About Ser Lancelot du LacStatistics:
Ser Lancelot du Lac
Human Cavalier (Gendarme) 3/Fighter 1 LG Medium humanoid (Human) Init +8; Perception +9 -------------------- Defense -------------------- AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+9 armor, +1 Dex, +4 shield, +1 Trait) hp 48 (4d10+16+4 FCB) Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +4 --------------------
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Weapon and Armor Proficiency- A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, light, and medium) and shields (including tower shields). Bonus Feats[/b[- A gendarme trains to be a mounted terror, almost to the exclusion of all other abilities. He gains bonus feats at 1st level, 5th level, and then every three levels thereafter, but must select these bonus feats from the following list: Improved Bull Rush, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Ride-by Attack, Spirited Charge, Spring Attack, and Unseat. If the gendarme has already selected all of the listed feats, then he may select his bonus feats from those feats listed as Combat Feats. This ability replaces tactician, greater tactician, master tactician, and the standard cavalier’s selection of bonus feats [b]Challenge (Ex)- Once per day, a cavalier can challenge a foe to combat. As a swift action, the cavalier chooses one target within sight to challenge. The cavalier’s melee attacks deal extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the cavalier’s level. The cavalier can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every three levels beyond 1st, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level. Challenging a foe requires much of the cavalier’s concentration. The cavalier 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 cavalier’s challenge also includes another effect which is listed in the section describing the cavalier’s order. Mount (Ex)- A cavalier 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 cavalier’s level as his effective druid level. The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and is suitable as a mount. A Medium cavalier can select a camel, horse, or a zebra as a mount. A cavalier 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 cavalier’s mount does not gain the share spells special ability. A cavalier’s bond with his mount is strong, with the pair learning to anticipate each other’s moods and moves. Should a cavalier’s mount die, the cavalier may find another mount to serve him after 1 week of mourning. This new mount does not gain the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities until the next time the cavalier gains a level. Order (Ex)- At 1st level, a cavalier must pledge himself to a specific order. The order grants the cavalier a number of bonuses, class skills, and special abilities. In addition, each order includes a number of edicts that the cavalier must follow. If he violates any of these edicts, he loses the benefits from his order’s challenge ability for 24 hours. The violation of an edict is subject to GM interpretation. A cavalier cannot change his order without undertaking a lengthy process to dedicate himself to a new cause. When this choice is made, he immediately loses all of the benefits from his old order. He must then follow the edicts of his new order for one entire level without gaining any benefits from that order. Once accomplished, he gains all of the bonuses from his new order. Note that the names of these orders might vary depending upon the campaign setting or GM’s preference. Members of these orders are not necessarily bound together, but some organizations do exist that are comprised of cavaliers that all belong to one specific order. Order of the Sword- Edicts: The cavalier must show courage in the face of danger, mercy to those who have wronged him, and charity to the poor and the meek. He must be just and honorable at all times and in all things. He must defend his honor and, above all else, the honor of those he serves. Challenge: Whenever an order of the sword cavalier issues a challenge, he receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls against the target of his challenge so long as he is astride his mount. The bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the cavalier possesses. Skills: An order of the sword cavalier adds Knowledge (nobility) (Int) and Knowledge (religion) (Int) to his list of class skills. Whenever the cavalier uses Sense Motive to oppose a Bluff check, he receives a competence bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1). Order Abilities: An order of the sword cavalier receives the following abilities as he increases in level. By My Honor (Ex)- At 2nd level, the cavalier must select one alignment. As long as he maintains the selected alignment, he receives a +2 morale bonus to one saving throw of his choice.
Cavalier’s Charge (Ex)- At 3rd level, a cavalier learns to make more accurate charge attacks while mounted. The cavalier receives a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a charge while mounted (instead of the normal +2). In addition, the cavalier does not suffer any penalty to his AC after making a charge attack while mounted.
Mount Statistics:
Devoir --------------------
Large Horse (Charger)
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Animal Feats- In addition to the standard animal companion feats, a charger may select Charge Through, Greater Overrun, Improved Great Fortitude, and Improved Iron Will.
Chargers treat Intimidate as a class skill. Mounted Challenge (Ex)- When ridden by a cavalier, chargers gain half of the bonuses and penalties granted by the cavalier’s challenge class feature. This ability replaces share spells*. Barding Training (Ex)- At 3rd level, a charger’s armor check penalty for wearing barding or for carrying a medium load is reduced by 1 and the maximum Dexterity bonus for its armor and load increases by 1. Reduce the armor check and medium load penalties by an additional 1 for every 6 levels after 3rd; increase the maximum Dexterity bonus for the charger’s armor by an additional 1 for every 6 levels after 3rd. In addition, the charger’s speed does not decrease when wearing medium armor or carrying a medium load. At 9th level, a charger can move at normal speed in heavy armor or while carrying a heavy load. This ability replaces evasion and Multiattack. Background:
Ser Lancelot du Lac was always meant for great things. What no one other than his most beloved cousins know is that he strives for these great things to quiet the monster that lives inside him.
Lancelot was born to King Ban and Lady Elaine of Benwick. From the time he was old enough to hold a blade, King Ban and his brother King Bors tutored young Lancelot and his cousins, Lionel and Bors the younger, in the art of the blade and in the courtly manner of a proper knight. Ban and Bors threw their lots in with Uther Pendragon, which led to the downfall of the kingdom of Benwick. Claudas coveted the lands of Ban, in large part because Claudas own homelands were devastated by Uther Pendragon and the man wished vengeance. Unable to assail Uther's forces directly, the cunning Claudas instead struck at Ban when Uther's forces were engaged and unable to lend aid. Claudas' plan was a stunning success, and he claimed many of Ban and Bor's lands as his own. In front of young Lancelot's eyes, at the tender age of six, he watched his father cut down by Claudas before his mother spirited him away. It was then, remembering his father bleeding on the ground, that something terrible was born in Lancelot. Elaine had heard tell of the Lady of the Lake, a strange, powerful spirit that had dominion over a magical kingdom. Elaine brought her son there, hoping that he would be safe, and the Lady, sensing Lancelot's prowess and potential, decided to take the young man in. The Lady of the Lake possessed great knowledge and power, and she found Lancelot to be an apt pupil. The young man keenly absorbed whatever she imparted, but was by far the most adept at the study of combat. Years passed, with Lancelot entering his teenage years, continuing his training. One of the constants was the Lady of the Lake's teachings; she swore to him that, one day, the descendant of Uther Pendragon would come, and that with Lancelot's aid, they could restore peace to the kingdom and ensure that the fate suffered King Ban and Lancelot's people would never befall anyone else again. This, Lancelot believed wholeheartedly, and he took to his training with vigor. And that was well, for the Lady deemed that Lancelot needed purpose, and a King, or he might be consumed by his own darkness. It was this darkness that caused the Lady of the Lake to clandestinely bring Lionel and Bors,heretofore hostages of Claudas, to her kingdom. They were to become companions to Lancelot and ensure that his humanity did not flee him, for it was coming to pass that when Lancelot bore his weapons, he seemed more animal than man, and a great love of battle and death was upon him. After nearly killing Lionel during sparring, Lancelot came to realize this flaw in himself. He did not know why he suffered it, or what it was, but he came to call it The Zeal. His life without it was a dull, gray thing, and the joys of music and poetry and food and drink were muted and stillborn. But when The Zeal rose in him, it sang throughout his body, every stroke of his blade a triumph, every thrust of his lance an ode to glory. He hungered for it, even as he realized that it made him less than a man. His time in the Lady's realm was not all war and lessons and struggling with his baser self. The Lady possessed a daughter, a few years older than Lancelot himself, named Ryari. Her fae heritage was obvious in her pointed ears, but if hidden by her hair, she could easily be taken for someone as human as Lancelot himself. Lancelot found Ryari a delight; she was as beautiful as her mother, skilled in the magical arts, and seemed possess of a boundless reservoir of energy and joy. Ryari was pious, glorying in the natural world and simple acts of kindness to her fellows, finding this the purest expression of devotion to a higher power. If God was love, after all, then by love is He best served. Ryari went so far as to forego the consumption of meat, not wishing other living beings to be harmed to feed her. In short, she was everything that Lancelot was not. Lancelot