Shi Noble, transferable race and complex culture

Shi Noble Prestige Class

Upon acceptance to a specific court a powerful Fey may become a member of the enigmatic and uncommon race of the Shi elves.
This transition to a new race gives solidarity and a unified form to an otherwise fractious Fey species.
While the abilities of the Noble and Lord classes aren’t found in all specimins of Shi, they can be considered as extensions of a role both racial and social in nature, similar to that of powerful Celestials and Fiends.


Becoming a Shi Noble

Aspiring Shi Nobles usually replace existing Shi Nobles within Fey Courts if deemed worthy and a position is left open, but some actively seek to remove a Noble through defamation or assassination and then proceed to take their place. Very rarely a Shi Lord will create new positions for Nobles and nullify the requirement of replacing another for that instance.

The most important criteria for Shi Nobles is to understand whatever their Shi Lord desires and fulfill them. This special requirement leads most prospective Shi Nobles to failure.

A Noble to-be might be asked a few tasks, forced into demeaning journeys for mundane objectives, waste personal time, make the Shi Lord laugh, or even give up a prized personal possession. Such hazing is optional and completely to the whim of each individual Shi Lord.
Potential Shi Nobles caught sweet talking more than one Shi Lord are usually dropped by all Shi Lords involved since any Shi Noble deemed “sloppy” is simply not worthy of convoluted Fey politics.

Inducted Nobles will be expected to lie, banter, defend their Shi Lord and make them look good, and generally kiss some serious Fey tuckuss.
The time spent climbing Shi social ladders can last centuries or even millenia.

Shi Nobles always serve Shi Lords and have the potential to become Lords themselves.


Requirements

Type or Subtype: Fey
Skills: Bluff, Intimidate, or Diplomacy ranks 8+, and ranks 5+ in one skill specific to a Court (if none, use Diplomacy for Seelie and Intimidate for Unseelie, and the 8-rank requirement must be of a different skill)
Special: Must gain the favor of the Shi Lord of a Fey Court the character wishes to join. While courtless Shi Nobles may still gain levels and cast spells, supernatural and spell-like class abilities containing the “Court” descriptor are rendered unavailible until a new Court is joined.

Spellcaster Level: 2+
OR
Spell-Like Abilities Known: 3 or more


Prestige Class Properties

HP: d6
Base Attack: 1/2
Best Saves: Reflex and Will
Skill Points: 6 + INT
Skills: As Bard, plus those of any previous classes

Spellcaster Level: full
Spell Slot Advancement: Continued from a previous class or classes
Save DC: As by previous class or classes
Spells Known: Continued from a previous class or classes
Spells Readied: Continued from a previous class or classes

Spell-Like Ability Save DC: 10 + 1/2 level + Charisma bonus

Weapon Proficiencies: No new
Armor Proficiencies: Light

Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level): Appraise, Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft, Spot, Swim, Use Rope, Use Magic Device, in addition to known class skills through other classes.


Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Shi Nobles are far too buisy gaining respect, casting spells, and socially stabbing backs to bother with weapons, and none are formally trained or encouraged as part of the Shi Noble role.

Spellcasting
At each level of Shi Noble add one spellcaster level to one previously gained spellcasting, psionic-manifesting, or invoker class.


Shi Noble Class Features
While seemingly defenseless, Shi Nobles are full of tricks.
Be it their spells, followers, or their own mouth, no Shi Noble is ever without the means to direct their will upon other beings.


Spirit of Shi (Ex): Upon induction to Noblehood within a Shi Court, the individual Fey gains the natural ability to take the form of a Shi Elf.
Changing forms to or from Shi Elf shape is a standard action and lasts as long as desired, but appearing in the presence of their Shi Lord and other superiors as anything other than Shi is sometimes considered in bad taste (varies by Court).

When in Shi Elf form, all usual racial traits and qualities are temporarily suppressed and exchanged for Shi Elf traits.
The body is standardized to size Medium as an attractive and physically mature yet very exotic High Elf (see MM).
Smooth and unblemished skin, exaggerated hair, and shining eyes tend to be of high contrast colors, although some Shi Courts take on washed out tones as part of a theme; the exact color combinations of features vary from Court to Court but are generally uniform within each one.

