Sworn Shields are Paladins who swear an oath to one person, and guard that person with their life.
Sworn Shield is an archetype of Paladin
Sworn Ward (Ex)
Sworn Shields are devout guardians to priestesses and pilgrims alike, but swear themselves to one. At the start of the day, the Sworn Shield declares a Ward. Class features not adjusted by Sworn Shield only work on the Ward and the Sworn Shield themselves
Guardian Stance(Ex)
At 1st level, the Sworn Shield can enter a Guardian stance, readying himself against his foe. A Sworn Shield can maintain this stance for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Constitution modifier. At each level after 1st, he can maintain the stance for 2 additional rounds per day. Temporary increases to Constitution, such as those gained from spells like dwarf’s endurance, do not increase the total number of rounds that the Sworn Shield can maintain a Guardian stance per day. The Sworn Shield can enter a Guardian stance as a free action. The total number of rounds of Guardian stance per day is renewed after resting for 8 hours, although these hours do not need to be consecutive.
While in Guardian stance, the Sworn Shield gains an additional attack of opportunity and increases their armour bonus by +1. For every 5 levels of paladin he has, he gains another attack of opportunity and increases the armour bonus by an additional +1.
A Sworn Shield can end his Guardian stance as a free action, and is fatigued for 1 minute after a Guardian stance ends. This fatigue cannot be reduced or mitigated in any way and applies even to normally fatigue-immune characters. A Sworn Shield can’t enter a new Guardian stance while fatigued or exhausted, but can otherwise enter a Guardian stance multiple times per day. If a Sworn Shield falls unconscious, his Guardian stance immediately ends. Guardian stance does not stack with rage.
While in Guardian Stance, as long as the Ward is within 30 feet, the Sworn Shield can move to them and use Cover as an attack of opportunity . In addition, the Ward also gains the AC bonus as long as they are within 30 feet.
The Sworn Shield can spend rounds of Guardian Stance in place of blessings for class features unadjusted by Sworn Shield, such as Astral Arts
Guardian Stance replaces Light's Blessing.
Divine Shroud (Su)
At 7th level, the Sworn Shield can imbue his own or his Ward’s armour with protective power. As a swift action for himself, or a move action for his Ward, by touching the armour, he may spend two rounds of Guardian Stance to apply the Fortification (Light) special armour quality, This benefit lasts for a number of rounds equal to half his paladin level. If the paladin is in Convalescence, he does not have to spend Guardian Stance to gain this benefit (but must still spend a swift action to do so).
At 11th level, this becomes Fortification (Medium), and at 15th level, this becomes Fortification (Heavy)
This replaces Righteous Bane
Sacrifice of Light (Su)
At 17th level, the Sworn Shield can, by expending one attack of opportunity action, take the full effects of anything requiring a save targeting their Ward if they are within 30 feet, and the Sworn Shield is not already part of the effect’s area of effect.The Sworn Shield then gets to attempt to save as normal, with a bonus equal to their Ward’s relevant modifier, halved (Dex modifier for Reflex, Con modifier for Fort and Wisdom modifier for Will saves)
This replaces Soul of Sanctity
