Prestige Class: Baron of the Grave

Hit Die: d6

Requirements:
Alignment: Any Evil
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Race: Any Non-undead
Spells: must be able to cast Animate Dead

Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level)
Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis).

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Reflex Save	Will Save	Special	Spellcasting
1	+0	+2	+0	+2	Undead Refinement +1	+1 of existing class
2	+1	+3	+0	+3	Necrosis	+1 of existing class
3	+2	+3	+1	+3	Command Undead, Ghoul Touch	+1 of existing class
4	+3	+4	+1	+4	Undead Refinement +2	+1 of existing class
5	+3	+4	+1	+4	Vile Incarnate	+1 of existing class
6	+4	+5	+2	+5	Create Undead, Slay Living	+1 of existing class
7	+5	+5	+2	+5	Undead Refinement +3	+1 of existing class
8	+6/+1	+6	+2	+6	Thick Blood	+1 of existing class
9	+6/+1	+6	+3	+6	Control Undead, Create Greater Undead	+1 of existing class
10	+7/+2	+7	+3	+7	Stygian Anatomy, Undead Refinement +4	+1 of existing class

Class Features

Spellcasting: At each level, a baron of the grave gains new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which he belonged before adding the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If he had more than one arcane or divine spellcasting class before becoming a baron of the grave, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Undead Refinement: Barons of the grave are indeed, very twisted creatures. For they are beings who would dare to pervert their own body and soul by letting undeath course through their veins and poison their very existence. Though, by poisoning their body in this way, they become in tune with energies of undeath, and can actually bring forth these energies in undead beings. At first level a baron of the grave gains a +1 bonus to caster level for the spells animate dead, create undead, and create greater undead (even as spell-like abilities).

A baron of the grave may sit down with an undead creature for a single hour and focus the negative energies that animates them (given that the undead does not attempt to do them harm). When a baron of the grave focuses the negative energy inside an undead creature, he may grant that creature a permanent insight bonus to either AC, attack rolls, or damage rolls equal to three times the bonus to caster level that this class feature grants. A single undead creature may only have one of these three stats being affected by this class feature at a given time, and this insight bonus can be changed from one stat to another freely, given that an hour is spent to focus for energies again. The bonus to caster level granted by this class feature increases by +1 every three levels after first (4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, etc.).

Necrosis (Ex): A baron of the grave is one who is so deeply intertwined with undeath that they eventually begin to actually become somewhat similar to the undead, both in soul and physiology. Starting at second level, a baron of the grave gains immunity to disease, sleep effects, paralysis, and poison and is not at risk of death from massive damage. Additionally, the baron may choose to substitute his Charisma modifier for Concentration checks and no longer needs to breathe in order to survive.

The baron also is considered part of the undead favored enemy group in addition to any other favored enemy group they may have had for all intents and purposes.

Command Undead (Sp): Those who are bound to undeath are also bound to a baron of the grave's will, and the baron sees this clearly. At third level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast command undead as a spell-like ability three times a day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Ghoul Touch (Sp): A baron of the grave can channel the forces of undeath through his very flesh, letting him impart a portion of those forces into another person's body. At third level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast ghoul touch as a spell-like ability three times a day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Vile Incarnate (Ex): As a baron of the grave's body steadily becomes more and more saturated with evil powers and energies, he eventually reaches a point where the forces of undeath actually seem to leak from his very pores. At fifth level, a baron of the grave gains an evil aura as if he were a 10th level cleric. If the baron already project an evil aura due to a class feature, then he is considered 10 levels higher for the purposes of determining the strength of this aura.

If someone looks at the baron while under the effects of a true seeing spell, then the baron appears to have black smoke rising from his body. Once the baron has reached this degree of corruption, he begins to emanate powerful negative forces inherently, making all damage that he inflicts (from any source) count as evil for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

Create Undead (Sp): Undeath is an art to a baron of the grave; one that he quickly realizes needs unending practice. At sixth level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast create undead as a spell-like ability twice a day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Slay Living (Sp): A baron of the grave's mind eventually begins to actually ooze with the very essence of undeath, letting him focus it into an almost tangible force. At sixth level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast slay living as a spell-like ability twice per day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Thick Blood (Ex): As a baron of the grave slowly fills his very existence with the forces of undeath, he begins to become more and more like an undead creature in his physiology to the point that his blood actually begins to flow slower and grow thick. At eighth level a baron of the grave gains immunity to ability drain, energy drain, and damage to his physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution). Additionally, for any effect that requires a Fortitude save in order to avoid fatigue or exhaustion, the baron may attempt a single re-roll per check he is required to make. This re-roll must be made before the baron learns if the first roll was successful or not, and must be accepted, even if it is worse than the first roll.

Control Undead (Sp): None who are dead would ever dare to stand against the will of a baron of the grave once he has truly begun to master his power, for it is almost like turning against undeath itself. At ninth level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast control undead as a spell-like ability once per day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Create Greater Undead (Sp): A baron of the grave eventually develops such control over forces of undeath that creating powerful undead becomes almost second nature to him and he can bring forth terrors that few others could bear to even see. At ninth level a baron of the grave gains the ability to cast create greater undead as a spell-like ability once per day with a caster level equal to his own caster level.

Stygian Anatomy: A baron of the grave's body reaches a point where it is so overwhelmed by the forces of undeath that it actually begins to change on the most basic scale, charging each of his individual cells with negative energies. When the baron has reached this point, his body and soul become more like that of an undead creatures than any living beings should. At tenth level, a baron of the grave gains immunity to stunning, is no longer subject to nonlethal damage, and no longer needs to eat or sleep in order to survive. In addition to these bonuses, the baron gains an enhancement bonus to his speed based on his size (as shown on Table below) as his body begins to unleash the forces that it has harbored for so long, and two claw attacks that deal damage based on his size (as shown on Table below) as his body contorts and fingers turn into talons. The baron is automatically proficient with these claw attacks. Damage inflicted by these claw attacks does not heal naturally or with rest, requiring a healing spell of some sort in order to be undone. If the baron does not have hands or some other appendage that could be changed into a claw, then he does not gain any claw attacks.

Size	Speed Bonus(Bipedal)	Speed Bonus(Quadrupedal)	Natural Attack damage
Fine and lower	+10	+20	1d2
Diminutive	+20	+40	1d3
Tiny	+20	+40	1d4
Small	+30	+60	1d6
Medium	+30	+60	1d8
Large	+30	+60	2d6
Huge	+40	+80	3d6
Gargantuan	+40	+80	4d6
Colossal+	+50	+100	6d6