EsquireSource Cohorts and Companions pg. 30
The esquire is a roving knight who acquires the services of a faithful follower—an aide-de-camp—who serves as the esquire’s assistant, spear carrier, and guard.
Aide-De-Camp (Ex): At 3rd level, an esquire acquires the services of a loyal aide-de-camp. This NPC functions similarly to a cohort, though the aide-de-camp must advance in a class that grants proficiency with all martial weapons and cannot multiclass until the esquire reaches 7th level (though the aide-de-camp can select an archetype). If the aide-de-camp is a cavalier, he must follow the same order as the esquire.
The aide-de-camp gains Swift Aid as a bonus feat, and provides a +2 (rather than +1) bonus when using this feat to aid the esquire. As a move action, the aide-de-camp can retrieve a stored item or an item on the ground and hand it to the esquire. The esquire does not have to take an action to receive the item, though he must be conscious and have a free hand. This action does not provoke attacks of opportunity for the aide-de-camp or esquire.
If the aide-de-camp dies performing an act that directly supports the edicts of the esquire’s order (GM’s discretion), the esquire does not take a penalty to his Leadership score. If an aide-de-camp dies, or is released from the esquire’s service, the esquire may gain a new aide-de-camp by scouting for potential candidates in a city or large town. This requires 1 day per 5 levels of the aide-de-camp to be recruited. This ability replaces mount.
Teamwork (Ex): At 3rd level, as long as an esquire and his aide-de-camp are adjacent, the aide-de-camp is treated as having any teamwork feats the esquire has. They also share any teamwork feats that function when two or more allies threaten the same target, as long as they both threaten the same target. This ability replaces cavalier’s charge.
Shared Challenge (Ex): At 4th level, whenever an esquire challenges an opponent when his aide-de-camp is within 30 feet, he may grant his aide-de-camp bonuses equal to one-half of the bonuses he gains from challenge, including bonuses derived from the cavalier’s order. If the aide-de-camp is also a cavalier and challenges the same target, these bonuses do not stack. Like the esquire, his aide-decamp takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class against attacks from creatures other than the challenged opponent. This ability replaces expert trainer.
Banner (Ex): An aide-de-camp can carry an esquire’s banner for him and still grant allies within range the banner’s bonuses. While doing so the aide-de-camp gains double the normal morale bonuses provided by the banner. This ability modifies banner.
Avenge Me (Ex): At 11th level, whenever the esquire is killed, dying, stunned, dazed, or otherwise unable to take actions, his aide-de-camp gains the full benefits of the esquire’s challenge and order abilities against all creatures that attacked the esquire in the previous round. If the aidede- camp is also a cavalier and challenges the same target, these bonuses do not stack. These benefits last until the esquire regains the ability to take actions, or until the aide-de-camp or the triggering opponents are killed.
If his aide-de-camp is killed, dying, or otherwise unable to take actions the esquire may declare one creature of his choice that attacked the aide-de-camp in the past round as his quarry; this functions identically to the ranger class ability. These bonuses last until the aide-de-camp recovers or until the cavalier or the triggering opponents are killed. This ability replaces mighty charge.
Fight As One (Ex): At 20th level, the shared challenge ability increases in power, granting the aide-de-camp full benefit of the esquire’s challenge. In addition, if the esquire and aide-de-camp both confirm a critical hit against the same target within the same round, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 +1/2 the esquire’s cavalier level + the esquire’s Charisma bonus) or be staggered for 1d4 rounds. This ability replaces supreme charge.
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