The eldritch masters is usually spoken of only in whispers, for many have heard the legends that you cannot speak the name of one without her knowledge. Few ever encounter eldritch masters, for they prefer solitary lives, rarely joining guilds or other organizations, and often avoiding the company of other spellcasters entirely. Those few individuals who do encounter eldritch masters often return with tales of enigmatic beings capable of halting the most stalwart of warriors with a single gaze.Most eldritch masters are sorcerers, though sometimes bards and warmages pursue this path. To learn the secrets needed to become an eldritch master, a character must contact and make a pact with a powerful outsider or other magical creature, such as a lammasu, celestial, fiend, slaad, lich, rakshasa, or dragon.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
In order to qualify to become an Eldritch Master, a character must meet the following criteria.
Skills: Diplomacy 4 ranks, Intimidate 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Spellcasting: Ability to spontaneously cast arcane spells.
Special: The character must have made a pact or bargain with some powerful, otherworldly entity. In exchange for teaching the character the secrets of the eldritch master, the entity must be rewarded with a special task, a great treasure, or some other special payment.
Class Skills
The Eldritch Master’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (any) (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int). See Chapter 4 of the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spellcasting 1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Detect Magic +1 caster level 2 +1 +0 +0 +3 Powerful Presence +1 caster level 3 +1 +1 +1 +3 Innate Spell +1 caster level 4 +2 +1 +1 +4 Spell Dilettante +1 caster level 5 +2 +1 +1 +4 Forgotten Lore +1 caster level 6 +3 +2 +2 +5 Innate Spell +1 caster level 7 +3 +2 +2 +5 Knowing Stare +1 caster level 8 +4 +2 +2 +6 Spell Dilettante +1 caster level 9 +4 +3 +3 +6 Innate Spell +1 caster level 10 +5 +3 +3 +7 Mastered Name +1 caster level
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Eldritch Master prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A eldritch master gains no new weapon or armor proficiency.
Spellcasting: A eldritch master continues training with magic. Thus, at every level, the character gains new spells per day and spells known as if she had also gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class she belonged to prior to adding this prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that level would have gained (improved familiar abilities, metamagic or item creation feats, etc).
Detect Magic (Su): An eldritch master is attuned to magic, and may detect magic at will, at a caster level equal to her character level.
Powerful Presence (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, the eldritch master’s sheer presence allows her to add her class level to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks she makes. In addition, once per day per class level, she may force all opponents within 30 feet of her to make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + her class level + her Charisma modifier). Those who fail are shaken for a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
Innate Spell (Sp): As an eldritch master’s powers grow stronger, she discovers that she can cast certain spells as easily as breathing. At 3rd level, she selects any one spell from her spell list. This does not have to be a spell she currently knows, but it must be within her capabilities to learn (thus, if she is barred from ever learning spells with the “Fire” subtype, she may not select a spell with that subtype). The chosen spell’s level must be at least one level lower than the highest level spell she is able to cast. The eldritch master gains the ability to cast this chosen spell once per day as a spell-like ability.At 6th and 9th levels, the eldritch master may select an additional spell, gaining the ability to cast that spell as a spell-like ability as well.
Spell Dilettante (Ex): At 4th level, the eldritch master may choose one other character class whose spell list she may choose from when selecting new spells that are known to her. At 8th level, she may select another such class. If the character class she chooses normally casts divine spells, these spells become arcane spells when the eldritch master learns them.
Forgotten Lore (Su): The 5th level eldritch master has learned many secrets that are best left undiscovered. She gains either the Dark Speech, Words of Creation, or any metamagic feat as a bonus feat. If the eldritch master chooses the Dark Speech or Words of Creation feat, she gains this feat regardless of her alignment, and may use that feat freely (though use of the feat is still an evil or good act, as appropriate).
Knowing Stare (Su): By 7th level, the eldritch master is able to paralyze creatures with a single glance. This ability is usable once per day, and lasts for one round per class level. During this time, the eldritch master gains a gaze attack effective within 30 feet. Creatures who meet her gaze must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + the eldritch master’s class level + her Charisma modifier) or become stunned for 1d4 rounds, able to do little more than stare at her. A stunned creature regains the ability to act normally if it suffers damage from any source, or if it loses sight of the eldritch master for more than 1 round.This gaze attack is treated as a normal gaze attack; anyone meeting the eldritch master’s gaze while this ability is in effect is subject to stunning, including her allies. While creatures may meet the eldritch master’s gaze with no action on her part, he may also actively focus her gaze upon a specific creature (a standard action), forcing it to attempt a Will saving throw to avoid becoming stunned. Note that this may cause a creature to be affected by this ability twice in the same round.
Mastered Name (Su): Upon reaching 10th level, an eldritch master can sense when another being speaks her name. Whenever this occurs, she learns the speaker’s name and exact location. She is free to act upon or ignore such knowledge as she sees fit. The information granted by this ability is sufficient enough to allow the eldritch master to scry upon the speaker as if they were casual acquaintances.
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