Plagueshifter

Few forces have devastated the world as badly as plague. Though magic is partially to blame as well, the Plaguelands of Lordaeron are a testament to the ravages that disease can bring to the world. Wh ile other peoples perpetually bemoan their dead and portray themselves as the sole victims of the pestilence of the age, the stoic races of the Horde soldier on, accepting life's misfortunes without feeling a need to complain. Unlike others, the wise races of the Horde realized that the plague must be fought intelligently and skillfully , through knowledge and not with wild sword strokes. After long and careful deliberation, the Horde formed a new order of druids, the plagueshifters, who were

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Plagueshifters gain no new proficiencies with weapons or armor. Spell Slots per Day: At 2nd level and every two levels thereafter, the plagueshifter gains new spell slots per day as if she had also gained a level in the spellcasting class in which she could cast remove disease before she added the plagueshifter level. She does not gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If she had more than one spellcasting class in which she could cast remove disease before she became a plagueshifter, she must decide to which class she adds each level of plagueshifter for the purpose of determining spell slots per day.

Protection From Contagion (Ex): The plagueshifter is resistant to disease. She gains a bonus equal to her plagueshifter level on saves against disease. Note that this ability becomes moot at 7th level. Recognize Contagion (Ex): The plagueshifter can recognize any natural disease with a DC 15 Heal check, and any magical disease with a DC 20 Knowledge (arcana) check. The GM may increase the DCs for especially rare diseases.

Unravage (Su): The plagueshifter's mystical forces protect her not only against disease, but also against the creatures that carry them. Against any creature with a disease-causing attack, the plaugetamer gains an insight bonus equal to half her level (minimum +1) on damage rolls and to AC.

Summon White Pack (Sp): At 2nd level, once per day the plagueshifter can summon 1d4+1 strange creatures called white hounds. They have the statistics of normal dogs (see the Monster Guide web extras), but they understand the plagueshifter's speech and obey her to the best of their ability. The white pack cures by a touch; they can use cure light wounds as a spell-like ability at will (caster level 1st). In addition, their bites carry a cure light wounds effect, which means they can deal extra damage to undead creatures (DC 12 Will save half). The dogs can activate or deactivate this ability at will (so they don't heal living creatures they bite). The white hounds have an insight bonus equal to the plagueshifter's class level on attack and damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks and Armor Class. They receive bonus hit points equal to three times the plagueshifter's level. This ability is otherwise similar to a summon nature's ally spell. The plagueshifter's caster level is equal to 5 + her plagueshifter level. The plagueshifter can use this ability twice per day at 5th level and three times per day at 8th level. Sanctuary Against

Disease (Su): At 2nd level, any creature with a disease-causing attack must make a Will save (DC 10 + the plagueshifter's level in this class + the plagueshifter's Spirit modifier) in order to use that attack against the plagueshifter. The creature may use non-disease-bearing attacks without penalty. At 6th level, the sanctuary affects all allies within 10 feet. At 10th level, it affects all allies within 20 feet.

Concert of Body and Mind (Ex): At 3rd level, the plagueshifter's body and mind are strong enough to resist the effects of poison, disease and similar effects. Whenever she takes damage to an ability score, she takes -1 fewer point of damage. This resistance to ability damage improves by +1 at 4th level and every two levels thereafter (she reduces ability damage by -2 and 4th level, -3 at 6th level, and -4 at 8th level), until 9th level, when the ability becomes moot. T urn V ermin (Su): At 3rd level, the plagueshifter can turn or destroy vermin as a priest of her plagueshifter level turns or destroys undead. P l

Guardians (Su): At 4th level, the plagueshifter can enchant four stones and place them in a square to protect an area from harm. All vermin are unable to enter the area; likewise natural diseases are also barred. Contagion spells fail to function in the area; even magical diseases are less effective, for anyone who resides within the guardians' boundaries receives a +4 resistance bonus on his saving throws against disease. All diseased creatures within the area do not spread their illness, nor do they suffer the disease's effects. The area protected is a square 25 feet on a side, with a stone at each corner. Setting up the area takes 1 minute. The effects last for as long as the plagueshifter cares to leave the stones in place; other effects and creatures cannot move them. Dispel magic can suppress the effects for 1d4 rounds (the caster level equals 10 + the plagueshifter's level in this class). A plagueshifter can have only one set of plague guardians at a time. If she loses them, she can create a new set in 1 hour.

