Faerûnian Prestige Class : Deathstalker of Bhaal
by Thomas M. Costa, Dragon #322
In 1358 DR. Bhaal, god of death and Lord of Murder, was killed. His body and essence swept away on the Winding Water under Boareskyr Bridge, Bhaal's portfolio was adopted and split between the mortals-turned-gods, Cyric and Kelemvor. In the years since his death, children claiming Bhaal as their patron, both of their faith and their birth, have grown in number and power, weaving plots throughout the FORGOTTEN REALMS. This renewal of attention and devotion to the dead god of murder has resurrected many threats thought long buried, including an order of Bhaal's most devout and deadly servants, the deathstalkers.
Deathstalkers are the murderous servants of Bhaal, the Lord of Murder. Reduced to a scattered cult by their god's death and fervent persecution by worshippers of Cyric, this group of priest-assassins is making a name for itself and reestablishing small temples throughout Faerûn.
These zealous killers are dedicated to Bhaal and exhibit all of the powers they lost in the wake of the Godswar. However, it is unclear from where their power comes. Those few aware of the cult suspect the influence of Set encroaching on the portfolio of the mad Cyric, while others believe their powers to stem from Cyric himself. Still others point to recent troubles with the Bhaalspawn and the whispered resurrection of the one, true Bhaal. Whatever the origin of their abilities, the deathstalkers are a fearsome and dangerous lot.
Deathstalkers believe that every murder committed in his name strengthens Bhaal, bringing closer his unholy rebirth. As a result, they view murder as both a pastime and a duty. They are required to deal death once in every tenday in the heart of the night. If imprisonment or other constraining circumstances make this impossible, deathstalkers have to murder twice for each murder missed. In accordance with the Lord of Murder's teachings, deathstalkers strive to ensure that before they die, murder victims know who is killing them and that their death is in the name of Bhaal, intoning, "Bhaal awaits thee, Bhaal embraces thee, none escape Bhaal."
Nearly all deathstalkers are clerics, although many are multiclassed as rogues and a few are multiclassed as barbarians, fighters, rangers, or other classes.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Deathstalker of Bhaal, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Lawful Evil
- Skills: Hide 5 ranks, Move Silently 5 ranks, Survival 2 ranks
- Feats: Quick Draw,
- Spells: Ability to cast 3rd-level divine spells. Clerics must have access to the Death or Destruction domain
- Special: Must have murdered at least sixteen sentient creatures using sixteen different weapons or methods.
Class Skills
The deathstalker's class skills are Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move Silently, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival, and Use Rope.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Deathstalker Class Features
All the following are class features of the deathstalker of Bhaal.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Deathstalkers are proficient with all simple weapons and light and medium armor.
Spells per Day: Deathstalkers continue and increase their devotion to Bhaal. At each indicated deathstalker level, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a new level in a divine spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (increased turning abilities, animal companion and so on). This means he adds the deathstalker level to the level of sort other spellcasting class he has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly. (If the character had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a death stalker he must decide to which class he adds each level of deathstalker for purposes of spells per day).
Death Attack (Ex): Starting at 1st level, if the deathstalker studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either paralyzing or killing the target (deathstalker's choice). While studying the victim, the deathstalker can undertake other actions as long as his attention stays focused on the target and the target does not detect the deathstalker or recognize him as an enemy. If the victim of such an attack fails her Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + double the deathstalker's level + the deathstalker's Charisma modifier) against the kill effect, she dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the victim's mind and body become enervated, rendering her completely helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus 2 rounds per level of the deathstalker. If the victim's saving throw succeeds, the attack is just a normal sneak attack. Once the deathstalker has completed the 3 rounds of study, he must make the death attack within the next 3 rounds. If a death attack is attempted and fails (the victim makes her save) or if the deathstalker does not launch the attack within 3 rounds of completing the study, 3 new rounds of study are required before he can attempt another death attack.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Upon taking the 2nd level of this class, a character gains the ability to make sneak attacks as a rogue. If the deathstalker gets a sneak attack bonus from another source (such as previous rogue levels), the bonuses to damage stack.
Bloodlust (Sp): At 3rd level, once per day a deathstalker can evoke and direct the hatred of a living creature within 30 feet. The target of this ability must succeed at a Will save (DC 16 + the deathstalker's Wisdom modifier) to resist this effect. Those that fail are affected as if by the spell rage and must attack another creature within 30 feet of them of the deathstalker's choosing. The affected creature will do all it can to kill the target of its hatred. This affect lasts for 1 round per deathstalker level. This is a mind-affecting compulsion effect.
Last Breath of Bhaal (Su): Deathstalkers who die after attaining 5th level are affected by the last breath of Bhaal. Said to contain the power residual in their dead god's last gasp, this ability causes a deathstalker slain in the service of Bhaal to be affected as if by the spell raise dead, as cast by a 12th-level cleric. This ability takes effect hour after the deathstalker is killed, as long as the body has remained intact during that time. During that hour, the body shows no sign of life or that magic is affecting the corpse. As per raise dead, the deathstalker immediately loses 1 level.
| Deathstalker of Bhaal | Hit Die: d8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells per Day |
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +0 | +2 | Death attack | +1 level of existing class |
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Sneak attack +1d6 | - |
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +1 | +3 | Bloodlust | +1 level of existing class |
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Sneak attack +2d6 | - |
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +1 | +4 | Last breath of Bhaal | +1 level of existing class |
Ex-Deathstalker
Like clerics, a deathstalker who grossly violates the dogma of Bhaal loses all spells and class features and cannot gain levels as a deathstalker until he atones (see the atonement spell description.
Source: Dragon #322