Is there any race limitations for the Hellknight PrC? I have done some digging and haven't come up with a clear answer. Thanks for any help.
They'd have included a racial limitation on the PrC if that were their intent. However, the majority of Cheliax's dominant caste are humans, so a non-human would have a more involved backstory. (Half-humans or tieflings'd probably be fine.)
That was what I was leaning towards, thanks!
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The second-in-command of the Hellknight Order of the Nail is a centaur. Make of that what you will.
What I was actually supposed to say: No, they don't care what race you are, as long as you uphold the law.
It's a shame, really, that the mortal heritage of Tieflings is always human. I'd make a halfling / Tiefling Hellknight, just to watch the reaction among the paranobility in Cheliax.
Could make a half fiend halfling hellknight as an npc.
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Emotion is Weakness. What care I for the skin beneath the steel helm? What care I for the soul so long as it be scourged of frailty? Once armored, how does one distinguish the halfling from the half-orc, the centaur from the Chelaxian? Sentiment, let alone irrational bias, is to be abhorred.
Spake the founder: "Strike hot iron and call forth sparks / strike a man and call forth fury / to shape man or metal to thy will thou must strike with force."
It's a shame, really, that the mortal heritage of Tieflings is always human. I'd make a halfling / Tiefling Hellknight, just to watch the reaction among the paranobility in Cheliax.
You can always homebrew one for yourself. The Advanced Race Guide's system could give a hand in figuring out the proper stats for a Halfling Tiefling (Hatifling?)
Once armored, how does one distinguish the halfling from the half-orc, the centaur from the Chelaxian?
Umm... sire; the size and shape of the armor does appear to be different.
That's beside the point. The point is that the armor is a unifying factor.
Is there any race limitations for the Hellknight PrC? I have done some digging and haven't come up with a clear answer. Thanks for any help.
I'm curious why you would think there would be, if it's not explicitly listed in the prerequisites in the PrC description?
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Once armored, how does one distinguish the halfling from the half-orc, the centaur from the Chelaxian?Umm... sire; the size and shape of the armor does appear to be different.
One. Does. Not. Distinguish.
If one Hellknight is swifter or taller than another, they may serve according to their ability. But their Duty remains the same.
Cheliaxian racism. Look closer, you will see what I saying.
Ah yes. A familiar Andorran ten-copper novel. How does it go? A village of half-orcs and peasants disregards Law and Discipline, languishing and abusing the tolerance of their lord. One of their own, thinking himself strong, aspires to be a Hellknight ... usually the author attributes it to Hellknights being noble, mighty, undefeatable or some other such nonsense. Then the applicant fails, and the 'evil' and 'racism' of our Orders and fair Cheliax is revealed for all to see. The applicant surely could not have failed because of their weakness of character or lack of Discipline. It must surely be the racism of Cheliax, because all Hellknights are Chelaxian nobility and the orders are nothing more than a brutal police force.
Hrmph.
It's a shame, really, that the mortal heritage of Tieflings is always human. I'd make a halfling / Tiefling Hellknight, just to watch the reaction among the paranobility in Cheliax.
Everyone hates tieflings in Cheliax, actually. Here's what Council of Thieves Player's Guide says about them:
Tieflings
Tieflings enjoy an unusual status in Cheliax, though
perhaps “enjoy” is the wrong word. Chelish diabolists
view tieflings as subordinate to humans. Tieflings are
seen as lesser beings, born of human fallibility or devilish
trickery. Noble houses hide tiefling heirs away, ashamed
of their very existence, or reluctantly allow them some
control over the family business (usually if there is no
other reliable heir available).
Because of this tarnished history, most tieflings in
Cheliax carry around hatred and resentment in their
hearts. Some strive for greatness as a way to prove their
worth and show up those who failed to appreciate their
talents. Others embrace their heritage and become fiends
in mortal form, running illegal operations, thieving,
murdering, or worse. Most fall somewhere between
these extremes, struggling to find their path among the
shadowed streets.
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As I have stated previously,
Tieflings are discriminated against because they embody the weakness and decadence of the undisciplined. To face hell, burn away fear and weakness, is to be Cheliaxian. To have had such congress as produces tieflings is to let Hell's taint seep into your heart where there should be only steel. Emotion. Mercy. Compassion. Things hell will never show us. Someone parent to a tiefling has proven they cannot control themselves. Little better than chaff on the wind, a puppet to the first man or devil that finds them.
