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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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Caligni Assassin

Calignis often get stereotyped as murderers, but the title of assassin is one of the rarest in their society. Caligni settlements go decades without having offspring born with enough potential. However, once a child shows they have “the gift,” the settlements leaders might give the babe to the owb, who mold and shape the child into an instrument of shadows and death.

Lauded and shunned, caligni assassins often become unwitting pawns in clashes between caligni settlements or between rival factions of caligni society.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 29
Unspecific Lore: DC 27
Specific Lore: DC 24

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Elite are marked in red below.
NOTE: The +2 damage bonus to non-strike offensive abilities (+4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Elite Caligni AssassinCreature 9

Legacy Content

Rare NE Medium Caligni Humanoid Shadow 
Source Pathfinder #194: Cult of the Cave Worm pg. 85
Perception +16; greater darkvision
Languages Caligni, Shadowtongue, Shae, Undercommon
Skills Acrobatics +22, Athletics +17, Deception +15, Intimidation +17, Occultism +15, Stealth +22
Str +3, Dex +6, Con +4, Int +3, Wis +2, Cha +1
Shadow Shift Caligni assassins are concealed in dim light or darkness even to creatures that can see clearly in those light levels.
Swift Sneak The assassin can move their full speed while Sneaking.
Items +1 striking spiked gauntlet, throwing knives (4), leather armor
AC 29; Fort +18, Ref +20, Will +14
HP 155
Countershadow [reaction] (darkness, occult) Trigger A creature within 60 feet casts a light spell; Effect The caligni assassin attempts to counteract the triggering spell. Caligni assassins automatically recognize light spells.Death Umbral Shroud (darkness, occult) When a caligni assassin dies, their body disintegrates into a veil of supernatural darkness for 1 round. A 4th-level darkness spell appears, centered on the assassin's location, with a counteract DC of 25.Deny Advantage The assassin isn't flat-footed to creatures of 8th level or lower that are hidden, undetected, flanking, or using surprise attack.Light Blindness
Speed 40 feet
Melee [one-action] spiked gauntlet +23 [+19/+15] (agile, finesse, magical, versatile S), Damage 2d4+2+9 piercing plus Umbral VeilRanged [one-action] throwing knife +21 [+17/+13] (agile, finesse, thrown 20 feet), Damage 1d4+2+9 piercingQuick Draw [one-action] Shadow Leap [three-actions] (darkness, occult, teleportation) Requirements The assassin is in dim light or darkness; Effect The assassin vanishes into shadow, appearing in a square of dim light or darkness within 60 feet. If the assassin appears adjacent to a creature, they can Strike that creature, otherwise the assassin can Hide.Sneak Attack The assassin deals an additional 2d6 precision damage to flat-footed creatures.Umbral Veil [one-action] (darkness) Requirements The assassin's last action was a successful melee Strike; Effect The assassin extends a tendril of shadow to obscure the target's vision, blinding them for 1 round (DC 25 Will negates). On a critical failure, they're blind for 1 minute. Creatures with greater darkvision are immune to this ability.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Shadowfade

Caligni assassins gain their power from an infusion of planar essence directly from the Netherworld, which the owb help them develop into powerful abilities. This comes at a cost: all caligni assassins eventually succumb to an affliction known as shadowfade. This magical malady causes the caligni's body to painfully warp when concealed in shadows, as the plane's ability to create twisted reflections of reality changes their physical form directly.

Sometimes a caligni assassin will flee home and strike out on their own to avoid becoming a twisted tool for their greedy leaders. Such freelancers are in high demand for those seeking a fatal solution to their own political problems.

All Monsters in "Caligni"

NameLevel
Caligni Assassin8
Caligni Caller6
Caligni Creeper2
Caligni Dancer1
Caligni Slayer3
Caligni Stalker4
Caligni Vanguard5

Caligni

Source Bestiary pg. 50
Calignis lurk in subterranean cities, creeping to the surface to steal, stalk, or make mischief. Each caligni serves in a specific role and grows into a specific form as determined by supernatural traditions and influences in caligni society. Regardless of their size or role, all calignis are gaunt, with pale flesh and white eyes. Some surface dwellers call the caligni “dark folk,” a term they dislike because it doesn’t reflect either their appearance or character, only their environment.

Each individual in caligni society serves a specific role. At times, certain roles so rarely find suitable candidates that a community might only see a few individuals fill them in an entire generation.

Sidebar - Additional Lore Caligni Faiths

Some calignis have abandoned their traditional faith in favor of more active deities; evil individuals favor Norgorber or Zon-Kuthon, while the less malevolent might follow Nocticula or Pharasma. Perhaps unexpectedly, Desna also has a small caligni following, particularly among those who frequently travel.

Sidebar - Treasure and Rewards Caligni Treasure

Many calignis hide shiny baubles and trinkets beneath their dark rags, keeping them out of sight of their greedy kin. They also keep several doses of black smear poison on hand to incapacitate foes.

Sidebar - Additional Lore The Caligni Legacy

The calignis are descendants of humans who, millennia ago, fled underground to escape a devastating cataclysm and begged malevolent, shadowy demigods known only as the Forsaken for salvation. The Forsaken warped the refugees into tough survivors, but at a price: every caligni that dies combusts in a burst of energy that provides a scrap of soul energy to the Forsaken. The greatest irony of the caligni's bargain is that the Forsaken themselves mysteriously vanished long ago and no longer answer pleas or prayers. Today, caligni still burst into light upon death, but their soul energy no longer feeds a mysterious pantheon of shadowy divinities.