Faerûnian Prestige Class : Martyred Champion of Ilmater

The church of Ilmater is well known both for the number of martyrs it generates and for the high degree of reverence it pays them. It is the only church that has a saint called "the Twice-Martyred," and many of Ilmater's followers hope to follow the example of St. Sollars. A martyred champion of Ilmater is halfway there. Having already offered his life in heroic sacrifice once, he perseveres in Ilmater's faith, ready and willing to be martyred again should the circumstances demand it.

Martyred champions of Ilmater come from all character classes, since the path to martyrdom is universal. The class offers a mixture of unique benefits and advancement in a character's previous career.

Martyred champions stand outside of Ilmater's church hierarchy, since they are practically objects of veneration already. They are free agents, utterly devoted to their deity's cause, and powerful champions in the fight against evil and suffering.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Martyred Champion of Ilmater, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The martyred champion of Ilmater's class skills are Climb, Concentration, Craft, Heal, Knowledge (religion), Profession, Ride, and SpellCraft.

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the martyred champion of Ilmater prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Martyred champions of Ilmater gain no proficiency with any weapon, armor, or shield. Armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, and Tumble, and double the normal armor check penalty applies to Swim checks.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: When the character attains an even-numbered martyred champion level, he has a choice of benefit. He can gain new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class, or he can gain a bonus feat of his choice. He must meet any prerequisites for a feat in order to select it. If he chooses the spellcasting level, he does not gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus metamagic or item creation feats, improved chance of turning or rebuking undead, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. This essentially means that he adds the level of martyred champion to the level of some other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.

If a character had more than one spellcasting class before he became a martyred champion of Ilmater, he must decide to which class he adds each level of martyred champion for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

A martyred champion of Ilmater is free to choose the bonus feat at one opportunity and the spellcasting level the next time the decision arises, or vice versa. A character who is not a spellcaster must choose the bonus feat.

Diehard (Ex): At 1st level, a martyred champion of Ilmater gains Diehard as a bonus feat if he does not already have it.

Unarmed Strike (Ex): A martyred champion of Ilmater fights as his deity does - unarmed. At 1st level, he gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat if he does not already have it. Like a monk, a martyred champion can attack with either fist interchangeably, or with elbows, knees, or feet. This ability allows him to make unarmed strikes with his hands full and never as an off-hand attack.

Usually a martyred champion's unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but he can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on his attack roll. He has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.

A martyred champion's unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and as a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either type (such as the magic fang and magic weapon spells). -

At 1st level, a martyred champion's unarmed strike deals 1d6 points of damage if he is Medium, 1d4 if he is Small, or 1d8 if he is Large. At 4th level, this damage increases to 1d8 if he is Medium, 1d6 if he is Small, or 1d10 if he is Large. At 8th level, his unarmed damage increases again to 1d10 if he is Medium, 1d8 if he is Small, or 2d8 if he is Large.

Fear Immunity (Ex): A 2nd-level martyred champion of Ilmater is immune to fear (magical or otherwise).

Greater Endurance (Ex): At 3rd level; a martyred champion gains a +4 sacred bonus on all the checks and saves improved by the Endurance feat. Because this is a sacred bonus, it stacks with the benefit of the Endurance feat.

Divine Grace (Su): At 4th level, a martyred champion of Ilmater gains a bonus equal to his Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws.

Holy Suffering (Su): Beginning at 5th level, whenever a martyred champion of Ilmater takes at least 50 points of damage in a single round and survives, he is surrounded by a radiant glow signaling Ilmater's favor. He gains a sacred bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks equal to +1 for every 10 points of damage he took in the previous round. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to his martyred champion level. Although this effect is similar to that of the masochism spell, this ability is not evil.

Damage Reduction (Su): At 7th level, the martyred champion gains damage reduction 10/evil. At 10th level, his damage reduction improves to 15/evil.

Communion (Su): Starting at 9th level, a martyred champion of Ilmater is so intimate with his deity that he can ask a single question each day as if casting a commune spell. Using this ability costs 10 XP.

Sustenance (Ex): A 9th-level martyred champion of Ilmater no longer needs to eat, drink, or breathe. He still suffers hunger pangs and burning lungs if he does not eat or breathe, but such sensations are to be expected and - like most pain - do not indicate a real need. He takes no nonlethal damage and suffers no other ill effects from hunger, thirst, suffocation, or drowning.

Martyred Champion of IlmaterHit Die: d10
CLBABFortRefWillSpecialSpells per Day
1st+0+0+2+0Diehard, unarmed strike 1d6-
2nd+1+0+3+0Fear immunity+1 level of existing spellcasting class or bonus feat
3rd+2+1+3+1Greater endurance-
4th+3+1+4+1Divine grace, unarmed strike 1d8+1 level of existing spellcasting class or bonus feat
5th+3+1+4+1Holy suffering-
6th+4+2+5+2-+1 level of existing spellcasting class or bonus feat
7th+5+2+5+2Damage reduction 10/evil-
8th+6+2+6+2Unarmed strike 1d10+1 level of existing spellcasting class or bonus feat
9th+6+3+6+3Communion, sustenance-
10th+7+3+7+3Damage reduction 15/evil+1 level of existing spellcasting class or bonus feat

Source: Player's Guide to Faerûn

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