Purify Food and Drink (Sp): At 4th level, the plagueshifter can use purify food and drink as a spell-like ability at will. Her caster level equals her plagueshifter level. Barbaric F ever (Su): At 5th level, as a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity, the plagueshifter can touch a living creature and infect it with a short-duration, low-grade fever that puts it into a berserker state. This fever produces an effect that is identical to a barbarian's rage ability. The subject is fatigued afterward, as with a barbarian's rage. An unwilling creature can resist this ability with a Will save (DC 10 + the plagueshifter's level + the plagueshifter's Spirit modifier). When the barbaric fever passes, all disease and poison is burned out of the creature's system - any disease or poison from which the subject suffers ends, though ability damage and other effects remain. The plagueshifter can use this ability at will, and an individual creature can benefit from it any number of times per day. This ability does not stack with the rage ability (if the subject is a barbarian or orc, for example).

Reverse Plague (Su): At 5th level, any enemy who casts contagion within 30 feet of the plagueshifter affects himself as well as (potentially) his target. He must make a saving throw against his own spell or suffer the disease he chose for his target. W onder of Body and Mind (Ex): At 5th level, the plagueshifter's concert of body and mind ability protects her from ability score drain as well as damage. Spirit of the Waters (Sp): At 6th level, once per day the plagueshifter can summon a greater deep elemental. The elemental must stay in fresh water, and cannot venture more than 120 feet from where it was summoned. All waters within 200 feet of the elemental are made free from corruption and disease and are drinkable; even the polluted filth of the Eastern Plaguelands is cleansed. The elemental remains until the plagueshifter dismisses it (a swift action) or summons another.The water can be polluted again. This ability is otherwise similar to a summon nature's ally spell. The plagueshifter's caster level is equal to 5 + her plagueshifter level. Garden of

W onders (Su): At 7th level, the plagueshifter may plant a magical garden that yields an incredible bounty of fruits, grain and nuts. She requires a week, working 10 hours each day, to plant the garden, and there must be at least 2,500 square feet of available farming space. The garden then grows on its own for 8 months; the plagueshifter may travel as she likes during this time. After this time, the plagueshifter makes a DC 10 Profession (farmer) check; for every point by which she succeeds on the check, the garden produces enough food to feed 25 Medium creatures (or 10 Large creatures) for an entire year. For example, if the plagueshifter rolls 20 on the Profession check, she exceeds the DC by 10; and that year, the garden feeds 250 orcs or 100 ogres. If the plagueshifter dies during the 8 months the garden grows, the garden withers and dies. Even normally carnivorous creatures may eat from this garden and be content. Regardless of pestilence, blight or frost, the harvest cannot be diminished. However, fire (or flooding with befouled water) destroys the garden. The plagueshifter may only grow one garden of wonders each year.

