Serpent Temple Warrior

“When the divine master calls, his warrior hordes shall answer.”

A serpent temple warrior is a gifted worshipper of a serpent god, highly trained and dedicated to serving the god’s temple. They may serve as guards or as special agents or soldiers assigned to carry out missions on behalf of the temple. In civilized lands where serpent cults exist, these warriors are typically human, or whatever race is accepted by the particular cult they serve. In the wilderness inhabited by serpent-worshipping tribes of humanoids, they are often elite lizardfolk, troglodytes or half-serpents. Tales are told of lost cities containing hidden serpent god temples which are guarded by immense trog trolls and trog ettins, bred and forged by the temple masters into massive shock troops.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements

To qualify to become a serpent temple warrior, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.

• Base Attack Bonus: +5
• Alignment: any (must be within one step of the serpent god’s alignment)
• Ability Scores: Str 16, Dex 14, Wis 10
• Skills: Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks
• Feats: Armor Proficiency (Light and Medium), Martial Weapon Proficiency, Power Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus (spear)
• Special: Must worship a serpent god and currently or formerly employed as a soldier of the god’s temple.

Class Skills

The class skills for this class (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering, nature, religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Table: The Serpent Temple Warrior

Class Level	BAB	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+0	+1	+1	+1	Poison Expertise
2nd	+1	+1	+1	+1	Serpentine Weapons, Augury
3rd	+2	+2	+1	+1	Bonus Feat, Scent
4th	+3	+2	+2	+2	Serpentine Armor
5th	+4	+3	+2	+2	Weapon Training, Sneak Attack +1d6
6th	+5	+3	+2	+2	Serpentine Shield, Shield Tactics
7th	+6	+4	+3	+3	Weapon Training
8th	+7	+4	+3	+3	Bonus Feat
9th	+8	+5	+3	+3	Weapon Training
10th	+9	+5	+4	+4	Aid, Sneak Attack +2d6

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the serpent temple warrior prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Serpent temple warriors are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, heavy armor and shields.

Poison Expertise

At 1st level, the serpent temple warrior’s temple trains him in the use of poison, and he cannot accidentally poison himself when applying poison to a blade. In addition, the warrior is trained to aim for vital spots of his targets anatomy where injected poison will have maximum effect. As a result, the DC of all injected poisons used by the serpent temple warrior is increased by 1.

Serpentine Weapons

At 2nd level, the serpent temple warrior’s temple gifts him with two python spears (see “Tools of the Trade”). Once he has used all the spears, he may obtain new ones from his temple, but never more than one spear per month, and he must pay at least half their value in gold as a tithe. If he ever stops worshipping the snake god or abandons the prestige class, he may no longer obtain these weapons from the temple.

Augury (Sp)

At 2nd level, the serpent temple warrior gains high favor with his god, and is rewarded with the ability to cast augury once per week, as if cast by a third-level cleric.

Bonus Feat

At certain levels, the serpent temple warrior gains a bonus combat feat, provided he meets the prerequisites.

Scent (Ex)

At 3rd level, twice per day as a free action, the serpent temple warrior can call upon the snake god to lend him a snake’s natural scent ability. This ability lasts for 1d4 hours.

Serpentine Armor

At 4th level, the serpent temple warrior’s temple gives him a one-time gift of a blessed suit of light or medium armor embossed with decorative scales and intertwining serpents. The armor provides the serpent warrior with a +2 enhancement bonus to his Strength and Dexterity, and a +4 enhancement bonus to Intimidate checks as long as he wears it. The armor is considered sacred to the warrior’s religion and its magic abilities will not work for anyone else. If he loses it, he will never be given a replacement and he must atone or risk expulsion from the temple. Until he has atoned, he may not advance further in the prestige class and is barred from obtaining more python spears from the temple.

Weapon Training

At 5th, 7th, and 9th level, the serpent temple warrior receives weapon training. This is the same ability as a fighter’s.

Sneak Attack +1d6

At 5th and 10th level, the serpent temple warrior receives special training from his temple and learns how to strike more effectively at opponent’s weak spots. He gains the sneak attack ability identical to a rogue’s. If he already has the sneak attack ability from another class, the bonuses stack.

Serpentine Shield

At 6th level, the serpent temple warrior receives another one-time gift from his temple: a magic steel shield (heavy or light) with an embossed serpent head with a gaping, steel-fanged mouth and eyes made of pale green emeralds. The shield is +3 and the fangs protrude from it, counting as shield spikes. In addition, the shield allows the serpent temple warrior to use hypnotic pattern as a spell-like ability (caster level 6, DC 15 + serpent temple warrior’s intelligence or charisma modifier, whichever is higher), cast at the 10th level and usable once per day. Only the serpent temple warrior may activate this power. The shield is considered sacred to the warrior’s religion and its magic abilities will not work for anyone else. If he loses it, he will never be given a replacement and he must atone or risk expulsion from the temple. Until he has atoned, he may not advance further in the prestige class and is barred from obtaining more python spears from the temple.

Shield Tactics

At 6th level, the serpent temple warrior receives special shield training from his temple and gains one of the following bonus feats, provided he meets the prerequisites: Improved Shield Bash, Shield Slam, Shield Focus, Shield Mastery, or Improved Bull Rush.

Aid

At 10th level, the serpent temple warrior may call upon his snake god to lend him aid in battle. Once per day, as a spell-like ability, he may use the aid spell on himself. The caster level is equal to his prestige class level.

Ex-Serpent Temple Warriors

A serpent temple warrior who ceases to be the appropriate alignment for a worshipper of the snake god or stops worshipping the snake god loses all the prestige class special abilities. He may not progress any further in levels as a serpent temple warrior. He regains his abilities and advancement potential if he atones for his violations (see the atonement spell), as appropriate.