Shadow Champion

The Quintessential Paladin
Author Alejandro Melchor
Series Quintessential Series
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2002

Sometimes it is not in the best interest for the hero to battle evil head on, for while true heroes are not afraid to sacrifice themselves, they also are not prone to do so needlessly. The shadow champion is a person sworn to oppose tyranny, protect the innocent and do whatever is in his hands to bring a better, safer world for his fellows, but he does so from the shadows, eluding the forces of evil and sometimes even the forces of good. He does not become a visible symbol, but an urban legend; he is a rumour about an avenging angel that appears from nowhere to strike at any threat to the common folk, and disappears as mysteriously as he came about. It is not that he uses deceit to achieve his goals, but rather that he brings hope in the form of a myth made flesh, stronger in the minds of the people for its elusiveness.

The life of a shadow champion is not an easy one to lead. The hero is tempted at all times to bend righteousness to fit his needs and take moral shortcuts to get things done, but he sticks by his code of honour, refusing to use evil’s tools in his mission to oppose it.

Hit Die: d8.

Requirements

Alignment: Any good.
Base Attack: +7 or higher.
Skills: Hide 5 ranks, Move Silently 5 ranks and Diplomacy 5 ranks.

Class Skills

The shadow champion’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Constitution), Craft (Intelligence), Diplomacy (Charisma), Disguise (Charisma), Gather Information (Charisma), Heal (Wisdom), Hide (Dexterity), Listen (Wisdom), Move Silently (Dexterity), Profession (Wisdom) and Search (Wisdom).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Intelligence modifier.

The Shadow Champion
Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	1	2	3	4
1	+0	+0	+2	+2	Alternate Persona, Hideout	1	–	–	–
2	+1	+0	+3	+3	Indistinct Visage	2	–	–	–
3	+2	+1	+3	+3	Bonus Feat	2	1	–	–
4	+3	+1	+4	+4	Discreet Retreat	3	2	–	–
5	+3	+1	+4	+4		3	2	1	–
6	+4	+2	+5	+5	Bonus Feat	3	3	2	–
7	+5	+2	+5	+5	Inspired Defence	4	3	2	1
8	+5	+2	+6	+6		4	3	3	2
9	+6	+3	+6	+6	Bonus Feat	4	4	3	2
10	+7	+3	+7	+7	Shadow Cloak	4	4	3	3

Class Features

Armour and Weapon Proficiency: Shadow champions are proficient with all simple and martial weapons. They are proficient with light armour but not with shields. Note that armour check penalties for armour heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pocket and Tumble. Also, Swim checks suffer a -1 penalty for every 5 pounds of armour, equipment, or loot carried.

Spells: A shadow champion casts divine spells. He may prepare and cast any spell on the shadow champion spell list, provided he can cast spells of that level. In order to cast a spell, the shadow champion must have a Wisdom score of 10 + the spell’s level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against his spells is 10 + the spell’s level + the character’s Wisdom modifier. Bonus spells for the shadow champion are based on Wisdom.

Alternate Persona (Ex): In order to mislead the followers of darkness, the character operates publicly under one identity and as a shadow champion from the protection of anonymity. The character has two options when attaining his first level as a shadow champion: he can craft a new personality and use his original identity as his heroic persona, or continue living as he always had, crafting a false identity under which he will fight evil as a shadow champion. This false persona has its own personal
history and background, which the character can assume without difficulty. All difficulties to learn something useful about this identity (such as by Gather Information and Intimidate checks, bardic knowledge and enchantment or divination magic) are equal to 10 + character level + Charisma modifier. The character must use a different set of clothing and armour for each of his personalities.

Hideout: The character has set up a hidden base of operations, a safe house where he can plan his next attack and rest and recover his wounds. This hideout is the size of a large room and while in it, the character can pray, cast spells, train or simply rest and heal without fear of being discovered except by magical means.

Indistinct Visage (Su): When he assumes his shadow champion persona, his features become obscured and hard to remember. Anyone looking at him must succeed at a Will save (DC 10 + character’s level + Charisma modifier) or never really notice what the character looks like. Even those who succeed must beat the character in a Spot check opposed by the character’s Disguise check. If the shadow champion is using magic to change his appearance, use whatever bonus the effect grants.

Bonus Feat: Whenever a shadow champion receives a bonus feat, he may select one of those from the fighter‘s list of bonus feats

Discreet Retreat (Ex): Through agility and misdirection, the shadow champion can practically vanish from sight. He must turn around a corner, duck behind some crates or otherwise step away from sight and make a Hide check adding his shadow champion level as a competence bonus. Creatures trying to find the character must make a Spot check against the DC set by the shadow champion’s modified Hide check. The character cannot use this ability in plain sight.

Inspired Defence (Ex): The character’s fighting style is meant to Intimidate and impress while remaining effective. The shadow champion adds his Charisma modifier (if positive) to his Armour Class. In order to use this bonus, the character cannot use heavy armour or shields.

Shadow Cloak (Su): The champion’s ability to vanish is greatly enhanced. Three times per day, he can sink into the shadows and really vanish from sight. He can move at half his speed without revealing his location and can maintain this state for 10 minutes per level. If he attacks or casts a spell, he becomes clearly visible again, although he can use or cancel his indistinct visage, or change between his alternate personas while cloaked by shadows.

Multiclass Note: paladins can gain levels in the shadow champion class and still be able to advance as paladins.

Shadow Champion Spell List

Shadow champions choose their spells from the following list:

• 1st Level: alarm, bless, Bless Weapon, cause fear, Charm Person, cure minor wounds, Detect Poison, Detect Undead, Divine Favour, endure elements, expeditious retreat, hypnotism, magic weapon, Protection from Evil, read magic, resistance, sleep, virtue.
• 2nd Level: blur, bull’s strength, cat’s grace, darkness, daylight, detect thoughts, invisibility, misdirection, see invisibility, delay poison, remove paralysis, Resist Energy, shield
  other, silence, undetectable alignment.
• 3rd Level: Blink , cure moderate wounds, discern lies, dispel magic , displacement , fear , greater magic weapon, haste , keen edge, magic circle against evil.
• 4th Level: break enchantment, cure serious wounds, detect scrying, dimension door, dispel evil, freedom of movement, holy sword, greater invisibility, modify memory, neutralise poison.