Skiurid Ninja

Skiurid Ninja

CR 4                                                                                         XP: 1,200

skiurrid rogue 2/ninja 4

NE Tiny magical beast (squirrel)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8

AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+2 size, +2 deflection, +4 Dex)

HP 24 (2d8+2d10+4)

Fort +1, Ref +10, Will +2

Resist evasion

Speed 30 ft.

Melee katana +1 (1d4-3/18-20), wakizashi +4 (1d3-1/18-20), bite +3 (1d3-1) or bite +8 (1d3-3)

Space 2-1/2 ft.

Special Attacks chill darkness 3/day, sneak attack +1d6, sudden strike +1d6

Str 4, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 12

Base Atk +2; CMB -3; CMD 13

Feats Dodge, Mobility, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +14, Climb +5, Perception +8, Stealth +27, Use Magic Device +6

SQ ghost step, ki power, shadow jump, trapfinding

Shadow Jump (Su) As the dimension door spell; up to 3/day; caster level 1st. The magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A skiurid can jump up to 30 feet each day in this manner; this can be a single jump or a combination of jumps whose distance totals 30 feet. This amount can be split among several jumps, but each one, no matter how small, counts as a 10-foot increment.

Chill Darkness (Su) As the darkness spell; 3/day; caster level 3rd. A creature within the radius of this effect takes 1d6 points of damage and also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it succeeds on a DC 13 Fortitude save. The creature takes no further damage as long as it remains within the area, but if it leaves and reenters, it is subject to both types of damage again. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +2 racial bonus. At the end of the effect's duration, if any creature has taken damage within its area, the shadows coalesce into a small nodule, about the size of a peach pit, that provides nourishment for the skiurid. This ability has no effect on undead or creatures native to the Plane of Shadow. The shadowy illumination created by this ability is sufficient for the skiurid to use its shadow jump ability.

Evasion (Ex) A skiurid ninja can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save (such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a fireball), it instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the skiurid ninja is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless skiurid ninja (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Ghost Step (Su) A skiurid ninja can use one daily use of its ki power to become invisible for 1 round as a swift action. This action does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Ki Power (Su) A skiurid ninja has a pool of ki that can be used to manifest special powers 3 times per day. See ghost step.

Sneak Attack (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a living foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, it does additional damage as noted above. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a skiurid ninja can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks, and if the target has concealment the skiurid ninja cannot make a sneak attack.

Sudden Strike (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, the skiurid ninja can deal extra damage as noted above. Sudden strike damage works the same as sneak attack damage except that it can be used only against foes that are denied their Dexterity bonus to AC. Sudden strike and sneak attack damage stack if they apply to the same target.

Trapfinding (Ex) Skiurid ninjas can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. Skiurid ninjas can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. A skiurid ninja who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it without disarming it.

By Robert Wiese

Skiurid Ninja Squad Lieutenant

CR 8                                                                                         XP: 4,800

skiurid rogue 4/ninja 3/shadowdancer 1

NE Tiny magical beast (squirrel)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +10

AC 19, touch 19, flat-footed 14 (+2 size, +2 deflection, +4 Dex)

HP 56 (4d8+4d10+16)

Fort +4, Ref +13, Will +4

Resist evasion

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee katana +6 (1d4-3/18-20), wakizashi +13 (1d3-1/18-20), bite +6 (1d3-1) or bite +11 (1d3-3)

Space 2-1/2 ft.

Special Attacks chill darkness 3/day, sneak attack +2d6, sudden strike +2d6; Combat Reflexes

During Combat With the shadowdancer ability to hide in plain sight, this version of the skiurid ninja moves into an opponent's square and then hides there, attacking from hiding and then hiding again every round it can do so. It saves its invisibility power to escape a combat or to attack during the first round. Again, it is more interested in damaging someone in the chill darkness area than in killing anything, but it will kill to defend its nest. Because the creature threatens only the square it occupies, it can make attacks of opportunity only against the foe in the same square with it.

Str 4, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 12

Base Atk +5; CMB +0; CMD 16

Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Mobility, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +14, Climb +5, Perception +10, Perform (dance) +6, Stealth +30, Use Magic Device +8

SQ ghost step, hide in plain sight, ki power, poison use, shadow jump, trap sense +1, trapfinding

Organization A skiurid ninja of this level might be leading a group of 4th-level skiurid ninjas.

