PRESTIGE CLASSES
CHAPTER 2
ANARCHIC INITIATE TRAINING GROUNDS: THE ETERNAL CIRCLE Drawn to this remote citadel, wilders travel from around the world to expunge every last element of order from their minds, embracing chaos and becoming an anarchic initiate. The building's structure mirrors the eternal cosmos, providing endless challenges for potential anarchic initiates to focus their minds and hone their skills. The master of the school is Ven'Do (male human wilder 10/anarchic initiate 10), a legend among wilders dedicated to their craft. The school is built into the side of a rocky outcropping in the middle of a remote mountain range. Once a visitor is inside, the halls of the school seem to circle endlessly downward. As students master each new challenge, they are allowed to move deeper into the school. Each circle and challenge they overcome strips another orderly, doctrinal constraint from their minds. In the end, they must pass a test against Ven'Do himself. It is rumored that Ven'Do possesses the highest status among anarchic initiates, in that he is capable of completely breaching
reality, and thereby allowing into the world the undiluted chaos of Limbo. The Eternal Circle was founded a century ago. Some stories hint that the original master was a mind flayer. Graduates of its halls are sworn to secrecy regarding all they see and learn while enrolled. This is especially true for their encounter with Ven'Do, which no graduate can recall once he or she leaves the Eternal Circle. The memory is so thoroughly blocked that no subsequent mental probe has ever successfully recalled or revealed this encounter. All questions about the nature of the challenges, or anything about Ven'Do, are answered with silence. Powerful anarchic initiates live permanently at the site. They guard the structure with their psionic might, and also prepare initiates who wish to enter the Eternal Circle. A multicolored crystal shard is given to each would-be initiate who wishes to try the circle, along with instructions for the crystal's use: "When the challenge of the Eternal Circle becomes too great, break the crystal. You will instantly be plucked from danger and brought back here. Do not use the crystal except in dire need, however; those who use the crystal are forbidden from reentering the Eternal Circle for a year's duration. Only break the crystal if you have no other choice."
EBON SAINT
"Generally speaking, if I'm involved, things have gone too far already." Jaed Catt The ebon saint lives in the darkness, but seeks to expose his enemies to the light. Flitting from the shadows to learn the secrets of his enemies and dispatch them quickly, the ebon saint seeks to further his personal agenda by gathering and exploiting information on those who oppose him. The goal of these dark infiltrators is to sneak into the lairs of their enemies, uncover their dark secrets, and expose them to the world. Whether an ebon saint seeks to right the wrongs of the world, maintain the status quo, or strike tyrannical fear into the hearts of the oppressed, he does so from the cold, unchanging certainty of the darkness in which he resides.
BECOMING AN EBON SAINT Ebon saints nearly all begin their careers as lurks, since that class provides the necessary foundation for ebon saint abilities. A fair number, however, are rogues with the Wild Talent feat. Whereas a lurk might use the shadows to achieve his ends, an ebon saint lives in them, seeking to master the art and discipline of the dire strike in the service of an ideology that is greater than any one person. The nature of that ideology is determined by each ebon saint, and is molded by his alignment and life experiences.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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Ven’Do brings chaos in his wake
Skills: Bluff 8 ranks, Disguise 8 ranks. Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks. Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Feint. Psionics: Must have a power point reserve of at least 1 power point. Special: Sneak attack +1d6 or psionic sneak attack +1d6.
