Swift+Assassin

Swift Assassin The swift assassin villain class can be used to represent a human(oid) opponent that relies on speed, stealth and finesse. This includes (stereotypical) assassins, ninjas, and even swashbuckler types. The swift assassin's CR is equal to his class level/HD. A class progression to 25th level is given below, to allow creation of powerful opponents for high-level parties. A swift assassin gains a feat at 1st level, 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, just like any other humanoid creature.

Class Statistics
Hit die: d8 Skills: The swift assassin has ranks equal to his level +5 in Concentration, Balance, Climb, Jump, Tumble, Hide, Move Silently, Listen, Bluff, Sleight of Hand, Disguise, Knowledge (martial lore). His skill ranks are not affected by his Intelligence score, nor does he benefit from synergy bonuses.
 * Level || BAB || Fort Save || Ref Save || Will Save || Maneuvers || Stances || Special || Str || Dex || Con || Int || Wis || Cha ||
 * 1 || +0 || +0 || +2 || +0 || 0 || 0 || Sudden strike +1d6, special abilities || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 ||
 * 2 || +1 || +0 || +3 || +0 || 1 || 0 ||  || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 ||
 * 3 || +2 || +1 || +3 || +1 || 1 || 0 || Sudden strike +2d6 || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 ||
 * 4 || +3 || +1 || +4 || +1 || 2 || 0 || Bonus feat || 10 || 18 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 ||
 * 5 || +3 || +1 || +4 || +1 || 2 || 0 || Sudden strike +3d6 || 10 || 18 || 16 || 12 || 12 || 10 ||
 * 6 || +4 || +2 || +5 || +2 || 3 || 0 ||  || 10 || 18 || 16 || 12 || 14 || 10 ||
 * 7 || +5 || +2 || +5 || +2 || 3 || 0 || Sudden strike +4d6 || 12 || 18 || 16 || 14 || 14 || 12 ||
 * 8 || +6 || +2 || +6 || +2 || 4 || 1 || Evasion || 12 || 20 || 16 || 14 || 14 || 12 ||
 * 9 || +6 || +3 || +6 || +3 || 4 || 1 || Sudden strike +5d6 || 12 || 20 || 16 || 14 || 14 || 12 ||
 * 10 || +7 || +3 || +7 || +3 || 5 || 1 ||  || 12 || 20 || 18 || 14 || 14 || 12 ||
 * 11 || +8 || +3 || +7 || +3 || 5 || 1 || Sudden strike +6d6 || 12 || 20 || 18 || 14 || 16 || 12 ||
 * 12 || +9 || +4 || +8 || +4 || 6 || 1 || Bonus feat || 12 || 22 || 18 || 14 || 16 || 12 ||
 * 13 || +9 || +4 || +8 || +4 || 6 || 1 || Sudden strike +7d6 || 12 || 22 || 18 || 14 || 16 || 12 ||
 * 14 || +10 || +4 || +9 || +4 || 7 || 1 ||  || 12 || 22 || 18 || 14 || 16 || 12 ||
 * 15 || +11 || +5 || +9 || +5 || 7 || 1 || Sudden strike +8d6 || 12 || 22 || 20 || 14 || 16 || 12 ||
 * 16 || +12 || +5 || +10 || +5 || 8 || 2 || Improved evasion || 12 || 24 || 20 || 14 || 18 || 12 ||
 * 17 || +12 || +5 || +10 || +5 || 8 || 2 || Sudden strike +9d6 || 14 || 24 || 20 || 16 || 18 || 14 ||
 * 18 || +13 || +6 || +11 || +6 || 9 || 2 ||  || 14 || 24 || 20 || 16 || 18 || 14 ||
 * 19 || +14 || +6 || +11 || +6 || 9 || 2 || Sudden strike +10d6 || 14 || 24 || 20 || 16 || 18 || 14 ||
 * 20 || +15 || +6 || +12 || +6 || 10 || 2 || Bonus feat || 14 || 26 || 22 || 16 || 18 || 14 ||
 * 21 || +15 || +7 || +12 || +7 || 10 || 2 || Sudden strike +11d6 || 14 || 26 || 22 || 16 || 20 || 14 ||
 * 22 || +16 || +7 || +13 || +7 || 11 || 2 ||  || 14 || 26 || 22 || 16 || 20 || 14 ||
 * 23 || +17 || +7 || +13 || +7 || 11 || 2 || Sudden strike +12d6 || 14 || 26 || 22 || 16 || 20 || 14 ||
 * 24 || +18 || +8 || +14 || +8 || 12 || 3 || Bonus feat || 14 || 28 || 22 || 16 || 20 || 14 ||
 * 25 || +18 || +8 || +14 || +8 || 12 || 3 || Sudden strike +13d6 || 14 || 28 || 24 || 16 || 20 || 14 ||

