Grave Caller (Summoner/Cleric)
The grave caller draws his power from the negative energy plane, and uses it to summon a powerful outsider to his aid. This creature originates from an obscure and relatively unknown plane, but obeys its master without question. By employing the dark powers bestowed upon him by his deity, the grave caller can summon forth undead creatures to serve in his cause, and unleash fell energy to strike down his foes, or cure his undead minions. Should the grave caller prove his worth, his god transforms him into a creature of undead power as both a reward for his dedicated service and to further their cause. (Original Concept by Cartmanbeck)
Primary Class: Summoner.
Secondary Class: Cleric.
Alignment: Any nongood.
Hit Die: d8.
Bonus Skills and Ranks: The grave caller may select three cleric skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal summoner class skills. The grave caller gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The grave caller is proficient with all simple weapons. The grave caller is also proficient with light armor. A grave caller can cast summoner spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a grave caller wearing medium or heavy armor, or using a shield, incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass grave caller still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Spellcasting: A grave caller casts arcane spells drawn from the summoner spell list. She also adds all inflict spells and cleric spells of the necromancy school to her list, and treats them as summoner spells of the same level. A grave caller otherwise learns and casts spells as a summoner equal to his grave caller level.
Undead Eidolon: A grave caller gains the summoner’s eidolon ability, but his eidolon is an undead creature, formed from the flesh and bones of slain opponents (or fallen allies). An undead eidolon’s home plane is a perverse place where undead creatures flourish and hunt the living for all eternity.
Virtually unknown to most practitioners of summoning magic, those who have discovered its secret whereabouts place it somewhere between the Negative Energy Plane and the Plane of Shadow. This ability otherwise functions as the summoner’s eidolon ability, except for the following changes:
At creation, the grave caller’s eidolon gains the Undead Appearance as a bonus evolution.
The eidolon has no Constitution score, and uses its Charisma score to determine hit points, Fortitude saves, etc., as if it were an undead creature. It is also immune to all effects that require a Fortitude save, unless that effect can target objects.
The eidolon retains the outsider type, and does not gain the undead type.
The grave caller may choose her eidolon’s initial appearance as either a zombie creature that gains DR 5/slashing, or a skeletal creature that gains DR 5/bludgeoning. Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed.
The eidolon does not gain the Evasion or Improved Evasion special abilities, since its reactions are slowed, similar to other undead creatures.
The eidolon’s evolution pool at each level is reduced by 1. Thus, a grave caller begins with only 2 evolution points at 1st level, and ends with only 25 evolution points at 20th level.
The eidolon only gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier, instead of 6 + Int modifier.
Summon Undead Minions (Ex): A grave caller gains the Skeleton Summoner feat as a bonus feat, and applies it to all uses of her summon monster ability. The grave has the option to apply either the skeleton template or the zombie template to any creature summoned.
In addition, the grave caller gains the option to apply additional undead templates to any of his summoned creatures. At 6th level, the grave caller can apply the skeletal champion template to any creature summoned. A 11th level, the grave caller can apply the vampire template to any creature summoned.
At 16th level, a grave caller can add the lich template to any creature summoned. All creatures remain indefinitely, or until the grave caller summons her eidolon, casts another summon monster spell, or the creatures are destroyed. Summoned creatures that gain one of the listed undead templates have the same alignment as the grave caller. This ability replaces the eidolon’s evasion and improved evasion special abilities.
Unlife Link (Su): This ability functions like the summoner’s life link ability, except that whenever the eidolon takes enough damage to send it back to its home plane, the summoner can, as a free action, take a temporary negative level. Each negative level taken prevents 10 points of damage done to the eidolon. This can prevent the eidolon from being sent back to its home plane. Once the eidolon is sent back to its home plane any negative levels gained in this manner are removed. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces life link.
Channel Negative Energy (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a grave caller can channel negative energy as a cleric equal to 1/2 her level. This can manifest in a burst as normal and can be centered on either the grave caller or the eidolon. In addition, the grave caller gains Command Undead as a bonus feat. This qualifies both the grave caller and eidolon for any feats with channel energy as a prerequisite (though the eidolon may not command undead). This ability replaces shield ally, greater shield ally, and gate.
Unlife Healer (Su): At 8th level, the grave caller’s spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities used to heal undead (including her eidolon) heal an additional 50% damage. At 16th level, the grave caller automatically heals the maximum possible damage when using such spells or abilities, including the additional 50% damage. This does not stack with abilities or feats such as Empower Spell or Maximize Spell. This ability replaces transposition and merge forms.
Undead Aspect (Su): At 10th level, a grave caller can take on undead traits that mimic her eidolon. As a standard action, the grave caller can use undead anatomy II once per day, but the effect remains for ten minutes per grave caller level. At 14th level, a grave caller’s undead aspect functions as undead anatomy III. At 18th level, a grave caller’s undead aspect functions as undead anatomy IV. This ability replaces aspect, life bond, and greater aspect.
Undeath Scion (Su): At 20th level, a grave caller becomes a master of undeath, thanks in part to her strong bond with her undead eidolon. The grave caller’s type changes to undead and gains the skeletal champion template. In addition, the grave caller can merge forms with her eidolon (as the summoner’s ability of the same name). While merged, the eidolon adds the grave caller’s Charisma modifier when calculating its hit points, as a profane bonus. These hit points disappear when the grave caller and eidolon separate, which may result in the eidolon being dismissed. The grave caller’s total hit points remain unchanged from before merging with her eidolon, even if the eidolon is dismissed while they are merged. This ability replaces twin eidolon.
Table: Grave Caller
Table: Grave Caller Spells Known