Harper Agent Unchained

The semisecret organization known as the Harpers has members scattered all across Faerûn. These individuals are dedicated to battling evil, discovering and preserving forgotten lore, and maintaining the balance between nature and civilization. Harper agents are the ‘field agents’ of the Harper organization, acting directly to gather intelligence and eliminate threats to the greater good. Equally adept at operating alone or in small groups, Harper agents display a versatility that few others can match.

Bards are the most common candidates for the Harper agent prestige class, but they are by no means the only qualified characters. Rangers, rogues, sorcerers, and wizards all possess the diversity of skill and ability necessary to become Harper agents. Clerics, especially of Deneir, Lliira, and Tymora, are occasionally found in the ranks of this prestige class, as are druids and monks. Barbarians, fighters, and paladins rarely become Harper agents because they lack the subtlety for the work.

Requirements

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Harper agents are proficient with all simple weapons and with light armor.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: Beginning at 2nd level, when a new Harper agent level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known, bonus spells known, and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before becoming a Harper agent, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for purposes of determining spells per day.

If a character had more than one spellcasting class before she became a Harper agent, she must decide to which class she adds each level of Harper agent for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

Harper Knowledge (Ex): At 1st level, the Harper agent can access knowledge in the same manner as a bard can. This ability functions like the bardic knowledge ability. If the Harper agent has this ability from another class, her Harper agent levels stack with levels of that prior class to determine the bonus. if she doesn’t have the bardic knowledge feature from another class, then the bonus to her Knowledge checks is equal to her Harper agent level This qualifies as Bardic Knowledge for the purpose of qualifications and for feats and abilities that modify this ability.

Career Agent: The Harper agent continues to develop in one of her prior class’ features, stacking her levels in Harper agent with her base class in one of the following class abilities of her choice to determine its level-dependent benefits. Once decided this choice cannot be changed: Animal Companion, Arcane Pool, Arcane Reservoir, Arcane School, Bardic Performance (or similar), Bloodline Powers, Channel Energy, Domains, Familiar, Fervor, Ki Pool, Smite Evil, or Sneak Attack.

Harper Blessings (Su): Harper blessings are granted by the Gods that support the Harpers, and each deity offers their own unique blessing. These are gifted regardless of which deity is actually the agent’s patron deity is and are granted as long as the agent does not break the Harper Code. The Harper chooses a blessing at 3rd, 4th, and 5th levels; each blessing can only be selected once.

Blessings can either come in the form of a spell-like ability, a continual ability or an activated blessing. Unless otherwise noted, activating blessings takes a standard action, and they are a free action to dismiss, and only one blessing can be active at once. Activated blessings, unless otherwise noted, can be active up one minute per Harper Agent level. These minutes do not have to be used consecutively, but they must be used in one-minute increments. If a blessing’s benefits are dismissed, the Harper agent cannot activate another blessing until the beginning of his next turn.

The caster level for any spells or spell-like effects granted by a blessing is equal to the agent’s character level. Spell-like abilities gained by a blessing are useable a number of times per day as indicated in the entry for the blessing. Unless otherwise noted, the saving throw DC of any spell-like ability gained from any blessing is 10 + the Harper agent’s level + her Charisma modifier, with a caster level equal to her Harper agent level.

