Faerûnian Prestige Class : Jordain Vizier

The Jordaini are a special servitor caste, though still upper class, in the magocracy of Halruaa. They are trained at a young age to understand magic, schooled in a wide range of academic disciplines, and taught to be imperturbable in the face of the wondrous. Following their graduation from House Jordain, they are assigned to one of Halruaa's ruling class of wizards, where their special skills make them important advisors to and guardians of their new masters.

Most jordain viziers begin their training as experts, and then apply their abilities to the monk class until qualifying as a jordain vizier, whereupon they typically alternate between monk and jordain vizier levels. Members of the jordain order usually multiclass as experts, fighters, jordain viziers, and monks, but some multiclass as rogues. Few take up spellcasting classes, since doing so inevitably makes them hunted by the magehounds.

Jordain viziers approach adventures as unflappably as they approach everything else. While most jordain viziers are found away from their homes only when they accompany their masters on important missions, a few flee Halruaa due to a breech of their ethical code or to find freedom. Such renegades are hunted persons, likely to surround themselves with likeminded allies and be always on the move.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Jordain Vizier, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The jordain vizier's class skills are Appraise, Concentration, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Heal, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Listen, Perform, Profession, Search, Sense Motive, Speak Language, SpellCraft, and Spot.

Skill Points at Each Level: 8 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the jordain vizier prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A jordain vizier gains no proficiency with any weapons or armor.

Arcane Nondetection (Ex): A jordain vizier undergoes mental and physical training to make him difficult to detect with arcane divination spells and items. This ability functions exactly like the nondetection spell, except that it works only against arcane magic. The DC to overcome this nondetection ability is 15 + the character's jordain vizier level + his Cha modifier.

Arcane Spell Resistance (Ex): A jordain vizier has spell resistance against arcane magic equal to 10 + the character's jordain vizier level + his Cha modifier.

Eidetic Memory (Ex): Jordain viziers are trained so deeply in various forms of mnemonics that their skills become subconscious. They collect knowledge from all disciplines and can process it in a deductive way that defies explanation. This ability has three functions: recollection of knowledge and perceptions, committing specific things to memory, and making accurate conclusions.

Through years of study, with the intention of becoming of the greatest use to his wizard master, a jordain vizier gains the ability to know legends or information regarding various topics, just as a bard can with bardic knowledge. The jordain vizier adds his jordain vizier level + his Int modifier to a lore check, which functions otherwise exactly like a bardic knowledge check. If a jordain vizier has levels in bard, loremaster, or another class that grants an ability similar to bardic knowledge, those class levels stack for the purpose of determining the efficacy of this aspect of eidetic memory. Eidetic Memory shows additional example DCs for recalling or knowing a particular fact.

A jordain vizier can also commit an item to memory with perfect accuracy. He can store a number of items equal to his jordain vizier level + his Int modifier. The jordain vizier can drop older items in favor of new ones. Dropped items can be recalled as if they were other types of memories, using the DCs below.

Eidetic Memory
Type of MemoryDC
Recall obvious detail or common knowledge
Several noblewomen attended Elder Thebadol's induction celebration; the gist of a conversation; silver weapons hurt lycanthropes.		10
Recall important detail or specialized knowledge
Thebadol's third daughter was absent; key phrases of a conversation; fiendish creatures have cold resistance.		15
Recall noticeable detail or esoteric knowledge
Boryka, a magehound, asked several hall-goers about Thebadol's daughter; word-for-word recollection of key portions of a conversation; which spells affect a particular kind of golem.		20
Trivial detail or obscure knowledge
Thebadol grimaced briefly when Boryka asked about his daughter; word for-word recollection of an entire conversation; the resistances and immunities of various outsiders.		25

Finally, the jordain vizier can use his honed memory to make lightning-fast deductions based on only the slightest clues, patterns, or scraps of information. He can make reasonable statements about a person, place, or object, from seemingly little knowledge. However, this ability is the result of a rigorously logical process, involving recalling and correlating every possible piece of data with bearing on the topic. The nature of the knowledge the jordain vizier gains is subject to DM discretion, but might include the answer to a riddle, the way out of maze, or even a conclusion concerning a dilemma. An eidetic memory check, with a bonus equal to the character's jordain vizier level + his Int modifier, must be made to compile the desired information. The DM secretly determines the DC.