would come to base much of his own code of honor as an adult off of how Ryari simply was, for she is the most purely decent soul he has ever encountered. It came to pass that Lancelot regarded Ryari not as a mere childhood companion, but almost as a saint, someone to be revered and admired. Lionel, for his part, bore Lancelot no grudge, forgiving his cousin and even helping him in facing this ugly, violent part of himself. Lionel was the one that suggested to Lancelot that a man that gives himself to those things and serves only himself is a monster and a tyrant. Lancelot, through his talks and time with his cousins, has come to believe that a man cannot change how he feels. What is in his control, however, is whether or not he lets those feelings control his actions. The most obvious solution, Lancelot found, was to take choice out of the equation. To not allow himself the opportunity to fall victim to his own depravity, Lancelot followed a path he likely would have in any case; he pledged his fealty to the newly crowned King Arthur of Camelot. Lancelot spent only a brief time as a Squire. He was sponsored by Arthut himself; Lancelot entered a tourney, an unknown, armed only with a rusted sword and battered armour; still, he proved himself, being victorious in both the melee and the joust. His skill and composure impressed Arthur, who demanded to his Masters of Arms that young Lancelot be made into a Knight of Camelot. Life has been better as one of Arthur's knights. The divide between Lancelot's daily life and The Zeal is not as stark as it once was. Arthur's men are all knights as well, providing Lancelot with a sense of companionship and support beyond his family. Though he loves Lionel and Bors dearly, it is affirming to have made friends outside of them. Lancelot is one of Arthur's greatest warriors, winning honor on the field of battle and in tournaments, and he is swiftly gaining a reputation as a warrior without peer. All is not calm for Lancelot, however. Deep in his heart, he feels the need for vengeance against Claudas. Arthur has restrained him so far, and out of respect for his King, Lancelot has obeyed. The time is nearing, however, where even his love for Arthur will not be able to stay Lancelot's hand against the man that murdered his father and stole the lands that are his by right. Another, more insidious issue, is Lancelot's apparent lack of interest in the opposite sex. Lancelot is unfailingly kind and courteous to all women he encounters, adhering to the tenets of knighthood that he practices with fervor. But the Lady of the Lake was a woman of preternatural beauty, unearthly poise, great power and encyclopedic knowledge. To her daughter, Ryari, she gifted these same things, but Ryari also carried within her an innate goodness, something that Lancelot has tried to emulate. The young knight-to-be, though he is not consciously aware of it, cannot help but compare every woman he meets to them, desiring a woman with the grace of the Lady of the Lake and the kindness and purity of his childhood "sister". Knowing his own worth and desiring an equal, Lancelot cannot help but find every potential wife he meets in some way lacking. Lancelot knows this is an issue; one of Arthur's bargaining chips is marriage to his knights, and such unions are useful in bringing new allies to the King's side. Still, Lancelot will not accept a lesser companion. Lancelot desperately prays that soon Arthur will allow him to attempt to retake his homeland, for such a campaign will not be short and will require all of Lancelot's attention, allowing Lancelot to satiate his bloodlust on those who deserve his enmity in service to his King. Appearance:
Lancelot is regarded as beautiful, almost to an otherworldly degree. His chin is shapely, with a moderate cleft. His nose is moderately long with a slight hook in the middle. He has a high, becoming forehead and dark, widely separated eyebrows.
His skin is of medium complexion, neither overly fair or dark. Lancelot's hair is auburn, curly and quite lovely. Lancelot is quite tall, with wide shoulders and an extremely thick chest. He is heavily muscled and powerfully built. Coat of Arms:
Lancelot's coat of arms is a white heater shield, with three red stripes running from the top left (as the shield is viewed) to the bottom right in relatively even thirds.
Personality:
Lancelot's skill at arms is swiftly becoming second to none, but in many ways he is severely damaged. He delights in acts of violence and cruelty, and he realized long ago what extremes The Zeal, as he calls the amalgamation of these dark urges, could drive him to. To combat that, Lancelot keeps in iron control of himself; he does not court women, he does not drink (save for a glass of wine during celebrations), he does not eat to excess, he never refuses mercy once asked for and never suffers cruelty that he could have by his actions prevented.
