Acolyte of Barnabus (3.5e Prestige Class)

An Acolyte of Barnabus using its Twisted Form ability,screenshot from Boogeyman (2005)

Acolyte of Barnabus

“	Fear is but a prayer to my Lord Barnabus, and I am going to teach you just how he likes his prayers.	”
—Baras, Human Acolyte of Barnabus

When a person is plagued by nightmares or terrifying hallucinations, chances are that an Acolyte of Barnabus is nearby. Though few in numbers and not too well known, an educated mind can easily see traces of them through history. The origins of the "Boogeyman" story is based off of an Acolyte of Barnabus, and many know very well that the Acolytes of Barnabus are some of the most dangerous clerics in the world.

Becoming an Acolyte of Barnabus

Worshippers of Barnabus that become stronger all inevitably attempt to enter this class. It is the pinnacle of worship for him, a devotion to causing fear and dread that few can imagine. Because of the prerequisite of being a Twisted Visage, many Acolytes of Barnabus are all clerics and/or sorcerers. Acolytes of Barnabus draw their power from their Charisma score.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	TN, LE, NE, or CE
Skills:	Intimidate +21
Feats:	Skill Focus(Intimidate)
Spellcasting:	Must be able to use a Phantasmal Killer effect as a spell, spell-like ability, supernatural or extraordinary ability.
Patron:	Barnabus
Domains:	Fear Domain.
Special:	To become a member of this class, you must first complete 10 levels of the Twisted Visage class

Table: The Acolyte of Barnabus

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spells per day
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+0	+1	Aura of Utter Fear	+1 of existing Spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+1
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+2	Phantasmal Killer	+1 of existing Spellcasting class
4th	+1	+1	+1	+2
5th	+2	+1	+1	+3	Maze of Terror	+1 of existing Spellcasting class
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Intimidate.

Class Features

Spellcasting: At every odd level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one divine or arcane spellcasting class before becoming an Acolyte of Barnabus, you must decide which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known. This class counts as a spellcasting class for the purpose of determining caster level.

Aura of Utter Fear: The first ability granted by Barnabus. The Acolyte of Barnabus gives off a constant aura of fear like none other. Creatures within the aura always feel something unnatural nearby. Creatures that fail their will saves (DC 12+HD+Cha mod) see something so terrifying that they begin Cowering, and instinctively look towards the Acolyte of Barnabus. Creatures affected by the 30 ft. aura cower for 1d6 rounds. Once they're done cowering, they do not remember what they saw, and for another 1d4 rounds they refuse to acknowledge that the Acolyte of Barnabus is even there. The Acolyte of Barnabus may choose to deactivate or let certain creatures be unaffected by the aura. If a creature succeeds its will save, it becomes immune to the aura for 24 hours.

Phantasmal Killer: An Acolyte of Barnabus of 3rd level is bestowed the ability to affect creatures with Phantasmal Killer, as the spell. This ability is a free action that can be used a number of times a day equal to his Cha modifier. If the Acolyte of Barnabus has something that belonged to the target (A lock of hair, and item, etc) then he may use it as a focus to affect the creature with Phantasmal Killer regardless of where they are. If the creature is affected by the Aura of Utter Fear, then the DC for the Phantasmal Killer ability increases by 4. If the Acolyte uses a focus in order to affect it, then the DC increases by 2. Creatures that succeed the Will save for the Phantasmal Killer cannot be affected by this ability for another 24 hours.

Maze of Terror: A number of times per day equal to the Acolyte's Cha mod, an Acolyte of Barnabus can trap a creature inside of a Maze, similar to the Maze spell. The creature is banished to a maze of dark caverns filled with moving shadows and other terrifying apparitions. The only way to escape the maze is to succeed their will save against a Weird, as the spell, then make an Int check DC 20 as a full round action to escape. Creatures that fail their will save against the Weird cannot escape the maze. Unlike Maze, Plane Shift will not allow you to leave the maze. Weird DC (10+Caster Level+Cha mod). Creatures that fail the Will Dc but succeed the Fort Dc should be asked to roll an Int check with no DC, in order to make it seem like a normal maze spell. If the creature succeeds their Fort save then a new Weird appears next round. Creatures that stay inside the maze for 10 or more rounds begin losing their minds to the maze. They must roll a will save (DC 10+Acolyte level+# of rounds inside the maze) or take 1d4 Wisdom damage (If using the Sanity score variant, then the creature loses 1d10 sanity points instead). An Acolyte of Barnabus may only affect one creature with Maze of Terror at a time. The Acolyte may enter the maze to attack the creature, as normal, but if this is done then the Int Dc to escape increases to 30 and the Weird no longer appears. Killing the Acolyte of Barnabus destroys the Maze of Terror effect and frees anyone still trapped inside.

Ex-Acolyte of Barnabus

If an Acolyte of Barnabus no longer worships Barnabus, he loses all the extraordinary abilities of this class. Also, every night the creature is affected by the "Phantasmal Killer" ability from above, DC 40. In order to regain their abilities and stop the Phantasmal Killer, the Acolyte of Barnabus must use an atonement spell, and start worshiping Barnabus again.

Campaign Information

Acolyte of Barnabus in the World

Acolytes of Barnabus spread terror and fear in the name of Barnabus. Barnabus gains worshippers based on the number of people who fear him along with worshippers, so the job of an Acolyte of Barnabus is to cause as much fear as possible, on a big of a scale as possible.

“

Fear is an essence, a power. It is an energy that my Lord gains power from. My Lord has chosen me to worship instead of fear him, so that I may make others fear him.

”

Acolytes of Barnabus arent well known in the world, so they're usually thrown in with cult members if they reveal what they are.

NPC Reactions: Npcs that are not Acolytes of Barnabus either care little, or are terrified of an Acolyte of Barnabus.

Acolyte of Barnabus Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge(Religion) can research Acolytes of Barnabus to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge(Religion)

DC	Result
20	Acolytes of Barnabus are not cult members, but instead powerful masters of fear itself.
26	All Acolytes of Barnabus are also a Twisted Visage.
31	You know Acolytes of Barnabus have an ability to trap people in a maze filled with creatures of terror.
36	You gain information of a specific Acolyte of Barnabus or other obscure knowledge. (DM's choice)

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