Scaramouche the Merciless (BBS)

Scaramouche (BBS)

Medium construct, Chaotic Evil

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• Armor Class 18 (Studded Leather Armor)
• Hit Points 56/56/56
• Speed 40 feet

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
Str 12(+1)	Dex 22(+6)	Con 14(+2)	Int 13(+1)	Wis 15(+2)	Cha 18(+4)

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• Saving Throws Dexterity +10, Charisma +8
• Skills Acrobatics +14, Deception +8, Performance +14, Perception +6, Survival +6
• Damage Resistances Poison
• Damage Immunities Damage Immunities
• Condition Immunities Poisoned, Charmed, Exhaustion
• Senses passive Perception 16
• Languages Common, Abyssal, Scat-singing
• Challenge 11 variable

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Paragon Fortitude. The creature has multiple pools of hit points, each of which is tracked separately. All damage and healing must be completely applied to only one pool. When a pool is reduced to zero, all ongoing conditions and effects affecting the creature end. Once a pool is reduced to zero, that pool cannot receive any healing until after a long rest. If all hit of the point pools are reduced to zero, the creature is killed.
Evasion. If Scaramouche is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Featherweight. Whenever Scaramouche moves in a straight line, it can fly during that movement.

Actions

Bite the Bullet. Scaramouche takes 10 damage and ends any one condition or effect afflicting it. This damage cannot be reduced in any way. If it is unable to take an action on its turn, it can instead use this ability at the end of its turn, no action required.

Reactions

Greater Leap. Once per short rest, when this creature takes damage, this creature can as a reaction move up to twice its speed in a straight line without triggering opportunity attacks.
    Recharge Fortitude: When one Hit Point pool is reduced to 0, greater leap recharges and can be used immediately as a reaction.

Bonus Actions

Cunning Action. Scaramouche can dash or disengage as a bonus action.

Legendary Actions (3 actions)

Stride. Scaramouche moves up to its speed without triggering opportunity attacks.

3 Stage Encounter

Stage 1 (1st Hit Point Pool)

Actions

Flute of Animation. By playing his magic flute, Scaramouche casts Animate Objects at 5th level. On subsequent turns, it needs to use its Action instead of its Bonus Action to command these objects. If there are more than 4 PCs in the encounter, Scaramouche casts Animate Objects at 1 level higher for each PC beyond 4. The flute is lost or destroyed when Scaramouche's 1st hit point pool is reduced to 0.

Stage 2 (2nd Hit Point Pool)

Actions

Scat-dancing Sword. Scaramouche launches one Scat-dancing Sword. If there are 6 or more PCs, it instead launches two. When it uses this ability and as an action on subsequent turns, Scaramouche can verbally command its sword(s) to move up to 30 feet and then attack in a 30-foot line. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16), taking 11 (2d6 + 4) magical slashing damage on a failed save, or half on a success.

Legendary Reactions

Parry (Sheathed). Scaramouche adds 4 to its AC against one attack that would hit it. To do so, Scaramouche must see the attacker and be wielding a dagger.
Scat-dancing Riposte. When an attack misses against Scaramouche, it verbally commands a sword nearest to the attacker to attack in a 30 foot-line towards the attacker. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16), taking 11 (2d6 + 4) magical slashing damage on a failed save, or half on a success.

Stage 3 (3rd Hit Point Pool)

Actions

Multiattack. Scaramouche makes 2 Tuning Dagger attacks and 1 Scat-dancing sword attack.
Tuning Dagger. Scaramouche strikes an unworn object, such as a wall or an item a creature is wielding. If it attacks an item a creature is wielding, it must make a melee weapon attack: +10 to hit against the creature's AC. On a hit, at the start of Scaramouche's next turn the object explodes in a 10-feet-radius sphere and is destroyed. Each creature within range must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC16), taking 4d6 thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. Magical objects are not destroyed, though the explosion still occurs.

Legendary Reactions

Parry (Unsheathed). Scaramouche adds 4 to its AC against one attack that would hit it. To do so, Scaramouche must see the attacker and be wielding its Tuning Dagger unsheathed. If the attack was a weapon attack and now misses, then at the start of Scaramouche's next turn the weapon or piece of ammunition explodes as if struck by its Tuning Dagger. Scat-dancing Riposte. Same as before.

Stage 3

In its final stage, Scaramouche draws its trump card, the Tuning Dagger. It is a powerful magic item that injects into any object it strikes an explosive vibration. Scaramouche continues to attack indirectly, using its Tuning Dagger to simultaneously parry and disarm its targets as well as strategically striking objects around the battlefield as traps to spring upon its targets. All meanwhile the scat-dancing sword continues to streak across the battlefield.

When the final blow is struck, I recommend describing it as a critical strike to Scaramouche's neck or vocal cords, crippling Scaramouche's ability to sing but perhaps not its ability to speak. It may then offer a sheepish surrender, which provides its targets an opportunity to spare its life or deliver a satisfying finishing blow.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Scaramouche's chief strength is its ability to avoid and counter attacks. Scaramouche prefers to strike from a distance and slowly wear down its prey. It is very difficult to land an attack on it, especially melee attacks, due to high AC, its ability to dash and disengage as a Bonus Action, fly in straight lines, move without triggering opportunity attacks as a Reaction or Legendary Action, as well as parry attacks that would hit it during later stages of the fight.

Its chief weaknesses are thus effects that force it to make STR, CON, INT, and WIS saving throws, and abilities that reduce its movement speed or action economy. Its Bite the Bullet ability can end any condition it wants, but that forces it to take damage as well as lose action economy. Thus Scaramouche will tend to prioritize spellcasters and those who apply debilitating status conditions first.

Since its scat-dancing sword attacks in 30-foot lines, it will attempt to move the blade(s) so that it hits at least 2 targets each swing. PC positioning and maneuverability will be key to reducing the volume of damage the sword deals. On a successful save, the swords deal half damage, so the longer the encounter goes on, the bleaker the outlook of the PCs.

Many of Scaramouche's later stage attacks rely on PCs missing their attacks against it. Accurate attacks will strip it of its ability to counterattack.

As mentioned earlier, several of Scaramouche's abilities rely on its magical singing voice. These include the Flute of Animation and the Scat-dancing Sword. Effects that hamper its ability to sing, such as the silence spell, can disable these abilities.

Scaramouche is also vain and disdainful. It's possible to upset or distract it with criticism and insults or through one-upmanship. Scaramouche likes to pride itself as the best at what it does, which include but are not limited to singing, killing, and "playing the blades".

If you feel as though Scaramouche is not challenging enough, consider granting it the following ability: