Skyrider

Because they are so rare, Skyriders are often considered more myth than reality... the Skyrider is a heavenly warrior of the air. Borne by a hippogriff, he soars through the clouds with the grace of an eagle and the precision of an arrow in flight. He serves as a defender of both the skyways and the earth.

The Skyrider owes his skills to his unusual relationship with his mount. The skyrider is an elite unit (rumored) held in reserve by the Church of Palanos. Prophesied by Guardians (as seen in visions), skyriders are a rare breed of Templar. After being recognized, the young child is matched with a young flying mount. The child and mount are encouraged to share much time training, playing, even sleeping together. Within a few years, their bond is so strong that the mount responds to the rider almost intuitively. The training is done in complete isolation with only other Skyriders as mentors... the location of which is known only by the Guardian who foresaw the skyrider's birth.

Bonded Mount

Hippogriff. The Skyrider acquires his bonded mount at 1st level.

Ministration

Mentor young skyriders. Independent soldiers, though they are ready to serve the Church at a moments notice. Skyriders live and train in pairs, mentor and mentee.

Role

Though Skyriders make excellent scouts and explorers, they're particularly useful as soldiers. Their flying mounts enable them to move quickly to distant locations, irrespective of rivers, chasms, or other obstacles. They can target enemies on the ground, breech stronghold walls, and swoop around enemy forces to attack from behind. They can undertake reconnaissance missions to determine the size of enemy armies and monitor their movement.

In peacetime, a Skyrider can take advantage of his bird's-eye view to look for virgin farmland and new trade routes. He can also watch for natural disasters, such as forest fires and floods. Some teach themselves to track tornadoes and hurricanes, warning those in a storm's path to take shelter. A Skyrider can deliver supplies to isolated villages, rescue trapped explorers, and visit distant islands without a ship.

A Skyrider fulfills many of these same functions in an adventuring party, scouting ahead for signs of trouble, attacking enemies from the air, and crossing hostile terrain to deliver messages and goods. Because a Skyrider often prefers the company of his mount to that of other people, his companions may find him cold and aloof.

At this point, the very existence of the Skyrider is legendary to the common man, however, the Church of Palanos employs them fairly regularly. No one knows of their training location or how many exist, this secret is kept by the Guardians who identified the skyrider.

As a player character, the Skyrider can be especially difficult to play for a variety of reasons. To make things easier, the character should be willing to part with his/her mount for the majority of the time they are playing…. Here are some possible ways to realistically create a scenario…

The Templar is adventuring under the watchful eye of the Hippogriff who,mostly, takes care of him/herself and only becomes involved in dire circumstances - the party may be unaware that the character is a Skyrider.

The character needs to earn his/her mount for some reason (punishment or hasn’t earned their place yet) and thus has not bonded with their mount yet.

Distinctive Appearance

Symbol: Wings spread on a downward thrust sword.

Special Benefits

When airborne, all non-missile attacks made by either the bonded mount or the Skyrider receive a +1 modifier to hit. This includes attacks made against ground or airborne targets, along with all situations covered in the Aerial Combat rules in Chapter 9 of the DMG. For missile combat, use the modifiers in Table 21.

Additionally, the Skyrider receives a +2 bonus to Riding (Airborne) proficiency checks for feats involving his bonded mount.

Longer Relationship: Under normal conditions, a bonded mount remains with its Skyrider for 15 years.

Faster Training: The Skyrider can teach his bonded mount a trick in 1d4+1 days, a task in 1-2 weeks. Like other bonded mounts, the Skyrider's mount can learn d10+10 tricks and tasks, in any combination.

Telepathic Communication: When the Skyrider reaches 12th level, he gains the ability to communicate telepathically with his bonded mount, sending and receiving mental messages at will. This ability's range is 10 times the Skyrider's level, in feet.

Special Hindrances

Mourning: When the Skyrider loses his bonded mount, he feels the loss intensely. If the bonded mount was lost because of the Skyrider's actions - for instance, the Skyrider's carelessness resulted in the mount's death, or the mount left because the Skyrider was stripped of his Templarhood - the Skyrider mourns for 1d4+1 months. If the bonded mount served its full 15 years, or the Skyrider voluntarily releases it, the Skyrider mourns for 2d4 weeks. During the mourning period, the Skyrider suffers a -2 penalty to all attack, ability, and proficiency rolls.

Class

Templar

Attribute Requirements

None

Barred Beliefs

Any evil

Race Requirement

Any

Bonus Weapon Proficiencies

None

Required Weapon Proficiencies

None

Recommended Weapon Proficiencies

Any. Because Skyriders don't suffer the normal mounted missile fire penalties (see the Special Benefits section), many choose proficiencies in the longbow, crossbow, or sling.

Barred Weapon Proficiencies

None

Bonus Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Riding (Airborne)

Recommended Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Direction Sense, Hunting, Tracking, Weather Sense

Barred Non-Weapon Proficiencies

Jousting

Equipment

Standard. Usually, the Skyrider must purchase high-quality, customized tack for his flying mount to ensure maximum comfort and maneuverability. Depending on the size and species of the mount, customized tack (including bit, bridle, halter, and saddles) costs 20-40 gp. The Skyrider should also consider full barding for his mount (preferably leather).

Wealth Options

Normal

Homeland Terrain

None

Economic System

None