Cabal of Formidolosus

“The Source of Fear”

ca·bal (k-bl, -bäl) n. 1. A conspiratorial group of plotters or intriguers: "Espionage is quite precisely ita cabal of powerful men, working secretly" Frank Conroy.

2. A secret scheme or plot.

intr.v. ca·balled, ca·bal·ling, ca·bals

To form a cabal; conspire. 

Formidolosus -a -um act. , [causing dread, terrible, fearful]; pass., [fearful, timid]. Adv. Formidolosus, [dreadfully, terribly]. 

   The Cabal of Formidolosus has been created by an aspiring Spinal Architect as a tool to quickly shape those children abandon to the streets, born a slave forced to fight for his freedom this now strong intelligent warrior has decided to develop those cast aside like himself, through his teaching initiates are shaped through martial, physical and mental training all focused on the goal to reach the pinnacle of warrior status the Spinal Architect.   The state of his world is such that the majority of these dirt blood or demonic boys will be brought into the fold by the mere supply of dry bedding and regular meals, the dilapidated state of many cities the strife and struggle found in most leaves the young and old vulnerable, this Architect whose eyes are trained to measure material can see the potential in so many that is lost for the mere price of grain and meat.

   It is from this lowly stock he himself comes from that our warrior plans to fashion his fighters, taken under another’s wing himself he plans to deliver the same cruel beatings and teachings he received but his will differ in one way only, they will be used as a tool to harden the body and mind not tear it down .   When a man or woman decides to walk the path of the warrior they are marrying themselves to pain with death presiding over the ceremony, it is these two fears that must be conquered first, for once a man does not bear the fear of pain and death he has raised himself above all others who have not and can give himself over to training.  It is with this intense schedule of training that our Spinal Architect hopes to push his pupils to the first level of his order, then from there complete their traditional fighting skills along with their Architect training,  There is no religion to be found in this cabal as this warrior believes the worshiping of gods leaves men weak, his is a life of training, education and dedication, with these simple tools he has turned himself into an elite warrior and they will be the same the others will use.      

“The Ceremony” 

The initiates must remove their shirts and create a circle, the master architect takes his position in the center where there is a simple wooden rail made to stand alone, he then randomly chooses one initiate and asks him to the center.   The boy must swear his oath and agree to follow his training even unto death, once it has been sworn he must take the wooden rail, as he looks at the floor his torque is placed there so that he can see his goal.   The master removes his own tunic bearing his neck and back of scars to show he has endured the same, then he draws a wetted rattan rod from a towel and states, “ You have sworn an oath of words to your brothers, now comes your oath of blood, let your grip hold the rail until your blood has wetted the torque only then may you drop to take it.”   Wasting no time he sets to his task and strikes, his first blow is not his hardest failing even to draw blood it is also high on the back allowing the initiate the chance to numb himself to the pain, continuing with the expertise of experience he strikes quick brutal blows designed to lacerate the flesh drawing blood quickly allowing the initiate to drop of his own will before passing out.    Once it is complete and the initiate passes he is collected by two healers and administered to, his wounds our bound and dressed, there is no attempt to dull the pain only prevent infection.   Even those who fail are given this treatment but they are shown the door, those who succeed must stay and watch as all take the test, only when the last has finished and his wounds are dressed are they allowed to leave and start their training.” 

After only one night of rest the initiate are given a bedroll, grooming kit, initiate robe and rations, these rations are made up of dried and fresh foods and can be replenished at any time.   Once this is done there is simply training, study and training, each initiate is guided by a master who dictates the training schedule and handles all discipline.  For one year initiates train and study progressing towards their goal, once it has been reached they are considered an officer of the cabal and third level fighter, at this point they begin training with the Spinal Architect and gain their first level in that class.  (At third level the Formidolosus  warrior may take the 1^st level of the prestige class Spinal Architect, after this he must alternate between fighter and architect classes until all levels in each class are taken.) 

Requirements:

DirtBlood

Male

+1 Base Attack Bonus

Skill: Intimidation

Swear Alliegance To Cabal (Commit to complete the training)

Special: Access to spinal architecture knowledge from a book, set of scrolls, or willing spinal architect. 

Hit Die: D10 

Class Skills: The Cabal of Formidolosus class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Craft (Any) (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Anatomy) (Int), and Spot (Wis). Knowledge (Phobos)(Int) 

Skill Points at Each Level: 0 + Intelligence modifier 

Class Features:
Weapon and armor proficiencies: Formidolosi are proficient in all simple and martial weapons, and light, medium, and heavy armor. 

I.                     At 1^st level Formidolosi gain Knowledge (Anatomy)(Int.) with 1 point, the initiate is exposed to intense study and dissection of cadavers, they are also exposed to direct training from a Spinal Architect.  Due to his intense physical training the initiate gains a bonus feat at 1^st level, and must choose which weapon he will primarily train with.

II.                   At 2^nd level Formidolosi gain Knowledge (Phobos)(Cha), as the initiate gains his second level his anatomical study is reduced and replaced by the study of Phobos or the source of fear, named for the ancient Demon Formidolosus they seek to unlock the secrets of fear and its effect on all of the races.   Through study and body modification the intiates seek to intimidate and cause fear in their enemies, driving them to mistakes during combat or all out retreat, every 2 skill points spent in phobos give the initiate a +1 to Intimidation . At 2^nd level the initiate due to his intense martial training gains a weapon specialization based on his primary training weapon.

III.                  At 3^rd  level the initiates mentor reveals to them the ability to enter a Rage 1x/PerDay.At 3^rd level the initiate gains a lesser version of Nomads Toughness: +5

Rage (Ex): A nomad can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a nomad temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the nomad’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While raging, a nomad cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A nomad may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the nomad loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter (unless he is a 15th-level nomad, at which point this limitation no longer applies; see below).
A nomad can fly into a rage only once per encounter. At 1st level he can use his rage ability once per day. At 5th, 8th, and 12th level he can use it one additional time per day. Entering a rage takes no time itself, but a nomad can do it only during his action, not in response to someone else’s action.  

IV.  At 4^th Level initiates gain their first level of the Spinal Architect class, they are required from this point on to alternate level in each until all levels are taken for both the Spinal Architect Class and Cult of Formidolosus Class

Analyze anatomical weakness (Ex): A spinal architect uses his knowledge of skeletal, muscular, and other internal anatomical systems to advantage in battle. As a free action once per round, a spinal architect may use this ability against a target that the architect has been fighting in melee for at least one round, if the creature's physical anatomy is a member of or similar to these groups: animal, beast, humanoid, or insect. For example, undead and constructs cannot be targeted . If the architect's Knowledge (Anatomy) skill total (without a d20 roll) is equal to or greater than the hit dice of the target, then the architect's current melee weapon's critical threat range is increased by 1 against the target for that encounter.

Anatomical study: When a character gains any level of the spinal architect class, the character gains 3 skill points that must be applied to Knowledge (Anatomy) or Craft (Bonework), divided in any manner. This includes the first level of this class (unused skill points are lost.) In addition, when attaining this prestige class, a character may convert all skill ranks placed in another single Craft skill into Craft (Bonework). Craft (Bonework) is used for crafting or repairing simple trinkets or tools from bone, or monuments and buildings when working with other bonework crafters. Special applications of this skill are learned at later levels of this class.

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