General Prestige Class : Flame Steward
by Monte Cook, Dragon #283
The Sacred Flame brings life as well as destruction. Through its searing heat, we are purified, healed, and made greater. The glorious sheets of flame wash our enemies away. - The Mantra of the Brotherhood of the Sacred Flame
The Sacred Flame is a mystical, interdimensional source of energy considered important by all the non-evil gods, although it is associated with no one god specifically. The flame stewards are those mortals who devote themselves to learning its mysteries and harnessing its power - while respecting its might. They can call upon it for healing and purification, as well as personal puissance and even fiery attack.
Although flame stewards can be of any class, normally clerics find that it fits their vocation and way of life best. Paladins and even rangers enjoy the power that the Sacred Flame provides.
NPC flame stewards most often gather in small monastic-like orders. They use their combined abilities to help others (often for a price to support their studies of the Sacred Flame) and to learn more about the wonders of their chosen focus.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Flame Steward, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: any non-evil
- Skills: Heal 8 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks
- Feats: Endurance, Power Attack,
Class Skills
The flame steward's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Profession, and Spellcraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the flame steward prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The flame steward is proficient with all simple weapons and with all types of armor and shields.
Might of the Sacred Flame: The flame steward infuses himself with the power of the Sacred Flame. He gains a +1 inherent bonus to Strength and +3 additional hit points (as if from the Toughness feat) at 1st level. At 3rd level the inherent bonus increases to +2, and the flame steward gains another +3 hit points. At 5th level the inherent bonus increases to +3, and the flame steward gains another +3 hit points. At 7th level the inherent bonus increases to +4, and the flame steward gains another +3 hit points. At 9th level the inherent bonus increases to +5, and the flame steward gains another +3 hit points.
Spells: Beginning at 1st level, a flame steward gains the ability to cast a small number of divine spells. To cast a spell, the flame steward must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell's level, so a flame steward with a Wisdom of 10 or lower cannot cast these spells. Flame steward bonus spells are based on Wisdom, and saving throws against these spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + Wisdom modifier. The flame steward's spell list appears to the right; a flame steward has access to any spell on the list and can freely choose which to prepare, just like a cleric. A flame steward prepares and casts spells just as a cleric does (though the flame steward cannot lose a spell to cast a cure spell in its place).
Sacred Firefan: The 2nd level flame steward can emit a fan of flames as a spell-like ability. This is exactly like the spell burning hands except that half of the damage is divine power rather than simply fire, so even creatures resistant or immune to fire take that damage. Further, if someone that flame steward does not wish to harm is within the firefan, that character suffers no damage.
Flames of Healing: By calling upon the Sacred Flame, any cure spell cast by the flame steward cures an additional +1 hp per die (so a cure moderate wounds heals an additional +2, a cure serious wounds heals an additional +3, and so on). This is a supernatural ability.
Sacred Flame Strike: At 6th level, the flame steward can call forth a column of flame from above as a spell-like ability. This is exactly like the spell flame strike except that if someone that the flame steward does not wish to harm is within the area of the sacred flame strike, that character suffers no damage.
Purging flames: At 8th level, once per day, the flame steward can call upon the Sacred Flame to cast one of the following spells: heal, restoration, atonement, or remove curse. This is a spell-like ability.
Sacred Firestorm: Once per day, as a spell-like ability, the 10th-level flame steward can create a powerful storm of sacred flame. This works like the spell firestorm except that half of the damage is divine power rather than simply fire, so even creatures resistant or immune to fire take that damage. Further, if someone that the flame steward does not wish to harm is within the area of the firestorm, that character suffers no damage.
| Flame Steward | Hit Die: d8 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells | ||||
| 1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Might of the Sacred Flame | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Sacred firefan | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Might of the Sacred Flame | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Flames of healing | 2 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 5 | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Might of the Sacred Flame | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| 6 | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Sacred flame strike | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| 7 | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Might of the Sacred Flame | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | |
| 8 | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Purging flames | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 9 | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Might of the Sacred Flame | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Sacred firestorm | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Flame Steward Spell List
- 1st: bless, cure light wounds, endure elements, light, summon monster (fire only).
- 2nd: consecrate, continual flame, cure moderate wounds, resist elements, summon monster II (fire only)
- 3rd: cure serious wounds, protection from elements, remove blindness/deafness, remove disease, summon monster III (fire only)
- 4th: cure critical wounds, quench, searing light, summon monster IV (fire only)
- 5th: fire shield, healing circle, summon monster V (fire only), wall of fire.
Source: Dragon #283