Demon Hunter's Handbook

Writer Cover Artist Patrick Younts Thomas Denmark Interior Artists Editor Alex Kosakowski Joseph Goodman Doug Kovacs Claudio Muniz Graphic Designer Matt Morrow Duncan Fielden Mikolaj Ostapiuk Sample file o campaign theme is more gripping than a battle against the minions of hell! This jam-packed sourcebook brings to the table everything you’ll need to run a fantasy campaign centered around demon hunters. From Npuritanical holy men fighting for their gods to crazed warriors only one step away from damnation themselves, every classic archetype is covered — with new ones introduced as well. The handbook focuses not only on new classes, races, and feats, but also covers ways to tailor the existing d20 canon to a demon-hunter theme. It includes rules for possession and exorcism, organizations both pure and demonic, and guidelines for creating truly villainous demons to hunt. Demon Hunter’s Handbook [GMG4320] If you like this book, be sure to look for other Goodman Games products at your local game store. Log on to our website for freebies, news, special offers, and more… — 1 — Contents Chapter One: Characters Exorcism and Possession 34 Despair, Grief, and the What is Possession? 34 Dying of the Light 54 Introduction 3 How do Demons Choose The Merry Demon Hunters 57 Alignment 4 their Victims? 35 Demon Hunter Opponents 58 Spotting Victims 36 Roleplaying 5 Lone Demon Opponents 58 The Possession Attempt 36 Divine Races The Hordes of Hell 61 Conducting an Exorcism 37 Steward Archon 7 Campaign Issues 61 New Demon Hunter Domains 38 Aasimar 7 Exorcism 39 The Seeds of Adventure 62 Demon Hunters of Every Class Purity 39 Wilderness/Rural 63 Barbarian 8 Righteousness 40 Urban Adventure Seeds 64 Bard 9 New Demon Hunter Spells 40 Cleric 9 Chapter Four: Organizations Celestial Chains 40 Variant: Planar Cleric 10 Celestial Chorus 40 Types of Organizations 66 Druid 11 Corruption’s Sustaining Flow 40 Cults 66 Fighter 12 Destiny’s Spear 41 Religious Organizations 68 Monk 13 Final Vengeance 41 Secular Organizations 70 Paladin 14 Heavenly Bells 41 Building an Organization 71 Ranger 14 Heaven’s Tears 42 Determining Secondary Goals 71 Rogue 15 Holy Berries 42 Determining an Sorcerer 16 Nature’s Champion 42 Organization’s Size 73 Wizard 17 Nature’s Retribution 42 Determining an The Bound Spellcaster 18 Sense Fiends 43 Organization’s Resources 74 The Preserver 22 Sin Pox 43 Sample Organizations 75 The Righteous Sword 24 Soul Poison 43 The Glorious Brotherhood of Transcended Flesh 75 The Reformed Cultist 27 Terrible, Beautiful Angel 44 TheSample Rack file 44 Sampsa, She Who Walks Alone 76 Chapter Two: Vengeance of the Lost 44 The Broken Dolls 77 Demon Hunter Abilities Wings of Glory 45 Black Gate Orphanage 78 Witch Hammer 45 New Demon Hunter Feats 30 Demon Hunter Equipment 46 Chapter Five: Dead Inside 31 New Armor 46 Allies and Enemies Demon Slayer’s Insight 31 New Weapons 46 Of Demons and Devils 79 Dominant Thoughts 31 New Equipment 48 The Sin Eater 79 Fading Spirit 31 Sacred and Magical Oils, The Curse Bearer 81 Fractured Angel 31 Candles, and Essences 49 Improved Exorcism 32 Sacred Holy Symbol The Corrupt King 84 Indomitable Will 32 Materials 50 Shell Vessel (Template) 86 Imposing Manner 32 Trophies from the Kill 51 Unique Features of Inspirational Bulwark 32 Magical Weapon and Demons And Devils 88 Living Sword of Armor Properties 51 Non-Player Characters 90 Heaven’s Vengeance 33 Potions and Oils 52 Adelaide Sphrorazza 90 Mortal Coil 33 Other Magical Items 52 Jeremy King 91 Slave to Heaven’s Mandate 33 Creating Characters 53 Deacon Gideon Krug 92 New Skill Uses 33 Magdalena 93 Knowledge (arcana) 33 Chapter Three: The Campaign The Crimson Bishop 94 Knowledge (religion) 34 Demon Hunter Councilman Gerhart Spellcraft 34 Campaign Themes 54 VonStock 95 — 2 — Chapter One: Characters Introduction consumes those who answer it. But until that last day, when the demon hunter rasps final curses at Contrary to what some might tell you, I do have friends the devil rending his heart in two, a demon hunter outside of this calling. Wizards, warriors, those of less is a spiritual warrior without peer. For good, for evil, honest vocations, but adventurers all, yes, for I find it or solely for revenge: the call of the demon hunter difficult to relate to those who cannot understand the cannot be ignored. primal fear of combat, of pitting one’s strength against In some ways, demon hunters are like any other another, unto the point of death. Most of my friends adventurers. They quest across the width and breath have helped me in my chosen mission, at least a few of the world, they raise sword and fire against evil, times, and for that I am grateful. But to be honest, and they grow more powerful through the accu- even they cannot truly understand what it is that I do. mulation