Chapter Eight
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Prestige Classes “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” —Revelation 15:5-8 ll angels perform tasks. Some angels perform very important tasks and require a specialized group of abilities to aid them. These elite angels are high-ranking members of angelic orders that are represented by prestige classes. The prestige classes in this chapter—angel of death, angel of destruction, angel of fury, angel of terror, and fire-speaker—were designed with angels in mind. Extremely pious mortals may advance in these classes if the DM feels it is appropriate.
A
Angel of Death Among the hosts of Heaven, certain angels are selected for their martial ability and subtle emanations of danger. These angels are trained in the ways and means of death and are charged with the slaying of mortal creatures. Some are responsible for killing animals, some for humanoids, others for stranger creatures, but any creature deserving death at the hands of a particular faith can expect a visit from the black-winged angels of death. Normally their duties are to claim the souls of the venerable faithful (transporting them to their reward in Heaven) or punish those who have transgressed against their faith (condemning them to Hell), but the angels of death have been used as celestial generals or even assassins in the past, wiping out enemy leaders or even enemy armies in the name of their god. Given the requirements and their duties, angels with a martial bent such as barbarians, fighters, paladins, and rangers make the best angels of death, though a few spellcasters take on this responsibility. The higher orders of angel (such as cherubim, ophanim, and seraphim) make up most of the ranks of angels of death. Angels of death normally lack a hierarchal structure other than a religious allegiance. Those that serve more militaristic or regimented deities might belong to a hierarchy, but because they are usually dispatched singly, they are expected to function independently. A gathering of several angels of death on the Material Plane usually signals some cataclysmic purge. Ex-Angels of Death: An angel of death that becomes a free angel or changes deities loses all abilities of this prestige class, becoming
an ex-angel of death. An ex-angel of death with a new patron regains her class abilities if she receives an atonement spell from a cleric of her new faith whose level is the same as or greater than her own. This allows even a fallen angel of death to perform her duties serving an evil deity or a great fiend. Famous angels of death include Adriel (“my help is god,” an angel of the moon and guardian of the south wind), Apollyon (“destroyer,” the angel of the bottomless pit, responsible for binding the first demons, now fallen), Azrael (“whom god helps,” who provided one of the handfuls of earth used in creating Adam), Gabriel (“god is my strength,” smiter of Sodom and Gomorrah), Hemah (one of two angels sent to kill Moses for failing to observe the rite of circumcision), Kafziel (“speed of god,” governor of the death of kings), Metatron (king of angels, voice of god), and Michael (“who is as god,” chief of the malakim, who personally cast the Adversary out of Heaven). Hit Die: d10
Requirements To qualify to become an angel of death, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Race: Bound angel or fallen angel Base Attack Bonus: +8 Base Save Bonuses: Fortitude +8 Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks Feats: Astride the Ladder†, Hide From Mortal Eyes†, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (deity’s favored weapon or longsword) Patron Deity: Any Special: Wings of Death: An angel of death must have wings, whether naturally or through the Winged Flight† feat. A malakite’s immaterial wings meet this requirement, but wingless flying angels (lantern archons, ophanim) do not.
TABLE 8-1: ANGEL OF DEATH Class Level 1 2 3 4 5
Base Attack Bonus +1 +2 +3 +4 +5
Fortitude Save +2 +3 +3 +4 +4
Reflex Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1
Will Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1
Special Black wings, poison use Favored enemy +1 Envenomed weapon Favored enemy +2 Claim the faithful, veil of faith
