Noble Scion
Whether from a privileged upbringing or social elevation through worthy deeds, nobility is a station to which many aspire. To some noble scions, their mantle is one of responsibility and the duties of governance. To others, the privileges of rank are rewards to f launt and lavish upon themselves, without consideration of the commoners, peasants, and other underlings who exist wholly beneath their notice.
The aristocracies of Golarion’s many countries are as varied as the lands they reside within. A Taldan viceroy on his way to the opera, bedecked in spectacularly gaudy evening attire complete with an exquisitely jeweled codpiece, is a far cry from a Qadiran princess in riding apparel of finest silk astride a priceless thoroughbred stallion. That said, all scions of nobility have a number of features in common: power, servants, wealth, and the firm certainty that their place is at the apex of society.
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements
To qualify to become a noble scion, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Feats: Noble Scion (The Inner Sea World Guide 288) or Skill Focus (any skill that’s a class skill for this prestige class).
Skills: Bluff 2 ranks, Diplomacy 2 ranks, Knowledge (nobility) 5 ranks, Sense Motive 2 ranks.
Special: Must have been granted noble rights, be part of the aristocracy, or have been born, married, or adopted into a noble family.
Noble Scion
You are a member of a proud noble family, whether or not you remain in good standing with your family.
Prerequisites: Cha 13, must be taken at 1st level.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Knowledge (nobility) checks, and that chosen Knowledge skill is always considered a class skill for you.
When you select this feat, choose one of the benefits listed below that matches the f lavor of your noble family. Work with your GM to ensure that your choice is appropriate.
Scion of the Arts: You gain a +1 bonus on all Perform checks, and Perform is always a class skill for you. If you have the bardic performance ability, you can use that ability for an additional 3 rounds per day.
Scion of Lore: You gain a +1 bonus on all Knowledge skills in which you have at least 1 rank.
Scion of Magic: You gain one of the following languages as a bonus language: Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Draconic, Infernal, or Sylvan. Once per day, as a free action, you can gain a +2 bonus on any Spellcraft check you make. You must spend the free action to gain this bonus before you make the check.
Scion of Peace: Whenever you take 10 on a Wisdom-based skill, treat the result as if you had rolled a 13 instead of a 10.
Scion of War: You use your Charisma modifier to adjust Initiative checks instead of your Dexterity modifier.
Class Skills
The noble scion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are class features of the noble scion prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A noble scion is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as all forms of armor and shields (not including tower shields).
Aff luent (Ex): At each level, a noble scion gains a stipend worth a number of gold pieces equal to 750 multiplied by his class level. (He gains 750 gp at 1st level, an additional 1,500 gp at 2nd level, and so on.)
Greater Leadership (Ex): At 2nd level, a noble scion gains the Leadership feat as a bonus feat. He can recruit a cohort up to one level lower than himself. At 10th level, he can recruit a cohort of the same level as himself.
Aristocratic Erudition (Ex): At 3rd level, a noble scion gains a bonus equal to 1/2 his class level on Diplomacy, Knowledge (local), and Knowledge (nobility) checks. This ability also reduces the DCs of Diplomacy and Knowledge (local) checks others make to gather publicly known information about the noble scion by the same amount.
Prestigious Inf luence (Ex): At 4th level, a noble scion can use his inf luence to receive special treatment, favors, and other services. He effectively has a pool of virtual gold pieces equal to 150 gp plus 10 gp per class level to spend on services and non-material goods. This pool replenishes at the beginning of every week.
Services and nonmaterial goods available to a noble scion include:
- Pay for lodgings, stabling, taxes, and tolls.
- Improve his lifestyle quality (Core Rulebook 405).
- Hire entertainers, messengers, mounts, servants, transport, workers, and so on.
- Obtain invitations to exclusive events, or entry into privileged locations.
- Spread rumors or start a whispering campaign.
- Purchase spellcasting services.
- Employ an expert hireling to make a skill check with a check bonus of +10 plus his class level (50 gp).
A noble scion cannot permanently gain goods or wealth from this ability; boons attainable from this ability are generally only available in settlements of 5,000 people or more. The exact benefits available in a location are subject to GM discretion.
