For comment&criticism. This class is not yet released under the OGL.
This class is inspired by the old 'Courtesan' class from Arduin and some
of the classes in Rolemaster.
Discrete Companions (Prestige Class)
The Order Of Discrete Companions exists, in an informal and wholly
unspoken way, throughout the four Living Worlds, though it is strongest
in places such as the Dwindling Empire, the wealthier of the City-States
of New Retalia, and the sprawling trading centers of the Red Dust
Expanses. It exists, as its name implies, discretely, with few who are
not in the Order even being aware that it is there at all.
The Companions are bargainers in information and intrigue, and they
aquire this via the oldest of means. Of all genders and races, members
of the Order can be found in the courts of kings, the temples of high
priests, and the back alleys of the seediest cities. They ply their
trade with apparent disregard for the nature of their putative employer,
though, in their own way, they are amazingly discriminating. Only those
with knowledge to gain will find one of the Order entering their life,
though, of course, the true nature of the relationship remains
well-hidden from the individual in question.
There is no way to seek out the Order. Those of intelligence, cunning,
and charisma who are already engaging in the Orders primary apparent
occupation will find themselves contacted. If it becomes evident that
the contact was unwise, the prospective member will find their memory
wiped and will return to their life unharmed and unaware anything
unusual had occured.
As a general rule, this class is best suited for NPCs. A campaign where
a member of this class would have an opportunity to exercise his/her
skills and genuinely gain experience in the class' speciality would be a
bit, uhm, non-standard, though not totally off-the-wall.
Special note on XP:Killing orcs and looting dungeons is all well and
good, but the skills of a Companion tend to be honed in different
circumstances. Allow a companion to gain XP by succesfully being
'employed' by powerful or rich individuals, with the level of such an
individual being considered as the CR to be overcome.
For example, Alayne is a 6th level Rogue/1st level Companion. He has
made his way to a dance hosted by one of the leading noble families of
Delorais. During the dance, he dazzles and charms the daughter of an
important Iron Baron, and manages to become her favored concubine. As
she was a 5th level Aristocrat, she is considered to be CR 5, and Alayne
(A seventh level character) gains 1,050 XP for this encounter.
The requirements for joining are:
a)A non-lawful alignment. The work of the Order goes against the rules
and mores of most societies, and to be a member of the Order is to live
a deception, to pretend to be one thing while being another.
b)At least 25 total skill ranks in Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive,
Disguise, Innuendo, and/or Gather Information.
c)Feats:Alertness
d)An established career, or at least a sideline, in some form of
'companionship for pay' trade/profession, with the associated Profession
skill. How sexual this profession is depends upon the culture of the
character, but the nature of the Order is such that anyone over-nice
about such things is unlikely to be invited to join.
While Charisma per se is not a requirement, it is unlikely that anyone
of low or average Charisma will enter the Companions, nor will they
benefit much from such membership.
Discrete Companion
Hit dice:d4
Class Skills:Bluff, Listen, Disguise,Diplomacy,Intimidate,Sense Motive,
Innuendo, Gather Information,Spot Hidden,Forgery, Perform
Skill Points:6+Int Bonus
Level Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref. Save Will Save Special
1 0 0 +1 +2 Secret
2 0 0 +1 +3 Resist Charm
3 +1 +1 +2 +3
4 +1 +1 +2 +4 Secret
5 +1 +1 +3 +4 Bonus Class
Feat
6 +2 +2 +3 +5
7 +2 +2 +4 +5 Secret
8 +2 +2 +4 +6
9 +3 +3 +5 +6
10 +3 +3 +5 +7 Charmtouch,
Secret, Bonus Class Feat
Special abilities descriptions:
Secret:The character learns one very important Secret. The exact
information gained depends on the DM and on the situation, but it should
be something known only to an elite few -- one of whom, obviously, must
be a 'client' of the Companion.
Resist Charm:The character receives a bonus to their Will save equal to
their Charisma bonus, versus any Enchantment or Charm effects.
Charmtouch:This ability grants the Extraordinary Ability to Charm
someone by touch alone. This ability may be used a number of times per
day equal to the Charisma bonus of the character. It takes a full turn
of reasonably close physical contact, usually accompanied by enthralling
conversation. The DC of resisting the Charm is 10+the Companion's
Charisma bonus.
Bonus Class Feat:The character may select from one of the following
Feats. While anyone can, in theory, learn these Feats, they are given
'free' to members of this class, much as the 'Tracking' Feat is given to
Rangers.
Talkingtouch:Preqrequisite Innuendo +4
Talkingtouch is a special form of Innuendo. It allows two people with
the skill to 'talk' simply by physical contact. This is not telepathy or
psionics;it is the art of carefully orchestrated muscle motions, too
subtle to be noticed by outsiders. (DC 27 Spot roll to notice;someone
who knows Talkingtouch may add a +2 synergy bonus)
Truthtouch:Prerequiste Sense Motive +4
Truthtouch is distantly related to Talkingtouch, in that it involves an
intimate knowledge of small muscle movements. However, Truthtouch is a
means of gathering information, not communicating. Someone using
Truthtouch can tell if the person they are touching is lying.
Flesh-to-flesh contact is required. Using this ability on beings of
races the character is unfamiliar with is difficult. The base DC for a
'familiar' race (defined here as the standard PC races) is 10+the
targets Wisdom bonus, and the following modifiers to the DC:
Light or casual contact (holding hands):+2
Close contact (dancing):0
'Intimate' or prolonged contact:-2 to -4
Unfamiliar Humanoid (Ogre, kobold):-2
Non-humanoid (Dragon) -4
Undead -4
Outsider -6
These stack, so trying to 'read' a non-humanoid, undead, outsider would
be -14. I don't want to know why you're even touching it.
Paintouch (Prereq Dex 15+)
The characters knowledge of muscles and nerves enables them to due an
extra 1d6 subdual damage with a succesful unarmed strike. This ability
only works against humanoids.
Magekiss (Metamagic Feat)
This Feat makes any spell with a Will save significantly harder to
resist, at a cost. To succesfully cast a spell prepared with Magekiss,
the caster must maintain physical contact with an unresisting (willing
or helpless) target. The spell is cast without any additional verbal or
somatic components required once this contact is completed, and any Will
save required by the spell is at DC+the casters Charisma bonus. Only
spells with a Will save can be prepared with Magekiss.
