GRANDMOTHER "Violence is not the way of our creator." Grandmothers are the leaders of Bhuka society, as well as their connection to the Goddess Kikanuti. They are responsible for both the physical and spiritual well-being of their fellow Bhuka. Since there must always be Grandmothers in training in case the actual Grandmother dies, there are always several young priestesses ready to assume the mantle. They are used to travel between villages and clans and keep the lines of communication going and help with problems threatening the Bhuka as a whole.
BECOMING A GRANDMOTHER To become a Grandmother one must be a female Bhuka who sincerely believes in and is devoted to Kikanuti, as well as be accepted by the current Grandmother.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Race: Bhuka
Gender: Female
Feats: Leadership, True Believer
Skills: Diplomacy 4 ranks, Knowledge (History, Religion) 4 ranks
Domains: Must have access to two of the following Domains: Earth, Good, Magic, Protection, Plant, Summer
Class Skills The Grandmother's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Geography, History, Local, Nature, Religion)(Int), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Survival (Wis).
Skills Points at Each Level : 4 + int
Hit Dice: d8
BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities
1. +0 +2 +0 +2 Enhanced Domain Ability, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
2. +1 +3 +0 +3 Goddess Hear My Plea, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
3. +1 +3 +1 +3 Maybe We Can Work Something Out, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
4. +2 +4 +1 +4 Enhanced Domain Ability, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
5. +2 +4 +1 +4 Goddess Hear My Plea, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
6. +3 +5 +2 +5 Maybe We Can Work Something Out, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
7. +3 +5 +2 +5 Enhanced Domain Ability, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
8. +4 +6 +2 +6 Goddess Hear My Plea, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
9. +4 +6 +3 +6 Maybe We Can Work Something Out, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
10.+5 +7 +3 +7 Greater Mass Sanctuary, +1 Level of Divine Spellcasting Class
Weapon Proficiencies: A Grandmother gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Enhanced Domain Ability (Su): At 1st, 4th, and 7th level you may enhance one of your domains. At 1st level you gain one of the following benefits depending on which of the Domains you choose:
Earth: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Elemental attempts to spontaneously cast Nature's Rampart.
Good: You can cast Magic Circle Against Evil once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Magic: For purposes of using Magic items via your Domain Ability your Wizard level is equal to your Cleric level.
Protection: The Protective Ward you generate affects your next 3 Saving Throw attempts.
Plant: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Plant attempts to spontaneously cast Plant Growth.
Summer: You can cast Daylight once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
At 4th level you may choose to augment your other Domain ability or enhance the one you have already chosen. If you wish to enhance the one you have already chosen you get a power from the following list:
Earth: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Elemental attempts to spontaneously cast Commune with Nature.
Good: You can cast Dispel Evil once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Magic: You can cast Lesser Spell Matrix once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Protection: You can cast Indomitability once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Plant: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Plant attempts to spontaneously cast Tree Stride.
Summer: You can cast Blistering Radiance once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
At 7th level you may choose to augment your second Domain ability or enhance the one you have already chosen twice. If you wish to enhance the one you have already chosen you get a power from the following list:
Earth: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Elemental attempts to spontaneously cast Master Earth.
Good: You can cast Holy Word once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Magic: You can cast Greater Arcane Sight once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Protection: You can cast Dispelling Screen once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Plant: You can sacrifice one of your daily Turn Plant attempts to spontaneously cast Animate Plants.
Summer: You can cast Blistering Radiance once per day as a Supernatural Ability.
Goddess Hear My Plea (Su): At 2nd level you may 'lose' any spell of 4th level or higher to spontaneously cast Divination.
At 5th level you may 'lose' any spell of 5th level or higher to spontaneously cast Commune.
At 8th level you may 'lose' and spell of 7th level or higher to spontaneously cast Resurrection.
Maybe We Can Work Something Out (Su): At 3rd level you may 'lose' any spell of 5th level or higher to spontaneously cast Mass Sanctuary.
At 6th level you may 'lose' any spell of 6th level or higher to spontaneously cast Geas/Quest.
At 9th level you may 'lose' any spell of 7th level or higher to spontaneously cast Renewal Pact.
Greater Mass Sanctuary (Su): At 10th level you may 'lose' any spell of 8th level or higher to spontaneously cast Mass Sanctuary as a Supernatural Ability. Unlike the normal spell, this one affects all Allies within 100', and lasts 1 minute per level.
