Deva Proselyte (3.5e Prestige Class)

Author: Ganteka Future (talk) Date Created: 27 September 2010 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity if necessary.

Low - Moderate - High - Very High

Ratings for this homebrew: Average: NA / 4  1 users favored it (4/4).  0 users liked it (3/4).  0 were neutral on it (2/4).  0 users disliked it (1/4).  0 users opposed it (0/4).

Rate this article Your rating for this article: Favor Like Neutral Dislike Oppose Submit | Cancel Discuss this article

The deva proselyte is a path to becoming a martial celestial outsider with several Charisma-based abilities. 10 5 Good Good Poor Poor Other Other

Deva Proselyte

“	May your foul stature quake at the clarion of my herald with the knowledge that I will soon descend upon your army. I will offer no soul quarter. I will not waiver, for no legion will stand against my wrath.	”
—Minuina Ourus, deeka deva proselyte, official deeka records concerning the onset of the Gray Man War

The deva proselyte, also called the celestial disciple, is a path to becoming a celestial outsider.

Becoming a Deva Proselyte

He's watching over you.

A whole bevy of characters may be intrigued by this path, as entry is fairly open to those who seek it. Typically, it is those who wish to pursue martial competence without complex ability progressions while at the same time, becoming something more than just a mortal adventurer. These adventurers may feel a higher calling, manifest a long dormant bloodline or simply become blessed by holy power. Often, these adventurers are already multi-classed, in order to gain the necessary skill requirements.

Charisma is important for gaining full use from many of a deva proselyte's abilities, but Charisma alone won't win the day. A secondary physical ability is important for making attacks. If she's likely to use ranged attacks and lighter armors, consider Dexterity over Strength. Constitution is important to keep her hit points optimal with her d8 HD if she intends on staying useful in dangerous combat.

A character who pursues this path is likely to gradually take on changes in her appearance (other than the obvious wings), but those changes are up to the player (or the DM, if she's controlling like that) since they don't actually affect the mechanics of the class in any way. If your character takes three levels of this class, and you decide if she should have golden eyes, that's totally fine.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any non-evil.
Race:	Must be a living corporeal creature with a soul.
Skills:	Either Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks or Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks.
Special:	Must be able to speak Celestial (or understand it if you are unable to speak).

Table: The Deva Proselyte

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Damage Reduction		Energy Resistances		Special Resistances	Special Ability
		Fort	Ref	Will		Initial	Secondary	Initial	Secondary
1st	+1	+2	+2	+2	Aura of Good, Low-Light Vision, Little Wings, Charismatic Focus	1/Evil	—	2	—	1	Defense
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Celestial Bolt, Darkvision, Divine Aura	1/Evil	—	4	—	1	Offense
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+3	Fly (poor), Reduced Needs, Tongues	2/Evil	—	6	—	2	Defense
4th	+4	+4	+4	+4	Divine Aura: 10 ft (+/–2), Good Subtype	2/Evil	—	8	—	2	Offense
5th	+5	+4	+4	+4	Booster +10, Fly (average)	3/Evil	—	10	—	3	Defense
6th	+6	+5	+5	+5	Divine Aura: 20 ft (+/–3)	3/Evil	1/—	12	2	3	Offense
7th	+7	+5	+5	+5	Booster +20, Fly (good)	4/Evil	2/—	14	4	4	Defense
8th	+8	+6	+6	+6	Astral Stride, Holy Confluence	4/Evil	3/—	16	6	4	Offense
9th	+9	+6	+6	+6	Return Home, Wings of Thunder	5/Evil	4/—	18	8	5	Defense
10th	+10	+7	+7	+7	Celestial Quintessence	5/Evil	5/—	20/Immunity	10	Immunity	Offense
Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level) Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Listen (Wis), Martial Lore (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis).

Class Features

“	From the gate, she strode alight eyes peering, burning bright	”
—Unknown

All of the following are class features of the deva proselyte.

