Matriarch's Body (Ex): A lamia matriarch loses all other racial bonuses and gains monstrous humanoid traits (basically Darkvision 60') as well as low light vision. Newly adolescent Matriarchs are not full grown but still have the essential body shape of a matriarch and are thus immune to tripping (lacking legs) and cannot wear boots. She is a medium monstrous humanoid with a base speed of 20' and a swim speed of 10'. A lamia matriarch is not subject to having her movement slowed by encumbrance. A lamia matriarch gains a +8 racial bonus on swim checks, and can always choose to take 10 on a swim check, even when threatened or distracted. A Lamia Matriarch has a tail slap primary natural attack with a reach of 5' dealing 1d6 + 1.5x StrMod bludgeoning damage.
A matriarch's coils are covered in heavy scales, and she gains a natural armor bonus equal to her constitution modifier (minimum +1).
Alternate Form (Su): At first level at will, a lamia matriarch can assume an alternate, bipedal, human form that is identical to her matriarch form from the waist up. As this form is using her own magic to circumvent her bestial inheritance, it is difficult for her to maintain and places a stress upon her. It takes 10 minutes of concentration to force her body into this shape, but only a standard action to have it resume its true shape. A matriarch in bipedal form who is struck or damaged must make a will save (DC 10 + cumulative total damage dealt) at the beginning of her turn or immediately resume matriarch shape on that turn. Failing a concentration check while in bipedal form results in her immediately resuming her true shape. Because a Matriarch is always focusing on maintaining her alternate form, she cannot otherwise concentrate and is always distracted when performing actions that provoke attacks of opportunity (such as spellcasting or using a distracting skill such as heal, open lock, disable device, etc.) and cannot concentrate to cast spells defensively.
While in bipedal form, her base movement changes to 30' and she is subject to trip attacks and normal encumbrance. She loses any alternate forms of movement her true form may have given her as well as her tail slap, grab and constrict abilities. This ability otherwise functions as the alternate form special ability.
Ability Score Increase (Ex): Though cursed, they are still comely. A first level Lamia Matriarch gains a +2 racial bonus to Charisma. As she takes levels in this class, she gains additional racial bonuses of +1 to constitution at 4th, 6th and 8th level, of Charisma at 5th and 8th level, and of Strength at 2nd and 7th level for cumulative bonuses of +2 Strength, +3 Constitution and +4 Charisma.
Wyrd Curse (Su): All Lamia are heir to a cursed legacy, which manifests transferably in the Matriarch at 2nd level. As a standard action she can make a touch attack that deals 1d4 points of Wisdom Damage and 1 point of Wisdom Drain. A Will save (DC 10+1/2 the Matriarch's HD + her Charisma modifier) negates the ability drain but not the ability damage. Unlike most energy drain attacks, a Matriarch does not gain any temporary HP. A Lamia Matriarch who successfully damages and/or drains a living creature with an intelligence score of 3 or greater that is native to her plane of existence (essentially, a creature with a future) gains a Hex Pool equal to the amount of wisdom damage + drain she has dealt thus far.
The Matriarch's Hex Pool empties every morning, and a matriarch cannot hold more than her level + her cumulative levels in Lamia monstrous classes + her charisma modifier points of Hex (note that her level is counted twice). So long as she has at least 1 point of Hex in her Hex pool, a Lamia Matriarch gets a +1 profane bonus to armor class and saving throws. A lamia matriarch can spend hex to manipulate her Wyrd Curse in the following ways:
- 2 Hex: You may spend 2 Hex to gain a +1 sacred (if good) or profane (if evil) bonus to your caster level for the next spell or spell like ability you cast. You may spend additional hex to further augment the spell in a 2 for 1 trade.
- 5 Hex: You focus the Hex into making your foe suffer the pain of Lamyros. Your next Wyrd Curse penalizes the target's next single d20 roll by your charisma modifier. Will save negates.
- 7 Hex: You focus the Hex into an even greater curse. Your next Wyrd Curse afflicts the target with the drawbacks of a bestow curse effect. A target that fails the save by less than 5 is cursed for only 1 round. A target that fails the save by more than 5 is cursed for a number of rounds equal to one half your levels in Lamia monstrous Classes. Will save negates this effect.
- 8 Hex: You focus the Hex into taking misfortune into itself. An ally you touch afflicted by an ongoing effect that allows a saving throw gets another saving throw with your charisma modifier as a sacred bonus. Alternatively, an ally who failed a saving throw against an enchantment effect within the last round that you touch gets a new save against that effect with your charisma modifier as a sacred bonus.
