 Skyseeker
Source Paths of Prestige pg. 50
Perhaps no event so shaped dwarven history or culture as the legendary Quest for Sky. Spurred by the words of their prophets, the ancient dwarves abandoned their homes deep within the subterranean realm of Nar-Voth and began the perilous search for the sky over 5 millennia ago. For 300 years, the dwarves fought their way upward, driving their hated enemies—the orcs— before them. When they finally breached the surface, these legendary heroes built 10 grand fortresses across the face of Golarion—the 10 magnificent Sky Citadels.
In many ways, dwarven culture has been in decline since their fateful emergence. Four of the fabled Sky Citadels were lost to history or destroyed, and a fifth is now held by the orc hordes in the Hold of Belkzen. Many dwarves long for a return to their days of glory, when they stood upon the surface of Golarion as champions of both the surface and the Darklands below.
Those dwarves who commit themselves to making this dream a reality are known as the skyseekers. They travel the width and breadth of Avistan as well as Garund, unearthing every scrap of dwarven history and lore they can find. Many form expeditions to explore the dwarven ruins left behind by their ancestors during the migration, often battling the foul creatures that lurk beneath Golarion’s surface in their search for knowledge. Others hope to rediscover or retake one of the fabled Sky Citadels lost in the eons since the Quest for Sky.RequirementsTo qualify to become a skyseeker, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills: Knowledge (dungeoneering) 5 ranks, Knowledge (history) 5 ranks.
Special: Favored enemy (giant, goblin, or orc) class feature.
Spellcasting: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells.
Traits: Any dwarf racial trait or the adopted social trait (see the Advanced Player’s Guide, pages 331 and 329 respectively).Class SkillsThe Skyseeker's class skills are Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Perception (Wis), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Hit Die: d10.Class Features| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells Per Day | | 1st | +1 | +1 | +0 | +1 | Ancestral weapon +1d6, citadel keeper | — | | 2nd | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | Rune-carved armor | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 3rd | +3 | +2 | +1 | +2 | Commune 1/week | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 4th | +4 | +2 | +1 | +2 | Ancestral weapon +2d6, dwarven armor training | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 5th | +5 | +3 | +2 | +3 | Darkvision | — | | 6th | +6 | +3 | +2 | +3 | Runes of resistance | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 7th | +7 | +4 | +2 | +4 | Ancestral weapon +3d6, darkvision +30 ft. | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 8th | +8 | +4 | +3 | +4 | Paths of the ancients | +1 level of divine spellcasting class | | 9th | +9 | +5 | +3 | +5 | Stalwart | — | | 10th | +10 | +5 | +3 | +5 | Ancestral weapon +4d6, call to arms | +1 level of divine spellcasting class |
The following are class features for the skyseeker prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A skyseeker is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields (including tower shields).
Ancestral Weapon (Su): By inscribing ancient dwarven runes upon his weapon, a skyseeker forges it into a reflection of the legendary weapons his ancestors bore during the Quest for Sky. When wielded by the skyseeker against a creature with the giant, goblin, or orc subtype, the weapon deals an additional 1d6 points of damage on a successful hit. As a free action, the skyseeker may also identify the weapon by name when making an Intimidate check against such creatures, granting him a competence bonus on his Intimidate check equal to 1/2 his class level (minimum +1).
At 4th level and every three levels thereafter, the extra damage dealt by the ancestral weapon increases by 1d6, to a maximum of 4d6 at 10th level. Forging a link between a weapon and the legendary weapons of old requires a 24-hour-long ritual, and only one weapon can be designated as an ancestral weapon at a time.
Citadel Keeper (Sp): A skyseeker has spent so much time studying the known Sky Citadels that he has memorized their locations by heart. He can determine the direction to the nearest known Sky Citadel at will, as though using the spell know direction.
Rune-Carved Armor (Su): At 2nd level, a skyseeker learns how to imbue his armor with a small semblance of the magical resistance his dwarven ancestors were renowned for. Against spells and spell-like abilities, he gains a deflection bonus to touch AC equal to his armor bonus. This bonus can’t exceed his skyseeker level. This ability functions only while the skyseeker wears armor.
Commune (Sp): At 3rd level, a skyseeker’s bond with the spirits of his ancestors grows stronger, allowing him to use the spell commune once per week as a spell-like ability (caster level equal to the skyseeker’s class level). Dwarven Armor Training (Ex): By studying the arts of his ancestors, the skyseeker learns the secret techniques of his forebears’ forges and fighting styles. At 4th level, the skyseeker gains heavy armor proficiency, and he still benefits from his ranger combat style (if he has one) while wearing heavy armor.
Darkvision (Ex): At 5th level, a skyseeker grows more comfortable operating in the lightless depths of the dwarven ancestral homelands. He gains darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. If he already has darkvision, the range increases by 30 feet. At 7th level, the range of the skyseeker’s darkvision increases by an additional 30 feet.
Runes of Resistance (Su): At 6th level, a skyseeker can use his armor to shrug off all manner of magical attacks for a short period of time. As a move action, the skyseeker can gain spell resistance equal to 5 + his Hit Dice if wearing light armor or 10 + his Hit Dice if wearing medium or heavy armor. Dismissing this ability is a swift action. A skyseeker can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to his class level. These rounds need not be consecutive.
Paths of the Ancients (Ex): Other labyrinths pale in comparison to the tangled maze of tunnels left behind by the ancient sky-seeking dwarves. At 8th level, a skyseeker gains immunity to the maze spell and cannot become lost while exploring subterranean environments.
Stalwart (Ex): At 9th level, a skyseeker has honed his mental resiliency to avoid certain attacks. If he succeeds at a Fortitude or Will saving throw against an attack that has a reduced effect on a successful save, he instead avoids the effect entirely. This ability can be used only if the skyseeker is wearing light armor, medium armor, or no armor. A helpless skyseeker does not gain the benefit of the stalwart ability.
Call to Arms (Sp): At 10th level, a skyseeker grows so attuned with the spirits of his ancestors that he can channel them into the physical world to battle his enemies. Once per day as a full-round action, he can summon up to 1d4+1 ghostly dwarven allies, who must appear within 60 feet of the skyseeker. These dwarves function exactly as an ally produced by the spell spiritual allyAPG (caster level equal to the skyseeker’s class level), except that they always appear as dwarves wielding warhammers and they share the skyseeker’s favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses (if any). On subsequent turns the skyseeker can direct a single dwarven ally to move as a swift action, or he can direct multiple allies to move simultaneously as a move action.
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