The Possessed

Encyclopaedia Arcane: Compendium

Authors August Hahn, Alexander Fennell, Matthew Sprange & Sam Witt
Publisher Mongoose Publishing

Publish date 2004

The most punishing route of all for those who tread the Dark Road is that of the possessed. Not content with merely summoning and controlling demons in order to gain their service, the possessed make intimate and dangerous pacts with infernal creatures as a means of gaining their power directly. Offering a portion of their souls with each pact made, the possessed are able to draw the demons’ strength into their own bodies, channelling it to overcome almost any trial they may face.

Whilst the pact made with a demon provides some measure of protection over the self-possession practiced by a few unstable demonologists, it is ultimately ruinous to both body and soul, with only the possessed’s sheer will and his demonic energy keeping his body functioning as he falls deeper into the self-made trap. After several pacts have been made, the possessed’s body may be all but shattered by the strains forced upon it by the demonic beings that constantly writhe inside. Crippled and sickly, the possessed becomes a pathetic figure, living only for the times when the demon floods his system, empowering him far beyond that which any mortal may experience.

Whilst the demon is within his body, the possessed retains his free will but his body often takes the outward visage of the creature, returning to something approaching normality after the possession ends. This constant warping takes a heavy toll on the possessed, with many forced to pass themselves off as weak planetouched as the physical effects gradually become permanent.

Hit Die: d4.

Requirements

To qualify to become one of the possessed, a character must fulfil all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any non-good
Skills: Knowledge (demon lore) 11 ranks
Feats: Strength of Personality

Class Skills

The possessed’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Constitution), Craft (Intelligence), Decipher Script (Intelligence, exclusive skill), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Intelligence), Profession (Wisdom) and Spellcraft (Intelligence).

Skill points at each level: 4 + Intelligence modifier.

The Possessed
Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Demonic Possession	Special
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	2/day
2	+1	+0	+0	+3	4/day
3	+1	+1	+1	+3	6/day	Demonic Traits (2)
4	+2	+1	+1	+4	8/day
5	+2	+1	+1	+4	10/day
6	+3	+2	+2	+5	12/day	Demonic Traits (3)
7	+3	+2	+2	+5	14/day
8	+4	+2	+2	+6	16/day
9	+4	+3	+3	+6	18/day	Demonic Traits (4)
10	+5	+3	+3	+7	20/day

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the possessed prestige class.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: The possessed gain no proficiency in any weapon or armour. Note that armour check penalties for armour heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand and Tumble.

Demonology: The possessed are versed in the summoning and controlling of demons and so may use the Art of Summoning rules.

Spells per Day: Unlike the demonologist or binder, the possessed does not automatically continue his training in arcane magic. Class levels gained as the possessed do not count for spells gained as any other arcane spellcasting class.

Demonic Pacts: The possessed may automatically make a pact with any demon he successfully summons and controls (see The Art of Summoning details). Once a pact has been made with any one demon, it may no longer be summoned and controlled normally and the possessed becomes reliant on it actually entering his body to gain any further benefit. As soon as the pact is made, he automatically loses 1d6 (2d6 for a named demon) points from his ability scores and/or hit points, as the player chooses, spreading the loss between ability scores if he so wishes. Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma, however, may never be altered in this way. If this ever forces an ability score to below 3 or hit points to 0, the possessed is killed outright, consumed by the very powers he sought to harness. This loss is permanent and cannot be reversed through the use of spells such as restoration. This is the price the possessed pays for his powers.

The possessed may call upon any demon he has made a pact with to utilise its power as a full round action. He immediately gains any one single trait of the demon – this may be an ability score (such as Strength), its attacks, a special quality, skill, feat or spell-like ability. This effect lasts for one hour. Only one demon may be called upon at any one time and this may be done an amount of times per day as shown on the table on p13. The possessed is permitted to end a period of possession at any time as a full round action and does not suffer the side effects described on p27, the pact he has made with the demon forestalling such things.

During this time, the possessed will assume many of the outward features of the demon he has within him, gaining stature, fangs, horns, wings and skin colour as appropriate. When he ends the possession, his physique will return to normal, though his appearance will gradually begin to change over time, steadily becoming more and more demonic, as if he was planetouched.

Soul Servitude: In making pacts with demons, the possessed is offering his very soul to the most evil of creatures in exchange for power within the material world. Demons of all types will watch for the possessed’s death, ever eager to collect the soul he bargained with. A possessed may never be resurrected by any method.

Demonic Traits: At 3rd, 6th and 9th level, the possessed gains the ability to channel yet more of a demon’s power through his fragile body. Additional traits may be used every time a demon is called upon, as shown by the number in parentheses after the Demonic Traits special ability on the table on p13. For example, a 6th level possessed can take three traits from a demon each time he calls upon its power – when calling upon a succubus he has previously made a pact with, he can therefore gain her Dexterity and energy drain ability.