Shi Elf racial traits:
• Type becomes “Fey (Shi, Elf, augmented Humanoid)” in addition to any other previous subtypes.
• Remove all previous racial ability score changes and adjust as follows: Dexterity +2, Intelligence +2, Wisdom +2, Charisma +2.
• Immunity to sleep spells and effects, and a +4 racial saving throw bonus against effects with the Mind-Affecting descriptor.
• +4 Racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.
• The character becomes immortal (does not age and can not die of old age, revert to Adult if any older)
• Low-Light Vision
• Damage Reduction 5 / Cold Iron

Shi of varied Courts are essentially the same race and may interbreed normally, but offspring can be of any combination or pure strain among all original Fey types involved.
For instance, a Shi Elf (Goblinoid) and Shi Elf (Sprite) pairing might produce 1 Fey goblin, 1 Sprite, 1 Shi Elf (Goblinoid), and 1 Shi Elf (no subtypes other than standard).

Fey born as Shi Elves have the racial properties of a High Elf (Feyblooded) until they can be properly inducted in to the Shi racial nobility. For a born Shi to not meet standards for induction is considered a personal disgrace and sometimes dishonor to the family, but never to the Court as a whole.


Court Solidarity (Su, Court): A Shi Noble is treated as having both “Status” and “Locate Person” spell effects to detect and gain information about any designated ally (by touch) or other members of their own Court on the same plane.
If an ally or Court member is not on the same plane, this ability reveals which plane they are on.
The Shi Noble may let any Court member know they wish to communicate as a non-action, but if the request is denied the Noble may be blocked for up to 24 hours at a time.
Alternatively, the Noble may enchant a handheld object to allow communication as by Court Solidarity abilities as long as the object is held. Such objects remain enchanted for up to 7 days and no more objects than Shi Noble levels may be maintained at any time.

Mortalform (Su): As a Swift action the spell effect “Disguise Self” may be used for an unlimited duration, but rather than an Illusion effect the change is treated as a Transmutation (Polymorph) complete with actual physical changes to clothing, armor, and flesh but not held equipment or weapons.
The race and appearance (including outfit) of any being previously encountered may be duplicated but copying specific individuals is impossible. The language of the race may be copied and understood if previously heard.
Ability scores and racial traits remain unchanged; only appearance is altered.

Confidant (Ex): The Shi Noble may designate any number of allies affected by Court Solidarity or other Shi Nobles as Confidants but the status must be shared between individuals willingly. The Shi Noble may use a “Telepathic Bond” effect on their own Confidants at any time regardless of distance and with unlimited duration. Any non-Court member wishing to end the effect for theirself may do so but can not re-initiate it unless they possess this ability.

Oversee (Su): As a Standard action a Shi Noble may cast “Detect Scrying” on theirself, or “Scrying” or “Clairvoyance” on any being or location they have seen, touched, or heard within 24 hours.
If 24 hours pass without observing a location or being, that specific target may not be chosen unless revisited.
The duration of such spell effects becomes “24 hours (D)” but only 1 of the spells may be active at the same time.

Court Directive, Lesser (Su, Court): As a Standard action a Shi Noble may apply a “Lesser Geas” effect upon any being they touch but each individual being may only be affected every 24 hours (repeated attempts to influence a target may be made until success, though).
The duration is “Permanent (D)” but a successful Will save may be made if an order puts the victim in obvious fatal danger.
The effect can be removed as an Immediate action by the Shi Noble or any being with Greater Court Directive.

Court Debate (Su, Court): As a move action once each round the Shi Noble may create a “Zone of Silence”, “Shout” (causing nonlethal damage only), or “Message” effect within Close range.
The duration for any non-instantaneous effect becomes 1 round.
Court Debate may also be activated through the Court Solidarity and Oversee at any range, but only affecting the target (not an area).

Court Directive, Greater (Su, Court): As by Lesser Court Directive, but the spell effect is as “Geas”.
The effect can be removed as an Immediate action by the Shi Noble or any being with Master Court Directive.

