Hitomi Tanakai's page

Challenging a foe requires much of the samurai’s concentration. The samurai takes a –2 penalty to his Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of his challenge.

The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious, or until the combat ends. Each samurai’s challenge also includes another effect, which is listed in the section describing the samurai’s order.
Mount - A samurai gains the service of a loyal and trusty steed to carry him into battle. This mount functions as a druid’s animal companion, using the samurai’s level as his effective druid level. The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and that is suitable as a mount. A Medium samurai can select a camel or a horse. A Small samurai can select a pony or a wolf, but can also select a boar or a dog if he is at least 4th level. The GM may approve other animals as suitable mounts.

A samurai does not take an armor check penalty on Ride checks while riding his mount. The mount is always considered combat trained and begins play with Light Armor Proficiency as a bonus feat. A samurai’s mount does not gain the share spells special ability.

A samurai’s bond with his mount is strong, with the pair learning to anticipate each other’s moods and moves. Should a samurai’s mount die, the samurai may find another mount to serve him after 1 week of mourning. The new mount does not gain the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities until the next time the samurai gains a level.

Order of Vengence - Those who subscribe to the order of vengeance seek to punish those who betrayed them.

Edicts: The cavalier must seek retaliation (legal or otherwise) for any unjustified harm to her person or property. She may not forgive even the slightest insult.

Challenge: Whenever a cavalier of the order of vengeance issues a challenge against a creature whose kind she has encountered in the past 24 hours, the cavalier gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of her challenge. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels the cavalier possesses.

Class Skill(s): A cavalier of the order of vengeance adds Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (nobility) to her list of class skills. Whenever the cavalier uses Diplomacy to gather information, she receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 her cavalier level (minimum +1).

Order Abilities: A cavalier that belongs to the order of vengeance gains the following abilities as she increases in level.

Air Grievances (Ex)

At 2nd level, when the cavalier attempts to demoralize an opponent using Intimidate, the cavalier gains a bonus on her Intimidate check equal to 1/2 her cavalier level. At 8th level and every 6 levels thereafter, the penalties a cavalier's target takes for being demoralized increase by 1.

Eye for an Eye (Ex)

At 8th level, the cavalier gains Critical Focus as a bonus feat. The cavalier can grant a critical feat (in place of a teamwork feat) to her allies using the tactician ability.

Retribution (Ex)

At 15th level, the cavalier gains retribution, as the order of the star ability of the same name.

Resolve - Starting at 1st level, the samurai gains resolve that he can call upon to endure even the most devastating wounds and aff lictions. He can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every two samurai levels beyond 1st. Whenever the samurai defeats the target of his challenge, he regains one daily use of his resolve, up to his maximum number of uses per day. Defeating the target of his challenge usually involves reducing the target to 0 hit points or fewer, but the GM might rule that an enemy who surrenders or flees the battle is also defeated. He can use this resolve in a number of ways.

Determined: As a standard action, the samurai can spend one use of his resolve to remove the fatigued, shaken, or sickened condition. If the samurai is at least 8th level, he can alternatively remove the exhausted, frightened, nauseated, or staggered condition. If the condition has a duration longer than 1 hour or is permanent, this ability removes the condition for 1 hour, at which time the condition returns.

Resolute: Whenever the samurai is required to make a Fortitude or Will save, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to roll twice and take the better result. He must decide to use this ability before he rolls the saving throw.

Unstoppable: When the samurai is reduced to fewer than 0 hit points but not slain, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to instantly stabilize and remain conscious. He is staggered, but he does not fall unconscious and begin dying if he takes a standard action. He does fall unconscious if he takes additional damage from any source.