Mystic Heritage (Sp): The Lamia are descended of accursed spiritualists, and their daughters carry on that legacy. At 2nd level, a Lamia matriarch can use Ventriloquism 3/day as a spell like ability
Corroded Future/Path of Penitence (Su): Cursed for hubris and greed long ago, the Lamia impart that tale as a tradition in every daughter, expecting them to follow in their mother's footsteps in an ongoing quest to defy the gods. But some Lamia instead turn inwards into accepting their half-animal forms and accepting the burdens of fate. At 3rd level, a Lamia Matriarch can choose between the exemplary paths laid out before her, to corrupt and despoil all that the gods have wrought or to take the suffering into themselves and persevere beyond their ancestors' mistakes. (It is of course up to the GM if the divine punishment inflicted on the Lamias is an example of justice or cruel caprice).
The Lamia Matriarch who chooses the corroded future tradition gains the granted ability of the chaos, destruction, evil, or luck domains and can use it as a cleric of her Matriarch level. Additionally, she learns new, maleficent ways to use the Hex Pool.
- 7 Hex: Corrosion - Your next Wyrd Curse deals an additional amount of constitution damage equal to the amount of wisdom damage it dealt, and an amount of constitution drain equal to the wisdom drain it deals. This Wyrd Curse does not restore Hex points as normal on its use.
- 8 Hex: Lost Future - by spending 8 hex as an immediate action, you can force 1 target within 30' to immediately reroll a d20 roll they just made, taking the worse result of the two.
The Lamia Matriarch who chooses the Penitent tradition gains the granted ability of the good, healing, luck, or protection domains and can use it as a cleric of her Matriarch level. Additionally, she learns new beneficent ways of using her Hex Pool.
- 7 Hex: Curse Break - you can 'lift' your Wyrd curse from targets afflicted by it, but the backlash is intense. As a standard action, you can lift your Wyrd Curse from a single target within 30 feet (no save). Lifting 4 or less total points of wisdom drain and damage combined leaves the subject Staggered for one round. Lifting 5 or more total points of wisdom drain and damage combined leaves the subject Dazed for 1d3 rounds.
- 8 Hex: Penitent Shield - You can spend 8 Hex to cast shield other as a standard action with a caster level equal to your spell level. Half the hit point damage your target takes while under this effect is nonlethal, and the target uses your saving throws if they're better than their own.
: A 3rd level Lamia Matriarch who successfully strikes a target with her tail slap attack can start a grapple as an immediate action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Because this uses her entire lower body, she cannot move while grappling.
Growth (Ex): As she molts over time, a Lamia Matriarch eventually grows to full size. At 4th level, a Lamia Matriarch's size changes to large. Do not recalculate any of her ability scores, though she does gain large penalties and bonuses to hide, grapple, and attacks. The reach of her Tail slap's increases to 10' and its base damage increases to 2d6. However, while her coils have gotten larger and longer, her torso has not, and she still wields manufactured weapons with the damage and reach of a medium creature. Her movement speed increases to 30', while her swim speed increases to 20'. Additionally, she gains a climb speed of 20', a +8 racial bonus on climb checks, and she can always choose to take 10 on a climb check, even when threatened or distracted.
Mystic Awakening (Sla): At 4th level, more of the power a Lamia is heir to manifests. She can use suggestion and mirror image as spell like abilities (CL equal to her HD, save DCs are charisma based) each 3x per day.
Constrict (Ex): A 4th level Lamia Matriarch who successfully grapples a target after landing a tail slap attack constricts for 2d6+Str damage. In addition, the first time she constricts in that round her constriction target subject to her Wyrd Curse (including any modifications she has made to her Wyrd Curse with her Hex Pool).
Soiled Road/Sacred Coil(Su): A 5th level Lamia Matriarch's pursuits lead her to even greater enlightenment on her journey.
Only a Matriarch who chose the Corroded Future can take the Soiled Road to perdition. A Lamia Matriarch on the Soiled Road gains +10 movement speed to her base speed so long as she has at least one point of Hex in her Hex pool. As well, a Lamia Matriarch on the Soiled Road emits a palpable aura of defilement, causing foes adjacent to her to take a -2 profane penalty on saving throws as well as generating a desecration effect as a spell cast by a cleric of her level centered on her. This aura suppresses the effects of any Freedom of Movement spells or abilities similar to Freedom of Movement. She can use her Hex pool in more ingeniously vile ways.
