Knight of the Lion Rampant

“If you will not desist, then you will be vanquished.”

The knight of the lion rampant is a member of an order of proud militant paladins who wear crimson or black tabards with gold or red rampant lions upon them. Often of royal descent and more martial than their paladin brothers, the knights of the lion rampant are quick to anger with evil-doers and just as quick to draw sword. Though they are more skilled in combat, they have less healing and channeling ability and cease to gain additional spells.

Hit Die: d10

Requirements

To qualify to become a knight of the lion rampant, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria:

• Level: Paladin 5
• Alignment: lawful good
• Ability Scores: Str 16, Cha 15
• Skills: Knowledge (nobility) 5 ranks, Ride 5 ranks
• Feats: Combat Expertise, Power Attack, Weapon Focus.
• Special: Must fulfill a quest to be initiated into the order of the lion rampant.

Class Skills

The class skills for this class (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (nobility, religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Survival (Wis) and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier

Table: The Knight of the Lion Rampant

Class Level	BAB	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+1	+0	+0	Paladin’s Mount, Lay on Hands Level +1
2nd	+2	+2	+0	+0	Bonus Combat Feat
3rd	+3	+2	+1	+1	Lay on Hands Level +2
4th	+4	+3	+1	+1	Smite Evil +1/day, Bonus Combat Feat
5th	+5	+3	+1	+1	Lay on Hands Level +3, Lion’s Fortification
6th	+6	+4	+2	+2	Bonus Combat Feat
7th	+7	+4	+2	+2	Smite Evil +2/day
8th	+8	+5	+2	+2	Lay on Hands Level +4, Bonus Combat Feat
9th	+9	+5	+3	+3	Lion’s Shield
10th	+10	+6	+3	+3	Lay on Hands Level +5, Bonus Combat Feat

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the knight of the lion rampant prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A knight of the lion rampant is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).

Paladin’s Mount

The knight of the lion rampant’s special paladin mount continues to improve as he gains levels in the prestige class, just as if he had gained paladin levels.

Lay on Hands (Su)

The knight of the lion rampant’s paladin ability to lay on hands improves periodically, just as if he had gained another paladin level. The increases occur at levels 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10.

Bonus Combat Feat (Ex)

Due to the knight of the lion rampant’s greater focus on his martial skills, he gains bonus combat feats at certain levels. These feats may only be chosen from the list of combat feats. The knight of the lion rampant may select any combat feat, including those that are normally restricted to fighters only. The knight of the lion rampant gains one bonus combat feat at every even level.

Smite Evil (Su)

The number of times per day a knight of the lion rampant may use his paladin’s smite evil ability and the amount of damage it causes increases periodically, just as if he had gained another paladin level. He may use it once more per day at level 5, and again at level 8. For determining damage, his knight of the lion rampant levels count as paladin levels.

Lion’s Fortification (Su)

At 5th level, the knight of the lion rampant may call upon the spirit of the order to protect him against critical hits. Once per day, whenever he is affected by a critical hit, the knight of the lion rampant may choose to negate the critical. The attack instead inflicts normal damage.

Lion’s Shield (Su)

At 9th level, the knight of the lion rampant may call upon the spirit of the order to temporarily transform any shield he is carrying that is emblazoned with the order’s heraldry into a lion’s shield. He may do this twice per day for a duration of 1 round per knight of the lion rampant level.