Lord_Gareth
2007-09-12, 07:52 PM
Pelorian Crusader
"No rest for the wicked."
When one thinks of a knight, one usually imagines a shining figure resplendant in plate armor, riding to the rescue upon a raging battlefield. One rarely conceptualizes a haggard, worn woman in rusty chain, barely able to hold the weight of her own sword. And yet, this image is exactly what the Pelorian Crusaders are - looks are deceiving.
Many dismiss Pelorian Crusaders as incompetants or down-on-their-luck sellswords at first sight, but these men and women are fanatics of the highest order, swearing off both sleep and rest until their ceaseless mission is at an end - to purge evil from the world with Pelor's blinding light. They are instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with them from their haggard, exhausted look - one that comes from months and even decades (centuries in the case of some elves) without sleep as they crusade endlessly against evil.
Members of all classes can become Pelorian Crusaders, but fighters, crusaders, knights, samurai, paladins, rangers, and rogues are the most common candidates.
Requirements
Alignment: Any Good
B.A.B.: +5
Skills: Concentration 4 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 4 ranks
Feats: Endurance, Iron Will
Patron Deity: Pelor
Special: Must undergo the Trial of the Sleepless and be judged worth by the Crusaders.
Special: Must be able to suffer Exhaustion through sleep deprivation.
Class Features
Hit Die: D10
B.A.B: Good
Fortitude: Good
Reflex: Poor
Will: Good
Class Skills: Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Military Tactics / Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis)
Skill points per level: 2+intelligence modifier
Oath of Restlessness (Ex): Upon entering this prestige class, the Pelorian Crusader swears never to sleep nor rest until evil is purged from the world. She may force her body not to sleep, no matter how exhausted she gets (and indeed must, for failure to keep this oath under any but involuntary circumstances results in the loss of all class features for 24 hours) and is treated as exhausted as long as she is upholding this oath. However, the strength of her convictions, as well as special training from her fellow Crusaders, grants her a +4 morale bonus to Will saves and a +2 competance bonus to melee attack rolls. She is immune to sleep effects, magical or otherwise.
No Excuses (Ex): Physical exhaustion is no reason to slack in the Pelorian Crusader's duty - no matter how tired she gets, she may move at her full normal speed and take her normal number of actions (subject to normal encumbrence rules and armor). This ability cancels the effects of any Slow effects that would otherwise affect the Crusader - they simply shrug off the hindering magic like they shrug off their exhaustion.
At first level, the Pelorian Crusader gains a +1 enhancement bonus to Strength and Dexterity while exhausted. This bonus increases every level, until it maxes out at +10 at tenth level.
Holy Strike (Su): Starting at level two, once per encounter, the Pelorian Crusader may channel the Sunlord's vengeful light into a melee attack. By declaring her intent and making a normal melee attack, a Crusader may perform a holy strike. If she hits, it deals an additional 1d6 +1 per Pelorian Crusader level of damage to the victim that results from divine origin. If she misses, the holy strike is wasted. She may use this ability an additional time per encounter for every two levels after 2nd (2/encounter at 4th, 3/encounter at 6th, and so on).
Walk it Off (Ex): The Pelorain Crusader isn't about to let wounds and diseases stop her from her duty, and her body, like it or not, is forced to cooperate. Starting at 3rd level, she benefits from natural healing (within normal time frames), regardless of whether or not she has rested. Additionally, the Pelorian Crusader gains a +4 sacred bonus on saving throws versus poison and disease.
Die Harder (Ex): Mortal wounds and blood loss are no reason to take a breather - at 4th level, the Pelorian Crusader gains Diehard as a bonus feat, even if she doesn't meet the prerequisites. Unlike the normal version of the feat, she continues to fight without penalty until she dies.
