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Adjudicator of the Code

Adjudicators of the Code are the inquisitors of the Dark Knights, enforcing the Code and keeping tabs on those Knights supected of treasonous actions. Adjudicators of the code are given singular authority to judge violations of the Code and matters of honor on their own merits, determining if the noncompliance or violation warrants punishment or if it is an exception to the Code. If punishment is required, an adjudicator of the Code has the authority to carry out the sentence immediately, usually in the form of execution.

Hit Die: d8.

Becoming an Adjudicator of the Code

All adjudicators of the Code are chosen from the ranks of the Knights of the Skull by the Lord Adjudicator, who in turn is picked by the Lord of the Night. Adjudicators are typically Masters of the Skull, though ultimately candidates are selected based on their knowledge of the Code and how well they exemplify it. Adjudicators typically have backgrounds as clerics of Takhisis (Age of Despair) or mystics (Age of Mortals), as well as levels in fighter.

Entry Requirements

Class Skills

The Adjudicator of the Code's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all, taken individually) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language, and Spot (Wis). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player's Handbook for skill descriptions.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int Modifier

Class Features

As an adjudicator of the Code, your focus moves away from the usual Knight of the Skull abilities and concentrates on uncovering secrets that the Cabal of the Code needs to know. You gain more ranks in skills at the expense of improved Fortitude saving throws.

Aura of Law (Su): The power of your aura of law (see the detect law spell is equal to your class level plus your cleric level, if any.

Heart of Truth (Sp): Once per week at 1st level, you may radiate an aura that prevents others from speaking falsehoods in your presence. This ability is identical to zone of truth, except that you are the center of the effect and the effect moves when you move. Your caster level equals your divine caster level.

You may use this ability twice a week at 3rd level and three times a week at 5th level.

Scholar of the Code: The Cabal of the Code imparts its knowledge of the Code's exacting standards, laws, and doctrine to all of its adjudicators, who benefit from its teachings. At 1st level, you gain a +2 insight bonus on all Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (religion), and Sense Motive checks.

Spellcasting: At each new adjudicator of the Code level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as you had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class you belonged to before you added the prestige class. You do not, however, gain all of the benefits a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming an adjudicator of the Code, you must decide to which class you add the new level for purposes of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Smite Chaos (Su): Once per day at 2nd level, you may attempt to smite chaos with one normal melee attack. You add your Charisma modifier (if positive) to your attack roll and deal 2 extra points of damage per class level. If you accidentally smite a creature that is not chaotic, the smite has no effect but is still used up for the day.

At 4th level, you may smite chaos twice a day.

Speaker of the Code (Su): At 3rd level, you may draw upon your sure knowledge of the Code to inspire or awe other Dark Knights, including those who are rogue knights or no longer in the Knightly Order. If you choose to inspire, any current or former Dark Knights in a 30 ft. radius who are able to see and hear you talk for a full round gain a +2 morale bonus to their attack and weapon damage rolls as well as saving throws against charms, compulsions, and fear for as long as you keep speaking and for 5 rounds after you stop. If you choose to awe, you instead cause any current or former Dark Knight in a 30 ft. radius to become shaken for as long as you keep speaking and for 5 rounds after you stop, unless they succeed at a Will save against your Intimidate check result.

You may use this ability three times a day. If any Dark Knight your attempt to awe succeeds at his saving throw, he is immune to your awe effect for 24 hours.

Spirit of the Code (Su): At 5th level, your commitment to the Code is complete. You are immune to charms, compulsions, fear, and other mind-affecting spells or effects that could sway you from delivering your adjudication to others.

Playing an Adjudicator of the Code

You have an unwavering loyalty to the Code and all it represents. As an adjudicator, it is your responsibility to make certain that your fellow Dark Knights are following the letter of the Code and are in accordance with the Vision. It is not your vocation to make others miserable (though you do take great joy in perfrming your duties); rather, you pursue your obligations so that the Knighthood may fulfill its potential. You have great disdain for those who cannot or will not follow the Code. Your punishment for those infidents is swift and terrible.

Table 3-3: Adjudicator of the Code

Class Level BAB Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spellcasting
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Aura of law, heart of truth 1/week, scholar of the Code +1 level of existing class
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Smite chaos 1/day +1 level of existing class
3rd +2 +1 +1 +3 Heart of truth 2/week, speaker of the Code +1 level of existing class
4th +3 +1 +1 +4 Smite Chaos 2/day +1 level of existing class
5th +3 +1 +1 +4 Heart of truth 3/week, spirit of the Code +1 level of existing class

Combat

You approach combat much as other Knights of the Skull do, blending skill at arms with divine power. Typically, your skills will be used against rogue knights who have violated the Code. Your ability to intimidate others with your mere presence, coupled with your knowledge of the Code, drives terror into those around you, even your allies. Your divine spellcasting background gives you access to powerful divine spells, and you favor the Law and Tyranny domains.

