Evil / Undead Class : Evil Cultist - Tiger Mask
Malevolent embodiments of pure evil, rakshasas exude might, and the privileged lifestyle they enjoy brings them into contact with many easily swayed by promises of power. Those lured by the rakshasas' plots and service crave the power the tiger-like outsiders offer, and many promise the foul creatures their very soul in order to increase their own might. Rakshasas, eager for servants and a comfortable living, delight in helping people with such goals. In exchange for the loyalty of beguiled or greedy power seekers, the rakshasa provides money, information, magical items and power. The rakshasa is then treated like a deity.
Whether deceived or willing, these servants of rakshasas are known as tiger masks, both for the deception that they perform for the feline-appearing rakshasas and for the ritual masks that they wear when appearing before their lord. To further humble their minions and to show their own superiority, rakshasas require that tiger masks speak only Infernal when addressing them.
To become a tiger mask, a potential candidate must seek out a rakshasa and pledge her undying loyalty to the creature. If she is deemed worthy and sincere (liars and weaklings are killed and eaten), the rakshasa performs a terrifying ceremony, called the "ritual of the blackened tiger," concluding with the rakshasa raking the person across the chest.
Tiger masks perform most of the mundane tasks for their masters, including theft, torture, racketeering, and murder. Their duties also include kidnapping victims for the feeding and entertainment of the rakshasa. Children are especially coveted, for their innocence provides a sweet "taste" to the infernal being. One of the first lessons the rakshasa teaches a newly created tiger mask is the proper way to flay and butcher a victim in order to make a proper meal. The tiger mask is always required to partake in the meal once it is cooked.
Tiger masks also establish drug cartels and brothels, bringing in a ready source of income and information, as well as sowing the seeds of corruption in the community. Would-be tiger masks are usually chosen by rakshasas because of the high place they hold in society. They provide the rakshasas with vital information, as well as access to otherwise forbidden areas. Tiger masks provide the framework from which rakshasas can operate, corrupting good people and organizations.
Tiger masks provide another, lesser-known purpose. Because of their special ability to draw in arrows and crossbow bolts (especially blessed crossbow bolts), rakshasas surround themselves with tiger masks as a form of defense. Few tiger masks are informed about this before the commit themselves to their rakshasa lords, and those who object never lie long once their patron rakshasa knows they harbor doubts about their service.
Tiger masks are commonly found among the spellcasting classes. Sorcerers, wizards, and evil clerics are drawn to the power granted by the class, as well as the mundane influence provided by their patron. Rogues are also drawn to this class, relishing in the creature comforts and unabashed power that rakshasas give to favored minions. Evil monks who have been properly trained in the arcane arts make excellent tiger masks. Rangers and fighters who have learned the arcane arts are rare, but such individuals are sometimes found as tiger masks. Paladins are the sworn enemies of tiger masks and hunt them with tireless zeal.
Tiger masks are often found operating alone, although occasionally they are grouped together for particularly dangerous assignments. As mentioned above, during an assault, a rakshasa tries to gather as many tiger masks around it as possible.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Tiger Mask, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Any non-monstrous humanoid
- Alignment: Lawful evil
- Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks, Gather Information 8 ranks
- Language: Infernal
- Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 2nd-level spells.
- Special: Must make friendly contact with a rakshasa and undergo a ritual in which she is scarred.
Class Skills
The Tiger Mask's class skills are Appraise, Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Sense Motive, and Spot.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are Class Features of the tiger mask prestige class:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Characters gain no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields when they take a level of tiger mask.
Spellcasting: A tiger mask continues to train in magic. Thus, at 2nd and 4th levels, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, metamagic, or item creation feats, and so on.) This essentially means that she adds the level to tiger mask to the level of some other spellcasting class she has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.
Arrow Magnet (Su): At 1st level, tiger masks become more susceptible to certain ranged attacks. Any arrow or bolt (but no other form of ranged attack) that is aimed at a target within 20 feet of a tiger mask has a 50% chance of being redirected toward her. The attack is resolved as normal but as if the shot were originally aimed at the tiger mask, with missed shots having no effect. If the tiger mask has more than 50% cover, the arrow magnet ability fails to function.
Arrow/Bolt Damage Reduction (Su): At 1st level, the tiger mask gains damage reduction 5/+1 against any damage dealt by arrows or crossbow bolts. It provides no benefit against any other type of ranged weapon. This ability increases to 10/+2 at 3rd level.
Visage of Deception (Ex): At 2nd level, tiger masks gain a +2 bonus to Bluff and Disguise checks.
Claws of the Tiger (Ex): At 4th level, the tiger mask grows feline-like claws. She can make two claw attacks dealing 1d4 damage each. In addition, the hands of the tiger mask undergo a painful transformation, becoming like that of a rakshasa - her fingers bend backward, so the back of her hand now becomes her palm. This has no effect on the manual dexterity of the tiger mask.
Alter Self (Sp): A 5th-level tiger mask can change her appearance once per day as if by an alter self spell cast by a 5th-level sorcerer.
Visage of the Infernal Tiger (Ex): At 5th level, the tiger mask has been changed and twisted by the power of the rakshasa. The tiger mask's face becomes that of a terrible-looking tiger and her skin is covered in a thin, dark fur. Her eyes smolder like black pits of evil. The tiger mask's creature type permanently changes to "outsider." This provides the tiger mask with darkvision with a range of 60 feet, if she does not already have it. Any spells or effects that target outsiders affect tiger masks. This transformation has no effect on the tiger mask's Hit Die type.
Ex-Tiger Masks: A tiger mask who disobeys her patron rakshasa or willingly strays from her alignment loses many of the abilities of this prestige class. She loses all abilities except for arrow magnet - the price to pay for making a deal with evil. Her fangs shrink to normal size, and her claws fall from her fingers, although her hands are permanently twisted in the backwards position. A tiger mask that has reached 5th level retains the "outsider" creature type and is affected by any spells or effects that target outsiders. The ex-tiger mask can regain her abilities by undergoing the "ritual of the blackened tiger," as stated in the description above. There have been no instances of a rakshasa taking back a tiger mask that it once sponsored. Rival rakshasa have no such compunction, however.
| Tiger Mask | Hit Die: d8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spellcasting |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Arrow magnet, arrow/bolt reduction 5/+1 | - |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Visage of deception | +1 level of existing class |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Arrow/bolt reduction 10/+2 | - |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Claws of the tiger | +1 level of existing class |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Alter self 1/day, visage of the infernal tiger | - |
Source: Dragon #300