Eldritch Necromancer (3.5e Prestige Class)

Summary::Warlocks with a necromantic edge, they can command the undead as well as any cleric. Length::10 Minimum Level::6 Base Attack Bonus Progression::Moderate Fortitude Save Progression::Poor Reflex Save Progression::Poor Will Save Progression::Good Class Ability::Invocations Class Ability Progression::Full

Eldritch Necromancer
"If you will not serve me in life, then you shall serve me in death!"

Warlocks get a reputation for being creepy and untrustworthy individuals, for their powers stem from the infernal, abyssal, and unnatural forces of the world. One of those forces is the spirits of the dead, most clearly seen in the invocation of the dead walk and utterdark blast. Necromantic energies are no stranger to warlocks and yet normally any cleric or wizard can outpace them. No longer, for the eldritch necromancer captures the art of necromancy and tunes himself to its great potential.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Eldritch Necromancer.

He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. A character with more than one invoking class must decide to which class he adds each level of eldritch necromancer for the purposes of determining increased benefits.

' :' An eldritch necromancer gains access to several unique invocations, which desecration'' is the first of many. It duplicates the effect of the desecrate spell. The material components are not required (though a focus is needed for use with an alter, the alter being the focus). This is a least invocation and counts as a 2nd-level spell.

 : The eldritch necromancer can rebuke undead as a cleric of their caster level for invocations. Because it is tied to caster level, it continues to increase even after leaving this class.

 : A 2nd level eldritch necromancer must resist the forces he is trying to command, lest he be consumed by it. He gains negative energy resistance 10. At 6th level, the energy resistance rises to 20. It is eventually overwritten by negative energy immunity.

Undead or tomb-tainted eldritch necromancers can instead choose to gain positive energy resistance. Once chosen, this cannot be changed.

' :' At 3rd level, an eldritch necromancer gains an invocation which duplicates vampiric touch'', except it heals actual hp and does not grant temporary hp. In addition, it may be reversed and apply healing to an undead creature, but deals the spell's damage to the invoker. It has no effect trying to heal (or harm) the living, and the invoker can't use it on himself. This is a lesser invocation and counts as a 3rd-level spell.

' :' At 4th level, an eldritch necromancer can communicate with the dead as if using speak with dead''. In addition if casting it on an undead creature, they may speak to it as if it were able to speak in their language, and they may use social skills and mind-affecting effects on this undead as long as the effect lasts. This is a lesser invocation and counts as a 3rd-level spell.

 : A 4th level eldritch necromancer counts as having every necromany spell on his class list for the purposes of qualifying for magic items such as wands, scrolls, and staves. He need not make a use magic device check to activate these items.

' :''' At 5th level, an eldritch necromancer gains a blast essence which fills his eldritch blast with fell energy. If an necrotic blast kills a creature, that creature rises as a skeleton or zombie 1 round later as if the eldritch necromancer used the dead walk on them. At any time before the duration expires the eldritch necromancer can decide to spend the required onyx (a standard action) to make the creature permenant, as per the dead walk. This is a greater invocation and counts as a 5th-level spell.

' :' A 5th level eldritch necromancer's invocation the dead walk'' improves. It now can duplicate the effects of create undead, and the HD limit on skeletons and zombies is removed. The invocation counts as a 6th-level spell.

' :''' At 7th level, an eldritch necromancer can devour his own troops to feed his power. An eldritch necromancer who has undead under his control may spend a standard action to destroy 1 or more of the undead he commands within 100 feet. These undead are immediately destroyed, and the eldritch necromancer heals 5 hp per HD of the undead slain. If one of his undead under his control is killed by another means, he may spend an immediate action to benefit from its death. However in this case he can only consume one undead, instead of as many as he has access to. This is a greater invocation and counts as a 6th-level spell.

' :''' An 8th level eldritch necromancer learns how to spread his knowledge to his mindless minions. When within 60 ft of the eldritch necromancer, any undead under the eldritch necromancer's control may use his mental ability scores (if higher), granting intelligence even to normally mindless undead. These undead have burning glowing eyes while under this effect. This invocation lasts 24 hours. This is a greater invocation and counts as a 7th-level spell.

' :''' The 9th level eldritch necromancer gains a unique blast shape. This blast shape transforms the eldritch blast into a wraith-like creature made of crackling energy. It can fly 60 ft each round and deals its eldritch blast damage to any creatures it passes over in its flight path, making touch attacks against each creature. No matter how many times it passes over a creature in its flight, it only deals its damage once. The phantom is immune to damage, but may be dispelled and may be turned or rebuked, or affected by spells, as if it were an undead (incorporeal) creature. While the phantom is active, the eldritch necromancer cannot use his eldritch blast until the phantom is dismissed as a free action on his turn only. This is a dark invocation and counts as a 8th-level spell.

' :' A 9th level eldritch necromancer's invocation the dead walk'' improves again. He can now duplicate the effects of create greater undead. The invocation counts as an 8th-level spell.

Undead ignore him as if he were also undead. If the eldritch necromancer dies, he may choose to come back 1 round later with the skeleton template applied, but retains his mental ability scores, skills, feats, class levels, and other abilities. His HD become d12s and he loses his Con score as normal. If destroyed a second time, he remains dead as normal.

Corporeal undead eldritch necromancers can "respawn" if destroyed once. They do not gain the skeleton template or abilities, but are effectively auto-revived. If destroyed a second time, they perish as normal for their type of undead (which for a lich, means respawning at their phylactery).

 : At 10th level, an eldritch necromancer is immune to negative energy effects (or positive energy if chosen previously).

Playing a Eldritch Necromancer
Combat: Eldritch necromancers of leaders of men. Former men. You've recycled them and they're good as new. They take armies, or one powerful minion, into combat to support them while they blast and cast using their many necrotic themed invocations. Late-game, many pick up utterdark blast to hurt and heal in one motion.

Advancement: Any class which advances warlocks will fit. They don't even need to worry about loosing levels in rebuking, as it is tied to their caster level.

Resources: Eldritch necromancers often don't gather. Something about roving bands of paladins and smiting evil and whatnot.

Eldritch Necromancers in the World
"I won't die, even if you kill me!"

NPC Reactions: This may surprise you, but learning that the already creepy and possibly demon powered and/or possessed warlock is also a creepy and probably evil necromancer has done nothing for their reputation. Suffice to say, most eldritch necromancers do not advertise their profession to the common folk.

Eldritch Necromancer Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge Religion can research eldritch necromancers to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Eldritch Necromancers in the Game
Sample Encounter: A scary necromancer is raising the dead, and raising hell! Are you bad enough dudes to stop the necromancer?

EL 16: PENDING