Skiurids are kind of silly creatures, really. They are essentially Negative Energy Plane squirrels that collect shadow "nuts" by using their powers on living creatures. Very few might find them terrifying, and most of the time they may appear in a campaign or adventure more as an infestation nuisance than anything else. But let's look for some more potential in the little creatures. After all, stirges can pose a danger to adventurers, and they are small nuisancy creatures too.

Some skiurids, the ones that are smarter than their brethren, learn skills that are normally associated with character classes. The skiurids don't have training camps and such as that; they teach themselves to become more effective so that they can lead others of their kind in collecting shadow nuggets (nuts). As they gain some real powers, they become potentially quite lethal (1d3-3 +6d6 is significant damage). These more powerful skiurids make full use of their abilities to hide, sneak, and attack from surprise to overcome the limitations of their size in combat.

Shadow Jump (Su) As the dimension door spell; up to 3/day; caster level 1st. The magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A skiurid can jump up to 30 feet each day in this manner; this can be a single jump or a combination of jumps whose distance totals 30 feet. This amount can be split among several jumps, but each one, no matter how small, counts as a 10-foot increment.

Chill Darkness (Su) As the darkness spell; 3/day; caster level 3rd. A creature within the radius of this effect takes 1d6 points of damage and also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it succeeds on a DC 13 Fortitude save. The creature takes no further damage as long as it remains within the area, but if it leaves and reenters, it is subject to both types of damage again. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +2 racial bonus. At the end of the effect's duration, if any creature has taken damage within its area, the shadows coalesce into a small nodule, about the size of a peach pit, that provides nourishment for the skiurid. This ability has no effect on undead or creatures native to the Plane of Shadow. The shadowy illumination created by this ability is sufficient for the skiurid to use its shadow jump ability.

Evasion (Ex) A skiurid ninja can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save (such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a fireball), it instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the skiurid ninja is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless skiurid ninja (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Ghost Step (Su) A skiurid ninja can use one daily use of its ki power to become invisible for 1 round as a swift action. This action does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Ki Power (Su) A skiurid ninja has a pool of ki that can be used to manifest special powers 3 times per day. See ghost step.

Sneak Attack (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a living foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, it does additional damage as noted above. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a skiurid ninja can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks, and if the target has concealment the skiurid ninja cannot make a sneak attack.

Sudden Strike (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, the skiurid ninja can deal extra damage as noted above. Sudden strike damage works the same as sneak attack damage except that it can be used only against foes that are denied their Dexterity bonus to AC. Sudden strike and sneak attack damage stack if they apply to the same target.

Trapfinding (Ex) Skiurid ninjas can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. Skiurid ninjas can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. A skiurid ninja who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it without disarming it.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex) A skiurid ninja can use the Hide skill even when being observed or in plain view, as long as it is within 10 feet of some sort of shadow.

Poison Use (Ex) A skiurid ninja does not risk poisoning itself when using poison.

Trap Sense (Su) A skiurid ninja gains a bonus noted above on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and as a dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex) A skiurid ninja retains its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, it still loses its Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

Skiurids are kind of silly creatures, really. They are essentially Negative Energy Plane squirrels that collect shadow "nuts" by using their powers on living creatures. Very few might find them terrifying, and most of the time they may appear in a campaign or adventure more as an infestation nuisance than anything else. But let's look for some more potential in the little creatures. After all, stirges can pose a danger to adventurers, and they are small nuisancy creatures too.

Some skiurids, the ones that are smarter than their brethren, learn skills that are normally associated with character classes. The skiurids don't have training camps and such as that; they teach themselves to become more effective so that they can lead others of their kind in collecting shadow nuggets (nuts). As they gain some real powers, they become potentially quite lethal (1d3-3 +6d6 is significant damage). These more powerful skiurids make full use of their abilities to hide, sneak, and attack from surprise to overcome the limitations of their size in combat.

By Robert Wiese

Skiurid Ninja Squad Captain

CR 12                                                                                        XP: 19,200

skiurid rogue 5/ninja 6/shadowdancer 1

NE Tiny magical beast (squirrel)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +11

AC 20, touch 20, flat-footed 15 (+2 size, +3 deflection, +4 Dex)

HP 77 (5d8+7d10+16)

Fort +4, Ref +13, Will +4

Resist evasion

Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee +2 katana +10/+5 (1d4-1/18-20), mwk wakizashi +16 (1d3-1/18-20), bite +8 (1d3-1) or bite +13 (1d3-3)

Space 2-1/2 ft.

