Post/Author/DateTime	Post
diegosephroth 01-28-07, 12:57 PM	Objectively, I was very much interested in the concepts of Dark Speech since I'm mastering an evil campaing based on HoH, BoVD, VDH, ToM and such. Unfortunately I found that the rules and extension of Dark Speech were not too much developed as I would like, and thus I prepared this house rules to base my campaing into. I'm not judging wether the effects are unballances(tought I'd like advices about that), for it was intentionally created to by slightly stronger(and obscure, out of reach to most) than average. Enjoy Variant Dark Speech There exists a language so dire, so inherently full of spite, malice, corruption and hatred that it is simply called the Dark Speech. This is the secret language of evil gods, so foul and so potent that even demons and devils refrain from it’s use, lest it consume them. Not surprisingly, very few mortals know even a few words of the Dark Speech. But those who do are wise to never underestimate the power of words. The safest way to use the Dark Speech is through spells such as dread word. Most characters must take the Dark Speech feat to begin to learn the Dark Speech language. The Dark Speech is extremely difficult to master. A special feat is required to speak even a single word of it correctly, for mortal tongues were not designed to utter these words of pure evil. Some evil outsiders know smatterings (or more) of the Dark Speech and need no feat to master it. To actually communicate by means of Dark Speech-that is, for a knowledgeable speaker to convey some information to a knowledgeable listener-the speaker must take great care, or both listener and speaker will be harmed. There are no words in Dark Speech for good concepts such as kindness, mercy and purity. However, evil characters can speak of misery, anguish, hate and betrayal with such accuracy impossible to reach in any other tongue. The Dark Speech has no written form. It cannot be transliterated into another language’s written form without losing all of it’s meaning and power. Besides communicating in the language of evil itself, there are several ways that a speaker can use the Dark Speech to increase his abilities. Learning Dark Speech: After acquiring the Dark Speech feat, the character can begin learning the Dark Speech skill as a class skill. It is based on Wisdom, and allows him to learn a number of dark utterances equal to his Wisdom modifier plus an extra utterance for each 5 ranks achieved in the skill. In order to learn them, he must have someone knowledgeable in the dark arts to teach him, or documents, scrolls and books containing such obscure knowledge. Considering his former study, it takes about 1d4+1 days to learn a Dark Speech utterance. In this meaning time, the character must spend at least 8 hours of profound concentration in which he master the will and tone of which the utterances must be spoken. If the character possess any knowledge skill related to evil acts, such as torture, ritual and similar, or the speak language skill, each gives him synergy bonus to his Dark Speech skill as regular. Using Dark Speech In order to correctly utter a dark speech, the character must make a Dark speech check against a Dc of 5. Each time a dark speech is uttered in a same day (any dark speech), this Dc increases by 5. Failure in this check does not mean that the speech fails, only that the speaker must wait another 10 rounds to use that speech again. However, if this check is successful, the corruption cost of a Dark Speech is halved (Minimum 1). Unless noted in its description, uttering a dark speech is a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. The speaker may try to utter defensively, but doing so imposes a –5 penalty in his skill check. Also, unless noted, every Dark Speech has a medium range (100ft +10 per HD of the speaker). The Speaker may even try to utter it quickly, lessening it’s uttering time to a move action, but doing so imposes a –20 penalty on the check. It must be noted that this extra penalty does not increase the daily Dc progression of the uttering, only that one in question. Saving Throws Against Dark Speech If a Dark Speech allows a saving throw, it’s Dc is 1d20 + ranks in Dark Speech skill + Cha modifier. No Dark Speech allows spell resistance, for it is not a spell. For any other matters, Dark Speeches are considered curses, and interact directly with it’s rules. Listeners who know Dark Speech gain a +4 circumstance bonus on saving throws against Dark Speech. All saving throws against Dark Speech are Will saving throws. Corruption Every utterance of Dark Speech is imbued with the very essence of evil, and thus, is very consuming to the speaker. Unless noted otherwise, each utterance drains the speaker 1d4 points of charisma. Differently from ability damage, this corruption does not recover naturally. Fear Every word uttered in Dark Speech is dread in it’s very nature. Thus, to lesser minds, they cause fear, loathing and dread in all who hear them. Whenever any Dark Speech is spoken, any creature within 30fts of the speaker whose HD is less than half his own must make a will saving throw (DC is the same of regular Dark Speech) or become shaken for one minute. Creatures who fail this check by 5 or more are frightened and deafened, and creatures who fail by 20 or more are automatically slain as their souls are ripped by the evilness within the words. Dark Speech Utterances 1. Corruption Word The words of Dark Speech, whispered softly, can weaken physical objects. As a full-round action, the speaker can whisper vile words of corruption and destruction at any inanimate object of medium size such as a door or wall, reducing its hardness, Hit points and Break DC by half. Each size category larger than medium increases the corruption cost by 2. