Knight of the Thorn

The Knights of the Thorn are also known as the "gray robes" for the ash-colored robes they wear to indicate that they do not serve the Orders of High Sorcery. In addition to wielding devastating arcane magic, Thorn Knights are seers and diviners, working to understand how every person and event fits into their order's design.

Thorn Knights are able to see and understand seemingly random events as part of a grand design. While the Order of the Skull seeks to manipulate people and events, the Thorn Knights try to profit from a greater understanding of fate. Their pursuit of forbidden magic outside the laws of the Conclave allows them access to magical secrets to enhance their spellcasting.

Before the Chaos War, Thorn Knights gained their magical powers from Takhisis, who was defying the breakdown of power by granting magic (which is the province of her son, Nuitari). After the Chaos War, most of them turned to sorcery, some holding the idea that their Queen would return. But like the Knights of the Lily and Knights of the Skull, those who still long for the return of Takhisis are nearly extinct.

Hit Die: d6.

Table 2-9: The Knight of the Thorn

Requirements

• Alignment: Lawful evil.
• Base Attack Bonus: +3.
• Base Save Bonus: Fort +4, Will +3.
• Skill: Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, Spellcraft 8 ranks.
• Feat: Any one metamagic feat, Armor Proficiency (heavy), Martial Weapon Proficiency (all).
• Spellcasting: Ability to cast 2nd-level arcane spells.
• Special: Squire of the Lily: A candidate wanting to become a Knight of the Thorn must have a sponsor (A Knight of the Thorn of at least 3rd level). If deemed acceptable, the candidate is considered a squire of the Lily (even though she will eventually be a Thorn Knight). Optionally, the Dungeon Master may allow a player character to begin a campaign as a squire.
  Test of Takhisis: Once a charater has advanced at least one level (in any class) during the period as a squire and fulfills the requirements for the Knights of the Thorn, the squire may petition to undertake the Test of Takhisis (see sidebar). If the applicant passes, she can be accepted as a knight in the Order of the Thorn.

Class Skills

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Class Features

• Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Knights of the Skull do not gain any additional weapon or armor proficiency.
• Spells per Day / Spells Known: At each level, a Knight of the Thorn gains news spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If the character had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming a Knight of the Thorn, the player must decide to which class to add each Knight of the Thorn level for the purpose of determining spells per day.
• Diviner (Ex): Knights of the Thorn place great emphasis on the arts of divination, believing that a proper understanding of Ansalon's past, present, and future is essential to the achievement of their goals. A Knight of the Thorn casts all divination spells as if his caster level were one level higher than it actually is.
  If he is a wizard or sorceror, the Knight of the Thorn gains the additional benefits of a specialist diviner - one additional divination spell or spell known at each level per day, and a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks to learn Divination spells - without sacrificing access to spells of any other school. If he already is a specialist in another school, he retains that specialization in addition to gaining a new specialization in divination.
• Read Omens: A Knight of the Thorn is adept at consulting omens and seeing meaning in hidden places. He can cast augury as a 2nd-level spell. It is automatically added to his spellbook or to his spells known. (If he is a sorceror, it does not count against his total spells known at that level.)
• Armored Spellcasting (Ex): A Knight of the Thorn is better able than other characters to cast arcane spells while wearing armor. At 2nd level, the knight reduces the arcane spell failure chance for any armor he wears by -5%. At 5th level, he reduces the spell failure chance by -10%. At 8th level, he reduces it by -20%.
• Aura of Terror (Su): A 3rd-level Knight of the Thorn is surrounded by a palpable aura of evil magic that makes other creatures - even other Knights of Neraka - uneasy and fearful. Creatures within 10 feet of the knight must make successful Will saves (DC 10 + the knight's class level + his Cha modifier) or become shaken. A creature that successfully saves is immune to that knight's aura of terror for one day.
• Weapon Touch (Su): At 4th level, a Knight of the Thorn gains the ability to deliver touch spells by means of a melee attack, channeling spells through his weapon. Delivering a spell in this manner requires a normal melee attack, rather than a melee touch attack. If the attack is successful, the knight deals normal weapon damage in addition to the effects of the spell. If the attack is unsuccessful, the spell is discharged and wasted (unless the spell allows the caster to deliver multiple touches). As with a normal touch spell, the knight can cast the spell and make the attack in the same round; however, doing so is a full round action and so the knight cannot move more than a 5-foot step between casting the spell and delivering the attack.
• Read Portents: At 6th level the Thorn Knight adds divination to his spell list as a 4th-level spell. It is automatically added to his spellbook or to his spells known. (If he is a sorceror, it does not count against his total spells known at that level.)
• Cosmic Understanding: At 10th level, the Thorn Knight adds commune to his spell list as a 5th-level spell. It is automatically added to his spellbook or to his spells known. (If he is a sorceror, it does not count against his total spells known at that level.)
  In addition, once per day the knight can claim an insight bonus equal to his wizard or sorceror caster level on any single attack roll, opposed ability or skill check, or saving throw, or to his AC against a single attack (even if flat-footed). This works exactly like the moment of prescience spell, except that the knight can claim the bonus at any time (but no more than once per day).