Prestige Classes

PARAGNOSTIC APOSTLE

“If knowledge is power, omniscience is omnipotence. When we understand the nature of the world, we become its masters.” —Pallavarta Santalieri, Master of the Unturned Page The paragnostic apostles are the most devoted of the Paragnostic Assembly (see page 72)—the most erudite of a sect dedicated, mind and soul, to the acquisition of knowledge. These eminent scholars use the secrets they’ve learned to augment their spells, and to shape the world around them in ways that other casters cannot. Knowledge is indeed power, and the paragnostic apostle understands that power better than most. BECOMING A PARAGNOSTIC APOSTLE Wizards, clerics, and archivists are best suited to this prestige class because of their skills and spellcasting progressions. However, bards, druids, sorcerers, favored souls, and warlocks sometimes follow this path as well. A high Intelligence score is essential because of the Knowledge skills required. PLAYING A PARAGNOSTIC APOSTLE Knowledge is the most important prize in the universe. What you know defines what you are, and what you might learn defines what you can become. Even when other objectives are at the forefront of your endeavors, the acquisition of new secrets and new understanding continues to drive you. An ancient text is far more valuable to you than gold, and forgotten spells interest you not merely for their power, but for what they can tell you about those who scribed them. Use your knowledge to aid your allies, and do not worry about seeming haughty or superior—information was meant to be shared, and any who are threatened by it simply lack the will to accomplish what you have. As a paragnostic apostle, you are a combination high priest and headmaster who represents the heart and soul of the Paragnostic Assembly. You answer when your superiors need you, but you also have the right to all the support and resources they can offer. Share any new secrets you learn with your colleagues, so that no knowledge can ever be lost again. Combat Stand behind the front lines and cast your spells from the rear. If you were a wizard or sorcerer before becoming a paragnostic apostle, you’re likely accustomed to such tactics, but if you were a cleric, don’t give in to your inclination to stand beside the fighters—such tactics are no longer as viable for you as they once were. When given the choice, focus on the foes against whom your specific class abilities are most effective, but don’t be afraid to make use of your spells where appropriate—they are no less useful against other opponents than they ever were. In other words, focus is advisable, but don’t become so determined to confront specific foes that you ignore the good you can do against others. Advancement The paragnostic apostles are the elite of the Paragnostic Assembly. They do not openly ask other members to join their ranks, though individual apostles might have subtly recommended that you do so. Only members who express an interest and prove themselves sufficiently capable can become paragnostic apostles, and you managed both. More than a researcher, more than an adventurer, you have now combined both into a single package, becoming a traveling and spellcasting seeker of secrets. You might devote your abilities to other goals as well, but while you do so, you are casting about for new information to absorb and to add to the Paragnostic Assembly’s archives. Although you place most of your skill points into Knowledge skills—not merely for the sake of your class abilities, but also to represent the learning you achieve as you advance—you shouldn’t completely ignore your other skills. Search and Spot are useful for finding new secrets to learn, and Spellcraft and Concentration are no less important for you than they are for other spellcasters. And consider boosting your Intelligence at least once. Even if it’s not your primary casting ability, an extra skill point per level adds up. Resources The libraries and sages of the Paragnostic Assembly can aid you in researching any topic imaginable. If you’re a wizard, you can find almost any arcane spell known in the organization’s libraries or purchase spells from its members (subject, as always, to DM approval). You aren’t likely to get a reduction of price, but at least you know that you can find such spells, and perhaps you can trade for some of your own. Similarly, minor magic items such as potions, scrolls, and some wands can be purchased from the Paragnostic Assembly’s members or its chapterhouses. The organization doesn’t often provide more potent items, but if you are seeking a particular secret on its behalf, its leaders might provide magic items to aid you in that endeavor, on the understanding that anything not used up will be returned. Such items may be worth no more than 25% of the standard value for a character of your level.

Hit Die: d4.

Requirements

To qualify to become a paragnostic apostle, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks, Knowledge (any other) 5 ranks.

Spellcasting: Able to cast 3rd-level spells or use spell-like abilities of equivalent level.

Special: Must be a member of the Paragnostic Assembly.

Class Skills

The paragnostic apostle's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Knowledge (all skills, taken indivisually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Speak Language (none), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: The Paragnostic Apostle

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the paragnostic apostle prestige class.

You have mastered the art of modifying your magic based on what you know. With the proper application of your Knowledge skills, you can raise the potency of your spellcasting.

Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a paragnostic apostle, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Holy Texts (Ex): Because of your study of sacred writings, your paragnostic apostle levels stack with other class levels for the purpose of turning or rebuking undead and leveldependent domain abilities. You do not gain such abilities if you do not already have them, however.

Knowledge Is Power (Ex): At each level, you gain a spellcasting enhancement based on your Knowledge skills. Each time you gain this feature, choose one of the following abilities for which you meet the skill-based prerequisites. Although you can choose some of these abilities multiple times (as indicated in the descriptions), you may not select the same one twice in a row, and the minimum required skill rank increases by 2 for each subsequent selection of the same ability.

These benefits apply to warlock invocations as well as spells, where applicable.

Accurate Retort: You gain a +1 circumstance bonus on your ranged attack roll with every ray spell that you aim at a creature with a natural armor bonus. (Knowledge [arcana] 8 ranks)

Backhanded Attack: If you successfully hit with an attack that deals hit point or ability score damage and requires a saving throw against an additional, nondamaging effect (such as a warlock’s beshadowed blast or the orb of acid spell, add 1 to the DC of the saving throw. (Knowledge [arcana] 6 ranks)

Call of Worlds: Each creature you summon with a conjuration (summoning) spell gains the fast healing ability. The damage healed per round begins at 2 hit points and increases by 1 for every three caster levels (maximum +5 at 15th caster level). (Knowledge [the planes] 6 ranks)

Discern Weakness: Choose one creature type or subtype from the ranger’s favored enemy list (PH 47). If you have 8 ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill (such as Knowledge [arcana] for dragons, or Knowledge [nature] for humanoids), the save DC of every spell that you target on a creature of that type increases by 1. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different creature type each time.

Divine Understanding: Choose one clerical domain. For the purpose of this ability, you can choose any domain, whether or not your deity offers it. Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells that appear on that domain’s spell list. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different domain each time. (Knowledge [religion] 5 ranks)

Energy Supremacy: Choose an energy type from the following list: acid, cold, electricity, fire. Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells of that energy type. You can select this ability multiple times, choosing a different energy type each time. (Knowledge [the planes] 5 ranks)

Manifest Ethos: Choose one non-neutral aspect of your own alignment (chaos, evil, good, or law). When you cast an energybased offensive spell against a creature with an opposing alignment component (chaos/law or good/evil), one-half the hit point damage dealt is pure divine power instead of its normal energy type, and thus not subject to reduction by energy resistance or immunity. You can select this ability multiple times, assuming that your alignment permits it, choosing a different aspect of your alignment each time. (Knowledge [religion] 8 ranks or [the planes] 10 ranks)

Mind over Body: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast conjuration (healing) spells or transmutation spells that grant ability bonuses or penalties. (Knowledge [nature or religion] 7 ranks)

Mind over Matter: Whenever you cast a spell that creates a solid object, its hardness and hit points each increase by 2. When you cast a spell that provides an armor bonus, that bonus to AC also increases by 2. (Knowledge [architecture and engineering] 5 ranks)

Mortal Coil: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast spells that physically change the subject’s form (such as alter self, enlarge person, or baleful polymorph). (Knowledge [nature] 6 ranks)

Noble Presence: Whenever you cast a charm spell, or a compulsion that affects the subject’s emotions but not specific actions (such as good hope or rage, but not dominate person), the save DC increases by 1. (Knowledge [nobility and royalty] 5 ranks)

Penetrating Insight: You gain a +1 bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance, or to successfully dispel another caster’s spell. (Knowledge [arcana] 9 ranks)

See through the Veil: Whenever you cast a necromantic spell that targets undead, the save DC increases by 1. In addition, your effective turning level increases by 2, if you possess the ability to turn or rebuke undead. (Knowledge [religion] 7 ranks)

Spatial Awareness: Your effective caster level increases by 1 when you cast conjuration (teleportation) spells. Furthermore, the subject of any spell that increases base movement rate or grants a new type of movement gains an additional 10 feet to the designated speed. (Knowledge [geography] 5 ranks)

Lore (Ex): You can recall legends or information regarding various topics, just like a bard can with bardic knowledge. To use this ability, make a lore check (1d20 + twice your paragnostic apostle level + your Int modifier). Success grants you the same result as a bardic knowledge check would. If you have the bardic knowledge or lore ability from another class, your levels in those classes stack with your paragnostic apostle levels for the purpose of this check.