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: No Target: One object within medium range 2. Dark Unity The words of the Dark Speech can create a hivemind. Up to one hundred vermin or animals (none of which can have more than 1 HD) form an evil hivemind, as described in the Hivemind section of Book of Vile Darkness. The united consciousness of the creatures will take one command from the Dark Speech speaker, as if from the suggestion spell. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: 100 vermin or animals up to 1 HD each. 3. Dark Casting The words of the Dark Speech help energize evil magic items and spells. If used in conjunction with an evil spell that has a verbal component, the Dark Speech increases the spell’s effective caster level by the amount noted. If used when creating an evil magic item, the Dark Speech increases the item’s caster level by the same amount without increasing the cost. Both caster level increases are considered profane bonuses. It is likely that the Dark Speech is a requirement for many evil artifacts. For each +1 corruption drain the caster takes, his caster level increases by +1 to a maximum of +4. Table: Dark Speech Check Check Result Caster Level Increase 0-12 0 13-18 +1 19+ +2 4. Fury of the Dead Those inspiring necromantic words affect undead as a rage spell, except as noted here: +1HP/undead HD, duration 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Dark Speech skill. For each +1 corruption drain the speaker takes he may inspire fury in another 2 undead creatures. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language:Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: 1 Undead creature + 1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language:Dark Speech. 5. Forbidden Speech This dread curse creates an evil seal that prevents a single target from speaking any good related words, thus impeding him from casting any spell with good descriptor for the same duration. This does not, however, block abilities to cast good spells from items that do not require speech, such as wands, or use spell like abilities. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 1 round +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language:Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range 6. Deafening Utter Targets caught by this uttering have their ears corrupted by the listening of the vile words, becoming deafened permanently. Only a restoration spell or higher-level magic can revert this deafness. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Yes Target: Every creature in a 50ft radius area around speaker. 7. Dark Curse Focused words and syllables of decaying and death surround the target, rotting his flesh with negative energy. This curse deal 1d10 negative energy damage, +1d10 for each 5 ranks the speaker has in Dark Speech (Max 5d10). This damage repeats every odd round there after, until duration expires and the target must attempt a new saving throw each round. The corruption cost of this curse is 1d6+2 points of charisma drain. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 1 round for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range 8. Crucious Fides This violent utterance, also known as the Curse of Pain, slowly shatters the bones of the target until they become pure dust. The pain deals to the target a circumstance penalty of –6 to dexterity and strength, and also prevents movements, as if it was entangled. If target fails its save for more than 10 it also becomes stunned. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 1 round +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range 9. Dread Word More than just fear, the simple hearing of this dread curse inspires panic in the most brave of hearts. It is similar to the fear spell, except that all creatures within 60fts of speaker with HD up to speaker’s HD –4 must make a will saving throw or become panicked for one minute. Creatures who fail this check by 10 or more are automatically slain as their souls are ripped by the evilness within the words. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Yes Target: All creatures within 60ft of speaker. 10. Order of Chaos Evil and chaos become twins when you speak this maddening utterance of chaotic surge. A target that fails it’s saving throw becomes confused and takes 1 point of Wisdom drain for each round it stays confused, as this experience leads them slowly to madness. If speaker raises the corruption cost to 1d6+2 the effects increases to those of insanity, and the wisdom drain is raised to 2 per round. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Dark Speech Skill Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range. 11. Umbral Metamagic Using the words of darkness to empower spells, the uttering of this chant while casting it with any evil spell modified by a metamagic feat lessens it’s slot increase by one. For each 2 extra points of corruption the speaker can lessen the metamagic cost by another slot. Uttering Time: As the spell Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: No Target: Self 12. Malefic Syphon This utterance breaches deep within the very soul of a target, stealing the memories and experiences it had in life. While concentrating on this effect, the caster drains 1d4 points of Wisdom and Intelligence from a target per round. The speaker retains the drained ability bonuses for 1 minute. A creature who reaches 0 in any of these two ability scores dies and becomes a shadow at control of the speaker. This speech only affects intelligent creatures (As judged by the DM). Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 1 round for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range 13. Dark Charisma The usage of Dark Speeches are draining to it’s user, but for each word spoken, he becomes more attuned to evil and resembles the form of evil gods themselves. Every time the speaker is drained charisma from the usage of Dark Speech, he earns a morale bonus on all his charisma related checks equal to the amount of charisma points drained. For example, if a character takes 8 points of charisma damage for using Dark Speech he would take an effective –4 penalty to all charisma related checks. However, if possessing Dark Charisma, he earns a +8 morale bonus, resulting in a +4 modifier to them. This applies to all bonus, including save spell Dc’s, chance of rebuking undead and so on. This does not, however, allows him to cast spells or use abilities if he lacks the minimum requisite of Charisma score. 14. Fatal Bounds This curse links together 2 targets plus 1 for each 5 ranks speaker has in Dark Speech Skill. If both fail their saving throws, they each take ¼ of the damage suffered by the primary target. Effects that do not cause direct Hp loss are unaffected by this uttering. For each +1 corruption drain the speaker takes he may affect another 2 targets. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: Yes Target: 2 creatures plus another one per 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. 15. Dark Chant Chanting this foul necromantic words and phrases into a litany of evil power, the speaker is able to protect the undead against the effects of turning. When he utter the Dark Chant, all undead within 50 ft earn +2 turn resistance and an extra +1 turn resistance for every 5 ranks the speaker has in the Dark Speech Skill. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Yes(Harmless) Target: All undead within 50ft of speaker. 16. Light Purge It all began with darkness, and with darkness it all shall end. Using this Dark Speech automatically dispels any magical light created with spells up to 6th circle within 150ft of speaker. Non-magical light is also automatically purged. If the source of light is a fireplace, it vanishes, but if the fire center is larger than small or if comes from a high resistance font, such as magma, this Speech fails to purge it. It should be noted that this speech does not create darkness, it just dissipates light. For each +1 corruption drain the speaker takes he may purge non-magical lights of one size category larger and magical light from one circle higher. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: No 17. Upheaval This Dark Speech conjures the dead spirits and shadows of evil to surround speaker. They all appear all around 50fts radius of the speaker. The spirits arrive and surround creatures in the area, effectively halving their speed and granting full concealment to those inside. The speaker can see without hindrance through the spirits, and while within this area, he may cross walls and solid objects, as if ethereal. He does not, however, receive any bonuses or penalties other than the concealment while fighting with creatures inside or outside the upheaval. For each +1 corruption drain the speaker takes he may increase the range of the upheaval by an extra 10fts. The spirits cannot be attacked nor can be directed to attack anyone, and vanishes when the duration ends. This does not prevent, however, similar creatures to be summoned within the range. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks in Speak Language : Dark Speech. Saving Throw: No 18. Dark Disjunction This Dread Speech breaks and opens away flesh and bones of the targeting lessening its defenses. It destroys 2 points of natural armor of the creature might possess, open bleedings of 1d6 damage per round and lessens whatever damage reduction it may have by 5. The corruption cost of this Dark Speech is 1d6+2 points of Charisma drain. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Yes Target: One creature within medium range. 19. Embrace of Darkness The very speech of this words summon the presence of shadow forms that embrace the speaker, protecting him from harm. For as long as the shadows remain there, they grant him the fortification ability, the blur effect as the spell and +10 bonus to hide checks. