Silver Crane (BETA)

[ErrantX]

Silver Crane

Darrion ir'Kall, a Silver Crane apostle

After the fall of empires and nations, the destruction of academies and temples due to war, martial adepts who trained in these places went their separate ways to form enclaves of their own, practicing their arts how they saw fit. Some founded religious orders, some created new temples and academies, some formed secret societies, some simply passed their training down to a single apprentice and urged them to do the same. In modern times, with a new renaissance of martial prowess on the move, a resurgence of less than wholesome disciplines, long forgotten, have resurfaced in the world. There are those who seek to share their souls with demonic entities for power who utilize the dark arts of the Black Heron. However, in this age of renaissance, the goodly races have a new art to combat the horrors given to them by an enigmatic group of incorporeal celestials that refer to themselves as the Argent Oracles. As they have no forms of their own, they grant their martial prowess to those who are willing to channel their essence in combat, learning their martial discipline known as the Silver Crane.

Any and all are open to learn this discipline, assuming that they have somehow called the attention of one of the Argent Oracles and have begun to channel one of their essences through their soul and form. Additionally, it's possible that other martial celestials may have picked up this trick (such as Solars and Ghaeles) and have made themselves available to mortals willing to fight in their name. To learn Silver Crane, the martial adept may trade out one of his existing starting disciplines for it, or he may find a master (one who is capable of initiating 5th level maneuvers) who may speak to the Argent Oracles (or a similarly potent celestial with knowledge of the discipline) about your worthiness. If you are proven worthy, you must train for one month with this master (and pay 1000xp) to gain the ability to learn maneuvers from the Silver Crane discipline, and add Spot to your martial adept class’s list of class skills. In addition, you may exchange your maneuvers known for maneuvers of the Silver Crane discipline. You may exchange one maneuver of each level, and the new maneuvers you learn must be of the same level as the exchanged maneuvers, unlike normal.

The Silver Crane is a goodly discipline and may only be learned and used by those who have a good alignment who is channeling a good aligned outsider (such as an Argent Oracle). It focuses on strong strikes designed to combat evil, defensive abilities to protect those in need, and celestial insight to combat foes. Students of the Silver Crane rely on the oracular abilities of their celestial patron to guide their abilities and bring them safely through battle by seeing danger before it happens and anticipating the movements of their foes. The Silver Crane discipline's associated skill is Spot, and its associated weapons are the longsword, longspear, scimitar, light pick, halberd, and two bladed sword.

[ErrantX]

Author's Note: Holy damage is a simplified term that refers to damage that is only inflicted on evilly aligned creatures, and is capable of bypassing any DR that is */Good. Holy damage does no damage to good creatures, and 1/2 damage to neutral creatures. All Silver Crane maneuvers are supernatural in nature.

Maneuver List

1st level
Flickering Strike: Strike- Roll two attack rolls, use the better of the two rolls to determine result.
Crane Step: Boost- Make a free 5-ft step.
Flashing Wings: Strike- Melee attack that grants you a +2 AC bonus for the turn.
Silver Crane Stance: Stance- Gain a +4 bonus to initiative checks and Reflex saves.

2nd level
Defensive Step: Counter- Make Spot check opposing opponent's attack roll, if successful make a free 5-ft step to evade the attack.
Emerald Displacement Strike: Strike- Make a successful melee attack, target suffers 20% miss chance for 1d4 rounds.
Blessed Pinions: Strike- Melee attack deals an additional 2d6 holy damage, strikes incorporeal creatures or possessing creatures without harming the host.

3rd level
Exorcism Strike: Strike- Melee attacks inflicts an additional 6d6 holy damage to undead and evil outsiders; chance to daze.
Silver Knight's Blade: Strike- Melee attack inflicts an additional 4d6 points of damage, heals that damage to initiator or nearby ally.
Waltz of the Silver Crane: Stance- Do not provoke attacks of opportunity by moving through threatened squares, ignore terrain difficulties.

4th level
Sapphire Displacement Strike: Strike- Make a successful melee attack, target suffers 50% miss chance for 2d4 rounds.
Sacred Pinions: Strike- Melee attack deals an addition 5d6 holy damage, strikes incorporeal or possessing creatures and stuns them for 1d4 rounds.
Silver Crane's Leap: Boost- Make a free 15ft step without provoking attacks of opportunity.

