Child of Loki
While I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d end up using this account for, other than as a sort of de facto RSS feed, it looks like a convenient place to post up some pieces of my Norse campaign setting, so folks have easy access. First up, one of the Prestige Classes available, the Child of Loki.
Note that this is the first draft, not the final one.
——-
The cult of Loki in Midgard differs from the cults of the other gods, much like their patron. The Doer of Good and the Doer of Evil prefers to keep things under wraps where possible, and his cult does likewise.
The cult, composed largely of Rogues and other scoundrels, is led by a mysterious group known as the Children of Loki. The Children almost always wear heavy robes, with long hoods which completely cover their features. They claim that this is to protect them in doing their god’s (often criminal) bidding, but it is actually for a more practical reason- to cover their horrifying and distorted forms.
The Children of Loki assume their role by taking on the appearance and drawing on the power of Loki’s more literal children- Hel the ruler of the dead, Fenrir the wolf of the End, and Jormungand the world serpent. Such a bizarre combination does not look natural, which is reflective of the Children’s secret goal- to free their patron by calling down Ragnarok. In practical terms, they work to break down those who exercise authority, and each Child is free to pick their own target for their own reasons- some of the Children work only against unjust or cruel rulers, while others strive to tear down anyone with any power.
Prerequisites:
Bluff 8 ranks-Loki, Lie-Smith and Thule of the Gods will not recognize the totally honest; Heartless kenning OR Venom-Tongue kenning OR Cultist feat (all to be explained later); Patron deity Loki
Class details:
HD d8 Base Attack 3/4 Saves: Reflex high, Fortitude & Will low Skill Points 6+Int mod/level
Class skills: Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Forgery, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Sense Motive, Swim, Spot, Search
- Fenrir’s Fangs, Poison Use
- Sneak Attack +1d6
- Jormungand’s Venom
- Hel’s Aspect
- Sneak Attack +2d6
- World-Serpent’s Scales +1
- Improved Trip
- Sneak Attack +3d6
- World-Serpent’s Scales +2
- Monstrous Apotheosis
Fenrir’s Fangs: With oral chirurgerie and runic transmutation, the Child of Loki’s jaw is stretched, and their teeth made sharp and deadly. They gain a bite attack, dealing 1d8 points of damage, which can be used either as a standard action, or as a secondary attack as part of a Full Attack action.
Poison Use: A Child of Loki does not risk self-poisoning when applying poison to a weapon, or when wielding a poisoned weapon in combat.
Sneak Attack: As the Rogue class ability; Sneak Attack gained from Child of Loki levels stacks with Sneak Attack gained from other sources.
Jormungand’s Venom: As they advance, a Child of Loki’s body is further altered with runic magic to produce venomous saliva. 3 times per day, as a free action, the Child can generate poison, which may be used with the bite attack, or applied to a weapon (at the cost of an additional Full-Round Action). If not used, this poison loses potency after 5 rounds. The poison’s damage is 1d6 Str/1d6 Con, and the save DC is 10+(Child of Loki level)+Con modifier.
Hel’s Aspect: At fourth level, half of the Child of Loki’s body takes on the appearance of a withered corpse covered in columns of blood-red runes. By taking on these undead qualities, the Child gains a +4 bonus to Intimidate checks, and can ignore the first 5 points of subdual damage from every attack.
World-Serpent’s Scales: Starting at level 6, the Child of Loki gains a +1 bonus to Natural Armor as random patches of iron-hard scales on their body. At 9th level, the bonus improves to +2. The bonus from World-Serpent’s Scales stacks with any racial bonus to Natural Armor.
Improved Trip: At 7th level, the Child of Loki gains Improved Trip as a bonus feat.
Monstrous Apotheosis: At 10th level, the Child of Loki gains total mastery over their physical alterations, and may hide or show them as a move action. When they are hidden, he does not gain their benefits. True Seeing still reveals the Child in all his horror. In addition, the Child of Loki gains the ability to assume alternate forms, from the following options:
- Dire Wolf form, as Druid’s Wild Shape class ability
- Snake (huge viper) form, as Druid’s Wild Shape class ability
- Skeletal form, which grants DR 5/bludgeoning, +4 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, immunity to critical hits, immunity to Constitution damage or drain. Equipment is not absorbed into the skeletal form, and is still accessible and usable.
Activating this transformation is a standard action, and it can be accessed 3 times per day. It lasts a maximum of 5 rounds; returning to natural form before that limit requires a move action.