of magic items and other, less magnificent They fight demons when they choose to, not because treasures. In other ways, however, they could not be they must. They cannot understand how I burn for the more different. The demon hunter does not adven- hunt, how much I need the kill. None but the demon ture for personal glory, or to gain power and influ- hunter can. ence in the world. Instead, he quests because he feels a compulsion to pit himself against the machina- his is a book about demon hunters. Demon tions of evil outsiders and the cults that follow them. Thunters can be of any class, race, or alignment. It He adventures because he knows that without his is a calling rather than a profession which ultimately actions, no matter how insignificant they seem, the world would fall prey to darkness, sin, and corruption. It is the demon hunter’s duty and his curse to stand against the forces of darkness, to fight alone against the limitless hordes of demons, devils, and other evil, lower planar beings who seek Sample fileto spread their black shadow across the mortal realm. Whether the demon hunter takes up the path because of religious conviction, because of some demon related tragedy in his past, or simply out of a sense of duty to his fel- low man, he faces a lifetime of thankless toil, of hardship, of grief, and of terror, with no hope of escape except through inevitable, often agonizing death. For this reason, those who have any choice in the matter should think long and hard before stepping foot on the demon hunter’s path. Of course, rare is the one who does have the choice. This chapter opens with a discussion of demon hunter characters, their am- bitions, their skills, their methods and their abilities. It closes with four new prestige classes, which are specifically designed with the themes of a demon hunter campaign and the needs of a demon hunter character in mind. — 3 — Chapter One — 4 — Characters the PHB, neutral demon hunters are not lacking in Alignment commitment, at least not so far as the destruction of demons is concerned. Instead, neutral demon Though the demon hunter’s calling is a noble one, hunters are often hollow shells, men and women so which requires him to put not just his flesh but his scarred by their encounters with demons that there immortal spirit at risk, not all demon hunters are is little emotion, of any sort, to be found in them. of good alignment. To be sure, the vast majorities More so than any others, neutrally aligned are, for it takes a fundamental belief in the ability of demon hunters are frightening. They care about the mortal spirit to overcome evil to even contem- nothing but the hunt and the kill, and would sac- plate confronting demons, devils and their allies, but rifice anything or anyone in pursuit of their quest there are some few demon hunters who are neutral, to destroy evil outsiders. The church inquisitor who or even actively evil. oversees the cleansing of a cult infested town, giving A demon hunter’s alignment plays a large part no mercy to any touched by demonic influence, is in determining both his methods, and his choice of a good example of a lawful neutral demon hunter, opponents, as described below. while a character who culls evil outsiders because Good: Good aligned beings make up the vast ma- of their ability to influence the world to an undue jority of demon hunters. Good aligned demon hunt- degree is a good example of a true neutral demon ers take up sword, fire and spell in defense of others, hunter. because they feel great empathy for those who are Evil: Though very few in number, evil demon prey to demons and great rage at the blasphemy hunters do exist. Some evil demon hunters take up represented by demons and devils. Good aligned the calling because they cannot stand the idea of be- demon hunters throw themselves into battle without hesitation, directly put- ting themselves in harm’s way so that demonic forces do not endanger other, weaker beings. They can and do feel pity for those who succumb to the se- ductive power of demons, but do not allow this to still their hand when the time comes to mete out retribution. Sample file In many ways, the demon hunter’s concept of “good” is more harsh and uncompromising than the “good” of other adventurers, as those who pursue this vocation for long find it increas- ingly difficult to maintain hope and compassion in the face of unrelenting, overwhelming despair and evil. By the end of their careers, many good demon hunters have had all traces of mercy, forgiveness, and hope burned out of them; these demon hunters are “good” only in that they do not need- lessly kill others, and still raise their blades in defense of the weak, if for no other reason than they know no other way of life.

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