Knight Templar

Of all the holy orders of mankind, none are as widely known, renowned, or feared, as the knights templar.  A holy order of mounted knights, the templars lift their maces in the service of St Cuthbert and are the militant arm of the Pelosian church.  Wherever there is civilized Pelosian society, you will find the templars.

     Templars do not live within the boundaries of the cities they protect, instead they living within structures called Chapter Houses that are fortified keeps, complete with courtyard, stables for their horses, barracks, kitchen, and even a dungeon.  By remaining outside the boundaries of a city, the templars are free to operate on their own and not fall under the jurisdiction of the local constabulary.  Further, each Chapter House is not led by a templar.  Instead each Chapter House is led by a trinity of a monk (cleric) of St Cuthbert, a friar or sister of Pelor, and the highest ranking templar in the house.  In military terms, the monk of St Cuthbert is the highest ranking member of the tinity.  All monks who preside over Chapter Houses have the title of "the Cudgel" after their name.

     Templars perform all kinds of tasks for the Pelosian church, and it makes others more than a little nervous that the church has raised an army that could rival most others across the Known World.  The only balance in the templars' numbers is that they are spread out over the Known World, positioning themselves alongside most of the major Pelosian churches, as well as going on missions to foreign lands at the behest of the church.

     All templars are solely loyal to the Pelosian church, specifically St Cuthbert.  Almost fanatically so.

     Most templars come from the ranks of cavaliers and paladins, however it is not unheard of for templars to begin life as a cleric of St Cuthbert or even a Lawful fighter.  Most knights templar are human, but converts of other races can be found among the ranks of the templars.

Hit Die: d10

Requirements

To qualify to become a knight templar, a character must fulfill the follow criteria.

Alignment: Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral

Base Attack Bonus: +5

Skills: Diplomacy 8 ranks, Knowledge (Nobility) 8 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Ride 8 ranks

Feats: Armor Proficiency (heavy), Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Weapon Focus (mace)

Special: A candidate to be a knight templar must be a worshiper of St Cuthbert and a member of the Pelosian church.  Further they must be recruited by either a monk of St Cuthbert or another knight templar before gaining admittance among their ranks.

Class Skills

The knight templar's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Wis), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Int, Nobility), Knowledge (Int, Religion), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the knight templar.

     Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A knight templar is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as all armors and shields (but not tower shields).  Note that armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket, and Tumble.  Also, Swim checks suffer a -1 penalty for every 5 pounds of armor and equipment carried.

     Sacred Tenets (Ex): Seven tenets form the basis of the code of conduct for the knights templar:

• Bravery.  While not expected to be foolhardy, knights templar must never shirk from danger.
  
• Charity.  A knight templar should be generous to the poor and destitute.
• Courtesy.  A knight templar must behave always in a civilized manner, showing respect to all who deserve it.
• Defense.  Self-preservation for the knight templar is of secondary is of secondary importance to the defense of family, friends, lord and land.
• Justice.  Knights templar met out fair justice unfailingly, seeking out injustice wherever it hides.
• Loyalty.  The knight templar remains committed to his ideals and the people he has sworn to protect.
• Piety.  Knights templar must always show reverence for St Cuthbert and the Pelosian church.

     Beginning at 1st-level the knight templar begins to master the seven sacred tenets of chivalry, gaining extraordinary abilities by upholding and defending these ideals.  Each time a sacred tenet is indicated as a knight templar gains experience, the character selects a new tenet from the following list.

• Chivalry Points: As the knight templar upholds the sacred tenets by adhering to the chivalric code, he creates a pool of chivalry points which are then spent to allow the use of the special abilities central to each sacred tenet.  A knight templar may only spend chivalry points to use sacred tenet abilities to which he has access, and multiple expenditures of chivalry points for the same effect do not stack.  Spending chivalry points is a free action, unless stated otherwise.  Knights templar gain chivalry points for performing deeds in accordance with their sacred tenets.  Chivalry points, once spent, are permanently lost.  A knight templar may have a maximum number of chivalry points equal to his knight templar class level.
• Bravery: Whenever a knight templar with this sacred tenet is the target of an enemy's spell with the fear descriptor (or of abilities which mimic the effects of such spells), he gains one chivalry point.  The knight templar can gain only one chivalry point from any individual enemy, regardless of how many times that enemy targets the knight with a fear effect.  As well, the knight templar with this sacred tenet may spend on chivalry point to add his Charisma modifier (if positive) to any one saving throw.
• Charity: A knight templar with this sacred tenet gains one chivalry point each month that he donates 100gp per character level to the common folk (with good intent and no demand for reward or compensation).  As well, the knight templar with this sacred tenet may spend a chivalry point to receive a maximum 10% discount when purchasing any mundane item within the community to which he makes his donations.
• Courtesy: When the knight templar with this sacred tenet grants quarter to a creature whose Challenge Rating is equal to or greater than his character level, he gains one chivalry point.  Granting quarter to a particular creature grants a chivalry point just once, regardless of how many subsequent encounters the knight templar might have with that same creature.  As well, a knight templar may spend a chivalry point to add a +4 bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks for a number of minutes equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1 minute).
• Defense: The knight templar with this sacred tenet gains one chivalry point whenever he defends any creature unable to defend itself (bound, sleeping, paralyzed, unconscious, or otherwise at the mercy of an attacker).  Defending a particular attacker grants a chivalry point just once, regardless of how many times the knight templar subsequently comes to that creature's aid (but note that a knight who gains a chivalry point for aiding a creature, then knowingly doesn't come to the same creatures aid at some other time loses one chivlary point).  The knight may spend a chivalry point to add a +2 deflection bonus to AC for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1 round).
  