He does this not because he is good. He does this because he wishes to be good .Lancelot does this to deny his dark appetites, forcing himself to the opposite extreme, and in so doing, he has become one of the most chivalrous of Arthur's knights. Lancelot is fanatically loyal to Arthur, and would move mountains at his King's command. His thirst for vengeance against Claudas, however, is swiftly becoming to great a desire to ignore for much longer. Compacted with his lust for Queen Guinevere, Lancelot, despite his prowess and seeming virtue, is conflicted. He is a man of great talent and great appetites and walks a fine line. Relations with Nobility:
Though the son of a King himself, Lancelot has little patience for governance at current. The young warrior is focused on achieving martial prowess, mainly so that he can lead a campaign to secure his lands from Claudas. Still, Lancelot's courtly manners are impeccable, and few have any ill to speak of one of Arthur's favored knights.
Lancelot does find he gets on rather well with Duke Arkin and Duke Ecrin. To many other members of the court, they are strange and foreign. To Lancelot, himself something of an outsider, these men are easy to get along with. Several of the nobles have approached Lancelot with offers of marriage, either with themselves (if they are eligible) or their daughters. Lancelot has so far politely declined all such offers. Lancelot's fondness for Lady Genivee has caused him to look unkindly upon Countess Isabella, who is spending far too much time with Genivee's betrothed, Calous. Relations with Knights:
Lancelot has won himself a fine reputation among the other Knights, and he finds that he enjoys most of their company. Of particular note are Ser Bedivere, Ser Lady Aline, Ser Lady Genivee and Ser Owen, all of whom he respects and likes. His fondness (platonic only) for Lady Genivee has led Lancelot to a profound dislike of Calous.
Lancelot is wary of Ser Lady Titana. He sees in her the same thing that he sees in himself, yet he believes she lacks his control. Though he has yet to challenge her directly, Lancelot foresees a time where the only way to have control over her might be to prove his superiority in combat.
Relations with Magi:
Unlike many, Lancelot has no fear of magic, having grown up in a kingdom created by it. He has, however, found that many who practice the arcane arts are self-serving serpents that he would not chose to associate with.
Lancelot has come to profoundly dislike Magi Calous. A known "ladies' man", he cavorts with woman after woman, an insult to sweet Ser Lady Genivee, his wife-to-be. Calous is well named, for callous indeed he is. Lancelot has, more than once, had a few choice words for the man, and had Ser Lady Genivee not been a knight herself, Lancelot likely would have already challenged the man for her honor. Lancelot does have good relationships with some of the Magi, including Ewan, Lilian and Soren, people that seem to be enthused by their power and work hard for it, rather than wielding magic like it's their servant. Relations with Clergy:
Lancelot gets along rather well with most members of the clergy. The notable exception is Grand Inquisitor Hendrickson. Knowing of Lancelot's upbringing in the realm of the Lady of the Lake, Hendrickson regards Lancelot as as good as one of the Fae. Lancelot, for his part, does not have any tolerance for racism; the Almighty created all the world and all the creatures in it. None are less than any other, unless they prove so by their deeds. Relations with Squires:
Lancelot rather likes most of the squires. The ones he does not get on with are Walden and Mordred. Though they are unquestionably talented, they both have far too high an opinion of themselves. Lancelot has had to remind them more than once that pride is unbecoming of a proper knight.
Of the other squires, Lancelot most likes Elmina and Galahad. Elmina has displayed uncommon strength, skill and valor, especially for one her size. Galahad boasts not only great skill with arms, but also clearly bears the mark of divine favor. Galahad is pious and humble, and Lancelot finds that admirable in the young man. Lancelot sees similarities to himself in young Wymer, and has attempted to help the lad out on several occasions. Lancelot would not want to see the boy tread a dark road, giving in to his dark appetites, and is trying to channel them in a positive direction. Concept:
Mechanically, I'm building a melee damage machine. Lancelot is described as the greatest jouster and swordsman of the Knights of the Round, so I'm going to be aiming for that If I have the levels for it, I may even take a couple of levels of Paladin.
Conceptually, I'm borrowing from both Le Morte d'Arthur and The Once and Future King. I like the idea of a character acting with nobility not because they're inherently good, but because they know they are inherently flawed and are so desperate to act against their baser nature that they go as far in the other direction as possible. |
