Prestige Class Spotlight 12: Asavir
(art by Karen Gillmore on karengillmoreart.com)
We’ve had a few options involving being a character with a mount before on the blog, and some of them where the mount was an exotic magical creature. But not before have we covered one in which the rider is astride a horse blessed with elemental powers from genies!
Hailing from the desert regions of Qadira, the Asavir’s are rare individuals trained not just in mounted combat, but in the keeping of these extraordinary mounts, swift steeds descended from lines blessed by genies in the past, and through their training, they bring out this elemental power in both their mount and themselves.
As an aside, it should be noted that the recent Rage of the Elements books have given the various genie subspecies different names, reflecting not just an attempt to move away from D&D lore-wise, but also better tap into actual middle eastern djinni lore rather than keep the haphazardly borrowed names of past games and editions. (I and others are probably going to still sometimes use the old names for a bit until we memorize the new ones, of course)
In any case, these Asavirs represent a select few, defenders and commanders in times of conflict that clans and tribes can band around when trouble comes calling.
As rare as they are, the actual requirements to become one are fairly simple, revolving around being trained riders and mounted combatants.
Traditionally, asavirs are pillars of the community that others look to, and as such, their advice is considered very helpful in a pinch.
They also gain a mount, typically a horse, though other mounts are possible at GM discretion, and their training with other classes that grant them a mount carries over, though if they lack such training from another vocation, their mounts are a wee bit stronger to compensate.
Blessed by the genies of the earth, their mounts become resistant to fear and mind-warping effects, gaining surprising resolve and loyalty to the rider.
Drawing upon elemental power, their mounts make their very ground shake with their hooves, allowing them to make foes stumble and fall as they charge forward.
As beacons of hope for their people and other allies, these riders inspire allies to stand strong against fear.
Aiding and protecting their allies is not just emotional support though. Indeed, they have a knack for rushing in to disrupt foes that try to flank their allies, keeping the pressure off of them.
They are also exceptionally accurate with their mounted charging attacks, and shore up any holes in their defense after such a charge.
Blessed by the genies of air, their mounts also become supernaturally swift and able to carry greater burdens without slowing.
The blessing of the water genies also makes their mounts movements supernaturally smooth, allowing spellcasters and other allies that might be riding on the beast with the asavir to cast or perform complex actions without fear of disruption.
The mighty footfalls of their mounts are particularly punishing, and these riders train their mounts to overrun and crush foes under their hooves.
A lone horse rider among your foes certainly draws attention, and these warriors can challenge their foes to provide further distraction to give their allies an edge.
With the blessing of the fire genies, their mounts become something more than mortal, gaining a resistance to fire and superheated hooves to burn foes.
They can also call out and encourage a single ally directly to briefly inspire them greatly.
Finally, the most skilled among them receive the blessings of the genies of all elements, giving both them and their mounts a bit of supernatural luck.
With a focus on charisma and mounted combat, this prestige class is begging to be paired with cavalier and paladin to a lesser extent. However, it is also possible to play them with fighters, gunslingers, and other martial classes. In any case, this prestige class offers some good upgrades for mounted combat and a selection of ally-buffing and supporting abilities, so a build that focuses on rushing around the battlefield to support allies in need is certainly very appealing here.
While the horses (or other mounts) of this prestige class remain otherwise mortal creatures, it’s interesting to consider how the animal reacts to these supernatural changes in their abilities. Is the beast frightened by it’s flaming hooves? Does it know why it is faster? Do other animals realize when they have been blessed with magic? It’s interesting to think about.
While it is true that the asavir’s of Eshauva draw upon the power of genies to empower their mounts, the actual broker of the original deal was not a genie at all, but a yaddithian, the ancient alien exile offering their magical services to make this alliance happen. None know what happened to the elder being after that, however.
In the wastelands of Kafa, a mount is of utmost importance so one can make it to the nearest outpost should you find yourself in the barrens without supplies. As such, the people living there made ancient pacts to bless their beloved horses and camels with the power of the same harsh elements the region is known for.
The Valley of Ghosts is filled with the fallen, quite literally, for it is teeming with the spirits of an entire army that was buried under a landslide travelling through the pass. Their bodies may be ghostly, but their weapons are all too real, and they are too many for most to handle. Therefore, the only ones who dare make the trip through the valley are riders atop the fastest horses blessed by the spirits of the wind and earth to move swiftly and ignore fear.