Class Abilities
All the following abilities are class abilities of the swift assassin. All are extraordinary abilities unless otherwise noted.
 * Weapon and armour proficiency:** The swift assassin is proficient with all simple weapons, and all associated weapons of the Shadow Hand, Desert Wind, Diamond Mind and Setting Sun schools (scimitar, light mace, light pick, falchion, spear, rapier, shortspear, bastard sword, trident, quarterstaff, nunchaku, unarmed strike, dagger shortsword, sai, siangham, spiked chain). He is proficient with light armour, but not with shields.
 * Martial Finesse**: The swift assassin can use his Dexterity bonus instead of his Strength bonus on melee attack rolls with all weapons that he is proficient with.
 * Combat Mobility:** The swift assassin gains a dodge bonus to AC equal to half his level, rounded down.
 * Dark-Hardened Spirit:** The swift assassin gains a resistance bonus to saves equal to half his level, rounded down.
 * Celerity:** The swift assassin gains an insight bonus to initiative rolls equal to his level x 1/4, rounded down.
 * Defensive Insight:** The swift assassin gains his Wisdom bonus to AC, when wearing no armour.
 * Sudden Strike:** As the ninja ability (see //Complete Adventurer//). When attacking an opponent who is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, the swift assassin deals the extra damage indicated.
 * Bonus Feats:** The swift assassin gains a bonus feat at 4th, 12th, 20th and 24th level. He must meet the prerequisites for these feats.
 * Evasion:** The swift assassin gains the evasion ability at 8th level. At 16th level, he gains improved evasion.

Stances and maneuvers
The swift assassin does not have to meet the usual prerequisites for choosing stances and maneuvers, nor does he have to select his stances and maneuvers known beforehand. Instead, he can use any stance or maneuver whose level is equal to or less than half his initiator level (rounded up). The swift assassin's IL is equal to his class level. Thus, for example, a 9th level swift assassin has 4 maneuver slots per encounter, and he can use any maneuver up to 5th level. See //The Book of Nine Swords// for more information on stances and maneuvers. It's possible for a swift assassin to use different stances and maneuvers in subsequent encounters, if the PCs meet him more than once. In addition to using maneuvers, the swift assassin can also expend a maneuver slot to power one of the abilities listed below. Unlike actual maneuvers, the swift assassin can use these abilities more than once per encounter, but each use consumes another slot. At a minimum, the swift assassin can use this ability with the Jump, Tumble, Bluff and Sleight of Hand skills. If the Bluff skill is used, the opponent may choose to roll a Sense Motive check instead of a base attack check; similarly if the Sleight of Hand skill is used, the opponent may roll a Spot check. Other skills may also be used, subject to the DM's discretion (it's recommended to have a plausible in-game description of what the swift assassin is doing). If the swift assassin takes a -5 penalty to the roll, he can use this ability as a swift action. If he takes a -10 penalty, he can use it as a free action. (This is taken from the [|negate defense] skill challenge.) Once hidden, the swift assassin remains concealed until spotted, as per the normal rules for detecting hidden creatures. This is a supernatural ability.
 * Stances:** The swift assassin gains the listed number of stances and maneuvers per encounter, starting from 8th level. He can choose from any stance and maneuver from the Shadow Hand school, plus one of the Desert Wind, Diamond Mind or Setting Sun schools (this school must be selected beforehand). He can use any given maneuver only once per encounter, and he cannot recover spent maneuver slots. If the swift assassin knows more than one stance, he can switch between them as normal, but he cannot use more than his maximum number of stances per encounter.
 * Hidden Sting:** As a move action, the swift assassin can make a skill check to deny an opponent his Dexterity bonus to AC against the next attack made against him. His opponent rolls a base attack check (BAB + higher of Str and Dex modifier); if this is equal to or higher than the swift assassin's roll, the result is avoided. This attack can be made by anyone, not just the swift assassin himself, but it must come before the end of the swift assassin's next turn. The swift assassin can only use this skill against an opponent with whom he is in melee.
 * Soul of Fire:** As an immediate action, the swift assassin can gain SR equal to 10 + his level against one spell or spell-like ability that would affect him. This is a supernatural ability.
 * Deadly Strike:** As a standard action, the swift assassin makes an attack against a target, dealing double the normal number of sudden strike dice. The usual conditions for making a sudden strike must still be met.
 * Fade into Night:** As a swift action, the swift assassin gains the hide in plain sight ability. If he makes a Hide check before the end of his turn, he can hide even when under direct observation as long as he is within 10 ft of some sort of shadow. The Hide check is separate to the action required to activate this ability.
 * Elude the Blade:** As an immediate action, the swift assassin gains a 50% concealment miss chance against all attacks, until the next turn. This is a supernatural ability.

