Class Feature Friday: Order of the Reins (Cavalier Order)
(art by laspinter on DeviantArt in use by Valiant Fox Gaming)
Domesticated beasts of burden, whether they are for riding or the moving of great loads, have been an integral part of the development of humanity (and presumably a great many fantasy peoples), and nowhere is this more clear than in nomadic societies.
Indeed, without such beasts, nomadic cultures would not be as far-reaching in their travels and circuits, at least not while having as much personal property and development.
It only makes sense, then, that there would be those who dedicate their lives to the protection and guiding of such creatures, even if they have no special connection to nature magic.
Enter the Order of the Reins. While likely an informal order in most caravans, this order might be an established thing in more sedentary cultures, for the order is concerned not just with beasts of burden, but all domesticated animals.
Whether it be animals herded for food or textiles, beasts of burden, hunting companions, or simple pets kept for companionship, this order vows to protect them just as they protect the communities such animals live alongside.
Naturally, this order is likely to spring up in any culture where domesticated animals are the largest part of their survival, where the care of such animals is elevated to a sacred duty, possibly with it’s own truly religious aspect. Even if it isn’t the subject of worship, everyone knows the importance of caring for and protecting the animals in your charge, and these cavaliers more than most.
They might be a caravan guard, or part of a rural constabulary watching out for livestock rustlers and marauding predators mundane and monstrous, and so on, but there is no denying their skill at protecting and guiding animals, as we will soon see below.
When these cavaliers issue a challenge, instead of inspiring their sapient allies, they instead inspire the animals nearby, be they ordinary creatures in their care, animal companions, familiars, or whatnot, bolstering their attacks against that foe as well as their defenses.
Understanding the worth of livestock and other goods is important to these cavaliers, as is their ability to spot threats from afar. What’s more, their mounts trust their judgement, performing great leaps and feats of agility when guided to.
Masters of guiding animals, these cavaliers can give orders en masse to animals, directing them all to perform the same trick, though obviously it is easier if all of them know said trick. However, this group command is only really effective with creatures that are of similar size to the cavalier or larger, with much smaller creatures gaining no effect.
Luckily, they can impart tricks to the animals in their care as well, mitigating that concern.
The most powerful of these cavaliers can command their charges to stampede, moving with intent to crush foes under their hooves or feet, using the crush of bodies to protect themselves as they trample foes underfoot.
A simple order for the cavalier who has lots of animals under their care. In most adventuring parties, this will only really come up if the party has multiple familiars, mounts, or companions, or if they all have riding horses or other mundane mounts, but in a campaign where the party is part of a larger mobile group or actively watches over a herd of animals, it can also be a boon. For this cavalier, I would recommend a build that focuses on mounted combat as well as working with many allies together.
Obviously, those belonging to this order have a deep love for domesticated animals, and many likely worship deities of beasts, agriculture, and animal husbandry as a result. A few might even be hunters, particularly those with the huntmaster archetype, blending their ability to command animals with having a lot of companions.
The greater river buffalo are called such for their tendency to spend most of their time near the water’s edge, and the undine clans of the region take advantage of that, making their own homes nearby to herd and care for the beasts, guarding them from predators both within and outside the river.
The war god known as the Queen of Valkyries has a special place in her heart for war mounts and beasts of battle, and rewards those who treat such beasts well, blessing them and their mounts to never tire and trample over their enemies. They say the most favored of these devotees sometimes earn the right to have a zentragt, an otherworldly armored divine servitor, become their battle-partner and sometimes mount, but none in living memory have seen such a bond.
A quiet boy who understood animals better than people, they say that Sir Vengak spent much more time in the stable tending to the horses than attending opulent balls currying favor of lords or ladies. While this earned him some ridicule, he was elevated to hero status when he led the entire stable out of the burning building and charging with them to overrun the invaders who had set the blaze.
