Dragon Ascendant

Table 2–6: The Dispassionate Watcher of Chronepsis

Class Base Fort Ref Will Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special Spellcasting

1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Divine conversion, calming aura, — Draconic Knowledge 2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Comprehend languages +1 level of existing class 3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 — +1 level of existing class 4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Stunning rebuke +1 level of existing class 5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Tongues +1 level of existing class 6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Discern lies +1 level of existing class 7th +5 +5 +2 +5 — +1 level of existing class 8th +6 +6 +2 +6 — +1 level of existing class 9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Clearsight +1 level of existing class 10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Vision +1 level of existing class 11th +8 +7 +3 +7 — +1 level of existing class 12th +9 +8 +4 +8 Analyze dweomer +1 level of existing class

Calming Aura (Su): At 1st level, a dispassionate watcher loses its frightful presence ability (if it had one), gaining instead an infectious aura of calm detachment. This aura has the same radius and Will save DC as the dragon’s frightful presence ability, if it had one. If it did not possess frightful presence, the radius is equal to 5 feet per 2 HD the dragon possesses (counting only its base dragon Hit Dice, not any class levels). The Will saving throw to resist the effect has a DC of 10 + 1/2 dragon’s base HD + its Cha modifier. The effect of the aura is the same as that of a calm emotions spell, but it lasts as long as the dispassionate watcher does not attack.

Draconic Knowledge: A dispassionate watcher gains Draconic Knowledge (see page 69) as a bonus feat. It uses its dispassionate watcher level as an additional modifier on its draconic knowledge checks.

Spellcasting: From 2nd level on, when a new dispassionate watcher level is gained, the dragon gains new spells per day as if it had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class it belonged to before it added the prestige class. It does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (an improved chance of turning or rebuking undead, wild shape, and so on). This essentially means that the dragon adds the level of dispassionate watcher to the level of whatever divine spellcasting class the dragon has, then determines spells per day and caster level accordingly.

If the dragon had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a dispassionate watcher, the dragon must decide to which class it adds each level of dispassionate watcher for the purpose of determining spells per day.

A very old amethyst dragon/1st-level cleric/2nd-level dispassionate watcher has the spellcasting ability of a 13thlevel cleric: 11 from divine conversion of its sorcerer spellcasting levels, 1 from its single cleric level, and 1 from its two levels in the prestige class.

If a dragon advances an age category after taking levels in this class, the added levels of spellcasting ability are added to its effective divine spellcasting level. If the very old amethyst dragon in the example above lives to be ancient, its spellcasting level would increase by 2, so it would cast spells as a 15th-level cleric.

Comprehend Languages (Sp): At 2nd level, a dispassionate watcher gains the ability to use comprehend languages at will.

Stunning Rebuke (Su): A 4th-level dispassionate watcher can deliver a thunderous rebuke that stuns one creature of its choice within 100 feet. If the target creature fails a Will saving throw (DC 10 + dispassionate watcher’s class level + 1/2 its Cha modifier), it is stunned for 1d4+1 rounds. This is a sonic effect, but is not language-dependent.

Tongues (Sp): A 5th-level dispassionate watcher can use tongues at will.

Discern Lies (Su): At 6th level, a dispassionate watcher knows when anyone (other than a deity) is deliberately lying. This ability is like the discern lies spell, except that it works continuously and applies to any creature the dragon can perceive.

Clearsight (Ex): A 9th-level dispassionate watcher can see illusions, transmuted creatures and objects, and disguised creatures and objects for what they really are, provided they are within 30 feet of the dragon. This ability is similar to the true seeing spell, except that it also foils mundane disguises.

Vision (Sp): At 10th level, a dispassionate watcher gains the ability to use vision three times per day. Using this ability is only a standard action for the dragon.

Analyze Dweomer (Sp): A 12th-level dispassionate watcher can use analyze dweomer at will.

DRAGON ASCENDANT

Easily the most powerful creatures native to the Material Plane, dragons hold a unique position in relation to the powers beyond that plane. Those who become dragon ascendants quest to transcend the limitations of material existence, rising above all other dragons to become nothing less than deities themselves. Their progress through the levels of this class represents their advancement toward their ultimate goal, and they become increasingly godlike as they advance.

Most dragon ascendants have not previously gained class levels, but all are dragons of considerable age and power. A few dragon clerics, paladins, and blackguards move into the dragon ascendant prestige class when they reach sufficient levels of power. Members of the divine

prestige classes described in this chapter (the dispassionate watcher of Chronepsis, the sacred warder of Bahamut, and the unholy ravager of Tiamat) sometimes also choose the path of divine ascension to become more perfect servants of their deities.

Dragon ascendants are proud and typically aloof. They view travel along the path toward divine ascension as a race, and do not choose to share the road with others on the same course. On the other hand, they often have followers and allies who support them on their quest, and they work more freely with lesser dragons and nondragons than other dragons do.

Hit Die: d12.

Requirements

To qualify to become a dragon ascendant, a dragon must fulfill all the following criteria.

Race: Any true dragon.

Base Attack Bonus: +30.

Feats: Draconic Knowledge, Fast Healing, Great Fortitude, Improved Speed,

Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes.

Special: Consume Hoard: A wouldbe dragon ascendant must eat its hoard to begin the process of divine ascension. Its hoard must have a value of at least 100,000 gp, but the dragon cannot choose to eat just 100,000 gp and leave the rest alone—it must consume its entire hoard.

Class Skills

The dragon ascendant’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Spot (Wis). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions. Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features The following are class features of the dragon ascendant prestige class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A dragon ascendant gains no proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields. Awesome Aura (Ex): A dragon ascendant loses its innate frightful presence, replacing it with a special fear aura. This aura surrounds the dragon at any radius it chooses up to the extent of its frightful presence (30 feet × the dragon’s age category), and is always active unless the dragon chooses to deactivate it. The dragon can choose to exclude its own allies from the effect of its aura. Creatures within the aura must make a Will save (DC equal to the dragon’s frightful presence DC plus 1/2 its dragon ascendant levels). Creatures that fail their saving throws are shaken, while those that succeed are immune to the effect of that dragon’s aura for 24 hours. If the dragon attacks or charges, shaken creatures must attempt a second Will save (same DC) or become frightened.

A dragon ascendant

Table 2–7: The Dragon Ascendant

Class Base Fort Ref Will Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special

1st +1 +2 +2 +2 Awesome aura (fear) 2nd +2 +3 +3 +3 Hit point increase 3rd +3 +3 +3 +3 Transmutation immunity 4th +4 +4 +4 +4 Hit point increase, increased damage reduction 5th +5 +4 +4 +4 Awesome aura (resolve) 6th +6 +5 +5 +5 Hit point increase, lifewarding 7th +7 +5 +5 +5 Deflection bonus 8th +8 +6 +6 +6 Hit point increase, increased damage reduction 9th +9 +6 +6 +6 Iron mind 10th +10 +7 +7 +7 Awesome aura (daze), hit point increase 11th +11 +7 +7 +7 Resistance to fire, spell resistance 12th +12 +8 +8 +8 Hit point increase, immortality