Radiant Herald (Paladin/Bard)

The radiant herald serves as a divine messenger, a harbinger of light and goodness on behalf of her god. Imbued with heavenly power and gifted with an angelic voice, the radiant herald uses her vocal performances to strike down her enemies, protect and heal her allies, and glorify her god through her songs and actions. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Paladin.

Secondary Class: Bard.

Alignment: Any good.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The radiant herald may select three bard skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal paladin class skills, one of which must be Perform (oratory or sing). The radiant herald gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The radiant herald is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with light and medium armor, and with shields (except for tower).

Spellcasting: A radiant herald casts divine spells drawn from the paladin spell list, and adds the following bard spells to her spell list at the indicated levels: 1st level–adoration†, alarm, anticipate peril, invigorate*, lock gaze†, remove fear, timely inspiration*; 2nd level–acute senses, animal messenger, cat’s grace, compassionate ally, delay pain, eagle’s splendor, enthrall, gallant inspiration*, heroism; 3rd level–blink, charm monster, coordinated effort*, exquisite accompaniment, fear, good hope, invigorate (mass)*, purging finale*, thunderous drums*; 4th level–denounce*, freedom of movement, heroic finale*, legend lore, primal scream, secure shelter, serenity, sonic thrust, wall of sound. The radiant herald otherwise learns, prepares, and casts spells as a paladin of her radiant herald level. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, Ultimate Magic, †Ultimate Combat)

Code of Conduct: A radiant herald must adhere to his deity's exact alignment as a strict moral code, and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly breaks this code. Additional restrictions on the radiant herald's behavior may be derived from his deity's rules, preferences, etc. A radiant herald of lawful good alignment must adhere to the paladin code of conduct.

Smiting Ballad (Su): This is exactly like the paladin’s smite evil ability, except that the radiant herald can choose to sing during a smite attack as an immediate action, infusing the attack with sonic energy in addition to the divine energy granted by her god. Half the damage is sonic damage, but the other half results directly from divine power and is therefore not subject to being reduced by resistance to sonic-based attacks. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces smite evil.

Radiant Voice: At 2nd level, a radiant herald gains the bard’s bardic performance ability, except that it only functions with the Perform (oratory) or Perform (sing) skills. All of the radiant herald’s vocal performances rely on audible or vibration components, or both, and function as a bard of equal level to her radiant herald level. Any creature that lacks the ability to hear is immune to those performances with only audible components.

Lay of Healing (Su): At 2nd level, a radiant herald can use her voice to heal wounds (her own or those of others), as a standard action. The radiant herald can heal 1d6 hit points of damage at 2nd level, and an additional 1d6 hit points every four levels thereafter, to a maximum of 5d6 at 18th level. Alternatively, a radiant herald can use this healing power to deal damage to undead creatures, dealing 1d6 points of damage at 2nd level and an additional 1d6 damage every four levels thereafter, to a maximum of 5d6 at 18th level. The radiant herald can divide her healing or damage dice (minimum 1d6) among a number of allies (including herself) or undead within 30 feet, equal to her Charisma modifier. When doing so, the radiant herald can Undead do not receive a saving throw against this damage. Lay of healing relies on audible and vibration components. Lay of healing expends one round the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability for 1d6, 2d6, or 3d6 points of healing or damage, and 2 rounds for 4d6 or 5d6 points of healing or damage. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces lay on hands.

Merciful Melody (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to remove conditions placed upon herself or her allies. At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, a radiant herald may select one mercy from those listed in the paladin’s mercy ability. Each mercy adds an effect to the radiant herald’s merciful melody ability. Whenever the radiant herald uses merciful melody on one target, the target also receives the additional effects from all of the mercies possessed by the radiant herald. Merciful melody relies on audible components. Merciful melody expends one round of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability for every two conditions it removes. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces mercy.

Song of Courage (Su): At 3rd level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to inspire courage in herself and her allies, as a standard action. The radiant herald becomes immune to fear (magical or otherwise), while each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects. At 8th level and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 18th level. Song of courage relies on audible components. This song consumes one round of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability for every round it is maintained. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces aura of courage.

Shout of Glory (Su): At 4th level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to channel positive energy like a cleric of her radiant herald level. The radiant herald creates a focused stream of sound vibrations charged with positive energy, and deals both sonic and positive energy damage. This shout consumes two rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. Shout of glory relies on vibration components. Shout of glory expends two rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces channel energy.

Refrain of Resolve (Su): At 8th level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to bolster her resolve and that of her allies against charm effects, as a standard action. The radiant herald becomes immune to charm spells and spell-like abilities, while each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm effects. At 12th level and every four levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 20th level. Refrain of resolve relies on audible components. Refrain of resolve expends two rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces aura of resolve.

Note of Glorious Wrath (Su): At 11th level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to grant the ability to smite evil to all allies within 10 feet, using her smiting ballad bonuses, as a swift action. Allies can use this smite evil ability by the start of the radiant herald’s next turn and the bonuses last for 1 round. Using this ability is a free action. Evil creatures gain no benefit from this ability. Note of glorious wrath relies on audible and vibration components. Shout of glory expends three rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces aura of justice.

Hymn of Resounding Radiance (Su): At 14th level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance as a standard action, to create a resonating aura of sound that causes her weapons and those of her allies to be charged with sonic energy and treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Any attack made against an enemy within 10 feet of her deals 1d6 points of sonic damage and is treated as good-aligned for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Hymn of resounding radiance relies on audible and vibration components. Hymn of resounding radiance expends three rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces aura of faith.

Choir of the Heavenly Hosts (Su): At 17th level, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to grant divine protection and insight, as a standard action. The radiant herald gains resistance to acid 10 and cold 10, DR 5/evil and immunity to compulsion spells and spell-like abilities, and grants a single ally within 30 feet a +4 sacred bonus on saving throws and a +4 sacred bonus to AC. At 20th level, the radiant herald can grant this bonus to two allies within 30 feet. To gain these bonuses, the targets must be able to hear the radiant herald, and its effect lasts for as long as the radiant herald maintains the performance. Choir of the heavenly hosts is a mind-affecting ability. Choir of the heavenly hosts relies on audible components. Choir of the heavenly hosts expends four rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This otherwise functions as and replaces aura of righteousness.

Harbinger’s Call (Su): At 20th level or higher, a radiant herald can use her vocal performance to call down the wrath of her god and smite her enemy to ruin. To be affected, the target must be able to hear the radiant herald perform for 1 full round and be within 30 feet. Upon completing the performance, a vertical column of divine fire streaks down from heaven to strike the target. The target must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the radiant bard’s level + the radiant herald’s Charisma modifier) or die. If the saving throw succeeds, the target is affected as if by a flame strike, and is staggered for 1d4 rounds. The radiant herald cannot use harbinger’s call on that creature again for 24 hours. Harbinger’s call is a mind-affecting death effect. Harbinger’s call expends five rounds of the radiant herald’s radiant voice ability. This ability replaces holy champion.

Divine Bond (Su): This is exactly like the paladin ability of the same name, except that the radiant herald adds anarchic, dancing and thundering to the list of magical weapon properties she can select.

Table: Radiant Herald