Clockwork Assassin (3.5e Monster)

''I am AI-1721. I am here to kill you.''

Created as a perfectly loyal ninja assassin, the clockwork assassin is a humanoid construct resembling a lean ninja with a helmet that either has no face or visible eyes, or sometimes has a single mono-eye or terrifying skull-like visage carved into it. Under its copper and iron plating whirs a complex skeleton of gears and pipes which run surprisingly quietly for being in constant motion. As a clockwork machine it possesses a minor intelligence, at least in the things required for effective assassination, and is capable of both finding a target and creating complex plans to ambush and slay its target which it performs with inhuman machine perfection and efficiency.

It is equipped with several hidden compartments along its body, as well as two arm blades which slide into its forearms and snap out like katanas when in use. It also has a dart launcher equipped within its shoulders, allowing it to snipe targets from afar with deadly poison.

A clockwork assassin is about the size of an average human and weighs a surprisingly light 150 lbs. It speaks short simple phrases, either pre-programmed responses installed by the owner or requested replies, such as answering what a target said before it died. Otherwise it is not much for conversation. It typically speaks Common.

Combat
Once a kill command has been issued, and the Clockwork Assassin been given at least a little information on the subject, it will begin to track it without rest. It ties to obtain information which does not involve speaking, or minimal speaking, lest its lack of vocabulary give it away. It is capable and willing to disguise itself as a human, often with hood and robes and staying at a distance or out of sight. When the target is found, it formulates the most effective way to slay the target. It will try to do so and preserve itself, but it is willing to destroy itself if it means the destruction of the target. Attacks rarely are on even ground, ambushing from shadows and attacking with poisons. Depending on the plot, the "attack" may begin days in advance with the key removal and poisoning of key targets. It defaults to not killing targets it has not been ordered to, but can easily be ordered on how much collateral damage is acceptable damage.

If forced into a direct fight and unable to simply flee, it will try and employ flanking to the best of its ability to sneak attack. It is unique in that the clockwork assassin is capable of lying and bluffing to obtain its goal, a "feature" which sometimes unnerves even its creators.

Auto-Poison : The clockwork assassin may "ingest" up to 12 doses of poison, which it can apply to any of its weapons as a swift action. It may carry additional poisons on itself as well which it can apply normally with no threat of poisoning, as it is immune.

Hidden Weapons : The clockwork assassin gets a +20 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to hide its weapons inside its body.

Hide in Plain Sight : A clockwork assassin can hide in shadows as an assassin.

Improved Evasion : A clockwork assassin takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, but henceforth it takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless clockwork assassin does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

Portfolio : The clockwork assassin has the portfolios of ambush, combat, and tracking. That means it uses its Charisma as an effective Intelligence score when it comes to following orders concerning these three activities. For all other activities it is mindless and follows orders to the letter.

Skills: A clockwork assassin has a +12 racial bonus on Disguise, Hide, and Move Silently checks.

Construction
A clockwork assassin's body must be constructed from copper, brass, and iron, and infused with eldritch energies and strange alchemical fluids for its engine. Creating the body requires a DC 25 Craft (clockwork) check or DC 25 Craft (engineering) check.

CL 10th; Craft Construct, animate objects, cat's grace, slay living, caster must be at least 10th level; Price 44,000 gp; Cost 24,000 gp + 1600 XP.