The Painstalker (3.5e NPC)

Author: Eromythic (talk) Date Created: 12 2 2022 Status: In Progress Editing: Clarity edits only please

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The Painstalker

CR 15

	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 dmg/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
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

The Painstalker with make use of its 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 or hiding.

(WIP Komodo thing, stalker in the night thing)

Assassinate the Caster: The Painstalker infiltrates the caster's favorite park in the sandshuffle step stance and studies the area intently (Analyze Surrounding, +3dmg), 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).

Backstab the Noble: She disguises herself as the noble'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).

Murder the Hero: The Painstalker studies the hero while hidden in the Assassin Stance. In an opportune moment, she activates the invisibility ring, sneaks up to the hero and delivers a full round of sneak attacks for possibly up to 4 attacks of 1d3+3 (weapon) + 3 (analyze surroundings) + 7d6+15 (sneak attack) damage each.