R
Male or Female Human(oid), Fighter 2 / Rogue 5 / Assassin 3
Medium Humanoid, CE
HD: 10 HD (60 hp)
Initiative: +8
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+4 dex, +2 armour, +2 magic)
Base Attack/Grapple: +7 / +8
Attack: +8/3 base melee, +11/6 base ranged;
single melee +1 Rapier: Anarchic +13/+8 (1d6+2, 18-20/x2), or
single melee +1 Dagger: Returning +12/+7 (1d4+2, 19-20/x2), or
two-weapon melee Rapier +9/+4, Dagger +4
Space/Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +3
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 8
Fighter Class Features: Weapon, Armour and Shield proficiencies
Rogue Class Features: Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Sneak Attack +5d6, Trap Sense +1, Trapfinding
Assassin Class Features: +1 save vs. Poison, Death Attack, Poison Use
Skills: Balance +6, Bluff +10, Climb +12, Craft (Alchemy) +14, Craft (Poisonmaking) +6, Disable Device +10, Disguise +8, Escape Artist +10, Hide +16, Intimidate +6, Jump +12, Listen +6, Move Silently +16, Open Lock +12, Search +6, Sense Motive +4, Sleight of Hand +8, Swim +10, Tumble +12, Use Rope +6
Feats: Acrobatic, Blind-Fight, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Nimble Fingers, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Rapier
Spells Known (Asn --/3/1): 1st -- Feather Fall, Obscuring Mist, True Strike; 2nd -- Cat`s Grace, Darkness
Organization: R hatches his/her plans in secret, always working alone. He/she may employ others, or even appear to be employed by others, but it is a ruse - everything R does, does for reasons of his/her own.
Languages: Common, Abyssal, Elven, Slaad
Possessions: +1 Rapier: Anarchic (18,320 gp); +1 Dagger: Returning (8,302 gp); +2 Leather: Shadow, Silent Moves (11,660 gp); Coin: 278 gp; Alchemist`s Mineral Acid (2) (40 gp); Thieves` tools, Masterwork (100 gp); Camouflage Kit (40 gp); Alchemists`s tools, Masterwork (55 gp); Alchemical Sleep Gas (2) (60 gp); Antitoxin (vial) (2) (100 gp); Blood Elixir (Black) (700 gp); Blood Elixir (Green) (1,200 gp); Blood Elixir (Copper) (700 gp); Disappearing Ink (5 gp); Festering Bomb (2) (100 gp); Insanity Mist (1,500 gp); Asabi Mist (2) (2,000 gp); Purple Worm Poison (2) (1,400 gp); Dark Reaver Powder (4) (1,200 gp); Huge Scorpion (1,200 gp); Wondrous: Boots of Big Stepping (11,200 gp); Wondrous: Mask of Disguise (1,000 gp)
As you walk down the street, a masked figure brushes your shoulder upon exiting the guildhall's back door. You ignore and pass the figure, never giving it a second glance. Probably some entertainer employed at the guild, judging by his mask and apparel. In retrospect, you pat your belt and are glad to find your coinpurse in its place. Suddenly, you are deafened by a large explosion and, instinctively, you drop to the ground. Before your very eyes the guildhall collapses in dust. The ringing in your ears is replaced by screams, and people are running about you either in panic or in a frantic effort to stop a fire from spreading. You stand up and brush yourself off. Only now do you notice the masked figure again, and are amazed to see it standing calmly, observing the chaos and destruction which it had avoided just as narrowly as you. And then, noticing you watching, it dodges behind a corner, gone for good. Lucky sod, you think to yourself. To think that he walked out of that building not a moment too soon. And then you begin to wonder what caused the explosion...
"R" has many names. Anarchist. Freedom Fighter. Assassin. The Masked Man. The Smiling Menace. That Guy With the Mask. The thing is, no one knows his real name, his identity, or even his face. Most suppose that he is a he, but are not even sure about that much. Sporting a heavy disguise, R is the master sneak and killer, feared by all. Everyone knows he cannot be trusted - well, most people do. Those who don't - usually find out sooner or later, as R's mask is the last thing they will ever see, in addition to a bowl or poisoned soup or a knife in their belly.
