dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 2
DRAGON
ASPIRANTS
46
Sample Encounter
Because villains often want to keep their schemes secret, they
are more likely than good-intentioned dragons to employ
hands of the winged masters. The simplest way to introduce
a hand to the PCs is to make them the focus of a mission for
the cabal. A hand might spy on the characters or try to gain
their confidence by posing as a traveler or barkeeper. For a
more confrontational encounter, a hand could have orders to
steal an important object from the player characters, forcing
them to deal with him directly.
EL 15: Myrmith Drakeblade is a loyal servant of the Shadow’s
Fangs, and one of their most trusted spies and assassins.
He has been directed by his masters to retrieve an item held
by one of the PCs (perhaps a recently acquired spellbook or
a magic item that has not yet been identified). If possible,
Myrmith sneaks into the characters’ camp when they are out
in the wild; otherwise, he tries to catch the owner of the item
alone. In any case, while Myrmith fights as hard as he must
to acquire the object, he won’t kill a PC unless he is forced
to do so to accomplish his mission. If he knows he’s going
to engage in combat, Myrmith activates his ring of blinking.
Myrmith Drakeblade CR 15
Male human rogue 5/fighter 1/hand of the winged masters 9
N Medium humanoid
Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Listen +18,
Spot +21
Languages Common, Draconic
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 19; Dodge, Mobility, uncanny
dodge
(+3 Dex, +7 armor, +1 deflection, +1 natural)
Miss Chance 50% (ring of blinking)
hp 83 (15 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +15, Will +7; +1 against paralysis and sleep
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +1 keen rapier +16/+11 (1d6–1/15–20)
Base Atk +10; Grp +9
Atk Options sneak attack +6d6 (normal damage) or +6d6+6
(fire damage)
Combat Gear 6 potions of cure serious wounds, potion of fly,
potion of nondetection
Abilities Str 8, Dex 20, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14
Feats Alertness, Dodge, Draconic Senses B †, Dragonfire
Strike B †, Dragontouched†, Improved Initiative, Mobility,
Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (rapier)
Skills Balance +13, Bluff +6, Climb +5, Gather Information
+14, Hide +21, Jump +4, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Listen
+18, Move Silently +21, Open Lock +9, Search +9, Sense
Motive +18, Sleight of Hand +9, Spot +21, Swim +1,
Tumble +21
Possessions combat gear plus +2 mithral breastplate, +1 keen
rapier, amulet of natural armor +1, gloves of Dexterity +2,
ring of blinking, ring of protection +1, 1,400 gp
Master’s Gift (Su) Any arcane spell that is harmless has
double the normal duration when cast on Myrmith.
PACT-BOUND ADEPT
“Let go of your rules, your rituals, and your formulas, and let the
magic flow as the dragons do.”
—Rothan, pact-bound adept
Pact-bound adepts are sorcerers who have learned to transcend
their beliefs about spells and magic and embrace
arcane power as dragons do. They focus their innate connection
to magic, becoming more like dragons in the way
they cast spells. A pact-bound adept opens herself to the
raw magical energy that flows just out of reach of other
humanoid casters and becomes a conduit for that power.
Most pact-bound adepts can perform incredible feats of
magical prowess, growing beyond the bounds of what some
spellcasters consider possible and moving into the realm
of dragon sorcery.
BECOMING A PACT-BOUND ADEPT
Pact-bound adepts are typically sorcerers who have embraced
their draconic ancestry and want to learn more about how
dragons cast spells. Knowing that their own spellcasting
ability comes from the draconic blood in their veins, these
sorcerers want to unlock within themselves the same connection
to magic that all dragons possess. Pact-bound adepts
seek out powerful dragons and bond with them, learning
under their tutelage the path to greater skill in the arcane
arts. Each adept is closely allied with at least one dragon and
uses the gifts bestowed by her draconic instructors to open
herself more fully to magic.
Entry Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 9 ranks, Spellcraft 9 ranks.
Feats: Draconic Heritage.
Spellcasting: Must be able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells.
Special: Must have an active dragonpact (see page 87) with
a dragon.
CLASS FEATURES
Pact-bound adepts shift their spellcasting style to match that
of dragons, allowing them to cast spells by instinct rather
than with hand gestures and vocal sounds. Additionally,
they learn to temper their own magical ability, making them
more powerful spellcasters and letting them accept magical
boons from dragons more easily.
Spellcasting: At each level other than 1st and 4th, you
gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and
spells known, if applicable) as if you had also attained a level
in an arcane 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 arcane spellcasting class before
becoming a pact-bound adept, you must decide to which
class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells
per day, caster level, and spells known.