Possessions
The swift assassin is equipped with gear appropriate to a lightly-armoured combatant who specialises in stealth and quickness. The following magic items are those commonly found on swift assassins; others may be substituted at your discretion. You should be careful about giving the swift assassin items that change his stats compared to the defaults; the class CR assumes the items below. The total value of the items should not vary significantly from the DMG guidelines for NPC equipment by level. The swift assassin wears a masterwork chain shirt initially, a mithral chain shirt from 6th level, and bracers of armor from 12th level. From 4th level, he has +1 armour and a +1 weapon; these bonuses increase to +2 at 8th level, +3 at 12th, +4 at 16th, +5 at 20th and +6 at 24th. The weapon can be any weapon that he is proficient with. From 6th level, he has //gloves of Dexterity +2//, which improve to +4 at 12th level, +6 at 18th and +8 at 24th. He has a //periapt of Wisdom +2// from 7th level, which improves to +4 at 13th level, +6 at 19th and +8 at 25th.

Complete Tables
For convenience, the following tables give precomputed baseline statistics for swift assassins from 1st to 25th level. All static bonuses from class abilities and the default magic items have been added in. Bonuses from feats and other customised effects are not included, however.

Table 1: Stats and attributes by level
hp
 * Level || Init || AC (t, ff) ||
 * Fort || Ref || Will || BAB || Grap || Mel atk || Rng atk || Str || Dex || Con || Int || Wis || Cha || Manvrs || Stances ||
 * 1 || +3 || 17 (13, 14) || 10 || +2 || +5 || +1 || +0 || +0 || +3 || +3 || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 2 || +3 || 18 (14, 14) || 16 || +3 || +7 || +2 || +1 || +1 || +4 || +4 || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 1 || 0 ||
 * 3 || +3 || 18 (14, 14) || 23 || +4 || +7 || +3 || +2 || +2 || +5 || +5 || 10 || 16 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 1 || 0 ||
 * 4 || +5 || 21 (16, 15) || 29 || +5 || +10 || +4 || +3 || +3 || +8 || +8 || 10 || 18 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 2 || 0 ||
 * 5 || +5 || 21 (16, 15) || 41 || +6 || +10 || +4 || +3 || +3 || +8 || +8 || 10 || 18 || 16 || 12 || 12 || 10 || 2 || 0 ||
 * 6 || +6 || 23 (18, 15) || 48 || +8 || +13 || +7 || +4 || +4 || +10 || +10 || 10 || 20 || 16 || 12 || 14 || 10 || 3 || 0 ||