• Justice: Whenever a knight templar apprehends a wanted criminal of a CR equal to or greater than the knight's character level and brings him to justice (either by his own hand or according to the laws of the realm), he gains 1 chivalry point.  As well, the knight templar may spend a chivalry point to overcome a chaotic opponent's damage reduction for 1 round.
• Loyalty: A knight templar with this sacred tenet gains one chivalry point whenever he follows an order issued by an individual of a higher station (whether for good or ill) which results in an encounter in which the knight templar gains XP.  A knight templar with this sacred tenet may spend a chivalry point to grant his cohorts and followers a +2 bonus on their saving throws against enchantment spells and effects, and a +2 bonus on their saves against fear spells and effects.  The bonus lasts for a number of minutes equal to the knight templar's Charisma modifier (minimum 1 minute).
  
• Piety: Whenever a knight templar with this sacred tenet spends an entire night keeping vigil before an alter in a shrine or church to St Cuthbert he gains one chivalry point.  Knights with this tenet may may spend a chivalry point to make a single special smite attack against a chaotic creature.  On a successful hit against a chaotic opponent, the knight templar deals extra damage equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1 point).  This smite attack stacks with other smite abilities such as that granted by the Destruction domain or the paladin class ability.

     Spells per Day/Spells Known: Beginning at 2nd-level, a knight templar who previously knew spells gains new spells per day (and spells known if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in his divine spellcasting class, if he had one prior to becoming a knight templar, such as a cleric or paladin.  He does not, however, gain any other benefits a character of that class would have gained.  If he had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a knight templar, he must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

     Squire: At 2nd-level the knight templar gains Leadership as a bonus feat (see Chapter Four: Non-Player Characters in the Dungeon Master's Guide), with the cohort gained by this feat becoming the knight's squire.  If the knight templar already has a squire, he gains a second squire, but takes a -2 penalty to his Leadership score while both serve him.  This ability is subject to the same terms, bonuses, and penalties as the cavalier class ability of the same name (see page 9 of The Cavalier's Handbook).

     Weapon Excellence (Ex): At 5th and 8th level, the knight templar's extensive training allows him to develop special combat techniques which give him an advantage over other warriors.  Weapon excellence is detailed under the cavalier class abilities (see page 8 of The Cavalier's Handbook), and the effects of the knight templar's weapon excellence ability stack with the weapon excellence from cavalier or any other class.

Order of the Mace

The Order of the Mace is the highest order of the knights templar.  Made up of templars that have proven themselves to be above the rest, the Order of the Mace is made up of the finest that the templar order has to offer.  They are knights who have mastered their training and have made great sacrifices for church and country.  They are men and women who have undertaken dangerous quests and faced powerful enemies.  Sometimes admission to the Order of the Mace is awarded posthumously.  They represent everything that is good and strong about the knight templars.

     Originally the Order of the Mace was dispersed through the templar order, they would live in the Chapter Houses with the rest.  However over time as their numbers of grown the Order of the Mace now occupies their own Chapter House within the Great Kingdom.  This is their base of operations and it is common for them to send out small parties of the order out into the world to represent their interests and to find those worthy of joining the order.

     Like the standard order Chapter Houses, the Order of the Mace is presided over by a trinity of the highest ranking templar -- in this case the highest ranking member of the Order of the Mace -- a monk of St Cuthbert, and a sister of Pelor.

Hit Die: d12

Requirements

To qualify to become a member of the Order of the Mace, a character must fulfill the follow criteria.

Alignment: Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral

Feats: Weapon Focus (mace)

Special: Weapon Excellence (mace)

Special: Must have five sacred tenets.