Martial Progression: A level in deva proselyte counts as a fighter level for the purposes of meeting prerequisites for feats. A level in deva proselyte counts as an initiator level.

Aura of Good (Ex): A deva proselyte is partly made of goodness, whether she acts on it or not. At 1st level, a deva proselyte gains an aura of goodness. For details, see: detect good.

Charismatic Focus: The deva proselyte relies on her presence of self, often at the detriment to other aspects of herself. At 1st level, the deva proselyte may take a +2 racial bonus to her Charisma, but she must sacrifice either 2 points of Intelligence or Wisdom to do so, taking a –2 racial penalty to the chosen ability score. She may not reduce an ability to below 3 with this feature.

Damage Reduction (Ex): A deva proselyte is rugged, no doubt. At 1st level, she gains DR 1/Evil. This Damage Reduction increases by 1 at every odd-numbered deva proselyte level (3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th). At 6th deva proselyte level, she also gains DR 1/—, which also increases by 1 at each additional deva proselyte level.

Little Wings (Ex): At 1st level, the deva proselyte grows little wings (though only if she didn't already have wings) as the celestial powers growing within her take manifest form. While she can't quite use them to fly or glide just yet, they help her out on Jump checks with a +1 racial bonus per her deva proselyte level. Additionally, when rolling a Jump check, roll 2 d20s, taking the better die result of the two for her check. For now, she can tuck her little wings under her armor, allowing her to continue to wear armor as normal, but doing so prevents her from gaining this benefit to her Jump checks.

Low-Light Vision (Ex): A deva proselyte has keen vision. At 1st level, the deva proselyte gains Low-Light Vision. Additionally, you gain a +2 racial bonus on Spot checks.

Energy Resistances (Ex): Deva proselytes, like many outsiders, are resistant to the damaging effects of some elemental energies. However, not all deva proselytes are the same, hailing from various lineages and bloodlines or simply having their celestial power manifest differently.

At 1st level, a deva proselyte gains energy resistance progressions toward 2 of the following energy types: Acid, Cold, Electricity, Fire. At each deva proselyte level, her chosen energy resistances increase by 2.

At 6th level, of the other two unpicked elemental energies, she may choose another to begin gaining a resistance progression.

At 10th level, of the two elemental energies she chose initially at her first deva proselyte level, she must choose one energy resistance to become an energy immunity. The other initially chosen elemental energy simply becomes energy resistance 20.

Example: At first level, the deva proselyte chooses: Acid and Cold. At 6th level, she then chooses: Electricity. At 10th level, she chooses her Acid resistance to become immunity (with Cold becoming energy resistance 20).

Special Resistances (Ex): At first level and every other deva proselyte level (3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th), she gains a bonus on saving throws against poisons, diseases and petrification. At 10th deva proselyte level, she gains immunity to poisons, diseases and petrification.

Celestial Bolt (Su): With her powerful sense of self and her fuel of celestial power, the deva proselyte learns to channel a bolt of energy from within. How this bolt is released varies. For some, they fire a beam from their eyes, while others fling the bolt from an outstretched hand or weapon. At 2nd level, a deva proselyte can shoot a bolt of wrathful, untyped energy.

When used as a swift action, this bolt deals 1d6 + her HD total to a single target within close range (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 HD) and within line of effect with a successful ranged attack roll.

When used as an attack, the bolt deals 1d4 damage per her HD to a single target within close range (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 HD) and within line of effect with a successful ranged attack roll.

When used as a full round action, the bolt deals 1d4 damage per her HD to all targets in a line up to her medium range (100 ft.+10 ft./HD) and within line of effect with a successful ranged attack roll.

Using a celestial bolt while in melee provokes an attack of opportunity.

Special Defense Ability: Deva proselytes are a varied bunch, and train differently to increase their skill and prowess. Starting at 1st level, she trains herself to learn one of the following special defense abilities. She learns an additional ability from this list at 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th levels.

