Infernal Speaker

The forces of Hell, whether they are the wicked Sovereigns of Sin or the vile Lords of the Nine, are always seeking more slaves, and some of the best slaves are those with arcane might.

Grimoire of Cosmic Entities Volume One By Eli Atkinson, William Church and Serge W. Desir, Jr.

Original Concept by Serge W. Desir, Jr.

Full netbook can be found on the following website

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Sorcerers and wizards, forever seeking more knowledge, have often turned to the powers of Hell, willing to make deals with the most debased fiends in Creation. While many become eternally damned for their shortsighted foolishness, others are fully aware of what they will lose – and what they will gain – by dealing with Hell. To these, the powers of Hell teach the secrets to unlocking more arcane might through the Infernal tongue.

Among the most fiendish of Hell’s mortal servants are those who speak The Word of the Arcane in infernal. Known as infernal speakers, these evil wizards and sorcerers serve the will and cause of Lawful Evil gods and devils while they pursue ever-greater knowledge and power. By learning the true, hidden language of Hell, the infernal speaker further empowers herself, drawing on the profane evil of The Pit and the devils therein.

Infernal speakers come from a variety of backgrounds, although all can claim a significant degree of personal charm and intellect (very few are known for their Wisdom). Their numbers are surprisingly high, bolstered by the work of tyrannical churches and diabolical cults who find worthy worshippers to undergo the heinous rite of passage, referred to in whole as the Nine Words of Perdition. There are also those who seek the language of Hell on their own, knowing that mastery of it will grant them great power. No matter the case, those who seek to undergo the Nine Words of Perdition forever lose their souls to the forces of Hell as they put their heinous words into horrific action.

Although most infernal speakers are lawful and despotic, there are some more dedicated to uncovering ever more dread secrets than establishing a new world order. Still, these are the minority. Infernal speakers tend to serve either as the immediate advisor to a powerful figure, or may direct things from behind a web of secrecy and intrigue. But, they are not afraid of direct confrontation when it proves necessary, as many would-be heroes have learned to their eternal lament.

Hit Dice: d4.

Requirements

To qualify to become an infernal speaker, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

• Alignment: Lawful Evil or Neutral Evil.
• Skills: Diplomacy 3 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) or Knowledge (religion) 3 ranks, Knowledge (Arcana) 8 ranks.
• Feats: Dark Speech, Devotee of Darkness (any), Spell Focus (Conjuration) or Spell Focus (Enchantment) or Spell Focus (Evocation)
• Languages: Infernal.
• Spells: Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells.
• Special: Infernal speakers must have made peaceful contact with a powerful devil (at least CR 10). They are then further instructed as to how complete the required sacrifices in pursuit of more power.

Class Skills

The infernal speaker’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Bluff (Charisma), Concentration (Constitution), Craft (Intelligence), Diplomacy (Charisma), Gather Information (Charisma), Intimidate (Charisma), Knowledge (Intelligence) (any skill selected separately), Profession (Wisdom), Spellcraft (Intelligence).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Intelligence modifier.

The Infernal Speaker
Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spellcasting
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Slave of Hell	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
2	+1	+0	+0	+3	The word of war
3	+1	+1	+1	+3	The word of trust	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
4	+2	+1	+1	+4	The word of greed
5	+2	+1	+1	+4	The word of suffering	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
6	+3	+2	+2	+5	The word of treachery
7	+3	+2	+2	+5	The word of destruction	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
8	+4	+2	+2	+6	The word of secrecy
9	+4	+3	+3	+6	The word of the forbidden	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class
10	+5	+3	+3	+7	Scion of Hell	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class

Class Features

All the following are class features of the infernal speaker prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Infernal speakers gain no additional proficiency in any weapon or armor.

Spells per Day: At first level and every other level thereafter gained in the infernal speaker class, and finally at 10th level, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, metamagic or item creation feats, hit points beyond those he receives from the prestige class, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an infernal speaker, she must decide which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.

Slave of Hell (Su): Those who delve into the forbidden lore of Hell are immediately and irrevocably scarred by it. As a slave of Hell, the infernal speaker is utterly and completely evil, so much so that she cannot be healed by divine magic cast by one serving a good god or cause. So potent is this restriction that not even potions or magic items brewed or crafted by good aligned divine casters benefit an infernal speaker. The magic does not harm the infernal speaker, it just doesn’t have any effect. Secondly, for the purpose of detect evil spells (or detect law for Lawful Evil characters), the infernal speaker is measured as a cleric for aura strength. Finally, the infernal speaker acquires fire resistance 10 and a +4 bonus on saves against poison.