Halflings, on the other hand, are hardly human. Less even than the savage orcs, with whom we share enough in common to at least breed. I do not understand whence your fanciful notions of equality emerge. Perhaps the same misguided innocence that leads you to believe that charity exists for any purpose other than to safeguard the people of our empire and return them to busy labor. Perhaps you would rather they riot for want of food and work, bloodying themselves and destroying property? Feh.
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Halflings, on the other hand, are hardly human. Less even than the savage orcs, with whom we share enough in common to at least breed. I do not understand whence your fanciful notions of equality emerge. Perhaps the same misguided innocence that leads you to believe that charity exists for any purpose other than to safeguard the people of our empire and return them to busy labor. Perhaps you would rather they riot for want of food and work, bloodying themselves and destroying property? Feh.
Oh, my; envy of high Touch-AC does manifest in the most unseemly of slanders.
Here; let me get you a soothing ointment for those Empowered Scorching Ray blisters....uhm, yes; you will have to take your useless armor off, you big lug. It's a topical ointment.
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This is quite likely to be one of the points of doctrine that distinguish the various Orders. Some would reason that a "subhuman" can make himself more useful to "real" people by devoting his life to upholding the law. Others, that no "subhuman" can ever truly comprehend the necessities behind the code of their Order. And a few (such as - is it the Order of the Nail that's almost entirely outside Cheliax?) would regard species as irrelevant in the eyes of Law.
*hard stare*
There cannot be a doctrinal difference on this matter. Society Cannot Survive Mercy. Emotion is weakness. You mistake the need for every man to become a tyrant for some pathetic sentiment.
Racism. Hrmph. Is it racism to say that orcs engage in wanton murder and pillage more often than humans? Racism to suggest that halflings cannot perform the heavy labor of a grown orc? Pathetic. Any true Hellknight scourges such irrational weakness from their heart. Draw distinction instead between the Disciplined and the Undisciplined.
Among my order, if you must draw distinctions, once one has earned the armor one's worth is proven. The trials are the same for all. Conjure with that as you will.
Oh, my; envy of high Touch-AC does manifest in the most unseemly of slanders.
Here; let me get you a soothing ointment for those Empowered Scorching Ray blisters....uhm, yes; you will have to take your useless armor off, you big lug. It's a topical ointment.
Begone, slip. I can sense your disordered soul from here. Despite that, I suspect you are a righteous sort. Break no laws and I will not be forced to smite you.
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Begone, slip. I can sense your disordered soul from here. Despite that, I suspect you are a righteous sort. Break no laws and I will not be forced to smite you.
"Laws" are nothing but the edict of those who legally steal by calling it 'taxes'.
Oh, look which I found concealed in my left hand: pepper! Open those eyes wide, you spouting drone! And smite me? Smite me with what? This l'il lovely bauble you used to call your weapon? My, it's a big one! Love the Keen enhancement -- it should fetch a pretty penny at the market, with all the proceeds going to the Bellflower Network. No doubt you've heard of them.
No need to taunt the good Hellknight here. He's just doing his job. *The sneaky white-scaled kobold with an unusually high intellect (by kobold standards, at least) quickly sneaks back to the hole from which he was lurking this thread*
Well, for maximum enjoyment, join the Hellknights when you are a non-infernal Tiefling...
They'd let a kobold join, right?
I mean, just use the same Diplomacy roll thing the Goblins have in Goblins of Golarion so the people won't throw you in jail or kill you on sight. Besides, beating the expectations of the humie Hellknights would be just that much more satisfying.
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"Laws" are nothing but the edict of those who legally steal by calling it 'taxes'.
Oh, look which I found concealed in my left hand: pepper! Open those eyes wide, you spouting drone! And smite me? Smite me with what? This l'il lovely bauble you used to call your weapon? My, it's a big one! Love the Keen enhancement -- it should fetch a pretty penny at the market, with all the proceeds going to the Bellflower Network. No doubt you've heard of them.
Hrmph. Praise to Torag for the first helmet. They are useful things, and guard the eyes from the trickery of villains. And the Keen nature of that weapon is the grace of Abadar. It will fade before you see the market, if you elude me that long.
The rest of you: mark well what you have seen here today. Without provocation, the frustrated halfling resorts immediately to thievery and malice. Skillful sailors, halflings, and talented artisans. But all too often, their impatience leads them to defiance of the law.