Ability Boost (Constitution): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Constitution.

Ability Boost (Intelligence): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Intelligence.

Ability Boost (Wisdom): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Wisdom.

Counter Charge (Ex): Standing her ground, she's always ready against the brute force of a charging foe, taking the opportunity to land a blow if her opponent's attack is brushed aside.

When an opponent charges a deva proselyte with an attack and misses, she may respond immediately with an immediate action to counter attack as though her melee weapon had been readied. She may only use this ability if she is armed. Unlike normally when readying a weapon against a charge, this ability is not limited to weapons which deal piercing damage and deals double damage like a readied longspear.

Force of Self (Ex): It is the deva proselyte's strong sense of self that affords her protection. As such, she may use either her Wisdom or Charisma ability score modifier as her Will save ability modifier.

Improved Aid Another (Ex): When she uses the Aid Another action, she provides a +4 bonus instead of a +2 bonus. The deva proselyte may use the Aid Another action as a swift action as well as a standard action at her option. She cannot spend both possible uses of the Aid Another action per round on the same ally.

Spell Resistance (Ex): A deva proselyte has the extraordinary ability to resist magic. She gains spell resistance equal to 10 + her deva proselyte level. A deva proselyte may voluntarily forgo her spell resistance as a non-action to allow spells through this protection without having to take a standard action to lower it.

Spirited Health (Ex): The divine natures of a deva proselyte's body resists death. She automatically stabilizes upon reaching negative hit points (–1 to –9). In addition 1/hour, she can call upon reserves of energy deep within to will herself to heal, restoring a number of hit points equal to her HD total in d4s as a standard action.

Example: A 12 HD deva proselyte may roll 12d4 once per hour.

Staunch Total Defense (Ex): A deva proselyte relies on her capacity to protect herself and her allies from harm, and she gets very good at this with training. In addition to the +4 dodge bonus to her AC provided by the Total Defense action, she gains an additional stacking dodge bonus equal to 1/2 her deva proselyte levels.

Threatening Withdraw (Ex): With flourishes of her weapons, parries and dodges, a deva proselyte is careful to move through dangerous opponents without harm. When using the withdraw action and moving only up to her base speed, she does not provoke attacks of opportunity from opponents of which she is aware.

Touch of Life (Su): With divine grace, a deva proselyte's mere touch heals wounds. Each day, she can heal a total number of d6s with this ability equal to twice the amount of her deva proselyte levels as a standard action. With each use of this ability, the deva proselyte adds her Charisma bonus to the healing. Thus, it is advantageous to spread usage of this ability out among many uses to take full advantage of additional healing granted by a high Charisma bonus. To target an unwilling creature, the deva proselyte must make a melee touch attack.

Example: A character with 4 deva proselyte levels and a Charisma bonus of +3 gains 8 d6s to spread out among as many uses as she is able each day with this ability. With each use, she adds +3 to the dice result for her Charisma bonus. If she chooses to make 8 separate actions over 8 rounds, she would heal a total of 8d6+24 hp.

Darkvision (Ex): A deva proselyte's keen vision improves. At 2nd level, the deva proselyte gains Darkvision (60 feet), allowing her to see in total darkness. Additionally, your racial bonus on Spot checks increases to +4.

Divine Aura (Su): Her holy power manifests as an aura she can suppress or change at will as a free action. With this aura, she may supply radiant courage to her allies or exude a presence of fear to her enemies. At 2nd level, her aura only affects adjacent targets and grants either a +1 morale bonus or a –1 morale penalty to attacks, saves, skill checks and ability checks. Unwilling targets are allowed a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 her HD + her Charisma modifier) to negate the effects. Unwilling targets must make a save each round they are within the area of her aura. Once a target is affected by this aura, they no longer get to make additional saves until they leave the area and re-enter at least 1 round later.

