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| A night herald. |
Little is known of the Dark Tapestry—the darkness between the stars where some believe true madness lies. The few beings able to survive in the vast, cold void of space are too alien for even the wise to comprehend. Mortals who would delve deeply into the darkness between the stars do so at their own peril. In touching the void, the void touches them, and then their body, mind and spirit yearn to span the gulf between worlds. They embrace the madness that lurks both out there in the Dark Tapestry and in the depths of their own minds. While some crazed cultists and power-hungry arcanists contact aspects of the cosmic beings in the hopes that they can harness their cyclopean might for their own purposes, none can control the raw chaos these forces bring and destruction and madness are the ultimate results. Those who dare worship the Great Old Ones are almost always insane, believing that these ancient and alien beings will one day return to unmake the world. The ancient, eldritch horrors of the Dark Tapestry are beings of immense power who—luckily—have thus far shown little interest in the known world. Were the Great Old Ones ever to devote even a fraction of their attention to this corner of space, it could very well end existence as gods and mortals know it.
Role: While powerful spellcasters figure heavily in those that involve themselves in the Dark Tapestry, there are others that are heralds of their unknowable masters said to reside among the darkness between the stars. For the night herald, untold secrets exist for those skillful enough to uncover them. Night heralds are adept at exploration, investigation, espionage, and research. The heralds often deal in magical secrets, as well as ancient artifacts and relics of the Great Old Ones. The more secrets they uncover, the more they sacrifice their own sanity.
Parent Classes: Bard and Oracle.
Alignment: any nongood
Hit Die: d8
Starting Wealth: 3d6 × 10 gp (average 105 gp.) In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks/Level: 6
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, shortsword, shortbow, and whip. Proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). Can cast night herald spells while wearing light armor and using a shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance.
Spells: As a bard.
Dark Tapestry Mystery: As an oracle. The night herald does not gain bonus class skills, but does gain the following bonus spells: entropic shield (2nd), dust of twilight (4th), deeper darkness (7th), black tentacles (10th), feeblemind (13th), reverse gravity(16th).
Secrets: At 1st level, 3rd level, and every four levels thereafter, gain a new secret about the Dark Tapestry.Unless otherwise noted, activating the power of a secret is a standard action, and the save DC is 10 + 1/2 the night herald’s level + Cha modifier.
Embrace the Madness (Ex): In hope that he can harness more secrets, the night herald can risk his own sanity. Embrace the madness is optional. For a secret at 5th level and again at 9th level, the night herald has the option of taking one point of WIS damage or acquiring a lesser madness (e.g., mania, phobia). For another secret at 17th level, the night herald has the option of taking two points of WIS damage or acquiring a greater madness (e.g., paranoia, psychosis, schizophrenia). The WIS damage and insanity can be cured, but if so, the accompanying secrets are lost.
Herald Knowledge (Ex): A night herald adds half his class level (minimum 1) to use magic device and knowledge skill checks and may make all knowledge skill checks untrained.
Pierce the Veil (Ex): The herald begins to see things others can’t, especially in darkness. At 1st level, gain lowlight vision (or double the distance if already possessed). At 6th level, gain darkvision (or double the distance if already possessed). At 12th level, gain the ability to see perfectly in darkness of any kind, including magical darkness.
Voidwalker (Ex): At 2nd level, gain resist cold 5. At 8th level, resist cold 10. At 14th level, resist cold 20.
Call the Void (Sp): With a whisper, the Night Herald can call the void to him. This ability surrounds him with an aura of nothingness that leaves his enemies experiencing numbing cold and difficulty breathing and speaking. Enemies cannot breathe or speak in a square adjacent to the night herald. Enemies within 30’ of the night herald become fatigued (-2 STR, -2 DEX, no running, no charging). At 10th level, the void becomes more oppressive, and enemies within 30’ of the night herald become exhausted (-6 STR, -6 DEX, no running, no charging, all movement at half speed). Unlike normal fatigue and exhaustion, the effect persists for as long as the enemy is within 30’ and the night herald continues calling the void.
The night herald can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his CHA modifier. At each level after 1st a night herald can call the void for 2 additional rounds per day. Calling the void is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. At 7th level, a night herald can call the void as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, it can be called as a swift action. Calling the void cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the night herald is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round.
Final Secret: Voidborn (Ex): At 20th level, gains the aberration subtype. He is immune to cold and blindness, and no longer needs to breathe, as if wearing a necklace of adaptation. In addition, he gains fast healing 1 at night.
SECRETS OF THE DARK TAPESTRY
Role: While powerful spellcasters figure heavily in those that involve themselves in the Dark Tapestry, there are others that are heralds of their unknowable masters said to reside among the darkness between the stars. For the night herald, untold secrets exist for those skillful enough to uncover them. Night heralds are adept at exploration, investigation, espionage, and research. The heralds often deal in magical secrets, as well as ancient artifacts and relics of the Great Old Ones. The more secrets they uncover, the more they sacrifice their own sanity.