The Word of War (Su): Drawing on the power of Hell’s first layer, an infernal speaker is permanently infused with toughened skin allowing her to better serve her new masters. The skin of the infernal speaker reddens and there are hints of scales near hair follicles and on joints. The infernal speaker acquires a permanent +3 increase to her natural armor. The infernal speaker may also cast summon monster (Lawful Evil only) spells as if one level higher than her caster level.

The Word of Trust (Su): By submitting herself to the power of Hell’s second layer, the infernal speaker gains the trust and admiration of weak-willed mortals. Once per day, the infernal speaker may cast charm person as a sorcerer equal to the speaker’s total character levels. The Will save DC is 13 + the infernal speaker’s Charisma bonus (the DC does not receive any benefit from Spell Focus and similar feats).

The Word of Greed (Su): Infernal speakers are ever greedy for more power and knowledge. An infernal speaker may select any non-epic Metamagic or Item Creation Feat, even if she doesn’t meet the prerequisites (except in the case of alignment prerequisites).

The Word of Suffering (Su): Infernal speakers, now familiar with the pain of being utterly damned, can share their pain with other beings. An infernal speaker can cause their eyes to turn blood red and cause fear as a sorcerer equal to the caster’s total character level once per day. The Will save DC is 16 + the infernal speaker’s Charisma bonus. The Word of Suffering affects all within 20 feet of the infernal speaker. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected by the infernal speaker’s Word of Suffering for one day.

The Word of Treachery (Su): An infernal speaker can impose her will against others, forcing them to betray their loved ones, convictions, and beliefs. Once per day, an infernal speaker can attempt to dominate person as the spell as a sorcerer equal to the caster’s class level plus any other spellcasting levels. The Will save is 17 + the infernal speaker’s Charisma bonus (the DC does not receive any benefit from Spell Focus and similar feats).

The Word of Destruction (Su): Infernal speakers can draw on the destructive powers of Hell, concentrating them into a blast of diabolical energy. A number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier (if positive) +1 (minimum 1), the Speaker can unleash a line of Hell’s Fire. This line of diabolical energy is five feet wide, travels 10 feet per class level, and deals 1d4 points of damage per class level. The Reflex save DC for half damage is 15 + the infernal speaker’s Charisma modifier, but half of the damage is pure diabolical energy, thus protections against heat and flame only grant partial immunity to the infernal speaker’s Word of Destruction. To better survive the destructive elements associated with Hell, infernal speakers also gain either acid resistance 10 or cold resistance 10.

The Word of Secrecy (Su): The infernal speaker gains the ability to see into the places wherein she has no business. Once per day, the speaker may gain a +10 bonus to any Intelligence or Charisma-based Skill check; or, in lieu of the Skill check bonus, the Speaker may add a +3 bonus to the DC of all spells cast. In either case, the Word of Secrecy has a duration equal to the speaker’s Charisma modifier (if positive) divided by three (round up, minimum one). Thus an infernal speaker with a Charisma score of 16 can use Word of Secrecy for one round once per day, whereas if she had a Charisma score of 26 she could use it for three rounds once per day. The infernal speaker also discovers a loophole that allows her to summon twice the normal number of Lawful Evil monsters at a given time who serve for twice the duration. This only applies to any summon monster spell, and not to gate or other summon spells.

The Word of the Forbidden (Su): By delving into the depths of Hellish intellect, an infernal speaker may select any feat even if she does not meet the prerequisites.

Scion of Hell (Ex): As a complete slave to the powers of Hell, the infernal speaker also serves as a diplomat of sorts, able to commune with any Duke, Arch-Devil or Lord of the Nine once per week as a spell-like ability in order to better understand the will of Hell in all things. Additionally, the infernal speaker is able to prepare and cast wish as if he had access to a single 9th level spell per day. Until such time as he actually gains 9th level slots, the ability to prepare and cast wish costs the infernal speaker one 6th level spell slot and one 3rd level spell slot (these are inaccessible only on days that the infernal speaker chooses to have access to wish). When the character advances in spellcasting ability enough to allow her access to wish, these costs disappear; the infernal speaker does not gain an extra spell slot to cater for casting wish. Finally, the speaker receives total immunity to fire and poison.