The Occultist - LotFP Custom Class

The Occultist

         Before magic had been fully codified, before it was the purview of learned folk in secluded towers or sin-blackened hermitages, it was the realm of those who were willing to to truly sacrifice for power. They gathered underneath standing stones to renew them with fresh blood, huddled in caves to murmur in languages which were old when the world was new, or whispered curses among the bones of the dead. They were the first spellcasters to arise. They were mighty, but their supremacy eroded as newer ways were developed, methods easier to transmit than their own. Defeated, they bound themselves into secretive cults and sects, hiding away from the world in isolated or hidden enclaves, keeping to the ancient ways. Authorities frown on any one having access to abilities outside of their ken, and they exterminate these so called Occultists wherever they are found, but their crackdowns do little to deter the heirs to a legacy older than literacy or civilization.

          Their magic does not come from books, or some distant deity, but through the ghosts of their ancestors, spirits of the land and beings old enough that they have no need for names. They do not intone spells in the crass and low way of magicians, their magic is not fleeting, transitory thing, running from their minds after leaving their lips. The Occultist acts as a window into the world for these beings, and in return they give them the means to hex their enemies and bewitch those who would oppose them. Adventuring parties rarely care about such particulars. All that matters to most of them is that the Occultist knows magic.

Level	Experience	HP	Paralyze	Poison	Breath	Device	Magic	Wyrd Pool	Glamour Limit
1	0	1d8	14	11	16	12	15	3	1
2	2,250	1d6	14	11	16	12	15	5	1
3	4,500	1d6	14	11	16	12	15	8	2
4	9,000	1d6	12	9	14	10	12	12	2
5	18,000	1d6	12	9	14	10	12	17	2
6	36,000	1d6	12	9	14	10	12	23	3
7	72,000	1d6	10	7	12	8	9	30	3
8	144,000	1d6	10	7	12	8	9	38	3
9	288,000	1d6	10	7	12	8	9	47	4
10	432,000	+1*	8	3	8	4	6	57	4
11	576,000	+1*	8	3	8	4	6	68	5
12	720,000	+1*	8	3	8	4	6	80	5
13	864,000	+1*	6	2	4	4	5	93	6
14	1,008,000	+1*	6	2	4	4	5	107	6
15+	+144,000/lvl	+1*	6	2	4	5	4	122	6

*Constitution modifiers no longer apply

B/X & OSE Rules

Requirements	Minimum 12 WIS
Prime Requisite	WIS
Hit Dice	d6
Thac0 Table	As Cleric
Maximum Level	14
Armor	Leather, no shields
Weapons	Dagger
Languages	Alignment, Common

         
          Occultists are not spellcasters in the same way that Clerics or Magic-Users are, they do not memorize spells, nor do they have spell slots. Instead these folk have seized power by calling upon their connections to strange beings that their forebears made pacts with centuries ago. The pacts lay dormant until the Occultist charges them by engaging in behaviors pleasing to these beings. In return for performing these behaviors, they are granted points known as Wyrd to pay for abilities known as Glamour. Unlike spells Glamour are not bound by how many times they can be performed in a day, but instead by the number of Wyrd which the Occultist has accrued through their pact, the upper limit of which is modified by their level, as detailed in their class table above. Wyrd does not fade until spent, any points in excess to that limit are lost. Casting a Glamour takes an action, just like a spell would for a Cleric of Magic-User. There is no limit to the amount of Wyrd or number of Glamours an Occultist may use in a day beyond what remains in their pool.

          The table below suggests possible actions to gain Wyrd points, but these should be taken as suggestions or examples, rather than the only possible sources of it. Unless otherwise stated, Wyrd can only be gained once from a given source (a particular ritual, sacrifice or action) within a 24-hour period.

Wyrd Gained	Action
1	Honor your ancestors or pact spirit when you awaken. Offer up a small amount of food or alcohol to the spirits, equivalent to a day's rations.
2	Sacrifice a small animal, such as a chicken, or a goat in a ceremony lasting at least a few minutes. Perform a ten minute long ceremony at a ritual site, such as a standing stone, sacred grove or necropolis.
3	Ritually desecrate the remains of an enemy in a ritual lasting at least an hour. Return the bones of an ally to grounds sacred to you or them. Give up your blood to your ancestors or pact spirit, dealing 1d6 damage to yourself in the process.
4	Perform a three hour long ceremony at a ritual site with at least three assistants. Sacrifice a large animal, such as a bull or horse in a ceremony lasting at least an hour.
5	Commemorate a successful hunt or battle with a ritual lasting at least half an hour. Destroy a temple, church or another site holy to those who hail from civilized lands. Burn a spellbook.
6	Sacrifice an intelligent creature in a ceremony which lasts at least an hour. Imbibe some sort of hallucinogen or heavy intoxicant and go on a vision quest lasting at least 72.
7	Erect a new standing stone or plant the basis of a sacred grove; this may only take a few hours, but the research on where it must be placed can take months of observation. Remove and then burn a part of your own body; the body part must be something irreplaceable such as a digit or an eye.

         
           Wyrd can be used to power various effects known as Glamour. These are somewhat more varied than spells in that they are not memorized beforehand, and that they have different tiers within them, allowing the Occultist to choose which version of the effect they'd like to use. Only the chosen tier within a Glamour takes effect when it is cast. An Occultist has no need to memorize their Glamours, they have access to all of them at all times. Glamours require no material components, but they do require that the caster be able to speak and make gestures with their hands.

