Not all harbingers rely on their own strange and eerie powers for travel and speed, some attract an
otherworldly companion to bear them on their missions
into the world. These mounts in form resemble equine
creatures of spectral bone and sinew, some wreathed in
manes of ghost-flame with burning hooves and others
more nightmarish beasts. Regardless of their form, these
harbingers are known as omen riders, for where they
ride, calamity follows close behind.
Rider of Ill Omens
An omen rider is gifted with
exceptional equestrian knowledge upon taking up this
mantle. At 1st level, she gains Medium Armor Proficiency
and Mounted Combat as bonus feats, even if he does not
meet their prerequisites. In addition, she gains Ride as
a class skill. Finally, an omen rider may trade one of her
available disciplines for the Piercing Thunder discipline.
Spectral Steed (Su)
At 1st level, an omen rider gains
the ability to call forth a mount composed of spectral
bone, ghostly plasm, and ghoulish sinew. This beast is
roughly shaped as a heavy horse, sized appropriately for
the harbinger. The omen rider can magically call their
mount to their side as a full-round action a number of
times per day equal to 3 + the omen rider’s initiation
modifier. When she does, the mount immediately
appears adjacent to the omen rider. The mount can
be dismissed as a move action. A spectral steed has
insubstantial hooves that make no sound and what
seems to be a saddle, bit, and bridle. It does not fight and
cannot attack, but other animals shun it and refuse to
attack it.
The spectral steed’s AC is equal to the omen rider’s,
and it has a number of hit points equal to half her
maximum hit points (minimum 10). In addition, it
gains the benefits of any miss chances, immunities, and
resistances the omen rider has. The spectral steed is not
affected by effects that target an area, nor is it vulnerable
to effects that do not deal hit point damage. The spectral
steed always acts on the omen rider’s initiative. If it
loses all its hit points, the spectral steed disappears, but
a new one may be summoned if the omen rider desires.
A spectral steed has a base land speed of 40 feet at 1st
level, which increases by 10 feet at 3rd level and every
two levels thereafter (up to a maximum of 100 feet). It
can bear its rider’s weight and up to 50 pounds of other
equipment, plus another 10 pounds per omen rider level.
The spectral steed gains certain powers according to the omen rider’s level. A spectral steed’s abilities include
those of mounts of lower levels.
• Starting at 3rd level, the omen rider’s spectral
steed can ride over sandy, muddy, or even swampy
ground without difficulty or decrease in speed.
• Starting at 6th level, the omen rider’s spectral steed
can tread on any liquid as if it were firm ground, as
if it were under the effect of a water walk spell.
• At 9th level, the omen rider’s spectral steed gains
a fly speed equal to its land speed, with average
maneuverability. It gains a bonus on Fly check
equal to the omen rider’s initiator level.
• Starting at 12th level, the omen rider can conjure
his spectral steed beneath him, summoning it and
mounting it in the same action. In addition, he can
summon his spectral steed as an immediate action.
The omen rider and his spectral steed are so in
tune with each other that they can work as one when
performing maneuvers. Whenever an omen rider
is mounted and uses a maneuver with a movement
component (such as making a charge attack, or taking
an extra move action), the omen rider can have his
spectral steed make the appropriate move action in his
place. Both the omen rider and spectral steed gain any
benefits from maneuvers that would normally apply
to the initiator (such as resistances, healing, temporary
hit points, and the effects of counters. If the maneuver
allows the initiator to make a charge attack, both the
spectral steed and omen rider are considered to be
charging.
This ability replaces ill tidings and grim news.
Ethereal Rider (Su)
Starting at 5th level, when moving through battle or charging down a road, the
omen rider and their spectral steed inspire ghostly
legends of riders made of smoke and darkness. When
the omen rider is mounted on their spectral steed, the
omen rider and his mount gain a +2 dodge bonus to their
AC and on Reflex saves. In any round where the spectral
steed moves at least 20 feet, both the omen rider and his
mount gain a 20% miss chance against attacks. Ghost
touch weapons and effects that can affect incorporeal
creatures normally ignore this miss chance.
Starting at 10th level, the determination and tireless
endurance of the spectral mount resonates and becomes
shared to inhuman levels between the omen rider and
itself. The omen rider’s spectral steed can take the
run action without limit, and does not need to make
Constitution checks to keep running. In addition, when
the omen rider and his steed move at a rull run for at
least ten minutes, both of them become immune to
fatigue and exhaustion until they stop, at which point,
the mount must immediately be dismissed.
This ability replaces elusive shadow.
Reaper's Claim (Su)
At 8th level, the omen rider is able to drink deep of the ambrosia of a fallen foe and
strengthen themselves or their steed. Whenever the
omen rider reduces a creature he has Claimed to 0 or
fewer hit points, he and his spectral steed can can gain
a number of temporary hit points equal to twice that
creature’s Hit Dice instead of recovering maneuvers.
These temporary hit points last until the end of the
encounter.
This ability replaces ill intentions.
Rumors of War (Ex)
This ability functions normally, even when mounted.