Shieldmaiden of Numilvara

Campaign class — see Classes for the full list.

Prime Requisite:	WIL and DEX
Requirements:	None
Hit Dice:	1d6
Maximum Level:	14

Human women often dedicate themselves to the service of Numilvara and the defense of Sair. Those who withstand the rigorous training regimen become Her shieldmaidens, known throughout Sair as excellent bodyguards and loyal defenders of the realm.

Shieldmaiden Level Progression / Shieldmaiden Spell Progression

Experience	Title	Level	HD	AC Bonus	1	2	3	4	5	6
0	Shield-Initiate	1	1d6	+1	1	-	-	-	-	-
1,500	Shield-Daughter	2	2d6	+1	2	-	-	-	-	-
3,000	Shield-Guard	3	3d6	+1	2	1	-	-	-	-
6,000	Shield-Warden	4	4d6	+1	2	2	-	-	-	-
12,000	Shield-Sister	5	5d6	+1	2	2	1	-	-	-
24,000	Shield-Adept	6	6d6	+1	2	2	2	-	-	-
50,000	Shield-Dancer	7	7d6	+2	3	2	2	1	-	-
100,000	Shield-Priestess	8	8d6	+2	3	3	2	2	-	-
200,000	Shield-Mistress	9	9d6	+2	3	3	3	2	1	-
300,000	Shield-Mistress, 10th level	10	9d6+1	+2	3	3	3	3	2	-
400,000	Shield-Mistress, 11th level	11	9d6+2	+2	4	3	3	3	2	1
500,000	Shield-Mistress, 12th level	12	9d6+3	+2	4	4	3	3	3	2
600,000	Shield-Mistress, 13th level	13	9d6+4	+3	4	4	4	3	3	2
700,000	Shield-Matriarch	14	9d6+5	+3	4	4	4	4	3	3

Shieldmaiden Saving Throws

Level	Paralysis	Death	Blast	Implement	Spells	Attack Bonus
1-2	13+	10+	16+	13+	15+	+1
3-4	12+	9+	15+	12+	14+	+2
5-6	11+	8+	14+	11+	13+	+3
7-8	10+	7+	13+	10+	12+	+4
9-10	9+	6+	12+	9+	11+	+5
11-12	8+	5+	11+	8+	10+	+6
13-14	7+	4+	10+	7+	9+	+7

Combat Characteristics

Shieldmaidens are skilled combatants trained in a lightly-armored defensive fighting style.

Combat Proficiencies: A shieldmaiden is trained to wield all swords and daggers as well as all spears (including lances, javelins, polearms, and spears). She may wear light and very light armor and is trained to fight with a weapon and shield, but not with two weapons nor wielding a weapon in two hands.

Combat Progression: Like clerics, shieldmaidens advance in attack throws and saving throws by two points every four levels. They can cleave after felling a foe a maximum of once per round per every two class levels (rounded down).

Starting Class Powers

Divine Magic: The shieldmaiden manifests Numilvara’s power in the form of divine spells, which are granted through prayer and worship. The number and level of spells the shieldmaiden can cast in the shieldmaiden spell progression table above. Her spell repertoire is different than that of the cleric, see Magic and Spells for more information.

Martial Prowess: Due to the shieldmaiden’s dedication to combat and the defense of Sair, Numilvara grants her a permanent +1 bonus to all attack throws (already accounted for in the table above).

Weapon Finesse: The shieldmaiden’s training allows her to use her DEX bonus in place of any STR bonus on attack throws with any of the weapons she is proficient with. (This class power is the equivalent of Weapon Finesse proficiency, except that it applies to the shieldmaiden’s specific weapons.)

Quick to Act: Shieldmaidens gain a +1 bonus to all initiative rolls.

Shield Specialization: The shieldmaiden practices a defensive fighting style focused on using a weapon and shield. Whenever she fights with a weapon and shield, she gains a +1 bonus to AC. This ability stacks with Fighting Style Specialization (Weapon and Shield)

Theology: The cleric has received religious instruction at a seminary, monastery, or temple. He can begin play as a member of a religious hierarchy (Judge’s discretion). He can acquire congregants through proselytizing. He can automatically identify religious symbols, spell signatures, trappings, and holy days of his own faith, and can recognize those of other faiths with a proficiency throw of 11+. Rare or occult cults might be harder to recognize. (This class power is the equivalent of one rank of Theology proficiency.)

Additional Class Powers

Minor Magical Research (5^th): The shieldmaiden can scribe scrolls and brew potions.

Major Magical Research (9^th): The shieldmaiden can create permanent magic items, such as weapons, rings, and staffs.

Temple of the Goddess (9^th): By acquiring a temple of the goddess worth at least 15,000gp, the shieldmaiden can attract followers to his service. Provided the shieldmaiden has kept to her code of behavior, she can build a fortified church at half price due to the assistance of her deity and order. 5d6 x 10 0^th level troops and 1d6 shieldmaidens of 1^st level arrive to serve her within 1d3 months of her acquiring the fortified church. If the shieldmaiden has already acquired a fortified church, the followers arrive within 1d3 months of her reaching 9^th level. The followers are fanatically brave and completely loyal (loyalty +4 and morale +4). Despite their loyalty, the followers must be paid a fair wage, or they might eventually leave her service. Additional rules for fortified churches are detailed in Campaigns.

