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So I've had something come up in one of my campaigns. One of the characters is intent on building a Magus into Hellknight Signifier. I've been trying to figure out the special requirement for that Prestige Class and for Hellknight. Just to review the requirements, they are as follows:
Requirements
To qualify to become a Hellknight signifer, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any lawful.
Armor Proficiency: Proficient with medium armor.
Feats: Arcane Armor Training or Warrior Priest (UM).
Skills: Intimidate 2 ranks, Knowledge (planes) 5 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks.
Spells: Able to cast 3rd-level spells.
Special: The character must slay a devil with Hit Dice greater than his own. This victory must be witnessed by a Hellknight.
As far as the special requirement, when does it need to happen? Right before taking the level in Signifier? At any point before taking a level in Signifier? Could he, as an example, at level 2 slay an Imp with 3HD, or does he need to wait until he's level 7 (when Magus gets the Medium Armor Proficiency and level 3 spells) to slay a devil, thus necessitating an Erinyes (9HD) or something stronger?
Thanks in advance for the help.
The devil-slaying could happen at any time prior to taking the first level of Hellknight Signifer, the way I read it.
Meaning the level 2 imp-slaying would qualify, in my opinion.
I believe the Knights of the Inner Sea supplement expands on this to say that the slaying of a devil is part of the Hell Knight initiation ritual. The Signifiers actually summon a devil for you to slay in front of them.
You can become an armiger before fifth level but you can't become an actual Hell Knight before then, so that would mean you fight a 5 or 6 hit dice devil (or, in your case, an 8 hit dice devil).
I suppose you could happen to have a Hell Knight witness you kick an Imp's butt in a back alley somewhere (easier said than done, I know). Or, the Signifiers could just summon imps to kill on "armiger initiation day"; but I would lose respect for Hell Knights if that were the case.
"Special: The character must slay a devil with Hit Dice greater than his own. This victory must be witnessed by a Hellknight."
There are no other demands for it whatsoever in that text.
If you killed a 2HD Imp at level 1 and a Hellknight happened to see it, that should qualify.
However, that's only if you go strictly by RAW. I'd imagine RP-wise, you will have to beat a devil summoned by the hellknights.
An example of how I'd run it is the initiate is brought before the order at level 5. One of the hellknights will summon a barbazu, and you will have to kill it there and then.
I've always found it a strange entry requirement. Why killing devils, not demons?
I would read it as their way of proving their dominance over Hell itself.
It is exactly that, Mawgrim. They model their law after those of Hell, and show everyone that they have absolutely nothing to fear.
Who'd ever be afraid of a troll or some other monster after they've been face to face with a devil and walked out from said encounter alive?