“Can you hear the Voices too!?”

Abraxas was raised to become a Bearer of the Cult: resolute warriors who protect the Hidden Faith’s relics and ruins from nonbelievers. He was shown the Cult’s occult secrets; even gifted with unfathomable powers from the Forgotten Goddess. Yet for reasons unknown, Abraxas grew disillusioned and under the guise of dying in battle, fled his responsibilities. Why the Forgotten Goddess has not reveal the truth to Her followers is a mystery that gnaws at Abraxas contentious.

Medium Humanoid (Dwarf), Lawful Evil

Armor Class 17, Initiative +2 (12)
Hit Points 93 (9d8 + 9 + 18 + 18)
Speed 30 feet

Skills Arcana +4, Deception +8, Intimidation +8, Perception +7, Persuasion +12; Bagpipes, Smith’s Tools
Gear Worn Breastplate, Fortune’s Mantle , Meteor Axe, Pouch with 65 GP coins, Traveler’s Clothes; Weight Worn 55 pounds
Gear Kept Backpack, Bedroll, Rations (5 days), Sack, Tinderbox, 2 Waterskins; Weight Kept 33.5 pounds
Resistances Poison
Senses Darkvision 120 feet, Passive Perception 17, Passive Investigation 12, Passive Insight 11
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Orc
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP; Proficiency Bonus +4)

TRAITS

Dwarven Resilience. Abraxas has Advantage on saving throws he makes to avoid or end the Poisoned condition.

Dwarven Toughness. Abraxas’ Hit Point maximum increases by 9.

Font of Inspiration. Abraxas can expend a spell slot (no action required) to regain one expended use of Bardic Inspiration.

Jack of all Trades. Abraxas can add +2 Proficiency Bonus to ability checks he makes that uses a skill proficiency he lacks and that doesn’t otherwise use his Proficiency Bonus.

Pact Magic (Short Rest). Abraxas is a 9th level spellcaster. He casts spells using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). He can use his pact weapon as a Spellcasting Focus.
Cantrips (at will): Eldritch Blast, Mind Sliver
1st level (1 slot): Armor of Agathys, Hex

Spellcasting (Long Rest). Abraxas is a 9th level spellcaster. He casts spells using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). He can use a Musical Instrument, Simple or Martial weapon as a Spellcasting Focus.
Cantrips (at will): Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, True Strike
1st level (4 slots): Feather Fall, Healing Word, Sleep
2nd level (3 slots): Enhance Ability, Phantasmal Force, Suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): Dispel Magic, Hypnotic Pattern, Major Image
4th level (2 slots): Greater Invisibility, Phantasmal Killer, Polymorph

Tough. Abraxas’ Hit Point maximum increases by 18.

MAGIC ITEMS

Fortune’s Mantle. Abraxas gains a +1 bonus to Armor Class and saving throws while he wears this Cloak of Protection.

Meteor Axe. Abraxas has a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this Greataxe +1.

ACTIONS

Extra Attack. Abraxas can attack twice instead of once whenever he takes the Attack action on his turn. In addition, Abraxas can cast one of his cantrips that has a casting time of an action in place of one of those attacks.

Meteor Axe. Melee Attack Roll: +9 to hit, reach 10 feet. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) Necrotic, Psychic, Radiant, or Slashing damage.

Eldritch Blast. Spell Attack Roll: +8 to hit, reach 120 feet. Hit: 11 (2d10) Force damage.

True Strike. Spell Attack Roll: +9 to hit, reach 10 feet. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) Radiant or Slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) Radiant damage.

BONUS ACTIONS

Bardic Inspiration (4/Short Rest). Abraxas can inspire another creature within 60 feet that can see or hear him. That creature gains one of his Bardic Inspiration dice. Once within the next hour, when the creature fails a D20 Test, the creature can roll 1d10 and add the number rolled to the total, potentially turning the failure into a success. A creature that has a Bardic Inspiration die from Abraxas can also use it for one of the following effects:

• Defense. When the creature is hit by an attack roll, that creature can use its Reaction to roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the result to its Armor Class against that attack.
• Offense. Immediately after the creature hits a target with an attack roll, the creature can roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the result to the attack’s damage.

Hew. Immediately after Abraxas scores a Critical Hit with a Melee weapon or reduces a creature to 0 Hit Points with one, he can make one attack with the same weapon.

Tremorsense (4/Long Rest). Abraxas gains Tremorsense with a range of 60 feet for 10 minutes. He must be on or touching a natural or worked stone surface to use this Tremorsense.

REACTIONS

Countercharm. Trigger: Abraxas or a creature within 30 feet fails a saving throw against an effect that applies the Charmed or Frightened condition. Response: Reroll the saving throw with Advantage.

