Bergram (3.5e Vestige)
Bergram, the Swine Prince
Level: 2nd
Binding DC: 18
Special requirement: No
Legend
Bergram Hoghead was a dwarf prince, born by Baelin Rockback e Druurgha Ironhair. He was the designated heir to the throne, as the couple's only son. To the shock of its parents he was born deformed, with a face like a pig and a curled tail, as well as hog-like feet and wrinkly skin. This prodigious, yet terrible, birth was because they were tricked by the evil god Roknar, while praying the Morndinsamman for a long-awaited son (as they were apparently sterile). Their prayers were answered by something that they interpreted as being Moradin, but that was Roknar, the god of lies, that some dwarf clerics even consider an evil force that has took on the form of a dwarf.
They asked him to bless them with a son and he complied. Thus Bergram was born.
They asked the high priests to free their son from this curse, but they concluded that the condition to reverse the transformation was true love, as Bergram needed to be truly loved by someone to be free. This proved to be very difficult as the prince, brought up by the court in secret from the people, became very strong and healthy, as much as unruly, prone to anger and dissolute.
Because of this he was eventually driven away by his parents, exasperated by their failures. The reign plummeted, eventually, into chaos, as factions rose to claim the throne, at the death of the two monarchs.
Meanwhile Bergram, furious for the betrayal, began ravaging the land, joining some bandits, and eventually becoming a bandit lord himself, with the name Hoghead, dedicated to violence, pillaging and any kind of nefarious acts.
His reign was short-lived though, as heroes and adventurers were charged with killing him and his bandits. They resisted as much as they could but eventually Bergram was cornered by its hunters. He refused any offer to surrender and ran towards the adventurers. He killed two of them, before being stopped by the other three, that resorted to dismembering him, as he was still grunting and squeaking profanities against them, despite being fatally wounded, trying to kill anyone near. Only after that, he became quiet.
They say that his blood filled natural cavities in a particular manner, as to form some kind of symbol. This symbol was recorded by the wizard of the group and eventually became the binding circle to summon Bergram Hoghead.
His remains were burned (some say even eaten) and a otherwordly laugh was heard at the same time through the land, as the tragic life of the swine prince came to an end.
Loosely based on the novel of The Pig King.
Manifestation
Bergram appears as a fat pig, quickly butchered alive by invisible blades. He squeaks horribly, showing his extreme suffering. When the slaughter is finished, a pile of bloodied meat remains, with the head at the top. The head begins to talk, adressing the binder and grunting occasionally.
Sign
Your mouth, nose and ears change to resemble those of a pig and you grow a short, curled tail.
Influence
You grunt and squeak as a pig while talking, and you are rude to dwarves.
Granted abilities
You are granted abilities that are fit for a true undying hog.
Axe Master: You gain proficiency in all kind of axes.
Great Resistance: You gain one extra hit point per level/HD. At 6th level it's two per level/HD and three at 9th level. You gain a +1 natural armor bonus to AC when under half of your maximum hit points. It increases by one at 6th level and again at 9th level.
Rage of the Pig: You may enter a rage-like state. It works as the rage spell, but lasts 3 + Constitution modifier rounds. You may use it once per encounter. At the end of the effect you are fatigued for the rest of the encounter. From the 8th level the bonuses are doubled.
Undying: You gain the Diehard feat. You may rage indefinitely when under 0 hit points, even if you already did it during the encounter. You must show Bergram's sign to benefit from this ability.
Author: the bluez
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