Shadowstriker

SHADOWSTRIKER TABLE 2-11: TH Base E SHADOWSTRIKER H IT DIE: D10 "Horrible cults, terrible demons, and the shambling remains of creatures long dead—I have seen them all, and my bright blade has given me the strength to do what is right. Though the shadows may blind you, they can also open your eyes to the realization that our plight is dire—more so than we might at first admit. " —Peadrin, Shadowstriker of Pelor

Attack Fort Ref Will Level Bonus Save Save Save Special

1st +1 +2 +0 +2 Badge of office, luminous weapon 2nd +2 +3 +0 +3 Smite evil 1/day, sun's blessing 3rd +3 +3 +1 +3 Surge of piety

The elite group known as the shadowstrikers is the military arm of Pelor's Shadow Guard. Its members make little attempt to hide their presence because they prefer to stand as constant reminders to the minions of evil and decay that divine consequences await their vile actions.

BECOMING A SHADOWSTRIKER

Shadowstrikers come from all walks of life. Most are drawn from the clerics and paladins who serve in the ranks of either Heironeous or Pelor, though any member of either church with strong faith and a needed skill— regardless of vocation—is welcome to apply.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Alignment: Any good.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skill: Knowledge (religion) 2 ranks.

Feat: Good Devotion, Healing

Devotion, Law Devotion, Strength

Devotion, Sun Devotion, or War Devotion Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level): Climb, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (religion), Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Spot.

CLASS FEATURES

You are a weapon of Pelor given humanoid form. As a Shadowstriker, you have learned to channel your faith into a well-honed weapon and become especially proficient at dealing with undead creatures.

Badge of Office (Ex): Upon your induction into the shadowstrikers, you were given a special holy symbol combining the symbols of Heironeous and Pelor. This item is crafted from gold, inlaid with platinum lightning motifs, and encrusted with sunstones. In areas where the Church of Heironeous or the Church of Pelor holds political power, this badge allows you access to prohibited areas and gives you the right to detain and question suspects in the pursuit of your deity's will.

Luminous Weapon (Su): You can imbue your melee weapon with the power of the Shining One. When you do so, your weapon glows as if affected by a light spell and gains a bonus equal to twice your Shadowstriker level on damage rolls against evil and/or undead creatures. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum once), and the effect lasts for 10 rounds.

Smite Evil (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, you can smite evil once per day (see the paladin class feature, PH44). Smite evil attempts/day attained from multiple sources stack.

Sun's Blessing (Su): When you reach 2nd level, you can cause your weapon to flare with the fires of the sun. As long as the sun's blessing remains upon your luminous weapon, it deals an extra ld6 points of fire damage. Additionally, the blinding light spilling from the weapon counts as a daylight spell for the duration of the effect. The sun's blessing can be used once per day, and the effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Shadowstriker level. You can gain an additional use per day of this ability for each daily turn attempt, smite evil attempt, or spell slot (if you are a spontaneous caster) that you sacrifice. Surge of Piety (Su): When you attain 3rd level as a Shadowstriker, your touch becomes infused with positive energy. Any undead creature that touches you (by hitting you in melee or for any other reason) is shaken for 1 round or until it is no longer in physical contact with you—even if it normally can't be affected by this condition. Once per day as a fullround action, you can channel this energy into a single burst of positive energy, which manifests as a flash of bright, warm sunlight. In addition to functioning as a consecrate spell, this wave of energy deals ld8 points of positive energy damage to every undead creature within 30 feet (no save). You can increase the damage this effect deals by ld8 points (maximum +Sd8) for each daily turn attempt, smite evil attempt, or spell slot (if you are a spontaneous caster) that you sacrifice.

"Peadrin, a Shadowstriker

PLAYING A SHADOWSTRIKER

As a Shadowstriker, you are one of Pelor's elite soldiers. You and your fellows enjoy an esprit ill corps that other religious orders

rarely exhibit, due in part to the fact that Shadowstriker cells are composed primarily of laypersons brought together by their common faith in your two patron deities. The forces of evil cannot long stand before such a zealous and devoted group—indeed, When you are with the other members of your cell, you are unstoppable and capable of accomplishing any goal. Even when you are alone, you are a force to be reckoned with, and you don't mind letting others know it.