Regional Expertise (Ex): At 4th level, and again at 6th and 8th level, a noble scion gains a bonus feat from one of the lists below, depending on where he is from. These feats must be taken from the same list at each level (except for feats under the “general” category, which can be taken by nobles from any region). A noble scion need not meet the prerequisites for these feats. At their discretion, GMs may add other feats to these regions or create lists for other regions.
Brevoy: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Aldori dueling swordISWG), Flanking FoilUC, Step Up, Weapon Focus (Aldori dueling swordISWG).
Cheliax: Careful SpeakerISWG, EnforcerAPG, Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Knowledge [planes]).
Jalmeray: Improved Unarmed Strike, Skill Focus (Perform [dance]), Voice of the SibylUM, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike).
Kyonin: Agile Maneuvers, Breadth of ExperienceAPG, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nature]), Weapon Focus (longbow).
Nidal: Blind-Fight, Diehard, Shadow StrikeAPG, Stealthy.
Osirion: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (khopeshAPG), Self- Sufficient, Skill Focus (Knowledge [history]), Weapon Focus (khopeshAPG).
Qadira: Animal Affinity, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Appraise), Weapon Focus (scimitar).
River Kingdoms: Improved Dirty TrickAPG, Improved StealAPG, IrongutsAPG, Skill Focus (Knowledge [local]).
Taldor: Dazzling Display, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (falcataAPG), Skill Focus (Bluff ), Weapon Focus (falcataAPG).
Ustalav: Combat Ref lexes, Focused DisciplineISWG, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nobility]), StoicISWG.
General: Acrobatic, Additional TraitsAPG, Alertness, AntagonizeUM, Athletic, CosmopolitanAPG, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Fleet, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, ProdigyUM, Rhetorical FlourishUC, Run, ScholarISWG.
Careful Speaker
The paranoid terror that comes from living in a region with a dangerous government has made you unusually aware of what you say.
Prerequisites: Wisdom 13.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Bluff checks made to fool someone or pass secret messages (but not to feint in combat), and a +2 bonus on all Will saves against attempts to scry upon you or read your mind.
Focused Discipline (Combat)
Familiarity with the military traditions of your homeland inspires uncommon valor in you.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all saving throws against fear effects. Whenever a fear effect targets you and fails to affect you (either because of a successful saving throw or because of immunity to fear), you gain a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and CMB checks against the creature that attempted to use the fear affect on you for 1 round.
Scholar
You have graduated from one of the many colleges, universities, and specialty schools of higher learning scattered throughout the Inner Sea region.
Benefit: Pick any two Knowledge skills. You gain a +2 bonus on these two skills. If you have 10 or more ranks in one of these Knowledge skills, the bonus increases to +4 for that skill.
Stoic
You know from firsthand experience that life is a series of unforgiving trials, and that fear itself is something that can be conquered.
Prerequisite: Iron Will.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on all saving throws against fear effects. If you successfully save against any fear effect, you are immune to further fear effects from that source for 24 hours.
Dilettante Studies: At 5th level, a noble scion chooses two different dilettante studies from the list below. At 9th level, he again chooses two different dilettante studies to add to his repertoire. If either of these are duplicates of those chosen at 5th level, the bonuses stack.
Dilettante Performer (Su): A noble scion treats his effective bard level as two higher for the purpose of the bardic performance class ability. He must have the bardic performance class ability to choose this dilettante study.
Dilettante Scholar (Su): A noble scion gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class (see page 3).
Dilettante Scoundrel (Ex): A noble scion gains a +1d6 sneak attack bonus as per the rogue class ability. If a noble scion gets a sneak attack bonus from another source, the bonuses on damage stack.
Dilettante Warrior (Ex): A noble scion gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls.
Servitor (Ex): At 7th level, a noble scion gains a faithful NPC servitor of the same level as his cohort granted by the Leadership feat. This servitor can only have levels in NPC classes (Core Rulebook 446) and comes equipped with gear appropriate for a character 1 level lower than the servitor’s actual level. The servitor does not follow the noble scion as would a cohort or follower, but instead can run various errands for his master while the noble scion is adventuring, such as delivering messages or maintaining the scion’s manor in his stead.
Peerless Patrician (Ex): At 10th level, once per round a noble scion can roll twice on any Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (nobility), or Sense Motive check and take the better roll. Once per day, instead of rolling one of these skill checks, he can assume the roll resulted in a natural 20.
