Fire-Souled Creature
Clifford Horowitz, Dragon #314
Fire-souled creatures have been touched by the essence of passion as embodied by fire. These individuals are driven by some goal or pursuit to the point of obsession, and the infectious nature of their vision means they often wind up with devoted followers. Few physical cues betray that a creature is fire-souled, although some claim those with a burning spirit possess an unmistakable glint in their eyes. Still, identifying a fire-souled creature is not difficult if one is familiar with their tendencies. Fire-souled creatures betray their natures in their behavior if not their appearance.
Although extremely motivated individuals like Numa can sometimes spontaneously transform their passion and become a fire-souled creature, most require an external catalyst to complete this change. The Brotherhood of the Burning Heart provides this catalyst in the form of a ritual available at any of their temples. The simple rite requires a handful of individuals that have the template and a bonfire. The ritual can only transform a subject that burns with passion already; it cannot transform just anyone into a fire-souled creature. The ideal subject is deeply dedicated to an ideal or ruled by intense emotion. Many temples require a would-be recipient to prove his passion before taking part in the ritual, and all but a few Brotherhood temples perform this transformation ritual only on other members of the Brotherhood.
Creating a Fire-Souled Creature
"Fire-souled" is an acquired template that can be added to any creature with an Intelligence of 3 or more (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A fire-souled creature has all the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here.
Type: The creature gains the fire subtype.
Special Attacks: A fire-souled creature retains all the special attacks of the base creature and also gains the following special attack:
Overwhelming Passion (Su): A fire-souled creature is alive with passion and inspiration, but not all creatures can withstand such intensity. With a successful melee attack against an opponent with an Intelligence score, the fire-souled creature can transfer a bit of its own energy into the target, threatening to overwhelm the target's emotional capacity. Invoking this power is a free action, and it requires a successful melee attack or melee touch attack to deliver. If the attack hits, the target must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the fire-souled creature's racial Hit Dice + the fire-souled creature's Charisma modifier) or lose one special attack with a save DC based on Charisma (fire-souled creature's choice, chosen from abilities it has seen the target use). If the target casts spells as a bard or sorcerer or has several spell-like abilities, overwhelming passion blocks access to a single spell. The creature loses access to this special attack for a number of rounds equal to the fire-souled creature's Charisma bonus (minimum of round). The fire-souled creature may make use overwhelming passion once a day per two HD it possesses, with a minimum of once per day. Overwhelming passion is a mind-affecting ability.
Special Qualities: A fire-souled creature retains all the special qualities of the base creature and also gains the following special qualities:
Haste (Sp): Once per day, the fire-souled creature can spur itself into frenetic action. This ability works as a haste spell (caster level equal to the fire-souled creature's racial Hit Dice). Activating this ability is a standard action.
Inspiring (Su): Each ally within 10 feet of the fire-souled creature gains a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls and skill checks, and a +2 morale bonus on saves against charm and fear effects, This ability functions while the fire-souled creature is conscious, but not if the creature is unconscious or dead. Inspiring is a mind-affecting ability.
Unshakable (Ex): A fire-souled creature is so driven that it is immune to all stunning or dazing effects.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Cha +4.
Feats: A fire-souled creature gains the Leadership feat as a bonus feat. If the fire-souled creature already has the Leadership feat, it gains a +2 bonus to its leadership score.
Organization: Same as the base creature, although the Leadership feat means that the fire-souled creature often has cohorts or followers of some kind.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +3.
Sample Fire-Souled creature: Fire-Souled Ettin.