Parent Classes: Bard and Oracle.
Alignment: any nongood
Hit Die: d8
Starting Wealth: 3d6 × 10 gp (average 105 gp.) In addition, each character begins play with an outfit worth 10 gp or less.
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Ranks/Level: 6
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, shortsword, shortbow, and whip. Proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). Can cast night herald spells while wearing light armor and using a shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance.
| Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Dark Tapestry Mystery, Secret, Herald Knowledge, Pierce the Veil, Call the Void |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | Voidwalker (cold 5), Mystery Spell |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Secret |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Mystery Spell |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Embrace the Madness |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Pierce the Veil (darkvision) |
| 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Secret, Mystery Spell, Call the Void (move) |
| 8 | 6\1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | Voidwalker (cold 10) |
| 9 | 6\1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | Embrace the Madness |
| 10 | 7\2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | Mystery Spell, Call the Void (exhaustion) |
| 11 | 8\3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | Secret |
| 12 | 9\4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | Pierce the Veil (magical darkness) |
| 13 | 9\4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | Mystery Spell, Call the Void (swift) |
| 14 | 10\5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | Voidwalker (cold 20) |
| 15 | 11\6\1 | 5 | 9 | 9 | Secret |
| 16 | 12\7\2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | Mystery Spell |
| 17 | 12\7\2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | Embrace the Madness |
| 18 | 13\8\3 | 6 | 11 | 11 | |
| 19 | 14\9\4 | 6 | 11 | 11 | Secret |
| 20 | 15\10\5 | 6 | 12 | 12 | Final Secret: Voidborn |
Dark Tapestry Mystery: As an oracle. The night herald does not gain bonus class skills, but does gain the following bonus spells: entropic shield (2nd), dust of twilight (4th), deeper darkness (7th), black tentacles (10th), feeblemind (13th), reverse gravity(16th).
Secrets: At 1st level, 3rd level, and every four levels thereafter, gain a new secret about the Dark Tapestry.Unless otherwise noted, activating the power of a secret is a standard action, and the save DC is 10 + 1/2 the night herald’s level + Cha modifier.
Embrace the Madness (Ex): In hope that he can harness more secrets, the night herald can risk his own sanity. Embrace the madness is optional. For a secret at 5th level and again at 9th level, the night herald has the option of taking one point of WIS damage or acquiring a lesser madness (e.g., mania, phobia). For another secret at 17th level, the night herald has the option of taking two points of WIS damage or acquiring a greater madness (e.g., paranoia, psychosis, schizophrenia). The WIS damage and insanity can be cured, but if so, the accompanying secrets are lost.
Herald Knowledge (Ex): A night herald adds half his class level (minimum 1) to use magic device and knowledge skill checks and may make all knowledge skill checks untrained.
Pierce the Veil (Ex): The herald begins to see things others can’t, especially in darkness. At 1st level, gain lowlight vision (or double the distance if already possessed). At 6th level, gain darkvision (or double the distance if already possessed). At 12th level, gain the ability to see perfectly in darkness of any kind, including magical darkness.
Voidwalker (Ex): At 2nd level, gain resist cold 5. At 8th level, resist cold 10. At 14th level, resist cold 20.
Call the Void (Sp): With a whisper, the Night Herald can call the void to him. This ability surrounds him with an aura of nothingness that leaves his enemies experiencing numbing cold and difficulty breathing and speaking. Enemies cannot breathe or speak in a square adjacent to the night herald. Enemies within 30’ of the night herald become fatigued (-2 STR, -2 DEX, no running, no charging). At 10th level, the void becomes more oppressive, and enemies within 30’ of the night herald become exhausted (-6 STR, -6 DEX, no running, no charging, all movement at half speed). Unlike normal fatigue and exhaustion, the effect persists for as long as the enemy is within 30’ and the night herald continues calling the void.
The night herald can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his CHA modifier. At each level after 1st a night herald can call the void for 2 additional rounds per day. Calling the void is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. At 7th level, a night herald can call the void as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, it can be called as a swift action. Calling the void cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the night herald is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round.
Final Secret: Voidborn (Ex): At 20th level, gains the aberration subtype. He is immune to cold and blindness, and no longer needs to breathe, as if wearing a necklace of adaptation. In addition, he gains fast healing 1 at night.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 0th known | 1st known | 2nd known | 3rd known | 4th known | 5th known | 6th known |
| 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | — |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
SECRETS OF THE DARK TAPESTRY
- Absence of Body (Su): Gain DR 1/force. DR improves by 1 for every 5 levels to a maximum of DR 5/force at 20th level.
- Between the Spaces (Sp) (prereq: herald 4): The reaver can blink 1/day + Cha modifier.