In combat, your allies gain inspiration from you and accomplish more than they realized they could. Your presence alone bolsters the morale of any Dark Knight allies, while driving fear into enemies.

Advancement

Due to your dedication to the Code, you were recruited by the Lord Adjudicator himself from the ranks of the Knights of the Skull after several years of faithful service. You begin training in the ranks of the Cabal of the Code, the organizatino within the Knights of he Skull that oversees adjudication. Training focuses on the Code and the authority of the adjudicators to uphold the Code. Typically, adjudicators are apprenteiced to another adjudicator for a year before acting on their own.

As you advance in level, you will be allowed to function on your own in order to bring justice to violators of the Code. You may be required to investigate happenings within the Knighthood, or you may be sent ot track down and kill Knights who have gone rogue.

The highest level of advancement is that of Lord Adjudicator, the individual who leads the Cabal of the Code. If the Lord Adjudicator is slain in combat, you could be appointed by the Lord of the Night himself to the level of Lord Adjudicator. If not, you may challenge the Lord Adjudicator to a duel, taking your place among the Order of Lords if you succeed.

Resources

As an adjudicator, you are able to requisition nearly any resource you need to carry out your duties. The resources of the Knights of the Skull are at your disposal. You may appoint a group of Knights to serve as an honor guard, typically from the ranks of the Knights of the Lily, though having other Skull Knights and even the occasional Thorn Knight could be useful. You may assemble a strike squad to bring rogue Dark Knights to justice.

Adjudicators of the Code in the World

Adjudicators of the Code are fearsome opponents -- and even more frightening allies. Their single-minded dedication to the Code causes other Dark Knights to watch their step for fear of being judged. Adjudicators work well in games centered on the Dark Knights and their pursuit of conquest. They also make daunting opponents, especially for characters who have given up on the Knighthood. Adjudicators may also be seen as a faction trying to maintain power within the Knighthood after the War of Souls. Unlike other factions, they work within the system to try to maintain power.

Organization

Adjudicators are members of the Cabal of the Code, the branch of the Knights of the Skull in charge of administering justice through the Code. The Cabal works fairly independently, answering only to the Lord of the Skull and the Lord of the Night. The exact numbers of adjudicators is unknown. Rumors suggest there may be dozens or even hundreds. The Lord of the SKull is traditionally also the Lord Adjudicator, though the two offices are not identical. Lord Knight Galen Nemedi is the current Lord Adjudicator in the post-War of Souls era.

Adjudicators work individually or in pairs. Only in extreme circumstances is a full force of adjudicators required. In such cases, they may requisition members of all three Orders to work alongside them. Some pose as normal Skull Knights, working within the structure of existing Dark Knight outposts to ensure that all Dark Knights act in accordance to the Code. Some are more overt, using the symbols of their station, such as the golden scepter, to purposefully drive fear into a foe.

NPC Reactions

Adjudicators of the Code are secretive and alert, keeping mostly to themselves if encountered in a city or town. When they are carrying out their duties, they seem both composed and menacing. When working in an overt official capacity, they will be seen with their golden scepters.

Adjudicators of the Code Lore

Characters with Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (religion), or Gather Information can research the adjudicators of the Code to find out more about them.

Adjudicators of the Code in the Game

Adjudicators are excellent villains and make great recurring antagonists. With their single-minded focus on their duties, they can show up to plague the player characters at all the wrong moments. Adjudicators are surrounded by fear and mystery, working both overtly and in secret.

Adaptation

The key concept behind the adjudicator of the Code is the existence of a group of inquisitors who can strike down heretics. The adjudicator of the Code could be adapted to any number of organizations. They could work as members of the dragonarmies who dealt with tratiors during the War of the Lance, for example.

Adjudicators may also function well as part of a militant cult that follows Sargonnas, especially a minotaur cult. Their code of honor corresponds to the goals fo the adjudicator, and a particularly powerful minotaur cleric might utilize his own covert enforcers of canon.

Encounters

Player characters may encounter the adjudicators of the Code in a number of circumstances. The characters could be assisting a former Dark Knight who is trying to escape his Order and is being hunted down by an adjudicator. Likewise, Dark Knight characters may be trying to uncover the disappearance of high-ranking knights and discover an insidious plot by the Cabal of the Code.