PLAYING A GRANDMOTHER You believe the best way to solve problems is to find out what caused them in the first place, and remedying it. While others simply charge forward with swords, you ask why the monsters are suddenly attacking a village, because if you find out that you may be able to halt their attacks without killing them, or putting anyone else at risk. And the villagers may gain them as allies if they are treated well enough. There are few truly evil beings that cannot be reasoned with or understood.
Combat: Violence only brings more violence. Kikanuti teaches that you should solve problems without it. And your tribe cannot risk your destruction as that would leave them without a connection to the Divine.
Advancement: Grandmothers in training will eventually be the leaders of their people responsible for protecting them and educating a new generation of priestesses. Therefore most concentrate on the skills they believe will best aid this design. Raw power is of less interest to them than knowing how to keep their charges safe.
Resources: As a leader of the village in training, you have access to just about anything they have. Assuming of course they have anything. Bhuka aren't known for being rich.
GRANDMOTHERS IN THE WORLD "I don't know what we'd do without you." Grandmothers tend to get respect from even some evil beings, so long as they live up to the duties of their station. Being as they are willing to give many beings a second chance (or a first) when all others push them aside, there are many who will not willingly go against the Grandmothers.
Daily Life: Your days are taken up by lessons from the current reigning Grandmother, and your duties to the village. Occasionally these duties even include missions ot the outside world for the good of the tribe.
Notables: Stikuchi (LG Female Bhuka Cleric 6/Grandmother 6) is a young woman learning to one day be the leader of her tribe, assuming it survives the various pogroms conducted against it by the Goblins.
Organizations: The Grandmothers are a loose affiliation. The reigning Grandmother of a village can decide to send the priestesses in training to help out other allies, and she hopes this help will be returned in times of need. But there is nothing in the way of a formal organization with rules.
NPC Reaction NPC's tend to fawn over the Grandmothers if Bhuka, or at least respect them if they know who they are. Outsiders to the desert often consider them little more than savages, an attitude that won't get them far if they need help. Goblins and worshipers of Maglubiyet despise them.
GRANDMOTHERS IN THE GAME The Grandmothers tend to prefer peace over violence, and will not do well in a campaign with players who are bloodthirsty savages. Campaigns involving war can still involve Grandmothers as they will be trying to stop it, but they won't do well if there are obviously revenge oriented PC's.
Adaptation: The Grandmothers are pretty much written for a serious campaign set in the deserts involving the Bhukas. If your campaign doesn't involve these things, well your players should probably try something else unless they want to do the 'fish out of water' thing.
Encounters: Grandmothers are always found at Bhuka villages, or on errands for them. They are also often found at the villages of their Crucian allies, or in any conflict involving nearby worshipers of Maglubiyet.
Sample Encounter EL 12: "If you are looking for an ally to help you in the wastelands, you would do well to remember to be a little less condescending towards it's inhabitants. Especially when you've been caught trying to pilfer our supplies."
StikuchiLG Female Bhuka Cleric 6/Grandmother 6
Init +0,
Senses: Listen +4, Spot +4
Languages Bhuka, Goblin
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AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+4 Deflection, +6 Armor, +3 Natural)
hp 66 (12 HD)
Fort +11,
Ref +4,
Will +14
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee Light Mace +7/+2 (1d6)
Base Atk +7,
Grp +7
Atk Options Turn Undead 5/day
Combat GearSpells Per Day 0: 6 (DC 14)
1st: 6 (DC 15)
2nd: 5 (DC 16)
3rd: 5 (DC 17)
4th: 4 (DC 18)
5th: 3 (DC 19)
6th: 2 (DC 20)
Caster Level 12
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Abilities Str 10, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 14
SQ Sure Feet, Glare Resistance, Water Sense, +2 on Saves vs. Heat and Dehydration, Domains (Protection, Summer)
Feats Drift Magic, Improved Heat Endurance, Leadership, Priest of the Waste, Sacred Boost, True Believer, Heat Endurance (B)
Skills Concentration +5, Diplomacy +6, Gather Information +6, Knowledge (History, Local, Religion) +4, Knowledge (Nature) +6, Sense Motive +8, Spellcraft +4, Survival +7
Possessions +4 Ring of Protection,+6 Bracers of Armor, +3 Amulet of Natural Armor, Masterwork Light Mace, 1 Planar Ally Scroll, 45 GP
EPIC GRANDMOTHERS Hit Die: d8
Skills Points at Each Level : 4 + int
Spells The Grandmothers caster level continues to increase with Epic levels, but she does not gain additional spells per day.
Bonus Feats: The Epic Grandmother gains a Bonus Feat every 3 levels higher than 20th