Swami (Character Kit)

:This was originally published in Dragon Magazine #225
==Swami==
(Wizard kit)
Do not break the circle! Swami Usha commanded the gathering around the crystal. She started to speak in tongues, drawing gasps of awe from those present, but this was only a delay. Something was blocking her projection to the anger-chamber of the spirit princes, something so terrifying that she could not bring herself to see it. But in her mind, Usha felt the presence of the darkest of spirit princes. She could not win here. With a tear, Usha broke the circle herself condamming the spirit princes to a thousand lifetimes of rage. Somewhere, chill laughter beckoned.
Description: The Swami is an Indian Diviner summoner specialist who uses a focusing object to reach the spirit world. The Swami has a limited ability to predict the future through these spirit connections and can often learn the fates of those who have passed on. Some Swamis can even make contact with the gods through their art, though the Brahmins object to this. Most often, though, the Swami is occupied with tending to the needs of those who seek knowledge denied to them by men, For a price, the Swami shows them a glimpse of the spirit world.
The Swami receives spells through meditative manipulation of spirits on the spirit demi plane. Unlike the gens of Zakharan sha'irs, Indian spirits are always evil and hostile. They never part voluntarily with spells, and they promise revenge on any Swami who takes their magic away. The Swami must bend the spirits to his will, but if he is not careful the spirits will turn on him.
Class role: The Swami social class is of moderate importance, with its wealth sometimes being higher than its place in society. Swamis occasionally work for nobles, but most are freelance. Swamis can eat anything they want and can marry anyone they want.
Minimum requirements: Constitution and Wisdom scores of at least 15. Swamis may be male or female, though few female Swamis are well paid. Swamis may be of any alignment; more than a few are unscrupulous.
Specialist schools: Divination, Conjuration/Summoning. The bonus spell per level can be of either school. The Chance To Learn Spell is +15% for these schools and -15% for all others.
Barred schools: Necromancy.
Weapon proficiencies: Dagger, knife, dart, or tiger's claws.
Nonweapon proficiencies:
* Bonus: Chanting*.
* Required: Spellcraft.
* Recommended:  Acting, ancient history, astrology, fortune-telling*, gem cutting, languages (ancient), local history, reading/writing, religion, ventriloquism.
* Forbidden: None.
: (Proficiencies marked with an asterisk are from The Complete Bards Handbook and The Complete Thief's Handbook.)
Equipment: The Swami must spend at least 100 gp on a crystal ball, gem, bone, or other focus. The focus can handle spells of a level equal to one level per 100 gp value. If the poverty option is taken, the Swami may use any object for spells of up to 2nd level.
Special benefits: The Swami uses his focus as his spell repository instead of a spell book. The focus can hold a number of spells equal to the Maximum Spells Per Level as determined by the Swami's Intelligence. While scanning the spirit world through the focus, the Swami will come across many spirits who control spells; it takes one hour per spell level to find a specific spirit. Assuming he is of adequate level, the Swami may try to engage a spirit in a simple magical combat. If the Swami makes a Chance to Learn Spell roll modified by -5% per spell level, the spirit and its spell are imprisoned in the focus permanently. If he fails the roll, however, the spirit retaliates.
The Swami makes a Wisdom check at -1 per spell level, falling into unconsciousness for one hour per spell level if failed. Thereafter, the Swami may try to capture the spell again, but each subsequent attempt is at -5% cumulative chance of success to get that spell.
The Swami can use his focus as a spell conduit, being able to send spells into it. He can send any spell with a range greater than zero to the limits of his ability to see. If using spells like clairvoyance, the Swami can even send fireballs miles away. The focus can be magicked with any number of spells. He can transfer spells from one focus into another but may have only one at a time.
Special hindrances: The focus is vulnerable to attempts to break it; it gets no bonuses on the Item Saving Throw table. It will shatter if a spell is captured that is of a level greater than the focus' gold piece value can allow. If it is broken, the enraged spirits flee the material world with all the Swami's spells, but not before making one last attack on the Swami wherever he is. At that point the Swami must make a Wisdom check at -1 per level of the highest level spell in the focus, or fall into a nightmare-tormented coma for a number of hours equal to the total of all the spell levels formerly imprisoned. A high-level Swami had better have friends around if this happens, as the coma can last for days.
The Swami cannot use spells from spell books or Wizard scrolls without using a spirit-summoned read magic spell, and he can never memorize spells from such items.
Wealth options: Poverty option or 10d4x10 rupees.
Category:Character Kit
Category:Character Kit Dragon Magazine