A note from the author,
This archetype is delving into
untested ground, as it modifies an NPC class, the expert. I personally believe the expert to be a
viable player character, though it can be difficult and trying as I also
personally believe that even with an enhanced expert they are still bellow the
bar of many PC classes. Also because of
the nature of this class, I strongly suggest allowing the use of the tomes
presented by Frank Gori earlier in our week of H.P. Lovecraft madness. But without further ado the Flying Pincushion
presents to you the aletheian scholar.
Sincerely,
Jeff Harris 
Aletheian Scholar (Expert)
What
thing is all at once the most powerful weapon, most deadly poison, most useful
tool, and most seductive drug known to all men?
There are many answers to give, but to some there is but one true
answer, knowledge. As a weapon against
it there is little defense, it easily poisons even the truest of hearts, as a tool there is nothing in this world that
knowledge did not create, and as a drug, none is more addictive, as the hunger
for it can never be truly sated. For those who feel this in their very being
there is a name, the aletheian scholar.
They are willing to risk death and madness to relearn what we have forgotten,
and discover that which we are afraid to. To them there is no greater calling
then truth, no knowledge too dangerous or taboo, for knowledge is neither good
nor evil. If knowledge is the sword and men the hand, should it not be the hand
that terrifies us then, for like the sword, without the hand knowledge has no
will, and can do no harm of its own. It
would stand to reason then that exposing the worlds many secrets to the harsh
light of truth is worth any cost. For truth should be unbound by the shackles
of morality. No matter their ethical
standings however, all aletheian scholars share the belief that truth and knowledge
are mans keys to unlocking reality, and our place in it.
Weapon and Armor
Proficiency Same as a standard expert plus the following; fire arms (both
one and two handed) and one martial or exotic weapon of your choice. Aletheian scholars are also proficient with
bucklers and small shields as well as light armor.
Skills In
addition to picking 10 class skills, Linguistics, Perception, and Knowledge
(history) are always class skills for the aletheian scholar.
A Use for All Things:
Sometimes the search for knowledge leads to dangerous places, and sometimes you
have to adapt to the situation at hand.
Because of this at 1st level the aletheian scholar receives
Equipment Trick as a bonus feat and may pick one item and use its associated
tricks, you must still meet the requirements for using the specific tricks in
each item category. Every six levels
attained (7th, 13th, and 19th) after 1st
you gain this feat again as a bonus feat and may choose an additional item from
the list. Also this ability reduces the
penalty to hit when using improvised weapons from -4 to -2 for an aletheian
scholar. This reduction also applies to
using a fire arm as a melee weapon, such as pistol whipping or stock bashing,
as these attacks are being considered improvised weapon attacks.
Candle of Truth: Because
of the boundless curiosity and unending appetite for knowledge aletheian
scholars often know at least something about many subjects, they simply need to
recall that knowledge from the library of their mind. As a result beginning at 3rd level
you may add a bonus of ½ your class level in this class (minimum 1) to any
knowledge skill check you wish. You may
use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your intelligence
modifier.
Harbor No Secrets: Because bringing to light all the knowledge of the world is an intrinsic part of the aletheian scholar’s philosophy, finding that which is hidden in words comes as second nature. As a result at 3rd level whenever the aletheian scholar attempts to use the Linguistics skill to decipher a code or unfamiliar language or the Perception skill to investigate books and documents in any way they add a bonus to the die roll equal to 1/2 of their class level (minimum 1) in this class.
Right Tool for the
Job: Long hours spent in seedy taverns waiting for contacts and battling
strange horrors have honed the everyday tools and items aletheian scholars
carry into an effective means of self defense.
At 6th level the aletheian scholar gains Improvised Weapon
Mastery as a bonus feat. For the purposes
of applying this feat melee attacks with a fire arm, such as pistol whipping or
stock bashing, are also considered to be improvised weapon attacks, and are
subject to this feat.
Rune Foil (Su): Because runes are simply an attempt to
hide knowledge behind archaic mystic symbols aletheian scholars delight in
deciphering and unraveling them. At 8th
level the scholar gains a +5 insight bonus on all Perception checks to find
magical glyphs and spell runes.
Additionally an aletheian scholar can attempt to dispel such runes
(symbol spells, sepia snake sigils, glyph or warding, etc). For the purpose of dispelling a rune the
scholar’s class levels count as his caster level, if this meets or exceeds the
rune creator’s caster level, then the rune is dispelled. Using this ability is a full round action.
Unravel Scroll (Su): While aletheian scholars do not gains
spells or spell-like abilities, they do have an amazing knack for deciphering
writing. Because of this at 10th
level the aletheian scholar may attempt to use spell scrolls even if
they have not invested skill ranks into the Use Magic Device skill. In this case the scholar’s class level is
considered their total modifier for the skill check. However if the aletheian scholar has ranks in
Use Magic Devise then they may roll their skill check twice and take the better
of the two results when attempting to use a spell scroll. Using a scroll
remains a standard action, and all scrolls are covered by this ability
regardless of if arcane or divine.
Read Weakness (Ex): An aletheian scholar may not seem to be a
dangerous opponent, as spectacles and ink wells are rather no threatening. However many that have tried to stop an
aletheian scholar’s pursuit of knowledge has found otherwise. At 12th level the scholar has
gained an almost supernatural ability to spot the weaknesses of their
foes. As a standard action a scholar may
attempt a Perception check against an opponent.
If this skill check result meets or exceeds the targets Armor Class, the
aletheian scholar has found a weakness.
As a result for 1d4 rounds the target of this ability losses the benefit
of their armor and or shield to their Armor Class. Magic pluses and enhancements are not lost,
only the armor’s base defense value. You
may only affect a given target once with this ability in a 24 hour period, and
those not wearing armor or carrying a shield cannot be affect by this ability.
Dangerous Knowledge
(Su): The greatest strength of the
aletheian scholar is their mind, and the stores of lost or taboo knowledge
contained therein. As a result a 15th
level the aletheian scholar may choose a special class feature of another class
and use that ability for a short time.
The class feature may not be spell casting. A short list of choices includes; evasion, wild
shape, channel energy, weapon training, armor training, monks unarmed strike,
and uncanny dodge. When using this
ability you gain access to the chosen class feature for a number of rounds
equal to your intelligence modifier.
Also for any class feature that scales by level, your level in the
“class” is considered to be 3/4th of your aletheian scholar
level. Also if you happen to have the
class feature already from levels in another class, when using this ability you
gain the improved version of the class ability (such as improved evasion or
improved uncanny dodge) if one exists.
Class features that do not have an improved version are not affected in
this way and are used normally if selected.
You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your
intelligence modifier. Using this
ability is a full round action. Feats
cannot be taken and used by this ability.
Master of the Mind
(Ex): An aletheian scholar’s mind
has become so strengthened by knowledge, and so strong in will, that few can
sway them from their goals. As a result
at 18th level the aletheian scholar becomes immune to all charm or
mental domination affects.
Ascended Scholar
(Su): At the pinnacle of their
studies, the aletheian scholar has gained so much knowledge and delved so many
secrets that they are often compelled by posterity to record for all time the
truths they have learned. This takes the
form of a special book, which can be a standard magical tome, grimori, or
manual. Also any one of the Lovecraft themed books presented in “mishelved;
H.P. Lovecraft” by Frank Gori would be appropriate. Additionally an aletheian scholar may roll
twice and take the better of the two results whenever they are forced to make a
save or percentile role regarding a negative effect of a tome or book. It should be noted that books that only
function once still disappear after use, so chose carefully.
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