Sidhe Knight

Eternal and unchanging, the high elven nation of Nareskadel has stood as a bastion of stability as the world around it changed rapidly. From the dawn of its creation, the Sidhe Knights have stood guard against the enemies of the elves, protecting their homeland with the same unchanging perfection which has come to be associated with Nareskadel. The sidhe knights are the highest knightly order within Nareskadel, and appointments to the Order are not made lightly. Any given knight is assumed to have the welfare of the high elves in mind at all times, and as such, they are afforded a great deal of respect from their country.

While high elves tend to be somewhat elitist and snobbish, the sidhe knights seem to take this arrogance to a new level. Though they frequently work with members of other races, the typical knight leaves no doubt in the mind of others that they are considered “lesser” races. A few knights manage to carry on friendships with allies who are not high elves, typically pitying such a creature for not being a high elf. So long as the sidhe knight’s companions are willing to endure their friend’s elitist attitude, a knight is a steadfastly loyal ally. In combat, they are masters of swordsmanship, typically scoffing and mocking their opponents as they cleave through their comparatively unskilled ranks.

Fighters, rangers, and paladins are the most typical knights, though the occasional cleric is not uncommon. Members of other classes rarely have the martial prowess to be considered knights, and thus are typically not asked to join the Order.

Hit Dice: d10

Requirements

In order to qualify to become a Sidhe Knight, a character must meet the following criteria.

Race: High Elf

Region: Nareskadel

Alignment: Any non-evil

Base Attack Bonus: +6

Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 5 ranks.

Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Weapon Focus (any sword).

Special: The character must be appointed an Knight by the king or queen of Nareskadel. This honor is only bestowed upon those whom have done some great service for Nareskadel, and only upon those with pure elven blood.

Class Skills

Sidhe Knight’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis). See Chapter 4 of the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1	+1	+2	+2	+0	Aura of Courage, Superior Swordsman
2	+2	+3	+3	+0	Effortlessly Armored, Arrogance
3	+3	+3	+3	+1	Graceful Strike, Knight’s Agility (-1)
4	+4	+4	+4	+1	Sidestep, Scorn the Cowardly
5	+5	+4	+4	+1	Elusive Warrior
6	+6	+5	+5	+2	Blade of Honor, Knight’s Agility (-1)
7	+7	+5	+5	+2	Timeless Swordsman
8	+8	+6	+6	+2	Superior Expertise
9	+9	+6	+6	+3	Spring Attack, Knight’s Agility (-3)
10	+10	+7	+7	+3	Flawless Style

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Sidhe Knight prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An Sidhe Knight gains no further weapon or armor proficiency.

Aura of Courage (Su): Sidhe knights are fearless in battle, confident that no mortal foe could ever best them. The knight is immune to fear (magical or otherwise), and those within 10 feet of him gain a +4 bonus on saves against fear effects. This ability functions while the knight is conscious, but not while he is unconscious or dead.

Superior Swordsman (Ex): A Sidhe knight is an unparalleled swordsman. After striking an opponent in melee combat with a sword of any type, the sidhe knight may forgo rolling damage dice against his opponent. Instead, he determines the normal maximum damage (not a critical hit) he can inflict and deals that much damage to his opponent. Additional damage, such a rogue’s sneak attack damage or a weapon’s special properties (such as a flaming weapon) is still determined normally, and is not maximized. This ability is usable once per day per class level.

Effortlessly Armored (Ex): At 2nd level, a Sidhe Knight can move gracefully even while armored. While wearing medium armor, the character’s base speed is not reduced by that armor. Heavy armor still reduces the sidhe knight’s speed as normal.

Arrogance (Ex): As the elite warriors of an elitist society, sidhe knights are far more arrogant than their high elf brethren, believing themselves to be the superior members of a superior race. While this aloofness can frustrate those seeking to penetrate the knight’s barrier of racial prejudice, it does grant the knight an unshakable sense of pride and honor that penetrates his every deed. Beginning at 2nd level, the knight may add half his class level to any Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, or Intimidate checks he makes.

