speed increases by +20 feet and her wings (if she has any) change to look like black raven wings.
Speak with Avian (Sp): A thrall of Pazuzu can communicate with any creature that has a natural fly speed as if with the tongues spell.
Swarmform (Su): At 3rd level, a thrall of Pazuzu can assume the form of a locust swarm as a standard action. This ability functions similarly to a druid's wild shape ability, save that only one form can be assumed and the thrall of Pazuzu can maintain the swarmform for only 1 minute per thrall of Pazuzu level.
Charm Avian (Sp): At 4th level, a thrall of Pazuzu may use charm monster as a spell-like ability. Although she can use this ability a number of times equal to half her thrall of Pazuzu level, she can only target creatures with a natural fly speed with this ability.
Breath of Pazuzu II (Su): At 5th-level, the thrall of Pazuzu may use her breath of Pazuzu ability twice per day, and each time she does so, she creates two locust swarms.
Swarm Mastery (Su): At 7th level, the thrall of Pazuzu forms an unholy bond with creatures of the swarm subtype. She never becomes distracted by swarms and never takes damage from swarms. Further, any swarms she summons or conjures gain the fiendish creature template.
Dominate Avian (Sp): At 8th level, the thrall of Pazuzu can replace two daily uses of her charm avian spell-like ability with dominate avian, This functions as dominate monster, yet can only be used to target creatures with a natural fly speed.
Improved Flight (Ex): At 10th level, the thrall of Pazuzu's fly speed increases by +30 feet, and her maneuverability rating improves to perfect. While flying, she gains a +4 insight on initiative checks.
Breath of Pazuzu III (Su): At 10th level, the thrall of Pazuzu may use her breath of Pazuzu ability three times per day, and each time she does so she creates three locust swarms. Alternatively, she can substitute a 30-foot cone of acidic gas for the locust swarm effect. This cone of gas inflicts 10d6 points or acid damage to all those caught in its area. A successful Reflex save (DC 20 + the thrall of Pazuzu's Constitution modifier) halves the damage.
| Thrall of Pazuzu | Hit Die: d8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | Temptation, breath of Pazuzu I | - |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Flight, speak with avian | - |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Swarmform 1/day | Bonus feat or +1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Charm avian | - |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Breath of Pazuzu II | Bonus feat or +1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Swarmform 2/day | - |
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Swarm mastery | Bonus feat or +1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Dominate avian | - |
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Swarmfrom 3/day | Bonus Feat or +1 level of existing spellcasting class |
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Improved flight, breath of Pazuzu III | Bonus Feat or +1 level of existing spellcasting class |
Source: Dragon #329