R kills indiscriminately. Some have theorized that he is after authority figures who have evaded punishment for their past or present crimes. It is just as likely that he is mad, or that he has some other convoluted scheme up his sleeve. The thing is, no one knows. And yet, a building is blown up, a city official is found stabbed in his own room behind locked doors, a common thug is found nailed to the roof of the local church. Sometimes all three in the same day. The Smiling Menace must be stopped!
Plot hooks:
- There has been a series of seemingly unrelated assassinations and/or explosions in the city. Players may be out for revenge, or on a mission for their organization.
- Naturally, the guilds and other officials would pay handsomely for the proof of R's death, but will not accept a body without the mask, since none know his appearance. The local sheriff is offering a 10,000 gp reward.
- R might be employed by some unknown party to kill the players. There is a string of assassination attempts through the use of poison, or a direct attempt should a party member become separated from the rest. The players must either catch R or find out who his employer is. R might even kill his own employer before or after the players confront them (for whatever reason, as he is reliably unpredictable).
Strategies:
- R prefers to avoid a fair fight. He will use poison first, in order to kill or soften up his victims. Poisons: Asabi Mist (Inhaled DC 12, 1d4 Con / 1d4 Con), Dark Reaver Powder (Ingested DC 18, 2d6 Con / 1d6 Con + 1d6 Str), Huge Scorpion (Injury DC 26, 1d8 Str / 1d8 Str), Insanity Mist (Inhaled DC15, 1d4 Wis / 2d6 Wis), Purple Worm (Injury DC 24, 1d6 Str / 1d6 Str).
- When cornered, R will cast Darkness or Obscuring Mist, attempting to hide and backstab his foes. He might even attempt bluffing his way out, or use his Boots of Big Stepping to get away.
- Failing all that, R will imbibe some draconic potions. Elixirs: Black Blood Elixir (+2 to Str and Darkvision 120 ft. for 10 minutes), Copper Blood Elixir (+2 to Cha and Spider Climb for 10 minutes), Green Blood Elixir (+2 to Str and Suggestion for 10 minutes).
-- Editor's Note --
a) Alchemical items and their descriptions are to be found here. Most are from the Arms and Equipment Guide, some are from Draconomicon or Book of Vile Darkness. You are free to enrich R's inventory with any alchemical concoctions you deem apropriate: infusions, poisons, smoke bombs, explosives, etc. The aforementioned site and sources should come in useful.
b) Wondrous items. Boots of Big Stepping grant the wearer the dimension door ability, usable 1/day as per the spell description. Mask of Disguise functions pretty much as a Hat of Disguise would, though naturally it hides the wearer's face even when inactive.
c) "R for Revenge" is a play on "V for Vendetta", and the character concept is translated into D&D terms. As the character's original author and illustrator says, "Citizens of Sigil beware! Mysterious terrorist stalks the streets of our fair city, if you know anything about this dangerous criminal known only as "R" inform your nearest Harmonium officer. Do not atempt to aprehend this person yourself, he is armed and extreamly dangerous." Therefore, R is originally an Anarchist character in the Planescape campaign setting, but as described here he can be implemented into any generic D&D setting, possibly as a side-quest or a minor villain.
d) R is not necessarily human and could be of either sex. In your campaign it might turn out that R is some NPC the players had already met previously and never suspected. Of course, it is up to you as a DM to decide what his actual agenda is (if any). In a more metaphysically oriented setting (like Planescape) it might turn out that there is nothing at all under the mask, and R is some sort of Anarchy personified, or a magically animated mannequin run amok. Going even further from there, R might not be a singular instance at all, involving clones or reviving after having been dealt with - until the players get to the real source, the Puppet Master of sorts (possibly the Big Baddie in your campaign?).
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Illustration and original character by Clone-Artist
Characted redesign and build by Domigorgon
