Class Archetype · Beta

Tribe Storyteller

To some, the lessons of faith cannot be learned from books and dusty tomes. It is the traditions and stories passed down through generations that carry the most important truths — the kind that can only survive by being spoken aloud, passed from elder to child, and from child to the world. The Tribe Storyteller is the living memory of her people. Advisor to her chieftain, healer to her armies, and mediator in times of conflict, she holds the ancient lore of her faith not as doctrine but as story — and in her hands, those stories have power. She does not simply know where her tribe has been. She decides where it is going.

Becoming a Tribe Storyteller

Entry Requirements

Skills: Knowledge (History) 5 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 5 ranks.

Feats: Lingering Performance.

Special: Bardic Knowledge class feature.

Alignment: Any

Hit Die: d8

Class Skills

The Tribe Storyteller's class skills are Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (oratory) (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Progression

At each level, the Tribe Storyteller gains +1 level of her existing spellcasting class, gaining new spells per day, spells known (if a spontaneous caster), and an increased effective caster level. If she had more than one spellcasting class before entering this prestige class, she must choose which class benefits each time.

Class Features

The following are class features of the Tribe Storyteller.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The Tribe Storyteller gains no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.

Bardic Abilities (Ex)

When determining the bonus from Bardic Knowledge, the Tribe Storyteller's levels in this class stack with her Bard levels. She also continues to gain Bardic Performance rounds per day as if she had gained a level in Bard.

Inspiring Story (Ex)

The stories of the past can guide the actions of the present. At 1st level, the Tribe Storyteller may spend 4 rounds of Bardic Performance at the start of the day, after she and her party have rested for 8 hours. She spends 10 minutes telling her companions an inspiring story drawn from her people's history.

She and all who hear the story gain the benefit of either Inspire Courage or Inspire Competence (her choice when she tells the story), using her effective Bard level to determine the bonus. The effect lasts for a number of hours equal to 4 + her Tribe Storyteller level + her Wisdom modifier.

Wisdom of the Ages (Su)

At 1st level, the Tribe Storyteller understands that it is not force of personality or raw intellect that governs the flow of magic — it is the accumulated wisdom of the ages. She now uses her Wisdom modifier in place of her primary spellcasting ability modifier for all purposes: determining the highest spell level she can cast (requiring a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell level), calculating bonus spells per day, and setting the Difficulty Class of saving throws against her spells (DC = 10 + spell level + Wisdom modifier).

If she already used Wisdom as her primary spellcasting ability modifier, she instead adds her Wisdom modifier as a bonus to her caster level when determining the duration of her spells.

Oration (Ex)

At 2nd level, the Tribe Storyteller gains Versatile Performance (Oratory), allowing her to use her Perform (oratory) bonus in place of her Diplomacy and Sense Motive bonuses, as per the Bard class feature. If she already possessed this ability, she may instead add half her Tribe Storyteller level to any Perform (oratory) check.

Folklore (Ex)

At 3rd level, and again at 5th, 7th, and 9th level, the Tribe Storyteller may select one option from the Folklore pool. She may choose any Bardic Performance for which she qualifies, treating her Bard and Tribe Storyteller levels as stacking to meet level prerequisites. Alternatively, she may choose one of the following special Folklore abilities, each of which has a minimum Tribe Storyteller level requirement.

Keeper of Lore (Ex, min. 3rd): The Storyteller adds her Tribe Storyteller level as a bonus on all Knowledge checks and may make Knowledge checks untrained, regardless of the skill's normal restrictions.

War Chant (Ex, min. 3rd): The Storyteller learns a new Bardic Performance. While War Chant is active, all allies who can hear her gain a +2 morale bonus on damage rolls and are immune to fear effects. War Chant is a mind-affecting ability that relies on audible components.

Voice of the Ancestors (Su, min. 5th): Once per day, the Storyteller may expend 6 rounds of Bardic Performance to seek guidance from the spirits of those who came before. This functions as the Commune spell, requiring no material components. The number of questions she may ask equals her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).

Living Legend (Ex, min. 5th): The Storyteller's own deeds enter the oral tradition of her people. She gains a competence bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks equal to half her Tribe Storyteller level when dealing with any creature that has heard of her or her tribe's history.

Timeless Knowledge (Su, min. 7th, prerequisite: Lore Master): The Storyteller's mastery of ancient lore becomes effortless. She may use the Lore Master ability to take 20 on any Knowledge check as a full-round action. She may do so any number of times per day.

Ancestor's Blessing (Su, min. 9th): Once per day, the Storyteller may invoke the wisdom of a fallen ancestor upon one ally within 30 feet. That ally gains the benefit of one teamwork feat the Storyteller possesses for 1 hour. The ally need not meet the feat's prerequisites.

Lore Master (Ex)

At 4th level, the Tribe Storyteller gains the Lore Master ability as a Bard. When determining the number of uses per day, her levels in this class stack with her Bard levels. She may use this ability once per day at 4th level, plus one additional time per day for every three Tribe Storyteller levels beyond 4th.

Time of Reflection (Su)

At 6th level, the Tribe Storyteller may expend 8 rounds of Bardic Performance to lead her companions in a moment of stillness and remembrance. This performance takes 1 hour, during which her companions gather and listen to a tale of those who came before.

After the performance ends, each companion who listened recovers 1 hit point per character level, heals 1 point of ability damage, and regains 2 uses of their Bardic Performance. The Tribe Storyteller herself also benefits from these effects.

In addition, the Tribe Storyteller regains a number of expended spell slots equal to her bonus spells per day from her Wisdom score. She may choose which spell levels to recover, but may not recover a slot of higher level than she could otherwise cast.

Bonus Feat

At 8th level, the Tribe Storyteller may select one bonus feat from the following list: Extra Performance, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (any Knowledge skill or Perform (oratory)), or any metamagic feat for which she meets the prerequisites.

Night of Remembrance (Su)

At 10th level, the Tribe Storyteller gains her greatest ability. By expending all of her remaining Bardic Performance rounds for the day (minimum 4), she may gather her party, tribe, or army for one final story told in the hour before rest. All witnesses must be able to see and hear her; they may take no other actions during this time except to make Perception checks.

All who witness the Night of Remembrance — including the Tribe Storyteller herself — gain the following benefits:

• That night, all natural healing is doubled, as though each witness had undergone full bed rest.

• For the next 24 hours, each witness gains the benefit of one teamwork feat of the Storyteller's choosing. Witnesses need not meet the feat's prerequisites.

• For the next 24 hours, each witness gains the benefit of the Aid spell (the morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws against fear, and temporary hit points equal to 1d8 + the Storyteller's caster level, maximum +10).

If the Tribe Storyteller also uses Inspiring Story the following morning, its benefits stack with those of the Night of Remembrance.