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Spring-heeled Jack

The greatest secret of the murderous trickster known as Spring-Heeled Jack is that he isn't a unique creature. Instead, he's one of a rare type of fey native to the First World who enjoy causing bloody mayhem in the Universe. These fey are so rare (and so distrustful of each other's company) that two have never been seen together; the mistaken assumption that only a single spring-heeled jack exists is therefore entirely understandable. The fact that sightings occur across Ustalav (and beyond), across centuries of time, is ascribed to the trickster's long lifespan and mysterious ability to travel quickly, or to the belief that there's no such creature, merely an urban legend that twisted minds attempt to bring to life through costumes, magic, and a series of murders and mayhem. Even in fear-drenched Ustalav, no one has yet guessed that multiple spring-heeled jacks exist.

Spring-heeled jacks are cruel-eyed, hairy fey with vaguely humanoid shapes and extra features that cause them to be easily mistaken for demons or devils. Glowing eyes, cloven hooves, menacing horns, and a pointed tail combine to create the mien of a wicked imp; their love of sudden and sadistic violence completes the impression. Almost all have jet-black skin and fur, though a few exceptions might exist.

In the nighttime conditions they enjoy, spring-heeled jacks typically hide their features in tattered cloaks, appearing as a hunched elder or a youth. Such a disguise rarely holds up to any scrutiny, but that doesn't matter much to the spring-heeled jack, who only needs something that offers just enough doubt for their target to move within striking distance—which can be much greater than most creatures realize. Once close enough, the spring-heeled jack leaps startling distances in the flicker of an eye to easily slash at a victim who had, until that moment, considered themself safe.

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Print Stat Block

Spring-heeled JackCreature 3

Rare Small Fey 
Source Feybound pg. 157
Recall Knowledge DC 23 (includes +5 from Rare) • Fey (Nature)
Perception +7; low-light vision
Languages Common, Fey
Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7 (+11 to High Jump or Long Jump), Deception +5, Intimidation +7, Stealth +8, Thievery +6
Str +3, Dex +4, Con +1, Int +0, Wis +1, Cha +3
Items dagger
AC 15; Fort +3, Ref +10, Will +5
HP 50; Weaknesses cold iron 5
Frightful Presence (aura, emotion, fear, mental) 15 feet, DC 14Reactive Strike [reaction]
Speed 40 feet
Melee [one-action] dagger +9 [+5/+1] (agile, finesse, versatile S), Damage 1d4+5 piercingRanged [one-action] dagger +9 [+5/+1] (agile, thrown 10 feet, versatile S), Damage 1d4+5 piercingPrimal Innate Spells DC 17; 5th magic passage; 1st gentle landing (at will); Constant (2nd) vanishing tracks
Exhale Flame [two-actions] (fire, primal) The spring-heeled jack exhales a gout of bright blue fire that deals 4d6 fire damage in a 15-foot cone (DC 17 basic Reflex save). They can’t use Exhale Flame again for 1d4 rounds.Leap Away [free-action] Trigger The spring-heeled jack critically hits a creature with their dagger; Effect The spring-heeled jack Vaults.Malicious Stab A spring-heeled jack deals an additional 1d6 precision damage to off-guard or frightened creatures (2d6 precision damage to creatures that are both off-guard and frightened).Vault [one-action] (move) The spring-heeled jack jumps up to 20 feet in any direction, including vertically. This movement doesn’t trigger reactions based on movement.
Load Spell Descriptions

Sidebar - Advice and Rules Greater Jacks

A spring-heeled jack isn't unique, and more powerful versions of these malevolent terrors certainly exist. Adding the following ability, along with the elite adjustment, is the fastest way to create a greater spring-heeled jack. Other jacks, with even more frightening powers, might also exist.

Gentleman's Guise: Some greater spring-heeled jacks can take on a magical disguise to pass more easily among commonfolk.

Change Shape [one-action] (concentrate, polymorph, primal) The spring-heeled jack takes on the appearance of a Medium humanoid dressed in exquisite finery. This doesn't change their Speed or the attack and damage modifiers of their Strikes. When in this form, the spring-heeled jack gains a Diplomacy modifier equal to their Intimidation modifier.
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