 * 7 || +6 || 23 (18, 15) || 56 || +8 || +13 || +8 || +5 || +6 || +11 || +11 || 12 || 20 || 16 || 14 || 16 || 12 || 3 || 0 ||
 * 8 || +8 || 26 (20, 16) || 63 || +9 || +16 || +9 || +6 || +7 || +14 || +14 || 12 || 22 || 16 || 14 || 16 || 12 || 4 || 1 ||
 * 9 || +8 || 26 (20, 16) || 71 || +10 || +16 || +10 || +6 || +7 || +14 || +14 || 12 || 22 || 16 || 14 || 16 || 12 || 4 || 1 ||
 * 10 || +8 || 27 (21, 16) || 88 || +12 || +18 || +11 || +7 || +8 || +15 || +15 || 12 || 22 || 18 || 14 || 16 || 12 || 5 || 1 ||
 * 11 || +8 || 27 (25, 16) || 97 || +12 || +18 || +12 || +8 || +9 || +16 || +16 || 12 || 22 || 18 || 14 || 18 || 12 || 5 || 1 ||
 * 12 || +11 || 31 (28, 17) || 105 || +14 || +22 || +14 || +9 || +10 || +20 || +20 || 12 || 26 || 18 || 14 || 18 || 12 || 6 || 1 ||
 * 13 || +11 || 32 (29, 18) || 114 || +14 || +22 || +15 || +9 || +10 || +20 || +20 || 12 || 26 || 18 || 14 || 20 || 12 || 6 || 1 ||
 * 14 || +11 || 33 (30, 18) || 122 || +15 || +24 || +16 || +10 || +11 || +21 || +21 || 12 || 26 || 18 || 14 || 20 || 12 || 7 || 1 ||
 * 15 || +11 || 33 (30, 18) || 146 || +17 || +24 || +17 || +11 || +12 || +22 || +22 || 12 || 26 || 20 || 14 || 20 || 12 || 7 || 1 ||
 * 16 || +13 || 37 (33, 20) || 155 || +18 || +27 || +19 || +12 || +13 || +25 || +25 || 12 || 28 || 20 || 14 || 22 || 12 || 8 || 2 ||
 * 17 || +13 || 37 (33, 20) || 165 || +18 || +27 || +19 || +12 || +14 || +25 || +25 || 14 || 28 || 20 || 16 || 22 || 14 || 8 || 2 ||
 * 18 || +14 || 39 (35, 20) || 174 || +20 || +30 || +21 || +13 || +15 || +27 || +27 || 14 || 30 || 20 || 16 || 22 || 14 || 9 || 2 ||
 * 19 || +14 || 40 (36, 21) || 184 || +20 || +30 || +22 || +14 || +16 || +28 || +28 || 14 || 30 || 20 || 16 || 24 || 14 || 9 || 2 ||
 * 20 || +16 || 43 (38, 22) || 213 || +22 || +33 || +23 || +15 || +17 || +31 || +31 || 14 || 32 || 22 || 16 || 24 || 14 || 10 || 2 ||
 * 21 || +16 || 44 (39, 23) || 224 || +23 || +33 || +25 || +15 || +17 || +31 || +31 || 14 || 32 || 22 || 16 || 26 || 14 || 10 || 2 ||
 * 22 || +16 || 45 (40, 23) || 234 || +24 || +35 || +26 || +16 || +18 || +32 || +32 || 14 || 32 || 22 || 16 || 26 || 14 || 11 || 2 ||
 * 23 || +16 || 45 (40, 23) || 245 || +24 || +35 || +26 || +17 || +19 || +33 || +33 || 14 || 32 || 22 || 16 || 26 || 14 || 11 || 2 ||
 * 24 || +19 || 49 (43, 24) || 255 || +26 || +39 || +28 || +18 || +20 || +37 || +37 || 14 || 36 || 22 || 16 || 26 || 14 || 12 || 3 ||
 * 25 || +19 || 50 (44, 25) || 291 || +27 || +39 || +29 || +18 || +20 || +37 || +37 || 14 || 36 || 24 || 16 || 28 || 14 || 12 || 3 ||

