#quicksilver drifter

(art by ArtxBite on DeviantArt)

Science fiction and fantasy have a long history of fuzzy-to-nonexistent borders, and that sometimes means you get knights in space, which is absolutely awesome.

Now, anyone can wear heavy armor and wield a mighty melee weapon at least some of the time, but being a knight implies some sort of higher calling or oath that these warriors adhere to, and such is the case with the Star Knight archetype.

In fact, the core setting goes as far as to give us not just the Knights of Golarion, but also various Hellknight orders, both seeking to bring order and law, but in different ways.

And so this archetype was among the first Starfinder archetypes that offered different options depending on what order you belonged to (as well as generic options for if you belong to a different order beyond what has officially been written down.)

As a result, these warriors boast a few common abilities but also unique ones, so lets have a look, shall we?

True to the iconic armor they wear, these warriors learn to work with better and better armor, as well as how to capitalize on it to sometimes negate potentially critical blows.

With a charge and mighty blow, these knights can strike fear into the hearts of their foes.

Those belonging to some other order learn how to keep their weapons safe in a fight when not going all-out.

Such generic knights also demonstrate tremendous willpower and discipline, making it hard to undermine them mentally.

Those last two are generic options, but there are also options available to the specific orders. These include The Order of the Chain teaching basic magic to inhibit enemy movement; The Order of the Furnace able to set their weapons alight; the Order of the Nail issuing magical commands; the Order of the Eclipses extinguishing light in an area; The Knights of Golarion infusing their weapons with holy might; The Order of the Pike giving melee weapons reach and fusing them with longarms; The Order of the Gate summoning loyal minions; and finally the Order of the Scourge compelling the truth.

And that’s just the level 6 ability options. At level 12, all Hellknight Orders can send foes reeling with an empowered condemnation. Meanwhile, Knights of Golarion can ward an ally, absorbing some of the damage they take for them.

Obviously combat classes are the logical pick here, but any class can benefit from this archetype, getting some better defenses out of it and lending their skills to their order. Consider how Hellknights have their own mages in the form of Signifers, as well as how skilled classes can provide all sorts of tactical tricks.

How these individual knights behave will of course vary by their order. Knights of Golarion definitely will place a lot of value on honor and chivalry and whatnot, while the various Hellknight orders will focus primarily on the rule of law as well as their specific specialization. An order of the pike start knight might focus on fighting monstrous aliens that threaten settlements on colony worlds, or even straight up fight kaiju in mechs and whatnot.

The stronghold of the Order of the Stars is said to be impenetrable. However, clearly this is not the case when someone manages to smuggle in a mature quicksilver drifter, an alien life form with poisonous and metal ruining spittle, into the compound as a distraction.

Knighthood seems like a strange fit for a timid and scientifically-minded people like the osharu, but Ser Tobrinog is as steadfast as any other knight in the Order, though they speak little of why they have chosen this path. Regardless, his compatriots are not complaining, as his serums and boosters prove a major boon in keeping his allies in the fight.