“Soldiers with women often lose coin; soldiers with coin rarely lose women.”

Rogftr has fought across more battlefields than he can remember. In several conflicts he achieved victory, in several conflicts he fell into defeat, but most important of all he survived. Rogftr believes the sole cause worth fighting for is gold: not patriotism, not righteousness, just hard universal currency. Yet though he would never admit it, the intoxicating thrill of life-or-death combat is why he has not taken his considerable savings and found peaceful retirement.

Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral

Armor Class 17 (Dual Wielding) or 19 (Shield); Initiative +9 (19)
Hit Points 98 (5d8 + 5d10 + 20 + 20)
Speed 30 feet

Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +4, Insight +6, Perception +10, Sleight of Hand +9, Stealth +13; Disguise Kit, Herbalism Kit, Poisoner’s Kit, Thieves’ Tools
Gear Worn Bandolier with 6 Potion of Healing, 10 Darts, Poisoner’s Kit, Pouch with 35 GP coins, Ruby Blade, Sapphire Blade, Studded Leather, Thieves’ Tools, Traveler’s Clothes; Weight Worn 38 pounds
Gear Kept Backpack, Bedroll, Bullseye Lantern, Herbalism Kit, Iron Pot, Mirror, Oil (4 flasks), Rations (6 days), Sack, Tinderbox, Traveler’s Clothes, 2 Waterskins; Weight Kept 59 pounds
Senses Passive Perception 20, Passive Investigation 9, Passive Insight 16
Languages Common, Elvish, Halfling, Thieves’ Cant, Undercommon
Challenge 8 (XP 3,900; Proficiency Bonus +4)

TRAITS

Cunning Strike. When Rogftr deals Sneak Attack damage, he can add one of the following Cunning Strike effects. Each effect has a die cost, which is the number of Sneak Attack dice he must forgo to add the effect. Rogftr removes the die before rolling, and the effect occurs immediately after the attack’s damage is dealt.

• Poison (Cost: 1d6). Rogftr adds a toxin to his strike, forcing the target to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 17). On a failed save, the target has the Poisoned condition for 1 minute. At the end of each of its turns, the poisoned target repeats the save, ending the effect on a success. To use this effect, Rogftr must have a Poisoner’s Kit on his person.
• Trip (Cost: 1d6). If the target is Large or smaller, it must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 17) or have the Prone condition.
• Withdraw (Cost: 1d6). Immediately after the attack, Rogftr moves up to half his speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

Improved Critical. Rogftr’s attack rolls with weapons and Unarmed Strikes can score a Critical Hit on a d20 roll of 19 and 20. Immediately after he scores a Critical Hit, he can move up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

Initiative. Rogftr has Advantage on Initiative rolls.

Initiative Swap. Immediately after Rogftr rolls Initiative, he can swap his Initiative with the Initiative of one willing ally in the same combat. Rogftr can’t make this swap if he or the ally has the Incapacitated condition.

Quick Draw. Rogftr can draw or stow two weapons that lack the Two-Handed property when he would normally be able to draw or stow only one.

Remarkable Athlete. Rogftr has Advantage on Initiative and Strength (Athletic) checks.

Resourceful. Rogftr gains Heroic Inspiration whenever he finishes a Long Rest.

Sneak Attack. Once per turn Rogftr can deal an extra 19 (3d6) damage to one creature he hits with an attack roll if Rogftr has Advantage on the roll and the attack uses a Finesse or a Ranged weapon. The extra damage’s type is the same as the weapon’s type. Rogftr doesn’t need Advantage on the attack roll if at least one of his allies is within 5 feet of the target, the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition and Rogftr doesn’t have Disadvantage on the attack roll.

Surprising Strikes. During the first round of each combat, Rogftr has Advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn. If his Sneak Attack hits any target during that round, the target takes 5 extra damage of the weapon’s type.

Tactical Mind. When Rogftr fails an ability check, he can expend a use of his Second Wind. Rather than regaining Hit Points, he adds 5 (1d10) to the ability check, potentially turning it into a success. If the check still fails, this use of Second Wind isn’t expended.

Tough. Rogftr’s Hit Point maximum increases by 20.

MAGIC ITEMS

Ruby Blade. Rogftr has a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this Shortsword +1.

Sapphire Blade. Rogftr has a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this Scimitar +1.

ACTIONS

Action Surge. On his turn, Rogftr can take one additional action, except the Magic action. Once he uses this feature, he can’t do so again until he finishes a Short or Long Rest.

Extra Attack. Rogftr can attack twice instead of once whenever he takes the Attack action on his turn.

