THe Breath of Natus

If we do a 3 Tier Path, then the last tier should be the undead tier.

ie: Path 1 (Initiate), weapon training with the knife (if it isn’t a standard weapon) and the Gaze
Path 2 (Brother), Breath (one tier) and Murderous Precision-equivalent talent
Path 2 (Master), Neroth’s Final Blessing (making them undead) and maybe another level of the Breath?

For prereqs, I’m assuming Assassin and possibly Templar or Holy Champion of Neroth? Knowledge Religion and Stealth for skills to learn?

This is more of a fluff thing, but since this is an assassin order, do you want any comparisons to the Ismailis groups (the Persian/Arabic Ḥashshāshīn group)? From our end it would mostly be in the names of the levels instead of initiate, brother, etc.

Additionally: Types of knives:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirpan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janbiya

Hello,

A curved knife is pretty basic and common in the real world, so I think we’re fine on that.

Just giving options. The Shortsword would probably be more of an issue, but we could still have it FUNCTIONALLY a shortsword but call it a Xiphos or whatever more culturally appropriate blade to the Order (ie: if not Roman/Coryani, we could aim for Greek or even ancient Germanic like the Seax knife).

I think a three Tier system would be best, but I think some of the abilities that Cody has listed shouldn’t be attributed to the “live” version.

So you’re basically alive in Tier one and two, meaning that you should be skilled with the dagger and blade, but have none of the “undead” abilities like the gaze, touch, etc. and definitly not the breath (where you turn into a cloud.

My only issue with this is giving the undead template TOO early. After all, the val’Mordane get it Tier V, and if it is open to them it basically gives 1) a useless bloodline talent, and 2) why would others get it earlier? From what I was trying to suggest would be similar to:

Tier 1 – Assassin (first path)
Tier 2 – Assassin (2nd Path)
Tier 3 – Breath of Natus (1st)
Tier 4 – Breath of Natus (2nd)
Tier 5 – Undead Breath of Natus.

That being said, I’m open to anything.

I would prefer not to use the ismallis as a template. I don’t envision them working or behaving the same way.

Okie. I was more going to what kind of culture we should be envisioning as a real-world equivalent. I know that Natus is a Latin word, suggesting High Coryani, but I wanted to be sure.

The only concern I have with this is that using Cody’s template below, the Undead assassins would be Tier 5, I think or maybe 4 if they start as assassins. I was hoping for the Tier 2 Heroes to square off against one of these things.

From what I was picturing in my mind, the Tier 1 are minion or common level assassins (Initiates), Tier 2 would be competant assassins and Tier 3 would be the undead guys.

Is there a way to make this happen, while still making them a feared group/threat?

In terms of making the threat, as long as you don’t put Tiered requirements on some of the talents you should be fine giving Tier II threats whatever spells and abilities you want. Want a Tier II Undead Nerothian Assassin, even if the Hero path needs Tier V? Why not? Hell, we’ve seen Tier II and III spells show up on Tier I threats before (I recall the Azyrs? from Born of the Fires of Hell having a spell out-of-tier). The only issue comes when you start adding Tiered talents (ie: Leadership), but you can hand wave those away for stat-blocks.

Cody,

I think you’re reading to much subtext into the name. I was not referring to the latin word, but rather something I thought I was creating whole cloth.

Regardless, let’s try to dispense with real world analogues whenever possible. Not everything has to be a cpy of something else… (i know, I know..Coryan, but Rome is a guilty pleasure of mine!)

Alright, maybe we’re going about this the wrong way –

First, I supose an additional requirement of being from the Tyrant’s city of Ahkala can be added to remove any chance of players assuming they can play one of these guys.

Or better yet –

Let’s dispense with the Path creation and just concentrate on creating 3 stat blocks:

Assassin Common threat

Assassin (the name escapes me, but the next level threat)

Undead assassin threat capable enough to handle six Heroes (whether this be one assassin or two. I would prefer two, at least).

While the Breath power is potent, the Heroes have a chance of aqiuring an item that will prevent them from using that in combat to escape.

Does that help?

Well, here’s a first pass at the assassins. They are Tier 2 stats (aiming for Tier 2.0 to 2.5 characters) for the basic stats. Since they are from the same order I kept most of them the same but I can see many places for improvement, especially with Mr. Undead stats (using some of the Undead Monster Talents)

Initiate Assassin
Common (Tier 2) D8, Med,
Humanoid (Human)

Avoidance Fortitude Discipline
22 21 20

St (Wo) 30 (1) Pace 30
AR 1(0) Initiative 3d10
Attacks Dagger: +7(a) D4(d8)
Speed (Recovery): 3 (0), Range: Melee/10’

