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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aarondirebear" data-source="post: 3628630" data-attributes="member: 53369">There is a sounding of horns as the horde of orcs bears down upon you.  The assembled masses stop to look far beyond your own heads, towards what seems at first to be a red storm on the horizon.  A great rumbling sound echoes throughout the valley as the storm draws near.  When they are within arrow's shot, you see that the storm is in fact a force of over a hundred mounted warriors, all wearing blood red armor.  The orcs before you begin to cry out in fear as they stop their charge and make a defensive formation.  They gallop right by you, but out of the corner of your eyes, you can see that the riders have prominent pointed ears...they are elves!  They rip through the ranks of the orcs, tearing them apart with glaive and longsword alike.  At the head of the roce is a well decorated elf with an Eastern style Kabuto helm and a wicked looking glaive that repeatedly bisects powerful looking orcs.  You look on as the bloodshed continues...ConceptThe crimson riders are elven cavalrymen who wear bright red armor to confuse and frighten their opponents.  They are well disciplined and masters of fighting on horseback.  The purpose is to make mounted combat viable at epic level, by enabling the player's mount to survive more than one round of combat.StoryThe War of the Orcs broke out when the young elf, Alyanor Vensel, was still in his Eighties, before he had come of age.  Before he knew it he had picked up one of his father’s spare long swords and joined the battle alongside the scouts and guards defending the city.  Impressed by the youngster’s enthusiasm and talent, Xaldir Snowstrider, an ancient tactician and commander of a massive cavalry, took him on as an apprentice.  Under Xaldir, Aouihier fought in many battles and became highly decorated.  The most notable of these occurred in the 523rd year of the Fifth Age. At Xaldir’s command, he led 2,000 elves through a mountain pass, ending up on higher ground than the orc force of 9,000.  Surprised by the rear attack, the orcs descended the mountain in the hopes of finding even ground.  However, they were led right into the waiting arms of Xaldir’s main force.  The pincer attack had succeeded, and the orcs were ground into dust.  Thus did an army of 6,000 defeat one of 9,000.  However, just one year after that battle, an even fiercer one was fought, with double the number of orcs.  During the battle, Xaldir was mortally wounded, having been pierced by several arrows, two spears, and sustaining several slashes with axes before retreating to camp.  Only Alyanor and two soldiers saw him die in the command tent.  Knowing that the news of the death of their commander would hurt their morale and increase the orcs’ ferocity, Alyanor donned Xaldir’s armor, once alabaster and now bright red with fresh blood, and rode into battle posing as him.  The orcs were bewildered that such a man they had wounded would still be fighting, and the elves were heartened by their commander’s bravery.  Alyanor led the charge of the cavalry for the first time, and he tore through the enemy ranks with the swiftness of his glaive.  As the sun set, an army of humans arrived and ensured their victory.  Alyanor was named the new commander of that unit, and he ordered all riders to wear bright red armor from then on.  Thus was his unit dubbed the Crimson Riders.  In the following years, the orcs would come to call this battalion the “Blood Tide of Death” for its ferocity and signature frightening red armor (and also as an allusion to the fact that where they charged, they left a veritable ocean of Orcish blood in their wake). After the war ended, Alyanor continued to train his crimson riders, and eventually a citadel was constructed to serve as their main base, and to keep an eye on the Badlands from which the orcs originated.Crimson Cavalry in Other SettingsThe original Crimson Cavalry comes from my homebrew world of Seiaran. However, it is reasonable to say that other worlds may have developed their own equivalents.  The years may also be different, considering that Seiaran uses extended lifespans for elves and dragons.  The essential elements are unusuallyt militaristic and ferocious high elves who wear red armor and ride horses.ClassesFighters and rangers are the most common Crimson Riders, although some Paladins and Lawful Good clerics of the Elven Pantheon join their ranks.  Monks who become Crimson Riders practice Zen Archery from horseback.  The occasional Elven samurai or night may also choose this path.  Spellcasters and rogues rarely if ever have the drive it takes to become a member.  