Duraak'ash

Description:

The Duraak'ash, or "stalking dragon" in Orcish, are the epitome of hunters of House Tharashk, for they find a sacred bond between predator and prey, between themselves and those they hunt with the power of the Mark of Finding. For many outsiders, House Tharashk are just explorers, claim finders and seekers of lost antiquities, but the Duraak'ash take this to whole new level. There is nothing more important to them than the sense of the hunt, tracking their prey for days on end and the exhilaration of the battle at the end. It is said that each Duraak'ash spends their life in search of the ultimate prey and those lucky enough to track it down and face in combat are the most honored of the House.

Role: Duraak'ash are typically rangers that have perfected the art of the long hunt. They are great to have on an expedition or tracking down some criminal. In larger combats, however, they tend focus on their chosen prey, to the exclusion of other combatants.

Source: DGM, pg. 107

Alignment: There is no alignment restrictions on the duraak'ash. That said, must tend to be neutral or chaotic, preferring the pursuit of the hunt to more regulated activities.

Hit Dice: d10

Requirements:

To qualify to become a Duraak'ash, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Race: Half-Orc or Human.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Survival 5 ranks.

Feats: Least True Dragonmark (Mark of Finding, Locate Object option), Lesser True Dragonmark (Mark of Finding, Locate Creature option).

Class Skills:

The duraak'ash's class skills (and the key abilities for each skill) are Bluff (Chr), Climb (Str), Diplomacy (Chr), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Chr), Intimidate (Chr), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Table: The Duraak'ash

Class Features:

All of the following are class features of the duraak'ash prestige class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Duraak'ash do not gain any new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Hunter's Insight (Ex): Starting at 1st level, the duraak'ash gains an insight bonus to Perception and Survival checks equal one half his class level, round down, minimum of +1. The duraak'ash Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability is no longer blocked by running water. If the duraak'ash has successfully targeted a creature with his Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability, he also gain an insight bonus of the same amount and type to your Armor Class, attack rolls and weapon damage rolls for as long as the Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability is active. These bonuses do not apply to any other method of casting Locate Creature; only the dragonmark spell-like ability.

Improved Dragonmark (Su): At 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th levels, the caster level of your dragonmark spell-like abilities increases by +1. This stacks with other sources that increase the caster level of your dragonmark spell-like abilities.

Catch the Scent (Su): At 2nd level, when the duraak'ash uses either his Locate Object or Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like abilities, he is able target creatures or objects he has never seen or encountered. So long as he a piece of the object or creature, or a creature or object that has been in the presence of the desired creature or object, he does not need a clear mental picture for these spell-like abilities to work. This benefit does not apply to any other method of casting Locate Creature or Locate Object; only the dragonmark spell-like abilities.

Creatures or objects that been in the presence of the desired target only count for 1 day per class level since they were last in physical contact with the desired target. Thus, if a 5th level duraak'ash is attempting to find a child by his favorite toy, the child must have last held the toy no more than 5 days ago. Pieces of creatures or objects count for as long as the piece is preserved (usually one week to a month for organic material).

Swift Tracker (Ex): At 2nd level, the duraak'ash gains the swift tracker class ability, as per the ranger class. At 5th level, the duraak'ash suffers no penalty to Survival checks to track while moving, regardless of his speed.

Increased Dragonmark (Su): At 4th, 7th and 10th level, the duraak'ash gains an additional use of his Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability per day.

Trackless Step (Ex): At 4th level, the duraak'ash gains the trackless step class ability, as per the druid class.

Bonus Feat: At 6th level, the duraak'ash gains a bonus feat from the following list: Endurance, Fleet, Greater True Dragonmark (Mark of Finding), Run, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth, Survival) or Tracker's Mark. He must still qualify for the feat normally.

Sharpened Senses (Su): At 6th level, the duraak'ash doubles the range of all of his dragonmark spell-like abilities as if they were always affected by the Extend Spell metamagic feat. Also, any time the duraak'ash has to make a caster level check for his dragonmark spell-like abilities, he adds his Wisdom modifier as a competence bonus. These bonuses do not apply to any other kind of spellcasting that the duraak'ash might have; only his dragonmark spell-like abilities.

Track the Trackless (Ex): At 8th level, the duraak'ash are capable of tracking anything or anyone. If the duraak'ash is tracking something that normally cannot be tracked (i.e. Pass Without Trace, trackless step or other similar feature), the tracking attempt can still be made at a -20 to the Survival check.

Perfect Awareness (Su): At 10th level, if the duraak'ash has successfully targeted a creature with his Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability, he is immune to being flanked by that creature, is never surprised by that creature and suffers no miss chance due to concealment while the Locate Creature dragonmark spell-like ability is active. This bonus does not apply to any other method of casting Locate Creature; only the dragonmark spell-like ability.