The Exarch

Exarchs are an ancient organization that splintered from even older paladin orders, formed out of a need to provide redemption, justice, and law in a world that is more gray than it is black and white. The Exarch Temple has three spires (one each for a different lawful deity) representing the three branches: the Avatar, offering redemption to the accused; the Justicar, offering justice to the wronged; and the Templar, enforcing law and punishment to the chaotic and condemned. Exarchs are devoted to law and their respective deities to the point of zealotry, and are unwavering to their cause. Exarchs usually (though not always) form a triad in major cities, providing support for (or even coordinating) local law enforcement, judgment, and punishment from their triple-spired temples. Initiates are sent out into the world to find their path, then return to join the ranks of the Exarch Temple. Exarchs from all three branches adhere to a strict hierarchy, with each branch headed by an Exarch Septum.

Role

Exarchs enforce law, support their allies, and pass judgment upon their enemies. These ancient orders radiate an aura of influence, using sacred chants, prayers, hymns, or personal rituals to help inspire friends or hinder foes. They are judge, juror, and if need be, executioner.

Alignment: Any Lawful
Hit Die: d10
Starting Wealth: 5d6 x 10 gp (average 175 gp)

Class Skills

The exarch's class skills are Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Survival (Wis)

Skill Ranks per Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the exarch.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Exarchs are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).

Zealous Aura (Ex)
An exarch radiates an aura of powerful influence in a 10' radius based on the deity's alignment (see detect evil for details.) This ability functions only while the exarch remains conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead

Detect Truth (Sp)
An Exarch can, as a move action, concentrate on an individual. While in the Exarch's gaze, the individual is affected as if under a Zone of Truth spell (DC 10 + 1/2 level + Cha modifier.) Any action that would break an exarch's concentration requires a concentration check to maintain the gaze.

Exhortations (Su)
Part of becoming an exarch is learning an order's ancient rites, rituals, chants, prayers, hymns, or sermons. When performed, they can have miraculous effects on those around her, including herself. An exarch can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + her Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st, an exarch can use exhortations for 3 additional rounds per day. These rounds need not be consecutive.

Starting an exhortation is a standard action, but it can be maintained as a free action. An exarch may have multiple exhortations performing simultaneously provided she has the requisite actions to start and maintain them. The maximum number of exhortations she may perform at any given time is limited to 1 + the exarch's charisma modifier. An exhortation can not be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the exarch is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a standard action or free action. The same exhortation can not be performed more than once at the same time.

Individuals must begin their turn within the radius of the zealous aura to be affected by an exhortation, with the effects lasting until the beginning of their next turn. Creatures attempting to resist the effects of an exhortation must make a successful Will save. The DC is 10 + 1/2 the exarch's character level + their Charisma modifier. Creatures subject to more than one exhortation must make one saving throw for each exhortation. A successful save immediately ends the effects of that exhortation, and the creature is immune to those affects for 24 hours.

Exhortations are mind-affecting abilities. To be affected, enemies or allies must be able to perceive the exarch and be within the exarch's zealous aura.

At 1st level, an exarch may select one exhortation from the list below once per day. At third level, and every 2 levels thereafter, an exarch may select one additional exhortation per day.

At 4th level, the numerical values of exhortations are multiplied by 2. At 7th level, and every three levels thereafter, the multiplier increases by 1. For example, at 10th level, an exarch's exhortations are multiplied by 4, making the Zealous Strike bonus +4 damage, Enduring Cold bonus cold resist 20, Armor of the Gods fortification bonus 40%, etc.

At 11th level, an exarch may select a rite in place of an exhortation. Rites are exhortations that do not increase in strength.

Ablation (Su)
Beginning at 2nd level, an exarch can grant temporary hit points (to herself or to others) by touch. Each day she can use this ability a number of times equal to 1/2 her exarch level plus her Charisma modifier. With one use of this ability, an exarch can grant 1d6 temporary hit points for every two exarch levels she possesses, lasting 1 hour per 2 levels of exarch. Using this ability is a standard action, unless the exarch targets herself, in which case it is a swift action. An exarch only needs one free hand to use this ability. Temporary hit points from this source do not stack, but the highest result from multiple uses is used.

Alternatively, an exarch can use this power to deal non-lethal damage to creatures, dealing 1d6 points of non-lethal damage for every two levels the exarch possesses. Using ablation in this way requires a successful melee touch attack and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.

Conviction (Ex)
At 2nd level, the exarch can use her influence with her deity to gain protection. Three times per day as an immediate action before attempting a saving throw, she can add her Charisma modifier to the result of the save. She must choose to do this before the roll is made. At 6th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the number of times she can do this per day increases by one (to a maximum of 7 times per day at 18th level).

Mantle (Su)
At 2nd level an exarch may choose one Mantle from the list below. Mantles are the foundation of an exarch's faith, providing continuous bonuses to her and her allies while under the influence of her zealous aura. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, an exarch may choose one additional mantle. Furthermore, whenever an exarch uses Ablation on a creature affected by a condition covered by one of her mantles, the creature immediately receives a new saving throw to avoid that condition.

Bonus Feats
At 4th level, and at every four levels thereafter, an exarch gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be combat or divine feats.

Deafening Silence (Su)
At 5th level, as a part of a full round action, an exarch may end all active exhortations, dealing 3d4 points of sonic damage for each exhortation ended to all enemies within the radius of the zealous aura. Affected creatures must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 exarch level + charisma modifier) to avoid being deafened for 1d6 rounds. Using this ability causes the exarch to become fatigued.

Exemplar (Ex)
At 20th level, an exarch picks two Exhortation that she has access to. She can start those exhortations as a move action and maintain them as a free action.

Code of Conduct
An exarch must be of lawful alignment and within one step of her deity.
Additionally, an exarch's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, uphold local laws, the laws of their deity, and the enforcement of such laws. When given the option, an exarch will choose their deity's laws above all others.
An exarch who grossly violates the code of conduct required by her god loses all class features, except for armor, shield, and weapon proficiencies. She cannot thereafter gain levels as an exarch of that god until she atones for her deeds (see the atonement spell description).
Though rare, an exarch may change deities and join a different sect. She must complete a week long trial, costing 100 GP per level in addition to the cost of an atonement spell to the new god.

Divine Feats

Traits

Favored Class Options

Weapons

Weapons