At 4th level, your aura increases to a radius of 10 feet and the effect of the bonus and penalty increases to 2.

At 6th level, your aura increases to a radius of 20 feet and the effect of the bonus and penalty increases to 3.

Special Offense Ability: Deva proselytes are a varied bunch, and train differently to increase their skill and prowess. Starting at 2nd level, she trains herself to learn one of the following special offense abilities. She learns an additional ability from this list at 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th levels.

Ability Boost (Charisma): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Charisma.

Ability Boost (Dexterity): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Dexterity.

Ability Boost (Strength): The deva proselyte gains a +2 racial bonus to her Strength.

Absolve Sin (Su): The deva proselyte gains the ability to weaken the resolve of an evil creature. With a glance, a single target she can see within close range (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 HD) must make a Will save or suffer their evilness weakened for a duration of 10 minutes per the deva proselyte's HD.

The afflicted evil creature feels generally compelled not to commit evil acts, lest it suffer a curse. Such evil acts consist of knowingly facilitating harm to good-aligned creatures, aiding evil-aligned creatures, use equipment that grants benefits to evil-aligned characters or use spells with the [Evil] descriptor. If the afflicted creature chooses to commit an evil act while under the effect of absolve sin, it takes one of the following penalties, chosen by the deva proselyte, for the remainder of the duration.

• –6 decrease to an ability score (minimum 3).
• –4 penalty on attack rolls, saves, ability checks, and skill checks.
• Each turn, the target has a 50% chance to act normally; otherwise, it takes no action.

The deva proselyte may only have a total number of creatures under the effects of absolve sin equal to her Charisma bonus (minimum of 1) at any given time. If a new creature comes under effect of this ability while the deva proselyte is at her maximum, the oldest effect is released.

The penalty bestowed by this ability cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, miracle, remove curse, or wish spell.

Backlash Arc (Su): As an immediate action, upon taking damage, the deva proselyte may release an arc of untyped energy that rebounds back upon the source that damaged her, dealing damage equal to 1d4 + her HD or Charisma modifier (whichever is higher) with a successful ranged attack roll. Until the start of her next turn, each time the targeted creature damages her, she may release an additional backlash arc against the target as a non-action.

Celestial Super-Charged Attack (Su): Channeling the inner force of her sense of self, she releases it in a powerful, damaging explosion on her foes.

Once per round, when she makes an attack, she may add additional damage upon a successful hit. For each point of Charisma bonus the deva proselyte possesses, she may add an additional 1d6 untyped energy damage to her attack. However, for each 1d6 damage she adds, she takes a 1d6 damage herself. The damage inflicted to herself bypasses any resistances or damage reduction she may have.

Dispelling Touch (Sp): As a melee touch attack, a deva proselyte can attempt to greater dispel magic (caster level equal to her HD).

Spirited Crusher Attack (Su): Focusing the awareness of her true self, she charges up a devastating attack that wounds her opponents.

1/minute, a deva proselyte may declare making a spirited crusher attack as a standard action (with a natural weapon, a wielded weapon or her celestial bolt). On a successful hit, a spirited crusher attack deals a Constitution penalty in the amount of her Charisma bonus, with a Fortitude saving throw for half effect. Creatures without a Constitution are immune to spirited crusher.

Ignored Threat Attack (Ex): A deva proselyte knows how to pierce her opponent's defenses when she's ignored as a target.

When a deva proselyte threatens a target in melee combat and damages that target, if that target chooses not to attack her on its initiative, the deva proselyte may take either an immediate action or attack of opportunity after the target's turn is resolved to make a single attack against it at her highest attack bonus.

Impacting Bull Rush (Su): A force wells up within the deva proselyte and is released when she makes contact with her target.

