Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 4
CAPTAIN
GNASH
Illus. by J. Hodgson
Fecar on one of his forays before they set eyes on the ship
or the rest of its crew.
Appearance and Behavior
Fecar has earned the moniker “the Unclean” because a putrid
odor follows him wherever he goes. A mixture of brine, sweat,
and cheese, the stench comes from his unwillingness to
bathe, and his body is covered with leprous sores and colonies
of vermin that feast on the sour excreta.
His clothing is similarly soiled, and the once-beautiful
artistry of his enchanted mithral shirt is lost beneath years of
accumulated filth. His breeches are tattered and torn, stained
with pale rings of salt and sweat. Fecar wears old boots stolen
from a human captive. When he takes them off; the ghastly
stink of his feet is strong enough to repel even the crustiest
sailors.
The hobgoblin delights in causing pain, and he giggles with
sadistic glee in combat. Whenever he lands a sneak attack,
he shrieks with pleasure, laughing for several seconds before
he renews his assault.
Fecar the Unclean CR 7
hp 48 (7 HD)
Male hobgoblin rogue 3/hexblade CW 3/scarlet corsair Sw 1
CE Medium humanoid (goblinoid)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen –1, Spot –1
Languages Common, Goblin
AC 21, touch 14, flat-footed 17; Dodge, Mobility
(+4 Dex, +5 armor, +2 shield)
Resist evasion, mettle
Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +3; +3 against spells and spell-like effects
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares); Spring Attack
Melee +1 longsword +9/+4 (1d8+3/19–20) or
Melee dagger +8 (1d4+2/19–20)
Ranged mwk composite longbow +11/+6 (1d8+2/×3)
Base Atk +6; Grp +8
Atk Options Improved Feint, sneak attack +2d6
Special Actions hexblade’s curse 1/day
Combat Gear flask of alchemist’s fi re, potion of bear’s endurance,
2 potions of cure light wounds, oil of magic weapon,
tanglefoot bag
Abilities Str 15, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16
SQ trap sense +1, trapfi nding
Feats Dodge, Improved Feint B , Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills Appraise +2, Balance +10, Bluff +12, Climb +6 (+8
ropes), Diplomacy +5, Disguise +3 (+5 acting), Escape
Artist +4 (+6 ropes), Hide +8, Intimidate +14, Jump +9,
Knowledge (geography) +2, Listen –1, Move Silently +12,
Profession (sailor) +4, Spot –1, Swim +7, Tumble +11, Use
Rope +9
Possessions combat gear plus +1 mithral shirt, +1 buckler, +1
longsword, dagger, masterwork composite longbow (+2
Str bonus) with 20 arrows, ring of swimming
Mettle (Ex) If Fecar makes a successful Will or Fortitude save
against an attack that normally would have a lesser effect
on a successful save (such as any spell with a saving
throw entry of Will half or Fortitude partial), he instead
negates the effect.
Hexblade’s Curse (Su) Once per day as a free action, Fecar
can select one visible target within 60 feet and impose
a –2 penalty on the target’s attack rolls, saves, ability
checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls for 1 hour
unless the target succeeds on a DC 14 Will save.
POG THE NAVIGATOR
“We owe a great debt to Captain Gnash. We were bound in stone,
and he freed us. For ninety-nine turns of the moon, we shall
serve him, guiding his ship to the far ends of the world if he
requires it.”
—Pog the Navigator
68
Fecar the Unclean
When Captain Gnash dropped anchor near a tiny island
alone in the middle of a cerulean sea, he thought that he had
reached the end of his mission—but alas, it was not the isle
that appeared in his nightmares. This one held little more
than bent trees, clusters of rock, and a stone statue of a goblin.
Intrigued by the statue, Gnash brought it on board, hoping
that it was a sign from Shothotugg. He assigned a rotation
of crew members to watch the statue day and night, for
fear that he might miss some vital clue.
Not surprisingly, the statue remained immobile
and unyielding. Eventually it occurred to Gnash that
the stone figure might actually be a petrified creature.
One day while the ship was in port taking on supplies,
the captain brought aboard a wizard he had hired
to remove the enchantment. The wizard cast his
spell, and—lo and behold!—the statue became a
living creature.
Thus was the goblin named Pog released from a
long period of petrification. Pog vowed ninety-nine
months of service to Captain Gnash as a measure of
thanks, and today he serves as the Much Kill’s navigator.