Confessors are a branch of their deity’s church devoted to find and eradicate heretical thinking within communities. They also served as ecclesiastical policemen and lawyers charged with the duty to judge other members of the clergy, who could not be put to trial by mundane law.
The confessor is an archetype of the cleric class.
Aura of Condemnation (Su)
A confessor’s mere presence is likened to the presence of their god. The confessor radiates a constant aura that affects all enemies within 10 feet. This ability functions only while the confessor remains conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead. At 1st level, confessor chooses one aura ability from the list below. She gains an additional aura ability at 4th level and every three levels thereafter. While an aura only affects hostile enemies, it does not grant the confessor the ability to sense hostile enemies.
- Blasting: Enemies take a -2 penalty on saving throws against area effects. This penalty increases by -2 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -8. Enemies with evasion and improved evasion lose it.
- Censoring: Enemies take a -2 penalty on saving throws against compulsion and charm effects. This penalty increases by -2 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -8. Enemies that are normally immune to compulsion and/or charm effects lose that immunity.
- Damnation: Enemies take a -1 penalty on all saving throws. This penalty increases by -1 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -4. This does not stack with other aura abilities.
- Debasement: Enemies have their damage reduction reduced by 2. For example: DR 5 becomes DR 3. This reduction decreases by 2 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -8. A creature’s damage reduction cannot be lower than 0.
- Faltering: Enemies take a -1 penalty on attack rolls. This penalty increases by -1 for every five cleric levels the confessor possesses, to a maximum of -6 at 20th level.
- God-Fearing: Enemies take a -2 penalty on saving throws against fear effects. This penalty increases by -2 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -8. Enemies that are normally immune to fear lose that immunity.
- Pestilence: Enemies take a -2 penalty on saving throws against disease, including supernatural diseases. This penalty increases by -2 at 6th, 12th, and 18th level, to a maximum of -8. Enemies that are normally immune to disease lose that immunity.
- Punishment: Enemies that are actively threatening the confessor or her allies in combat take 1 point of non-lethal damage each round. This damage increases by 1 point for every three cleric levels she possesses.
- Uncertainty: Enemies take a -1 penalty on damage rolls. This penalty increases by -1 for every five cleric levels the confessor possesses, to a maximum of -6 at 20th level.
At 6th, 12th, and 18th level, a confessor’s aura of condemnation increases by 10 feet.
This ability replaces channel energy, blessing of the faithful, and prayer.
Confession (Su)
At 2nd level, some creatures are incapable of feeling guilt. A confessor can remedy this deficiency. As a swift action, a confessor can ask a target a short, simple question.
The target must be able to understand and hear the confessor, or see them in the case of sign-language. The target takes -2 penalty on attack rolls, saves, ability checks, and skill checks for the next 24 hours. The target can instantly undo this effect if they answer the confessor’s question truthfully with “yes”, “no”, or “I do not know”, as a free action. This penalty increases by -2 at 7th, 13th, and 19th level, to a maximum of -8.
A confessor can use this ability once per day. At 5th level and every three levels thereafter, the confessor can use this ability one additional time per day. This is a language-dependent pain and curse effect.
This ability replaces divine combat.
Greater Confessing (Su)
At 8th level, the confessor can spend a faith point to use greater confessing. The confessor asks the target creature within 30 feet a single question. On the subject’s next action, it must answer truthfully in the same language as the question or take 1d8 points of damage per two caster levels (maximum 5d8) and be sickened for 2d6 rounds. A successful Will save (DC 10 + half the cleric’s level + her Charisma modifier) negates the sickening effect and halves the damage. A creature that is unable to answer still takes damage.
This ability replaces extra domain.
Harsh Confessing (Su)
At 17th level, when the confessor uses greater confessing, the save DC of the ability increases by 1.
This ability replaces true channeler.
Unforgiven (Su)
At 19th level, as a swift action, a confessor can condemn a target to walk the world as an outcast for the rest of their days. Once declared, the confessor can make a single melee (or ranged attack, if the foe is within 30 feet) against the target. If the attack hits, it deals damage normally and the target must succeed at a Will save (DC 20 + her Charisma modifier) or have all of its class levels retroactively converted into commoner levels. Regardless of whether or not the save is made, the target creature is immune to the confessor’s unforgiven ability for 24 hours. Once this ability has been used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds.
This ability replaces aspect of the deity.
Full Confession (Su)
At 20th level, the confessor can spend 1 faith point to demand a target within 30 feet of her to confess every sin they have ever committed. This means they must answer truthfully every question the confessor asks for the next 1d6 hours. If this confession is documented, the target must sign the document.
The target can attempt a Will save (DC 20 + her Charisma modifier) to resist this compulsion effect. Regardless of whether or not it succeeds, the target creature is immune to the confessor’s full confession ability for 24 hours. Once this ability has been used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 rounds.
This ability replaces deific capstone.