Caravan Chaos
Welcome again to Masters and Minions, where I attempt to give you interesting NPCs and encounters that can be placed easily into your game. This week’s encounter contains a plethora of shape-shifters, from the doppelganger to our very own semeion (which can be found in this From the Workshop).
The doppelganger Vix and his gang of shapeshifters have recently begun preying upon those who travel this particular trade road. Vix generally uses a wagon to set up his ambushes, making it appear that the wagon has either been in an accident or has been just attacked. He uses his wand of mount to summon horses to pull his wagon. The PCs may have heard rumors of caravans and travelers going missing along this road. Vix’s gang consists of himself, two semeion rogues (Morf and Ling), and his “pet” mimic. You can find the stats for the mimic in the Pathfinder Bestiary.
This encounter is CR 9 if Vix’s gang gets the jump on the PCs, but is normally CR 8.
As the PCs travel down the trade road, they spot smoke rising from an overturned wagon in the distance. They find Vix disguised as an injured human, while Morf is disguised as a wine barrel and Ling is disguised as a fifth wagon wheel (DC 15 Wisdom check to notice that the wheel is extra and perhaps out of place). The mimic is disguised as a chest.
Vix tries to trick one of the PCs into getting him something from the mimic chest. The mimic attacks the first person who tries to open it. Morf and Ling wait for either the mimic or Vix to attack the PCs before they show their true form and attack a single target making sure to get flanking.
Vix |
CR 6 |
XP 2,400
Doppelganger sorcerer 5
N Medium monstrous humanoid (shapechanger)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft; Perception +8
DEFENSE
AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +1 dodge,+1 deflection, +4 natural)
hp 74 (9 HD; 4d10+5d6+32)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +9
Immune charm, sleep
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft
Melee 2 claws +11 (1d8+5)
Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft (10 ft with melee touch attacks)
Bloodline Spell-Like Ability (CL 5th, +9 ranged touch)
7/day—acidic rays (1d6+2 acid, range 30 ft)
Sorcerer Spells Know (CL 5, +11 melee touch)
2nd (5/day)—blur, bull’s strength, see invisibility
1st (7/day)—charm person (DC 15), enlarge person, mage armor, shocking grasp, ventriloquism (DC 15)
0—acid splash, detect magic, ghost sound, message, prestidigitation, touch of fatigue (DC 14)
Bloodline aberrant
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 18th)
At will—detect thoughts (DC 16)
STATISTICS
Str 20, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 18
Base Atk +6; CMB +11; CMD 25
Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Toughness
Skills Bluff +20 (+24 while using change shape ability), Diplomacy +7, Disguise +12 (+32 while using change shape ability), Perception +8, Sense Motive +5, Spellcraft +9, Stealth +7; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +4 Disguise
Languages Common
SQ change shape (alter self), perfect copy, mimicry
Treasure NPC gear (feather token (whip) x2, potion of cure moderate wounds, ring of protection +1, wand of mount [40 charges])
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Mimicry (Ex)
A doppelganger is proficient in all weapons, armor, and shields. In addition, a doppelganger can use any spell trigger or spell completion item as if the spells were on its spell list. Its caster level is equal to its racial Hit Dice.
Perfect Copy (Su)
When a doppelganger uses change shape, it can assume the appearance of specific individuals.
Morf and Ling, semeion twins CR 2
Male semeion rogue 3
N Medium humanoid
Init +3; Senses Perception +6
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 25 (3d6+12)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1
Defensive Abilities Evasion, Trap Sense +1
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft
Melee rapier +6 (1d6+1/18-20)
Ranged dagger +6 (1d4+1)
Special Attacks Bleeding Attack, Sneak Attack 2d6
STATISTICS
Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +2; CMB +12; CMD 29
Feats Dodge, Toughness, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +9 (+8 with armor check), Bluff +5, Disguise +5 (+25 while using change shape ability), Escape Artist +9 (+8 with armor check), Perception +6, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +9 (+8 with armor check), Stealth +9 (+8 with armor check)
Languages Common, Elven (Morf)/Dwarven (Ling)
Special Qualities Trapfinding
Treasure NPC Gear (masterwork chain shirt, masterwork rapier, daggers x8, potion of cure light wounds, feather token[flock]*)
*Can be found in Into the Armory.