Short Sword: Bonus(D) D6(d8)
Speed (Strain): 4(0), Range: Melee

Special Rule For Attack
Special/
Spell Casting Cast at +X
Spells or Powers

Talents Lost in the Crowd, Murderous Precision, Tomb Raider, Two-Weapon Fighting, Unshakable Dogma, Waylay, Weapon Mastery T.1 (Short Sword, Dagger)

Traits Trait
Flaws Zealot

Skills (+6, 22, 16)
Melee (Balanced), Stealth, Perception, Deceit, Knowledge (Religion), Acrobatics, Athletics, Mettle

Gear Leather Armour, Short Sword, Dagger
Encounter Tier Value: 2.0

Living Assassins
Elite (Tier 2) D10, Med,
Humanoid (Human)

Avoidance Fortitude Discipline
23 22 21

St (Wo) 40 (2) Pace 30
AR 1(0) Initiative 3d10
Fate X Fate Score X
Attacks Dagger: +7(a) D4(d10)
Speed (Recovery): 3 (0), Range: Melee, 10’

Short Sword: +7(a) D6(d10)
Speed (Strain): 4 (0), Range: Melee
Special Rule For Attack
Special/
Spell Casting Cast at +X
Spells or Powers

Talents Lost in the Crowd, Murderous Precision, Tomb Raider, Two-Weapon Fighting, Unshakable Dogma, Waylay, Weapon Mastery T.1 (Short Sword, Dagger)

Traits [Chilling Touch Power], [Fear Power]
Flaws Zealot

Skills (+6, 22, 16)
Melee (Balanced), Stealth, Perception, Deceit, Knowledge (Religion), Acrobatics, Athletics, Mettle

Gear Leather Armour, Short Sword, Dagger
Encounter Tier Value: 3.0

Undead Assassin Priests
Adversary [Divine] (Tier 2) D12, Med,
Humanoid (Undead)

Avoidance Fortitude Discipline
25 25 24

St (Wo) 75 (4) Pace 40
AR 1(2) Initiative 4d10
Fate 4 Fate Score 4
Attacks Dagger: +9(a) D4(d12)
Speed (Recovery): 3 (0), Range: Melee/10’

Short Sword: +9(a) D6(d12)
Speed (Strain): X (x), Range: Melee
Special Rule For Attack
Special/
Spell Casting Cast at +9
Smite Heretic, Vampiric Touch, Tear at the Flesh, Benediction of the Gods, Inertial Shield, Righteous Strike, Neroths Embrace, Retributive Ward, Blessed Pledge

Talents Lost in the Crowd, Murderous Precision, Prodigy (Cants), Tomb Raider, Two-Weapon Fighting, Unshakable Dogma, Waylay, Weapon Mastery T.1 (Short Sword, Dagger)

Traits [Chilling Touch Power], [Fear Power], [Breath Power], [Incorporial Power], Natural Armour x1
Flaws Zealot, Rot of Corruption

Skills (+8, 25, 17)
Melee (Balanced), Stealth, Perception, Deceit, Knowledge (Religion), Acrobatics, Athletics, Mettle

Gear Leather Armour, Short Sword, Dagger
Encounter Tier Value: 4.5

Undead Assassin Warrior
Adversary [Martial] (Tier 2) D12, Med,
Humanoid (Undead)

Avoidance Fortitude Discipline
26 25 23

St (Wo) 80 (4) Pace 40
AR 1(2) Initiative 4d10
Fate 4 Fate Score 4
Attacks Dagger: +9(a) D4(d12)
Speed (Recovery): 3 (0), Range: Melee/10’

Short Sword: +9(a) D6(d12)
Speed (Strain): X (x), Range: Melee
Special Rule For Attack
Weapon Tricks/
Techniques Dagger – Pommel Strike, Twin Throw
Short Sword – Pommel Strike, Throw the Blade
Spinning Strike, Disarm Foe

Talents Advanced Armour Training, Lost in the Crowd, Murderous Precision, Prodigy (Cants), Tomb Raider, Two-Weapon Fighting, Unshakable Dogma, Sidestep Charge, Streetsmarts, Waylay, Weapon Mastery T.1 (Short Sword, Dagger)

Traits [Chilling Touch Power], [Fear Power], [Breath Power], [Incorporeal Power], Natural Armour x1
Flaws Zealot, Rot of Corruption

Skills (+8, 25, 17)
Melee (Balanced), Stealth, Perception, Deceit, Knowledge (Religion), Acrobatics, Athletics, Mettle

Gear Leather Armour, Short Sword, Dagger
Encounter Tier Value: 4.5

if we are building stat blocks, treat them like monsters..

Chill touch can be a special attack, with a special note that the use of this power also kills any minion or common threat upon a successful attack.

for the Incorporeal Power we can just write up a gaseous form monstrous trait (something can be of use later) and combine that with a special attack which deals 0 damage but causes push upon successful attack vs. Fort (from the Stench)

Fear Power would be a unique power for sure.

::shivers::