Table 2: Skill bonuses by level

 * Level || Intim || Conc || Balance || Climb || Jump || Tumble || Hide || Move Sil || Listen || Bluff || SoH || Disg || Know (ML) ||
 * 1 || +6 || +8 || +8 || +5 || +5 || +8 || +8 || +8 || +7 || +6 || +8 || +6 || +7 ||
 * 2 || +7 || +9 || +9 || +6 || +6 || +9 || +9 || +9 || +8 || +7 || +9 || +7 || +8 ||
 * 3 || +8 || +10 || +10 || +7 || +7 || +10 || +10 || +10 || +9 || +8 || +10 || +8 || +9 ||
 * 4 || +9 || +11 || +12 || +8 || +8 || +12 || +12 || +12 || +10 || +9 || +12 || +9 || +10 ||
 * 5 || +10 || +13 || +13 || +9 || +9 || +13 || +13 || +13 || +11 || +10 || +13 || +10 || +11 ||
 * 6 || +11 || +14 || +16 || +11 || +11 || +16 || +16 || +16 || +13 || +11 || +16 || +11 || +12 ||
 * 7 || +13 || +15 || +17 || +13 || +13 || +17 || +17 || +17 || +15 || +13 || +17 || +13 || +14 ||
 * 8 || +14 || +16 || +19 || +14 || +14 || +19 || +19 || +19 || +16 || +14 || +19 || +14 || +15 ||
 * 9 || +15 || +17 || +20 || +15 || +15 || +20 || +20 || +20 || +17 || +15 || +20 || +15 || +16 ||
 * 10 || +16 || +19 || +21 || +16 || +16 || +21 || +21 || +21 || +18 || +16 || +21 || +16 || +17 ||
 * 11 || +17 || +20 || +22 || +17 || +17 || +22 || +22 || +22 || +20 || +17 || +22 || +17 || +18 ||
 * 12 || +18 || +21 || +25 || +18 || +18 || +25 || +25 || +25 || +21 || +18 || +25 || +18 || +19 ||
 * 13 || +19 || +22 || +26 || +19 || +19 || +26 || +26 || +26 || +23 || +19 || +26 || +19 || +20 ||
 * 14 || +20 || +23 || +27 || +20 || +20 || +27 || +27 || +27 || +24 || +20 || +27 || +20 || +21 ||
 * 15 || +21 || +25 || +28 || +21 || +21 || +28 || +28 || +28 || +25 || +21 || +28 || +21 || +22 ||
 * 16 || +22 || +26 || +30 || +22 || +22 || +30 || +30 || +30 || +27 || +22 || +30 || +22 || +23 ||
 * 17 || +24 || +27 || +31 || +24 || +24 || +31 || +31 || +31 || +28 || +24 || +31 || +24 || +25 ||
 * 18 || +25 || +28 || +33 || +25 || +25 || +33 || +33 || +33 || +29 || +25 || +33 || +25 || +26 ||
 * 19 || +26 || +29 || +34 || +26 || +26 || +34 || +34 || +34 || +31 || +26 || +34 || +26 || +27 ||
 * 20 || +27 || +31 || +36 || +27 || +27 || +36 || +36 || +36 || +32 || +27 || +36 || +27 || +28 ||
 * 21 || +28 || +32 || +37 || +28 || +28 || +37 || +37 || +37 || +34 || +28 || +37 || +28 || +29 ||
 * 22 || +29 || +33 || +38 || +29 || +29 || +38 || +38 || +38 || +35 || +29 || +38 || +29 || +30 ||
 * 23 || +30 || +34 || +39 || +30 || +30 || +39 || +39 || +39 || +36 || +30 || +39 || +30 || +31 ||
 * 24 || +31 || +35 || +42 || +31 || +31 || +42 || +42 || +42 || +37 || +31 || +42 || +31 || +32 ||
 * 25 || +32 || +37 || +43 || +32 || +32 || +43 || +43 || +43 || +39 || +32 || +43 || +32 || +33 ||

5th level
//Skills:// Intimidate +10, Concentration +13, Balance +13, Climb +9, Jump +9, Tumble +13, Hide +13, Move Silently +13, Listen +11, Bluff +10, Sleight of Hand +13, Disguise +10, Knowledge (martial lore) +11. //Feats:// Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (falchion), Iron Will. //Maneuvers:// 2/encounter, max 3rd level from Shadow Hand, Desert Wind. //Hidden Sting:// As move action, convert a maneuver to make skill check to deny opponent Dex bonus to AC (or swift action at -5 penalty, free action at -10 penalty). //Soul of Fire:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain SR 15 against one spell. //Deadly Strike:// As standard action, convert a maneuver to make attack with +6d6 sudden strike. //Fade into Night:// As swift action, convert a maneuver to gain hide in plain sight on next Hide check. //Elude the Blade:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain displacement (50% miss chance) until next turn. //Possessions:// //+1 bastard sword//, masterwork crossbow, //+1 chain shirt//, 20 bolts.
 * Human swift assassin 5:** CR 5; Medium humanoid (human); HD 5d8+15 (41 hp); Init +3; Spd 30 ft; AC 21 (touch 16, flat-footed 15); BAB +3; Grap +3; Atk +9 melee (2d4+1/18-20, //+1 falchion//) or +8 ranged (1d8/19-20, masterwork crossbow); S/R 5 ft/5 ft; SA Sudden strike +3d6; SQ Swift assassin abilities; AL NE; SV Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10.

