Ascetic Entertainer (Bard/Monk)

The origin of the ascetic performer can greatly vary–from the traveling minstrel and gypsy-born dancer, to the college educated troubadour, the self-taught musician, and itinerant jongleur. However, what binds these performers together into a loose brotherhood is their individual search to understand ones’ self and a yearning for some mystic discipline by which to govern their lives. To fulfill their heartfelt desires, many of these entertainers enter into monastic orders or seek out a spiritual teacher to learn the ancient, meditative arts of unarmed combat. The inherent talents of these performers often complement or enhance the martial style training they obtain. Through this harmonious fusion of musical rhythm, self-discipline, and unarmed martial training, the ascetic performer willing enters the heat of battle with a serene self-assuredness, only to erupt into a flurry of synchronized blows like the proverbial calm before the storm. (Original Concept by Cartmanbeck)

Primary Class: Bard.

Secondary Class: Monk.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The ascetic entertainer adds Swim from the monk class skills to his class skills in addition to the normal bard class skills. The ascetic entertainer gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The ascetic entertainer is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. The ascetic entertainer is also proficient with light armor, but not with shields. The ascetic entertainer can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, an ascetic entertainer wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass ascetic entertainer still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Diminished Spellcasting: The ascetic entertainer casts arcane spells drawn from the bard spell list, and both gains and knows one fewer spell of each spell level. If this reduces the number to 0 (minimum 1 for spells known), he may cast spells of that level only if his Charisma allows bonus spells of that level. He otherwise casts spells as a bard of equal level.

Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, an ascetic entertainer gains