Order of the Shield (Ex)
Cavaliers who join the order of the shield devote their lives to protecting the common folk, from the simple farmer to the honest craftsman. These cavaliers stand before the tide, protecting the innocent from roving marauders and hungry monsters.
Edicts: The cavalier must protect the lives and prosperity of the common folk, shielding them from the deprivations of those who would seek to cause them harm or exploit them. He must give charity when it is warranted and aid when needed. He must take no action that would cause harm or hardship to those who cannot defend themselves.
Challenge: Whenever an order of the shield cavalier issues a challenge, he receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge if the target makes an attack against a target other than the cavalier. This bonus lasts for 1 minute. The bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the cavalier possesses.
Skills: An order of the shield cavalier adds Heal (Wis) and Knowledge (local) (Int) to his list of class skills. Whenever an order of the shield cavalier uses the Heal skill on a creature other than himself, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1).
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. 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.
Tactician (Ex)
At 1st level, a cavalier receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. He must meet the prerequisites for this feat. As a standard action, the cavalier can grant this feat to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds plus 1 round for every two levels the cavalier possesses. The cavalier can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day at 5th level and for every 5 levels thereafter.
Precise Strike (Combat)
Prerequisites: Dex 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: Whenever you and an ally who also has this feat are f lanking the same the creature, you deal an additional 1d6 points of precision damage with each successful melee attack. This bonus damage stacks with other sources of precision damage, such as sneak attack. This bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit.
Background:
Besting boys her age even as a youth, Estruven Elluri enjoyed the competitive drive that was instilled deep in her heart. Had it not been for the strict upbringing and tough love by both of her parents, her natural talents might have been wasted or used for dishonorable gains. This was never an option, as her father taught her compassion for others along with honor and toughness. Having born no sons, he found a willing pupil in Estruven, the youngest of his three daughters. She was eager to learn his ways, that of the cavalier, that of their Aldori and Talden ancestors.
It seemed as though when Estruven's father was not teaching her the art of battle and the way of the sword, he was telling tales of their history; the story of Sirian's redemption, the tragedy of Choral's invastion, and how those events affected the politics of the current times. These stories made for vivid dreams when she slept and gave her a burning desire to work hard at mastering her weapons.
But Estruven was not good at living life. She was a poor farmer, and cared little for starting her own family. Her older sisters married and with children, she found herself lost when her father passed away last fall. Without him, she felt restless and worthless. Well into her thirties, she was adrift and lost, even though she had never moved away from her childhood home.
When she got word of the swordlord's plans for recruiting adventurers into the Stolen Lands, she instantly knew that this was a calling she had been waiting for. Less than a day after, Estruven rode her mount away from her lifelong home and applied for the charter.