5th level
Stance of the Crane Knight: Stance- Gain spell resistance against the spells and powers of evil outsiders and undead, see evil possessing spirits.
Argent Knight's Lance: Strike- Make a successful charge attack, inflicts an additional 8d6 points of damage, heals initiator and all allies within 30ft for 25 hit points.
Emerald-Tipped Feathers: Counter- Gain DR 20/- against a single attack.

6th level
Holy Pinions: Strike- Melee attack deals an additional 10d6 holy damage, strikes incorporeal or possessing creatures and makes them corporeal for one minute.
Argent King's Scepter: Strike- Make a successful melee attack, inflicts an additional 12d6 points of damage, heals initiator 80 points of damage.
Silver Crane Rush: Boost- Gain a move action.

7th level
Holy Rush: Boost- Instantly move to a nearby ally's adjacent square without provoking attacks of opportunity.
Diamond Displacement Strike: Strike- Make a successful melee attack, target is rendered blind and deaf permanently.
Diamond-Tipped Feathers: Counter- Gain DR 30/- for one round or shed one current effect upon the initiator.

8th level
Diamond Wings of the Imperial Crane: Stance- Initiator gains an insight bonus to Initiative, to hit and damage rolls.
Celestial Pinions: Strike- Melee attack that strikes incorporeal creatures, inflicts an additional 15d6 points of holy damage or slays incorporeal creatures.
Silver Crane Blitz: Boost- Gain a standard action.

9th level
Strike of Silver Exorcism: Strike- Melee attack inflicts +80 holy damage, slays undead or evil outsiders.

[ErrantX]

Maneuver Descriptions:

1st level

Flickering Strike
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

Using the insight of the Argent Oracles, the martial adept learns to read the tangles of fate to learn how to direct their efforts in battle. Make two attack rolls, use the better of the two rolls to determine result of the attack.

Crane Step
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instant

The grace of the Silver Crane blesses the initiator with the ability to step through battle unhindered and unharmed. The martial adept may make a free 5-ft step, even if he has already make one.

Flashing Wings
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instant

The flashing wings of the Silver Crane defend the martial adept from harm, granting him a +2 divine bonus to AC for one turn.

Silver Crane Stance
Silver Crane (Stance)
Level: 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The swift speed of the celestial realms infuses the mind of the adept, granting him momentary flickers of foresight. A faint, ghostly image of wings is visible around the adept but vanish when he is looked upon directly. The martial adept gain a +4 insight bonus to his initiative roll and to Reflex saves.

2nd level

Defensive Step
Silver Crane (Counter)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You

By trusting the latent awareness of the celestial within, one can use its flickering senses of the battle around him to see where the next attack is coming and move away from danger. Make a Spot check opposing the opponent's attack roll. If successful, the character may make a free 5-ft step in order to evade the attack. He may move to another square adjacent of the attacker, but will not be hit by the attack.

Emerald Displacement Strike
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

Sight is key in arts of the hunting bird, and a warrior learns that this holds true for his enemy. An enemy who cannot see, is an enemy who can be defeated with greater ease. Make a successful melee attack and if the attack inflicts damage, the target must make a DC 12 + Initiator Stat Fortitude save or suffer a -4 penalty to Spot checks and a 20% miss chance on attack rolls for 1d4 rounds due to the sensory organs of the foe being dazzled with holy light. Creatures without sensory organs (such as oozes and constructs) are immune to this effect.

Blessed Pinions
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature

The pinion feathers of the Silver Crane's wings gain an ethereal glimmer as if they were blessed steel, and the Argent Oracle guiding their disciple's blade may strike true as if it too were blessed, even allowing them to strike at the unseen. The martial adept makes a melee attack against a foe, and if successful, inflicts and additional 2d6 points of holy damage. The initiator may also choose to strike incorporeal foes with this strike as if they were made manifest, including fiends who are currently possessing a creature. To strike a possessing fiend, the body they inhabit must be also struck, but all damage goes to the possessing fiend without harming the host.

3rd level

Exorcism Strike
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial

The foes of the celestial realms tremble in fear at the wrath of the Heavens themselves, and a disciple of the Silver Crane wields that righteous anger in battle. This strike inflicts an additional 6d6 points of holy damage to the foe if it is an undead creature or an outsider with the Evil subtype, with a chance to daze the target for 1 round if he fails a Fortitude save DC 13 + Initiator Stat. Success negates the daze effect.

Silver Knight’s Blade
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature

One graced with the blessings of the Silver Crane are to be both terrors to their foes and heroes to their fellows. This strike inflicts an additional 4d6 points of holy damage and heals a like amount of damage to either the initiator or to a single ally within 30ft of the martial adept.

