Reserved and calm, the maenads are a race of emotionally polar beings. While calm to most observers, maenads struggle daily with their wild, nearly uncontrollable emotions. Maenad paragons are ferocious fighters, matching the barbarian when he chooses to unleash the pent up emotions bottled inside. His need to control his emotions also lends him a clarity of thought that opposes those who would try to affect his thoughts.
Adventures:
Adventures are ways for maenad paragons to expand their abilities. Sometimes, it is simply the need to get out of the stifling society that is maenad culture. Because the maenad paragon learns to harness the storm of emotions trapped inside, some of the more conservative maenads view the abilities of the maenad paragon as suspect, feeling that any outburst is unnecessary.
Characteristics:
Maenad paragons are more in tune with the bottled emotions than normal maenads; they have learned to harness that overwhelming emotional energy to greater effect. Through the intense force of will the maenad paragon must constantly exhibit to keep this energy under control, he has also learned how to protect his mind from others who would try to subject him to their will.
Alignment:
To keep their emotions in check, maenad paragons tend toward lawful alignments more often than chaotic. However, it is not a requirement; the best and worst are found among maenad society.
Religion:
Like most other maenads, maenad paragons tend to worship deities of the sea. The conflicting nature of the ocean gives something to which the maenad paragon can relate: it is oft-times calm, but can become a raging storm without warning.
Background:
The constant battle of keeping their raging emotions in check tends to produce frequent maenad paragons. Many maenad paragons come to their abilities simply through understanding and controlling their emotions. Others come into them from unleashing their emotions, learning to channel that rage into combat ability and then having to quell the urge again.
Races:
Like other members of their race, maenad paragons tend to have trouble understanding the more lackadaisical races, such as halflings or xephs. The varied nature of humans and their personalities makes it easier for maenad paragons to work alongside them.
Other Classes:
Maenad paragons respect monks for the strict codes they follow. They tend to look down on the barbarian, for his wanton use of the rage that a maenad paragon believes should be keep in check. In general, though, a maenad paragon follows the deeds of an individual rather than stereotypes, knowing all too well that things are seldom what they outwardly appear to be.
Abilities: Maenad paragons benefit from a high Strength score for their combat abilities, as well as a high Constitution to make them more resilient. Because of their natural affinity for the wilder class, they benefit from a high Charisma for manifesting, as well.
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Hit Die: d8
Class Skills
Autohypnosis, Bluff, Diplomacy, Climb, Concentration, Craft (any), Listen, Knowledge (Psionics), Profession (any), Spot. Skill points at each level: 4 + Int modifier. Skill points at 1st level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4
Class Features:
Weapon and Armor proficiency: A maenad paragon is proficient with simple weapons, light and medium armor, and shields (but not tower shields).
Manifesting: At 2nd and 3rd level, maenad paragon gains additional power points per day and access to new powers as if she had also gained a level in wilder. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (wild surge, special abilities, and so on). This essentially means that she adds the level of maenad paragon to the level of wilder, and then determines power points per day, powers known, and manifester level accordingly. If the character did not have levels in the wilder class before taking this paragon class, she does not gain manifesting levels.
Enhanced Outburst (Ex): When a maenad paragon utilizes his outburst racial ability, his bonus to Strength increases to +4, instead of +2.
Disciplined Mind (Ex): At 2nd level, a maenad paragon gains a +4 bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects.
Ability Boost: At 3rd level, a maenad paragon gains a +2 bonus to Charisma.