• Azuth’s Magic (Sp): Only a non spellcaster may choose this blessing. The Harper agent gains the ability to cast a limited number of divine spells, accessing three Orisons from the inquisitor’s spell list that the Harper Agent can cast at will as divine spells. At third level, the Harper agent can add a first-level divine spell from the inquisitor spell list which she can cast as a spell-like ability once per day, and at 5th level she adds a 2nd level divine spell from the inquisitor spell list in a similar fashion. This blessing does not grant the agent the ability to qualify for feats, classes or other abilities that require the spellcasting ability if she did not already possess it. Selecting this blessing also grants a sacred bonus equal to her Harper agent level to Spellcraft checks and these checks can be made untrained.
• Bonus Feat: The divine seeker can choose a bonus feat from among the following list of select feats: Alertness, Betrayer, Brilliant Planner, Cat’s Fall, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Feign Curse, Fool Magic, Intimidating Performance, Introspective Performance, Intoxicating Flattery, Nerve-Racking Negotiator, Nimble Moves, Persuasive, Persuasive Bribery, Quick Favor, Sabotage Specialist, Threatening Negotiator, True Deception, Walking Sleight, Willing Accomplice.
• Deneir’s Eye (Su): Praying for the Eyes of Deneir grant the Harper agent powers over many forms of magical writing and runes. While this blessing is active, the agent gains the benefit of Trapfinding and Danger Sense as a rogue of the Harper agent’s level, and she can understand any written or magical language as if she were affected by Comprehend Languages and Read Magic. In addition, this ability grants a +1 sacred bonus per Harper agent level to all Disable Device and Perception checks against glyphs, runes, and symbols and she can use these skills untrained against the same.
• Eldath’s Peace (Sp): With a prayer for the love and peace of Eldath, the agent gains the benefit of a Sanctuary spell as a spell-like ability, for a number of rounds equal to her Harper agent level. If the agent attempts a hostile action against any creature while under the effect of this blessing, it ends immediately and cannot be activated again for the rest of the day. In addition, while this blessing is active, as a spell-like ability, the agent can heal herself or a touched creature a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + her Harper Agent level; this healing touch does not affect undead creatures. She can use this a number of times per day equal to her Harper agent level -1.
• Lliira’s Heart (Su): By beckoning Lliira for strength in prayer, the agent is granted a +2 sacred bonus to saving throws against all fear and compulsion effects; this bonus also applies to the DC of intimidation checks of others against her. This benefit increases by 1 at 5th level. At any time while this blessing is active and she fails a saving throw against a fear or compulsion effect, she can make an additional saving throw the following round to prematurely end the effect; she can only benefit from this once per individual effect, including instances of the same effect from the same source. For example, if the Harper agent is subject to a dragon’s fear aura and fails their saving throw, they can reroll their save the following round. If the Harper Agent is subject to the same fear aura again in the same encounter, she cannot reroll again.
• Lurue’s Voice (Su): By singing a brief hymn, the Harper agent can call upon Lurue’s Voice, granting the agent the ability to Speak with Animals as the spell for the duration of the effect, as well as a +1 sacred bonus per level to all Bluff, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Intimidate, and Ride checks to influence animals and magical beasts; she may use these skills untrained for this purpose. At 5th level, the agent can influence an individual creature affected by this voice as if it had Charm Animal cast upon it, and the sacred bonus is added to the Charisma checks needed to convince it to do her bidding for as long as the blessing is focused upon the creature.
• Mielikki’s Stride (Su): By taking a moment to meditate and take in her surroundings, the Harper agent finds a oneness with nature that allows her to swiftly move through the brush. When in natural settings whilst this blessing is active, she is treated as having the favored terrain ability of the Unchained ranger with a +2 bonus, which increases to +4 at 5th level, as well as gaining the nature’s stride ability. The effects of this blessing last up to one day until the Harper agent rests, or ends the effect to beseech another blessing. At 5th level, she gain the ability to pass among the trees as the tree stride spell once per day as a spell-like ability when this blessing is active.
• Milil’s Song (Su): With a whistle and a short song, the Harper agent gains the blessing of Milil. The Harper agent can use the countersong or fascinate bard songs as a bard of the agent’s level. At fourth level, she also gains the ability to inspire courage and inspire competence. She may perform Milil’s Song up to four rounds plus her Charisma modifier (if any), plus an additional two rounds per Harper agent level after 1st. While performing Milil’s Song, the Harper agent gains a +1 sacred bonus per level to her Perform checks. If the Harper agent has bardic performance from another class, then instead her Harper agent levels stack to determine the abilities, power and frequency of the agent’s bardic performance.
