#dragonscale loyalist

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Dragonscale Loyalist (Vigilante Archetype)

(art by Gabriel Vazquez on Artstation)

In nations with prominent noble houses and a lot of ambition, it’s only natural that there would be bickering, infighting, and even full-blown civil war.

Such is the case in the nation of Brevoy in Pathfinder’s core setting, where noble houses plot their desires against each other, and even against the Dragonscale Throne itself.

In response to this, the King-Regent Noleski Surtova has created secret agents to root out dissenters and protect his rule.

By day, these loyalists pose as ordinary noble scions, working their way into one of the noble houses and ingratiating themselves, secretly gathering intel as they gain their trust. By night, however, they don fearsome draconic masks and take direct action against the enemies of the throne.

This archetype is heavily invested in the Golarion setting, but it can be used outside it for any sort of secret agent of the crown, targeting a noble house for scrutiny.

 The civilian identity of these vigilantes is that of a minor noble and student of the Aldori Swordlord style. As such, they are familiar with how to use such a blade, and typically avoid training in social techniques that do would be inappropriate for the idle rich.

Though not as unflappable as other vigilantes, they do have good reactions when it comes to situations escalating to combat, able to act at least somewhat in the first few moments of a surprise attack.

Given their role as infiltrators, they also learn useful tricks and knowledge to pass as normal members of the noble house in question. They might become familiar with stoneworking, merchantile knowledge, sailing, and so on. This usually translates to one feat and another minor ability.

Their vigilance against traitors eventually passes into supernatural territory, able to sense hostile and traitorous intent, but only while in their vigilante identity.

The most powerful of these vigilantes can emulate the battle-fury of the legendary founder of Brevoy, able to move and attack repeatedly at speed in a deadly rampage that is not dissimilar to a dragon.

Interested in a vigilante that can pick up unique skills and abilities tied to their cover identity? This archetype might be for you. Their ability to use a dueling sword does lean them towards being an avenger vigilante, but nothing is stopping you from playing a stalker instead.

 The attention to detail with the noble houses in this archetype is just begging for a GM to homebrew various alternate versions of this archetype tied to the nobility of their setting’s nation of choice. You can even switch out the Aldori sword stuff for another fighting style as well.

  Despite her training, Alexia Tarvash, also known as the Ghost Dragon, is in over her head. The noble house she was sent to infiltrate is dealing with urdefhan, and plan on allowing an invasion force of the deathly creatures to strike the surface in hopes of pinning the blame on the crown.

 Loyalist vigilantes are actually supremely common among the drow noble houses, to the point where there are elaborate countermeasures in place for such individuals. However, espionage, like war, is a constantly evolving race.

 The party blunders into a sting operation headed by masked agents of the king. Even if they manage to make it out intact, they find businesses mysteriously being closed to them. The only protection and business they can find, ironically is in the very house that was being targeted.