General Prestige Class : Master Of The Secret Sound
by Monte Cook, Dragon #
There are words of power - magical words so potent that simply speaking them can cause one to become blind or even die. At the base of these words are sounds. Sounds and all that they comprise - vibration, modulation, frequency, volume - carry with them power, and for those who know the proper sounds, this power can be wielded as surely as a sword or a spell. The masters of the secret sound are a loosely organized secret society who studies sound and uses its power to further its members' own ends. With their knowledge of the powers of sound, they can strike down foes, protect themselves, and even alter their spells.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Master of the Secret Sound, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Listen 5 ranks, Perform 8 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks
- Feats: Alertness,
- Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 5th-level spells, five of the spells available to the character must be either sonic or language-dependent.
- Special: The master of the secret sound must undergo a secret ritual every time she gains a new level, in which she is taught another portion of the secret sound. Only at 10th level does she know and fully understand the entire sound.
Class Skills
The master of the secret sound's class skills are Bluff, Concentration, Craft (alchemy), Knowledge (arcana), Listen, Perform, Profession, and Spellcraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the master of the secret sound prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Masters of the secret sound gain no new proficiency with weapons, armor, or shields.
Spells Per Day/Spells Known: When a master of the secret sound gains her 1st level, and every other level thereafter (plus 10th level), the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding 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 new level of master of the secret sound to the level of whatever other spellcasting class she has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a master of the secret sound, she must decide to which class she adds the level of master of the secret sound for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.
Sound of Stunning (Sp): Once per day for every three class levels, the master of the secret sound can speak a sound as a standard action that affects a single target within 30 feet. The foe must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + the master of the secret sounds class level + Charisma modifier) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds. This is a sonic ability that uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level.
Intensify Frequency (Su): By manipulating magic like it was sound, a 2nd-level master of the secret sound can adjust a spell's damage. Any spell that inflicts damage is intensified so that it inflicts +1d6 additional points of sonic damage. This additional damage is for the entire spell, so everyone caught in a fireball's area of effect suffers +1d6 sonic damage, but a magic missile spell cast at two targets splits the additional +1d6 sonic damage between them.
Sound of Shielding (Sp): Once per day for every three class levels, a 3rd-level master of the secret sound can speak a sound as a standard action. The sonic energy released from this sound envelopes the master of the secret sound, granting a deflection bonus to AC equal to her class level. This sonic shield does not hamper any actions and lasts for 2 rounds per class level. This is a sonic ability that uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level.
Partial Vibration Shift (Sp): Once per day for every three class levels, a 4th-level master of the secret sound can alter the vibrational speed of non-living objects around her as a standard action. This allows her to render objects translucent for a number of rounds equal to her class level. Any object that she desires within 30 feet that is less than 1 foot thick per class level of the master of the secret sound can be peered through as if it were simply a translucent veil. When looking around quickly, it's possible for a master of the secret sound to scan an area of up to 100 square feet during round. For example, during i round she could scan an area of stone 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. Alternatively, she could scan an area 5 feet wide and 20 feet high. Secret compartments, drawers, recesses, and doors are revealed by this visual scan. This is a sonic ability that uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level.
Alter Modulation (Su): At 5th level, the master of the secret sound can alter the modulation of one spell per day, allowing it to travel through a solid object, such as a wall, as long as that solid object is within 30 feet of the master of the secret sound. Spells requiring that the caster see the target still have that requirement (making this useful with the partial vibration shift ability). Using this ability is a free action. For example, a character could use this ability along with casting cone of cold, and the cone's area could move through a wall within 30 feet of the caster. Likewise, if, after partially shifting the vibrations of a door using the partial vibration shift ability, a master of the secret sound could use the alter modulation ability in conjunction with a hold person spell and affect someone on the other side of the door.
Sound of Destruction (Sp): Once per day, a 6th-level master of the secret sound can speak a sound as a standard action that affects a single non-living object within 30 feet that is no larger than io cubic feet. The object is disintegrated as per the spell disintegrate. This is a sonic ability that uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level. Magic items and items held by characters can attempt a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + class level + Charisma modifier).
Total Vibration Shift (Sp): Once per day for every three class levels, a 7th-level master of the secret sound can alter the vibrational speed of non-living objects around her. This allows her to pass through objects as if she was using a dimension door spell.
Sound of Controlling (Sp): Once per day, an 8th-level master of the secret sound can speak a sound as a standard action that affects a single living creature within 30 feet. The creature is affected as if by a dominate monster spell (Will save DC 10 + class level + Charisma modifier). The spell uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level.
Intensify Volume (Su): By manipulating magic like it was sound, a 9th-level master of the secret sound can adjust a spell's potency. Any spell that allows for a saving throw is intensified so that the DC of the saving throw is increased by +1.
The Secret Sound (Sp): Once per day, a 10th-level master of the secret sound can speak the entire secret sound as a full-round action. The secret sound can replicate any single spell effect of 9th-level or below. The spell uses the master of the secret sound's total character level as the caster level.
| Master of the Secret Sound Advancement | Hit Die: d6 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells per day/Spells known |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Sound of stunning | +1 level of existing class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Intensify frequency | - |
| 3rd | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Sound of shielding 1/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 4th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Partial vibration shift 1/day | - |
| 5th | +2 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Alter modulation | +1 level of existing class |
| 6th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Sound of destruction, sound of shielding 2/day | - |
| 7th | +3 | +2 | +2 | +5 | Total vibration shift, partial vibration shift 2/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 8th | +4 | +2 | +2 | +6 | Sound of controlling | - |
| 9th | +4 | +3 | +3 | +6 | Intensify volume, sound of shielding 3/day | +1 level of existing class |
| 10th | +5 | +3 | +3 | +7 | The secret sound, partial vibration shift 3/day, total vibration shift 3/day | +1 level of existing class |
Source: Dragon #297