He is fortunate to have acted out in my presence, rather than the presence of the City Watch. With justice fully in my hands, the Measure permits me discretion in meting out punishment, discretion I would not possess if the same crimes had been committed upon a watchman or constable.
They'd let a kobold join, right?
I mean, just use the same Diplomacy roll thing the Goblins have in Goblins of Golarion so the people won't throw you in jail or kill you on sight. Besides, beating the expectations of the humie Hellknights would be just that much more satisfying.
I ... am uncertain. I have noted my own inexperience with kobolds before. Much of what I hear marks you as malicious and incompatible with the Empire of Cheliax. But you respect and understand the principles of Law. And there exist orders and companies on crusade. It would be difficult, but if you wish to purge yourself of weakness and accept Discipline, Order and Mercilessness I will not bar your path.
With regard to tieflings with non-infernal heritage, however, each such applicant would present a special case. Such beings would do well to consult the vicarious or paravicar of the order they wish to petition. No applicant that cannot unhesitatingly assert their own free-will receives consideration.
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Without provocation, the frustrated halfling resorts immediately to thievery and malice.
Well, it saves time when dealing with the enforcers of slavery -- and you do enforce those laws, don't you, alleged worshiper of a good deity? Don't lie now...I'm very good at detecting those myself, if I don't say.
Blame House Thrune, not the knight who serves it. He probably would change the law if he had the authority for that (assuming he is one of those Paladin Hellknights around here). Now, do you want your pants back from that trap you stepped on, or should I rewire the trap so I actually get your legs next time? Silly halfling, no matter how careful you are, kobold traps work every time.
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Unlearned and uncouth. My god is Abadar, Master of the First Vault, though my duty is to praise the Prince of Darkness and uphold the laws of the land. No doubt you will want to bore me with your litany of anti-slavery slogans now. Hrmph.
Come along then. If you are a slave, show me your master. He or she now bears the crime of your failed instruction, as well as the crime of whatever mistreatment that causes you to act out so. And if you are not a slave, than you alone are responsible for your disorderly conduct and shall enjoy the lash of punishment.
Friend Kobold, you need not speak up or lay traps. There are ordinances against the use of those things. The slip will exhaust itself of its rage soon enough, and I will not hear further talk against the House of Thrune or the Empress of Cheliax.
I've been in Cheliax for only a while, and I still fail to grasp the reasonings behind the legal slavery around here...
I've been in Cheliax for only a while, and I still fail to grasp the reasonings behind the legal slavery around here...
Well, for starter's it's good for the economy. Costs for cheap labor are pretty low...
*Noticing the Halfling attacking the Hellknight, the half-elf rushes to heal the armored man, her scimitar ready at hand in case the Halfling decides to jump at her instead* "Stop fighting!! Neither of you wants something like this at the streets!!"
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Careful with the cleaver, lady; Sir Buckethead Champion of the Weefolk and I were just tusslin' a bit, and....
<appraises approaching package more carefully>
<Barry White voice-mode ON>
Hey, doll; let's you and I head off some place more discreet. <wink> ...I have a wand of Reduce Person that's just your size!
Am Hellknight is nowhere near amusing as AM BARBARIAN.
Careful with the cleaver, lady; Sir Buckethead Champion of the Weefolk and I were just tusslin' a bit, and....
<appraises approaching package more carefully>
<Barry White voice-mode ON>Hey, doll; let's you and I head off some place more discreet. <wink> ...I have a wand of Reduce Person that's just your size!
*The half-elf cleric suddenly blushed, though it's not clear exactly why* "Wh-what? This isn't the time nor the place for things like that!
And what are you going to do about that knight you just attacked?"| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Well, for maximum enjoyment, join the Hellknights when you are a non-infernal Tiefling...Isn't that last a contradiction in words?
Abyssal Tieflings need some love, too...
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Am Hellknight is nowhere near amusing as AM BARBARIAN.
I am not here to amuse. I am here to impart the wisdom of the Chain and the fairness of the Measure. I am a Chelaxian Human Paladin and Hellknight. AM BARBARIAN is a barbarian, and a product of a disordered world. No one questions the existence, motives or alignment of AM BARBARIAN, but many are those who would claim I do not exist or can do no good.
In time, there will be no need for me. Law will make way for good. Logic will subdue tolerance. I will cease to be.