Avenging Executioner

Requirements

Alignment: Any nongood.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Skills: Hide (4 ranks), Intimidate (6 ranks), Move Silently (4 ranks).

Special: Must have been tragically wronged in some manner.

Summary

Ow, the edge. That's okay, some people definitely want it to be edgy. This character is the thing that DnD horror stories are made of, a tragically wronged character (that is one of the requirements, see above), they get extra sudden strike damage like rogues and ninja, they also get fear effects such as bloody blade and bloody murder that trigger on a variety of effects, such as dealing that sudden strike damage, or dropping people or enemies to 0 HP. This class is obviously best in a team that can help create the opportunities for sudden strike and a team without a paladin as you cannot be good.

Role: DPS

Characteristics: Vengeance seeking characters with different ways to inflict fear and extra damage

Source: Complete Scoundrel

Game Rule Information

The Avenging Executioner has the following game statistics.

Abilities: You need constitution as some of your abilities only trigger late in combat and you need to survive that long. This class is very much a roguelike so Dexterity is a must as you are likely to not be heavily armored.

Alignment: Any Nongood

Hit Die: d8

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Avenging Executioner's class skills are are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Use Rope (Dex).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Avenging Executioner.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Avenging Executioner is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with prior to taking levels in this class.

Bloody Blade Ex: The fury of your attack is terrifying to see. Whenever you deal sudden strike damage (see below) with a melee weapon, the target of the sudden strike and all opponents within 30 feet of you who can see the target are shaken for a number of rounds equal to your avenging executioner level. A successful Will save (DC 10 + your avenging executioner level + your Cha modifier) negates this effect. Creatures whose HD exceed your character level are not affected. Bloody blade is a mind-affecting fear ability.

Sudden Strike Ex: If you can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from your attack, you can strike a vital spot for extra damage. See the Ninja's sudden strike class feature for more information.

Rapid Intimidation Ex: Beginning at 2nd level, you can attempt to demoralize an opponent as a move action instead of a standard action. See the Intimidate skill for details.

If you have the favored enemy class feature, you can add your favored enemy bonus to Intimidate checks made to demoralize foes of the chosen type (and subtype, if applicable).

Dread Blade Ex: Starting at 4th level, you can exploit the terror you inspire to further brutalize your target. You treat shaken, frightened, or panicked creatures as flat-footed for the purpose of dealing sudden strike damage.

Bloody Murder Ex: Starting at 5th level, if you deal enough damage with a melee attack to drop a creature (typically by reducing it to below 0 hit points or killing it), all enemies within 30 feet of you who can see the target become frightened for 1 round. A successful Will save (DC 10 + your avenging executioner level + your Cha modifier) lessens the effect to shaken. Creatures whose HD exceed your character level are not affected. Bloody murder is a mind-affecting fear ability.

Table 1-1: Avenging Executioner Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Bloody blade, sudden strike +1d6
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Rapid intimidation
3rd	+2	+1	+3	+3	Sudden strike +2d6
4th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Dread blade
5th	+3	+1	+4	+4	Bloody murder, sudden strike +3d6

Adaptation

An avenging executioner can fit into any campaign setting. In worlds where a specific nation or race faces prejudice, some members of that people might fight back as avenging executioners. Campaigns that take place far from the intrigues of the city might see avenging executioners as dark woodland hunters, radical allies of druids and rangers and punishers of those who despoil nature. Another option might have avenging executioners of terrible ability but dull wit adopted by government or church as secret police, deadly hounds set loose upon the group’s enemies.