Silent Adder

“Move silently and unseen, then strike with a single deadly blow.”

The Silent Adders are a secret society of monks. They are devoted to studying the ways of the adder, admiring its combination of stealth and swift, debilitating, poisonous strikes.

Most simply strive to hone their combat skills to lethal perfection, forming a deadly harmony of body and mind. Some are obsessed with ideals or their own rigid philosophy, and roam the land seeking ever greater challenges and enlightenment. Still others are attracted to worldly pleasures and power, or are driven by revenge, and often form their own assassin clans or offer their services as elite spies, agents or assassins to those whom they deem to be worthy and profitable patrons.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements

To qualify to become a silent adder, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria:

Class Skills

The class skills for this class (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (history, local, nature, religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Table: The Silent Adder
Class Level BAB Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +1 +1 +1 +1 Monk Special Abilities, Sneak Attack +1d6, Poison Use
2nd +2 +1 +1 +1 Camouflage 2/day, Unarmed Damage 1d10
3rd +3 +2 +2 +2 Uncanny Dodge, Bonus Monk Feat
4th +3 +2 +2 +2 Improved Evasion, Hidden Weapons
5th +4 +3 +3 +3 Sneak Attack +2d6, Ki Pool (lawful)
6th +5 +3 +3 +3 Diamond Body, Unarmed Damage 2d6
7th +6 +4 +4 +4 Abundant Step, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Bonus Monk Feat
8th +6 +4 +4 +4 Diamond Soul
9th +7 +5 +5 +5 Sneak Attack +3d6, Invisibility 2/day
10th +8 +5 +5 +5 Quivering Palm, Ki Pool (adamantine), Bonus Monk Feat

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the silent adder prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Silent adders are proficient with the same weapons as normal monks, and also gain proficiency with the ninja’s kusarigama weapon. They gain no armor proficiencies.

Monk Special Abilities

The silent adder’s bonuses in Flurry of Blows, Ki Pool points, and AC Bonus continue to advance with each prestige class level as if he had gained a level in the monk class. However, his other monk abilities do not continue to advance, and his unarmed damage never increases past 2d6. Silent adders rely on sneak attacks and poisoned weapons to inflict damage on their foes.

Sneak Attack

The silent adder gains the sneak attack ability identical to a rogue’s. However, he may only use the ability in melee, not for ranged attacks. The silent adder’s sneak attack damage stacks with the sneak attack damage of any of his other classes. The silent adder’s sneak attack damage increases at 5th and 9th level.

Poison Use

Silent Adders are trained in the use of poison and cannot accidentally poison themselves when applying poison to a weapon. If the character already has poison use from another class, they become truly skilled at swiftly applying poison to weapons, and may apply it as a move action instead of a standard action, if desired.

Camouflage (Su)

At 2nd level, the silent adder gains the supernatural ability to subtly alter the coloration of his skin and equipment to match his surroundings, making him harder to spot when hiding. This ability gives the silent adder a +4 competence bonus on visual-based Stealth checks and is usable twice per day for 1 minute per silent adder level.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

At 3rd level, the silent adder gains the rogue’s uncanny dodge ability. If the silent adder already has uncanny dodge from a different class he automatically gains improved uncanny dodge, instead.

Bonus Monk Feat

At 3rd, 7th and 10th level, the silent adder gains a bonus monk feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites.

Improved Evasion (Ex)

At 4th level, a silent adder gains the monk’s improved evasion ability.

Hidden Weapons (Ex)

At 4th level, a silent adder becomes a master at hiding weapons on his body. He adds his silent adder level to all Sleight of Hand skill checks made to prevent others from noticing them.

Diamond Body (Ex)

At 6th level, a silent adder gains the monk’s diamond body ability.

Abundant Step (Ex)

At 7th level, a silent adder gains the monk’s abundant step ability.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

At 7th level, the silent adder gains the rogue’s improved uncanny dodge ability.

Diamond Soul (Ex)

At 8th level, a silent adder gains the monk’s diamond soul ability. He adds his monk levels and silent adder levels to determine the spell resistance.

Invisibility (Su)

At 9th level, the silent adder gains the supernatural ability to become invisible. This ability is usable twice per day for 1 minute per silent adder level.

Quivering Palm (Ex)

At 10th level, the silent adder gains the monk’s quivering palm ability. His monk and silent adder levels stack for determining the save DC.

Ex-Silent Adders

A silent adder who becomes good or nonlawful cannot gain new levels as a silent adder but retains all silent adder and monk abilities.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Grimoire Viperian: A Tome of Exotic Lore Copyright 2021 Magic Skull Games Author: Steven F. Johnson

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