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Gae Bolga (Prestige Class)

In his time, Culainn and his band patrolled the plains and hills of the north every summer, righting wrongs and meting out justice in the name of Lugh and the Dagda. The common folks adored them, and the vicious barbarian hordes that were routed time and again by the young warrior hated him with all the force they could muster. Eventually, Culainn's enemies caught up with him. Khavrad Twintounge, a devotee of Bricriu, tricked the hero into a confrontation with the mighty Red Wyrm Gandingraman, the Engine of Ballok. Though he prevailed, the wounds the Hound received from the battle were fatal, and he perished in the company of his men. He was rewarded with deification, and has become an inspiration to adventurers everywhere. It is also recorded that he gave a very nice and moving speech while lying on his death bed.

Since his death and deification, the church of Culainn has flourished, and much of its success is owed to the Knights of the Red Branch. This group, also called the Gae Bolga in honor of Culainn's magical spear, were his inner circle during his life, and his greatest servants afterwards. As slowly, one by one, the original group began to die off from old age and attrition, it was decided that the knowledge they had gained from their god was too precious to be lost. The elf Ferdiad mac Gwyr travelled on their behalf to the Isle of Varadock, where he petitioned Scathach to aid them in training new members of the Spears, for it was she who initially revealed the secrets of combat to the Hound. She refused. Ferdiad, however, merely sat down and waited, asking the question again each time he saw her. After a month of watching him sit in the mud, the Queen of War relented, and agreed that all those who wished to honor Culainn should come to her. This is the arrangement today, and Scathach shares her duties with Ferdiad himself, as the ancient Saedhe survives still.

Only the best and most devoted worshippers are singled out for this honor, and not all who are called are able to find the dedication within themselves to finish their training. The chosen is alerted to the fact by a dream, in which he senses Culainn calling to him. It is not unusual for these dreams to continue for a period of weeks, months, and even years, as the god shapes the lives of those he calls to serve him. When the time is right, an emmisary is sent to the priest, and an invitation to join is extended.

After their training is successfully completed, (generally after a span of a year and a day), the Knight is free to return to his companions and resume his career if he was an adventurer. He is NOT allowed to return to a church and resume an administrative position. The Spears are charged with carrying the glory of Culainn throughout the world, and to demonstrate that glory through feats of martial prowess and the smiting of evil wherever it is found. If the priest is new to the adventuring path, it is not unusual for Scathach to team a newly trained Gae Bolga with a newly trained Fiana, and assign them some sort of specific task in order for them to "get their feet wet," as it were. Many alumni fondly point to the scars they received on this first mission, or at least wave stumps in the scars' general direction.

Like the Fianna, the Spears are required to return to Varadock and Scathach for 1 week out of every year, where they spend their time renewing their spirits and speaking with their mentor.

Requirements

Class skills

Class features

Riastrad, "Battle Fury" (SA): Begninning at 1st level, the Gae Bolga can call upon the power of Culainn and infuse their forms with a measure of his fury. By spending a turning attempt, the Spear gains a +4 holy bonus to Strength, a +2 holy bonus to Con and Dex, and +10 holy bonus to Jump checks. These bonuses will last for 1 round per 3 character levels. During this time, the Knight cannot cast spells, and can only engage in melee combat. Using this power is a standard action.

Shield Leap (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, the Gae Bolga lears to duplicate Culainn's famous Leap Feats. By making a Jump check DC 30, the Red Branch may make a special attack on an adjacent foe of huge size or smaller. In effect, the Spear leaps high into the air and, in a dazzling display of acrobatics, makes a single attack on the foe. The attack is made with a +10 circumstance bonus, and ignores shield modifiers to armor class, including those granted from spells. The attack doubles the critical threat range on the shortspear, and this effect stacks with Improved Critical and Keenness effects. Using this ability is a standard action.

Faithful Spear (Sp): Beginning at 2nd level, the Gae Bolga may hurl any barbarian shortspear with amazing accuracy. By calling on the might of Culainn and expending a turning attempt, the Knight can make an attack with his shortspear as a ranged touch attack. If the attack misses, the wielder can choose to either recall the weapon to his hand, or have the weapon continue attacking. If the latter option is chosen, the spear will continue to make 1 attack per round, at the Red Branch's highest attack bonus, for a number of rounds equal to his Gae Bolga level/2. The spear will even follow fleeing opponents at a movement rate of 40', though the Spear can recall it at any time. The spear will never travel farther than 100' from its wielder. If it does so, it falls lifelessly to the ground. Salmon Leap (Ex): At 2nd level, the Spear perfects another of her god's Leap Feats. To invoke this power, she must make a Jump check DC 35. If successful, the Gae Bolga may make a jump-charge against any one Large or smaller opponent within 30' who has at least one adjacent square open around them. This single attack is in essence made from above as she plummets down on the target. The attack is made with a +10 circumstance bonus and automatically inflicts a critical hit upon the target. Furthermore, the target must make a Fortitude save, DC Gae Bolga level+damage inflicted, or be knocked in to the adjacent, unoccupied square, and be stunned for 1d3 rounds. If the target makes its save, the Knight bounces off the target and lands in the unoccupied square. Using this ability is a standard action.

