Monster Prestige Class : Yuan-Ti Cultist

The deep jungles hold secret temples to the evil deities of the yuan-ti. The mysteries of these deities are hidden to outsiders, the yuan-ti cultist masters their rituals to gain personal power.

A yuan-ti cultist can enter the service of Merrshaulk, the yuan-ti's chief deity upon reaching adulthood. After passing the coming-of-age ritual, the prospective candidate enters the temple warrens and rarely if ever leaves the complex again. Ritual and rote learning fill his waking hours, and foul visions steep his dreams. Sacrificial rituals and bloody ceremonies line the road to the ultimate goal, becoming an immortal emissary of Merrshaulk.

The yuan-ti cultist is bound to his temple, but on very rare occasions one might set our on a quest - generally to found a new shrine - accompanied by large numbers of pureblood yuan-ti.

Requirements

To qualify to become an Yuan-ti Cultist, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

• Race: Yuan-ti halfblood or abomination.
• Alignment: Any evil.
• Skills: Craft (alchemy) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 10 ranks, Perform (chant) 1 rank.
• Spells: Ability to cast 3rd-level divine spells.
• Patron: Merrshaulk.

Class Skills

The yuan-ti cultist's class skills are Concentration, Craft (any), Diplomacy, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (architecture), Knowledge (religion), Perform (chant), Profession (any), and Spellcraft.

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are Class Features of the yuan-ti cultist prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A yuan-ti cultist is proficient with all simple weapons and with shields. Otherwise, a cultist neither gains nor loses any weapon, armor, or shield proficiency by gaining levels in this class.

Spellcasting: A yuan-ti cultist continues training in magic. Thus, when a new yuan-ti cultist level is gained, the character gains new spells known and spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of turning or rebuking undead, metamagic or item creation feats, and so on). This essentially means that he adds the level of yuan-ti cultist to the level of some other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day spells known, and caster level accordingly

Outer Circle: A yuan-ti cultist enters the service of Merrshaulk and learns some of the secrets of the cult. He gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with yuan-ti not of the temple hierarchy and a +2 circumstance bonus on Knowledge (religion) checks dealing with the worship of Merrshaulk. In addition, the yuan-ti cultist learns the secret of brewing the dreadful mixture that transforms humans into tainted ones or broodguards (see Yuan-Ti in Templates, Savage Species) The mixture requires the venom of a halfblood or pureblood yuan-ti as well as certain herbs and roots found only in tropical forests, whose raw materials cost is at least 50 gp. The DC to craft this mixture is 25; if the cultist has 5 or more ranks in Profession (herbalist), he gains a +2 synergy bonus on this check.

Spit Poison: A yuan-ti cultist can spit his poison (if he has a poison attack) in a 10-foot cone.

Suffering Prestige Domain: At 2nd level, a yuan-ti cultist gains access to the Suffering prestige domain. This allows the cultist access to a third domain's spells and immediately give him the domain's granted power, as set out in the accompanying sidebar.

Sticks to Snakes (Sp): At 2nd level, a yuan-ti cultist gains the ability to transform inert pieces of wood, such as arrows, torches, or staffs, into snakes. Once per day, he can transform 1d4 sticks + 1 per class level (including cleric levels) within medium range (100 feet + 10 feet/level). These cannot be enchanted items. Unattended items get no saving throw, while those in a creature's possession get a Will save. Sticks of 2 feet or less in length become Tiny vipers; those longer than 2 and shorter than 4 feet in length become Small snakes, while those longer than 4 and up to 6 feet long become Medium-size. Transforming a Large weapon, such as a longspear, or sticks of a like size into a Large viper counts as creating two snakes for each such item. Items of Huge or larger size cannot be so transformed. The effect's duration is 2 rounds per class level.

Third Circle: At 3rd level, a yuan-ti cultist advances to the next rank in service to Merrshaulk. The circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with other yuan-ti and on Knowledge (religion) checks rises to +4.

Snake Darts (Sp): On ascending to 3rd level, the cultist undergoes ritual tattooing of snakes on his forearms (or if he does not possess arms) on legs, snakes, or tail as appropriate. Three times per day as a standard action, the cultist can launch these tattoos against opponents within medium range (100 feet + 10 feet/level). The snakes seek our their target(s) with unerring accuracy, hitting automatically. The target takes 2d6 points of damage from the impact and must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist level + yuan-ti cultist's Con modifier) as the snakes' venom takes effect. Primary and secondary damage is 1d6 Constitution.

On the following round the snakes fly back to the cultist. Before the spell can be cast again, the cultist must swallow the living snakes which causes the tattoos to reappear on his arms. Swallowing the snakes is a standard action that causes the cultist no harm.

Psionic Focus (Su): At 4th level, a yuan-ti cultist's psionic ability becomes more focused. He adds +2 to the DC of all saving throws against his innate psionic powers.

Psionics: Chant of Pain (Sp): At 4th level, a yuan-ti cultist expands his inherent psionic ability and learns to focus it on the ceremonies of pain. At will as a full-round action, he can dance and chant in a sinuous sacrament to deal 3d6 points of damage to one living creature within 60 feet. A successful Will save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Wis modifier) halves the damage. This ability has no effect on beings that are immune to mind-affecting effects, such as oozes and plants.

Second Circle: At 5th level, a yuan-ti cultist advances to a senior rank in service within the cult. The circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with other yuan-ti and on Knowledge (religion) checks rises to +6.

