Lingering Spirit (Discovery)

Ability Type: Ex

Prerequisites: -

Benefit: The alchemist is familiar enough with the ties between their body and spirit that they linger at death's door far longer than a normal person. The alchemist automatically succeeds on any Death Check to stabilize from dying any time their hit points are below zero, but above their normal death total (which is a number of negative hit points equal to their character level + their CON score (not modifier)).

Furthermore, any time the alchemist would normally be killed through hit point damage, they do not automatically die. Instead, they continue to track their negative hit points and remain alive, but unconscious, for three additional rounds. During this three round period, the alchemist may be healed per the standard 'healing the dying' rules.

At the end of each of the alchemist's turns after their hit points have been reduced below their normal death total, they are treated as automatically failing their Death Checks to stabilize from dying. After three such failures (three rounds), if the alchemist's hit points are still below their normal death total, they die.

If, at any point during the three rounds, the alchemist's hit points are restored above their normal death total, they are considered stabilized, and are no longer at risk of dying (unless they take additional damage).