Supreme Magical Research (11^th): The shieldmaiden can learn and cast ritual divine spells of great power (7^th, 8^th, and 9^th level), and craft magical constructs such as golems and animated statues. If chaotic, the shieldmaiden can create necromantic servants and even become undead himself. Rules for magic research can be found in Campaigns.

Code Of Behavior

Like clerics, shieldmaidens must uphold the strictures of their order and the goddess Numilvara.

The shieldmaiden must always carry a shield upon her person, except where imperial or sacred law forbids it.
The shieldmaiden must offer prayers to Numilvara at either dawn or dusk. Offering prayers requires one hour (6 turns).
The shieldmaiden must not debase herself by fighting with implements not allowed by her order.
The shieldmaiden must not marry or bear children before reaching the rank of Shield-Dancer (7^th level).
The shieldmaiden must not use her divine magic for unlawful or chaotic purposes.

If a shieldmaiden ever violates the strictures of her faith, the goddess might impose penalties upon her. These penalties are entirely up to the Judge. The usual penalty is disfavor (see Conditions) but might include a reduction in spells available or even a loss of all shieldmaiden powers altogether. To remove the penalties, the shieldmaiden will have to atone for her violation by, e.g., sacrificing treasure, undertaking quests, or even receiving an atonement spell from a powerful caster of her order (Judge’s discretion).

Class Proficiencies

Proficiency Progression: At 1^st level, shieldmaidens gain one class proficiency from their class proficiency list and one general proficiency from the general proficiency list (as indicated by the template rolled). They select an additional class proficiency at 4^th, 8^th, and 12^th level. They select an additional general proficiency at 5^th, 9^th, and 13^th level.

Shieldmaiden of Numilvara Proficiency List: Acrobatics, Battle Magic, Beast Friendship, Combat Reflexes, Combat Trickery (force back, knock down), Contemplation, Diplomacy, Divine Blessing, Divine Health, Fighting Style Specialization, Laying on Hands, Magical Music, Martial Training, Mounted Combat, Mystic Aura, Prestidigitation, Prophecy, Quiet Magic, Romance, Running, Skirmishing, Swashbuckling, Syncretism, Unarmed Fighting, Theology, Unflappable Casting, Weapon Focus

Shieldmaiden Templates

3d6	Template	Proficiencies	Starting Equipment
3 – 4	Broken Shield	Syncretism Intimidation	Holy symbol (burning scepter of Numilvara), wickedly curved short sword, animal skin cloak, fur-lined leather girdle, leather breast band, loin cloth, high boots, small sack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, splinters of a broken shield 2gp (enc. 1 5/6 st)
5 – 6	Oracle	Prophecy Theology (2nd rank)	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), wavy-bladed short sword, stout wooden shield, white padded armor, crimson and gold chiton, sandals, small sack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 4gp (enc. 3 4/6 st)
7 – 8	Bringer of Mercy	Laying on Hands Healing	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), slender-bladed sword, very sharp dagger, padded armor, iron shield, white chiton, white sash, high sandals, backpack, 1 lb comfrey, waterskin, 2 weeks’ iron rations, 5gp (enc. 5 st)
9 – 10	Bladesinger	Magical Music Performance (singing)	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), long-hafted spear, polished sword and dagger, steel shield, strappy leather armor, crimson chiton, gold silk sash, high boots, backpack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 11gp (enc. 5 st)
11 – 12	Temple Shieldmaiden	Swashbuckling Performance (dancing)	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), gracefully curved sword, polished steel shield, polished leather armor, shieldmaiden’s head dress (20gp value), golden fur-trimmed cloak, white chiton, high boots, backpack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 4gp (enc. 4 4/6 st)
13 – 14	Veiled Messenger	Quiet Magic Romance	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), slender short sword, dagger, black-painted wooden shield, leather armor, black fur-lined cloak, black silk veil and sash, black linen chiton, long leather gloves, gold bangles (20gp value), high boots, backpack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 10gp (enc. 5 st)
15 – 16	Consular	Contemplation Diplomacy	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), finely made sword and dagger, elegant leather armor, shining steel shield, shieldmaiden’s head dress (20gp value), white silk chiton, high boots, backpack, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 23gp (enc. 4 2/3 st)
17 – 18	Warrior Princess	Martial Training (axes) Riding	Holy symbol (scepter of Numilvara), 2 hand axes, finely made battle axe, polished steel shield, elegant leather armor, crimson chiton, gold silk sash, high boots, shieldmaiden’s head dress (20gp value), medium riding horse, riding tack and saddle, leather saddlebag, waterskin, 1 week’s iron rations, 16 gp (enc. 3 4/6 st with rations on horse)

Notes: The Warrior Princess’s Martial Training proficiency represents training from her order in axes; her use therefore is not a violation of her code of behavior.

Spells

Prayerful divine caster: the shieldmaiden casts from her fixed repertoire below (different from the cleric’s). See Magic and Spellcasting for how repertoires work; the full Divine Spell List shows every divine spell.