Order of the Purple Dragon – Cavalier Order
Source: Player’s Guide to Faerun, adapted from conversion on Giant in the Playground.
Cavaliers of the Order of the Purple Dragons of Cormyr are regarded across Faerun as exemplars of disciplined, skilled, and loyal soldiers. Though they are known as the Purple Dragon Knights, these elite troops are not solely of noble birth. Likewise, there are those of noble birth who bear the title of Knight by virtue of their nobility, but do not serve in the ranks of the Purple Dragons.
They typically learn skills regarding the ability to lead and coordinate soldiers. When not in the direct employ of Cormyr, the Purple Dragon Knights often extend these edicts to close friends and allies but never away from Cormyr. Not all Purple Dragon Knights are conscripted soldiers; a regiment of irregulars is comprised of seasoned adventurers willing to follow the edicts of the Order, receive training in protocol and formation by a commander of the regulars, and they serve at the call of the Crown.
Edicts: The Cavalier cannot be of a chaotic or evil alignment. They must conduct themselves with honor, professionalism, and remain loyal to the crown, friends, allies, and countrymen at all times even when not working directly for the crown or the country. A cavalier that becomes evil or chaotic looses all of the benefits of this order but can regain them once the knight’s alignment returns and he performs a mission for the Purple Knights organization in penance.
Challenge: Whenever the Purple Dragon Cavalier issues a challenge, he gains a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks against the intended target. This bonus increases by +1 every five levels the cavalier possesses to a maximum of +5 at level 20.
Skills: The Order of the Purple Dragon Knights Cavalier gains Perform (Oratory) and Perception (Wis) to his class skill list. The Cavalier gains a bonus equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1) on his sense motive checks in order to detect lies and against Bluff checks to be feinted.
Order Abilities:
Rallying Cry (Su): At level 2, the knight can utter a powerful shout (such as “For Cormyr!”) as a swift action allowing all allies within 25ft + 5 feet per two cavalier levels to make a charge with a +1 morale bonus on their next attack roll and increase their land speed by 5 feet. At 8th level, and every 6 levels thereafter, the bonuses to attack and to land speed increase by +1 and 5 additional feet. In addition, affected allies gain a morale bonus equal to the cavalier’s Charisma bonus to all will saves against fear. These effects last for a number of rounds equal to the cavalier’s charisma modifier. The bonus to attack and speed are expended once the ally completes his charge, but the bonus against fear lasts for the full duration. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the purple dragon’s knight’s charisma modifier.
Inspire Courage (Su): At 8th level, the cavalier gains the inspire courage ability of a bard. The cavalier activates this ability by giving a rousing speech as a move action, using the perform (oratory) skill. His allies must be able to hear and understand the cavalier’s speech, and he must maintain this ability through his speech, thus cannot normally use other abilities (such as casting magic spells) that require a verbal component. He is, however, treated as having bardic performance for the purpose of feats that alter these limitations. Affected allies gain a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear and charm effects, and the bonuses increase as a bard equal to his cavalier level –7. This ability is usable for a number of rounds per day equal to his charisma modifier plus his cavalier level. These rounds to not have to be used consecutively, but they have to be used in one-round increments. If the cavalier also has bard levels, they stack for purposes of determining the duration and overall bonus for this ability.
Final Stand (Su): At 15th level a cavalier of the Order of the Purple Dragon can inspire his allies to grand heroic effort using his inspire courage ability, additionally granting a dodge bonus to armor class equal to his Charisma bonus, and temporary hit points equal to 1d10 + his cavalier level, to all allies within 25 + 5 feet per two levels. If a creature is in the radius of more than one Purple Dragon Knight using this ability, then only the larger bonus and duration applies.