When she performs a bull rush, she may choose to do an impacting bull rush instead. When she performs an impacting bull rush, she does not move with the defender. She simply collides with her opponent and if she succeeds, the defender is knocked back. For every 5 feet she knocks the defender back, the defender is dealt 1d6 bludgeoning damage. Since the deva proselyte isn't moving with the defender, the distance the defender moves is not limited by the deva proselyte's movement limit.

Optionally, she may perform an impacting bull rush as a full-round action, not moving herself, to affect all adjacent squares, rolling separately for each defender. She can flare out a shockwave of fierce force that pushes opponents back, and harms them.

Additionally, she gains a +4 bonus on Strength checks to move or break objects with her body.

Sacred Power (Su): As a swift action, she channels divine energy, granting her a +2 sacred bonus to either her Strength or Dexterity for 1 round.

Fly (Ex): At 3rd level, the deva proselyte's little wings grow bigger and stronger, fully maturing. She gains a fly speed equal to double her land speed with poor maneuverability. When capable, her wings enable her to negate damage from a fall of any height, unfurling even when unconscious or helpless. A deva proselyte can't fly while carrying a medium or heavy load.

If the deva proselyte already has an extraordinary fly speed from a previous source, she may instead increase that speed by 10 feet.

The deva proselyte can no longer wear armor fitted for humanoid costs (if she could do so before).

Her maneuverability increases to average at 5th and good at 7th deva proselyte levels.

Reduced Needs (Ex): At 3rd level, the deva proselyte's need for sustenance and rest is reduced. She now only requires half as much food, water and rest. See: Starvation and Thirst and Healing. Her natural healing rate from resting is doubled. Additionally, she gains Endurance as a bonus feat.

Tongues (Su): At 3rd level, the deva proselyte hears and understands the words of all creatures, also being able to speak to them in turn. She is under the constant effect of the spell tongues as a supernatural ability.

Good Subtype: At 4th level, the deva proselyte gains the Good subtype. Her attacks (such as natural weapons, wielded weapons, feral strikes, weapon-like spells and celestial bolts) now overcome the appropriate damage reduction as they are good-aligned.

Booster (Ex): At 5th level, the deva proselyte gains a +10 bonus to her land speed as well as the Run feat as a bonus feat. If she already has Run as a feat, her running speed increases by a multiple.

At 7th level, the deva proselyte's booster bonus increases by an additional +10 feet and her run speed increases another multiple.

Astral Stride (Su): As she becomes attuned to a higher state of existence, she has learned to step between planes and get the drop on her foes. At 8th level, as a move action, a deva proselyte may teleport herself a distance up to half her land speed. If she attempts to teleport herself into an occupied or solid space, the ability fails and she moves nowhere. She may only take up to her maximum carrying load with her and may not take other creatures (a familiar counts as part of the subject's self for this purpose, so long as the two are touching).

Holy Confluence: Soul and flesh come closer to unity. The deva proselyte becomes an outsider with the native subtype. At 8th level, a deva proselyte no longer takes penalties to her ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that she has already taken, however, remain in place. Bonuses still accrue and she has no maximum age. If the deva proselyte desires, she may revert the appearance of her age up to that of an adult (if she is older than the adult age category). A deva proselyte can still be brought back from the dead as if she were a member of her previous creature type.

Return Home (Sp): At 9th level, a deva proselyte is a creature of two worlds, and as such, has two home planes: the plane it was born from and a celestial plane (or whichever plane is being used for the setting that most closely matches the deva proselyte's alignment or the home plane of the deva proselyte's patron deity). A deva proselyte can plane shift herself and up to her maximum load in objects only a number of times per day equal to 1 + her Charisma bonus to either of her home planes only. This ability otherwise functions as the spell plane shift. The caster level is equal to her total HD.

Wings of Thunder (Ex) and (Su): At 9th level, a deva proselyte gains the Wings of Thunder stance as a maneuver-like ability.