No Rest for the Wicked (Su): Starting at 7th level, the blessing of Pelor forces evil to make the same sacrifice as his Crusaders. Any evil being that comes within 30 feet of the Pelorian Crusader must make a Will save (DC = 10 + class level + Crusader's charisma modifier) or have the energy sapped from them, becoming exhausted and unable to sleep for one day per character level of the Pelorian Crusader. The affected being may make a new save once every 24 hours. A being that makes its save cannot be affected by that Crusader's aura for another 24 hours.
Crusader Strike (Su): Also at 7th level, the Pelorian Crusader can chain multiple holy strikes together into a shining display of righteous fury. Every holy strike she lands on a creature deals an additional 1d6 points of damage for each other holy strike inflicted on that creature in that round (so the first strike deals 1d6 + Crusader level, the second does 2d6 + Crusader level, the third 3d6 plus Crusader level, and so on).
Dead on your Feet (Ex): So great is the Pelorian Crusader's fanatacism in keeping her oath that she tries to even deny herself the rest of death. Starting at level 8, she is considered dead at -20 H.P., not -10, and her Die Harder feature continues to function normally until she reaches -20. Additionally, the Pelorian Crusader becomes immune to magical death effects.
Sleep is for the Weak (Ex): Starting at level 9, the Pelorian Crusader forces her body to cooperate with her utterly, sleep or no sleep, rendering her immune to damage or drain to her Strength and Dexterity scores. Her body still yearns for sleep - she just denies it.
Wrath Unending (Su): At 10th level, once per day, the Pelorian Crusader can become a direct conduit for Pelor's vengeful light. Once per day, as a full round action, she may declare any creature in melee range the target of her Wrath Unending (activating this ability uses up all her Holy Strikes for the encounter). She makes a full attack against that creature, with each blow being a holy strike (subject to her Crusader Strike ability as normal), but when she runs out of normal attacks, she continues making holy strikes against that creature at her lowest base attack bonus until she misses. Once she does, the flood of energy leaves her too exhausted to continue, forcing her to pass out and sleep soundly for 1d6 hours, during which she cannot be awoken by anything less than divine intervention.
"No rest for the wicked."
When one thinks of a knight, one usually imagines a shining figure resplendant in plate armor, riding to the rescue upon a raging battlefield. One rarely conceptualizes a haggard, worn woman in rusty chain, barely able to hold the weight of her own sword. And yet, this image is exactly what the Pelorian Crusaders are - looks are deceiving.
Many dismiss Pelorian Crusaders as incompetants or down-on-their-luck sellswords at first sight, but these men and women are fanatics of the highest order, swearing off both sleep and rest until their ceaseless mission is at an end - to purge evil from the world with Pelor's blinding light. They are instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with them from their haggard, exhausted look - one that comes from months and even decades (centuries in the case of some elves) without sleep as they crusade endlessly against evil.
Members of all classes can become Pelorian Crusaders, but fighters, crusaders, knights, samurai, paladins, rangers, and rogues are the most common candidates.
Requirements
Alignment: Any Good
B.A.B.: +5
Skills: Concentration 4 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 4 ranks
Feats: Endurance, Iron Will
Patron Deity: Pelor
Special: Must undergo the Trial of the Sleepless and be judged worth by the Crusaders.
Special: Must be able to suffer Exhaustion through sleep deprivation.
Class Features
Hit Die: D10
B.A.B: Good
Fortitude: Good
Reflex: Poor
Will: Good
Class Skills: Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Military Tactics / Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis)
Skill points per level: 2+intelligence modifier
Oath of Restlessness (Ex): Upon entering this prestige class, the Pelorian Crusader swears never to sleep nor rest until evil is purged from the world. She may force her body not to sleep, no matter how exhausted she gets (and indeed must, for failure to keep this oath under any but involuntary circumstances results in the loss of all class features for 24 hours) and is treated as exhausted as long as she is upholding this oath. However, the strength of her convictions, as well as special training from her fellow Crusaders, grants her a +4 morale bonus to Will saves and a +2 competance bonus to melee attack rolls. She is immune to sleep effects, magical or otherwise.