- 12 Hex: Savage Curse: Your Next Wyrd Curse severely disables the target. In addition to the save to resist 1 point of wisdom drain, the target must save a second time against the Savage Curse. On a failed save, it suffers wisdom drain from the entire attack's total damage, a slow effect (as the spell) for a number of rounds equal to the matriarch's level and a nauseating effect for a number of rounds equal to the matriarch's level.
Only a Matriarch who chose the Path of Penitence can comport herself with blessed coils that sanctify others. A Lamia Matriarch with Sacred Coils adds her Charisma modifier as a sacred bonus to Armor Class, and gains spell resistance equal to her level. Those near her are cocooned in an aura of repentance, gaining +2 on saves against fear and compulsion effects. This aura suppresses the effects of Freedom of Movement spells and freedom of movement-like effects. Should a Sacred Coil take a total defensive action, as long as she has at least 1 point of Hex remaining, she gains the benefits of a sanctuary spell, and adjacent creatures are subject to the effects of Calm Emotions. Both of these additional effects last until she ceases total defense, or after 1 round per level, whichever comes first. She can use her Hex pool in ways even the gods did not foresee.
- 12 Hex: Transient Curse: Your next Wyrd Curse does not do ability damage, but instead inflicts a sacred Wisdom penalty equal to the empowered maximum damage and drain your Wyrd Curse would do normally. This penalty lasts for 1 minute per Matriarch level, and restores points of Hex pool normally.
: A 6th level Lamia Matriarch's ongoing quest for debasement or redemption have not gone unnoticed by the greater Lamia community. She gains the services of a disciple wishing to emulate her successes. This disciple is typically a
Common Lamia, but other similar monsters (such as a Harpy) can be substituted at the DM's option. A Matriarch's disciple argues on her behalf, acts as her confident and friend and tries their best to emulate the Matriarch's chosen lifestyle. Treat a disciple as a cohort (as one gained from the leadership feat) using the normal statistic array. Matriarchs who grossly violate their chosen paths or mistreat their disciples may end up losing them, of course.
Mystic Ascendancy(Sla): A 7th Level Matriarch's mysticism reaches its zenith. She can use charm monster, deep slumber and major image each 1/day as spell like abilities.
Embraced Destiny (Su): At 8th level, a Lamia Matriarch is set on her course and well on her way towards her destiny.
A Matriarch of Monsters journey concludes the Soiled Road. She gains the ability to use Summon Monster IV as a spell like ability 1/day, and adds Summon Monster I-IX to the spell lists of any spellcasting class she takes levels in. If she takes levels in a spontaneous caster, these spells are automatically learned and do not count against her normal limit of spells learned per level. All monsters she summons have the fiendish template if applicable, and lose the celestial template if they have it. She gains a final curse as well.
- 14 Hex: Wyrd Beasts: A Matriarch of Monsters can spend 14 Hex when using a Summon Monster spell to imbue any and all the monsters summoned with her own Wyrd Curse ability. Ability damage and drain these monsters inflict is only added back to the Matriarch's Hex Pool if and when she dismisses them, and they themselves cannot do anything with Hex they accumulate.
A Matriarch of Redemption must have Sacred Coils. She is well on the path to finding her own personal fulfillment free of the burden of expectations of her curse, and gains the ability to use Greater Restoration, Remove Curse and Break Enchantment as spell like abilities of a sorcerer of her level 1/day, and gains the ability to Turn Undead as a cleric of her Matriarch level. She learns her first true Blessing, having found hope in spite of her seemingly cursed fate.
- 14 Hex: Wyrd Blessing - by spending 14 Hex, a target who voluntarily allows you to wrap them in your coils, a full round action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, is blessed, recovering 10 HP per level as well as healing 1d4 points of ability damage to each ability score and gaining their choice of Haste, Spell Turning, Freedom of Movement or Death Ward (caster level equal to your HD). A Matriarch can offer no more than one wyrd blessing to a given creature per day. You cannot bless a creature larger than your own size. Creatures can exit your coils without difficulty in this state, or you can stop surrounding them on your next turn. As long as they remain there, they gain the benefits of partial cover. Creatures smaller than your size cannot attack from within your coils unless they have a reach greater than 5'. Treat creatures opting to remain within your coils as being mounted on you to adjudicate squares they threaten (subtract 5' from their normal reach for each melee attack, minimum 0') or the range of any emanations or auras they generate.
