Prestige Classes

SON OF MERCY

Above the petty squabbling of other Mercykillers - those constantly concerned with pretty ideals of goodness or their own evil aspirations - are those fanatically adherent to the unflinching rule of absolute law. Bodyguards, bounty hunters, and retrievers, they are the Sons of Mercy, the devoted embodiments of the Mercykiller ideal of rarem uncorrupted justice.

Hit Die: d10.

Requirements

To qualify to become a son of mercy, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

Alignment: Any lawful.

Base Attack Bonus: +6.

Skills: Knowledge (local) 10 ranks, Sense Motive 10 ranks.

Special: Must be a member of the Sons of Mercy.

Class Skills

The son of mercy's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Use Rope (Dex).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: The Son of Mercy

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the son of mercy prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Sons of mercy are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor, and with all shields.

Spells: A son of mercy has the ability to casts small number of divine spells. To cast a son of mercy spell, a son of mercy must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell's level, so a son of mercy with a Wisdom of 10 or lower cannot cast spells. Sons of mercy bonus spells are based on Wisdom, and saving throws for these spells have a DC of 10 + spell level + the son of mercy's Wisdom modifier. When the son of mercy gets 0 spells per day for a given spell level (for instance, 2nd-level spells for a 2nd-level son of mercy), he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Wisdom score for that spell level. The son of mercy spell list appears below. A son of mercy has access to any spell on the list and can freely choose which to prepare, just as a cleric. A son of mercy prepares and casts spells just as a cleric does (although a son of mercy cannot spontaneously cast cure or inflirt spells).

Combat Training: Sons of mercy receive advanced weapon training for their search-and-retrieve missions. At 1st level, a son of mercy receives the Weapon Focus feat for any one weapon he is already proficient in.

Track: At 1st level, a son of mercy gains Track as a bonus feat. Characters who already possess the Track feat gain no additional benefit.

Axiomatic Strike (Su): Once per day, a son of mercy of 2nd level or higher may attempt to perform an axiomatic strike against a chaotic creature with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma bonus (if positive) to his attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per class level. For example, a 4th-level son of mercy armed with a longsword would deal 1d8+4 points of damage, plus any additional bonuses from high Strength or magical effects that normally apply. If a son of mercy accidentally performs this attack against a creature that does not have a chaotic alignment, the axiomatic strike has no effect but if still used up for that day.

At 4th level, a son of mercy may perform an axiomatic strike one additional time per day.

Oath of Blood (Su): Upon gaining 5th level, a son of mercy may swear an oath of blood. Taking an oath of blood takes an hour, wherein the son of mercy declares his intention and cleanses his mind of all distractions aside from the proposed action. At the end of the oath, the son of mercy is affected as if by the spell geas/quest to perform the action to which he has sworn himself. A son of mercy can only have one oath of blood functioning at once and cannot make another until the current oath is fulfilled. Most commonly, an oath of blood is sworn to protect some ward for a set time or to a specific location, track down a criminal, or recover a stolen item. This task cannot persist forever and must have an achievable end that the son of mercy ever works toward. Once this task has been completed, the oath ends.

If the oath for some reason cannot be fulfilled (such as a ward dying or an item being destroyed) the son of mercy takes the normal penalties associated with geas/quest, although these penalties can be removed as described by the spell. While under the effect of this ability, a son of mercy can make use of either his contract or warrant ability.

Contract (Su): While making an oath of blood, a son of mercy can forge a contract with a specific target. This ability affects the son of mercy for as long as the oath of blood lasts and can only be made during the initial swearing of that oath. For the duration of the contract, the son of mercy is bound to the target as if he had cast the spell shield other and locate creature upon it. Once the contract ends he can never again forge a contract involving the same individual.

Warrant: While making an oath of blood, a son of mercy can name a specific target. Once per day, while the named target is within 100 feet, the son of mercy can cast hold monster on the creature named during his oath of blood. The DC of this effect is 15 + the son of mercy's Charisma modifier. If the son of mercy does not know the name of his quarry, he cannot use this ability. Warrant lasts for the duration of the son of mercy's oath of blood. Once the warrant ends, you can never again use warrant on the same quarry.

Son of Mercy Spell List

Sons of mercy choose their spells from the following list:

1st Level: Alarm, animate rope, arcane mark, cause fear, command, comprehend languages, detect chaos, detect magic, magic weapon, protection from chaos, true strike;

2nd Level: Align weapon, blindness/deafness, knock, hold person, scare, zone of truth;

3rd Level: Clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, hold monster, invisibility purge, suggestion.

Ex-Sons of Mercy

A son of mercy who ceases to be lawful, who willfully breaks the law, or who grossly ignores the sanctity of the law loses all spells and abilities of the son of mercy class. He may not progress any further in levels as a son of mercy. He regains his abilities and advancement potential if he atones for his violations (see the atonement spell), as appropriate.