Not all who join have what it takes to become a full-fledged Hell Knight, but those who do receive a wide array of abilities as they grow more and more powerful. Class DetailsHit Die: d10. RequirementsTo qualify to become a Hellknight, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Class SkillsThe Hellknight’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (local) (Int), Perception (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Sense Motive (Wis). Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class FeaturesThe following are all class features of the Hellknight. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Hellknights gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. Aura of Law (Ex)The power of a Hellknight’s aura of law (see the detect law spell) is equal to his total character level. Detect Chaos (Sp)This ability functions like a paladin's detect evil ability, save that it detects chaos. OrderA character must choose one Hellknight order to join. The choice of order determines what disciplines the character gains access to. Details for each order are here. Smite Chaos (Su)This ability functions as the paladin's smite evil ability, but against chaotic-aligned creatures. This ability is twice as effective against outsiders with the chaotic subtype, chaotic-aligned aberrations, and fey. Discern Lies (Sp)At 2nd level, a Hellknight can use discern lies as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 plus his Charisma modifier. His caster level equals his total character level. Hellknight Armor (Ex)At 2nd level, a Hellknight earns the right to wear Hellknight armor (below). While wearing this armor, the Hellknight reduces the armor check penalty by 1, increases the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by 1, and moves at full speed. At 5th level, these adjustments increase to 2. At 8th level, these adjustments increase to 3. Hellknight PlateThese distinctive suits of armor are a special type of masterwork full plate that, when worn by a character with levels in the Hellknight prestige class, grants additional effects. Price 2,000 gp Armor Bonus +9 Max Dex +1 Armor Check Penalty (ACP) –5 Arcane Spell Failure Chance 35% Speed (30 ft.) 20 ft.2 Speed (20 ft.) 15 ft.2 Weight 50 lbs. 2 When running in heavy armor, you move only triple your speed, not quadruple. DisciplinesA 3rd-level Hellknight gains access to his first discipline, choosing one that is associated with his specific order. At 6th level, the Hellknight gains a second discipline, chosen from any listed as being available to “any order.” At 9th level, the Hellknight gains his third discipline, choosing this one from any of the disciplines listed below, even those not from his own order, with the exception of Pentamic Faith. When applicable, the save DC to resist a discipline’s effect is equal to DC 10 + the Hellknight’s level + the Hellknight’s Charisma modifier. The Hellknight can use any one discipline a number of times per day equal to the total number of disciplines he has access to, so at 3rd level he may use his discipline once per day. At 6th level, he may use both disciplines twice per day each. At 9th level, he may use all three of his disciplines three times per day. Brand (Sp; Order of the Pyre): The Hellknight can use mark of justice as a spell-like ability. Censor (Su; Order of the Rack): When the Hellknight uses smite chaos on a creature, he can strike the creature mute for 1d4 rounds unless it makes a successful Will save. A mute creature cannot speak, nor can it cast spells that have verbal components or use language-dependent effects. Fearsomeness (Ex; any order): A Hellknight who uses the Intimidate skill to cause a creature within 10 feet to become shaken can instead cause that creature to become frightened. Onslaught (Su; Order of the Nail): Once per day as a free action, a Hellknight increases his base speed by +10 feet and gains a +4 bonus to his Strength for 1 round. If the Hellknight is mounted, these bonuses also apply to his mount. Pentamic Faith (Ex; Order of the God Claw only): This ability allows the Hellknight to select one of the following domains: Artifice, Glory, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Nobility, Protection, Rune, Strength, Travel, and War. The Hellknight gains all of the granted powers (but not domain spells) of that domain, treating his Hellknight levels as Cleric levels to determine what domain abilities he has access to. Shackle (Su; Order of the Chain): When the Hellknight uses smite chaos on a creature, he can impede its mobility. The creature can negate this effect with a Will save; otherwise, it is affected as if by a slow spell for 1d4 rounds. Summon Devil (Sp; Order of the Gate): The Hellknight may use summon monster V as a spell-like ability to summon 1 bearded devil. At 6th level, this spell-like ability is replaced by summon monster VI, allowing him to summon 1d3 bearded devils, or 1 erinyes. At 9th level, this spell-like ability is replaced by summon monster VII, allowing him to summon 1d4+1 bearded