Mindstalker (Character Kit)

Mindstalker) Kit
The caradhaker bearing embodies measured patience and calm confidence a demeanor that follows naturally from their secret skills and strict physical and mental disciplines. Mindstalkers are at their calmest and most confident when an encounter with mind flayers is imminent, and they are violently competent in the midst of an illithid encounter.
Requirements:  A mindstalker can be of any character class normally available to dwarves but must have a Wisdom of at least 12 and an Intelligence of at least 9.
The caradhaker sect cares not whether its members are male or female; however, the sect sometimes pursues illithid spoor into dwarven communities where female warriors are an anomaly. In such cases, gender tensions can cause a community to spurn the help offered by the carad haker. Female mindstalkers who remain grounded in the discipline of the sect are well armored against this sort of bias.
Those who take up the training to become a caradhaker are devoted for life. The skills, once learned, cannot
be unlearned, and the secret passwords and signs used by fellow members to identify each to the other are also not easily forgotten. What’s more, the sect actively seeks out those among the flock who have been lax in accomplishing their duty. A special quest (to destroy a particular mind flayer infestation, for instance) is given to those dwarves whose devotion is found wanting. Those carad haker who accomplish the quest are once again back in good standing with the sect. Those who do not perform the quest, for whatever reason, are marked as rogues, no better than the illithids themselves, and they are treated as fair game by all other mind stalkers. Such rogue caradhaker usually live only a short time as a fugitive from their vengeful kindred.
Role: Caradhaker sometimes work in groups when an illithid community is discovered. Far more often, mind- stalkers work apart from the other dwarves in the sect. In such cases, the lone caradhaker travels abroad in search of other dwarven halls, seeking to pass on illithid-slaying skills to uninitiated communities of dwarves.
Of course, a mindstalker does not only pass along his or her skills but also seeks to apply them whenever possible. Mindstalkers are not averse to traveling with adventuring companies of mixed race, because such companies have a reputation for covering large areas. The caradhaker realizes that, sooner or later, the group wilt encounter illithids and deal with them.
Secondary Skills: If secondary skills are used in the campaign, a mind- stalker should have the hunter skill.
Weapon Proficiencies: Mind stalkers can choose any weapon appropriate to their class standards and restrictions.
Bonus Nonweapon Proficiencies: Illithid    sense, lucid buffer (see “Caradhaker Proficiencies”).
Recommended Nonweapon proficiencies: Direction sense, under ground navigation (see The Complete Book of Dwarves), illithid track, cerebral blind, read qualith.
Equipment: At the DM’s option, a caradhaker may start the game in possession of or with access to one of the new magical items described in “Caradhaker Magical Items.”
Distinctive Appearance: Mind stalkers appear and dress as appropriate to their class and clan, with two exceptions. First, many dwarves with this kit wear their hair shaved on top except for a long queue, reminiscent of the githyanki hair style. (Dwarven beards remain inviolate, of course). Secondly, experienced caradhaker often wear one or more shrunken, mummified illithid heads on their harnesses as a mark of their dedication and as proof of past victories.
Special Benefits: A mindstalker rechannels the usual dwarven racial hatred for orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins into a hatred for illithids, gaining a +1 bonus to hit and damage in melee against illithids.
Additionally, if the DM uses psionic rules in the campaign, the strict caradhaker training and discipline adds an additional chance (check) for the character to awaken any still- slumbering psionic wild talents within the trainee’s mind. (See the “Caradhaker Psionics” sidebar if you use psionics rules; otherwise see “Evolved Caradhaker Proficiencies.”) If a mindstalker elects to make the addi- tional check to uncover a latent wild talent, add a +10 percent bonus to the character’s overall chance of success. Rules for psionic wild talent and psionics in general can be found in either The Complete Psionics Handbook or in the PLAYER’S OPTION™: Skills & Powers book.
Special Hindrances: Mindstalkers lose the standard dwarven racial ability of a +1 attack bonus against orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgob lins because of their mind flayer focus.
Additionally, if the DM uses psionic rules in the campaign, those dwarves who do manage to awaken a mental psionic wild talent compromise their physical integrity to a small degree. Instead of gaining +1 to saving throws vs. magical attacks and poison for every 3½ points of Constitution, caradhaker with psionic wild talents gain only +1 to these saving throws for every 6 points of Constitution. Thus, a caradhaker with psionic powers gains a maximum of +3 to saves for an 18 Constitution. If the DM allows a player to use the advanced Caradhaker proficiencies instead of wild talents for a non-psionic campaign, the same penalty described above also applies.
Wealth Options: A mindstalker starts the game with wealth appropriate to his class, level, and clan.
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