Cheval
by John Walter BilesCheval are a special kind of centaur created by Zirchev to defend the wilds and to avenge horses who are being abused. They may take on a centaur, warhorse, or Riding Horse form as they desire. They still worship Zirchev and are most commonly found where his worship is common. They are the especial enemy of lycanthropes and anyone who abuses horses.
Cheval PCs get +2 to Str and Wisdom, +2 to Athletics and Nature, Disengage as an Encounter Power, a Movement of 8, and the Ability to change forms.
Cheval Archer Level 9 Artillery
Medium fey humanoid (Shapechanger) XP 400
Initiative +9 Senses Perception +4
HP 74; Bloodied 37
Regeneration 5 (if the Cheval takes damage from a silver weapon, its regeneration doesn’t function on its next turn)
AC 21; Fortitude 19, Reflex 21, Will 16
Speed 8
m Shortbow (standard; at-will) | Weapon (Centaur Form)
Ranged 15/30; +16 vs. AC; 1d8+5
Twin Shot (standard; at-will) (Centaur Form)
The Cheval may take 2 Shortbow attacks at the same or different targets.
m Hoof (standard; at-will) | (Horse or Centaur Form)
+14 vs. AC; 1d8+3
Double-Kick (standard; Refresh 5-6) (Horse or Centaur Form)
Take two hoof attacks against the same target.
Disengage (Move; Refresh 5-6)
The Cheval may move up to its speed in squares, but the first square of movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Horse Forms (minor; at-will) ✦ Polymorph
A Cheval can alter its physical form to appear as a riding horse, warhorse, or a unique centaur (see Change Shape, page 280 of the MM). It cannot use its lance abilities in either horse form, or its Trample in centaur form.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Fey, Horse (can talk to horses in any form)
Skills Athletics + 14, Insight +10, Nature + 12,
Str 17 (+7) Dex 20 (+9) Wis 13 (+5)
Con 14 (+6) Int 10 (+4) Cha 11 (+4)
Equipment Leather Jacket and Leather barding, Shortbow and Quiver of Arrows (20 normal, 10 silver for any Lycanthrope foes)
Cheval Archers fight from range when possible, but can mix it up with their hooves if they have to. They will shell foes to break up formations in order to open gaps for the lancers to exploit.
Cheval Lancer Level 9 Skirmisher
Medium fey humanoid (Shapechanger) XP 400
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +5
HP 94; Bloodied 47
Regeneration 5 (if the Cheval takes damage from a silver weapon, its regeneration doesn’t function on its next turn)
AC 23; Fortitude 23, Reflex 21, Will 18
Speed 8
m Lance (standard; at-will) | Weapon (Centaur Form)
Reach 2; +14 vs. AC; 2d6+5
Ride-By Assault (standard; Refresh 5-6) (Centaur Form)
The Cheval may take up to a full 8 square move and then gets a Lance Attack. If the attack succeeds, it may keep moving if it did not use its full 8 squares without provoking opportunity attacks from its initial target.
Lance Charge (Centaur Form)
When the Cheval Lancer charges, on a successful attack he adds +1d8 damage and also renders his target prone.
r Javelin Toss (standard; at-will) | Weapon (Centaur Form)
Ranged 5/10; +12 vs. AC, 1d8+5
Hoof (standard; at-will) | (Horse or Centaur Form)
+14 vs. AC; 1d8+5
Double-Kick (standard; Refresh 5-6) (Horse or Centaur Form)
Take two hoof attacks against the same target.
Trample (standard; at-will) | (Horse Form)
The Cheval may take a full move, which provokes opportunity attacks as usual and must end in an empty space. When it enters an enemy space, it attacks with +12 vs. Reflex; 1d8+5 damage and the target is knocked prone. It does this to every foe it moves through.
Disengage (Move; Refresh 5-6)
The Cheval may move up to its speed in squares, but the first square of movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Horse Forms (minor; at-will) ✦ Polymorph
A Cheval can alter its physical form to appear as a riding horse, warhorse, or a unique centaur (see Change Shape, page 280 of the MM). It cannot use its lance abilities in either horse form, or its Trample in centaur form.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Fey, Horse (can talk to horses in any form)
Skills Athletics + 16, Insight +10, Nature + 12,
Str 20 (+9) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 13 (+5)
Con 14 (+6) Int 10 (+4) Cha 11 (+4)
Equipment chain shirt + chain barding, Lance, brace of javelins (10)
Cheval Lancers train to take on human cavalry and infantry with lances, reserving their attacks for riders instead of mounts. They prefer to fight in a mobile fashion, shelling foes with Javelins, then charging in and darting out before retaliation can come.
Cheval Priest of Zirchev Level 9 Controllers
Medium fey humanoid (Shapechanger) XP 400
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +4
HP 94; Bloodied 47
Regeneration 5 (if the Cheval takes damage from a silver weapon, its regeneration doesn’t function on its next turn)
AC 23; Fortitude 21, Reflex 21, Will 23
Speed 8
m Maul (standard; at-will) | Weapon (Centaur Form)
+14 vs. AC; 2d6+5
Arrow of Zirchev (standard; at-will) | Divine, Force (Centaur Form)
Ranged 10+13 vs. Reflex; 1d8+5 damage and one ally gains +2 to hit the target on his next attack
Lasso of Zirchev (standard; Refresh 5-6) | Divine (Horse or Centaur Form)
Ranged 5; +13 vs. Reflex; 2d6+5 and target is immobilised (save ends)
Zirchev’s Prey (Minor, Refresh when target falls to 0 HP or flees) | Divine (Horse or Centaur Form)
Close Burst 3; Priest and allies in area of effect all add +1d6 damage 1/round each against the chosen target, who must be in Line of Sight, until the target falls to 0 HP or flees the field of battle.
Hoof (standard; at-will) | (Horse or Centaur Form)
+14 vs. AC; 1d8+5
Double-Kick (standard; Refresh 5-6) (Horse or Centaur Form)
Take two hoof attacks against the same target.
Disengage (Move; Refresh 5-6)
The Cheval may move up to its speed in squares, but the first square of movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
Ritual of Horse Summoning
Given 10 minutes to work, Cheval Priests of Zirchev can summon 1d3 Warhorses; this should generally happen off stage and be figured into the combat encounter.
Horse Forms (minor; at-will) ✦ Polymorph
A Cheval can alter its physical form to appear as a riding horse, warhorse, or a unique centaur (see Change Shape, page 280 of the MM). It cannot use its lance abilities in either horse form, or its Trample in centaur form.
Alignment Unaligned Languages Common, Fey, Horse (can talk to horses in any form)
Skills Athletics + 14, Insight +14, Nature + 14, Religion +14
Str 17 (+7) Dex 17 (+7) Wis 19 (+9)
Con 14 (+6) Int 14 (+6) Cha 15 (+6)
Equipment chain shirt + chain barding, Holy Symbol of Zirchev, Maul
Cheval Priests lead other Cheval in battle, designating primary targets with Zirchev’s Prey, pinning the targets in place with Zirchev’s lasso, then supporting attacks on them with Arrow of Zirchev and defending themselves with their maul if need be.