Vigilant Sentinel of Aerenal
(Magic of Eberron variant, p. 85)
Part spy, part assassin, and completely loyal to the Sibling Kings and Aerenal's undying rulers, the sentinels roam across Eberron.
Requirements
Skills: Diplomacy 8 ranks , Hide 4 ranks , Move Silently 4 ranks , Sense Motive 8 ranks
Race: Aerenal elf or half-elf.
Special: Must have been accepted into the Order of the Vigilant Sentinels and accept an oath to obey its masters in all you do (see Code of Conduct, below).
Hit die
d8
Skill points
6 + Int
Class Features
Code of Conduct: Vigilant sentinels of Aerenal must always obey the directives and orders of their commanders. If you ever willingly violate a directive in a way that endangers Aerenal, the order, or any of its members, you are expunged from the order and declared a threat to the survival of Aerenal. Other vigilant sentinels are ordered to slay you on sight, and it is almost certain that at least one sentinel will quickly be given the task of hunting you down.
Vigilant sentinels must also be willing to lay down their lives for their nation, though you are not expected to act foolishly or sacrifice yourself needlessly. However, failure to act honorably and protect your people to the best of your ability will likely result in your being recalled to Aerenal for debriefing, an investigation into your conduct, and possible expulsion from the order.
Master of Disguise (Ex): Part of your job as a vigilant sentinel is to make your way into places you shouldn't be, and without being detected as a vigilant sentinel. You gain a bonus on Disguise checks equal to your class level.
Nondetection (Su): The vigilant sentinels of Aerenal must be able to protect their minds from enemy spies and spellcasters. You are constantly protected by a nondetection effect (as the spell), at a caster level equal to your character level. You can raise or lower this effect as a standard action.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, you deal extra damage when you are flanking an opponent or at any time when the target would be denied its Dexterity bonus. This extra damage applies to ranged attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. See the rogue class feature on page 50 of the Player's Handbook. Your sneak attack damage increases at 4th level.
Thought Theft (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, your ability to use Sense Motive has progressed to the point where you can obtain secret information from creatures with which you interact. You can use your Sense Motive skill to glean elements of culture and even bits of knowledge from your target, enabling you to more thoroughly blend into your surroundings.
As a standard action, you can make a Sense Motive check to detect the vague surface thoughts of a creature with which you can communicate (DC 10 + target creature's HD + target creature's Cha modifier). If you succeed on the check, you gain scattered bits of information that the creature might expect you to know (a password, a hand gesture of identification, a name), the subject of a particular gathering, or even particular modes of speech or dress. This translates into a +4 insight bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Disguise, and Gather Information checks made against the target creature and in social situations with that creature.
If the check fails by 5 or more, the target instantly realizes that you were probing its thoughts. Among other consequences, this typically changes the creature's attitude toward you to unfriendly or even hostile, depending on the situation.
Creatures protected from mind reading or similar effects (such as by nondetection) have immunity to this ability. This is a mind-affecting, language-dependent ability.
Dimension Leap (Sp): At 5th level, you learn to transport yourself instantly to another nearby location. You can use dimension leap (see page 95) as a spell-like ability, with a caster level equal to your class level. You can use this ability once per minute.
Ex-Vigilant Sentinels of Aerenal
A vigilant sentinel who betrays the order or Aerenal does not lose any of the abilities he gained as a result of taking levels in the prestige class, but he cannot continue to advance in the class. In addition, he is now hunted (as described under Code of Conduct, above). The Order of Vigilant Sentinels will stop at nothing to see such renegades captured or slain, since their knowledge of the inner workings of the order is considered a threat to the elven nation. Such characters will mysteriously find no safe harbor in any elven community that knows anything of the vigilant sentinels, even in Valenar or other nations. Needless to say, the order selects its members carefully, and rarely does one choose this path.
Advancement
Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Code of conduct, master of disguise, nondetection |
2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Sneak attack +1d6 |
3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | Thought theft |
4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Sneak attack +2d6 |
5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Dimension leap |
Class skills
Skill name | Key ability | Trained only | Armor check penalty |
---|---|---|---|
Bluff | CHA | ||
Climb | STR | ||
Concentration | CON | ||
Craft | INT | ||
Diplomacy | CHA | ||
Disguise | CHA | ||
Escape Artist | DEX | ||
Forgery | INT | ||
Gather Information | CHA | ||
Hide | DEX | ||
Intimidate | CHA | ||
Jump | STR | ||
Knowledge (local) | INT | ||
Listen | WIS | ||
Move Silently | DEX | ||
Open Lock | DEX | ||
Perform | CHA | ||
Profession | WIS | ||
Search | INT | ||
Sense Motive | WIS | ||
Sleight of Hand | DEX | ||
Speak Language | None | ||
Spot | WIS | ||
Tumble | DEX | ||
Use Magic Device | CHA |