Leap of Glory (Ex): At 6th lvl, the Gae Bolga perfects another of his god's Leap Feats, which is used in conjunction with his Battle Fury ability. By making a Jump check DC 40 and spending a turning attempt, he leaps above the fray cloaked in the splendid battle rage of his god. All allies within 100' who can see the Knight gain a +3 insight bonus to attack, damage rolls and saving throws, while all foes within range must make a Will save, DC 10+Gae Bolga level+Charisma Bonus or take equal penalties. This effect lasts 1 round per 2 Gae Bolga levels. Using this ability is a standard action. Using this ability also counts against the number of times the spear may use his Battle Fury that day.

Seelie Sense (Ex): Beginning at 6th lvl, the Gae Bolga's exposure to the tricks of the Otherworld has caused his senses to be honed to a superhuman level. The Knight is never considered to be flat footed, and he can no longer be flanked. Furthermore, he gains a +10 insight bonus on Spot and Listen checks, and a +20 insight bonus on checks to detect invisible creatures.

Culainn's Leap (Ex): As per the feat.

Spear of Culainn (Ex): By 9th lvl, the Gae Bolga can imbue his weapon with the power of his deity in one of two ways. 1) He may choose to infuse the spear with a prepared spell. Any spell of 6th lvl or lower may be placed into the weapon. The spell may then be discharged via an attack roll. The Knight must declare that he is discharging the spell before the attack roll is made, and if the attack misses the spell is lost. If the spell has an area of effect, the effect is centered on the spear. The Red Branch may also discharge the spell from the weapon without an attack roll if the stored spell has an area of effect. If the spell is discharged, the result is centered on the caster. The priest may store up to 3 spells per day - however, they must be added to the spear during the priest's memorization period. Note that if there are spells stored in the spear, it cannot be empowered as described below.2) By spending a turning attempt, he may infuse his spear with the raw power of his god, in remembrance of the original Gae Bolga in the hands of Culainn. This power remains in the weapon for 3 rounds. During that time, the spear behaves as if it were under the effect of a Bless Weapon spell, automatically inflicting a critical on a threat roll. It also causes an additional 4d6 points of Holy damage. The spear may be thrown with a range of 200', with no range increment. While in mid-air, it transforms into a bolt of red light which deals 5d8 points of holy damage to the target upon impact, then explodes into a 20'r burst of noise, dealing an additional 12d6 points of sonic damage, (Reflex save for 1/2, DC 21). The spear reappears in the hand of the wielder after exploding. However, throwing the spear ends the effect, even if the attack misses.

Dariastrad, "Frenzy of the God" (SA): Once per day, the Gae Bolga can assume a form that closely resembles the Hound's own battle fury. By expending a turning attempt, the Spear gains a +8 holy bonus to Strength, a +4 holy bonus to Dexterity and Constitution, and a +20 holy bonus to Jump checks. His movement rate doubles, and he gains damage resistance 15/+1. He is also affected as if by a Haste spell. Finally, he is surrounded by the glowing Hero's Light, and all intelligent creatures under 8 hd within 30' of a Knight in the throes of the Frenzy automatically become panicked and flee the character immediately. Those over 8 hd may make a Will save DC 10+Gae Bolga level+Charisma Bonus to merely become shaken. Unfortunately, the transformation is so startling that allies of the priest are required to make the save in order to avoid becoming shaken. True friends of the priest gain a +15 circumstance bonus to the save.
This transformation has other drawbacks. While under its effects, the Red Branch has difficulty distinguishing between friend and foeand so he will always automatically attack the nearest creature. If this turns out to be a friend, the priest must use his action to make a Will save, DC 30, to realize this and orient himself on a true enemy. One that newly chosen enemy is defeated, the priest might potentially attack a friend again, requiring another Will save.
The transformation lasts 1 round per Gae Bolga level. Once it ends, the following things occur: The Spear takes 20 points of damage immediately. He also takes 1d6 temporary points of Charisma, Strength, Dex, and Con, as the transformation wracks his body severely. This damage may be healed magically, but 1 point of damage in each stat will remain until it heals normally. This damage cannot be removed except by a Wish or Miracle, as it represents damage done to the spirit of the priest by the intensity of his god's presence.