Faerûnian Prestige Class : Justiciar of Tyr
As servants of the god of justice, priests of Tyr are expected to be paragons of law and order who embody the principles espoused by the Maimed God at all times. Justiciars are the very elite of Tyr's mortal servants, and they act as living embodiments of their god's portfolio. They battle lawlessness and injustice with the same fervor that paladins battle evil, neither asking nor giving quarter in their quest to bring perfect, utopian order to Faerûn. Some individual justiciars are permanently stationed in large cities with a strong Tyrran presence to serve as judges or magistrates. Others are assigned to travel frontier regions such as the North and establish law and civil order in the small towns that dot the wild lands of Faerûn. High-level justiciars sometimes travel to the planes of Chaos to strike directly against outsiders such as slaadi or demons.
Clerics and paladins make up the vast majority of justiciars, but a fair number come from the ranks of multiclass fighter/clerics, and a few were rangers before taking up the prestige class. Rogue/cleric justiciars are very rare, but not completely unknown. Multiclass monks, sorcerers, and wizards, however, are all but unheard of among the ranks of the justiciars. Because of alignment restrictions, barbarians, bards, and druids are never justiciars of Tyr.
Paladins of Tyr may freely multiclass as justiciars of Tyr.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Justiciar of Tyr, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Lawful good
- Skills: Diplomacy 7 ranks, Knowledge ([any one region] local) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks
- Base Attack Bonus: +5
- Spells: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells
- Patron Deity: Tyr
Class Skills
The justiciar of Tyr's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (local), Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (the planes), Profession, and SpellCraft.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the justiciar of Tyr prestige class:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Justiciars of Tyr are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, but not with any armor or shields. Armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, and Tumble, and double the normal armor check penalty applies to Swim checks.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new justiciar of Tyr level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in whatever divine spellcasting class granted her access to 2nd-level spells before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus metamagic or item creation feats, bard or assassin abilities, and so on), except for an increased effective level of spellcasting. This essentially means that she adds the level of justiciar to the level of whatever other divine spellcasting class granted her access to 2nd-level spells, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.
If a character had more than one divine spellcasting class that granted access to 2nd-level spells before she became a justiciar of Tyr, she must decide to which class she adds each level of justiciar for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.
Detect Chaos (Sp): At 1st level, the justiciar of Tyr may use detect chaos at will (caster level equals justiciar of Tyr's divine caster level).
Smite Anarchy (Su): Once per day, a 1st-level justiciar of Tyr may attempt to smite a chaotic opponent with one normal melee attack. She adds her Charisma bonus (if any) to the attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per justiciar of Tyr level. For example, a 4th-level justiciar of Tyr armed with a longsword would deal 1d8+4 points of damage, plus any additional bonuses from high strength or magical effects that normally apply. If a justiciar of Tyr accidentally smites a creature that is not chaotic, the smite has no effect but is still used up for that day. The justiciar can use this ability twice per day at 5th level and three times per day at 10th level.
Bureaucratic Knowledge (Ex): Although battling the forces of chaos is one of the primary functions of the justiciar, she is also expected to have a thorough grasp of legal processes in civilizations all across Faerûn. Beginning at 2nd level, the character gains a bonus equal to her justiciar of Tyr level on all Knowledge and Gather Information checks related to laws or legal proceedings (such as recalling whether carrying weapons is illegal in a certain city or researching proper courtroom etiquette). She also gains the same bonus on Charisma-based skill or ability checks made to argue legal matters.
Axiomatic Spellcasting (Ex): When the justiciar of Tyr reaches 3rd level, her devotion to the cause of law infuses and empowers her spells. The save DC (if any) for any spell with the lawful descriptor that she casts increases by +1. This increase rises to +2 at 9th level.
Detect Lie (Sp): Beginning at 4th level, the justiciar of Tyr may use detect lie (caster level equals justiciar of Tyr's divine caster level) once per day.
Maimed God's Boon (Su): Tyr's hand shelters his most faithful servants, protecting them from the ravages of disorder and anarchy. At 5th level, the justiciar of Tyr gains a bonus equal to her Charisma bonus (if any) on all saving throws against spells with the chaotic descriptor and against the spell-like and supernatural abilities of chaotic outsiders. This bonus stacks with that provided by the paladin's divine grace ability. (Thus, a paladin/justiciar adds her Charisma bonus twice to saving throws against chaotic effects.)