Special: The character must complete a major quest for the Pelosian church, or the betterment of mankind in general, that entails retrieving a powerful magical artifact, overthrow a foe threatening the Pelosian church or the Great Kingdom, discover a cure for a debilitating disease, or undertake an equivalent challenge as adjudicated by the DM.

Class Skills

The Knight of the Mace's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Wis), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Int, Nobility), Knowledge (Int, Religion), Performance (Cha), Perception (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the knight templar.

     Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Knight of the Mace is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as all armors and shields (but not tower shields).  Note that armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket, and Tumble.  Also, Swim checks suffer a -1 penalty for every 5 pounds of armor and equipment carried.

     Spells: Knights of the Mace gain the ability to cast a small number of divine spells.  To cast a spell a Knight of the Mace must have Wisdom score of at least 10 + the spell's level, so a member of the Order of the Mace with a Wisdom of 10 or lower cannot cast these spells.  Knight of the Mace bonus spells are based on Wisdom, and saving throws against these spells have a Difficulty Class of 10 + spell level + Wisdom modifier.  When the Knight of the Mace gets 0 spells of a given level, such as 1st-level spells at 1st-level, the knight gets only bonus spells.  A Knight of the Mace without a bonus spell for that level cannot yet cast a spell of that level.  The Order of the Mace's spell list appears on the sidebar.  A Knight of the Mace has access to any spell on the list and can freely choose which to prepare, just as a cleric can.  A Knight of the Mace prepares and casts spells just as a cleric does (though Knights of the Mace cannot use spontaneous casting to substitute a cure spell in place of a prepared spell).

     A Knight of the Mace's caster level is equal to his Order of the Mace character level.

     Famous (Ex): People throughout the land know of the Order of the Mace not only for their exploits but for their honor and commitment to justice.  Starting at 1st-level, a Knight of the Mace's reputation earns him a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks.  In addition, Knights of the Mace gain the Improved Retainers feat as a bonus feat (see Chapter Three of The Cavalier's Handbook).

     Sterling Resolve (Ex): At 1st-level, a Knight of the Mace's chivalrous dedication strengthens her already impressive resistance to temptation.  Knights of the Mace are immune to all spells and efforts with the compulsion or fear descriptors.  In addition, they receive a +2 class bonus on all saving throws against spells of the enchantment and necromancy schools.

     Peerless Rider (Ex):  Knights of the Mace have no match among mounted warriors, able to maneuver through the thickest combat unscathed.  At 2nd-level, the Knight of the Mace gains a +4 class bonus on all Ride checks made to negate an attack with the Mounted Combat feat, can handle his steed as a free action, and can push his steed on a move action.  As well, a Knight of the Mace gains a +4 class bonus on Handled Animal checks made to train any creature serving as his mount.

     Peerless Defense (Ex): At 3rd-level, the Knight of the Mace takes his mastery of defensive combat to a new level.  Once per day per point of Charisma modifier (minimum 1), the Knight of the Mace may make a peerless defense maneuver when attacked while wielding a shield (either mounted or on foot), gaining a +1d8 insight bonus to his AC.  Further, should an opponent miss the knight with a melee attack, the Knight of the Mace may force the issue and both characters make opposed attack rolls.  If the knight wins the opposed roll, the opponent drops his weapon.  If the opponent wins, the shield bonus to AC of the knight's shield permanently drops by 1.  Should its bonus fall to 0, a shield (magical or otherwise) is rendered useless.  Both penalties can be repaired with a Craft (armorsmithing) check (DC 15).

     Terrifying Charge (Ex): At 4th-level, the mounted Knight of the Mace is able to maximize his physical presence on the battlefield, striking terror into the hearts of those who stand against him.  Whenever the Knight of the Mace makes a charge attack, all living opponents of 6 HD or less standing in or adjacent to his path must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + Order of the Mace level + Charisma modifier), or become frightened for 1d4 rounds.  Creatures who succeed are shaken for 1 round.  Creatures immune to fear effects are immune to this ability.

     Peerless Attack (Ex): At 5th-level, the Knight of the Mace takes his mastery of melee combat to a new level.  Once per day per point of Charisma modifier (minimum 1), the Knight of the Mace may make a peerless attack maneuver while wielding his mace in combat.  This maneuver allows the Knight of the Mace to make a second attack roll (choosing the better of the two rolls) for each attack he normally receives as a result of his base attack bonus (meaning this applies to all attacks in a full-round attack, but not for extra off-hand or two-weapon fighting attacks, attacks awarded by a class feature such as flurry of blows, or by magic such as haste or a weapon of speed).