Thorn of the White Rose (PrC)

[NoOneofConsequence]

The Thorn of the White Rose is a prestige class attached to an order of monks and clerics called the White Rose Sisterhood. The sisterhood was founded by a rape victim turned vigilante. If I can find the backstory I wrote (it was for a campaign four years ago) I'll post it here as well.

Thorn of the White Rose

Prereq’s:
Attk: +4
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Sai); Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Whip); Track
Skills: Wilderness Lore: 2 ranks; Knowledge (Religion): 5 ranks;
Alignment: LN (Thorns care nothing for good or evil, only defending women)
Special: Must be female

Hit Dice: d8

Skill Points: 4/level
Class Skills:
Balance (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Wilderness Lore (Wis)

Weapons & Armour
Thorns gain no new weapon or armour proficiencies.

A……..F/R/W………..Class Features
+1……+0/+2/+2…… Two Weapon Sai; Wound; Favoured Enemy (+1); Sense Rapist
+2……+0/+3/+3……. Smite*; Improved Trip
+3……+1/+3/+3……. Entangle; Defensive Strike (+2)
+4……+1/+4/+4……. Whip Sneak Attack +1d6; Favoured Enemy (+2)
+5……+1/+4/+4……. Lash of Wrath
+6……+2/+5/+5……. Improved Disarm; Defensive Strike (+3)
+7……+2/+5/+5……. Whip Sneak Attack +2d6
+8……+2/+6/+6……. Bound by Thorns
+9……+3/+6/+6……. Defensive Strike (+4)
+10…..+3/+7/+7……. Scourge of Wrath; Whip Sneak Attack +3d6

Two Weapon Sai(Ex): When wearing light armour a Thorn may wield two sai as though she had Ambidexterity and Two Weapon Fighting feats.

Wound(Ex): When wielding a whip or whip dagger a Thorn can choose to do standard damage instead of subdual.

Favoured Enemy(Su): Whenever applied to a male suspected of rape, or a slaver, a Thorn gains the listed bonus to damage, Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, Wilderness Lore.

Sense Rapist (Su): A Thorn can use the Sense Motive skill to sense if a man she is in conversation with is a rapist. A Thorn can force an opposed Bluff vs Sense Motive roll. If the Thorn is successful in detecting a rapist, the rapist can make a counter Bluff vs Sense Motive roll to realize that he has been found out. This ability makes Thorns especially feared.

Smite*(Su): Once per day a Thorn can add +4 to her attack roll when attacking a rapist or slaver. She can add her level to the damage of the roll. The Thorn need not know for certain that the male humanoid is a rapist or slaver but if the male is not, then the smite has no effect and is used for the day.

Improved Trip(Ex): When using a whip or whip-blade, a Thorn has the use of the Improved Trip feat.

Entangle (Sp): Once per day, Thorn’s can summon forth vines, roots and creepers to entangle foes, as per the spell. Caster level equals Thorn class level.

Defensive Strike (Ex): When defending a female humanoid against attack from a male, the Thorn gets the listed morale bonus to attack and damage rolls.

Whip Sneak Attack (Ex): Whenever a Thorn’s opponent is denied their Dex bonus to AC or is flanked, a Thorn’s whip or whip-dagger attack gains the listed damage bonus.

Lash of Wrath (Su): A Thorn can strike to stun with her whip. The victim must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 12 + Thorn lvl) or else be stunned for 2 rounds. This ability can be used once per day per level of the Thorn. This ability will not work on any female humanoid.

Improved Trip (Ex): A Thorn receives the Improved Trip feat for free when using either a sai, whip or whip-dagger.

Bound by Thorns (Su): When a Thorn attacks with the Lash of Wrath, she can use her whip to effect an improved grapple attack. The whip lengthens to entangle any male humanoid of Large size or less. While grappling, the whip sprouts sharp thorns which cause an additional 1d6 points of damage per round. The whip grapples as a Medium-sized creature with a strength bonus equal to the Thorn’s strength bonus + ½ Thorn’s class level.

Scourge of Wrath (Su): When striking to smite, a Thorn’s sai, whip or whip-dagger, she can inflict the rapist or slaver with poison (DC20 1d6 Str/1d6 Str). A Thorn can now smite 4 times a day.

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

The Story of the White Rose Order

I found the backstory - here it is.

The Tale of Bradamante of the White Rose

Bradamante was a beautiful young girl who grew up in a Pentapoline village, the daughter of a local healer. She was gentle natured and kind. One day the soldiers of the local nobleman came through her village on their way to do battle with Imperial forces. Some of these soldiers noticed Bradamante doing her chores and they stopped to talk to her. They were coarse men, as soldiers often are, and they made lewd suggestions to her. Bradamante was still a virgin and she wanted nothing to do with these men. Finally they were called back to the march and Bradamante soon forgot about them.

