Mythological Figures once again heads to the far east, this time considering one of the best known figures in all of recorded history, a person with teachings that still have influence today more than a century after their time: Confucius!
It might surprise you to learn that while alive Confucius didn’t really get that much recognition other than that people of influence found him to be threatening. All the same and without any military power himself, he utilized diplomacy to try (and fail) to return the authority of Lu to a duke rather than the triumvirate of ruling clans. The Viscount Ji Huan becomes his nemesis and for decades Confucius goes into self-exile instead of resigning, traveling around the states of central and north-east China where he shared his political beliefs but never saw them implemented. In the twilight of his years he returns to the province of Lu, teaching the Five Classics to more than 70 disciples before dying himself in his early 70s. Details on his legacy are fairly involved but to be short about it Confucius’ teachings are widely adopted soon after and become the backbone of education in China until less than a century ago.
Designer Notes: It was a struggle to figure out what classes fit best for Confucius here but I’m happy with where he landed--he’s a multi-linguist with a +11 bonus in all of his skills and plenty of intrigue-related tricks. While I would’ve liked to get him a higher Intelligence, the balanced high mental ability scores seem appropriate and make him a fierce social combatant. For CR statisticians: the Blog of Holding rubric really had a big impact here rating him as a 6 and the DMG down at 3.9 so I went for CR 5. If for some reason combat breaks out before Confucius can get his intrigue and drama game going on proper, treat him as CR 4 instead because he’s really not very damage-oriented.
Confucius
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good rogue (genius) 6/cleric (knowledge) 4
Armor Class 15 (bracers of defense, ring of protection)
Hit Points 45 (10d8)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Str +0, Dex +7, Con +1, Int +8, Wis +4, Cha +4
Skills Arcana +11, Deception +11, History +11, Insight +11, Investigation +11, Perception +11, Persuasion +11, Religion +11
Tools thieves’ tools +4
Senses passive Perception 21
Languages Common, four other languages
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Background: Bureaucratic Official. Confucius is able to use his position as a scholar-official to access the bureaucratic functionings of organizations that he encounters. He is able to identify who has authority and influence, what the group is recently concerned with, and how to acquire something from them.
Channel Divinity (1/Short Rest). Confucius can channel his divine energy to fuel one of two magical effects.
Cunning Action (1/Turn). Confucius can take a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, Help, or Hide action.
Fast Learner. After Confucius has heard a creature speak for 1 minute or longer, he can mimic its manner of speaking as long as he knows the same language as the creature (allowing him to seem like he is local to a given region).
Feat: Diplomatic. Confucius can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check contested by the Wisdom (Insight) check of a creature that can understand what he says during 1 minute of talking. On a success, as long as Confucius remains within 60 feet of it (and for 1 minute afterward) the target is charmed by him. Confucius automatically fails on the check if he or his companions are fighting the target.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Confucius deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Confucius that isn’t incapacitated and Confucius doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Tactician. Confucius is able to use the Help action to aid an ally attacking a creature as long as the target of the attack is able to see and hear Confucius and is within 30 feet of him.
Spellcasting. Confucius is a 4th level spellcaster that uses Wisdom as his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15; +7 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared from the cleric’s spell list:
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker Confucius can see hits him with an attack, Confucius can use his reaction to halve the attack’s damage against him.
It might surprise you to learn that while alive Confucius didn’t really get that much recognition other than that people of influence found him to be threatening. All the same and without any military power himself, he utilized diplomacy to try (and fail) to return the authority of Lu to a duke rather than the triumvirate of ruling clans. The Viscount Ji Huan becomes his nemesis and for decades Confucius goes into self-exile instead of resigning, traveling around the states of central and north-east China where he shared his political beliefs but never saw them implemented. In the twilight of his years he returns to the province of Lu, teaching the Five Classics to more than 70 disciples before dying himself in his early 70s. Details on his legacy are fairly involved but to be short about it Confucius’ teachings are widely adopted soon after and become the backbone of education in China until less than a century ago.
Designer Notes: It was a struggle to figure out what classes fit best for Confucius here but I’m happy with where he landed--he’s a multi-linguist with a +11 bonus in all of his skills and plenty of intrigue-related tricks. While I would’ve liked to get him a higher Intelligence, the balanced high mental ability scores seem appropriate and make him a fierce social combatant. For CR statisticians: the Blog of Holding rubric really had a big impact here rating him as a 6 and the DMG down at 3.9 so I went for CR 5. If for some reason combat breaks out before Confucius can get his intrigue and drama game going on proper, treat him as CR 4 instead because he’s really not very damage-oriented.
Confucius
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good rogue (genius) 6/cleric (knowledge) 4
Armor Class 15 (bracers of defense, ring of protection)
Hit Points 45 (10d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
9 (-1) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws Str +0, Dex +7, Con +1, Int +8, Wis +4, Cha +4
Skills Arcana +11, Deception +11, History +11, Insight +11, Investigation +11, Perception +11, Persuasion +11, Religion +11
Tools thieves’ tools +4
Senses passive Perception 21
Languages Common, four other languages
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Background: Bureaucratic Official. Confucius is able to use his position as a scholar-official to access the bureaucratic functionings of organizations that he encounters. He is able to identify who has authority and influence, what the group is recently concerned with, and how to acquire something from them.
Channel Divinity (1/Short Rest). Confucius can channel his divine energy to fuel one of two magical effects.
Divine Knowledge. As an action, Confucius gains proficiency with one skill or tool he chooses. This proficiency lasts for 10 minutes.
Turn Undead. As an action, Confucius presents his holy symbol and speaks a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead within 30 feet that can see or hear him must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. When an undead of CR 1/2 or lower fails its saving throw the creature is instantly destroyed. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from Confucius as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of him. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Turn Undead. As an action, Confucius presents his holy symbol and speaks a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead within 30 feet that can see or hear him must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. When an undead of CR 1/2 or lower fails its saving throw the creature is instantly destroyed. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from Confucius as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of him. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Cunning Action (1/Turn). Confucius can take a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, Help, or Hide action.
Fast Learner. After Confucius has heard a creature speak for 1 minute or longer, he can mimic its manner of speaking as long as he knows the same language as the creature (allowing him to seem like he is local to a given region).
Feat: Diplomatic. Confucius can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check contested by the Wisdom (Insight) check of a creature that can understand what he says during 1 minute of talking. On a success, as long as Confucius remains within 60 feet of it (and for 1 minute afterward) the target is charmed by him. Confucius automatically fails on the check if he or his companions are fighting the target.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Confucius deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Confucius that isn’t incapacitated and Confucius doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Tactician. Confucius is able to use the Help action to aid an ally attacking a creature as long as the target of the attack is able to see and hear Confucius and is within 30 feet of him.
Spellcasting. Confucius is a 4th level spellcaster that uses Wisdom as his spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15; +7 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared from the cleric’s spell list:
Cantrips: guidance, light, mending, sacred flame
1st-level (4 slots): cure wounds, protection from evil and good, sanctuary, shield of faith; command, identify
2nd-level (3 slots): calm emotions, enhance ability, zone of truth; augury, suggestion
1st-level (4 slots): cure wounds, protection from evil and good, sanctuary, shield of faith; command, identify
2nd-level (3 slots): calm emotions, enhance ability, zone of truth; augury, suggestion
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.
REACTIONS
Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker Confucius can see hits him with an attack, Confucius can use his reaction to halve the attack’s damage against him.
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