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Dreadmasters seek to rule absolutely, preferably through terror and domination.

Requirements

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A dreadmaster gains no weapon or armor proficiencies.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each dreadmaster level, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of turning or destroying undead, metamagic or item creation feats, and so on). If the character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a dreadmaster, the player must decide to which class to add each dreadmaster level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

Dominating Aura (Su): A dreadmaster is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Enemies within 20 feet of a dreadmaster suffer a —4 morale penalty on saving throws against fear effects. The radius of this aura increases at 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level.

Insidious Insight (Ex): A dreadmaster has a knack for ferreting out what others are up to so that he can more effectively keep control. Beginning at 2nd level, dreadmasters receive a +2 circumstance bonus on Sense Motive and Gather Information checks.

Rodcraft (Ex): Dreadmasters have an affinity for magic rods, seeing them as an extension of the symbolism of the divine scepter of rulership that is also seen in Bane's favored weapon, the morningstar. Beginning at 4th level, when a dreadmaster makes a rod, the DCs for saving throws against the powers of rods they craft are twohigher than would be those made by a nondreadmaster crafter of comparable level. They especially love to make rods of rulership, enemy detection, and lordly might.

Enhanced Leadership (Ex): Beginning at 6th level, the dreadmaster receives a +2 bonus to his Leadership score. This increases to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 10th level. (He still cannot attract a cohort of greater than his character level.) At 6th through 10th level, a dreadmaster does not suffer the —2 cumulative Leadership penalty for causing the death of a cohort for one cohort per each dreadmaster level above 5th (up to a total of five cohorts at 10th level). Dreadmasters of 10th level do not suffer the normal general —2 Leadership penalty for cruelty.

Fanatical Loyalty (Su): Followers and cohorts of the dreadmaster become fanatically loyal to the dreadmaster, with only Bane himself inspiring greater loyalty in them. They do not balk at life-threatening actions or actions that would normally lie outside their moral compunctions or normal behavior if the dreadmaster asks them to perform such actions. Spells that the dreadmaster has cast upon his cohorts that normally grant a saving throw or saving throw bonus if the subject is asked to take life-threatening actions or actions contrary to her nature do not do so when the subject is fanatically loyal to the dreadmaster. The dreadmaster gains this ability at 8th level.

Special Cohort: The dreadmaster attracts a special cohort (see Chapter 2 of the Dungeon Master's Guide ) in addition to any cohort already gained. If a leader loses this special cohort, he can generally replace it, according to his current Leadership score. It takes time (1d4 months) to recruit a replacement. At 10th level, the dreadmaster attracts a second special cohort in addition to any cohort or special cohorts already gained. Because of the lawful nature of Bane, special cohorts who are mutually inimical by type, alignment, or nature are not drawn to the same dreadmaster. Use the "Example Dreadmaster Special Cohorts" table to select special cohorts gained through this ability.

*Found in Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn.

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