Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Wormrider (Pol’Tah)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wormrider is the most honoured warrior of the Pol’Tah<br />
military, and indeed one of the most honoured people in all<br />
of deep drow society.<br />
Since their earliest days in the bottom of the Underdeep,<br />
the deep drow have kept purple worms, and are in fact the<br />
only people in the world known to have domesticated the<br />
gargantuan beasts. In the millennia that have passed, the<br />
worms have become an important, even essential element<br />
in deep drow society, and are treated almost with reverence<br />
for their role among the dark elves. <strong>The</strong> Wormrider is the<br />
ultimate expression of that reverence, a warrior who can<br />
ride a purple worm into battle, who can bond with it, speak<br />
with it and fight with it as one.<br />
A Wormrider raises his mount from the time it is still in<br />
the egg, tending and caring for it as it hatches and grows.<br />
Though a purple worm is not an intelligent creature, this<br />
process allows the worm and rider to bond, forging a<br />
connection that will allow them to act almost as a single<br />
creature.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wormrider’s role in deep drow society is diverse,<br />
acting as both scout and war leader, patrolling the outer<br />
reaches of Pol’Tah territory one day and commanding an<br />
army of fellow deep drow the next. A Wormrider whose<br />
purple worm is slain is not dishonoured, nor does he lose<br />
his status as a Wormrider, but he is not simply given another<br />
full-grown steed. Instead, he must raise a hatchling worm<br />
from the egg until it is large enough for him to ride into<br />
battle again.<br />
Hit Die: d10<br />
<strong>The</strong> Wormrider<br />
Requirements<br />
Base Attack Bonus: +8<br />
Feats: Animal Affinity, Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack<br />
Race: Pol’Tah<br />
Skills: Handle Animal 8 ranks, Ride 8 ranks<br />
Special: Must raise a purple worm from an egg, using the<br />
time-honoured traditions and methods employed by the<br />
Pol’Tah.<br />
Class Skills: <strong>The</strong> class skills of a Wormrider (and the key<br />
ability for each skill) are: Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft<br />
(Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str),<br />
Knowledge (nature) (Int), Ride (Dex) and Sense Motive<br />
(Wis).<br />
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier<br />
Class Features<br />
All of the following are class features of the Womrider<br />
prestige class.<br />
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A Wormrider gains no<br />
proficiency with weapons or armour.<br />
Worm Bonding (Ex): <strong>The</strong> Wormrider must be a part of his<br />
purple worm’s life from the time the worm is still in the egg.<br />
Through training and constant association, the Wormrider<br />
forms a bond with the worm the moment it breaks free of<br />
the egg. This worm bonding is the basis for the majority of<br />
the Wormrider’s other prestige class abilities. This ability<br />
works in the same way as a druid’s animal companion<br />
ability except, of course, only on a purple worm. <strong>The</strong> only<br />
differences are that the purple worm’s abilities increase as<br />
the Wormrider advances in levels in the Wormrider prestige<br />
class, and the connection between a Wormrider and his<br />
purple worm may not be broken, save by death.<br />
Class Levels Base Attack<br />
Bonus<br />
Fort. Save Ref. Save Will Save Special<br />
1 +1 +2 +0 +0 Worm Bonding<br />
2 +2 +3 +0 +0 Worm Friendship<br />
3 +3 +3 +1 +1 Empathy<br />
4 +4 +4 +1 +1 Poison Immunity<br />
5 +5 +4 +1 +1 Combined Assault<br />
6 +6 +5 +2 +2 Fight As One<br />
7 +7 +5 +2 +2 Awaken Intellect<br />
8 +8 +6 +2 +2 Telepathy<br />
9 +9 +6 +3 +3<br />
10 +10 +7 +3 +3 Worm Swarm<br />
173