devils, 1d3 erinyes, or 1 bone devil. Tracker (Sp; any order): The Hellknight can summon a creature to aid him, either in battle or to track an enemy, as if using a summon monster spell, save that the summoned creature lingers for 1 hour before vanishing. A 6th-level Hellknight can summon either an eagle, a riding dog, a wolf, or a leopard. A 9th-level Hellknight can instead opt to summon a dire wolf or a hell hound. Vigilance (Su; Order of the Scourge): The Hellknight gains low-light vision (this effect is constant). In addition, as a full-round action, the Hellknight can see through up to 5 feet of stone, wood, or similar barriers as if they didn’t exist. Metal or denser barriers block this effect. Each use of this ability lasts as long as the Hellknight concentrates, up to a number of rounds equal to the Hellknight’s level. Wrack (Su; any order): The Hellknight may make a touch attack as a standard action to cause a creature to suffer incredible pain. The creature touched takes 1d6 points of damage + the Hellknight’s Charisma modifier, and must make a Will save to avoid being staggered for 1d4 rounds. Force of Will (Ex)At 3rd level, a Hellknight gains a +2 bonus on Will saves against spells with one of the following descriptors: charm, compulsion, glamer, fear, figment, pattern, or phantasm. At 6th level, the Hellknight chooses another subschool or descriptor to gain a +2 bonus on his Will save against, and the bonus provided by his first selection increases to +4. At 9th level, he chooses from the list again, and both previous selections increase by +2, so that he has a +6, a +4, and a +2 bonus, respectively, against the three different effects. Lawbringer (Ex)At 7th level, a Hellknight’s attacks are treated as lawful for overcoming damage reduction. Infernal Armor (Su)As long as he wears Hellknight armor, a 9th-level Hellknight gains a +2 bonus on all Charisma-related checks made while interacting with nongood lawful creatures. In addition, he gains the ability to see perfectly in darkness of any kind, resistance to fire 30, and resistance to acid 10 and cold 10. Hell’s Knight (Su)At 10th level, a Hellknight can grant a weapon he wields or touches the axiomatic, flaming burst, or unholy weapon quality. This weapon maintains this new quality as long as the Hellknight remains within 100 feet of the weapon—a Hellknight may maintain only a single weapon’s granted quality at a time. The Hellknight also becomes immune to fire while wearing Hellknight armor. Structure and Leadership
OrganizationThe leader of a Hellknight order is known as the Lictor. Beneath him are the order's Master of Blades (field commander) and Paravicar (leader of the order's arcane/religious forces). Beneath them, paralictors (Hellknight officers), signifiers (Hellknight spellcasters), rank and file Hellknights, and armigers (Hellknights in training) flesh out the ranks. Major OrdersThere are numerous orders of Hellknights. The majority have holdings in Cheliax, but a few have expanded or moved to operate outside the country, most typically in regions formerly held by the empire. At the current time there are seven major orders:
The Order of the Chain“All men lift themselves up upon the backs of others.” The Order of the Chain enforces the natural order of master and servant, dually punishing rebellious or escaped slaves as well as criminal slave-owners. Favored weapon: flail. The Order of the Gate“Judgment in the face of depravity.” Renowned for the unparalleled number of signifers among its members, the Order of the Gate also specializes in dealing and bargaining with devils and other fiends. Favored weapon: dagger. The Order of the Godclaw“Righteousness by obedience.” The leaders of the Order of the Godclaw preach the unique doctrine of the most lawful deities. Favored weapon: morningstar. The Order of the Nail“Savagery must be quelled, in the land, home, and mind.” Hellknights of the Order of the Nail focus their efforts on crushing savages and brigands. Favored weapon: lance or halberd. The Order of the Pyre“Reason's flame consumes the shadow of corruption.” The members of the Order of the Pyre zealously hunt heathen worshipers of false gods. Favored weapon: glaive. The Order of the Rack“The venoms of the mind poison the body.” Hellknights of the Order of the Rack seek to eradicate revolutionary idealisms. Favored weapon: longsword or whip. The Order of the Scourge“Without culpability, chaos reigns.” The ever-watchful Order of the Scourge seeks to ensure no crime goes unpunished, especially premeditated or more far-reaching acts of organized lawbreaking. Favored weapon: heavy mace or whip. Lesser OrdersNumerous lesser orders exist. These smaller orders are only slightly less feared than their better-known peers.
Extinct Orders
Hellknight TitlesHellknight orders are first and foremost military organizations, and as such, they share a system of ranking individuals based on their skills, experience, and exemplary enforcement of their order’s tenets.
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