E - Book - Martial Arts - The Art of Ninjutsu,Shinobi,Ninpo1

You are seeing our new document Reader view. Click here to revert. Feel free to leave us feedback on this feature here.

Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

THREE NEW NINJA CLASSES

SILENT

WARRIORS

by Matthew Sernett - Illustrated by Jeff Laubenstein

"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formiessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to thepoint of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of your opponent's fate."-Sun Tzu, The Art of War

inja, it’s a word imbued with thepower of myth and mysticism.Regardless of the ninjas' historicalroots, they now occupy an unassailableposition in our cultural psyche. Masters of martial arts, magic, stealth, speed, acrobat-ics, disguise, poisons, and other death-dealing arts, the mystical ninja offer a wealthof opportunities for prestige classes.The prestige classes presented belowshare a mutual world history that can beincorporated into any

Oriental Adventures

campaign. Setting the histories of theprestige classes aside, each could easily beinserted into any D&D game. DMs using theRokugan setting presented in the

OrientalAdventures

book should note that theScorpion, Snake, and Spider clans men-tioned in the poison fist's description arenot meant to represent any of the samuraiclans from Rokugan.

Poison Fist

“A dart, a dagger, a bowl of rice, there aremany devices used to deliver poison, but noneis so deadly and insidious as the empty hand.”

Once an empire lay on the brink of disaster. The emperor died and left histeenage son in control. Scheming eunuchscontrolled the child-king, and this did notpass the notice of the samurai clans. Threeclans in particular were offended by theyoung emperor's ascendance to the throne.The Snake, Scorpion, and Spider clansconferred with one another about theyoung emperor and decided that one of their clans should rule, although they couldnot agree which one. Through diplomacyand bullying they gathered nine othersamurai clans to their cause, and theysought to dethrone the emperor and takethe empire for themselves. Unfortunately,the emperor proved to be more intelligentand willful than the clans anticipated. Inbattle after battle, the young lord's strategicgenius overcame the rebellious clans'superior numbers. Soon it became clear thatthe twelve clans would lose the war andthat the eunuchs would rule the empirethrough their strategically brilliant puppetemperor.Some of the rebellious clans were wipedout during the war. Others surrendered tothe emperor or were captured andexecuted to a man. The Snake, Scorpion,and Spider clans were determined not tosuccumb to such a fate. As one they fled theempire, leaving the rebellion withoutleadership and allowing the eunuchs to takecontrol.The coup was a complete failure. Theother clans blamed the Snake, Scorpion, andSpider clans for abandoning them to defeat,while the emperor and his eunuchs heldthose clans to be the instigators of the war.Forced into exile, the three clans bandedtogether to survive and set up a base of operations in a long-forgotten ruinedfortress. From there they plotted theirrevenge. They remain there to this day,waiting and scheming for the chance toassume the throne and their place in thesun.The Poison Fist ninja clan was formedfrom the remaining Snake, Scorpion, andSpider clans. Although formally unified,members of the Poison Fist clan still holdthe highest allegiance to their own clan, andthough they work toward the same goal,competition and conflict among the threeclans is commonplace.The Poison Fist clan has abandoned theconcepts of honor and the code of thebushido. Vengeance against the empire andthe samurai clans is their ultimate goal. Theirnumbers are too small for a martial victory,so the leaders of the Poison Fist clan hope

to bring down the empire from within.Thus, ninja of the Poison Fist clan act asthieves, spies, and assassins for hire, rarelyrevealing their true loyalties.Rogues, rangers, and monks mostcommonly become poison fists. Samurai,sohei, fighters, and spellcasters oftenmulticlass as poison fists to gain prestigewithin the Poison Fist clan as masters of theprestige class are accorded more respectand honor than members of other classes.NPC poison fists are elite spies, thieves, andassassins for the three clans and carry outmany missions on the Poison Fist clan'sbehalf.

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency:

Characters who take a level of poison fistgain no new proficiency in the use of armoror weapons.

Poison Use (Ex):

The poison fist istrained in the use of poison and never risksaccidentally poisoning herself when applyingpoison to a blade.

Totem Form (Sp):

At 1st level, a poisonfist can use polymorph self as a spell-likeability to transform into her totem creature(snake, scorpion, or spider). Unlike thestandard use of the polymorph self spell, thepoison fist can only adopt the form of hertotem creature and is limited to Tiny size.With the initial change, the poison fistregains hit points as though she had restedfor a day (this does not provide any of theother benefits of resting for a day, andsubsequent changes during the same use of the totem form ability do not heal thepoison fist further). During the duration of the totem form ability, the poison fist canchange into her totem creature and back again as a free action as many times as shelikes. Totem form has a duration equal to 10rounds plus the poison fist's class level. Itcan be used a number of times per day asdetermined by level (see the Poison Fistadvancement table).The totem creatures for each poison fistclan are as follows:

ClanCreature

SnakeTiny viperScorpionTiny monstrous scorpionSpiderTiny monstrous spider

Sneak Attack (Ex):

A 2nd-levelpoison fist can make sneak attacks. Anytime the poison fist's target would bedenied his Dexterity bonus to AC(whether he actually has a Dexter-ity bonus or not) or when thepoison fist flanks the target, thepoison fist's attack deals +1d6points of damage. This extradamage increases to +2d6 at5th level and again to +3d6 at8th level. Should the poison fistscore a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is notmultiplied. Ranged attacks onlycount as sneak attacks within30 feet.With a sap (blackjack)or unarmed strike, apoison fist can make asneak attack that dealssubdual damage insteadof normal damage. Apoison fist cannot use aweapon that deals normal

damage to deal subdual damage with asneak attack.A poison fist can only sneak attack a livingcreature with discernable anatomy–undead,constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporealcreatures lack vital areas to attack. Thepoison fist must be able to see the targetwell enough to pick out a vital spot andmust be able to reach a vital spot. Thepoison fist cannot sneak attack a creaturewith concealment or when striking the limbsof a creature whose vitals are beyond herreach.