The ordered nature of the Riders is anathemic to barbarians and bards.Crimson Riders and the World Around ThemElves revere crimson riders with respect at best, and consider them high strung at worst.  Even though their lawfulness is not very elf-like, their dedication to serving the Queen and protecting elven lands from orcs is something they admire.Human reaction is varied depending on region. Most will be awed or intimidated by the brightness of their armor, and surprised by their ferocity in combat (which most humans see as being out of character with elves).  Half-Orcs are wary of them, considering their reputation for slaying orcs.  However, those who take the path of fighter or barbarian see them variously as worthy foes or as exceptional allies.  Really, it depends on whether the half orc favors his human heritage or his orcish heritage.Dwarves tend to like the Crimson Riders more than any other of the elves, given that they valor honor so highly. They see the Crimson Rider as comparible to a Dwarven Defender, and are even hesitant to doubt that one could hold his liquor.Halflings are usually frightened by the red armor combined with the horse.  Personalitywise they find a rider usually very stiff, but they will try to soften them up with hospitality.Gnomes are all extinct in Seiaran and thus can not have reactions. The Gnomish Equivalent to Vashar, the Nomes, however, are still around. They hate elves just the same as everything else.Neko-jin are usually enthralled by the shiny nature of their armor and are too distracted to be afraid or awed.Half-elves react the same way as elves do. Orcs are deathly afraid of Crimson riders. Any orc who sees a crimson rider is affected as if the elf had frightful prescence equal to a Dragon of Large size and hit dice equal to the elf's character level+5.  If he encounters multiple riders, the DC increases by 2 for every rider present.Goblins and their ilk see no difference between a Crimson Rider and another elf, though they may initially be confused or bewildered by the red armor.StatisticsHit Die: d12Skill Points: 2+int modifierWeapon and Armor Proficiency: A crimson Rider gains proficiency with the Glaive and the buckler.Class Skills: Ride, Handle Animal, Knowledge (military tactics), Knowledge (history, military only), Intimidate.PrerequisitesAlignment: LG, LNFeats: Mounted Combat, Ride By Attack, Spirited ChargeRace: Elf or Half ElfSkills: Ride 8 Ranks------------BAB--F--R--W-----AbilitiesLevel 01:     +1   +2 +0 +0    Improved Mounted CombatLevel 02:     +2   +3 +0 +0    Equistarean Expertise +5Level 03:     +3   +3 +1 +1    Elven Strike +1Level 04:     +4   +4 +1 +1    Forlorn HopeLevel 05:     +5   +4 +1 +1    Equistarean Expertise +10Level 06:     +6   +5 +2 +2    Full Mounted Attack Level 07:     +7   +5 +2 +2    Elven Strike +2Level 08:     +8   +6 +2 +2    Silent as the ForestLevel 09:     +9   +6 +3 +3    Swift as The Wind, EE +15Level 10: +10  +7 +3 +3    Immovable as a Mountain, Improved Mounted Combat: A Crimson Rider may use the Mounted Combat Feat an unlimited amount of times per round.Equistarean Expertise: Due to rigorous training, a Crimson Rider is especially good at fighting whilst on horseback. He gains a +5 competence bonus to ride checks at 2nd level, which increases to +10 at 5th level, and +15 at 9th level. THis stacks with skill focus and its epic counterpart.Elven Strike:  A Crimson Rider is fiercer than fire.  When wielding weapons elves commonly use while mounted, such as the Longsword, the Glaive, and the Longbow, a Crimson Rider gains a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls with such weapons.  This bonus increases to +2 at 7th level, Full Mounted Attack: At 6th level a Crimson Rider may take make a full attack action in the same round in which his mount has moved more than 5 feet.  This does not enable him to make a full attack action during a charge (thats what Dire Charge is for).Forlorn Hope: If the Crimson Rider is the first ally to charge into battle, he gains the benefit of the Diehard feat for the duration of the battle.Silent as the Forest: A forest of Elven Glaives is often an omen of doom for orcs.  When wielding a glaive, it is treated as a lance for determining how much damage it deals when charging on horseback.Swift as The Wind: At 9th level, any creature the Crimson Rider uses as a mount gains a +20 sacred bonus to its base speed.Immovable as The Mountain: A Crimson Rider of 10th Level or higher can not be dismounted forcibly.  Furthermore, in addition to the bonus from Equisterean Expertise, the Crimson Rider gains a +20 insight bonus to his ride check to negate an opponent's attack on his mount, including attacks of opportunity.Multiclass Note: A monk, paladin, samurai, or knight who takes levels in Crimson Rider may continue to advance in his other class.</blockquote>

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