General Prestige Class : Champion Of Corellon Larethian
"When an arrow will not suffice, when no spell will overcome, a stout heart and a sharp blade may prevail. With Corellon's grace, I fear no foe who stands within reach of my sword." - Alissera Berothar, champion of Corellon Larethian
Many evil warriors believe that elves, while dangerous in ranged combat, have no stomach for melee. They expect that elves would fall like leaves in an autumn windstorm once the battle becomes the work of sword and axe rather than arrow and spell. These warriors have never encountered a champion of Corellon Larethian.
The champion of Corellon is a noble elf fighter, an elf knight or lord who can stand up to any orc or human warrior. All elves admire the grace, discipline, and skill necessary to become a swordmaster, and the champion of Corellon is the very paragon of elven swordsmanship. Clad in shining elven mail or plate, the champion relies on quickness, agility, and an almost scholarly study of the most difficult and advanced techniques of swordplay instead of brute power.
As the name suggests, a champion of Corellon Larethian holds a special place in elf society. Large temples of Corellon Larethian often host groups of champions who serve as elite temple guards, advisors and bodyguards to elf rulers, and questing knights in the service of the whole elf race.
Becoming a Champion of Corellon
In order to become a champion of Corellon, an elf must excel in swordplay and exhibit patience, grace, and compassion. Even in the most desperate of times, elves do not judge a warrior merely by her martial skill. To take joy only in feats of arms is to live a crude and diminished life. There is more to life than fighting well, and the true champion knows this.
The quickest way to become a champion of Corellon Larethian is to advance as a fighter, due to the difficult feat requirements. However, a level of cleric, paladin, or rogue (preferably paladin, because it maximizes your base attack bonus) will be quite useful in meeting the skill requirements. The champion of Corellon class offers no spellcasting advancement, so you will not receive much benefit for entering this prestige class after advancing primarily as a spellcaster.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Champion of Corellon Larethian, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Race: Elf or half-elf
- Alignment: Any nonevil.
- Skills: Diplomacy 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 2 ranks.
- Feats: Proficient with all martial weapons and heavy armor, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mounted Combat.
- Base Attack Bonus: +7.
- Special: Must worship Corellon Larethian.
Special: In addition to the feats above, you must also take either Weapon Focus (longsword) or Exotic Weapon Proficiency (elven thinblade or elven courtblade).
Class Skills
The champion of Corellon's class skills are Concentration, Craft (any), Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (any), Profession, Ride, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Champions of Corellon continue to improve their combat skills as they advance in level, learning bonus fighter feats and special techniques for making use of heavier armor than that favored by most elves.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: You gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.
Corellon's Blessing (Su): Upon entering this class, you gain the ability to heal wounds by touch, much like a paladin's lay on hands ability. Each day you can heal a total number of hit points of damage equal to your champion level x your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). For example, a 6th-level champion of Corellon with a Charisma score of 14 can heal 12 points of damage per day. You can choose to divide the healing among multiple recipients, and you don't have to do it all at once. Using this ability is a standard action.
You can use any or all of this healing power to deal damage to undead creatures. Using Corellon's blessing in this way requires a successful melee touch attack and doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. You decide how much of your daily allotment of healing to use as damage after successfully touching your undead foe.
If you have levels in paladin, you add your levels of champion of Corellon and paladin together and determine your ability to heal accordingly (although if you have a Charisma score of lower than 12, your paladin levels do not contribute to your ability to heal).
Bonus Feat: At 1st level and every three levels thereafter, you gain a bonus feat. This must be a feat noted as a bonus fighter feat, and the feat must have Combat Expertise, Dodge, or Mounted Combat as a prerequisite.
Elegant Strike (Ex): Upon reaching 2nd level, you become able to place your attacks where they deal greater damage. You apply your Dexterity bonus as a bonus on damage rolls (in addition to any Strength bonus you may have) with any of the following weapons: longsword, rapier, elven thinblade, elven lightblade, elven court sword, or scimitar. Targets immune to sneak attacks or extra damage from critical hits are immune to your elegant strike.
Superior Defense (Ex): At 3rd level, you learn special techniques for making the best use of an elf's natural agility even while wearing restrictive armor. The maximum Dexterity bonus for any medium or heavy armor you wear (including mithral versions) is increased by 1. For example, full plate armor normally has a maximum Dexterity bonus of +1, but the superior defense ability increases this to +2.
At 6th level, you improve the maximum Dexterity bonus of medium or heavy armor by 2 and at 9th level by 3.
Unimpeded Movement (Ex): At 5th level, you no longer reduce your movement when wearing medium or heavy armor. (You still reduce your movement if carrying a medium or heavy load, however.)
If you know the Spring Attack feat, your unimpeded movement ability allows you to use Spring Attack even while wearing heavy armor.
Corellon's Wrath (Su): At 8th level, you gain the ability to briefly channel the divine power of Corellon Larethian, enveloping one melee weapon you wield in a veil of incandescent light as a free action. You gain a +2 sacred bonus on attack rolls and deal an extra 2d6 points of damage with each melee attack you make with the affected weapon for 1 round. While Corellon's wrath is in effect, the weapon is considered magic and good-aligned for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Cha modifier (minimum once per day).
Ex-Champions Of Corellon
Few champions of Corellon ever turn to evil, but it occasionally happens. If your alignment changes to evil, you are expelled from the order and lose the supernatural abilities derived from this class (Corellon's blessing and Corellon's wrath). However, you are not barred from gaining more levels in this class if you so desire. You can continue to refine the combat techniques you have learned, but you cannot make use of the class's supernatural abilities.
| Champion Of Corellon Larethian | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Corellon's blessing, bonus feat |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Elegant strike |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Superior defense +1 |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Bonus feat |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Unimpeded movement |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Superior defense +2 |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Bonus feat |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Corellon's wrath |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Superior defense +3 |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Bonus feat |
Source: Races of the Wild