General Prestige Class : Harmonium Peacekeeper
by David Noonan, Dragon #315
Across the multiverse, most people just want to live their lives in peace and harmony. The Harmonium peacekeeper considers it his job to take care of the other ones.
The Harmonium peacekeepers are part of an elite army dedicated to stepping in wherever disorder and evil rear their ugly heads. They keep the peace along planar borders during shaky cease-fires, they disperse demon armies before they have a chance to march from the Abyss to the Material Plane, and they brave the Great Dismal Delve to bring duergar assassins to justice. Harmonium peacekeepers are equally adept at working in small groups or as the vanguard of a large army of the angelic host. The irony of making war to preserve a larger peace isn't lost on them, but the soldier's lot in life is a noble sacrifice for the greater good of universal harmony.
Paladins and fighters are the most common characters to become Harmonium peacekeepers, although a few sorcerers and bards find themselves attached to Harmonium units. Chaotic classes such as barbarians can't become peacekeepers, and few druids have much interest in the affairs of the planar factions.
Harmonium peacekeepers are sometimes sent to the Material Plane in response to requests from clerics, especially those who worship Pelor, Hieroneous, or St. Cuthbert. Sometimes an outsider with levels in the prestige class will answer a calling from a planar ally spell. When they're not out on a great crusade, Harmonium Peacekeepers train at and guard the faction's main castle on the Buxenus layer of Arcadia.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Harmonium Peacekeeper, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Any lawful.
- Skills: Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks, Ride 5 ranks.
- Feats: Mounted Combat,
- Base Attack Bonus: +6.
Class Skills
The Harmonium peacekeeper's class skills are Craft, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (the planes), Profession, Ride, and Sense Motive.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Harmonium peacekeeper prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Harmonium peacekeeper gains proficiency in martial weapons, all armor types, and shields, including tower shields.
Special Mount: The Harmonium peacekeeper gains a special mount equivalent to what a 5th-level paladin would get. When the Harmonium peacekeeper isn't using it, the mount grazes placidly in pastures near the Harmonium's castle on Arcadia.
If the Harmonium peacekeeper already has a special mount from a previous class (usually paladin), those levels stack with peacekeeper levels when determining the mount's abilities. For example, a 6th-level fighter/3rd-level paladin/1st-level Harmonium peacekeeper would have a special mount equivalent to the special mount an 8th-level paladin would have.
Smite Chaos (Su): Once per day, a Harmonium peacekeeper may attempt to smite chaos with one normal melee attack. He adds his Charisma bonus (if any) to the attack roll and deals 2 extra points of damage per Harmonium peacekeeper level. For example, a 7th-level paladin/3rd-level Harmonium peacekeeper would deal 1d8+6 points of damage (plus any Strength and magic bonuses) when attacking a chaotic creature. If the Harmonium peacekeeper accidentally smites a creature that is not chaotic, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day.
At 4th level, the Harmonium peacekeeper may smite chaos twice per day.
If the Harmonium peacekeeper can also smite evil, he can simultaneously smite chaos and smite evil. The attack and damage bonuses stack.
Calm Emotions (Sp): A 2nd level Harmonium peacekeeper can calm emotions (as the spell) once per day as a caster of the peacekeeper's character level. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Planar Steed (Su): At 3rd level, the Harmonium peacekeeper has fine-tuned his ability to summon and dismiss his special mount. If he wishes, he can return to the Harmonium's territory on Arcadia along with his mount when he dismisses his steed, and he can bring along one willing creature per Harmonium peacekeeper level. Once on the Plane of Arcadia, once per day, the Harmonium peacekeeper can plane shift himself, his mount, and one willing creature per Harmonium peacekeeper level from Arcadia to the first layer of any non-evil plane.
Universal Harmony (Sp): A 5th-level Harmonium peacekeeper can compel others to work toward the Harmonium's goals - or at least punish them for not embracing the goals of peace and brotherhood. Once per day, the Harmonium peacekeeper can target a living creature with a geas quest spell-like ability, except that the magical command cannot involve violent, chaotic, or evil acts. The DC for the Fortitude saving throw to avoid becoming sickened is Charisma-based.
| Harmonium Peacekeeper | Hit Die: d10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Special mount |
| 2nd | +2 | +0 | +0 | +3 | Smite chaos 1/day, calm emotions |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Planar steed |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Smite chaos 2/day |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Universal harmony |
Source: Dragon #315