Prestige Classes
BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF
Professional Assassins
The term "Assassin" has gained a certain universal usage for anyone who kills for money. It has become interchangeable with hitman, hired killer, murderer, fixer, and other street slang. However, the term is actually more specific to one who kills especially famous or political figures, and sometimes money is not a requirement. To some, this distinction is irrelevant and merely circumstantial. In the end, someone has been killed by someone else with a motive, and outside of war and law, that is murder. To others, this distinction is very important. To them, a hitman or hired killer is an ineloquent, thuggish amateur, and an assassin, a true assassin, is a highly-trained professional. Some of these people are, or become, what they consider to be, true Assassins. This is their Prestige Class.
The Brotherhood of the Wolf is a clandestine organisation that is based somewhere near Hawk City, Orion. Their reach is reputed to have grown tenfold in the last few years. Some say that they are so powerful that the local authorities are unable to bring the group down. Others whisper more conspiratorial theories. The Kingdom of Orion is without any known official intelligence agency, such as Forestaine's SSC. And whether or not some secret tie between the Brotherhood and the government exists, it remains that the black business of paying for murder is an ongoing activity within the borders of Orion. And some say, beyond those borders as well.
More information on the Brotherhood of the Wolf does not seem to exist with any verifiable truth. Only this: Years ago, a wealthy merchant by the name of Rudolph Berista launched his own secret investigation into the Brotherhood. He offered large amounts of gold to investigators and adventurers who could collect tangible information on the Brotherhood. He hired twenty of those he felt best suited to the task. Three weeks later, a cart was left overnight just outside the gatehouse of his mansion. There were twenty bodies in it. Berista himself was found two days later, hanging from the rafters of his largest storehouse. He had apparently hung himself, but only after taking the time to ingest a very potent poison and stab himself thirty-seven times. No-one was ever arrested for these slayings. No-one has ever tried such an investigation since.
| Brotherhood of the Wolf | |||
| Lvl | Base Att | Fort/Ref/Will | Special & Other |
| 1 | +1 | +0/+1/+1 | Sneak Attack +1d6, Poison Use |
| 2 | +2 | +0/+2/+1 | Lethal Strike 19-20/x2, Uncanny Dodge |
| 3 | +2 | +1/+3/+1 | Sneak Attack +2d6 |
| 4 | +3 | +1/+4/+2 | Lethal Strike 18-20/x2 |
| 5 | +3 | +1/+5/+2 | Skill Mastery |
| 6 | +3 | +2/+6/+3 | Lethal Strike 18-20/x3 |
| 7 | +4 | +2/+7/+3 | Sneak Attack +3d6 |
| 8 | +4 | +2/+8/+4 | Lethal Strike 17-20/x3 |
| 9 | +5 | +3/+9/+4 | Deadly Aim* |
| 10 | +5 | +3/+10/+5 | Lethal Strike 16-20/x3 |
| 11 | +5 | +3/+10/+5 | Sneak Attack +4d6 |
| 12 | +6 | +4/+11/+6 | Lethal Strike 16-20/x4 |
| 13 | +6 | +4/+11/+6 | Skill Mastery |
| 14 | +7 | +4/+12/+7 | Lethal Strike 15-20/x4 |
| 15 | +7 | +5/+12/+7 | Sneak Attack +5d6 |
| 16 | +7 | +5/+13/+8 | Lethal Strike 14-20/x4 |
| 17 | +8 | +5/+13/+8 | Absolute Skill Mastery** |
| 18 | +9 | +6/+14/+9 | Lethal Strike 14-20/x5 |
| 19 | +10 | +6/+14/+9 | Sneak Attack +6d6 |
| 20 | +10 | +6/+15/+10 | Lethal Strike 13-20/x6 |
| (*) The training necessary to gain Deadly Aim is only available to those who are selected to enter the senior ranks. The criteria for this selection process are secret. Characters can continue to advance in level and gain all other benefits, except Deadly Aim. (**) The training necessary to gain Absolute Skill Mastery is only available to those who are selected to enter the elder ranks. The criteria for this selection process are secret. Characters can continue to advance in level and gain all other benefits, except Absolute Skill Mastery. NB: Beyond 20th level, only Base Attack and Saves increase. There are no further Class Features beyond 20th level. | |||
REQUIREMENTS
To qualify to become an assassin of the Brotherhood of the Wolf, a character must fulfill the following criteria;
Alignment: Any, except, Lawful Good, Neutral Good, or Lawful Neutral.