Dart. Ranged Attack Roll: +9, range 20/60 feet. Hit: 7 (1d4 + 5) Piercing damage. Vex: If Rogftr hits a creature with a Dart and deals damage to it, he has Advantage on his next attack roll against that creature before the end of Rogftr’s next turn.

Ruby. Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 5 feet. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) Piercing damage. Vex: If Rogftr hits a creature with a Shortsword and deals damage to it, he has Advantage on his next attack roll against that creature before the end of Rogftr’s next turn.

Sapphire. Melee Attack Roll: +10, reach 5 feet. Hit: 9 (1d6 + 6) Slashing damage. Nick: When Rogftr makes the extra attack of the Light property, he can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. Rogftr can make this extra attack only once per turn.

BONUS ACTIONS

Cunning Action. Rogftr takes one of the following actions: Dash, Disengage, or Hide.

Enhanced Dual Wielding. When Rogftr takes the Attack action on his turn and attacks with a weapon that has the Light property, he can make one extra attack with a different weapon, which must be a Melee weapon that lacks the Two-Handed property.

Second Wind (3/Long Rest). Rogftr regains 10 Hit Points (1d10 + 5).

Steady Aim. Rogftr gives himself Advantage on his next attack roll on his current turn. He can use this feature only if he hasn’t moved during this turn, and after Rogftr uses it, his Speed is 0 until the end of the current turn.

Tactical Shift. Whenever Rogftr activates his Second Wind, he can move up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

REACTIONS

Uncanny Dodge. Trigger: When an attacker that Rogftr can see hits him with an attack roll. Response: Halve the attack’s damage against Rogftr (round down).

“Surrender peacefully and I vow you will remain dead.”

Professor Nikolaos Vesper the Third ranks among the foremost archaeologist on the lost knowledge of fallen civilizations. Though his methods are macabre, his academic accomplishments are not lightly questioned. Vesper’s unorthodox expeditions provide an effective means to retrieve ancient treasures that would otherwise be outside the reach of academia. He is therefore granted substantial funding and unprecedented leeway by his colleagues to acquire them, so long as the ventures do not attract attention.

Medium Humanoid (Human), Neutral Evil

Armor Class 18; Initiative +2 (12)
Hit Points 76 (8d6 + 1d8 + 18 + 18) plus 9 (2d4 + 4; False Life) Temporary Hit Points
Speed 30 feet

Skills Arcana +9, History +9, Investigation +9, Perception^ᴱ +9, Religion +9; Alchemist’s Supplies, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Thieves’ Tools, Tinker’s Tools
Resistances Necrotic
Gear Worn Failed Philosopher’s Stone, Pouch with 50 SP coins, Recompense, Scale Mail, Shield, Spellbook (Animate Dead, Arcane Eye, Banishment, Blight, Death Armor, Darkvision, Death Armor, Detect Magic, Dispel Magic, False Life, Feather Fall, Find Familiar, Fireball, Fly, Gentle Repose, Leomund’s Tiny Hut, Magic Missile, Mirror Image, Misty Step, Polymorph, Protection from Evil and Good, Ray of Enfeeblement, Ray of Sickness, Shield, Silent Image, Sleep, Speak with Dead, Stone Shape, Suggestion, Summon Undead, Vampiric Touch), Traveler’s Clothes, Tunnel Vision; Weight Worn 64 pounds
Gear Kept Backpack, Gilded Skull worth 300 GP, Incense worth 10 GP, Ink, Ink Pen, Thieves’ Tools, Tinker’s Tools, Waterskin; Weight Kept 23 pounds
Senses Darkvision 60 feet, Passive Perception 19, Passive Investigation 19, Passive Insight 11
Languages Common, Elvish, Giant
Challenge 6 (XP 2,300; Proficiency Bonus +4)

TRAITS

Arcane Recovery (1/Short Rest). Vesper can recover expended spell slots. The spell slots can have a combined level equal to no more than 4, and none of the slots can be level 6 or higher.

Concentration. Vesper has Advantage on Constitution saving throws that he makes to maintain Concentration.

Grave Resilience. While holding his spellbook, when Vesper uses Arcane Recovery, his Exhaustion level, if any, decreases by 1.

Memorize Spell (1/Short Rest). Vesper can study his spellbook and replace one of the level 1+ Wizard spells he has prepared for his Spellcasting feature with another level 1+ spell from the book.

Overwhelming Necrosis. While holding his spellbook, damage from Vesper’s Wizard spells and Wizard features ignores Resistance to Necrotic damage.

Resourceful. Vesper gains Heroic Inspiration whenever he finishes a Long Rest.

Ritual Adept. Vesper can cast any spell as a Ritual if that spell has the Ritual tag and the spell is in his spellbook. He needn’t have the spell prepared, but he must read from the book to cast a spell in this way.

