Snowcloak Mystic (3.5e Prestige Class)

Snowcloak Mystic

“	For the Bonali, colours have many meanings. Blue is for chieftans, purple for murderers, red for warriors or healers. White is reserved for our holiest sages; who alone know the history of our snowcloaked past.	”
—Z'Tali, Bonali Snowcloak Mystic

'Bonali' refers to the nomadic tribes native to Bana, their word for the northern wilds above Atavia. They are also called Wanderers, the Northern Sirens, and the Lost Tribes of Atavia. They are a mysterious people known for their deep-seated xenophobia and their magical, musical traditions. Bonali do not speak their language, they sing it. To 'speak' Bonali requires the pitch of their voices to rise and fall in a melodious manner. 'Tune' is equivalent to 'tone' for the Bonali. Their history is passed down orally from father to son and mother to daughter with err, along with tunes for work, hymns for prayer, songs for dancing, and dirges for burials. But there are many reverent songs known only by the holy people of the Bonali, the Snowcloak Mystics, so named for their traditional white clothes. These mystics are expected not just to know every song of the Bonali people, but the songs of their gods, the Se'Pa. Their religion is known as the 'Soul Song', and their greatest magical powers come from their music. Sorcerers are common, Bards even more so, and Bonali clerics are granted their power from the Se'Pa by holy hymns. The Snowcloak Mystic is thus the most learned and powerful Bonali of a tribe.

Becoming a Snowcloak Mystic

The Bonali do not let just anyone become a Snowcloak Mystic. It is a right that must be earned by blood, tradition and education, and is not given away lightly. A Snowcloak Mystic must have the recommendation of a tribe chieftain, and must have a basic understanding of both arcane and divine magic, plus knowledge of the Bonali people. Most importantly, a Snowcloak Mystic is expected to be able to sing, and to do so in Bonali.

Snowcloak Mystics are rare, and are limited to one per tribe. If a Snowcloak Mystic is made while one exists, it is expected of the new mystic to leave the tribe to found a new one, taking with them the knowledge, history and culture of their people.

Entry Requirements

Skills:	Diplomacy 7 ranks, Gather Information 7 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 7 ranks, Knowledge (history) 7 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 7 ranks, Perform (singing) 13 ranks, Speak Language (Bonali).
Spellcasting:	Able to cast at 1st level Arcane and Divine spells
Alignment:	Any Neutral
Special:	Bardic music and turn or revoke undead class feature
Special:	Invitation by a Bonali chieftain to become a Snowcloak Mystic

Table: Snowcloak Mystic

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+0	+2	+2	Bardic music, turn or rebuke undead	+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
6th	+4	+2	+5	+5		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7th	+5	+2	+5	+5		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8th	+5	+2	+6	+6		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9th	+6	+3	+6	+6		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10th	+7	+3	+7	+7		+1 level of existing arcane spellcasting class and +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
Class Skills (6 + Int modifier) Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Spellcraft (Int), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Snowcloak Mystic.

Spellcasting: At each level, a Snowcloak Mystic gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in any one arcane spellcasting class and any one divine spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If she had more than one arcane spellcasting class or divine spellcasting class before becoming a Snowcloak Mystic, she must decide to which class to add each Snowcloak Mystic level for the purpose of determining spells per day, spells known, and overall caster level.

Bardic Music: A Snowcloak Mystic adds her snowcloak mystic level to her bard level to determine the number of times per day she can use her bardic music, the bardic music abilities she can employ, and the power of those abilities. For example, a 2nd-level cleric/5th-level bard/3rd-level Snowcloak Mystic can use her bardic music eight times per day, can use any bardic music ability an 8th-level bard could use (assuming she meets the Perform skill rank requirements), and is treated as an 8th-level bard for adjudicating the effects of those abilities (such as number of targets, save DC, and so forth).

Turn or Rebuke Undead (Su): Any Snowcloak Mystic, regardless of alignment, has the power to affect undead creatures by channelling the power of her faith through her holy (or unholy) symbol. See the cleric class feature, page 33 of the Player’s Handbook. She adds her Snowcloak Mystic class level to her turning checks, so her turning damage rolls (or dispel turning) have a bonus equal to her cleric level + her Snowcloak Mystic level + her Cha modifier.

Ex-Snowcloak Mystics

Playing a Snowcloak Mystic

Combat: A Snowcloak Mystic combines the spellcasting and class features of the bard and cleric, in exchange for less proficiency in close combat. This leaves the Snowcloak Mystic as the perfect support caster, being able to prepare defensive spells before combat, then spontaneously provide distracting and healing magic as needed.

Advancement: After learning all that they can of the ways of the Bonali, Snowcloak Mystics often return to their clerical ways, as they have most likely learnt all there is to know about bardic music and magic as a Snowcloak. Some Snowcloak Mystics may continue to advance both fields of magic at once, becoming Mystic Theurge's of a greater power.

Resources: Snowcloak Mystics, though technically having all the resources of their clan at hand, are expected to be able to support themselves in the event they are tasked to start a new clan. Those in good regard with their clan can seek them out and request aid, and any Bonali clan respects a Snowcloak Mystic enough to at least room and board them and their companions, even a mystic that belongs to a rival, or enemy, clan.

Snowcloak Mystics in the World

“	The whitecloak is the worst; he thinks he's so much better than us.	”
—Palan, Elven Barkeep

When they travel alone, Snowcloak Mystics are seens as gypsies, but little more than that. When travelling with their people, Snowcloak Mystics stand above them, and their significance is obvious, if ambiguous.

NPC Reactions: Snowcloak Mystics are gypsies, and take that stereotype with them. Other Bonali know to treat the Snowcloak Mystic with respect. Those that have run into a Snowcloak Mystic before may recognise that the powder white cloaks they wear are rare, but often take this as reason to direct all blame they would otherwise heap on the Bonali to them.

Snowcloak Mystic Lore

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

Knowledge (Religion)

DC	Result
11	Snowcloak Mystics use magical music to access both arcane and divine magic.
16	Snowcloak Mystics are, usually, members of the Bonali people. They know all of the oral history of their people.
21	Bonali tribes are restricted to one Snowcloak Mystic per tribe, which they keep close.
26	Snowcloak Mystics are sometimes banished to start a new tribe.

Snowcloak Mystics in the Game

Adaptation:

Sample Encounter:

EL whatever:

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