Fey Entourage: The Shi Noble may have a swarm of a single type of Fey under their guidance and influence. The Fey are completely Friendly to the Noble as long as treated well. They don’t ask anything of the Noble beyond requests for orders and the right not to be imprisoned.
A swarm of this kind will not fight to the death, instead disbanding and vanishing in to the surroundings, and may be recovered after 24 hours.
The total Challenge Rating of the swarm may not exceed the Shi Noble’s character levels –2.


Court Errand (Su, Court): As a Standard action the Shi Noble may “Teleport” as the spell.
The Shi Noble must wait 10 minutes after using this ability before they may use it again.
If responding to a call to return to their Shi Lord or any being connected by means of Court Solidarity or Confidant, the ability provides a “Greater Teleport” or “Plane Shift” spell effect as needed.

Court Directive, Master (Su, Court): As Greater Court Directive, but if the orders are violated the commanded Fey may be subjected to a Baleful Polymorph with duration “Permanent (D)” upon failing both a Fortitude and Will save, and is summoned within reach of the commanding Shi Noble if desired.
The effect can be removed as an Immediate action by the Shi Noble or any Shi Lord.

Greater Court Errand (Su, Court): As Court Errand but used as a Move action with 1 minute delay after.

Limited Wish (SpL): With 1 minute of casting the Shi Noble may create a Limited Wish without using XP. Certain restrictions apply:
• All spell schools are considered “prohibited” for this ability.
• Conjuration (Creation) effects may only be used to reshape pre-existing materials of an equal weight rather than actually create new matter.
This ability may be used once each day, with an additional use granted with every Shi Noble or Shi Lord level gained; any other abilities, feats, or effects that grant additional uses of this ability fail.

Fey Entourage, Greater: As Fey Entourage but with up to 2 swarms of a single type of Fey under their guidance and influence, with varied types for each swarm.


Playing a Shi Noble
The Shi Nobles are diverse yet perform the basic function of holding the concept of a Fey Court together. While the Shi Lords are the masterminds, Shi Nobles are the backbone.
Lesser Fey, usually of lower level but always non-Noble, don’t necessarily agree with Shi Noble decisions (whether they are passed down from their Shi Lord or not) but tend to change their ways once ‘corrected’ by a Shi Noble.


Shi Noble Lore
Characters can make Knowledge (Nature or Nobility) or bardic knowledge checks to research the
Shi Noble prestige class and learn more about them.
DC 15: Shi Nobles are masters over other Fey. They use their powers on influence to maintain and enhance their own positions.
DC 20: Each Fey Court is composed of Shi Nobles in addition to other classes. Most Court members serve the Nobles unquestioningly, but the Nobles also have the means to punish rebellion effectively.
DC 25: Shi Nobles are constantly scheming for pecking order with their Courts and certain immoral Nobles can be played against their own members. Within some Courts, social backstabbing is even encouraged to weed out the weak.
DC 30: Shi Nobles progress to Shi Lords, but such a position can be removed if the Court beneath a Shi Lord is eliminated.

Old version here: http://z11.invisionfree.com/Feybook/index.php?showtopic=111

I decided to use the word "Shi" so as to avoid phonetic confusion with readers.
Sure, it might offend the more Hardcore Fey Fans, but in general makes for easier in a wider variety of gamers.

Since you touched the name issue: my sole problem with it's actually that it looks Chinese instead of Gaelic. But it's your choice, at least until everyone's work's compiled.

Looks good to me, but I would change it back to "Sidhe." I keep wanting to pronounce "Shi" as either "shy" or "shih," and I think the word "sidhe" is no longer as obscure as it once was, at least among gamers.

Heck, add "(pronounced shee)" after it and maybe you'll educate someone.

Right, and oddly enough I see "Shi" as "Shee" but maybe that's just regional dialect in action...

I also changed it because (ironically, as author) I kept saying "Sid-Hee" in my head, and this is from someone that has been reading Celtic myths since childhood.

In fact, I remembered way after posting: while "Sidhe" might confuse, there's no reason at all not to use the also-accepted "Shee" - any English speaker should pronounce it the exact same way.

Oh, and I'll rework the Shi (Sidhe) Lord next once I figure out what to do with all the teleporting and Wishes.

Might just do something else with Gate, some Eladrin powers splashed in, and something that rivals the power of high level fiends.