Imperial Lyrist
The Imperial Lyrist is a relatively new discipline that taps into the power of dragonsong, an ancient form of performance that originated among the draconic races, to create strange and wondrous magical effects.
Imperial lyrists are usually loners with their own class, though they occasionally congregate to share new songs or poems. They get along well with bards,druids and mystics, and some occupy positions of great respect in barbarian tribes.
Warrior, thief, spy, poet, diplomat-- the Imperial lyrist is a legendary figure who serves as the herald and teacher to great kings, the champion of the common folk, and the keeper of lore long forgotten elsewhere. Only those with the talent will hear the voice for the masters calling to them on the wind to become Imperial lyrists, and those who eventually find their way to the school must work hard to win the approval of the college's masters.
Those who aspire to join the College face a long and difficult road. The great bards who lead the school choose only individuals who have demonstrated skill at arms and stealth, learning and cleverness, superb talent with the Lyre and an ear for the stories of old. Finally, all applicants must first study the lore of the druids, learning the ways of growth and the hidden secrets of nature. Few indeed can stand up to the rigorous scrutiny of the masters.
Imperial lyrists adventure to gain information. They are spies and rumormongers, ever on the watch for news of events that may upset the balance of the Imperium they seek to preserve. A lyrist can serve as a diplomat, messenger, or assassin, as needed. The Imperial Lyrists strongly believe in fostering the careers of other adventurers whose viewpoints align with their own, and many lyrists attach themselves to adventuring companies specifically for the purpose of guiding their comrades to oppose the right enemies and advance the interests of the College.
Requirements: To qualify to become a lyrist, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
Alignment:
Neutral good, neutral, chaotic neutral, or neutral evil.
Skills:
Diplomacy 7 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 7 ranks, Knowledge (Ninja Lore) 7 ranks
Perform (oratory or sing) 10 ranks, Perform (string instruments) 10 ranks, Sleight of Hand 7 ranks
Languages: Draconic.
Instrument: Lyre usually
(but the masters have made exceptions - Violin,Fiddle,Lute and Bandore are known to be accepted without question)
Special: Evasion And a voice ability:
Must be Imperial (or half Imperial and possess Voice of the Empire Ability)
OR
Must be Drakken Template - Dragon Soul
OR
Nei Power - Weirding - The Voice
Starting Abilities:
Bardic Knowledge (Ex):
A lyrist can attempt to recall some relevant piece of information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. See the bard class feature. She adds her lyrist class level to her bardic knowledge checks, so her bardic knowledge checks have a bonus equal to her bard level + her lyrist level + her Int modifier.
Bardic Music:
A lyrist adds her lyrist level to her bard level to determine the number of times per day she can use her bardic music, the bardic music abilities she can employ, and the power of those abilities.
Druidic Tounges: Imperial Lyrists are one of the only classes taught Druidic, due to their connection to nature.
Unbound: A lyrist's druid oaths are relaxed, allowing her to wear light metal armor
First Dragonsong - Song of Strength learned.
Dragonsong (Su):
Once per day per class level, a lyrist can use song or poetics to invoke the power of dragonsong.
Invoking dragonsong requires a standard action. In the case of effects that require a saving throw, the DC is equal to 10 + lyrist level + bard level + lyrist’s Cha modifier.
In cases where the character continues a greater dragonsong effect over the course of multiple rounds (such as song of strength), the lyrist can fight while using greater dragonsong but cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by command word (such as wands).
Maintaining a dragonsong effect does not require concentration with any Jutsu skills. A deaf lyrist has a 20% chance to fail when using dragonsong. If she fails, the attempt still counts against her daily limit.
Song of Strength:
A 1st-level lyrist can imbue herself and her allies with great physical power. The lyrist and all allies within 30 feet who can hear her gain a +4 morale bonus to Strength for the duration of the lyrist’s performance and for 5 rounds thereafter. This is a Genjutsu Mind-Affecting ability.
Song of Compulsion:
At 2nd level, a lyrist can use her greater dragonsong to make a suggestion to a single creature within 30 feet who can hear the lyrist. A Will save negates the effect. This is an enchantment (compulsion, mind-affecting, language-dependent effect. Dragons take a –2 penalty on this saving throw.
Song of Flight: A 3rd-level lyrist can grant herself and her allies the ability to fly, as the spell of the same name. This song affects the character and a number of allies equal to her Charisma modifier (all of whom must be able to hear the lyrist) and lasts for 1 minute per level. This is a transmutation effect.
Song of Fear:
At 4th level, a lyrist can use her song or poetics to inspire fear in her foes. All enemies within a radius of 30 feet × class level are subject to the effect if they have fewer HD than the lyrist. A potentially affected creature that succeeds on a Will save remains immune to that lyrist’s frightful presence ability for 24 hours. On a failure, creatures with fewer than half the lyrist’s HD become panicked for 2d6 rounds and those with HD equal to or greater than half the lyrist’s become shaken for 2d6 rounds. Dragons are immune to this ability, as are any creatures immune to fear. This is a Genjutsu mind-affecting effect.
Song of Healing:
A 5th-level lyrist can use her greater dragonsong to heal herself and her allies. Each ally within 30 feet who can hear the lyrist regains hit points, chakra & ability points damage as if he or she had rested for a full day and removes status effects like Fatigued, sickened. No character may benefit from this ability more than twice per day.
This is a conjuration (healing) effect.
Feats
Dirge of the Wild
Some imperial Lyrists have druidic levels and have found ways to weave secret druidic words into the dragonsongs to increase their strength further.
Add druidic levels to dragonsong with Lyrist and Bardic levels.