- Breach the Gulf (Sp): You can open a doorway that traverses the home of the old gods, forcing a creature to experience horrible vistas and strange dimensions. As a standard action, you may target one creature within 30 ft. of you that you can see. If the creature fails a Will save, it is teleported 1d3 squares in a random direction and takes 1d6 damage /2 herald levels from the warping it must endure to travel through non-Euclidean space. A successful Fortitude save halves the damage. At 10th level, the target is also shaken for 1 round if it fails the Fortitude save. At 15th level, the target is both shaken and sickened if it fails its Fortitude save. You may use this ability 1/day + Cha modifier.
- By My Name You Shall Call Me (Su): As a creature attuned to the eldritch corridors of power, you can hear your name spoken aloud, even over great distances. If another creature speaks your name, you may observe it as if you had cast scrying. At 15th level, you may also choose to move to the speaker's location as if through greater teleport. You can detect creatures speaking your name to a range of 100 miles per reaver level. This power is continuous.
- Chill of the Void (Sp) (prereq: herald 4): You call upon the frigid depths of outer space to bring a terrible chill to your enemies. This functions as a slow spell that also does 2d6 cold damage (like frost fall), and can be used 1/day + Cha modifier. Call the void does not need to be active, however, targets in the aura of call the void save at -4.
- Dweller in Darkness (Sp) (prereq: herald 8, It Came from Beyond): As a standard action, you cast your psyche into the void of space to attract the attention of a terrible otherworldly being. The dweller in darkness behaves in all ways as if you had cast phantasmal killer. At 17th level, the dweller in darkness can be perceived by more than one creature, as if you had cast weird. This ability is usable 1/day + CHA modifier. Will negates. Call the void does not need to be active, however, targets in the aura of call the void save at -4.
- Glimpse of the Void (Sp) (prereq: herald 4): Whenever the herald damages an opponent with an attack or spell, as an immediate action he can cause the target to glimpse the void, risking them madness. This functions as the confusion spell. This ability is usable 1/day + CHA modifier. Will negates. Call the void does not need to be active, however, targets in the aura of call the void save at -4.
- Enveloping Void (Sp) (prereq: herald 6): As a standard action, snare an enemy with the suffocation and cold of the void (as hold person). Will negates DC 10 + 1/2 the reaver’s level + the reaver’s Wis modifier. At 10th level, Enveloping Void improves (as hold monster). At 16th level, Enveloping Void improves (as mass hold person/monster). This ability is usable 1/day + Cha modifier. Call the void does not need to be active, however, targets in the aura of call the void save at -4.
- Interstellar Void (Sp) (prereq: herald 14): As a standard action, shift a single creature within 30’ into the void of space if it fails a Will save. The target can attempt a new saving throw as a full-round action each round to return. While trapped in the airless void, the target suffers 2d6 points of cold damage per round and must hold its breath or begin to suffocate. This ability is usable 1/day + Cha modifier. Call the void does not need to be active, however, targets in the aura of call the void save at -4.
- It Came from Beyond (Sp): As a swift action, summon and command a voidling. Voidlings appear to be small common animals brought forth by a summon nature’s ally I or II, but are unusually deformed and grotesque. They are considered a small outsider aberration; apply the pseudonatural template. They remain for 1/round per level + Cha modifier or until death. At 10th level, It Came from Beyond improves. The number of voidlings summoned is equal to 1 + Cha modifier. This ability is usable 1/day + Cha modifier.
- Prescience of the Far Realms (Su): Your ability to recognize connections via the void allows your body to react quickly to magical manifestations. You gain a +1 insight bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities. This bonus increases by +1 for every 5 herald levels you possess. At 20th level, whenever you would be affected by a spell or spell-like ability that allows a saving throw, you can roll twice to save against the effect and take the better result.
- Read the Tapestry (Sp) (prereq: herald 10): Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Dark Tapestry to send your mind to another plane and communicate with the strange or alien beings there. This functions as the contact other plane spell.
- Realms Beyond (Sp) (prereq: herald 8, Between the Spaces): The herald’s form can become flickering and indistinct, using displacement. Usable 1/day + Cha modifier.
- Through Ancient Doorways (Su) (prereq: herald 10): Teleport up to 30’ per herald level per day. This teleportation must be used in 5-foot increments and such movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You can bring other willing creatures with you, but you must expend an equal amount of distance for each additional creature brought with you.
- Touch of Idiocy (Sp): This functions as the touch of idiocy spell, with the exception that it can also be delivered via a melee weapon attack, and can be used 1/day + Cha modifier.
- Touch of the Void (Su): Make a melee touch attack that deals 1d6 points of cold damage + 1 point for every two night herald levels you possess. At 7th level, the touched creature must also make a Fortitude saving throw or be fatigued for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your night herald level. This has no effect on a creature that is already fatigued. You can use this ability 3/day + Cha modifier.
- Veil of the Void (Su): Minds addled and oppressed by the void are unable to bring their full focus to bear on the night herald. Any fatigued, exhausted or confused target takes a -2 penalty on attacks, saves, ability checks, skill checks, CMB, CMD and weapon damage rolls vs. the herald. This ability is always active.