No Excuses (Ex): Physical exhaustion is no reason to slack in the Pelorian Crusader's duty - no matter how tired she gets, she may move at her full normal speed and take her normal number of actions (subject to normal encumbrence rules and armor). This ability cancels the effects of any Slow effects that would otherwise affect the Crusader - they simply shrug off the hindering magic like they shrug off their exhaustion.
At first level, the Pelorian Crusader gains a +1 enhancement bonus to Strength and Dexterity while exhausted. This bonus increases every level, until it maxes out at +10 at tenth level.
Holy Strike (Su): Starting at level two, once per encounter, the Pelorian Crusader may channel the Sunlord's vengeful light into a melee attack. By declaring her intent and making a normal melee attack, a Crusader may perform a holy strike. If she hits, it deals an additional 1d6 +1 per Pelorian Crusader level of damage to the victim that results from divine origin. If she misses, the holy strike is wasted. She may use this ability an additional time per encounter for every two levels after 2nd (2/encounter at 4th, 3/encounter at 6th, and so on).
Walk it Off (Ex): The Pelorain Crusader isn't about to let wounds and diseases stop her from her duty, and her body, like it or not, is forced to cooperate. Starting at 3rd level, she benefits from natural healing (within normal time frames), regardless of whether or not she has rested. Additionally, the Pelorian Crusader gains a +4 sacred bonus on saving throws versus poison and disease.
Die Harder (Ex): Mortal wounds and blood loss are no reason to take a breather - at 4th level, the Pelorian Crusader gains Diehard as a bonus feat, even if she doesn't meet the prerequisites. Unlike the normal version of the feat, she continues to fight without penalty until she dies.
No Rest for the Wicked (Su): Starting at 7th level, the blessing of Pelor forces evil to make the same sacrifice as his Crusaders. Any evil being that comes within 30 feet of the Pelorian Crusader must make a Will save (DC = 10 + class level + Crusader's charisma modifier) or have the energy sapped from them, becoming exhausted and unable to sleep for one day per character level of the Pelorian Crusader. The affected being may make a new save once every 24 hours. A being that makes its save cannot be affected by that Crusader's aura for another 24 hours.
Crusader Strike (Su): Also at 7th level, the Pelorian Crusader can chain multiple holy strikes together into a shining display of righteous fury. Every holy strike she lands on a creature deals an additional 1d6 points of damage for each other holy strike inflicted on that creature in that round (so the first strike deals 1d6 + Crusader level, the second does 2d6 + Crusader level, the third 3d6 plus Crusader level, and so on).
Dead on your Feet (Ex): So great is the Pelorian Crusader's fanatacism in keeping her oath that she tries to even deny herself the rest of death. Starting at level 8, she is considered dead at -20 H.P., not -10, and her Die Harder feature continues to function normally until she reaches -20. Additionally, the Pelorian Crusader becomes immune to magical death effects.
Sleep is for the Weak (Ex): Starting at level 9, the Pelorian Crusader forces her body to cooperate with her utterly, sleep or no sleep, rendering her immune to damage or drain to her Strength and Dexterity scores. Her body still yearns for sleep - she just denies it.
Wrath Unending (Su): At 10th level, once per day, the Pelorian Crusader can become a direct conduit for Pelor's vengeful light. Once per day, as a full round action, she may declare any creature in melee range the target of her Wrath Unending (activating this ability uses up all her Holy Strikes for the encounter). She makes a full attack against that creature, with each blow being a holy strike (subject to her Crusader Strike ability as normal), but when she runs out of normal attacks, she continues making holy strikes against that creature at her lowest base attack bonus until she misses. Once she does, the flood of energy leaves her too exhausted to continue, forcing her to pass out and sleep soundly for 1d6 hours, during which she cannot be awoken by anything less than divine intervention.