Changes

It is said that everyone holds a terrible seed of darkness within their hearts. This darkness is a Gateway to another place, a place which no mortal can be sure what lies beyond. What can be certain is this seed, this hole within every human mind, hungers. It is said to drive desire and, ironically, bring forth action through need and want. It was discovered that one could sacrifice life unto the darkness within, and in return this "Gate" would grant power to its owner. The life of a Gate Knight is a risky one, for he is always teetering on the edge of the hungry darkness waiting to consume him.

A Gate Knight is a melee class who gains power through self-inflicted pain. While this would seem counter-productive, the benefits can mean the difference between victory and death. Gate Knights who do not tread their path carefully do not last long.

'''Abilities:''' As a melee class , Strength is always important, but Constitution may be the most important of all. The ability to survive both the enemy outside and within is a strong requirement. Wisdom is important as part of their skills, sacrifice saving throws, and to assist in their Will saves. Gate Knights who do not invest in heavy armor may also desire a good Dexterity score.

''Dark:'' [[Destrato (3.5e Sacrifice)|Destrato]], [[Eraser (3.5e Sacrifice)|Eraser]], [[Form of Death (3.5e Sacrifice)|Form of Death]], [[Ghost Shell (3.5e Sacrifice)|Ghost Shell]], [[Lifeshaver (3.5e Sacrifice)|Lifeshaver]], [[Locked Gate (3.5e Sacrifice)|Locked Gate]], [[Manifest Hole (3.5e Sacrifice)|Manifest Hole]], [[Soul Edge (3.5e Sacrifice)|Soul Edge]], [[Summon The Gate (3.5e Sacrifice)|Summon The Gate]]

A Gate Knight who becomes good cannot in good faith give away their life force to the darkness within, and as such loses their abilities to use the Gate for power, losing their class abilities except for feats, durability, mettle, and one with darkness abilities. Once they regain a non-good alignment, the Gate Knight's abilities return without issue.

'''Dark Burst:''' Every 5 levels , the Gate Knight gains an additional use of their Dark Burst.

'''Sacrifice:''' Every 3 levels , the Gate Knight gains an additional sacrifice ability.

'''Religion:''' Gate Knights, if they are involved with religion, are often involved with gods of either knowledge as they seek to unlock the mysteries of the darkness within, or evil gods who revel in trading energy for power. In the latter case, they are easy to mistake for evil paladins, with a unique, vile form of Smite.

'''Other Classes:''' The Gate Knight is a melee class in league with fighters, paladins, and barbarians. However, he keeps his art secret often, for few are comforted to hear that the Gate Knight draws his power from forces ill understood and apparently hungry for life energy. As such , there is no middle ground... a Gate Knight either fights with his power in secret, or revels in it and flaunts his dark power.

'''Combat:''' A Gate Knight works right on the front lines, smiting the enemy with surges of dark power. He is capable of going toe to toe with spellcasters with the various sacrifice powers, provided he is willing to lose health over it.

'''Advancement:''' The Gate Knight synergies well with both barbarian and paladin, the former having constitution and strength boosting powers and large hp, the latter being flavorful for evil Gate Knights, and whose wisdom can become synergistic with the Serenity feat from Dragon Magazine. Melee classes add to the power of the Gate Knight.

Gate Knights may be employ employed as top of the line Knights for certain evil nations, acting as paladins, without having to gain the blessing of the gods. They could also act the role of the "evil paladin" if your campaign lacks the paladin variants.

'''Daily Life:''' The Gate Knight is a contemplative person, meditating often in a search to understand this feeling, this hole within him. It is a grim and often sorrowful meditation, but the Gate Knight hopes that by understanding this hole he can use it, accept it, or even fill it and find peace.

'''Notables:''' Cecil was a Gate Knight in employ to the Red Baron Knights, feared for his power, respected by his men. He had went missing after an incident in a burning town however...

'''Organizations:''' Gate Knights may organize in a campaign, forming a group of similar people who seek to understand, or even teach others of the terrible, powerful thing within them all.

'''NPC Reactions:''' Due to the dark nature of the Gate Knight's power, he is best with still tongue, lest the common folk find him something baneful, worthy of rejection. This rejection often fuels Gate Knights to abandon the world, and eventually their own humanity.

Characters with ranks in Knowledge Religion can research Gate Knights to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

| 30 || class="left" | Tose Those who reach this level of success can gain information about a specific Gate Knight, their name and whereabouts, and/or lore surrounding them.

'''Adaptation:''' The "hole within oneself" can be more than a metaphysical concept, ; it could be a fiendish presence, or an extraplanar, Far Realm being who contacts special individuals and exchanges power for life for some greater plot. Additionally, one could have a "Stigmata Knight" whose self -sacrifice grants power. In this case , change the alignment requirements or remove them.

'''Sample Encounter:''' The elite guard of the evil king is a fanatical Gate Knight, ; he fights to the death, for he does not fear it.