This week — A Swashbuckling NPC and the Magical Dagger Hidden in Her Boot

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Happy weekend, everyone!

This week, I created an NPC that goes by the moniker The Cassowary, (which is a deadly and beautiful bird), inspired by an Alice in Chains song I heard on the way to work, called the Rooster! Weird. I also created a magical dagger for her boot, which might make for some fun flavor during battles.

Have a great week, and thanks for reading!

Few know the name Vera Rassipadro, but the name The Cassowary is known up and down the Sword Coast. Once a court performer who learned to dance with blades, Vera grew bored of simple entertainment and, unbeknownst to her employer, joined a local Thieve’s Guild to put her quick reflexes and agility to more lucrative purposes.


Her boot dagger, (see below), was a gift from her mentor, Snell Kurat, an assassin who taught her that “your enemies should fear your every step.”
 Since striking out on her own, Vera has appeared in cities far and wide in her trademark feathered mask, decorated with feathers from the deadly and beautiful bird she’s named after. If they’re lucky to survive, the unfortunate nobles she targets are often haunted by that mask long after she escapes with their wealth.

The stat block and features below are based on the 2024 version of 5th edition D&D, and the Swashbuckler from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, with small modifications by me here and there.

Vera Rassipadro
5th level Female Rogue Swashbuckler, Elvish Ancestry, CN

AC 16
HP 33
Speed 35’
Init +7

Proficiency Bonus +3

STR 8 (-1)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 10 (+0)
WIS 12 (+1)
CHA 16 (+3)

Saves — Dexterity +7, Charisma +6
Skills — Acrobatics +7, Deception +6, Perception +7, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +10
Resistances — Advantage on Saves to avoid or end the Charmed condition
Senses — Darkvision 60’, Passive Perception 14
Languages — Elvish, Common

Traits
Fey Ancestry
Advantage on Saving Throws to avoid or end the Charmed condition, and her movement rate is 35’.

Sneak Attack Damage (+3d6)
Vera can apply her Sneak Attack damage if:
• She has Advantage, or
• An ally is within 5’ of her target, or
• She is within 5’ of her target, no other enemies are within 5’ of her, and she doesn’t have Disadvantage (from Rakish Audacity)

Rakish Audacity
Vera adds her Charisma modifier to her Initiative.

Fancy Footwork
If Vera makes a melee attack against a creature, it can’t make opportunity attacks against her for the rest of her turn.

Cunning Action
Vera can use her Bonus Action to Dash, Disengage, or Hide.

Two Weapon Fighter
When Vera makes an extra attack as a result of using a weapon that has the Light or Nick properties, she can add her ability modifier to the damage of that attack.

Actions
Rapier
Melee Attack Roll: +7, reach 5 ft. Hit: 1d8 + 4 piercing damage.
If Vera hits and deals damage to a target with her Rapier, due to the weapon’s Vex property she has Advantage on the next attack against the same target before the end of her next turn.
Vera can follow up a Rapier attack (or any attack with a Light or Finesse weapon) with a Toeblade attack, as part of the same Attack action, up to 3 times per Round.

Dancer’s Toeblade +1
Melee Attack Roll: +8, reach 5 ft. Hit: 1d4 + 5 piercing damage.
Vera can follow up a Rapier attack (or any attack with a Light or Finesse weapon) with a Toeblade attack, as part of the same Attack action, 3 times per Round.
Once per turn, if Vera moves up to 10’ and makes an attack with the Toeblade, she deals an extra 2d4 piercing damage.
If Vera also deals Sneak Attack damage with her Dancer’s Toeblade attack, she may choose to knock the target prone if it fails a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw.

Bonus Actions
Vera can take use her Cunning Action trait on her Bonus Action, or make an off-hand attack with a Light or Finesse weapon.

Gear
Rapier, brightly painted studded leather armor under a flamboyant coat with gleaming brass buttons, a feathered mask that leaves only her mouth revealed, Dancers Toeblade (see below)

Note: the toeblade adds weight to her right boot, so the sole of her left boot is weighted to match in perfect balance.

Vera’s hidden magical dagger is a deadly addition to her aresenal, and useful to any creature agile enough to control it.

Weapon (dagger), very rare (requires attunement by a creature with Dexterity 13 or higher)

This slim, spring‑loaded blade must be concealed within the toe of a boot or soled shoe. When activated as a free action, it snaps out, or back into place, with a whisper‑quiet click.

Damage — 1d4+1, finesse, light, hidden
Weight — 12 ounces

The Toeblade is concealed within the sole of your boot, and counts as a light melee weapon for the purposes of two‑weapon fighting.
• A creature must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check to detect it during a search.
• You can deploy or retract the blade as part of the same action used to make an attack with it.
• You cannot be disarmed of this weapon unless the boot its built into is forcibly removed from your foot.
• If you can’t move the foot the wields the Toeblade, you cannot attack with it.

Toeblade Flourish
When you hit a creature with an attack with a Light or Finesse weapon, you can make an extra attack with the Toeblade as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack a number of times per Round equal to your Proficiency bonus.

Grand Jeté
Once per turn when you move up to 10’ and make an attack with the Toeblade, you can deal an extra 2d4 piercing damage.
If you also deal Sneak Attack damage with this attack, you may choose to knock the target prone if it fails a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw.

You probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me, but if not, do yourself a favor and check them out.

The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com

The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/

DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social

RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/

Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/

Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple

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