Argent Fist

Description:

Shining knights are not the only example of devotion of faith. Nor are chaste monks the only symbol of mental purity. In order to combat the enemies of the Silver Flame, these two very divergent paths came together to blend the best of both worlds. Original chartered during the times of the Silver Purge, the order of the Argent Fist still stands today, dedicated to pursue threats to the faith that are more persistent and wily than a direct assault across the battlefield. The Order of Argent Fist only selects its members that have served equal periods as a paladin for the Silver Flame and a cloistered monk, honing their mental and martial skills. While rare to see outside of their secluded training temples, the fury of an Argent Fist is a sight to behold.

Role: Argent fists take the best aspects of a monk as a mobile warrior and the best parts of a paladin for striking down enemies of the faith, combines the two and products a mobile, direct and very effective front line.

Source: FoE, pg. 70

Alignment: All argent fists must be lawful good

Hit Dice: d10

Requirements:

To qualify to become an argent, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Alignment: Lawful Good.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks.

Special: Aura of courage class feature, fast movement class feature, lay on hands class feature, smite evil class feature, unarmed strike class feature, worshiper of the Silver Flame.

Class Skills:

The argent fist's class skills (and the key abilities for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Chr), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex) and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: The Argent Fist

Class Features:

All of the following are class features of the argent fist prestige class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Argent fists do not gain any new proficiencies with weapons or armor.

Ascetic Knight: The argent fist uses the combined total of his paladin levels, monk levels and argent fist levels to determine his fast movement class feature, his lay on hands class feature, his smite evil class feature and his unarmed strike class feature. This includes the number of times per day these abilities can be used as well as the effectiveness thereof.

Holy Ki (Su): The unarmed attacks of the argent fist are considered to be magic and silver for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

Wrath of the Silver Flame (Su): At 3rd level, the argent fist can expend one use of his lay on hands class ability as a standard action that does not provoke to cloak himself in a translucent silver aura. This aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to 5 + the argent fists's Chr modifier, to a minimum of 5 rounds. The light it produces is equivalent to a torch. Any undead, outsider of the evil subtype, or creature of the shapeshifter subtype with damage reduction overcome by silver takes an additional 2d6 points of damage when struck by the argent fists's unarmed attacks. This damage does not get multiplied on a critical hit. This is considered holy damage, but still applies even if the target is not evil.

Stalwart (St): At 5th level, the argent fist gains the stalwart class feature, as per the inquisitor class.

Balm of the Silver Flame (Su): At 8th level, when the argent fist uses his Wrath of the Silver Flame class ability, the effect is augmented in a number of ways while the aura is active. First, the light provided is equal to that of a sunrod. Also, any ally within 30' of the argent fist gets the +4 morale bonus against fear effects from the argent fist's aura of courage class ability. This increase in radius does not stack with other sources. Lastly, any healing effect that is initiated by a worshiper of the Silver Flame within 30' of the argent fist is automatically doubled. This includes effects generated by the argent fist, himself, but does not include allies that follow different faiths. If there is any question as to whether or not a given person is a worshiper of the Silver Flame, then assume this part of the class feature does not apply. Only those of serious faith gain the benefit.

With the exception of the brightness of the light generated, these qualities stack with the Wrath of the Silver Flame class feature.

Embrace of the Silver Flame (Su): At 10th level, when the argent fist uses his Wrath of the Silver Flame class ability, the effect is amplified in a number of ways while the aura is active. First, the light given off is as per the Daylight spell. Second, the argent fist gains fast healing equal to his Wisdom bonus, minimum of 1. Any undead, outsider of the evil subtype, or creature of the shapeshifter subtype with damage reduction overcome by silver that ends its turn within 60' of you takes 2d6 points of holy damage (no save) and suffers a -2 penalty to is AC until the beginning of its next turn. Lastly, any critical threat made by the argent fist's unarmed attacks against undead, outsiders of the evil subtype, or creature of the shapeshifter subtype with damage reduction overcome by silver is automatically confirmed.

With the exception of the brightness of the light generated, these qualities stack with the Wrath of the Silver Flame and the Balm of the Silver Flame class features.