In addition, if the cultist is a halfblood, he undergoes a painful, night-long ritual that transforms him into a human- headed abomination (abominations form the leadership within the temple hierarchy). If he is already an abomination but does not have a human head, this ceremony transforms him into that form. This ceremony requires the participation of at least six abominations of the Inner Circle. Finally, at this level the cultist learns the secret of transforming a tainted one into a pureblood yuan-ti. This involves brewing a more potent version of the infusion that transforms humans into tainted ones (Craft [alchemy] DC 30, raw materials cost 100 gp). In addition, at least three yuan-ti cultists of the Second Circle must preside over the ceremony, which lasts 1 hour. If the creature does nor desire the transformation, he must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Con modifier). On a failure, he lapses into a coma and dies within 1 hour unless revived with a delay poison or neutralize poison spell.

Greater Psionic Focus (Su): At 6th level, a yuan-ti cultist further refines his psionic abilities. He adds +4 to the DC for all saving throws against his innate psionic powers. This overlaps (does nor stack with) the bonus granted by the psionic focus ability.

Psionics: Chant of Agony (Sp): At 6th level, a yuan-ti cultist becomes a master of pain. Three times per day as a full-round action, he can dance and chant to deal 9d6 points of damage to one living creature within 60 feet. A successful Will save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Wis modifier) halves the damage. This ability has no effect on beings that are immune to mind-affecting effects, such as oozes and plants.

First Circle: At 7th level, a yuan-ti cultist advances to a more senior rank within the cult. The circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with other yuan-ti and on Knowledge (religion) checks rises to +8. In addition, the cultist's poison becomes more virulent. He gains Virulent Poison as a bonus feat.

Finally, at this rank the cultist learns the secret of transforming a pureblood yuan-ti into a halfblood. This involves brewing a more potent version of the infusion that transforms humans into tainted ones (Craft [alchemy] DC 35, raw materials cost 500 gp). In addition, at least three yuan-ti cultists of the Inner Circle must preside over the ceremony which lasts 6 hours. If the creature does nor desire the transformation, he must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Con modifier). On a failure, he lapses into a coma and dies in 1 hour unless revived with a delay poison or neutralize poison spell.

Unhallow (Sp): At 7th level, a yuan-ti cultist gains the ability to use unhallow once per week as the spell cast by a cleric of his class level (including cleric levels). He does not require the normal material components to use this ability but he must still expend herbs, oils, and incense worth 500 gp per level of any spells tied to the unhallow area.

Command Reptiles (Su): At 8th level, a yuan-ti cultist is able to mentally command all snakes and reptilian animals within 30 feet at will. This resembles dominate animal cast by a cleric of his class level (including cleric levels).

Psionics: Chant of Agony (Sp): At 8th level, a yuan-ti cultist can perform a ritual of sacrifice to Merrshaulk. Once per day as a full-round action, he can dance and chant to slay one living creature within 60 feet. With a successful Will save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Wis modifier), the creature instead takes 6d6 points of damage. This ability has no effect on beings that are immune to mind-affecting effects, such as oozes and plants.

Inner Circle: At 9th level, a yuan-ti cultist ascends to the highest tier of mortal power within the cult. The circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when dealing with other yuan-ti and on Knowledge (religion) checks rises to +10. In addition, the cultist's poison becomes even more dangerous. He gains Deadly Poison as a bonus feat.

Finally, at this level the cultist learns the secret of transforming a halfblood yuan-ti into an abomination. He must join at least five other cultists of the Inner Circle to perform the day-long ceremony. One cultist casts polymorph other on the creature to be transformed, while the others chant and pray. The creature must receive six doses of the tincture that transforms a pureblood into a halfblood, one every 4 hours. If the creature does nor desire the transformation, he must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + yuan-ti cultist's class level + yuan-ti cultist's Con modifier). On a failure, he dies instantly.

Unholy Aura (Su): At 9th level, a yuan-ti cultist can use unholy aura once per day, as the spell cast by a cleric of his class level (including cleric levels).

Voice of Merrshaulk: On reaching 10th level, a yuan-ti cultist attains the pinnacle of his career, transcending his mortal essence to become an emissary of Merrshaulk. His type changes to outsider, but he can be raised from the dead if willing. He gains spell resistance equal to 20 + his Wisdom modifier.

In addition, the Voice of Merrshaulk gains the supernatural ability to communicate telepathically with any other creature within 100 feet that has a language. He can also command other yuan-ti at will, as dominate monster cast as a divine spell by a cleric of the cultist's class level (including cleric levels). This is a spell-like, mind-affecting compulsion effect.

Yuan-Ti Cultist						Hit Dice: d4
CL	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special	Spellcasting
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Outer Circle, spit poison	+1 level of existing class
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Suffering prestige domain, sticks to snakes	+1 level of existing class
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Third Circle, snake darts	+1 level of existing class
4th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Psionic focus, psionics: chant of pain	+1 level of existing class
5th	+3	+4	+1	+4	Second Circle	+1 level of existing class
6th	+4	+5	+2	+5	Greater psionic focus, psionics: chant of agony	+1 level of existing class
7th	+5	+5	+2	+5	First Circle, unhallow	+1 level of existing class
8th	+6	+6	+2	+6	Command reptiles, psionics: chant of death	+1 level of existing class
9th	+6	+6	+3	+6	Inner Circle, unholy aura	+1 level of existing class
10th	+7	+7	+3	+7	Voice of Merrshaulk	+1 level of existing class

Source: Savage Species

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Monster Prestige Classes