Order's Calm (Su): Once per day with her touch, a justiciar of at least 7th level may negate any of the following effects: heroism, rage, symbol of insanity, any fear effect, or a barbarian's rage ability. To use this ability on an unwilling target, the justiciar must make a successful melee touch attack, and the target receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 justiciar of Tyr level + justiciar of Tyr's Cha modifier) to avoid the effect.
Blade of Justice (Su): At 8th level, the justiciar of Tyr may imbue her melee weapon with the raw power of justice. Once per day per point of Charisma bonus (minimum once per day), the justiciar may cause any melee weapon she is currently wielding to behave as an axiomatic weapon (dealing an extra 2d6 points of damage against chaotic foes). If the justiciar's weapon already has this enhancement, it gains no further benefit. Each usage of this ability is a free action, and the effect lasts for 1 round.
Aura of Absolute Law (Su): Upon attaining 10th level, the justiciar of Tyr has proven herself such a shining beacon of order and justice that chaos cannot stand against her. She is surrounded by a constant dispel chaos effect at all times. Driving a chaotic outsider back to its home plane or dispelling a chaotic enchantment spell temporarily discharges and ends this effect, but the justiciar may reactivate it as a free action on her next turn.
| Justiciar of Tyr | Hit Die: d8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells per Day |
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Detect chaos, smite anarchy 1/day | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Bureaucratic knowledge | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Axiomatic spellcasting +1 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Detect lie | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Maimed god's boon, smite anarchy 2/day | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | - | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Order's calm | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 8th | +6 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Blade of justice | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 9th | +6 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Axiomatic spellcasting +2 | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 10th | +7 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Aura of absolute law, smite anarchy 3/day | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
Ex-Justiciars of Tyr
A justiciar of Tyr who slips into a non-lawful alignment or willingly commits an unjust act (such as robbing, assaulting, or murdering an innocent) loses access to her spellcasting abilities and all justiciar class features except weapon and armor proficiencies and bureaucratic knowledge. She regains her lost abilities and advancement potential if she atones for her actions.
Epic Justiciars of Tyr
A champion of law, first and good second, the epic justiciar of Tyr is very similar to the epic paladin - a champion of righteousness and justice whose sword brings woe to the wicked.
The epic justiciar of Tyr's faith powers her combat prowess. Axiomatic Strike is the logical outgrowth of her smite anarchy ability and Great Smiting improves that ability as well. Chosen Weapon Specialization is another good combat feat for the epic justiciar, and both Epic Leadership and Legendary Commander suit this paragon of justice well. Charisma, Strength, and Wisdom are all good choices for ability score increases.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Spells: The epic justiciar of Tyr's caster level increases by 1 for every level higher than 10th. Her spells per day and spells known do not increase after 10th level unless the sum of the class levels contributing to her caster level equals 20 or less.
Smite Anarchy (Su): The epic justiciar of Tyr gains one additional use per day of her smite anarchy ability for every five levels higher than 10th. Thus, she can use it four times per day at 15th level and five times per day at 20th level.
Bonus Feats: The epic justiciar of Tyr gains a bonus feat, selected from the list below, for every three levels higher than 9th. She must meet any prerequisites for a feat in order to select it.
Epic Justiciar of Tyr Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, Axiomatic Strike, Chosen Weapon Specialization, Devastating Critical, Epic Leadership, Epic Prowess, Epic Reputation, Epic Toughness, Epic Weapon Focus, Great Smiting, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Spell Capacity, Legendary Commander, Overwhelming Critical, Perfect Health, Permanent Emanation, Spontaneous Spell.
| Epic Justiciar of Tyr | Hit Die: d8 |
|---|---|
| CL | Special |
| 11th | - |
| 12th | - |
| 13th | Bonus feat |
| 14th | - |
| 15th | Smite anarchy 4/day |
| 16th | Bonus feat |
| 17th | - |
| 18th | - |
| 19th | Bonus feat |
| 20th | Smite anarchy 5/day |
Source: Player's Guide to Faerûn