• Mystra’s Boon: Praying for the guidance of Mystra grants the Harper agent intuitive knowledge of magic. She gains a sacred bonus to all saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities equal to her class level. Furthermore, she gains a +1 sacred bonus per level to all Spellcraft and Use Magic Device checks, and has the ability to use those skills untrained, she is also affected with Detect Magic for the duration of the blessing.
• Oghma’s Knowledge (Ex): A Harper agent who selects Oghma’s blessing gains divine inspiration as the Inspiration ability of an Investigator. She gains an daily inspiration pool equal to her investigator level + her Intelligence modifier (if any). If the agent already has levels in Investigator or another class with the Inspiration ability, then her Harper agent levels stack with this other class to determine the benefits of her inspiration ability.
• Selûne’s Light (Su or Sp): When the Harper agent prays to Selune, the goddess shows the light to find the way. While the blessing is active, the Harper agent gains a sacred bonus to will saves equal to her Harper agent level against illusions, and gains darkvision — if she didn’t already possess darkvision. The Harper Agent also gains the ability to cast Know Direction and Light as a spell-like ability at-will, and to cast Faerie Fire and Detect the Faithful as spell-like abilities once per day. Detect the Faithful detects other Harpers specifically rather than worshipers of any particular deity. At 5th level, the Harper Agent can cast Locate Object or Locate Creature as a spell-like ability once per day.
• Shaundakul’s Cloak (Ex and Sp): The Harper agent gains Endurance as a bonus feat. In addition, with a prayer and a long, deep breath, the agent gains the benefits of Longstrider as a spell-like ability.
• Shiallia’s Embrace (Su): Once the Harper agent prays to Shiallia, she is warmed with the energy of life. She gains a sacred bonus to all saving throws against negative energy and death effects equal to her Harper agent level for the duration of the blessing. In addition, any time during the blessing that the Harper agent suffers negative levels or ability damage or drain to her constitution score, she takes one less than what she would otherwise take (to a minimum of 0). At 5th level, such drain or damage is reduced by 2.
• Silvanus’ Sheltering Oak (Su): After a moment of silence and prayer to Silvanus, the Harper agent gain her blessings against the harsh elements 0f the outdoors. For the duration of this blessing, she gains cold and fire resistance 5, and gains a sacred bonus to her saving throws equal to her Harper agent level against any environmental hazards she may face. At 5th level the cold and fire resistance increases to 10. This blessing lasts for an hour per Harper agent level; these have to be spent in one-hour increments.
• Talented Spy: The Harper agent can select a rogue talent, ninja trick, slayer or vigilante talent. If she has the talent feature in another class, and her combined levels of that class plus her divine seeker level are 11 or higher, this selection may be an advanced talent. Her divine seeker level stacks with any other class granting these talents for the purpose of determining their benefits.
• The Grace of the Seldarine (Ex or Sp): Only an elf or halfelf can select this blessing. Once the Harper agent has petitioned to the elven gods, they bless her with their gifts. For the duration of the blessing, she gains a +1 competence bonus to all attack rolls and a +2 bonus to all damage rolls with longbows (including composite longbows), longswords, rapiers, and shortbows (including composite shortbows), as well as any weapon with the word “elven” in its name. At 5th level, these bonuses increase to +2 and +4, respectively. At 5th level, the Harper agent can cast True Strike as a spell-like ability once per day.
• Tymora’s Smile (Su): By wishing herself the luck of Tymora, the Harper agent gains a +1 luck bonus to one of the following: attack rolls, AC and combat maneuver defense, saving throws, initiative, or combat maneuver bonus. This bonus increases to +2 at 4th level. This blessing is activated as an immediate action, but the duration is still expended at a minimum of one-minute increments, and it must be activated before the results of a die roll are revealed to affect that die roll. At 5th level, at the beginning of every day, the Harper agent rolls a single d20; at any time once during that same day, she may substitute this roll for another d20 roll, be it her own, or another’s.

Abundant Blessing: At 5th level, the Harper agent can have the benefits of two blessings active at once, and each time she beseeches the blessing is a move action rather than a standard action. She may start or cease the benefits of these two blessings independently of each other, but they each still have their individual durations and require separate actions to activate.

Ex-Harper Agents: Any Harper agent who violates the code of the Harpers, endangers other Harpers through negligence or deliberate action, or intentionally turns away from the Harpers quickly gains a reputation in the organization. Such an individual can no longer progress in the Harper agent prestige class. Furthermore, she can no longer use her activated or spell-like blessings. A petition to the High Harpers, fulfillment of a suitable quest set by that group, and an atonement spell from a deity chosen by the High Harpers brings the former Harper agent back into good standing. Thereafter, she regains the use of all class abilities and may once again gain levels in the prestige class.