Bonus Language (Ex): During their laborious studies, jordain viziers learn new languages to access more knowledge and better serve their wizard masters. The jordain vizier can choose a new language at 2nd and 4th level.

Combat Insight (Ex): Due to their quick, deductive minds and extensive training, jordain viziers can predict an opponent's next move to some extent. Jordain viziers gain a +1 insight bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class. At 4th level, the bonuses increase to +2.

Counterspell (Su): While jordain viziers do not learn to cast spells, beginning at 3rd level, they learn to direct their spell resistance outward. This, combined with their knowledge of wizardry and how to disrupt spells, gives them the ability to prepare to counterspell an arcane spell as a ready action.

Like a spellcaster, a jordain vizier must select an opponent as the target of the counterspell and ready an action to counter her spell. When the opponent tries to cast a spell, a vizier makes a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level) as a free action to identify the opponent's spell. Unlike a spellcaster, to complete the action, the jordain vizier must make a special class level check (1d20 + jordain vizier level) that equals or exceeds 5 + the spell's caster level. If successful, the jordain vizier negates the arcane spell with no other results. The jordain vizier can, only counterspell spells of a level equal to or less than his jordain vizier level + his Cha modifier, and he can only attempt to counterspell a number of times per day equal to the same number. This power is Weave-based and can be affected by Shadow Weave feats and magic just as any other Weave magic.

An ex-jordain vizier who gains the ability to counterspell as a spellcaster must choose, after making his Spellcraft check, to counterspell either as a jordain vizier or as his spellcaster class. The abilities do not stack in any way.

Aide-de-Camp (Ex): Jordain viziers eventually become indispensable assistants to their masters. At 5th level, the character doubles his Intelligence-and Wisdom bonuses (if any) for the purposes of eidetic memory and all appropriate class skill checks.

Grace (Ex): At 5th level, jordain viziers become more resistant to the effects of magic. The character can apply his Charisma bonus (if any) as a bonus on saving throws against supernatural abilities, spells, and spell-like abilities.

Code of Conduct: Jordain viziers are indoctrinated to never lie, never utilize spells (or magic items that produce spell-like effects), and obey Halruaan wizards, authorities, and laws. The punishment for breaking these rules is usually death. All Jordaini are rendered infertile upon graduation, so no jordain vizier can have children. Jordain viziers seldom handle money on the theory that they are less likely to be corrupted by its lure. They are taught to value the philosophical over the material and rely on their wizard masters to handle most of their material needs.

Multiclass Note: Most jordain viziers multiclass in expert, monk, and/or fighter. Jordain viziers can add levels in any of these classes without losing the ability to advance as a monk. This is an exception to the rule in the Ex-Monks section. Violating this expanded limit by multiclassing into a class other than those listed above ends the jordain vizier's development as a monk, as described in the standard rules. Such multiclassing does not end the jordain vizier's development as a jordain vizier.

Some jordain viziers multiclass as rogues or sorcerers, though the latter choice almost assuredly forces them out of the jordain order and makes them fugitives hunted by the deadly magehounds.

Ex-Jordain Viziers: A jordain vizier who becomes non-lawful cannot gain further levels as a jordain vizier, but he retains all jordain vizier abilities. In addition, a jordain vizier who gets caught violating the code of conduct can be thrown out of the jordain order, thereby preventing him from gaining new levels in this class. Unfortunately, such banishment is more rare than a death sentence.

Jordain VizierHit Die: d6
CLBABFortRefWillSpecial
1st+0+0+0+2Arcane nondetection, arcane spell resistance, eidetic memory
2nd+1+0+0+3Bonus language, combat insight +1
3rd+2+1+1+3Counterspell
4th+3+1+1+4Bonus language, combat insight +2
5th+3+1+1+4Aide-de-camp, grace

Source: Shining South

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