The Painstalker (3.5e NPC)
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| Female Shoal HalflingStorm Scoundrel 15 | |
| CN Small Humanoid | |
| Init/Senses | +8 (roll twice, take highest)/Listen 16, Spot 16 |
| Languages | Common |
| AC | 23, touch 19, flat-footed 15 (+1 size, +8 Dex, +4 armor) |
| hp | 50(15d6) (15 HD); amphibious |
| Resist | improved evasion |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +6/+12/+10; +2 morale against fear |
| Speed | 20, swim 20; Run, "Running" Swim |
| Melee | Full attack: dagger+2 +19/+14/+9 1d3+3 and dagger+2 +19 1d3+3 or |
| Melee | Standard attack: dagger+2 +21 1d3+3 |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Base Atk/Grp | +11/+8 |
| Atk Options | Eager Strike (+15 dmg), Sneak Attack (+6d6+15 dmg), Analyze Surroundings (+3 to-hit/AC), Delay Maneuver, Staggering StrikeCAdv, Maximize Strike, True Maximize Strike |
| Special Actions | death attack |
| Scoundrel Maneuvers and Stances Known | (IL 15th): Stances—hidden chameleon (class), child of shadowToB (1st), punk robs the store (1st), assassin's stanceToB (3rd), unassuming ogre walk (5th), sandshuffle step (4th) Strikes—forget me knot (class), stealing strike (class), clever positioningToB (2nd), silencing surprise (3rd), obscuring shadow veilToB (4th), stalker in the nightToB (6th), turncoat takedown (6th), shadow nooseToB (6th), knife slits throat (7th), death in the darkToB (7th), hunting komodo slice (8th) Boosts—focus strike (class), quick disguise (class), mongoose hunts the snake (4th), crane catches the fish (4th), Counters—close call (class), hugging the wall (1st) Other—scuttling centipede step (1st), up the walls (2nd), shadow strideToB (5th), octopus squeezes through mesh (5th), cricket hops on head (5th), shadow blinkToB (7th) Disciplines: Shadow HandToB, Setting SunToB, Surreptitious Bandit, Eloquent Speech, Ravenous Succubi † Readied maneuver
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| Abilities | Str 12, Dex 26, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 10 |
| SQ | trapfinding, use poison, disrupt detection, improvised proficiency, swift death |
| Feats | CravenCoR, Two Weapon Fighting, Staggering StrikeCAdv, Maximize Strike, True Maximize Strike, Weapon Finesse, |
| Skills | Bluff 9, Disguise 9, Hide 28, Listen 16, Move Silently 28, Open Lock 26, Spot 16, Swim 18 |
| Possessions | gloves of dexterity (+6), ring of invisibility, masterwork thieves tools, 2 daggers+2, wand of mage armor, ring of anticipationDotU, rogue's vestMIC, scout's headbandMIC 800 gp |
Tactics[edit]
The Painstalker makes use of her stealth and disguise abilities to get close to the target and strike them down swiftly in one or two rounds, then leave the scene again by swimming away, shadow blinking away or hiding.
Assassinate the Ambassador: The Painstalker infiltrates the ambassador's chamber during the night and studies it (analyze surrounding, death attack). As they are fast asleep, she hits them with the full force of a delayed (delay maneuver), boosted (focus strike, +15dmg) true maximized death in the dark strike. Ten days later when the ambassador meets with the king in a foreign land you can activate the effect to apply a death effect (Fort DC 17) and deal 171 damage (Fort DC 20 for 111 damage instead), possibly causing a huge diplomatic conflict.
Shoot the Sheriff: She activates her ring of invisibility and sneaks her way close to the sheriff when they step outside their station with her unassuming ogre walk stance. After studying them for some time while hidden (Death Attack) she hits them with a Stalker in the Night strike for a sneak attack (1d3+3 weapon damage + 5d6+15 sneak attack damage + 15 eager strike) that triggers the Death Attack effect (Death effect, Fort DC 17), after which she is still hidden. She can run away through the shadows (shadow blink) before other agents find her, and finish the victim off (if they survived) with a shadow noose (8d6 dmg) from the distance as she gets away.
Kill the Caster: The Painstalker infiltrates the caster's favorite park in the sandshuffle step stance and studies the area intently (Analyze Surrounding), then hides close to it (Crane Catches Fish). As the mage approaches, she activates her headband to prevent blur effects with true sight, boosts herself with Focus Strike (+15 dmg) and strikes them with a knife slits the troat (+7d8dmg, Fort DC25 to prevent being silenced) sneak attack (+5d6+15 dmg) with her dagger (1d3+3 dmg + 15 eager strike). If the mage didn't die she will still have an easy time finishing them off, since they'll most likely be unable to cast their magics, being unable to speak.
Murder the Merchant: She disguises herself as the merchant's service to get close to them (Hidden Chameleon's stance). In an opportune moment, she boosts herself with Focus Strike (+15 dmg) and strikes them with a turncoat takedown (+8d8 dmg) sneak attack (+5d6+15 dmg) with her dagger (1d3+3 dmg + 15 eager strike) using her Staggering Strike feat (Fort DC equal to damage dealt to prevent stagger).
Hunt the Hero: The Painstalker studies the hero (analyze surroundings, death attack) while hidden in the Assassin Stance. In an opportune moment, she activates the invisibility ring, sneaks up to the hero and delivers a death in the dark (15d6 dmg, 5d6 on successful Fort DC20 save) sneak attack (1d3+3 weapon + 15 eager strike + 7d6+15 sneak attack), with a chance to stagger them (staggering strike, Fort DC equal damage dealt). She then follows up on the probably staggered opponent with a full round of sneak attacks for up to 4 attacks of 1d3+3 (weapon) + 7d6+15 (sneak attack) damage each.
