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 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

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.

Conviction (Ex)
At 1st level, so long as an exarch has 1 indulgence, she may add half her class level (minimum 1) to Saving Throws.

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.

Indulgence (Ex)
Because of their parting from traditional paladin roles, the exarch's sometimes less-than-godly actions require penance in the form of indulgences. In game terms, indulgence is a fluctuating number that imbues an exarch with temporary abilities. At the start of each day, an exarch gains a number of indulgences points equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Her indulgences go up or down throughout the day, but usually cannot go higher than her Charisma modifier (minimum 1), though some feats and magic items may affect this maximum. An exarch pays indulgence to gain favor with their god (see below), and regains indulgences in the following ways:

Bolster an Ally: Each time the exarch or an ally succeeds a saving throw where the exarch's mantle would apply, she gains 1 point of indulgence.

Killing Blow: Each time the exarch reduces a creature to 0 or fewer hit points while either an ally or an enemy is under the influence of an exarch's exhortation, she gains 1 point of indulgence.

Self-flagellation: An exarch may spend 1 hour in ritual self-flagellation inflicting 1d4 points of Constitution damage. For every point of Constitution damage an exarch receives, she also receives 1 point of indulgence.

Exhortations (Su)
Exhortations come in many forms such as chants, prayers, hymns, personal rituals, sermons, etc., providing temporary enhancements to an exarch and her allies, as well as possible penalties to her enemies.

Starting an exhortation is a standard action that costs 1 point of indulgence, lasting 1 round plus 1 round per 3 exarch levels. An exhortation can be maintained each round as a move action at no cost. Alternatively, an exarch may spend 1 indulgence per round to maintain as a free action. There is no limit to the number of exhortations being performed provided the exarch has the requisite actions and indulgence to spend. 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 move action or free action with indulgence payment to maintain it each round. 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 new Will save at the beginning of each turn that starts inside the affected area. 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. Each successful save immediately ends the effects of that exhortation.

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, and at every two levels thereafter, an exarch selects one exhortation from the list below. At 11th level, an exarch may select a revelry in place of an exhortation. Revelries cost 2 points of indulgence to perform, but are unaffected affirmation (see below.)

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 active passive bonuses at no cost 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. In addition, at each such interval, the bonus to all mantles increases by +1.

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 indulgence feats.

Affirmation (Ex)
Starting at 4th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, an exarch may spend 1 additional point of indulgence when she starts an exhortation, multiplying the numerical effects of an exhortation by the total number of indulgence spent. For example, a 7th level exarch may spend 2 additional points of indulgence when starting an exhortation, increasing the bonus for Zealous Strike to +3 damage, or Enduring Cold to cold resist 15, or Light From Within to 60 foot dark vision. Revelries are not affected by affirmation.

Devotion (Ex)
At 6th level, so long as an exarch has at least 1 indulgence, allies or enemies normally immune to mind-affecting effects and are subjected to one or more exhortations still receive 50% of the effects of each exhortation.

Blind Faith (Ex)
At 12th level, so long as an exarch has at least 1 indulgence, enemies and allies normally immune to mind-affecting effects are no longer immune to the effects of exhortations.

Exemplar (Ex)
At 20th level, an exarch picks two Exhortation that she has access to. So long as she has at least 1 indulgence, 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.

Indulgence Feats

Traits

Favored Class Options

Weapons

Weapons