PRIEST-CRUSADER KIT

Purifier

Description:  Purifiers represent those members of a Crusader order who have 
taken upon themselves the task of ridding the world of the blight of a 
particular race or creature that they feel is inimical to their faith and the 
values their deity espouses.  The only way to 'purify' the world is for all 
members of this species to be eradicated wherever they may be found, wiping them 
utterly from the face of the land and cleansing it from their taint.  For many 
Purifiers, this attitude derives from some time in their lives when they 
experienced a terrifying attack against themselves or a loved one or family 
member by some creature of the type that later becomes their chosen foe.  For 
others, it may have been a tragedy visited upon a stranger that led them to 
their chosen path.  In some cases, Purifiers may view their profession as a 
righteous and honorable calling to cull negative influences from the environment 
and protect those who might be harmed, or even as an act of compassion to free 
the disturbed and tormented spirits trapped within the black hearts of their 
chosen foes, allowing them to depart from their tortured bondage in this world 
to go on to their final rest in the planes.  In most cases, however, Purifiers 
share strikingly similar motives:  a good dose of moral superiority mixed with 
righteous indignation, often catalyzed by an overpowering desire for revenge.

Purifiers share the usual requirements of Crusaders in terms of race, alignment, 
and ability scores, save that Purifiers have no minimum Charisma score (their 
almost maniacal obsession with their chosen prey does not generally lend itself 
well to interpersonal interaction); however, they must have at least a 12 
Intelligence and scores of 14 in both Wisdom and Constitution.

Weapons & Armor:  As a standard Crusader.

Special Benefits:  Purifiers gain the usual spheres of spell access granted to 
all Crusaders.  In addition, they can select major access to a single sphere 
that is relevant to their chosen prey--most often Necromantic for Purifiers who 
battle undead or Summoning for those who fight extraplanar creatures.  Where a 
particular connection is not obvious, the player should check with the DM and 
work out a bonus sphere that is appropriate to the chosen foe.

Battle Prowess:  As a standard Crusader.

Nemesis:  All Purifiers must choose a general category of creatures in which to 
specialize (e.g., giants, baatezu), plus one specific creature type (e.g., fire 
giants, pit fiends) that represents their mortal enemy.  When fighting any 
creature of their chosen category, a Purifier gains a +1 bonus on rolls to hit 
and to saves vs. mental attacks of all types (-1 to Telepathic power scores).  
In addition, any of their spells directed at such creatures impose a penalty of 
-1 to saving throws.  Against the Purifier's specific chosen creature type, 
these bonuses are doubled.  Purifiers must be exceptionally brave to carry 
through their special mission and so are always immune to fear. 

The intensive study of their chosen foes by Purifiers allows them to identify 
creatures of that type with a successful Intelligence check with a +1 bonus for 
every three levels of experience (rounding up).  A successful check allows the 
Purifier to recall the creature's specific weaknesses and abilities or 
immunities, though a failed check may reveal misleading information, and 
penalties may apply for special or unique creatures within the Purifier's 
category.  Note that a Purifier always knows the strengths, weaknesses, habits, 
and the like of his or her specific chosen creature type, without the need for a 
check.  This is a special application of the general Monster Lore proficiency 
that all Purifiers must learn (without the normal -4 penalty) and applies to the 
Purifier's chosen enemies even if they are undead or extraplanar.

Because of the immense satisfaction and fulfillment a Purifier receives from 
defeating enemies of his or her chosen type, he or she receives double the 
normal experience point award for defeating creatures of his or her general 
enemy category and triple normal experience points for defeating his or her 
specific chosen Nemesis.

Righteous Wrath:  When battling their specific chosen enemy, all creatures 
within 10' of the Purifier become immune to fear (NPCs never need to check 
morale).  In addition, all creatures within this radius must save vs. rods every 
round or be filled with a berserker-like Righteous Wrath directed against the 
Purifier's chosen foe.  Allies and enemies alike can be affected, though 
unwilling creatures receive a +4 bonus to their saving throw and creatures of 
the general or specific enemy type are immune; hence, a creature cannot be 
turned against its own kind.  A creature must have at least Low (5-7) 
intelligence to be subject to Righteous Wrath.  A Purifier is always subject to 
Righteous Wrath when faced with his or her special enemy type.

Example:  A Purifier whose chosen enemy was fire giants would not incite this 
rage while fighting stone giants.  When fighting a mixed band of fire giants, 
stone giants, and hell hounds, the Purifier and any non-giantish allies within 
10' would need to save each round to avoid becoming enraged, and any hell hounds 
within 10' would need to save each round as well (with a +4 bonus), though 
neither the fire giants nor stone giants would need to save.

The Purifier's Righteous Wrath lasts for a full turn.  Other affected creatures 
may become enraged at any point during this time, but their rage will end when 
the Purifier's Righteous Wrath ends.  Thus, Righteous Wrath does not last for 
one full turn for each affected creature; the effect ends simultaneously for all 
recipients (one turn after it begins for the Purifier) regardless of how long 
individual creatures have been enraged.  

While filled with Righteous Wrath, all creatures gain a +2 bonus to attack and 
damage rolls and saving throws and become immune to pain and stunning.  For the 
Purifier, these benefits are cumulative with their standard Nemesis bonuses.  In 
addition to gaining these bonuses, the recipients of Righteous Wrath are 
compelled to attack the Purifier's specific chosen enemy in preference to all 
other targets; if that enemy is slain or escapes, other enemies of the 
Purifier's general enemy category must be engaged, followed then by any other 
enemies.  If no enemies are left, creatures under the effect of this rage must 
instead attack the nearest creature to them; if they wish, they can instead 
force themselves to hold back and not attack, though the strain of doing so 
inflicts 1d6 points of damage per round until the rage effect expires or they 
are knocked unconscious.

Special Hindrances:  Purifiers focus on studying and combating their specific 
chosen enemies rather than prosecuting general wars on behalf of their church 
and their order.  Hence, they do not gain the Campaign Skill of a standard 
Crusader.  In addition, their spells are less effective when cast against 
creatures of other types, allowing a +2 bonus to enemy saving throws for 
creatures outside of their category of enemies.  Purifiers are expected to tithe 
20% of their income to their orders, and they otherwise share the same 
restrictions as other Crusaders.

In addition to these limitations, Purifiers are nearly fanatic in pursuing their 
calling, relentless in pursuit of the enemy.  A Purifier is driven, as if by a 
compulsion or geas, on an endless quest to seek out and destroy their enemies 
whenever and wherever possible.  Creatures of their general enemy category will 
always be attacked in preference to other creatures, and the Purifier's specific 
Nemesis will be attacked in preference to any other target, regardless of 
tactical circumstances.  A Purifier who does not follow this code of conduct 
loses any experience points that he or she would have gained for that encounter.  
Purifiers also gain only half the normal amount of experience points for combat 
that does not involve their chosen foes (i.e., as long as their chosen enemies 
are present on the field of battle, experience is not affected, even if the 
chosen foes do not directly engage the Purifier).  Experience gained in 
noncombat situations is not affected.

Required Proficiencies:  Endurance, Monster Lore
Preferred Proficiencies:  Alertness, Armorer, Awareness, Ancient History, 
Bowyer/Fletcher, Celestology, Demonology, Display Weapon Prowess, Healing, Local 
History, Necrology, Planology, Reading/Writing, Religion, Riding (Land-based), 
Survival, Tactics, Weaponsmithing
Forbidden Proficiencies:  Any Psionicist, Rogue, or Wizard proficiencies