Planescape Campaign
Bleak Cabal Prestige Class

Grim Chosen

  • When a paladin has lost his way, his will to hunt down and destroy evil, it can be a disastrous occurrence. Many turn to the way of the Blackguard, embracing the cold power of evil. Others simply turn to alcohol and waste away their lives in taverns or even prisons. But some find that their courage runs a different course. They realize their convictions disappeared in the hypocresy of their church and the fabulous wealth it commanded while the commoners around it suffered. They realized that justice, even their own, had been a selective thing. Selective, more often than not, toward the rich.
  • The Grim Chosen have ceased to believe that the multiverse has meaning (like all Bleakers); there is no reward, no greater purpose, for good. The cause in and of itself is its own reward. They seek spiritual fulfillment by helping others, especifically those who cannot defend themselves. They owe no allegiance to a strict organization or hypocritical code. They give because it is the right thing to do.
  • The Chosen are a rare lot, but their numbers have grown recently in the Cage. They have no official grouping within the Cabal, but are instead loners doing what they feel is right. Many help with soup kitchens, while others move through the Hive protecting the poor from wretched thugs or brutish Hardhead guards.
  • To qualify to become a Grim Chosen, a character must fulfill the following criteria:
  • Skills: Heal 5+ ranks, Sense Motive 5+ ranks.
  • Special: Must be a member of the Bleak Cabal. In addition, they must have paladin levels and have 'fallen from grace'.

    • Class Level
    BAB
    Fort Save
    Ref Save
    Will Save
    Special, Spells per day
    1
    +1
    +1
    +0
    +1
    Atonement, +1 spellcasting level
    2
    +2
    +2
    +0
    +2
    Bonus Feat, +1 spellcasting level
    3
    +3
    +2
    +1
    +2
    Truth of One (1/day), +1 spellcasting level
    4
    +4
    +3
    +1
    +3
    +1 spellcasting level
    5
    +5
    +3
    +1
    +3
    Shield of the Martyr, +1 spellcasting level
    6
    +6
    +4
    +2
    +4
    Truth of One (2/day), +1 spellcasting level
    7
    +7
    +4
    +2
    +4
    Bonus Feat, +1 spellcasting level
    8
    +8
    +5
    +2
    +5
    +1 spellcasting level
    9
    +9
    +5
    +3
    +5
    Truth of One (3/day), +1 spellcasting level
    10
    +10
    +6
    +3
    +6
    Bonus Feat, +1 spellcasting level

  • The following skills are considered class skills for a Grim Chosen:
  • Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Religion, Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis).
  • Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
  • All of the following are features of the Grim Chosen prestige class:
  • Hit Die: d10.
  • Weapon and Armor Proficiency: None.
  • Atonement: Upon becoming a Grim Chosen, the fallen paladin regains his lost paladin abilities (except for holy mount) and spells as if he had magically atoned for the mistakes. His alignment does not change, nor is he bound by the specific honor code of the paladin. Instead, he is bound to take the suffering of other needy, goodly creatures unto himself. This is his new charge in life: to champion the poor and fight for the defenseless. If he abandons this new ideal, he loses all Grim Chosen special abilities. Grim Chosen must donate 10% of all treasure they find to a worthy charity or poor institution.
  • Bonus Feats: These feats can be taken from the fighter bonus feat list.
  • Truth of One (Ex): When confronted by potential harm, a Grim Chosen can only look within for guidance. This introspection allows the Chosen to temporarily enter a fighting trance. The world around him becomes clearer as he stops asking why and accepts what comes. The Chosen gains a +2 to attack, damage, AC, and initiative for one round per character level. At the end of this time, he is momentarily disoriented, suffering a -4 to all these same rolls for one minute.
  • Shield of the Martyr (Su): At this point in his career, the Chosen has come to learn the power of sacrifice. The multiverse may hold no meaning or purpose for him, but within himself he has discovered his own meaning of sorts, by taking the misery of others upon himself, he can better the lives of those around him. From this point on he may, at will, choose to absorb the damage dealt to another creature within 30'. This damage, however, is halved. Thus if a Chosen took the maximized fireball that struck his companion, he would take either 30 or 15 damage depending on whether or not his shielded companion saved. This happens as a free action that is a reflexive response, it need not be the Chosen's turn for him to decide to use this power. He can shield as many creatures as he wishes each round. Note that his damage is taken regardless of any immunities he may have, a Chosen with fire resistance would still take damage from the fireball he absorbed from another. He cannot take damage in order to circumvent it with his own resistances. Any resistances his allies take, of course, would be subject to their own resistances and immunities, and the Chosen takes one-half of this final value.
  • Spells per Day: The character continues gaining spells in his previous divine Spellcasting class just as if he'd gained a level in that class. He gains no other special abilities for that class.

    •      Melroch Eitheldor @ 2003 1 1