Prestige Classes

EYE OF GRUUMSH

Most people think they have seen the worst that orcs can breed when an orc barbarian comes raging over a hilltop - until they see a one-eyed orc barbarian come raging over a hilltop. This creature may well be an eye of Gruumsh, an orc so devoted to his evil deity that he has disfigured himself in Gruumsh’s name. In an epic battle at the dawn of time, the elven deity Corellon Larethian stabbed out Gruumsh’s left eye. Filled with rage and hatred, the orc deity called for followers loyal enough to serve in his image. Those who heed this call are known as the eyes of Gruumsh. They sacrifice their right eyes instead of their left ones so that their impaired vision complements that of their deity. Thus, symbolically at least, eyes of Gruumsh can see what Gruumsh cannot. These living martyrs are some of the toughest orcs and half-orcs in the world. The eye of Gruumsh is a true prestige class in the sense that all orcs respect those who achieve it. If a candidate proves capable with the orc double axe and has no moral code to stand in the way of his service, only the test remains - to put out his own right eye in a special ceremony. This is a bloody and painful ritual, the details of which are best left undescribed. If the candidate makes a sound during the process, he fails the test. No consequences for failure exist, except that the candidate can never thereafter become an eye of Gruumsh - and he has lost an eye. Barbarians gain the most value from this prestige class, since it encourages raging as a fighting style. Fighters, clerics, rangers, and even rogues also heed this calling. Some orc tribes whisper of barbarians from other races who have adopted this mantle. Of course, these may just be legends meant to inspire young orcs to jealous rage.

Hit Die: d12.

Requirements

To qualify to become an eye of Gruumsh, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Race: Orc or half-orc.

Alignment: Chaotic evil, chaotic neutral, or neutral evil.

Base Attack Bonus: +6.

Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (orc double axe), Weapon Focus (orc double axe).

Special: The character must be a worshiper of Gruumsh and must put out his own right eye in a special ritual. None of the eye of Gruumsh’s special abilities function if the character regains sight in both eyes.

Class Skills

The eye of Gruumsh's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Table: The Eye of Gruumsh

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the eye of Gruumsh prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Eyes of Gruumsh gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Blind-Fight: An eye of Gruumsh gains Blind-Fight as a bonus feat. In addition, he suffers no adverse effects from the loss of one of his eyes.

Command the Horde (Ex): An eye of Gruumsh can direct the actions of any nongood orcs or half-orcs that are within 30 feet of him and whose Hit Dice are lower than his character level. Those who follow the character’s orders gain a +2 morale bonus on Will saves. Any eligible orc or half-orc who willingly goes against the eye of Gruumsh’s directions loses this bonus immediately.

Rage (Ex): An eye of Gruumsh can fly into a rage just as a barbarian can, with all the same benefits and drawbacks (see page 25 of the Player’s Handbook). An eye of Gruumsh’s class levels stack with his barbarian levels (if any) for determining the number of times per day he can use his rage ability. Add together the character’s levels in the eye of Gruumsh and barbarian classes and refer to Table 3–3: The Barbarian on page 25 of the Player’s Handbook to determine the number of rages per day. For example, a 6th-level barbarian/2nd-level eye of Gruumsh could rage three times per day (the same as an 8thlevel barbarian), while a 4th-level eye of Gruumsh with no levels in barbarian could rage twice per day (the same as a 4th-level barbarian).

Swing Blindly (Ex): An eye of Gruumsh’s rage becomes more powerful when he reaches 2nd level, but at the cost of lowered defenses. The character adds an extra +4 to Strength while in a rage, but his Armor Class penalty goes from –2 to –4.

Ritual Scarring (Ex): Through frequent disfiguration of his own skin, an eye of Gruumsh’s natural armor bonus improves by +1 at 3rd level (or to +1 if he didn’t already have a natural armor bonus). This bonus increases by another +1 for every three eye of Gruumsh levels gained thereafter.

Blinding Spittle (Ex): An eye of Gruumsh of 4th level or higher can launch blinding spittle at any opponent within 20 feet. With a successful ranged touch attack (at a –4 penalty), he spits his stomach acid into the target’s eyes. An opponent who fails a Reflex save (DC 10 + eye of Gruumsh’s class level + eye of Gruumsh’s Con modifier) is blinded until he or she can rinse away the spittle. This attack has no effect on creatures that don’t have eyes or don’t depend on vision. Blinding spittle is usable twice per day at 4th level and four times per day at 7th level.

Blindsight (Ex): At 5th level, an eye of Gruumsh gains blindsight (see page 306 of the Monster Manual) out to 5 feet. The range increases to 10 feet at 8th level.

Sight of Gruumsh (Ex): At 10th level, an eye of Gruumsh gains the ability to see the moment of his own death through his missing eye. This foreknowledge gives him a +2 morale bonus on all saving throws and Armor Class from then on. He also does not go unconscious when reduced to negative hit points; however, the character still dies at –10 hit points. (Whether or not the vision is accurate is irrelevant - the character believes it to be true.)