Dark Lantern

Description:

For as cosmopolitan and free-thinking as Breland is, even they recognize the need to learn about and understand their enemies. During the last few decades of the Last War, Brelish war efforts were largely successful due to work of a select group of individuals, specially trained for subterfuge and covert operations. Often chosen by the king directly, these are the Dark Lanterns and they report to the intelligence branch of the Brelish military, the King's Citadel. Proficient in both close quarters combat and social manipulation, the Dark Lanterns travel across Breland, and beyond, investigating and neutralizing threats to Breland before the general populace is even aware of it. As the saying goes, "A successful dark lantern is never seen, never heard and never known."

Role: The role of the dark lantern is part spy, part infiltrator and part investigator. They are the eyes and ears of the Brelish crown and are largely responsible for the extensive intelligence network that the kingdom enjoys. Thus, they are not afraid of combat, but are not front-line combatants themselves. When they do strike, it is quick and decisive. Rogues and urban rangers are often drawn to this line of work.

Source: FN, pg. 69

Alignment: Dark lanterns do not have to have a specific alignment, only absolute loyalty to the Brelish crown. That said, most are lawful neutral.

Hit Dice: d8

Requirements:

To qualify to become a dark lantern, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Bluff 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks.

Special: Region of Origin: Breland, cannot cast divine spells, speak Common and two other languages, swear loyalty directly to the Brelish crown.

Class Skills:

The dark lantern's class skills (and the key abilities for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Chr), Diplomacy (Chr), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Chr), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Chr), Knwoledge (any) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Chr), Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex) and Use Magic Device (Chr).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: The Dark Lantern

Class Features:

All of the following are class features of the dark lantern prestige class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Dark lanterns do not gain any new proficiencies with weapons or armor.

Citadel Training: Dark lanterns gain an insight bonus to Diplomacy, Perception and Sense Motive checks equal to one half their class level, minimum of +1.

Sneak Attack (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, dark lanterns gain the sneak attack class feature as per the rogue class feature of the same name. This improves at the stated levels above. If the dark lantern already has the sneak attack class feature, these increases stack. In all other ways, this is identical to the rogue class feature and can be used in the same fashion.

Combat Perception (Ex): At 3rd level, dark lanterns do not take penalties to Perception or Sense Motive for being distracted in combat.

Nondetection (Sp): At 3rd level, the dark lantern has a permanent nondetection effect. The effective caster level is equal to the dark lantern class level. If this effect gets dispelled or otherwise removed, it immediately returns the following round without the need of an action, so long as the dark lantern is conscious. This effect immediately ends if moved off of the dark lantern to someone or something else.

Skill Mastery (Ex): At 5th level, the dark lantern gains the Skill Mastery advanced rogue talent.

Slippery Mind (Ex): At 7th level, the dark lantern gains the Slippery Mind advanced rogue talent. If he already has the Slippery Mind class feature from some other source, the benefits do not stack.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): At 9th level, the dark lantern gains the Hide in Plain Sight class feature, as per the ranger class feature of the same name. However, for the purposes of this class feature, the dark lantern's favored terrains are considered to be urban and underground. If he has other favored terrains from other sources, those apply as well.