Waltz of the Silver Crane
Silver Crane (Stance)
Level: 3
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The martial adept with knowledge of this stance learns to channel the awareness of their celestial guest to subconsciously know where to move through battle without harm. These adepts duck, dodge, and flow through the fight like a dancer with the after image of ghostly silvery wings flapping behind them. While in this stance, the martial adept may move through threatened squares (but not one with an enemy in it) without provoking attacks of opportunity and he may ignore terrain difficulties.

4th level

Sapphire Displacement Strike
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

The agents of the celestial realms guide your blade and hinder the senses of your foes. Make a successful melee attack and if the attack inflicts damage, the target must make a DC 14 + Initiator Stat Fortitude save or fail on all Spot checks, suffer a -4 penalty on Listen and Search checks, and a 50% miss chance on attack rolls for 1d4 rounds due to the sensory organs of the foe being dazzled with holy light. Creatures without sensory organs (such as oozes and constructs) are immune to this effect.

Sacred Pinions
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial

The martial adept enhances his melee strikes with the blessed wings of the Silver Crane, sharpening its edge to strike beyond flesh and bite spirit. The martial adept makes a melee attack against a foe, and if successful, inflicts and additional 5d6 points of holy damage. The initiator may also choose to strike incorporeal foes with this strike as if they were made manifest, including fiends who currently possess a creature. To strike a possessing fiend, the body they inhabit must be also struck, but all damage goes to the possessing fiend without harming the host.

Silver Crane’s Leap
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 4
Prerequisites: 1 Silver Crane maneuver
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You

The flow of battle runs sharply through the Silver Crane adept’s mind, allowing him to see where his opponents will move before he makes his own. By watching these flows, he may step before their movements, allowing him greater mobility without a cost to defense. The martial adept may move up to 15-ft without provoking attacks of opportunity.

5th level

Stance of the Crane Knight
Silver Crane (Stance)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

As a disciple of the Silver Crane, the martial adept who learns its mysteries must be prepared to take the fight to the enemies of the Upper Planes. By initiating this stance, a halo of ghostly wings erupts around the adept, and his attacks manifest a ghostly beak along the striking arm of the initiator. While in this stance, the ghostly image of wings protects the martial adept against the spells and powers of evil outsiders and the undead, granting him spell resistance equal to 15 + his initiator level against those foes. In addition to the protections granted by his celestial connection, the initiator can attempt to pierce the disguise of flesh that possessing fiends often use. Make a Spot check with a DC equal to the possessing fiend's hit dice

Argent Knight’s Lance
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: Special

Infusing his arms and weapon with the power of the Silver Crane’s striking beak, the martial adept charges at his foe and strikes with incredible strength and power which explodes with celestial light. Upon making a successful charge attack, the strike inflicts an additional 8d6 points of damage and heals the initiator and all of his allies within 30-ft of the initiator for 25 points of damage.

Emerald-Tipped Feathers
Silver Crane (Counter)
Level: 5
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal

A defensive technique of the Silver Crane calls for the hardening of the channeled celestial’s essence around the adept to protect him from harm. This essence often manifests in the form of a wing-like shield of faintly green light, which grants the martial adept damage reduction of 20/- against a single attack.

6th level

Holy Pinions
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Will partial

A master level technique of the Silver Crane, the martial adept infuses his strike with the pure celestial essence of their heavenly companion and smites the forces of the Lower Planes. The martial adept makes a melee attack against a foe, and if successful, inflicts and additional 10d6 points of holy damage. The initiator may also choose to strike incorporeal foes with this strike as if they were made manifest, including fiends who currently possess a creature. To strike a possessing fiend, the body they inhabit must be also struck, but all damage goes to the possessing fiend without harming the host. If used against a possessing fiend or an incorporeal creature, the martial adept may attempt to make this creature corporeal (if used against a possessing fiend, the creature will appear adjacent of the host) temporarily. The creature must make a DC 16 + Initiator Stat Will save or be made corporeal and stunned for 1d4 rounds.

Argent King’s Scepter
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature

The initiator of this strike holds his weapon aloft briefly, allowing it to fill with holy wrath before striking the blazing weapon down with finality. This strike inflicts an additional 12d6 points of damage and heals the initiator for 80 points of damage.