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks speaker has in Dark Speech Skill Saving Throw: No 20. Weave Corruption This words of Dark Magic break away the ties of the prismatic weave, corrupting it towards the shadow weave. This effectively lessens the caster level of all spells cast in the area of effect by 4 and gives them a 25% spell failure. However, it raises the caster level of evil and corruption spells by 4, also empowering them. The corruption cost of this uttering is 1d6+2 points of charisma drain. Uttering Time: Full-Round Action Duration: 3 rounds +1 for each 5 ranks speaker has in Dark Speech Skill Saving Throw: No Target: 60ft radius area around speaker. Dark Speech Spells Dread Ward, Lesser Abjuration Level: Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 3 Components: V, S, M/DF Castin Time: 1 partial action Range: Personal Target: Self Duration: 1 round per caster level or until discharged. Saving Throw: No (Harmless) Spell Resistance: No This spell creates a cacophonic barrier that protects the speaker from the draining effects of Dark Speech. After this spell is cast, whenever a Dark Speech is uttered, up to one round per caster level there after, the corruption cost of that Dark Speech is halved, and no chance of backlash exist. This spell affects the first Dark Speech uttered within this duration, and is discharged afterwards. Dread Ward Abjuration Level: Clr 4, Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V, S, M/DF Castin Time: 1 partial action Range: Personal Target: Self Duration: 1 round per caster level or until discharged. Saving Throw: No (Harmless) Spell Resistance: No As dread ward, lesser, but the corruption cost is entirely negated. The spell shield also lasts until the second Dark Speech within the duration is uttered, and then, vanishes. Dread Ward, Greater Abjuration Level: Clr 6, Sor/Wiz 7 Components: V, S, M/DF Castin Time: 1 partial action Range: Personal Target: Self Duration: 1 round per caster level or until discharged. Saving Throw: No (Harmless) Spell Resistance: No As dread ward, lesser, but the spell shield also lasts for 1d4+1 rounds after the first Dark Speech is uttered, and protect from all speeches uttered within this duration. Dark Speech Feats Dark Speech [Vile] The character learns a smattering of the language of truly dark power. Prerequisite: Base Will save bonus +5, Int 15, Cha 15. Benefit: The character can use the Dark Speech to bring loathing and fear to others, to help cast evil spells and create evil magic items, and to weaken physical objects. Normal: Attempting to utter a word of Dark Speech always ends in immediate death for a speaker who is not trained in its dark power. Fortunately, it is not impossible to make someone use the Dark Speech if he or she is unwilling, because the languages pronunciation is so exacting. Special: The character gains a +4 circumstance bonus on saving throws made when someone uses the Dark Speech against him or her. Dark Speech Focus [Vile] The character has learned every little aspect of the Dark Speeches eh knows. Prerequisite: Base Will save bonus +5, Int 15, Cha 15, Dark Speech, Dark Speech Ranks 5+. Benefit: The character earns a +4 circumstance bonus on Dark Speech checks and +1 for every vile feat he possess. Dark Speech Resilience [Vile] Due to his practice and evil experiences, the character has developed great resilience against Dark Speeches draining effects. Prerequisite: Base Will save bonus +7, Int 15, Cha 15, Dark Speech, Dark Speech Ranks 5+. Benefit: The character negates the first point of corruption damage whenever he utters a Dark Speech. Special: The character gains a +2 circumstance bonus on saving throws made when someone uses the Dark Speech against him or her. This bonus stacks with those granted by the feat Dark Speech and increases by +1 for every vile feat he possess. Obscure Knowledge [Vile] The character has searched every possible book and tome, learning more usages of Dark Speeches than possible. Prerequisite: Base Will save bonus +5, Int 17, Cha 15, Dark Speech, Dark Speech Ranks 5+. Benefit: The character learns 2 extra Dark Speeches and an extra for every 2 vile feats he possess. Dark Speech Specialization [Vile] Due to extended usage and strength of will, the character has learned to male his Dark Speeches most difficult to resist. Prerequisite: Base Will save bonus +7, Int 15, Cha 15, Dark Speech, Dark Speech Ranks 5+. Benefit: The character’s Dark Speeche’s Dcs are increased by +2. This bonus increases by +1 for every vile feat he might possess.
TheApokalypseShovel 01-28-07, 03:37 PM	Very well done. Definitely not for every campaign, but for a serious evil one it should do the trick. The only thing that I would change is to make Dark Speech a Cha based skill, as you use a Cha modifier when using dark speech and on the saves. I think it would also tie in well to the idea of dark speech, making over use(unless of course you are using protective spells) of it would start to weaken it.
diegosephroth 01-28-07, 09:49 PM	yeah, it makes more sense tying it to charisma its more like it as well