General Prestige Class : Blessed Of Gruumsh
by Monte Cook, Dragon #282
A blessed of Gruumsh is an orc or half-orc that enjoys the favor of his dark-tempered god. Each exemplifies all that is orc. He is always true to the ways of his race and lives by the words of his god. Masters of combat and intimidation, each is feared - and rightfully so.
Blessed of Gruumsh are most often fighters or barbarians, but they are clerics almost as often. Rogues and rangers also make good members of this elite group.
NPC blessed of Gruumsh are usually leaders among their people or lone, wandering champions fighting for their god's causes. Occasionally they work in very small, tight-knit groups, fighting surprisingly well together.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Blessed of Gruumsh, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Orc or half-orc
- Alignment: Any non-good
- Skills: Knowledge (religion) 3 ranks
- Feats: Power Attack, Cleave,
- Base Attack Bonus: +6
- Special: In a ritual dedicated to Gruumsh, a character seeking to become a Blessed of Gruumsh must remove one of his own eyes (to further embody the one-eyed god) .
Class Skills
The blessed of Gruumsh's class skills are Bluff, Climb, Craft, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (religion), Profession, and Spot.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A blessed of Gruumsh is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all types of armor, and with shields.
Divine Blessing: Gruumsh, it is said, watches over his blessed ones. Thus, each has a luck bonus to AC based on his blessed of Gruumsh class level. This is an extraordinary ability.
Fist of Gruumsh: At 2nd level, once per day, the blessed of Gruumsh can inflict additional damage with any single attack. The amount of damage inflicted is +1d6 for levels 2-4, +2d6 for levels 5-7, and +3d6 for levels 8-10. Use of this supernatural ability must be declared before the attack roll is made. If the attack misses, that use of the fist of Gruumsh is wasted.
Evil Eye (eye of disdain): Once per day, as a spell-like ability, the 3rd-level blessed of Gruumsh can make a gaze attack as an attack action with a range of 30 feet. A Will save resists the effect (DC 10 + blessed of Gruumsh class levels + Charisma modifier), and those that fail suffer a -1 morale penalty on attacks, saves, and skill checks for round per blessed of Gruumsh level.
Keen Eye of Gruumsh: At 5th level, once per day, the blessed of Gruumsh can add a luck bonus to an attack roll for any single attack. The bonus is equal to the class level of the blessed of Gruumsh. Use of this supernatural ability must be declared before the attack roll is made. If the attack misses, the keen eye of Gruumsh is wasted.
Evil Eye (eye of fear): Once per day, as a spell-like ability, the 6th-level blessed of Gruumsh can make a gaze attack as an attack action with a range of 30 feet. A Will save resists the effect (DC 10 + blessed of Gruumsh class levels + Charisma modifier), and those that fail must run in fear as if affected by a fear spell cast by a sorcerer with levels equal to the blessed of Gruumsh's class level.
Thunderous Roar of Gruumsh: At 8th level, once per day, the blessed of Gruumsh can double the number of attacks that he makes in a given round while he bellows an incredible roar. If a character normally attacks with his orc double axe at 16/+11/+6 with an off-hand attack at +16, he instead makes six attacks at +16/+16/+11/+11/+6/+6 and two off-hand attacks at +16 each. The blessed of Gruumsh must be able to roar for this to work - it will not work within the area affected by a silence spell, for example. This is an extraordinary ability.
Evil Eye (eye of curses): Once per day, as a spell-like ability, the 9th-level blessed of Gruumsh can make a gaze attack as an attack action with his single eye with a range of 30 feet. A Fortitude save resists the effect (DC 10 + blessed of Gruumsh class levels + Charisma modifier), and those that fail are cursed as if bestow curse had been cast upon them.
True Orc: At 10th level, the blessed of Gruumsh can call upon his deity's might and speak in a commanding voice, uttering words in the true language of orcs - the very language that Gruumsh used to give birth to his children. These words inspire all orcs within 100 feet that can hear the words (including the blessed of Gruumsh), granting them +4 morale bonuses to attacks, saves, and skill checks for 1 minute per level of the blessed of Gruumsh. The character can use this spell-like ability once per week.
| Blessed Of Gruumsh | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Divine blessing +1 |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Fist of Gruumsh |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Evil Eye (eye of disdain) |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Divine blessing +2 |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Keen Eye of Gruumsh |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Evil Eye (eye of fear) |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Divine blessing +3 |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Thunderous Roar of Gruumsh |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Evil Eye (eye of curses) |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Divine blessing +4, true orc |
Source: Dragon #282
Dragon Compendium Vol. 1