Sacred Exorcist

Through elaborate rites that may include dancing, drumming, beating a possessed person on the soles of the feet, liberal use of holy water, or many other means, sacred exorcists hope to drive away the spiritual forces of evil, preventing them from causing harm to the bodies and souls of humanity. Sacred exorcists are serious about their work and very devoted to their religion. Not all of them are dour and grim, but most are. Their determination to combat the forces of evil in the world—along with their special ability to do so—more than makes up for their lack of humor.

Most sacred exorcists are clerics or paladins who are specifically trained by their church for the work they are called to do. Most churches select only those who have shown a clear dedication to the work of opposing evil outsiders, as well as exemplary faith and devotion. Occasionally, a wizard qualifies to fill this role in a church that is tolerant toward arcane magic, but members of other classes rarely become sacred exorcists.

NPC sacred exorcists are usually loners who travel from city to city in the service of their church. As highly specialized professionals, their services are frequently in demand, though few cities would have need for a full-time sacred exorcist.

**Adaptation**: As written, the prestige class mandates the sanction of a church or order, and it indicates that sacred exorcists are loners. You could reverse either of those elements; sacred exorcists could function independently of a larger organization (or even be castoffs from the larger church). Maybe teams of exorcists (with paladin and arcane spellcaster backup) patrol the land, seeking out hidden evil wherever it may gather.

#### Requirements

**Skills:** Knowledge (the planes) 10 ranks , Knowledge (religion) 7 ranks

**Alignment**: Any good.

**Spells**: Able to cast dismissal or dispel evil .

**Special**: Adopting this prestige class requires the sanction of a church or order that ordains sacred exorcists. Only characters judged by their church to be exemplary in faith and devotion, strong of will and upright in morality, are made sacred exorcists.

#### Class Features

**Weapon and Armor Proficiency**: Sacred exorcists are proficient with all simple weapons. They do not gain proficiency with any type of armor or with shields, but usually carry these proficiencies from their previous class.

**Spells per Day/Spells Known**: A sacred exorcist advances in spellcasting ability as well as learning the skills of exorcism. Thus, when a new sacred exorcist level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of controlling or rebuking undead, more frequent *remove disease*, and so on). This means that she adds the level of sacred exorcist to the level of another spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day accordingly.

For example, if Delliva, an 8th-level cleric, gains a level as a sacred exorcist, she gains new spells as if she had risen to 9th level as a cleric, but uses the other sacred exorcist aspects of level progression such as base attack bonus and save bonuses. If she next gains a level as a cleric, making her a 9th-level cleric/1st-level sacred exorcist, she gains spells as if she had risen to 10th level as a cleric.

If a character had more than one spellcasting class in which she could cast *dismissal* or *dispel evil* before she became a sacred exorcist, the player must decide which class to assign each level of sacred exorcist for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

**Exorcism (Su)**: As a full-round action, a sacred exorcist can force a possessing creature or spirit out of the body it inhabits. To exorcise a possessing creature, the exorcist makes a class level check (also adding her Charisma modifier, if any), against a DC of 10 + the possessing creature's HD + its Charisma modifier (if any). If the exorcist's result equals or exceeds the DC, she succeeds in forcing the possessor from the body, with the normal results based on its method of possession. A spirit so exorcised cannot attempt to possess the same victim for 24 hours.

**Turn Undead (Su)**: Sacred exorcists can turn undead as clerics do. If a sacred exorcist has this ability from another class, her class levels stack to determine her effective turning level.

**Resist Possession (Ex)**: Sacred exorcists of at least 2nd level receive a +4 sacred bonus on their saving throws against *magic jar* spells or similar abilities (including a ghost's malevolence ability), and a +2 sacred bonus on dispel checks made to dispel such effects. They also get a +2 sacred bonus on their saving throws against all charm and compulsion spells and effects cast by evil outsiders or undead.

***Detect Evil* (Sp)**: At will, a sacred exorcist of at least 2nd level can use *detect evil* as a spell-like ability.

**Chosen Foe (Ex)**: At 3rd level, a sacred exorcist designates either undead or evil outsiders as her chosen foe. Extensive study and special training in the proper techniques for combating this foe gives the sacred exorcist a +1 competence bonus on Bluff, Intimidate, Listen, Sense Motive, and Spot checks against the chosen foe, as well as a +1 bonus on caster level checks to overcome any spell resistance of the chosen foe. At 6th level the bonus increases to +2, and at 9th level it increases to +3.

***Dispel Evil* (Sp)**: Beginning at 4th level, a sacred exorcist can use *dispel evil* as a spell-like ability once per week. At 7th level, she can use this ability twice per week. At 10th level, she can use it three times per week.

**Consecrated Presence (Su)**: At 5th level and higher, a sacred exorcist is surrounded by an aura of positive energy that extends 20 feet from her presence. This aura duplicates the effects of a *consecrate* spell, but it moves with the sacred exorcist. If the sacred exorcist enters an area affected by a *desecrate* spell, both effects are negated while the sacred exorcist remains in the area. If the sacred exorcist is the target of a *desecrate* spell, her aura is suppressed for the duration of the *desecrate* spell.

***Holy Aura* (Sp)**: A sacred exorcist of 8th level or higher can use *holy aura* once per day as a spell-like ability.