However, the knight’s arrogance and sense of racial superiority grates against those who are not high-elves. Any cohorts or followers he has who are not high elves leave (or are forced to leave) the knight’s service. He may replace these cohorts or followers as normal, but each future follower or cohort must be a high elf.

Graceful Strike (Ex): By 3rd level, the sidhe knight’s great agility and skill have enabled him to wield even the largest swords with grace and accuracy. He gains the ability to apply his Dexterity modifier, instead of his Strength modifier, to attack rolls made with a sword of any type. This ability is identical to the Weapon Finesse feat, except that the sidhe knight may only use it while attacking with a sword.

Knight’s Agility (Ex): A sidhe knight is comfortable in any medium or lighter armor, and his superior training allows him to move in it more freely than the lesser races. Beginning at 3rd level, he reduces the armor check penalty of any medium or lighter armor he wears by 1. This reduction in armor check penalty increases by an additional point at 6th and 9th levels.

Sidestep (Ex): At 4th level, the sidhe knight gains the ability to effortlessly weave through the battlefield, felling his opponents at his leisure. Whenever the knight makes an attack of opportunity (whether successful or not), he may take a free 5 foot step in any direction. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The knight may use this ability once per round, and only while wearing medium or lighter armor.

Scorn the Cowardly (Ex): A sidhe knight’s contempt for waging dishonorable combat and sneaking around in the shadows is legendary. From 4th level on, the sidhe knight subtracts his class level from all Hide and Move Silently checks he makes. However, whenever he is subjected to sneak attack damage, he may subtract his Charisma modifier from each dice of damage the sneak attack deals. If the sidhe knight’s Charisma bonus is high enough, this may negate the sneak attack damage completely. In addition, the knight gains a +4 morale bonus to any save against the death attack ability.

Elusive Warrior (Ex): At 5th level, the sidhe knight gains the ability to nimbly divert attacks made with blind rage, softening or entirely negating the resulting strike. When an opponent attacks the knight using the Power Attack feat, that opponent gains no damage bonus against him, but still takes the corresponding penalty to the attack roll. This ability may one be used while the knight is wearing medium or lighter armor.

Blade of Honor (Su): From 6th level on, a sidhe knight may choose to apply his Charisma modifier to his damage rolls with a sword, rather than his Strength modifier.

Timeless Swordsman (Su): A sidhe knight knows in his heart that elves are eternal, and has grown accustomed to watching the world around him change while Nareskadel remains constant. At 7th level, the knight becomes eternal as well, and ceases to age. He no longer ages normally, and cannot be aged magically by any means. He still dies when his time his up, but even then, his corpse is considered to be under the effects of a permanent gentle repose spell.

Superior Expertise (Ex): When a sidhe knight of 8th level or above uses the Combat Expertise feat, he may add up to twice the number he subtracts from his attack rolls to his Armor Class (to a maximum AC bonus of +10).

Spring Attack (Ex): A sidhe knight of 9th level or higher is able to dart in and out of combat with great ease, striking at his opponents even as he steps beyond the reach of their weapons. The knight gains the Spring Attack feat while fighting with a sword of any type and wearing medium or lighter armor.

Flawless Style (Ex): By 10th level, the sidhe knight has become an unparalleled swordsman. Whenever he succeeds on a melee attack roll by an amount greater than was required to hit his opponent’s Armor Class, he is able to display his superior skill and press the advantage. Calculate the amount by which the sidhe knight exceeded his opponent’s Armor Class. He gains half of this amount (rounded down) as a bonus on his next attack roll against that same opponent this round. This ability may only be used while the sidhe knight is wearing medium or lighter armor, and only while we is wielding a sword of any type.

Ex-Sidhe Knights

A sidhe knight who willingly changes alignment or betrays Nareskadel or its people as a whole immediately loses all spell-like and supernatural abilities granted by this class. He regains his abilities and advancement potential if he atones for his actions (see the atonement spell on page 201 of the Player’s Handbook).

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