Some days later, those men who had marched to the battle were defeated and the Imperium took control of Bradamante's village, because it was on the border of Trothkalmet lands. The defeated soldiers took to banditry and hid from Imperial soldiers in nearby woods. In a later season, the bandits came upon Bradamante as she was collecting herbs for her father's healings. They confronted her and made clear that they planned to rape her. Bradamante fled, screaming with fear and quickly became lost. She finally hid under a wild rose bush, tearing her skin on the thorns as she pushed herself further in. The bandits soon found her however and dragged her from her hiding place. They beat her for running from them and raped her many times.

Bradamante's screams had been heard by some Imperial soldiers patrolling the woods and they came to investigate. When they found the bandits in the midst of their crime they quickly disarmed them and held them at sword point. Then the soldiers saw that Bradamante was lying naked on the ground and they too raped her and then, leading the bandits away, they left her for dead.

As Bradamante lay wounded and violated on the ground she was found by her father. He took her home and mended her wounded body. But her wounded spirit was beyond his ability to heal. Bradamante clothed herself in a cloak all day and all night, with the hood always drawn up. She fashioned a mask for herself and she refused to let any man look upon her again. Daily she would walk into the woods to the place where she had been raped and there before the rose bush she would weep for her violation and the wound in her heart that would not heal.

One morning, as she knelt on the ground before the rose bush and wept angry tears, there was a light about her and a voice said "Your cries have been heard." She looked up and saw a celestial messenger, glowing white and adorned in armour. He stood within the rose bush and all about him on the branches rose blooms were growing, white rose blooms. The messenger said to her "Your tears and your blood have been taken to these blooms, to cleanse them. For the Maker of All Things has seen your anguish and he has appointed the rose to you as your sign, for in his eyes you are purified. I am to teach you the Way of the White Rose, for vengeance will be delivered into your hand.”

The messenger took Bradamante into the woods and there she lived for a year learning battle at his instruction. When she emerged after a year she came armed and armoured and she no longer wore her mask. She came forth with the weapons of the White Rose way, the Sai and the Scourge, for vengeance. With these weapons, and the magic of the White Rose, she avenged herself. In the days and seasons that followed Bradamante hunted down and slew every man, bandit and soldier, who had been present that day. Some she slew in their homes. Others she hunted and bound and dragged to the public square where they confessed their crimes before she executed them. Wherever they were slain a white rose bush grew up from the ground. The last grew by the well in the Old City in Trothkalmet. It still grows there and the city folk brew healing salves from its petals, but its thorns are poisonous to any man who touches them.

Other women who had been violated came to Bradamante seeking justice. She taught them the Way which she had been shown and so was the Order of the White Rose begun. When at last Bradamante died she was ordained by the Maker as Patron Saint of the White Rose and she was given guardianship of the Order. She was buried in the woods and she was mourned a maid, unsullied and pure.

 

[Sidran]

T hough I have not looked solidly over the rules the back story is touching, and sullen. Very well written I will look over the rules when I can truthfuly see with out to much blurring of words its 2:41 AM here at the time of the post but I will take the PRC and Test it a bit next session.

 

[trentonjoe]

THe flavor text is neat, sad but neat. The rules stuff is pretty sound, there are alot of SA but they are awfully limited. I would allow this in my game.

My only question is on the prereqs. Religion 5 seems a little high. PCs wouldn't be able to qualify frot his until 7+ level. Between the 3 feats needed and the skill points, it is a little steep.

 

[novyet]

What exactly is their hit die and skill points per level, as they are not listed? To me this class is what Prestige classes are all about, a focused concept or group. Very cool.

 

[trentonjoe]

What exactly is their hit die and skill points per level, as they are not listed? To me this class is what Prestige classes are all about, a focused concept or group. Very cool.

I just assumed it would be d10 and 2 skill points per level. Is that right?

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I like!

One question: Is there any form of penance required for falsely/incorrectly accusing/attacking/slaying someone? Kinda like a priest-type or Paladin breaking her vows?

 

[novyet]

I just assumed it would be d10 and 2 skill points per level. Is that right?

That was my guess as well, but it's always good to hear from the source.

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

Doh

Hit dice and skill points I should have thought of that.

I gave 4 skill points and a d8 in campaign, but 1d10 & 2sp would work just as well.

In terms of the Know: Religion skill requisite - it's a class skill for a lot more classes in my campaign. It could easily be dropped back to 3 or even 2 for a standard campaign.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I still consider this to be some of my most creative writing in rpgs, even though its years old.

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

Re: I like!

One question: Is there any form of penance required for falsely/incorrectly accusing/attacking/slaying someone? Kinda like a priest-type or Paladin breaking her vows?

Actually no. IMC the sisterhood was very insular and disdainful of men - rapists or no. In a more compassionate campaign this would add some interesting character development. Laltrossba - the Thorn in my campaign - was a damaged person with a ruthless attitude, but a kinder, gentler Thorn could be really affected by a mistake like this. Cool idea.