Silver Crane Rush
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You

Tapping into the oracular nature of the celestial within, the adept is capable of allowing the celestial to guide part of his actions while he operates the rest of his mind and body. Initiating this maneuver grants the character an additional move action on his turn.

7th level

Holy Rush
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: 50-ft
Target: You

With a rush of speed and flare of arching wings of light, the martial adept speeds towards an ally within the blink of an eye. The character moves to an adjacent square of an ally within 50-ft. If there is no ally within this range, this maneuver cannot be used.

Diamond Displacement Strike
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

A blinded warrior cannot strike with his eyes, and most cannot strike with their mind. The disciple of the Silver Crane strikes hard at his opponent’s senses and rips them from him decisively. Make a successful melee attack, the victim of which must make a Fortitude save with a DC of 17 + Initiator Stat or be permanently blinded and deafened by a celestial hand.

Diamond-Tipped Feathers
Silver Crane (Counter)
Level: 7
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round

The ultimate defensive technique of the Silver Crane, the glittering wings of celestial might wrap around the martial adept initiating this maneuver to protect him from harm. The initiator gains DR 30/- for one round or may shed one effect that has been placed upon him (such as bestow curse, ray of exhaustion, or the effect of a power word: blind spell, but not damage effects from spells such as fireball, enervation, or ray of enfeeblement).

8th level

Diamond Wings of the Imperial Crane
Silver Crane (Stance)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

The true master of the Silver Crane discipline may manifest the essence of his celestial patron along his body, its light radiating from his soul to form silver-feathered ethereal wings from his back and a blazing halo of argent radiance around his head. The tactical foresight of the disciple’s celestial patron floods his mind and aids his motions in combat. The character gains an insight bonus on Initiative checks and to his to hit and damage rolls with Silver Crane weapons equal to half of his initiator level.

Celestial Pinions
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature

Martial adepts with this technique have learned to strike through their ethers and destroy the very essence of their infernal foes in a blazing torrent of holy light. The martial adept makes a melee attack against a foe, and if successful, inflicts and additional 15d6 points of holy damage. The initiator may also choose to strike incorporeal foes with this strike as if they were made manifest, including fiends who currently possess a creature. To strike a possessing fiend, the body they inhabit must be also struck, but all damage goes to the possessing fiend without harming the host. If used against a possessing fiend or an incorporeal creature, the creature must make a DC 18 + Initiator Stat Will save or be instantly slain.

Silver Crane Blitz
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swiftaction
Range: Personal
Target: You

By tapping into the incredible insights and capabilities of the channeled celestial, the adept moves with unthinkable grace and alacrity. Initiating this boost grants the adept an additional standard action on his turn.

9th level

Strike of Silver Exorcism
Silver Crane (Strike)
Level: 9
Prerequisites: 4 Silver Crane maneuvers
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Will partial

The ultimate technique of the Silver Crane is a strike that rends the essence of the foes of the heavens asunder and brings them to ruin in one blazing stroke. This strike adds an additional 80 points of holy damage to the attack, and undead or evil outsiders who are struck by this attack must make a Will save DC 19 + Initiator Stat or be instantly slain. Creatures that succeed on the saving throw are instead stunned for 1d4 rounds as their very essence quakes with the agonies inflicted by pure celestial energies.

[ErrantX]

Added a new ability to Stance of the Crane Knight to be able to see possessing spirits with a Spot check.

-X

[CMFJimmy]

Does Diamond Tipped Feathers negate negative levels? How many? All?

[ErrantX]

Does Diamond Tipped Feathers negate negative levels? How many? All?

The idea is that it sheds status ailments, I don't see energy drain as a status effect, I see it as damage. So no. Will clarify.

[CMFJimmy]

The reason I ask is because heal is very specific. Though I will say, defining what it can't do might be the easy out

[ErrantX]

Two new maneuvers!!!!!

Silver Crane Rush
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 6
Prerequisites: 2 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You

Tapping into the oracular nature of the celestial within, the adept is capable of allowing the celestial to guide part of his actions while he operates the rest of his mind and body. Initiating this maneuver grants the character an additional move action on his turn.

Silver Crane Blitz
Silver Crane (Boost)
Level: 8
Prerequisites: 3 Silver Crane maneuvers
Initiation action: 1 swiftaction
Range: Personal
Target: You

By tapping into the incredible insights and capabilities of the channeled celestial, the adept moves with unthinkable grace and alacrity. Initiating this boost grants the adept an additional standard action on his turn.

[Devlin]

those look good. i like them