General Prestige Class : Hellfire Warlock
"It is not the weapon that is evil, but the wielder." - Galena Todrick, hellfire warlock
The hellfire warlocks are a secretive group of specialist warlocks who have mastered hellfire, a dangerous energy found only in the Nine Hells. By tapping into this infernal power, these characters learn to infuse their eldritch blasts and magic items that they wield with the dark power of hellfire.
Prospective hellfire warlocks must fulfill strict requirements to gain entry to the class, making this prestige class exclusive to warlocks. While most characters who pursue the hellfire warlock class are otherwise single-class warlocks, multiclass warlocks with wizard levels are also common. Multiclass warlock/rogues, warlock/clerics, or even warlock/fighters are also possible, but entry into the prestige class is restricted until higher levels.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Hellfire Warlock, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Intimidate 6 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 12 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks
- Warlock Invocation: Must know brimstone blast or hellrime blast.
- Language: Infernal.
Class Skills
The hellfire warlock's class skills are Concentration, Disguise, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (the planes), Spellcraft, and Use Magic Device.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The hellfire warlock class offers great power at the expense of versatility. This prestige class presents a focused approach to tap the power of the Nine Hells, though often at a grave price. As they advance, these warlocks can access greater uses of hellfire, including the ability to infuse magic items with the power of hellfire and lash out with the fires of Hell against any foe that strikes them.
Hellfire Blast (Sp): Whenever you use your eldritch blast ability, you can change your eldritch blast into a hellfire blast. A hellfire blast deals your normal eldritch blast damage plus an extra 2d6 points of damage per class level. If your blast hits multiple targets (for example, the eldritch chain or eldritch cone blast shape invocations), each target takes the extra damage. This damage is not fire damage. Hellfire burns hotter than any normal fire, as described in the sidebar(FC2) on page 119.
Each time you use this ability, you take 1 point of Constitution damage. Because the diabolical forces behind the power of hellfire demand part of your essence in exchange for this granted power, if you do not have a Constitution score or are somehow immune to Constitution damage, you cannot use this ability.
Invoking: At each level, you gain new invocations known, increased damage with eldritch blast, and an increase in invoker level as if you had also gained a level in the warlock class. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.
Resistance to Fire 10 (Ex): At 2nd level, you gain resistance to fire 10. This resistance stacks with any resistance to fire you have gained from warlock class levels.
Hellfire Infusion (Su): Starting at 2nd level, you can infuse magic items that you wield with the power of hellfire. Whenever you use a charged magic item (such as a wand or a staff), you can apply one of the following metamagic effects to your next use of the item: empower, enlarge, widen, or energy substitution. These effects work just like the metamagic feats of the same name. Using hellfire infusion is a swift action. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum one). When you infuse an item with hellfire, it glows briefly with fiery symbols that are disturbing to look upon.
Hellfire Shield (Sp): Starting at 3rd level, you can call up hellfire to surround yourself with a protective barrier. Whenever someone directs a melee attack against you, you can, as an immediate action, aim a blast of hellfire at that creature. This blast deals damage equal to your eldritch blast (including bonus damage from the hellfire blast ability). This blast automatically strikes the target, which can attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Cha modifier).
Each time you use this ability, you take 1 point of Constitution damage. Because the diabolical forces behind the power of hellfire demand part of your essence in exchange for this granted power, if you do not have a Constitution score or are somehow immune to Constitution damage, you cannot use this ability.
| Abolisher | Hit Die: d8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Invoking |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Hellfire blast +2d6 | +1 level of existing invoking class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Hellfire blast +4d6, hellfire infusion, resistance to fire 10 | +1 level of existing invoking class |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Hellfire blast +6d6, hellfire shield | +1 level of existing invoking class |
Hellfire Warlock Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (the planes) can research hellfire warlocks to learn more about them. When a character succeeds on a skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.
- DC 10: Hellfire warlocks use the flames of Hell to power their abilities.
- DC 15: Hellfire is a cruel mistress, weakening those who court her.
- DC 20: Though hellfire itself is anathema to good, not all who wield it are evil. Some manage to temper the corrupting effects with a strong will and steadfast resolve. The mightiest among them even bend hellfire to serve the forces of good.
Hellfire warlocks are reclusive. They refrain from revealing themselves to the public, lurking at the fringes of society and only emerging when circumstances demand it. Player characters trying to locate a hellfire warlock need to succeed on a DC 25 Gather Information check. If a PC looks for a hellfire warlock in a community whose alignment is predominantly evil, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus on the check.
Source: Fiendish Codex II