10th level
//Skills:// Intimidate +16, Concentration +19, Balance +21, Climb +16, Jump +16, Tumble +24, Hide +21, Move Silently +21, Listen +18, Bluff +16, Sleight of Hand +21, Disguise +16, Knowledge (martial lore) +17. //Feats:// Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Defense, Weapon Focus (shortsword), Iron Will, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Skill Focus (Tumble). //Maneuvers:// 5/encounter, max 5th level from Shadow Hand, Setting Sun. //Stances:// 1/encounter, max 5th level from Shadow Hand, Settting Sun. //Hidden Sting:// As move action, convert a maneuver to make skill check to deny opponent Dex bonus to AC (or swift action at -5 penalty, free action at -10 penalty). //Soul of Fire:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain SR 20 against one spell. //Deadly Strike:// As standard action, convert a maneuver to make attack with +10d6 sudden strike. //Fade into Night:// As swift action, convert a maneuver to gain hide in plain sight on next Hide check. //Elude the Blade:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain displacement (50% miss chance) until next turn. //Possessions:// //+2 shortsword// (x2), //+2 mithral chain shirt//, //gloves of Dexterity +2//, //periapt of Wisdom +2//.
 * Human swift assassin 10:** CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d8+40 (88 hp); Init +8; Spd 30 ft; AC 26 (touch 24, flat-footed 15); BAB +7; Grap +8; Atk +14/+9 and +14/+9 melee (1d6+3/19-20 and 1d6+2/19-20, //+2 shortswords//); S/R 5 ft/5 ft; SA Sudden strike +5d6; SQ Evasion, swift assassin abilities; AL NE; SV Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +13; Str 12, Dex 22, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 12.

15th level
//Skills:// Intimidate +21, Concentration +25, Balance +28, Climb +21, Jump +21, Tumble +28, Hide +28, Move Silently +28, Listen +25, Bluff +21, Sleight of Hand +28, Disguise +21, Knowledge (martial lore) +22. //Feats:// Iron Will, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Great Fortitude. //Maneuvers:// 7/encounter, max 8th level from Shadow Hand, Setting Sun. //Stances:// 1/encounter, max 8th level from Shadow Hand, Setting Sun. //Hidden Sting:// As move action, convert a maneuver to make skill check to deny opponent Dex bonus to AC (or swift action at -5 penalty, free action at -10 penalty). //Soul of Fire:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain SR 25 against one spell. //Deadly Strike:// As standard action, convert a maneuver to make attack with +16d6 sudden strike. //Fade into Night:// As swift action, convert a maneuver to gain hide in plain sight on next Hide check. //Elude the Blade:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain displacement (50% miss chance) until next turn. //Possessions:// //+3 spiked chain//, //+3 light crossbow//, //+3 bracers of armor//, //gloves of Dexterity +4//, //periapt of Wisdom +4//, 20 bolts.
 * Human swift assassin 15:** CR 15; Medium humanoid (human); HD 15d8+75 (146 hp); Init +11; Spd 30 ft; AC 33 (touch 30, flat-footed 18); BAB +11; Grap +12; Atk +23/+18/+13 melee (2d4+4, //+3 spiked chain//) or +22 ranged (1d8+3/19-20, //+3 light crossbow//); S/R 5 ft/10 ft; SA Sudden strike +8d6; SQ Evasion, swift assassin abilities; AL NE; SV Fort +19, Ref +24, Will +19; Str 12, Dex 26, Con 20, Int 14, Wis 20, Cha 12.

20th level
//Skills:// Intimidate +27, Concentration +34, Balance +36, Climb +27, Jump +27, Tumble +36, Hide +36, Move Silently +36, Listen +32, Bluff +27, Sleight of Hand +36, Disguise +27, Knowledge (martial lore) +28. //Feats:// Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Iron Will, Spring Attack, Combat Expertise, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Concentration), Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Cleave. //Maneuvers:// 10/encounter, max 9th level from Shadow Hand, Diamond Mind. //Stances:// 2/encounter, max 9th level from Shadow Hand, Diamond Mind. //Hidden Sting:// As move action, convert a maneuver to make skill check to deny opponent Dex bonus to AC (or swift action at -5 penalty, free action at -10 penalty). //Soul of Fire:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain SR 30 against one spell. //Deadly Strike:// As standard action, convert a maneuver to make attack with +20d6 sudden strike. //Fade into Night:// As swift action, convert a maneuver to gain hide in plain sight on next Hide check. //Elude the Blade:// As immediate action, convert a maneuver to gain displacement (50% miss chance) until next turn. //Possessions:// //+5 bastard sword//, //+5 bracers of armor//, //gloves of Dexterity +6//, //periapt of Wisdom +6//.
 * Human swift assassin 20:** CR 20; Medium humanoid (human); HD 20d8+120 (213 hp); Init +16; Spd 30 ft; AC 43 (touch 38, flat-footed 22); BAB +15; Grap +17; Atk +32/+27/+22 melee (1d10+8, //+5 bastard sword//); S/R 5 ft/5 ft; SA Sudden strike +10d6; SQ Improved evasion, swift assassin abilities; AL NE; SV Fort +24, Ref +33, Will +25; Str 14, Dex 32, Con 22, Int 16, Wis 24, Cha 14.