Glamour Name	Wyrd Cost	Glamour Effect
The Evil Eye	1+	The caster focuses on the target(s) of their ire and hexes them with terrible luck. The target must save vs Magic, upon failure, for a number of rounds equal to 1/4 of the Occultist's character level (minimum 1), the target suffers disadvantage on all Attacks, Saves & Skill checks. Additional targets may be chosen by spending an additional Wyrd per target in addition to the first.
Beckon the Beast	1 or 2	The Occultist infuses their speech with Wyrd, giving them the ability to speak to beasts. For 1 point of Wyrd the caster may simply speak to animals for a number of minutes equal to twice their character level. For 2 points the Occultist instead is able to command beasts to do their bidding, though magical or tamed creatures get a save beforehand. The control breaks if the animal is injured.
Cloud the Mind	1, 2 or 3	One of the most basic manifestation of Glamour are illusions. For 1 Wyrd the Occultist may use this Glamour to craft a simple illusion which affects a single sense and persists for an hour. Spending 2 points of Wyrd gives the caster the ability to project complex illusions, involving multiple senses, they persist for a number of hours equal to the Occultist's character level. 3 points allows the caster to vanish from sight as per the Invisibility spell as a caster of their own level.
Freeze the Prey	1 or 3	Locking eyes with their foe, the Occultist robs them of their ability to move. For 1 point this affects both the caster and target, the caster is only affected if the target fails their save. Spending 3 points of Wyrd allows this Glamour to paralyze the intended target with no risk to the caster. This Glamour is broken if any damage is dealt to the target, and they are allowed a save on each of their turns to end the effect.
Spirit Whispers	1, 2 or 5	Infusing their senses with Wyrd allows the Occultist to consult the spirits in the area, bidding them to answer their questions. For 1 point of Wyrd the Occultist may ask about the true nature of an object, such as a potion, scroll or other magic item. Increasing the cost the 2 points allows a glimpse of the future as per the Augury spell. 5 Points grants the Occultist the ability to see distant locales as per Clairvoyance.
Discern the Truth	2 or 3	Lies whether they be verbal or magical, fall a part in the presence of Occultists who employ this Glamour. At 2 points the Glamour allows the caster to see through illusions or invisibility 5 rounds plus their CL. 3 points allows the Occulstist to detect when others are lying to them for a number of rounds equal to 5 plus their character level.
Banish the Unnatural	2 or 5	Wyrd is a product of the natural world, and beings which do not hail from it abhor it's touch. By spending 2 points of Wyrd and threading it into their words, they may attempt to Turn Undead as a Cleric of their equivalent level. Spending 5 points of Wyrd and suffusing it into the environment around them, they may forbid Undead and Outsiders from entering the area for a number of hours equal to 2 plus their level.
Shatter the Hex	3 or 5	The Wyrd despises anything that is not of nature, including the enchantments of others. For 3 points this Glamour functions as Dispel Magic, but it affects both Cleric and Magic-User spells. For 6 points the Glamour functions as per Spell Turning with a caster level equal to the Occultist's.
Commune with Nature	3 or 5	Syncing themselves up with the environment around them, the Occultist can use Glamour to ask questions of the world itself. For 3 Wyrd the the caster may speak with plants for a number of rounds equal to their level. For 5 points the caster may learn the nature of a structure of their choice, provided that it is in contact with ground. This would include the number of rooms, inhabitants and any entrances or exits.
Twist the Shape	4 or 6	Glamour isn't merely illusion, the changes it can wreak can also be quiet real. By binding their power into the bodies of themselves or others, the Occultist may change their shape. By spending 4 points the character may mimic the effects of Polymorph Self or Polymorph Others (provided the target is willing). For 6 points the Glamour functions as Polymorph Any Object.
Take Flight	3	Anointing a length of wood and then charging it with Wyrd, the Occultist may then use it to sail across the skies. Using 3 points of Wyrd, the caster may fly at a speed of 120' in a round. The Glamour lasts for a numbers of rounds equal to 1d3 plus the caster's level.
Bridge the Dead	3 or 5	Through the power and influence of their familiar spirits, the Occultist gains power over the dead. For 3 points the Occultist may converse with a humanoid corpse; they are allowed 3 questions which the corpse must answer, but they may lie if they wish. The corpse must have an interact head and jaw for this Glamour to function. 5 points allows the caster to raise relatively intact corpses as undead under their control. The undead are equivalent to 2 HD Skeletons or Zombies (depending on the age of the corpses). Raised corpses are loyal to the caster and can follow simple, one sentence commands. The undead last until dispelled, or until the next sunrise. The caster may raise a number of Undead in a single use of this Glamour equal to half their CL, and may control that same number of Undead.
Jinx	4	Twisting the skeins of fate with their Glamour, the Occultists dooms their enemy to an awful fate. Intoning a perpetual curse against them, their target must save. On a success, nothing happens. On a failure the target is cursed, which can have a number of effects, but some examples include: -6 to a single ability score. -4 to all Attack, Skill and Save attempts. A 50% chance that the target simply takes no action during combat. The curse is permanent until dispelled by the caster, the caster dies, or the target has an effect such as Dispel Magic cast on them.
Bind the Fool	6	The Wyrd is as much a force of fate as it is a magical one. With the most powerful of utterances, the Occultist binds another to a task of their choice. The task may be a length of service, or an immediate action, but it cannot require the target to deliberately harm themselves in the process. The target is allowed a save, after which they are subject to whatever whims that the caster may have, the refusal of which results in a Jinx (with no save) of the caster's choice taking effect on them. This Glamour lasts for a year and a day, or a Dispel Magic or other similar effect is cast on the victim.