+The Companions: Campaign Setting
Adventures
Characters
+The World of Angaria: Geography
Empires
Society & Gods
+The Path of the Paragon: Adventures
Characters
Journals
+Game Information: Reference
d20 Additions
Prestige Classes
Monsters
Tools
+About: Who are we?
Updates

Great Eagles (Prestige Class)

	House Reference		d20 Additions		Tools
	Glossary \| The List		Prestige Classes \| Monsters \| Feats \| Magic \| Items \|		Fonts & Images \| Links

The Great Eagles of Caerbreddyn are a magnificent site to behold. Swooping and rising against the mountain-scape, these airborne warriors are the chief source of pride for the people of the mountain kingdom.

Formed as an elite unit of warriors, ages ago, the Great Eagles were nothing more than a well-trained unit of spearmen. Their chief conceit, and the origin of their name, was the decorative eagle-helms they wore into battle. The Great Eagles dealt with problems the Caerbreddyn army could not, and soon became well known throughout the empire as one of the most formidable fighting forces around.

This remained the case until the Rain of the Manticore.

For some unfathomable reason, hordes upon hordes of Manticores began preying upon the Caerbreddyn countryside. The Great Eagles were dispatched to deal with the menace, but were ill equipped to deal with so many opponents that could fly. One enterprising commander had heard legend of an artifact that could give wings to men, and so emboldened, he took his unit of men and embarked on a quest to find the item. The tales of what transpired on that quest are unknown. What is known, is those two months later the unit reappeared - all of them now able to fly.

These new Great Eagles picked a handful of men from other units, and in a very secret, magical ceremony, gave them wings. With these added recruits, the Great Eagles made short work of the Manticores by bringing the fight to the sky. Many a song was coined that season, as luminous angels of Caerbreddyn soared through the air and drove off the Manticore menace.

The King of Caerbreddyn, sensing a chance to increase both fighting prowess and national pride, changed the structure of the Great Eagles following this. The normal unit was renamed the Golden Eagles, and they were given golden shields and spearheads to wield in battle. The Great Eagles then became the name for those warriors of certain merit and valor that could earn the mystical white wings.

And thus, the majestic Great Eagles were reborn.

Great Eagles, by and large, serve the direct interests of Caerbreddyn. They are the elite of the elite, and their very presence brings awe and stirs national pride. Some Great Eagles, however, are sent out as ambassadors. These Eagles are attached to the elite troops of other nations, or to visible and worthy adventuring parties. In any case, Great Eagles take an oath to both the Emperor and the King of Caerbreddyn, and will risk life and wing to defend both.

It is during this oath that they are blessed by the artifact that eventually grants them their wings.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Great Eagle, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any Good
Balance: 10 ranks
Knowledge (Caerbreddyn History): 5 ranks
Tumble: 10 ranks
Feats: Improved Initiative; Craft Wondrous Item; Spring Attack; Weapon Focus (Mace or Spear)
Spellcasting: Must be able to cast Fly
Special: Oath of loyalty to the Emperor and King of Caerbreddyn.

Class skills

The Great Eagle's class skills (and the ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Craft (Int), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex). See chapter 4: Skills in the Player's Handbook for skill descriptions. Skill Points at each level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Great Eagle's weapon training focuses on weapons suitable for airborne combat. Eagles are proficient with the crossbow (hand, light, or heavy), dagger (any type), mace, short sword, and spear (long, half, and short). Eagles are proficient with light armor and shields. Note that armor check penalties for armor heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Pick Pockets, and Tumble and that carrying heavy gear imposes a check penalty on Swim checks.
Hit Die: d6.

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day


1st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Wings of Man; Summon Familiar	-

2nd	+1	+0	+2	+0	Bonus Feat	+1 level existing class

3rd	+2	+1	+3	+1	Swoop	-

4th	+2	+1	+3	+1	Bonus Feat	+1 level existing class

5th	+3	+1	+4	+1	Wings of the Eagle	-

6th	+4	+2	+4	+2	Improved Maneuverability; Bonus Feat	+1 level existing class

Wings of the Man (Sp): Great Eagles may make Wings of Flying for 1/3 the cost (both GP and XP). These wings only function for a Great Eagle. Unless the Great Eagle already possesses Wings of Flying, they must create a pair before they can advance to their 2nd level.

Summon Familiar (Su): If the Great Eagle doesn't already have a familiar that is a bird, they can (and must) summon a second familiar (which must be a bird). The second familiar may use both the Great Eagle levels and any Wizard or Sorcerer levels to determine its power level. The Great Eagle receives the benefits of both familiars as per the feat Bonus Familiar.

If the Great Eagle already possesses a familiar that is a bird, then they just add their Great Eagle levels to their existing Wizard and Sorcerer levels to determine its power.

Bonus Feats: At 2nd level, the Great Eagle gets a bonus feat. The Great Eagle also gains an additional bonus feat every 2 levels after 2nd (4th and 6th). These bonus feats must be drawn from the following list: Ambidexterity, Blind Fight, Combat Reflexes, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot (Far Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot), Quick Draw, Two Weapon Fighting (Improved Two Weapon Fighting), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus. Alternately, the Eagle may save up two bonus feats and get either Spell Mastery or Weapon Specialization (with a class weapon only).

Swoop (Ex): Using a full round action, a Great Eagle may charge from above and deal quadruple damage with the attack. The Great Eagle must be above the target to make a Swoop attack.

Wings of the Eagle (Ex): At 5th level, a Great Eagle sprouts wings that allow them unlimited flight, as per the Fly spell. The Eagle's wingspan is 15', and an Eagle needs that much room in order to fly (the wings need room to flap) - flying is not exhaustive for the Great Eagle, however.

Once the wings have appeared, they become part of the Eagle's body - this gives the Eagle an additional 15 permanent HP. If the Eagle's HP total drops to less than 15 their wings become useless. Healing the Eagle to 15 or more HP restores their use.

Additionally, as a standard action (Su), a Great Eagle may take their wings into (and release from) their body. Once per day, this will restore 10 HP to the Great Eagle.

Improved Maneuverability: At 6th level, a Great Eagle's maneuverability rating with their wings (both their own and their Wings of Flying) improves to Perfect.

Spells: Beginning at 2nd level, and every other level after that, a Great Eagle may add an additional level of spellcasting to the existing class that can cast Fly.