Dirgist (Character Kit)

Dirgist (Bard)
Description: The dirgist is a rare bard specializing in funeral songs, requiems, and ancient elegies. Their lyrics and music are so evocative that few can hear them play without crying, and even the undead are quieted by returned memories. Dirgists have little knowledge or patience for light ditties or merriment and are usually as gloomy as the tunes the play.
The garb of a typical dirgist is somber, black being the normal color, complimented with brown and dark gray. With none of the usual finery associated with bards, it is easy to mistake a dirgist with any mourner except for the presence of an instrument.
Most dirgists are humans, as that race fears the threat of death foremost compared to the long-living demihumans. A few half-elves feel the dread of their human parent enough to ignore their elven blood and raise their voice in lament.
Role: The dirgist keeps alive the macabre and morbid songs of the ages. Rarely are they sought out for anything other than state funerals and memorial services (where the officials want the crowd to be moved to tears). Some spend time at monasteries, providing their music and voice to somber hymns. 
Like all bards, a dirgist must be some neutral alignment. Many are lawful neutral, seeking to preserve the rites and tales of the past and considering the undead a chaotic force that needs to be quelled. The Veil has taken a few of the nobler dirgists into counsel, but such an honor is only gained after ordeals of faith and courage. Some keepers have only found solace through the haunting music of these bards, but not all dirgists have such intent, and there are some who have let themselves be corrupted by their songs until they seek out the entourage of powerful necromancers or spread grief throughout the land on their own. 
Weapon Proficiencies: Required:None. 
* Recommended: Any.
Non weapon Proficiencies: Required:Ancient history, musical instrument, singing.
* Recommended: Ancient languages, local history, undead lore. 
It should be noted that most musical instruments are inappropriate for dirgists in that they produce a light sound A beginning dirgist can choose to be skilled at any two of the following instruments (later on in his career, he may master more): any drum, any low woodwind (such as an oboe), bagpipes, organ, low bell or chime, gong, animal horn.
Rogue Skill Progression: Dirgists would do best increasing their Move Silently and Hide in Shadows thieving talents. This would lessen the danger of exploring old tombs.
Special Benefits: Dirgists are infamous for their ability to enthrall the undead with song. Whenever the bard encounters any undead creature, he may attempt to captivate it. The creature is not truly charmed but instead held in thrall as distant memories from its past life return. The dirgist must succeed in either a singing or musical instrument proficiency check. Only undead with Hit Dice equivalent to or lower than the dirgist's level can be enthralled.
The proficiency check is modified as follows:
❖ Against mindless undead (skeletons, zombies, and the like), the dirgist must strain to reach their lost memories and suffers a -2 penalty to his roll.
❖ If more than a single undead is targeted, there is a -1 modifier for each additional creature.
❖ If the dirgist's level is at least double that of the undead's hit dice, he gains a +2 modifier to his roll; if his level is triple or greater, this modifier becomes +4.
❖ Foreknowledge can help the dirgist. If he has discovered the history behind the undead he faces, through rumor or the ancient/local history proficiency, he can use one of the songs in his repertoire that has personal meaning to the undead. This gives a +2 bonus to the roll.
Enthralled undead simply stand still as if in a daze. Any attack (physical ormagical) that causes a malignant effect upon the captivated creature instantly breaks the song's hold. The dirgist can sing and hold the undead in thrall up to a number of rounds equal to his Constitution. Once he stops, the song's effects last a further 1d3 rounds.Dirgists are also naturally resistant to the effects of fear magic. At 1st level, they gain a +1 on all saving throws versus fear spells or creature effects. This bonus is increased by an additional +1 for every four levels of experience the bard attains. At 9th level, the dirgist is so accomplished that his songs and music may not only enthrall the undead but also affect those skilled in necromantic magic. Thus, necromancers and specialty priests of necromantic powers might also fall under the enchantment.
Special Hindrances: Dirgists are a morose lot. They are not the sort of bard skilled at entertaining rowdy crowds with drinking songs or thrilling ballads. Any attempt by a dirgist to play or sing something lively or uplifting suffers a -6 penalty on the appropriate proficiency m check. A dirgist is usu
At 5th level, a dirgist is immune to the effects of a banshee's wail. Any other vocal special attacks by undead creatures (excluding spell use) also have no effect on the dirgist. ally only welcome company at funerals and memorial services. A dirgist must constantly travel to seek out ancient L requiems and coronaches £ to add to his repertoire. To advance past 3rd level, the bard must visit ancient mausoleums and sepulchers, explore necropoli, and even seek the knowledge of powerful necromancers. Before each new level is attained, the charactermust again explore grim surroundings. 
Wealth Options: 5d4 x 10gp
Category:Character Kit
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