Somatic Components. Vesper can perform the Somatic components of spells even when he has weapons or a Shield in one or both hands.

Telepathic Connection. While the familiar is within 100 feet of Vesper, he can communicate with it telepathically.

Tough. Vesper’s Hit Point maximum increases by 18.

Undead Thralls. Whenever Vesper starts casting the Animate Dead spell, he can modify it so that the spell’s effective level is increased by 1. In addition, whenever he casts a Necromancy spell using a spell slot that creates or summons an Undead, the Undead gains the benefits below.

• Undead Fortitude. The Undead’s Hit Point maximum and current Hit points increase by a number equal to the level of the spell slot used plus 5 for the duration of the spell.
• Withering Strike. Whenever the Undead hits a creature with an attack roll, the Undead deals an extra 5 Necrotic damage.

MAGIC ITEMS

Failed Philosopher’s Stone. This 1-inch-diameter Ruby of the War Mage allows Vesper to use a Simple or Martial weapon as a Spellcasting Focus for his spells. For this property to work, he must attach the ruby to the weapon by pressing the ruby against it for at least 10 minutes. Thereafter, the ruby can’t be removed unless Vesper detaches it as a Magic action, the weapon is destroyed, or his Attunement to the ruby ends.

Recompense. This Returning Handaxe grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it, and it returns to Vesper’s hand immediately after he uses it to make a ranged attack roll.

Tunnel Vision. While wearing these Goggles of Night, Vesper has Darkvision out to 60 feet. If he already has Darkvision, wearing the goggles increases its range by 60 feet.

ACTIONS

Recompense. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +4 to hit, reach 5 feet or range 20/60 feet. Hit: 3 (1d6) Slashing damage. The weapon returns to Vesper’s hand immediately after he uses it to make a ranged attack roll. He can use the weapon as a Spellcasting Focus for his spells.

True Strike with Recompense. Melee or Ranged Attack Roll: +9 to hit, reach 5 feet or range 20/60 feet. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) Slashing or Radiant damage plus 3 (1d6) Radiant damage. The weapon returns to Vesper’s hand immediately after he uses it to make a ranged attack roll. He can use the weapon as a Spellcasting Focus for his spells.

Magic Initiate (1/Long Rest). Vesper can cast the False Life spell without expending a spell slot.

Spellcasting. Vesper is a 9th level spellcaster. He casts spells using Intelligence as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). Vesper has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): Acid Splash, Guidance, Mage Hand, Mending, Mind Sliver, Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Spare the Dying, True Strike
1st level (4/Long Rest): Cure Wounds, False Life, Feather Fall ^ᴿ, Find Familiar, Sanctuary ^ᴮᴬ, Shield ^ᴿ
2nd level (3/Long Rest): Darkvision, Mirror Image, Misty Step ^ᴮᴬ, Suggestion
3rd level (3/Long Rest): Animate Dead, Fireball, Fly, Speak with Dead, Summon Undead
4th level (3/Long Rest): Arcane Eye, Banishment, Polymorph, Stone Shape
5th level (1/Long Rest): –

Tinker’s Magic (5/Long Rest). As a Magic action while holding Tinker’s Tools, Vesper can create one item in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of himself, from the provided list: Ball Bearings, Basket, Bedroll, Bell, Blanket, Block and Tackle, Bucket, Caltrops, Candle, Crowbar, Flask, Glass Bottle, Grappling Hook, Hunting Trap, Iron Spikes, Jug, Lamp, Manacles, Net, Oil, Paper, Parchment, Pole, Pouch, Rope, Sack, Shovel, String, Tinderbox, Torch, Vial. The item lasts until you finish a Long Rest, at which point it vanishes.

Undead Thralls (1/Long Rest). Vesper can cast the Animate Dead spell without expending a spell slot.

BONUS ACTIONS

Animate Dead. Vesper controls six Skeletons. He can mentally command any creature he made with the Animate Dead spell if the creature is within 60 feet of him (if Vesper controls multiple creatures, he can command any of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). Vesper decides what action the creature will take and where it will move on its next turn, or he can issue a general command, such as to guard a chamber or corridor. If Vesper issues no commands, the creature takes the Dodge action and moves only to avoid harm. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.

Telepathic Connection. Vesper can see through his familiar’s eyes and hear what it hears until the start of Vesper’s next turn, gaining the benefits of any special senses it has.

REACTIONS

Reactive Spell. Trigger: When a creature provokes an Opportunity Attack from Vesper by leaving his reach. Response: Vesper casts a spell at the creature rather than making an Opportunity Attack. The spell must have a casting time of one action and must target only that creature.