General Prestige Class : Stoneface
by Michael Means, Dragon #310
Some start out as actors, some were con men, and some claim to do it for the good cause, but everyone knows in the end that a stoneface obscures truth for her own ends.
The stoneface is a consummate liar. She combines a quick wit with a stern will, She knows when to hold on to even the most ridiculous fabrications and when to change her story to better soothe her audience. Through constant practice, the stoneface learns to alter not only her voice and body language, but also her aura, throwing off even divination spells directed against her.
Rogues and bards make excellent stonefaces. Spellcasters with a deceitful bent also can become good stonefaces in time, particularly wizards who specialize in illusion magic or clerics who take the Trickery domain. Most other classes can become stonefaces, but only with great effort. Monks never follow this path due to their alignment conflict.
The best lies contain lots of detail and are built on a solid foundation of truth. Given this premise, stonefaces seek and hoard all kinds of information and often develop an area of specialty, which allows them to run scams and deceive people more effectively. A stoneface often tries to make her lies relate to her area of expertise to bolster her credibility. However, any stoneface worth the name can pull off a spontaneous scam on nearly any topic.
Most stonefaces keep a low profile and stay mobile. Lies tend to catch up with them if they stay in one place too long. Stonefaces are well known to have a minimum of two escape plans in case a scam is discovered or things begin to fall apart. Not all stonefaces are overt scalawags, however. In rare cases some set up shop as information brokers or spies, and although stonefaces are rarely good in alignment, a few exist deep undercover in evil organizations, smuggling information out to their masters while using their skills to mask their true identities.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Stoneface, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: A stoneface may not be of lawful alignment
- Skills: Bluff 8 ranks, Concentration 3 ranks
- Feats: Persuasive, Skill Focus (Knowledge [any]),
Class Skills
The stoneface's class skills are Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Hide, Knowledge, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Perform, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, and Spot.
Skill Points at Each Level: 8 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the stoneface prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A stoneface gains proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, all armor, and shields (except tower shields). Heavy armor and shields are seldom useful to a stoneface, but the proficiency allows them to pretend to be competent fighters if necessary.
Convicted Mind (Ex): At 1st level, a stoneface's rigorous mental training grants her a +2 bonus to saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
Investigator (Ex): A stoneface gains the Investigator feat for free, gaining a +2 bonus on all Gather Information and Search checks.
Honest Countenance (Sp): At 2nd level, a stoneface can redirect attempted detection spells as though she were acting under the effects of a misdirection spell cast by a 5th-level sorcerer. The stoneface may use this ability once per day per stoneface level.
Persuasive (Ex): At 2nd level, a stoneface gains the Persuasive feat for free, gaining a +2 bonus on all Bluff and Intimidate checks.
Resolute Mind (Ex): At 3rd level, a stoneface's training grants her a +2 bonus to saving throws against mind-affecting spells and effects. This ability stacks with her convicted mind ability, giving her a +4 bonus to saving throws to spells and effects that are both enchantment and mind-affecting.
Guiltless Aura (Su): At 4th level, the stoneface is so skilled at masking her intentions that she acts at all times as if under the effects of a misdirection spell cast by a 10th-level sorcerer. In addition, the stoneface instantly knows when she is the subject of a divination attempt (either by spell or item) and what type of Divination effect it is, although not its origin. When alerted, she chooses the person or item within range that she wishes the diviner to detect.
Utterly Disavow (Sp): At 5th level, the stoneface's training allows her to evade detection from divination spells and magic items that can determine locations, such as crystal balls. Once per day, the stoneface may act as though under the effects of a nondetection spell cast by a 12th-level sorcerer.
| Stoneface | Hit Die: d8 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Convicted mind, Investigator |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Honest countenance, Persuasive |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Resolute mind |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Guiltless aura |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Utterly disavow |
Source: Dragon #311