Holy Knight Vindicator (3.5e Prestige Class)

Holy Knight Vindicator

“	“With the light I will purify you’r evil, cur”	”
—Rhobar Astolpho, a Holy Knight of Pelor

The holy knight vindicator embodies devotion and dedication to a chosen deity. Even more than a cleric, the holy knight vindicator serves as a symbol of a specific aspect of his deity’s portfolio, such as fire, good, knowledge, or war. They serve as elite godservants, carrying out the deity’s will and furthering the deity’s aims. Paladins make good divine crusaders, as do clerics (particularly those of martial-minded deities). However, characters of many other classes fi nd great spiritual rewards from the path of the holy knight vindicator, as a crusaders, fighters and monks.

Becoming a Holy Knight Vindicator

Due to the entry requirements, most Holy Knight vindicators are multiclass crusader/clerics or paladins who have entered this class after learning a Devoted Spirit maneuver, either by selecting the appropriate feats or by taking a level in the crusader class.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Always good
Skills:	Heal 4 ranks, Knowledge(religion) 5 ranks.
Martial Maneuvers:	Must know at least one Devoted Spirit maneuver.
Martial Stancess:	Must know at least one Devoted Spirit stance.
Spellcasting:	Able to cast 1st-level divine spells.
Deity:	Any nonevil.
Special:	Ability to turn or rebuke undead.

Table: The Holy Knight Vindicator

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting or Manifesting	Maneuvers Know	Maneuvers Readied	Stances Know
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	1	0	0	2	Indomitable Soul	+1 level divine spellcasting class	1	0	1
2nd	2	0	0	3	Divine recovery	+1 level divine spellcasting class	0	0	0
3rd	3	1	1	3	-	+1 level divine spellcasting class	1	1	0
4th	4	1	1	4	-	+1 level divine spellcasting class	0	0	0
5th	5	1	1	4	Mettle	+1 level divine spellcasting class	1	0	0
6th	6	2	2	5	-	+1 level divine spellcasting class	0	1	1
7th	7	2	2	5	Divine impetus	+1 level divine spellcasting class	1	0	0
8th	8	2	2	6	-	+1 level divine spellcasting class	0	0	0
9th	9	3	3	6	Divine fury	+1 level divine spellcasting class	1	1	0
10th	10	3	3	7	Divine Multiclass	+1 level divine spellcasting class	0	0	0
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Balance, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (religion), Martial Lore*, Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, Spellcraft. *New skill described on Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords, page 28 .

Class Features

A Holy Knight vindicator learns new martial maneuvers, including maneuvers of the Diamond Mind discipline, while continuing to advance his divine spellcasting ability. Moreover, he gains class features specifi cally designed to channel his divine power into his martial maneuvers.

Spellcasting: At each level you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefi t a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a devoted enforcer, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Maneuvers: At each even-numbered level, you gain one new maneuver known from the Devoted Spirit, Diamond Mind, Stone Dragon, or White Raven disciplines. You must meet a maneuver’s prerequisite to learn it. You add your full Holy Knight vindicator levels to your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and your highest-level maneuvers known.

At 1st, 3th, 5th, 7th and 9th level, you gain an additional maneuver readied per day.

Stances Known: At 1st level and again at 6th level, you learn a new martial stance from the Devoted Spirit, Diamond Mind, Stone Dragon, or White Raven discipline. You must meet a stance’s prerequisite to learn it.

Indomitable Soul (Su): Starting as 1st level, you draw upon the power of your unwavering faith to steel yourself against the enemies you face. You add your Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws. This bonus stack with that from a paladin’s divine grace ability.

Divine Recovery (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, you can channel divine power to recharge your martial maneuvers. You can expend a turn or rebuke undead attempt as a swift action to recover one expended maneuver. If you are a crusader, the maneuver you recover is immediately available to you as a granted maneuver.

Mettle (Su): A holy knights special blessing allows her to shrug off magical effects that would otherwise harm her. If a holy knight makes a successful Will or Fortitude saving throw that would normally reduce the spell’s effect, she suffers no effect from the spell at all.

Divine Impetus (Su): At 7th level, you learn how to use the divine power to quicken your reactions and act without hesitation. You can expend a turn or rebuke undead attempt to gain one additional swift action this round. For example, you could use this ability to both change your stance and initiate a boost maneuver in the same turn, or if you initiated a counter before your turn, you can activate this ability and then initiate a boost on your turn.

Divine Fury (Su): From 9th level on, you can directly channel divine energy into your martial strikes. As a free action, you can spend a turn or rebuke undead attempt to add a +4 sacred bonus on your attack roll with one martial strike this turn. In addition to its normal effects, the strike deals an extra 6d10 points of damage.

Divine Multiclass: A ruby knight vindicator who becomes a paladin can continue advancing as a paladin adding your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and your highest-level maneuvers and stances known.

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Template:. 3.5e Prestige Classes Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords variant