Special Attacks acrobatics, ghost step, great leap, hide in plain sight, ki dodge, ki power, poison use, shadow jump, trap sense +1, trapfinding

During Combat The skiurid ninja really comes into its own in this version, though its basic tactic is the same: Deny a foe its Dexterity bonus to AC and then attack for sneak attack and sudden strike damage. In this version, it can move into opponents' squares without provoking attacks of opportunity, and it makes full use of its Confound the Big Folk feat abilities to get sneak attacks.

Str 4, Dex 18, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 14, Cha 12

Base Atk +7; CMB +2; CMD 19

Feats Combat Reflexes, Confound the Big Folk, Dodge, Mobility, Two-Weapon Fighting, Underfoot Combat, Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +14, Climb +7, Escape Artist +8, Perception +11, Perform (sing) +6, Stealth +30, Use Magic Device +9

SQ ghost step, hide in plain sight, ki power, poison use, shadow jump, trap sense +1, trapfinding

Organization A skiurid ninja of this level might be leading a group of 8th-level skiurid ninjas.

Shadow Jump (Su) As the dimension door spell; up to 3/day; caster level 1st. The magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A skiurid can jump up to 30 feet each day in this manner; this can be a single jump or a combination of jumps whose distance totals 30 feet. This amount can be split among several jumps, but each one, no matter how small, counts as a 10-foot increment.

Chill Darkness (Su) As the darkness spell; 3/day; caster level 3rd. A creature within the radius of this effect takes 1d6 points of damage and also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it succeeds on a DC 13 Fortitude save. The creature takes no further damage as long as it remains within the area, but if it leaves and reenters, it is subject to both types of damage again. The save DC is Charisma-based and includes a +2 racial bonus. At the end of the effect's duration, if any creature has taken damage within its area, the shadows coalesce into a small nodule, about the size of a peach pit, that provides nourishment for the skiurid. This ability has no effect on undead or creatures native to the Plane of Shadow. The shadowy illumination created by this ability is sufficient for the skiurid to use its shadow jump ability.

Evasion (Ex) A skiurid ninja can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save (such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a fireball), it instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the skiurid ninja is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless skiurid ninja (such as one who is unconscious or paralyzed) does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Ghost Step (Su) A skiurid ninja can use one daily use of its ki power to become invisible for 1 round as a swift action. This action does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Ki Power (Su) A skiurid ninja has a pool of ki that can be used to manifest special powers 3 times per day. See ghost step and ki dodge.

Sneak Attack (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a living foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, it does additional damage as noted above. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a skiurid ninja can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks, and if the target has concealment the skiurid ninja cannot make a sneak attack.

Sudden Strike (Ex) If a skiurid ninja attacks a foe that is denied its Dexterity bonus to AC, the skiurid ninja can deal extra damage as noted above. Sudden strike damage works the same as sneak attack damage except that it can be used only against foes that are denied their Dexterity bonus to AC. Sudden strike and sneak attack damage stack if they apply to the same target.

Trapfinding (Ex) Skiurid ninjas can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. Skiurid ninjas can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. A skiurid ninja who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it without disarming it.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex) A skiurid ninja can use the Hide skill even when being observed or in plain view, as long as it is within 10 feet of some sort of shadow.

Poison Use (Ex) A skiurid ninja does not risk poisoning itself when using poison.

Trap Sense (Su) A skiurid ninja gains a bonus noted above on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and as a dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex) A skiurid ninja retains its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, it still loses its Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.

Acrobatics (Ex) A skiurid ninja has a +2 bonus on Climb, Jump, and Tumble checks.

Great Leap (Ex) A skiurid ninja always makes Jump checks as if running and as if it had the Run feat, enabling it to make long jumps without a running start and granting a +4 bonus on Jump checks.

Ki Dodge (Su) A skiurid ninja can use one daily use of ki power to grant itself concealment (20% miss chance) against all attacks for 1 round. This is a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Skiurids are kind of silly creatures, really. They are essentially Negative Energy Plane squirrels that collect shadow "nuts" by using their powers on living creatures. Very few might find them terrifying, and most of the time they may appear in a campaign or adventure more as an infestation nuisance than anything else. But let's look for some more potential in the little creatures. After all, stirges can pose a danger to adventurers, and they are small nuisancy creatures too.

Some skiurids, the ones that are smarter than their brethren, learn skills that are normally associated with character classes. The skiurids don't have training camps and such as that; they teach themselves to become more effective so that they can lead others of their kind in collecting shadow nuggets (nuts). As they gain some real powers, they become potentially quite lethal (1d3-3 +6d6 is significant damage). These more powerful skiurids make full use of their abilities to hide, sneak, and attack from surprise to overcome the limitations of their size in combat.

By Robert Wiese