Follower of the Third (3.5e Prestige Class)

Follower of the Third
A forgotten piece of lore about the three apprentices of the Hero's Edge creator is that they all aimed for the title of "Hero". The third of them, by far the most powerful, was the only one to receive that title. Alas, all things must come to an end, and he fell.

Of course, not all could believe that he fell, and a following of his style remained. These are the Followers of the Third.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Follower of the Third.

Maneuvers: At 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level, you gain a new maneuver known from the Hero's Edge or Diamond Mind disciplines. You must meet a maneuver’s prerequisite to learn it. You add your full Follower of the Third levels to your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and your highest-level maneuvers known. At levels 1, 3, and 5, you gain an additional maneuver readied per day.

'Stances Known: At 1st and 5th level, you learn a new martial stance from Hero's Edge or Diamond Mind disciplines.. You must meet a stance’s prerequisite to learn it.

Background Music : Upon first becoming a follower of the third, background music manifests around you for 30 ft. The music is something foreboding, usually with ominous Latin chanting, but possibly another accompaniment. This effect if usually active, causing the Follower of the Third to automatically fail all Move Silently checks he makes, but it grants a +5 bonus on Intimidate checks made in a duel of wills or to demoralize an opponent. This can be suppressed as a move action, but reactivates at the first appropriate dramatic moment.

Pure Speed : At second level in this class, you have learned the proper footwork and motions needed in order to accelerate greatly. For a total number of rounds per day equal to twice your levels in this class, you may act as though under a Haste effect. You may divide your time using this ability as you wish. Use of this ability is a Swift Action.

Falling Hero Stance : At third level in this class, you learn how to use the favored stance of the third apprentice. Whenever you would enter a stance from the Hero's Edge or Diamond Mind disciplines, you can forgo its normal benefit as a swift action to gain the effect of Falling Hero stance. This ability lasts as long as you would maintain the stance.

While using this ability, you take no falling damage. In addition, if you fall more than 20 feet, you may treat your fall as though it were a charge, making a single melee attack at the end of it, with all of the normal benefits of a charge, plus an additional 1d6 damage per 10 feet of fall, maximum 20d6.

Diamond Hero : At fourth level, you have hardened your will so much that you can trade use of one of your normal techniques for improving your other style. Whenever you are in a Diamond Mind or Hero's Edge stance, you may choose to expend a maneuver you have readied from either discipline as a swift action. If you do so, you gain one of two benefits.

If the maneuver expended was a Hero's Edge maneuver, you gain a bonus to Concentration checks equal to that maneuver's level until you leaves the stance or the end of the encounter, whichever comes first. If the maneuver expended was a Diamond Mind maneuver, you gain a bonus to Jump checks equal to twice that maneuvers level, until you leave the stance or the end of the encounter, whichever comes first.

Angelic Apotheosis : At fifth level in this class, you have finally discovered the lost secret of the third apprentice, and can sprout a lone wing from your shoulder on a whim. When the wing is extended, you gain a fly speed equal to your base land speed, with perfect maneuverability, and gain a bonus on all Jump checks equal to your base land speed divided by 5 (If your base land speed was 30ft, you would gain a +6 bonus to Jump). In addition, whenever you are in a Diamond Mind or Hero's Edge stance, you receive a +2 bonus on all attack rolls.