Abacinaut

Shortly after the Veil was raised, the dwarves discovered a new metal and named it “abacinite.” Abacinite, mined at the edge of the veil and undoubtedly affected by it, somehow exists in two states at once; molten and solid. The metal can be forged into a strong steel that gives off both heat and light. If done correctly, the metal rests at a balmy 200 degrees Fahrenheit (about 93 Celsius), which is just under the boiling point of water. When struck, the heat flares up enough to cause nasty burns.

In the coming centuries, the dwarves who would become the Pragians made all manner of weapons and tools from this material. Today, virtually all diving suits contain small amounts of abacinite that serves to provide both heat and oxygen (from the warming of cobaltide crystals). In addition, a dwarven order of knights, the Abacinauts, has arisen to protect the abacinite mines (as the mineral is becoming scarcer), to defend the forges, and to reclaim abacinite that was stolen, lost or abandoned.

These knights, of course, use abacinite weapons pretty much exclusively and have learned the secrets of tapping into the power of this miraculous metal. Their vigorous and secretive training has made them an elite and renowned force under the Viridian Veil.

**Role:** Abacinauts blend the abilities of fighting classes and alchemists, hurling bombs at the enemy one moment and carving down their opponents with abacinite spears the next. They are just as comfortable fighting in the thick of combat as they are flinging potions at foes while remaining safely behind their compatriots. Their versatility makes them valuable allies when the nature of an upcoming battle is unclear.

**Alignment:** The road to becoming an abacinaut is as varied as the paths leading to apprenticeship under a Pragian alchemist or a career as a soldier, and abacinauts can therefore be of any alignment. Maintaining a balance between studies of alchemical science and martial techniques requires great discipline, however, and for that reason many favor lawful alignments.

**Hit Die:** d10

### **REQUIREMENTS**

To qualify to become an Abacinaut, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

* **Race:** Pragian dwarf.
* **Extracts:** Able to create 3rd-level extracts.
* **Weapon Proficiency:** Must be proficient with all martial weapons.

**CLASS SKILLS:** The abacinaut’s class skills are Disable Device (Dex), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Perception (Wis), and Survival (Wis).

**Skill Ranks at Each Level:** 4 + Int modifier.

### **CLASS FEATURES**

All of the following are class features of the abacinaut prestige class:

### **Weapon and Armor Proficiency**

Abacinauts gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

### **Abacinaut’s Arsenal**

At first level, an abacinaut gains use of a single weapon of their choice, bonded to them. This weapon is made of enchanted abacinite, having the normal statistics of the base weapon but weighing and becoming a +1 Boiling Weapon. Additionally, the weapon can be created or dismissed at will, and instantly reforms if destroyed, sundered or taken. At fifth level, an abacinaut gains another weapon, and their original becomes +1 Boiling Burst. At tenth level, an abacinaut gains a third weapon, the second become +2 Boiling Burst, and the original becomes +3 Boiling Blast. An abacinaut may not choose a weapon in which she is not proficient.

### **Abacinaut’s Bulwark**

At third level, an abacinaut becomes capable of split-second abacinite-summoning, granting a continuous deflection bonus equal to his Charisma.

At fifth level, she can summon a +1 abacinite shield, this functions identically to a heavy shield, granting +2 AC and -1 on armor-specific skill checks, but deals 1d6 steam backlash damage (fortitude for half) to melee attackers on a failed attack roll while also granting Resistance to Steam 10. An abacinaut cannot use this ability while his hands are full or while wielding a two handed weapon. The DC for the backlash damage is 10 + 1/2 abacinaut level + Cha. If the shield is shattered (such as from a sunder attack), an abacinaut can reform the shield as a swift action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Note that heavy shields, even those created in this way, are still cumbersome underwater. As a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity, the abacinaut can dismiss her shield.

At seventh level, an abacinaut gains a suit of diving armor of her choice (with the appropriate AC bonus and check penalties), with a +1 enhancement and made primarily of abacinite. This armor can be summoned as a swift action and deals backlash damage that stacks with the abacinite shield. The abacinaut also gains Resistance to Steam 10.

At ninth level, both of these items become +2, the backlash damage from the +2 abacinite armor doubles, for a total of 3d6 steam damage on a failed attack roll, and the abacinaut also becomes immune to Steam.

### **Abacinite Bombs**

At second level, an abacinaut can use abacinite to fortify his steam bombs. Increase the damage dice of the bombs from d6 to d8. At 6th level, the dice increase to d10. At 10th level, the damage dice increases again to d12.

### **Abacinite Extracts**

At fourth level, the abacinaut learns to mix abacinite into any extract formula that has a steam (fire) descriptor. As a result the affect causes one additional point of steam damage per die.

At eighth level, an abacinaut can substitute any energy descriptor in a formula with steam (causing steam damage instead of the original). The abacinaut also gains the bonus above when substituting descriptors.

### **Weapon Focus**

At ninth level, an abacinaut gains the Weapon Focus feat for her bonded abacinite weapon. If she already has focus with that weapon, she may instead choose another Fighter bonus feat.

### **Boiling Transformation**

At tenth level, an abacinaut becomes essentially elemental. He gains all elemental traits, gains the Steam subtype and deals an additional 1d6 steam damage with all attacks melee attacks.