Dread Savage

Some savage bands are given to an appreciation of the natural order in all its forms, and some more particularly the darker side of chaos and decay. Their champions, known as dread savages, embrace the deeper mysteries of undeath and find solace in the meaning of their carnage.

Deathly State (Su)

This is exactly as primal state except that while the deathly state is active the dread savage is infused with the essence of negative energy and is therefore vulnerable to positive energy effects, making healing through magical means problematic.
Whenever the dread savage is affected by a cure spell, a cleric’s channel positive energy, or any similar positive energy effect during deathly state she takes 1 additional point of damage per dread savage level.
A dread savage may be affected normally by cure spells and positive energy effects by making a successful concentration check as a full-round action. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell’s level for a cure spell or 20 + ½ the creature’s level (or HD) for the cleric’s channel positive energy ability. If the check is successful, she is healed normally.

Dread Rampage (Ex)

This is exactly like the savage’s rampage ability, except that whenever the dread savage makes a successful hit with her wight strike (see below), the target must make a Will saving throw ( DC 10 + ½ the dread savage’s level + the dread savage’s Charisma modifier) or become shaken for 1 round per level of the dread savage.
At 11th level, when a target fails its Will saving throw against the dread savage’s wight strike, it becomes frightened for 1 round per two levels of the dread savage instead of shaken.
At 20th level, when a target fails its Will saving throw against the dread savage’s wight strike, it becomes panicked for 1 round per three levels of the dread savage instead of frightened.

Savage Powers (Ex)

New Rage Powers

The following rage powers can be chosen by any barbarian or savage and complement the dread savage archetype.

· Death Totem, Lesser (Ex)
· Death Totem (Ex)
· Death Totem, Greater (Ex)

The dread savage can select any of the new savage powers listed right. In addition, a dread savage can select one of the following alchemist discoveries to be used while rampaging in place of a rage power or monk bonus feat: lingering spirit, mummification, preserve organs, and spontaneous healing. The dread savage’s level is equal to her alchemist level for the purpose of any class or level prerequisites for these discoveries.

Dread Aura (Su)

At 3rd level, a dread savage radiates an aura of unnerving dread. Any creature within 10 feet of the dread savage takes a –1 penalty to all concentration checks and Intelligence– or Charisma–based skill checks. This penalty increases by 1 at 6th level and every three levels thereafter, to a maximum of –6 at 18th level. This ability replaces danger sense.

Undying Mind (Ex)

While the dread savage has attained her deathly state, she gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Will saves to resist mind-affecting effects ( charm, compulsion, morale effects, patterns and phantasms). This bonus stacks with all other modifiers. This ability replaces wild resilience.

Wight Strike (Ex)

At 3rd level, whenever a dread savage takes a full-attack action while rampaging, she can immediately expend 1 round of rampage to make an additional slam attack at her highest attack bonus. This attack deals 1d6 damage plus her Strength modifier. She cannot make this attack as part of furious blows. This ability replaces fast movement.

Dread Pool (Ex)

This is as the savage’s feral pool, with the following changes:
As long as the savage is in her deathly state, by spending 1 point from her dread pool as a swift action, a savage can do one of the following:

Dread Physiognomy (Ex)

This is as the ability wild fortitude, but the dread savage also gains +2 to saves against level drain, sleep and stunning. This bonus increases to +4 at 10th level, and then again to +6 at 13th level. At 16th level, a savage becomes completely immune to level, drain sleep and stunning.

Deathly Countenance (Ex)

At 14th level, while in deathly state, a dread savage’s bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects ( charm, compulsion, morale effects, patterns and phantasms) increases to +4. This ability replaces indomitable mind.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Savage ©2014 Forest Guardian Press. Authors: Morgan Boehringer, Jim Wettstein, Keil Hubert and Christos Gurd.

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