Candlestone Courtier

This willowy, lavender-skinned stranger looks like he is dressed for an extravagant ball, and carries himself with a dancer's grace.

Candlestone Courtier (CR 12)

Medium Fey
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Initiative: +9
Senses: Low-Light Vision, See in Darkness ; Perception +25

Speed: 30 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 26, touch 20, flat-footed 16 (+9 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural, +2 shield)
Hit Points: 161 (19d6+95)
Saving Throws: Fort +11, Ref +20, Will +14
Damage Reduction: 10/cold iron
Spell Resistance: 23

Offense

Melee: +1 keen rapier +20/+15 (1d6+4/15-20)
Reach: 5 feet

Special Attacks: spellthrust

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 19th; Concentration +25):

• Constant- Misdirection, See Invisibility
  
  
• At Will- Disfiguring Touch (DC 18), Disguise Self, Faerie Fire, Touch of Idiocy, Whispering Wind
  
  
• 3/day- Excruciating Deformation (DC 19), Major Image (DC 19), Sands of Time
  
  
• 1/day- Ethereal Jaunt, Phantom Steed, Shadow Walk

Spells Known (CL 9th; Concentration +13):

• 4th (5/day) - Shout (DC 18), Stone Shape
  
  
• 3rd (7/day) - Displacement, Fireball (DC 17), Protection From Good
  
  
• 2nd (7/day) - Acid Arrow, Flaming Sphere (DC 16), Resist Energy, Scorching Ray
  
  
• 1st (7/day) - Burning Hands (DC 15), Cause Fear (DC 15), Magic Missile, Ray Of Enfeeblement (DC 15), True Strike
  
  
• 0 (at will) - Acid Splash, Bleed (DC 14), Detect Magic, Flare (DC 14), Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Resistance

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
16 (+3)	29 (+9)	20 (+5)	16 (+3)	17 (+3)	23 (+6)

Base Attack Bonus: +9
CMB +12 (+16 Trip)
CMD 32 (34 vs. Trip)

Feats: Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Greater Trip, Deft Maneuvers, Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (Rapier), Whirlwind Attack

Skills: Acrobatics +30, Bluff +27, Diplomacy +15, Disguise +20, Escape Artist +20, Knowledge (dungeoneering, history, local, nature, nobility, planes) +10, Perception +25, Perform (dance) +15, Sense Motive +15, Sleight of Hand +15, Stealth +30, Use Magic Device +28

Languages: Aklo, Common, Sylvan, Terran, Undercommon

Special Qualities: fey bargain

Special Abilities

Fey Bargain (Su)

Once per week, a Candlestone courtier can grant a limited wish or a permanent +2 inherent bonus to one ability score. In exchange, the bargainer is cursed to be carried off in its dreams each night by the courtier to a never-ending fey ball that, while pleasant as often as not, affects the dreamer as nightmare, requiring a saving throw each night (Will DC 21 negates). The DC to remove this curse is reduced by 4 if the courtier is killed, and a successful coup de grace on the courtier with a cold iron weapon automatically ends the curse. Ending the curse also ends any noninstantaneous effects of the bargain. A creature can have only one fey bargain at a time.

Spellthrust (Su)

When a courtier threatens a critical hit, it can trigger a spell-like ability with a range of touch against the target. If the critical hit is confirmed, the target must save twice, using the lower result.

Ecology

Environment: Any Underground
Organization: solitary, pair, or delegation (3-6)
Treasure: standard (+1 keen rapier, +1 buckler, other treasure)


Candlestone courtiers are emissaries of Queen Frilogarma and the Court of Ether. Venturing up from their Darklands domain, they make deals to the benefit of their queen, forge secret alliances with citizens of foreign lands, and inveigle mortals into endless revels in the inverted fey city while sapping the vitality of their victims to sate their alien appetites.

Candlestone courtiers prefer to employ trickery and extortion over direct violence, but don't shy away from a fight if it is the fastest way to get what they want.