Immunity to Disease (Ex): At 7th level, the plagueshifter gains immunity to all diseases, both magical and mundane. Spontaneous Casting (Ex): A plagueshifter casts the following spells spontaneously, just as a priest may spontaneously cast cure wounds spells. She may expend a 2nd-level spell slot to cast remove disease. She may Table 3 -6: The Plagueshifter (Psh) Base Class Attack Fort Ref Will Level Bonus Save Save Save Special Spell Slots per Day 1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Protection from contagion, recognize contagion, unravage - 2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Sanctuary against disease, summon white pack 1/day +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class 3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Concert of body and mind (-1), turn vermin - 4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Concert of body and mind (-2), plague guardians +1 level of existing divine , purify food and drink spellcasting class 5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Barbaric fever, reverse plague, summon white pack - 2/day, wonder of body and mind 6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Concert of body and mind (-3), sanctuary against +1 level of existing divine disease (10 ft.), spirit of waters spellcasting class 7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Garden of wonders, immunity to disease, spontaneous casting - 8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Concert of body and mind (-4), enhanced power, +1 level of existing summon white pack 3/day divine spellcasting class 9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Symphony of body and mind - 10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Sanctuary against disease (20 ft.), soul tree +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class There was a thumping sound, and Mertada watched as a giant, watery blast squashed her summoned hounds. As she expected, the dogs didn't last long, but they did buy her time to close with her foe. She drew a spear, and sunk it into the elemental. It howled, and bled some green filth that reeked - an almost unbearable stench. She dodged a huge clubbing blow, then a second. The elemental towered over her, and attempted to bestow some blight upon her through force of will. That was a mistake - although she was dwarfed by her foe, her will was stronger. She took a step back, and cried out to the world around her, to bring forth a champion. Suddenly, the waters congealed, foamed, transformed from black to dark blue, and a wave-crowned champion arose. Though half the size of the befouled elemental, it was uninjured. They wrestled, giving Mertada a chance to skewer the befouled creature with her spear, again and again, like a hunter who had seen a seemingly dead boar spring to life on his last hunt, and wanted to assure himself that he would never again question a kill. She felt the land itself prod her while she struck the hateful thing; she was its instrument of nature's revenge, and its power magnified her strikes. After nearly a minute of furious stabbing, the titan finally fell, and the waters drenched the lands for many yards around its wake. T wo bracers fell to the swamped ground with twin thuds. Mertada's victorious elemental roared and swirled the waters; as it did, the stench of decay wafted away, borne on a new, triumphant wind. The defilement would be cleansed, the spring would become drinkable again and no longer taint any streams. The sun paladin staggered over to her, holding his head. She had not seen him dispatch his foe, nor had she taken note of when his singing silenced. "One of his blows caught me in the sk ull. Perhaps he cracked it. It hurts to think…." "You fought well," she answered. It was an honest answer to be sure, for few knights could face a befouled spirit alone, let alone so bravely. "Thanks," the sun paladin said. "Though this headache almost makes me wish for death. I have availed myself of all healing," the sun paladin explained. "Can you take away this pain?" "Y es," the tauren answered. "But I will not. You would squander my gift, use it to return to battle and attack my comrades. I will not kill you, but I will also not aid you. Return to your people, and if you strike against my friends, may you feed the grasses today." The paladin, gritting his teeth, nodded in acknowledgement. "Light be with you," he managed to grunt, and he staggered back to his people. Mertada, however, did not return to hers. Looking over the spring, she thought she had found the perfect place to plant some flowers. expend a 3rd-level spell slot to cast neutralize poison, and a 5th-level spell slot to use her spirit of the waters ability. At 7th level, the plagueshifter may expend a 6th-level spell slot use her summon white pack ability. Enhanced P ower (Ex): At 8th level, the plagueshifter focuses on one of her powers. She gains one of the following benefits of her choice: • Increase the number of plague dogs summoned to 1d6+1. • Increase her unravage bonus by +2. • Double the area covered by her plague guardian ability. • Double the radius affected by the spirit of the waters. • Double the yield of the garden of wonders. • Gain spell slots as if she had gained a level in her divine spellcasting class (see "Spell Slots per Day," above). (She would, in essence, gain two spellcasting levels at once.) Symphony of

Body and Mind (Ex): At 9th level, the plagueshifter's life force is so strong that she becomes immune to ability score damage, ability score drain and energy drain. Soul T ree (Su): At 10th level, the plagueshifter can plant a magical tree. Planting the tree takes 1 day, and it grows to maturity in 1 week. The tree has hardness 7, 100 hit points, and vulnerability to fire. Once it is mature, it provides the following benefits. The tree radiates a zone of protection from contagion and vermin, identical to the zone protected by plague guardians, within a 120-foot radius. If the tree is already within the area of the plagueshifter's plague guardians, the radius increases to 240 feet (or 360 feet, if the plagueshifter enhanced her plague guardian ability at 8th level). Once per day, the plagueshifter can call on the tree's power and use cure critical wounds as a spell-like ability (caster level 20th). She can use this ability only to heal herself. Once per day, the plagueshifter can call on the tree's power and use heal as a spell-like ability (caster level 20th). She can use this ability only to heal herself. F inally, if the plagueshifter is slain, she is immediately resurrected (as true resurrection) at the site of the tree. This causes the tree to wither and die, and she needs to plant a new tree if she wishes to regain its benefits. The tree is imbued with a piece of the plagueshifter's life force. She loses 1 point of Spirit if the tree is ever destroyed. The plagueshifter may only have one soul tree at a time.