Combat

When engaging enemies in combat, your best option is your luminous weapon ability, which increases the damage you deal. At 2nd level, you can pair this ability with sun's blessing, which adds a significant amount of fire damage to your attacks. If you use these two abilities in conjunction with smite evil, you can easily lay fiendish foes low with a few well-placed blows. Since your damage-enhancing abilities are usable only in hand-to-hand combat, however, you must be prepared to close for melee with your enemies.

Sample Encounter

A Shadowstriker makes an excellent ally for good-aligned player characters, as well as a tenacious enemy for evil ones. His loyalty is first to the churches of Pelor and Heironeous, and second to the members of his Shadowstriker cell, but he is happy to lend aid to anyone in need.

EL 12: Peadrin is a tall, handsome human male in his late twenties. Orphaned at an early age, he grew up in a churchsponsored orphanage and has been a devoted servant of Pelor ever since. Peadrin's outstanding performance as a paladin in the martial order of Pelor soon earned him an invitation to join the shadowstrikers, and he has served there with distinction ever since. Presently, he leads a small cell of shadowstrikers (consisting of a fighter 4/shadowstriker 2, a rogue 6/shadowstriker 1, and a sorcerer 8/shadowstriker l) in raids against evil strongholds.

PEADRIN CR 8

Male human paladin 5/shadowstriker 3

LG Medium humanoid

Init +0; Senses Listen +2, Spot +2

Aura courage, good

Languages Common; empathic link

AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 19 (+7 armor, +2 shield) hp 56 (8 HD)

Immune fear, disease

Fort+11, Ref+5, Will+9

Speed 20 ft. (4 squares) in splint mail, base speed 30 ft.

Melee +2 heavy mace +12/+7 (ld8+3)

Base Atk+8; Grp+9

Atk Options Cleave, Power Attack; luminous weapon 2/day, smite evil 3/day (+2 attack, +8 damage), sun's blessing 1/day

Special Actions turn undead 5/day (+4, 2d6+4, 2nd), surge of piety 1/day

Combat Gear 2 potions of cure serious wounds

Paladin Spell Prepared (CL2nd): 1st—bless weapon Spell-Like Abilities (CL5th):

At will—detect evil 1/week—remove disease Abilities Str 13, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 15 SQ badge of office, lay on hands 10 points/day, share spells with mount, special mount 1/day 10 hours (heavy warhorse) Feats Cleave, Good Devotion, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (heavy mace) Skills Concentration +2, Diplomacy +7, Handle Animal +7,

Heal +4, Intimidate +4, Knowledge (religion) +8, Ride +7,

Search +2, Sense Motive +7 Possessions combat gear plus +7 splint mail, masterwork heavy wooden shield, +2 heavy mace, cloak of resistance + 7, holy symbol, 65 gp Badge of Office (Ex) Peadrin carries a special holy symbol combining the symbols of Heironeous and Pelor. In areas where the either the Church of Heironeous or the

Church of Pelor holds political power, this badge allows him access to prohibited areas and gives him the right to detain and question suspects in the pursuit of his deity's will. Luminous Weapon (Su) Twice per day, Peadrin can cause his heavy mace to glow as if affected by a light spell and grant it a +6 bonus on damage rolls against evil and/or undead creatures. These effects last for 10 rounds. Sun's Blessing (Su) Once per day, Peadrin can give his luminous weapon the ability to deal an extra ld6 points of fire damage for 3 rounds. Additionally, the blinding light spilling from the weapon counts as a daylight spell for the duration of the effect. He can gain an additional use per day of this ability for each daily turn attempt or smite evil attempt that he expends. Surge of Piety (Su) Any undead creature that touches Peadrin is shaken for 1 round or until it is no longer in physical contact with him—even if it normally can't be affected by this condition. Once per day as a full-round action, he can channel this energy into a single burst of positive energy that deals ld8 points of positive energy damage to all undead creatures within 30 feet (no save). He can increase the damage this effect deals by ld8 points (maximum +5d8) for each daily turn attempt or smite evil attempt that he expends.

HEAVY W A R H O R SE M O U N T CR 2

N Large animal

Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Listen +5, Spot +4

Languages empathic link

AC 23, touch 10, flat-footed 22 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 armor, +8 natural) hp 36 (6 HD)

Fort+11, Ref+5, Will+9

Resist improved evasion

Speed 35 ft. (7 squares) in chain barding, base speed 50 ft.; Run

Melee 2 hooves +6 each (ld6+4) and bite +1 (ld4+2)

Base Atk+3; Grp+11

Abilities Str 19, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6

Feats Endurance, Run

Skills Jump +12, Listen +5, Spot +4