Base Attack Bonus: +5.
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Group Proficiency (Martial – Melee).
Skills/Ranks: Bluff/5, Disguise/5, Innuendo/5, Intimidation/5.
Sneak Attack Bonus: +3d6.
Other: Sponsorship by an existing Brotherhood of the Wolf assassin and completion of The Examination.
CLASS SKILLS
The Brotherhood of the Wolf assassin's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int, exclusive skill), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Innuendo (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Intuit Direction (Wis), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Pick Pocket (Dex), Profession (Wis), Read Lips (Int, exclusive skill), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex). See Chapter 4: Skills, PH for skill descriptions.
Skill Points at Each Level: 8 + Int modifier.
CLASS FEATURES
The following are the class features of the Brotherhood of the Wolf (BotW)Prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The BotW assassin is proficient in the use of all tiny and small simple and martial weapons (melee and ranged) as well as any crossbow, and the short bow. BotW assassins are also proficient with light armour, but not shields.
Sneak Attack: As per the Rogue ability (See Page 47, PH). This bonus stacks with any previous Sneak Attack bonus gained by the character.
Poison Use: BotW assassins are trained in the use of poison and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves when applying poison to a blade.
Lethal Strike: Beginning at 2nd level, the BotW assassin is taught the finer points of applying anatomy in a deadly manner. This allows them to take better advantage of weak spots in most humanoid victims, damaging nerve centres, joints, vital areas, and other places of vulnerability. When using any proficient tiny or small melee weapon (including unarmed attacks) in combat, the critical threat range and damage values listed are used as base values, unless there is a greater base value available (by weapon design, or otherwise). The Lethal Strike critical threat range can be increased by use of the Improved Critical feat, for that particular weapon. If the assassin takes the Point Blank Shot feat, Lethal Strike can be employed with missile weapons up to a range of 30 feet. This ability can only be employed against humanoid targets, and is ineffective against constructs, undead, and other creatures immune to critical hits.
Uncanny Dodge: If the character does not already have the Uncanny Dodge ability of a 3rd level Rogue (See Page 48, PH), then this ability is gained at 2nd level BotW. The assassin no longer losses their Dexterity bonus to AC when caught flat-footed.
Skill Mastery: One essential aspect of a successful BotW assassin is being talented in a good variety of skills in order to survive the inherent dangers of their profession. At 5th level, and again at 13th level, the BotW assassin gains the benefit of Skill Mastery, as detailed in the Rogue class (See Page 48, PH).
Deadly Aim: At 9th level (and with acceptance into the senior ranks), the BotW assassin has learned to focus on a single target, study their movements and pick the ideal time to fire a missile weapon at them. This ability only works with fired projectiles, not thrown, and requires absolute concentration (loss of Dex bonus to AC, and a Concentration check may be needed in special circumstances). With a Spot check against a DC of 20, and a Concentration check against the appropriate DC (if needed), the assassin may add a circumstance bonus to all attack rolls against a single target for one round. This bonus is equal to +1 for each round of study, and the maximum bonus to be gained is +5.
Absolute Skill Mastery: At 17th level (and with acceptance into the elder ranks), the BotW assassin has become so finely adept at certain tasks that he gains Absolute Skill Mastery over a number of skills equal to 1 + the Intelligence modifier. These skills must be selected from one of those previously selected with the Skill Mastery feat. When making a skill check with one of these skills, the assassin may take a 20 regardless of stress or distraction.
Hit Die: d4.
NPC PROGRESSION
The following Feats and Ability Scores suggested for NPC members in the order they are listed, to fulfill the standard character progression.
Feats: Quick Draw, Weapon Focus, Weapon Finesse, Expertise, Improved Initiative, Improved Critical, Two-Weapon Fighting.
Ability Scores: Dexterity, Charisma, Dex or Cha, Intelligence, Dex or Int.