In previous posts I introduced some new constellations for the Zodiac class found in Classes of the Lost Spheres: Zodiac(affiliate link) from Lost Spheres Publishing. Specifically, The Forgemaster, The Hell Knight, and The Signifer. Each of these new constellations includes the ability to manifest a champion, which is effectively a summonable cohort. While this is definitely a fun option, especially for players that enjoy minions and summons, its not a good fit for every table or even every player that wants to use this class. One solution the potential difficulties of champions is a new type of constellation manifestation called a “sign“, which were written by yours truly. In brief, signs augment existing creatures by imbuing them with the power of a constellation, the rules on this new type of manifestation. and signs for a number of new and existing constellations, can be found in Akashic Tales: Horrible Horsemen.
Note: The Hell Knights are likely not fond of individuals that use The Hell Knight and The Signifer constellations who are not members of the Hell Knights. Their response to such individuals should be almost universally hostile. Though special exceptions to this general hostility might exists characters with the Hell Knight Ancestry trait.
The The Forgemaster, The Hell Knight, and The Signifer constellations gain the following sign manifestations:
The Forgemaster
Sign (Essence Cost 4) You gain the ability to bestow the sign of the Forgemaster. As a standard action the marked can touch a recently deceased medium humanoid body and raise it as a night creature under their control. Use the statistics for a human zombie found in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary and apply the night creature template. The marked can only have one creature created by this ability at any time. When the sign manifestation of the Forgemaster is dismissed, the night creature animated by the sign manifestation of the Forgemaster is instantly slain and crumbles to dust. When you reach zodiac level 8 a night creature created using this sign gains an ability from the necros’ fleshcrafter ability list when it is created, it gains an additional such ability when you reach zodiac level 16, but can choose this second ability from the advanced fleshcrafter list.
In addition, the marked is treated as a necros for the purposes of applying the night creature template.
Essence: As long as you have at least 1 point of essence is invested in the sign form of the Forgemaster the marked gains DR 1/bludgeoning and magic. For each odd-number point of essence invested in the sign form of the Forgemaster after the first, the marked gains increases the granted DR by 1. For each even-numbered point of essence invested in the sign form of the Forgemaster, the night creature created using this sign gains an additional 5 hit points and a +1 profane bonus to attacks, armor class, damage, saving throws, turn resistance, and the DCs of any special abilities it may have.
The Hell Knight
Sign (Essence Cost 2) You gain the ability to bestow the sign of the Hell Knight. In addition to the glyph made by granting this sign, the insignia of the Order of the Scourge appears on the marked’s clothing. The marked gains the ability to detect disorder and chaos, this functions like the paladin’s detect evil ability, except that it grants the use of detect chaos instead. The marked also gains a lawful aura (see the detect law spell) that functions as that of a cleric whose level is equal to your zodiac level.
Additionally, when you reach zodiac level 3 the marked also gain the benefits of the Hell Knight Obedience feat as if they had sworn allegiance to the Order of the Scourge. If the marked has the Hell Knight Obedience feat and is sworn to the Order of the Scourge they instead gain the benefits of the Hell Knight Obsession feat or increase the number of times per 24 hours they can gain the benefits of that feat if they already possess it.
Essence: For each point of essence invested in the sign form of Hell Knight, the marked gains a +1 insight bonus to attack and damage rolls on attacks made with a heavy mace, scourge (see cat-o-nine-tails), or whip.
The Signifer
Sign (Essence Cost 3) You gain the ability to bestow the sign of the Signifer. In addition to the glyph made by granting this sign, the ensignia of the Order of the Gate appears on the marked’s clothing. The marked gains DR 2/chaotic and gains a +2 insight bonus on saves vs. poison. This damage reduction stacks with other sources of damage reduction of the same type. The marked also gains a lawful aura (see the detect law spell) that functions as that of a cleric whose level is equal to your zodiac level.
Additionally, when you reach zodiac level 3 the marked also gain the benefits of the Hell Knight Obedience feat as if had sworn allegiance to the Order of the Gate. If the marked has the Hell Knight Obedience feat and is sworn to the Order of the Gate they instead gain the benefits of the Hell Knight Obsession feat or increase the number of times per 24 hours they can gain the benefits of that feat if they already possess it.
Essence: For each point of essence invested in the sign manifestation of the Signifer, the marked gains a +1 insight bonus to Bluff and on saves against fear and emotion descriptor effects.
New Veil
Crucible Master’s Sigil
Descriptors: Lawful, Pain
Class: None; This veil is added to the list of veils that can be shaped by any character capable of shaping veils that is a member of a Hell Knight order, or that possesses the Hell Knight Ancestry trait. This veil can’t be obtained via Shape Veil or similar effects.
Slot: Head, Headband
Save: Fortitude; see text
“Know that you will rightfully curse my name a thousand times, long before this is done. But… should you survive, I will accept your apology and thanks in writing.” – Paravicar Antares Vash, Order of the Pyre
A sigil made of infernal flames appears on your forehead. This veil grants you the ability use pain to inspire competence and to punish those who disappoint you. You can attempt an aid another check to to assist an ally as an immediate action, an ally can choose to reject this aid. If you succeed on this check, an ally benefiting from your aid another attempt, in addition to the normal effects of your aid another attempt, suffers 1d4 points of non-lethal damage as they are visited with echoes of hell’s torments that warn them of the costs of failure. You can not assist allies that are immune to pain descriptor effects or non-lethal damage using this veil’s effect, and the damage dealt by this veil can not be reduced in anyway.
Essence: For each point of essence invested in this veil the range at which you can attempt aid another checks increases by 5 feet. For every 2 points of essence invested in this veil, increase the bonus granted by your aid another attempts by +2 and the non-lethal damage caused by this veil by 1d4.
Chakra Bind (Head) Binding this veil to your Head chakra gives you the ability to cast infernal challenger as a spell-like ability with a caster level equal to your veilweaver level, a number of times per day equal to 1 + your veilweaving modifier. If you are using infernal challenger as a part of a Hell Knight test, essence invested in this veil is treated as being bound for the duration of the test. For each point of essence invested in this veil the radius of the testing ground increases by 10 feet. Additionally, bearded devils summoned using this veil gain an additional 5 hit points and a +1 insight bonus to attack rolls, armor class, damage rolls, and saving throws for each point of essence invested in this veil. For every two points of essence invested in this veil, bearded devils summoned using this veil are treated as having 1 additional hit die for the purposes of a Hell Knight test’s requirements and gain a +1 bonus to the DCs of their abilities, initiative, DR, and SR.
If at least 3 points of essence are invested in this veil, the testing ground created by infernal challenger is surrounded by hellfire. Creatures attempting to enter or exit the testing ground take 1d6 points of damage for each point of essence invested in this veil. Half the damage is fire damage, but the other half results directly from unholy power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by fire resistance.
Chakra Bind (Headband) Binding this veil to your Headband grants you all the benefits of binding it to your Head Chakra, and you gain the ability to use pain to teach other creatures the cost of your displeasure. As a standard action, you may launch a ray of pure agony from your the sigil on your forehead with a range of 60 feet. This effect otherwise functions as pain strike using your veilweaver level as the caster level.
James Ray 