Natural Armor Bonus (Ex):

As thepoison fist delves deeper into the mysteriesof her clan's philosophy, her skin begins totake on the attributes of her clan's totemanimal. A poison fist of the Snake clanbecomes scaly, while the skin of a Scorpionor Spider clan member becomes hard andchitinous. At 4th level, the poison fist gains anatural armor bonus. This bonus increasesat 9th level.

Acrobatics (Su):

A 3rd-level poison fistgains a +10 competence bonus to Balance,Climb, Jump, and Tumble checks. At 7thlevel, this bonus increases to +20. Inaddition, a poison fist can always choose totake 10 on a Balance, Climb, Jump, orTumble check, even when circumstanceswould normally prevent her from doing so.

Venomous Blow (Su):

At 4th level andhigher, a poison fist gains the power toimbue her unarmed sneak attacks withpoison. Enabling this ability is a free action,but the poison fist must choose to use itbefore she has taken any other actionsduring the round. For the rest of thatround, all her sneak attacks also do poisondamage as determined by her poison fistclan allegiance (see below). If her attacks inthat round fail, she has wasted that use of the ability. The victim of a venomous blowmust make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10+ the poison fist's class level + Charismamodifier) or suffer the initial damage of thepoison. One minute later, the victim mustsucceed at a second saving throw (regard-less of the result of the first) or suffer thesecondary damage. This ability can be useda number of times per day as determined bylevel (see the Poison Fist advancementtable).

POISON FIST CLASS REQUIREMENTSCLASS SKILLS

Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier

To qualify to become a poison fist, a character mustfulfill all the following criteria:

The poison fist’s class skills are:

Alignment:

Any non-good.

Base Attack Bonus:

+3.

Hide:

8 ranks.

Intimidate:

5 ranks.

Move Silently:

8 ranks.

Feats:

Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike,Great Fortitude, Mobility, Stunning Fist ormonk’s stunning attack

Special:

In addition, she must choose oneof the three poison fist clans: Snake,Scorpion, or Spider.Climb, Jump, SwimBalance, Disable Device, EscapeArtist, Hide, Open Lock, MoveSilently, TumbleCraft, Forgery, Knowledge (local),Read Lips, SearchInnuendo, Listen, Sense Motive, SpotBluff, Disguise, Gather Information,Intimidate

STR DEXCONINTWISCHA

ClanPoison Damage

(initial and secondary)Snake1d2 temporary ConstitutionScorpion1d4 temporary StrengthSpider1d4 temporary Strength

Totem Aspect (Sp):

At 6th level, thepoison fist gains a spell-like ability that grantsan aspect of her totem creature. It is usablethree times a day as though cast by asorcerer of a level equal to the poison fist'scharacter level. Use of this ability is a freeaction, but it can only be used once in anygiven round. Each poison fist clan has adifferent totem aspect ability as follows:

ClanTotem Aspect Ability

Snake

Cobra's breath

*Scorpion

Ray of enfeeblement

Spider

Spider climb

*See

Oriental Adventures

Poison Immunity (Su):

A poison fist of 7th level or higher is completely immune topoisons.

Improved Venomous Blow (Su):

At10th level, any unarmed attack made duringthe round that the venomous blow ability isbeing used can cause poison damage as perthe venomous blow ability's description. Theattack need not be a sneak attack.

Multiclass Note:

Monk characters canfreely multiclass with this class. Monks whohave already taken levels in another classmay again take monk levels after gaining alevel of poison fist.

GHOST-FACEDKILLER

"Beware the ghost-faced killers, Li Quan, forthey have spirit-medium powers-like theImmortals. Their flesh and bones can dissolveinto nothingness; they pass from this world butnot into the next. They become like a dream. .. ."

From out of nothing the specter of deathappears, an armored shadow with a brilliantblade held high. In a flash the katana falls,severing life from limb in a bloody arc. Allaround, screams of terror and shouts of fearerupt, as quaking hands draw blades to fightthe masked murderer. His target dead, theghost-faced killer walks calmly away asswords and fists pass harmlessly through hisnearly transparent body.Long ago, when the persecution of the

Attack Fort. Ref. WillLevel Bonus Save Save Save Special

1+0+2+2+2Poison use, totem form 1/day2+1+3+3+3Sneak attack +1d63+2+3+3+3Acrobatics (+10), totem form 2/day4+3+4+4+4Venomous blow 1/day, +1 natural armor bonus5+3+4+4+4Sneak attack +2d6, totem form 3/day6+4+5+5+5Totem aspect, venomous blow 2/day7+5+5+5+5Poison immunity, acrobatics (+20), totem form 4/day8+6+6+6+6Sneak attack +3d6, venomous blow 3/day9+6+6+6+6+2 natural armor bonus, totem form 5/day10+7+7+7+7Improved venomous blow, venomous blow 4/day

HIT DIE

of 00

Category:	Uncategorized.
Rating:	(2 Ratings)
Upload Date:	01/18/2009
Copyright:	Attribution Non-commercial
Tags:	This document has no tags.

Documents

People