About Sir Dorick GransteadSir Dorick Granstead
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Melee
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Mounted Combat
Skill Focus (Ride)
Traits Beast Bond - Social
Benefits: You gain a +1 bonus on Handle Animal checks and Ride checks. One of these skills (your choice) is always a class skill for you. Dedicated Defender - Combat
Benefits: You gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls and on checks made to overcome spell resistance while you are adjacent to a dying or disabled ally, animal companion, eidolon, familiar, or mount. Friend to Animals - Race
Benefits: You gain a +1 bonus on Handle Animal and Ride checks, and one of those skills (your choice) is always a class skill for you. Drawback
Penalty: When someone threatens, accuses, or challenges you, you take a –2 penalty on Diplomacy checks and Sense Motive checks involving that creature until the creature apologises to you. Skills
The cavalier’s class skills are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str). An order of the lion cavalier adds Knowledge (local) (Int) and Knowledge (nobility) (Int) to his list of class skills. An order of the lion cavalier can make Knowledge (nobility) skill checks untrained. If he has ranks in the skill, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1) as long as the check involves his sovereign. Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier. +2 background skills. Armour Check Penalty: -5 mwk. banded mail Acrobatics +1 |+1 Dex
Languages
Special Qualities Eye for Talent: Humans have great intuition for hidden potential. They gain a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive checks. In addition, when they acquire an animal companion, bonded mount, cohort, or familiar, that creature gains a +2 bonus to one ability score of the character’s choice. This racial trait replaces the bonus feat trait. Social Ties: Some human societies run on complex webs of favors and loyalties that canny members can intuitively exploit with relative ease. These humans gain a +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy checks, and on any skill checks to recruit members and teams for an organization. They also add a +1 racial bonus to their Leadership scores (if they gain the Leadership feat). This racial trait replaces skilled. Mount
Size Large Speed 50 ft. AC 19 (10 +4 +2 natural armor +3 armour) Attack bite (1d4+5), 2 hooves* (1d6+5) Ability Scores
Special Qualities low-light vision, scent. HD 5 HP 33 BAB +3 Fort +4
Light Armor Proficiency, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Power Attack Natural Armour Bonus +2 (included) Str/Dex Bonus +2 (included) Bonus Tricks 2: Attack, Down Link, Evasion Skills:
Gear
Cestus 5
Bit and Bridle 2
Trail Rations (30) 15
Backpack (empty) 2
Gold Remaining: 1.2g ================
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 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)
The following orders can be chosen by both cavaliers and samurai. 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 Lion
Edicts: The cavalier must protect the life and lands of his sovereign at all costs. He must obey the commands of his sovereign without question. He must strive to expand the power and prestige of his realm. Challenge: Whenever an order of the lion cavalier issues a challenge, he receives a +1 dodge bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his challenge. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the cavalier possesses. Skills: An order of the lion cavalier adds Knowledge (local) (Int) and Knowledge (nobility) (Int) to his list of class skills. An order of the lion cavalier can make Knowledge (nobility) skill checks untrained. If he has ranks in the skill, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1) as long as the check involves his sovereign. Tactician (Ex)
Dorick: Escape Route Lion’s Call (Ex) At 2nd level, an order of the lion cavalier gains the ability to rally his allies. As a standard action, he can give an encouraging speech which grants all allies within 60 feet a competence bonus on their saving throws against fear equal to his Charisma modifier and a +1 competence bonus on attack rolls for a number of rounds equal to his cavalier level. If an ally within range is under the effect of a spell or ability that causes him to be frightened or panicked, he can immediately make another saving throw to resist the effect (if allowed). Cavalier’s charge 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. Leveling
Overview:
Dorick is an exceptional rider but he's not limited to just mounted combat. With his cavalier and Order of the Lion abilities, he'll be able to buff the party while still contributing in melee. And his social skills will improve over the course of the campaign. I'm hoping the choice of Order of the Lion will lead to interesting roleplaying. Maybe a change of liege eventually, or even a change of order.
Background:
The cavalier must protect the life and lands of his sovereign at all costs. He must obey the commands of his sovereign without question. He must strive to expand the power and prestige of his realm. - Order of the Lion Edicts Sir Dorick Granstead is a scion of an ancient Taldor noble house in good stead with his liege lord, Exarch Dantus IV. Which made his fall from grace even more scandalous. As a youth, Dorick was always more enamoured with weapon practice and riding into the forests than in courtly matters. And that ultimately cost him. While a generous soul himself, he had his flaws. He thought too well of people who did not return that view, and he had a fierce streak of pride that others took note of. His leal service in the Taldan Horse to the crown against bandits and foreign foes, his acceptance into the Most Worthy Order of the Lion, his natural gift for bonding with animals, these would count for little in the end. A cabal desired advantage through shaming the venerable House Granstead and saw Dorick as the weak link to strike at. They plotted and arranged matters so that Dorick got into a very public and brutal duel with the Exarch's brother, seemingly instigated by Dorick for no good reason. He had been tricked by subtle half-truths and honest-seeming words that this man had dishonoured his younger sister. And thus he lashed out. The Exarch had little choice in the matter. Dorick was stripped of almost everything. In light of his prior service, he got to keep his life, his title, his horse, and a small pile of old equipment. And the dubious honour of being sent on a "mission" to assist the nobility of Galt. Alone. His actual authority of course would be non-existent. Promised papers never appeared, letters were never sent. Bound by his oaths, Sir Dorick Granstead rode north, thinking he had accepted his fate. But before he ran into trouble he could not survive, he saw a certain flyer. And realised that he still had a way to assist the Galt nobility without futile sacrifice...
Appearance:
Dorick stands 5' 11" tall and weighs 190kg. He is a fairly brawny man, well used to the rigours of riding into battle. He has well-groomed black hair and moustache, with few scars visible. His gear is second or third hand, but serviceable. Personality:
Dorick is at heart an amiable and generous sort, who enjoys hearty company and animals. He is deeply ashamed and saddened over the events that led to his effective exile, both of his own actions and the deep betrayal of those he considered friends and fine acquaintances. He still takes his oaths very seriously, they are what are left to him. Answers to Questions:
1. Why is your character fleeing Galt? Are they from a neighboring nation? What attracts them to this expedition? Be specific! Dorick is from Taldor, driven out by noble machinations and his Exarch throwing him a lifeline/indirect execution. He's been sent to aid Galt nobility, and he's found a loophole that lets him leave Galt and actually do some good. 2. In character, write your pitch to the noble as to why your character should be taken along. The rendezvous point is a secret, so you must convince the noble that your character is trustworthy. "Sirrah, I am Sir Dorick Granstead, of the Most Worthy Order of the Lions, the Taldor Horse, and of the venerable House Granstead. I have been charged by the Exarch Dantus the Fourth, to venture into the lands of Galt and assist the nobility therein. You, a lord of noble birth, have sent forth requests for strong arms to guard your settlers. I am well versed in the ways of horsemanship, personal combat, and tactics. I believe that I could render great assistance to you and your efforts, if you will have me." 3. Long term, what role does your character hope to play in the fledgling community? Start a business? Range outside the town to scout for threats? Serve in or lead the militia? Found a temple to their deity? Establish a thieves' guild? Dream as big as you like! Dorick has realised that his mission was intended as exile at best. He has seen a way to carry it out with more honour and to better effect than a fruitless charge against Galt revolutionaries. His noble birth and training leads him to think that he could rise through the ranks of any militia or military that forms. He seeks to become a man of import in the new community, respected for nobility and strength of arms.
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