Order of the Drum

A cavalier who belongs to this order devotes his time to perfecting his drum playing, allowing him to embolden his allies, create a burst of rolling thunder, and strike fear in hearts of his foes. Cavaliers of this order tend to be disciplined, stalwart, and brave in the heat of battle. This order complements the Herald of the March multiclass archetype.

Edicts: An order of the drum cavalier must seek to induce fear in the hearts of his enemies and embolden his allies upon the field of battle. He must strives to distress his foes, and takes every action to bring honor and victory to his allies through his music.

Challenge: Whenever an order of the drum cavalier issues a challenge, all allies within 30 feet gain a +1 circumstance bonus to all Will saves made against enchantment (compulsion) spells and effects used by the target of the challenge. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 cavalier levels.

Skills: An order of the drum cavalier adds Perform (percussion) (Cha) and Knowledge (nobility) (Int) to his list of class skills. When the cavalier uses Perform (percussion), he gains a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1).

Order Abilities: A cavalier that belongs to the order of the drum gains the following abilities as he increases in level.

Advance and Retreat (Ex)

At 2nd level, the cavalier can use his drums to increase the run speed of allied creatures within 120 feet as if they had the Run feat. This is a standard action that requires a DC 20 Perform (percussion) check. As long as the cavalier continues to play, the effect remains. Maintaining the playing is a free action if the cavalier is riding or running. If the cavalier stops playing the drum, the enhanced running speed ends. This ability can be used for up to 10 minutes per cavalier level. This duration does not need to be consecutive, but must be used in 1-minute increments.

Roar of Thunder (Ex)

At 8th level, the cavalier can strike his drum, filling a 15-foot cone shaped burst in front of him with the thunder of pounding drums. Any creature in the area takes 1d6 points of sonic damage per two cavalier levels (maximum 5d6) and is knocked prone. A successful Fortitude save halves the damage and negates being knocked prone. The cavalier can use this ability once per day at 8th level, plus an additional time per day every four levels thereafter, up to four times per day at 20th level.

Thrum of Dread (Su)

At 15th level, as a standard action, the cavalier can sound his drum with a powerful cadence. This sounding caused all creatures within 120 feet (with the exception of those within a 20-foot-radius safe zone around the cavalier) to become affected as by a fear spell, unless a successful Will save is made (DC 10 + 1/ the cavalier’s level + the cavalier’s Charisma modifier). The cavalier can use this ability once per day at 15th level and twice per day at 18th level.