Celestial Quintessence: The deva proselyte's body and soul are unified. She loses the native subtype. She no longer needs to sleep (or trance for elven folk), drink or eat, but she may still do so if she desires. A deva proselyte can still be brought back from the dead as if she were a member of her previous creature type.

Ex-Deva Proselytes

A deva proselyte who no longer meets the requirements to take this class (such as by becoming evil, incorporeal, a construct or undead) doesn't lose any class features, but can no longer advance in this class.

If she later meets the requirements again, she may continue to take additional levels as normal.

Campaign Information

“	We pass on a little of ourselves with every deed... ...with every choice we make.	”
—Minuina Ourus, deeka deva proselyte

Playing a Deva Proselyte

Combat: Deva proselytes are secondary melee forces, providing a bit of support as well as distracting opponents and dealing damage. Alternately, they can hang back and protect the back line of forces, providing support and firing off celestial bolts.

Advancement: Generally, it will be the more straightforward classes that enter into this prestige class, such as barbarian, fighter, paladin, ranger and rogue. Those that see this class through to it's end often branch off into other prestige classes, rather than going back to a base class.

Resources: Within a campaign, a deva proselyte might be part of a religion (or cult), having allies outside of the party because of her station. Alternately, a deva proselyte might have a patron outsider (possibly one within her own family as a distant ancestor) to provide direction and mentoring. Deva proselytes don't necessarily get along with each other, due to their varied alignments and backgrounds, though, in times of war or trying hardships, they often set aside their differences and work toward common goals.

Deva Proselytes in the World

Paladins are common. Deva proselytes aren't common. There simply aren't a whole lot of folk determined enough to change themselves to such a drastic degree that it alters the core of their soul and being forevermore by pursuing the path of the deva proselyte. While the paladin is gifted with a calling and the ability to channel divine power (and a fancy means of transportation), the deva proselyte may not be aware of how she is transforming, channeling divine power from herself. Deva proselytes can be a mysterious bunch, for whatever gift is bestowed upon them, it leaves its mark in a dramatic way. Much like the paladin, they eternally struggle toward some goal, knowingly or unknowingly, as forces unseen play their part in the cosmic multiverse.

NPC Reactions: Most NPCs are common folk, and are typically unaccustomed to seeing outsiders. Deva proselytes are often met with curiosity.

Deva Proselyte Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (the planes) can research deva proselytes to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (religion) or Knowledge (the planes)

DC	Result
6	Deva proselytes are folk who gradually become celestials.
11	Deva proselytes are partly composed of the physical manifestation of goodness.
16	A deva proselyte is good because she does good, holding a weakness in their defenses against pure wickedness.
21	A powerful deva proselyte is capable of doing many of the things a powerful celestial does, having earned that power through tribulation and tempering of their very soul.
26	Deva proselytes are an alternate path to becoming an outsider that a soul may take in its quest toward self actualization. True celestials are not known to immediately get along with deva proselytes, as their history as mortals makes them suspect until proven.

Deva Proselytes in the Game

A deva proselyte is a combatant against the forces of wickedness that permeate and corrupt the planes. As PCs, there's never any shortage of conflicts to tackle, and gradually, those conflicts grow increasingly threatening to the wellbeing of existence as they level. As NPCs, deva proselytes come and go, providing assistance or information as needed, or as cruxes for evil PCs who just can't seem to keep a goodly antagonist down.

NPC deva proselytes rarely operate alone, preferring to either take orders and work in a group, or command a group of their own, ensuring victory with tactics and numbers. A deva proselyte separated from her allies will activate her divine aura to weaken her opponents, while a protected deva proselyte will bolster her allies from harm. In either case, this makes her a rather large target and relies on her resistances to keep her alive.

Adaptation: The deva proselyte, associated with outsiders, is often connected to religions and deities, adding a feeling of cosmic influence to a game. With their open-entry and varied backgrounds, deva proselytes are going to vary in flavor from campaign to campaign anyhow.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Classes → Prestige Classes