General Prestige Class : Winterhaunt of Iborighu

The cult of Iborighu is a menace not only in the frostfell, but in any region they target with their cold desires. As minions of the Frozen King, the winterhaunts of Iborighu lust for nothing less than eternal winter; they aim to bring down upon the world an eternal ice age, a never-ending winter ruled and maintained by their dread deity. While such grand designs might make one dismiss the cult of Iborighu as a collection of harmless lunatics, the terrible truth is that they have made significant strides in the frostfell areas of the world ... many of which were actually created by the cult. Winterhaunts are especially feared in the frostfell for their ability to wield cold magic so powerful in nature that it can even harm creatures normally immune to cold.

Most winterhaunts were either clerics of Iborighu or druids, although a fair number also take several levels of barbarian or ranger to enhance their combat prowess. The most sought-after winterhaunts, though, are wizardly winterhaunts, for the magic they wield is especially potent. Iborighu is traditionally a deity of the uldra, although he has always accepted worshipers of all races. Evil uldras remain his most common worshipers, but a fair number of humans, neanderthals, and frost giants worship the Frozen King as well. All prospective winterhaunts must first prove their skill to the Frozen King's cult by successfully crafting an iceheart, a magic item capable of maintaining supernatural cold in an area and bestowing resistance to cold upon its owner. Supplicants gain the ability to craft this item, even if they are not uldras.

Winterhaunts generally build fortified temples into the sides of glaciers, icebergs, and permanently frozen lakes, constructing huge ice buildings and dungeons in which to dwell. From these icy temple-fortresses they launch attacks on the frostfell, seeking suitable sacrifices for Iborighu. In particular, they seek out rimefire witches in an eternal holy war to finish the job that their deity began so long ago - the final eradication of the cult of Hleid from the ice. Lone winterhaunts are often encountered far from the naturally occurring frostfell regions, in temperate and even tropical regions where they use icehearts to seed magically sustained miniature frostfell areas in their ongoing project to bring down perpetual winter to the world.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Winterhaunt of Iborighu, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The winterhaunt of Iborighu's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Profession, and Spellcraft.

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All the following are class features of the winterhaunt of Iborighu prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Winterhaunts of Iborighu gain proficiency with all simple weapons, as well as proficiency with the scythe (the favored weapon of Iborighu). Winterhaunts are proficient with light armor, but not shields.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new winterhaunt level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. He 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), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a winterhaunt, he must decide to which class he adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day and spells known.

Cloak of Winter's Chill (Su): As a free action, a winterhaunt can shroud himself in a sphere of cold a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. This cloak of winter's chill lasts for a number of rounds equal to the winterhaunt's class level + his Charisma modifier. While cloaked in winter's chill, the winterhaunt gleams with a frosty radiance that is both alluring and terrifying. He gains a +2 profane bonus on Will saving throws and all Charisma-based checks, including all Charisma-based skills and rebuke or command undead checks.

Resistance to Cold (Ex): A winterhaunt gains resistance to cold 5 at 2nd level. This increases to resistance to cold 10 at 5th level. This resistance to cold granted to this ability stacks with a character's natural cold resistance, if any.

Frozen Skin (Su): At 3rd level, the winterhaunt's skin becomes as hard (and cold) as frozen flesh, while retaining its flexibility. His skin appears to be coated with a fine layer of frost, and flecks of snow seem to float from his flesh at times. He gains a +2 natural armor bonus to his Armor Class, which increases to +4 while he is cloaked in his winter's chill ability.

Coldstrike (Su): Starting at 4th level, every time a winterhaunt deals cold damage with a spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability (including an uldra's icy touch or a white dragon's breath weapon), he deals an additional 1d6 points of cold damage. Magic weapons that deal cold damage (such as frost weapons) do not trigger this additional cold damage, since the source of the cold damage is the weapon itself, not the winterhaunt.

The winterhaunt's coldstrike damage increases to +2d6 points of cold damage at 8th level.

When his cloak of winter's chill is active, he adds an additional 1d6 points of damage with his coldstrike ability (to a total of +2d6 at 4th level and +3d6 at 8th level).

Constant Piercing Cold (Su): At 6th level, all spells with the cold descriptor cast by the winterhaunt are automatically enhanced by the Piercing Cold feat, with no change to the spell's actual level.

Cold Subtype (Ex): At 7th level, the winterhaunt gains the cold subtype. He gains immunity to cold, but also has a vulnerability to fire, which means he takes half again as much (+50%) damage as normal from fire, regardless of whether or not a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or a failure.

Summon the Entombed (Sp): At 9th level, a winterhaunt gains the spell-like ability to summon one of the entombed to do his bidding. Treat this as a summon monster IX spell, except that the winterhaunt can only summon entombed with it. The caster level of this ability is equal to the winterhaunt's class level plus his Charisma modifier. The winterhaunt may use this spell-like ability once per day. See entombed.

Wintry Apotheosis (Su): At 10th level, the winterhaunt undergoes a powerful and unholy transformation as his flesh and bones become consumed by the frozen wrath of Iborighu, only to be replaced by snowy flesh and icy bones. The winterhaunt has become a powerful supernatural servant of Iborighu.

Once this apotheosis takes place, the winterhaunt's type changes to elemental, and he gains the evil subtype. As a being composed of living, profane ice and snow, he is immune to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, and stunning. He is also nor subject to extra damage from critical hits or flanking. The winterhaunt cannot be raised, reincarnated or resurrected (though a limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection spell can restore life). The winterhaunt also gains darkvision out to 60 feet.

The winterhaunt's natural weapons, as well as any weapons he wields, are treated as evil-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Winterhaunt of IborighuHit Die: d8
CLBABFortRefWillSpecialSpells per Day
1st+0+2+0+2Cloak of winter's chill+1 level of existing class
2nd+1+3+0+3Resistance to cold 5+1 level of existing class
3rd+1+3+1+3Frozen skin+1 level of existing class
4th+2+4+1+4Coldstrike +1d6+1 level of existing class
5th+2+4+1+4Resistance to cold 10+1 level of existing class
6th+3+5+2+5Constant Piercing Cold+1 level of existing class
7th+3+5+2+5Cold subtype+1 level of existing class
8th+4+6+2+6Coldstrike +2d6+1 level of existing class
9th+4+6+3+6Summon the entombed+1 level of existing class
10th+5+7+3+7Wintry apotheosis+1 level of existing class

Source: Frostburn

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