General Prestige Class : Ollam

In Dwarven, the word "ollam" means teacher. The education of the dwarf people is considered a sacred duty, and those who are considered knowledgeable in dwarf history and legend-and thought to possess above-average common sense - are often called upon to take up the respected role of teacher in the community. While other cultures might see this as a job for young girls or old men, the dwarves see an ollam as a protector of their cherished culture. No one in the dwarf community takes that position lightly.

An ollam is granted a special position in the temple hierarchy - Moradin gives her spells that allow her not only to delve into the secrets of the universe but also to heal and keep an eye on her charges. While most ollams are clerics or bards, individuals of other classes are welcomed, as long as they possess the knowledge needed to teach the children properly.

NPC ollams are equally likely to be safely ensconced in the heart of a dwarf community, passing on the accumulated lore of their people, or wandering the lands, sharing their knowledge with dwarves and non-dwarves alike. If there's something going on in a dwarf city, you can count on the ollams knowing about it first. They're uncommonly well connected with each clan and stratum of dwarf society.

Adaptation: One of the functions of the ollam prestige class is to give a few bardlike abilities to non-bards - without giving away so much that the prestige class steals the bard's thunder. Given different circumstances, it's easy to imagine ollams from other races and cultures.

Requirements

To qualify to become an Ollam, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The ollam's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Heal, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Listen, Perform, Search, Sense Motive, Speak Language, and Spellcraft.

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Ollams are proficient with all simple weapons, with all types of armor, and with shields.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: At 2nd, 3rd, and 4th level, an ollam 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 level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained, if she had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an ollam, she must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known. If an ollam had no levels in a spellcasting class before taking the prestige class, at 2nd level she gains the spellcasting abilities of a cleric whose caster level is one lower than her class level.

Lore (Ex): An ollam has the ability to recall legends or information regarding various topics, just as a bard can with bardic knowledge. See the bardic knowledge class feature, page 29 of the Player's Handbook. An ollam adds her class level and her Intelligence modifier to her lore check. If the character has a similar ability from another class (such as bardic knowledge), her ollam levels stack with class levels from that other class to determine the success of the lore check.

Inspire Competence (Su): An ollam of 3rd level or higher can use oratory to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on checks with a particular skill. If the ally is a dwarf, the competence bonus increases to +3. See the bardic music class feature, page 29 of the Player's Handbook.

If an ollam has the inspire competence bardic music ability, she can expend one daily use of her bardic music to increase the competence bonus to +4 (or +6 if the ally is a dwarf).

Inspire Resilience (Su): From an early age, dwarves learn to approach life with steadfast resolution and endurance. A 5th-level ollam can spend a standard action to use oratory to tap into this power, granting a single dwarf ally a +4 competence bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves, as well as damage reduction 5/-. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the ollam. The ollam must also be able to see the ally. The effect lasts for as long as the ollam orates and for 1 minute thereafter.

Allies who are not dwarves instead gain a +2 competence bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves, gain no damage reduction, and are fatigued at the end of the duration. (Dwarves suffer no ill effect.)

OllamHit Die: d8
CLBABFortRefWillSpecialSpells
1st+0+0+0+2Lore-
2nd+1+0+0+3-+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd+1+1+1+3Inspire competence+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th+2+1+1+4-+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th+2+1+1+4Inspire resilience-

Source: Complete Adventurer

[Back]
General Prestige Classes