Order of the Eclipse

Hobgoblins have long taken advantage of the tactical edge darkvision gives them when fighting in darkness, particularly against elves, humans, and samsarans. Hobgoblin samurai have adopted the benefit of darkness as a spiritual alliance that forms a guiding principle in not only how they fight, but every aspect of their lives. This has given rise to the order of the eclipse, a respected samurai order devoted to darkness itself. Although the order is not officially restricted to hobgoblins, its edicts make it difficult for any samurai without darkvision to operate in its ranks.

Edicts: The samurai cannot create light where it is not necessary--anything that can be done in darkness should be. The samurai must belong to a military organization (this is likely to be a warband commanded by a senior samurai, who in turn answers to a warlord). The samurai must enforce his place within this order and societies that recognize its authority, obeying those senior to him without question and demanding total obedience from those beneath him. The samurai must take every opportunity to extinguish the lights of his foes.

Skills: An order of the eclipse samurai adds Perception (Wis) and Survival (Wis) to his list of class skills. In addition, whenever he makes a Perception check to notice an invisible creature or object, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his samurai level (minimum +1).

Eclipsing Blade

Order Features

Order of the Eclipse Challenge Level 1 F · Gated Unlock

↪ builds on Challenge (Samurai)

The order of the eclipse samurai gains a +1 bonus on all Intimidate checks made against the target of his challenge. This bonus increases by 1 for every four levels the samurai possesses.

Dark Rider Level 2 F · Gated Unlock

At 2nd level, whenever the samurai is on his mount, both he and his mount share any of the following senses if either of them possesses it: darkvision, low-light vision, scent, and see in darkness. This applies regardless of the source of the sense (including senses gained from spells or magic items), but only while the samurai is mounted. If the samurai and mount both have a sense but one has an improved version (such as a samurai with darkvision with a range of 60 feet riding a mount that has darkvision with a range of 90 feet), both receive the improved version of the sense.

Eclipsing Blade Level 8 C · Uses-Per-Day Ability

At 8th level, the samurai can cast darkness on a weapon he is holding. The darkness does not affect the vision of any order of the eclipse samurai, or that of their mounts. The spell immediately ends if the weapon leaves the samurai's hand. He may do this once per day, plus one additional time per day for every four levels he possesses above 8th (to a maximum of four times per day at 20th level).

See in Darkness Level 15 F · Gated Unlock

At 15th level the samurai can see perfectly in darkness, even magical darkness, as the universal monster ability see in darkness.