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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GodOfCheese" data-source="post: 1569642" data-attributes="member: 19170">Haki the Dancing BladeCheese's Note: as pointed out below, this NPC is broken-- there's no way he could qualify for the Shadowdancer PrC at 6th level, so he'd need either another level of Rogue or another level of Assassin to be legal.  I'm leaving him as is, though, because this is essentially how he was when he appeared IMC.Haki the Dancing Blade, assassin of Millingtonmale human Rog5/Assassin1/Shadowdancer3; CR 9; Medium-size Humanoid (human); HD 6d6+3d8+9; hp 41; Init +4 (Dex); Spd 30 ft; AC 20 (+4 studded leather, +2 ring of protection, +4 Dex); Atks +10/+5 melee (1d6+3/crit 18-20, rapier), or +10/+5 ranged (1d6/crit x3, shortbow); SA death attack, sneak attack, spells; SQ darkvision 60 ft, evasion, hide in plain sight, poison use, shadow illusion, summon shadow, uncanny dodge; AL NE; SV Fort +3, Ref +13, Will +4; Str 14, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 8.Skills and Feats: Hide+14,move Silent+14,spot+8,search+4,balance+9,climb+7,jump+7,perform+4,disguise+4,innuendo+6,open Lock+11,gather Info+4; Dodge, Mobility, Combat Reflexes, Weapon Finesse (Rapier), Weapon Focus(Rapier).Special Attacks: Death Attack: If Haki makes a successful sneak attack after observing the victim for 3 rounds, the victim is killed or paralyzed for 1d6+1 rounds (Fort negates DC 13). Sneak Attack (Ex): Haki deals +4d6 damage against an opponent with a discernable anatomy who is denied a Dex bonus or is flanked.Special Qualities: Summon Shadow: Summon a shadow with 2 HD. Uncanny Dodge: Dex bonus to AC, can't be flanked.Possessions: +1 Mighty Composite Shortbow (+2Str), +1 Studded Leather, +1 Rapier, +2 Ring of Protection, poison vialPoison: Manticore bile (Fort 15, Initial damage: 1d4 Con, 1d4 Dex; Secondary damage: 2d4 Wis), enough for two applications to a blade or one quiver of arrows, worth around 600gp.  Illegal everywhere in the Empire and within the Landhold.Assassin Spells Prepared (-/2): Obscuring Mist, SpiderclimbBackground and History: Haki was a freelance assassin in Millington for many years.  He operated from a lair built in one of the old abandoned aqueducts beneath the city, accessible through trapped corridors and secret doors.  To hire him, one dropped information about the target behind a loose block behind the messenger's office, which causes such information to fall down a chute into Haki's lair.  To those connected with Andrew Scraal's network, it is understood that those who don't offer sufficient payment to Haki risk becoming targets themselves, assuming Haki doesn't simply ignore the fee.  Only Scraal himself is believed to be able to recognize Haki, but why Andrew hasn't been killed himself is not entirely clear.Haki is silent and patient.  His chosen career stems from a deep-seated enjoyment of harming others.  The fact that people are willing to pay for his services just provides him with an ongoing stream of interesting victims, as well as the revenue to experiment with new kinds of equipment and techniques.  The Dancing Blade keeps his identity secret even from those few with whom he consorts (other members of the Millington Underworld, whom Haki perceives as acquaintances of convenience and necessity... contacts who supply him with information, equipment, and access to forbidden magic).  Those who "know" him perceive him as a man who listens well and says very little.  Somehow, he always squeaks through an exchange without having to introduce himself, or having those with him remember the name by which he was introduced.Strategy and Tactings: Haki's favored tactic is to surveill his intended mark for days or weeks (when possible), looking for a pattern of behavior that will suggest a place from which Haki can strike with optimal potency.  This usually involves a dark alley, abandoned street, or the person's home.   Having found such a place, Haki will inevitably arrive far in advance, where he can take 20 on his Hide check (spot DC34 in broad daylight, but usually much higher due to concealment).  If necessary (and possible), Haki will scout the location several times before the attack. Haki will always have an exit strategy worked out for after the assassination takes place, or in case of unexpected circumstances.  However, unless the mark is considered difficult, Haki will seldom predetermine an "emergency exit".  This isn't necessarily because Haki is overconfident-- more that he doesn't want to leave himself an easy out, after which news of his failure (and identity) would escape into the world.</blockquote>

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