General Prestige Class : Lightbearer
by Monte Cook (Dragon #285)
The heroes of the gnomes and halflings seem particularly focused on protection and stewardship. The powerful spirits of those who are the most pure, truthful, and valiant shine through them, marking them as special. Halfling and gnome cultures select these rare few as guardians called lightbearers. The power within these individuals grants them a special aura of purity and righteousness. Lightbearers serve as guardians, peacekeepers, and general purveyors of goodness. Their aura - normally an invisible, shimmering, warm glow undetectable to the naked eye - sometimes becomes visible when the lightbearer is engaged in melee combat with evil foes.
Lightbearers are often clerics or druids, but rangers, bards, and most other classes are also granted the gift. "Holiness" is not just a quality of the religious.
As NPCs, lightbearers are usually wandering loners, stopping only where and when they are needed. They never tie themselves down to a single community and are never associated with one particular religion.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Lightbearer, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Gnome, Halfling
- Alignment: Any good
- Skills: Knowledge (religion) 8 ranks, Knowlede (local ) 4 ranks, Diplomacy 4 ranks
- Feats: Alertness,
- Base Fortitude Save: +6
Class Skills
The Lightbearer's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (religion), Listen, Profession, Spellcraft, Spot, and Survival.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Lightbearer prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Lightbearers do not gain special proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.
Detect Evil: At will, the lightbearer can detect evil as a spell-like ability. This ability duplicates the effects of the spell detect evil as cast by a cleric of the lightbearer's level.
Light: At will, the lightbearer can create light as a spell-like ability. This ability duplicates the effects of the spell light as cast by a cleric of the lightbearer's level.
Resist Elements: As a spell-like ability, the lightbearer can cast resist elements upon himself once per day as a cleric of his lightbearer level.
Share Aura: Some benefits gained from being a lightbearer - deflect attacks, resist elements, and resist spells - can be shared with one other creature in physical contact with the Lightbearer. Using this supernatural ability is a free action.
Deflect Attacks: At 3rd, 6th, and 9th level, the lightbearer gains a deflection bonus to his Armor Class. This is a supernatural ability.
Provide Healing: Once per day, the lightbearer can use one of the following as a spell-like ability: remove disease, remove blindness/deafness, cure serious wounds, restoration. All of these abilities are treated as if cast by a cleric of the lightbearer's level.
Darkvision: At 5th level, the lightbearer gains darkvision with a 100-foot range. This is a supernatural ability.
Dispel Evil: A 7th-level lightbearer can use dispel evil as a spell-like ability once per day, as a cleric of his lightbearer level.
Holy Word: At 8th level, a lightbearer can speak a holy word as a spell-like ability once per day, as a cleric of his lightbearer level.
Resist Spells: A 10th-level lightbearer has an SR of 25.
| Lightbearer | Hit Die: d8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +2 | +2 | Detect evil, light |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Resist elements |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Share aura, deflect attacks +2 |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Provide healing |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Darkvision |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Deflect attacks +4 |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Dispel evil |
| 8th | +6 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Holy word |
| 9th | +8 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Deflect attacks +6 |
| 10th | +7 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Resist spells |
Source: Dragon #285