Interlude: The Assassin

Sometimes it takes a while for me to come up with ideas for posts, and other times they just flow from one to the next. In this case, the following interlude seems to develop naturally from possible outcomes in the scenario "Retribution."

-Nate

Interlude 45: The Assassin

It is inevitable that a band of pirates will, throughout the course of their career, make some enemies. When that happens, some foes, rather than confronting them directly, choose instead to pay someone else to settle the score. This interlude presents one such nefarious individual, an assassin by the name of Desmond Mayes.

Desmond Mayes

Rogue 5/Assassin 6; CR 11; Size medium; HD 11d6+11; hp 52; Init +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Spd 30 ft.; AC 15 (+1 dueling jacket, +4 Dex); Atk +11/+6 (1d6+1, rapier) or +11/+6 (1d4+1, throwing knives); SQ Sneak Attack +6d6, trapfinding, Evasion, trap sense +1, Uncanny dodge, death attack, poison use, +3 save against poison, Improved uncanny dodge; AL X; SV: Fort +4, Ref +13, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14.

Background: Details.

Skills: Bluff +10, Climb +12, Craft (poison) +6, Disable Device +8, Disguise +6, Hide +18, Move Silently +18, Open Locks +15, Search +8, Sleight of Hand +18, Tumble +18.

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Finesse (rapier).

Fortunes: Doll's Eyes.

Equipment: Dueling jacket, rapier, throwing knives, various types of poison.

Note that this version of the assassin does not have the ability to cast spells.

Desmond Mayes is, purely and simply, a cold-blooded killer. He enjoys murdering people, and the fact that others will pay him to do it makes the business that much sweeter. He takes a feeling of power from these wicked deeds, and delights in a sense of cleverness stemming from how he's never been caught. Generally it is never a personal matter between himself and his victims, but if he should ever be outsmarted or otherwise defeated, it would become one.

Using the Assassin in a Skull & Bones Campaign

This assassin could be worked into a campaign in numerous ways, including the following possibilities.

• First and foremost, of course, he could be sent to kill the PC's by a enemy they've made through their past deeds.
• Alternately, the PC's could happen to be present when Mayes is preparing to attack a target, and have a chance to stop him.
• In the aftermath of an attack, the PC's could be called upon to help investigate the killing and find the culprit.