Cresswell House Guard

A paid bruiser, doorway man, stair-blocker, tavern heavy, or compromised night watchman in Mother Creswell’s service.

Mechanics

The rules below are mechanics compatible for different game editions.

Cresswell House Guard 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Guard

Medium Humanoid, Neutral

Armor Class 15
Initiative +1
Hit Points 27
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2

Saving Throws Str +4
Skills Athletics +4, Intimidation +2, Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages English
Challenge 1/2

Traits

Body in the Door. The guard has advantage on Strength checks made to block a doorway, hold a stair, shove a creature back from an entrance, prevent access to a room, or stop someone from reaching a ledger, witness, prisoner, or patron.

Paid to Delay. When the guard hits a creature with an opportunity attack, the target’s speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of that turn.

Knows the House. While inside one of Cresswell’s houses, safe rooms, rented chambers, or tavern back rooms, the guard has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to notice intruders, hidden weapons, forced locks, or people moving where they should not be.

Actions

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 piercing damage.

Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 bludgeoning damage.

Shove Back. The guard targets one creature within 5 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be pushed 5 feet away from the guard. If the target is pushed into a doorway, wall, table, chair, stair rail, or another creature, its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn.

Reactions

Interpose. When Cresswell, a house agent, a ledger clerk, a frightened witness, or a guarded client within 5 feet of the guard is targeted by an attack, the guard imposes disadvantage on the attack roll.

Slam the Door. When a creature the guard can see attempts to move through a doorway within 5 feet of him, the guard can close, bar, or partly block the door. The creature must succeed on a DC 12 Strength or Dexterity saving throw, its choice, or its movement ends on the near side of the doorway.

Encounter Use

A single Cresswell House Guard is not a serious threat to an armed party. Two guards in a narrow passage are much more useful, especially if a house agent is lying to the party while a ledger clerk escapes with papers.

The guard’s purpose is to delay, obstruct, frighten, protect an exit, and buy Cresswell time to bargain or disappear.

Cresswell House Guard, Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Guard

CR 1
XP 400
Human warrior 2
Alignment N
Size and Type Medium humanoid
Init +1
Senses Perception +2

Defence

AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14
hp 18
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +0

Offence

Speed 30 ft.
Melee short sword +5, 1d6+2, 19–20
Melee club +4, 1d6+2

Ability Scores

Skills

Intimidate +5, Perception +2

Feats

Toughness, Weapon Focus (short sword)

Special Abilities

Body in the Door. The guard gains a +2 circumstance bonus on combat manoeuvre checks and opposed Strength checks made to block doors, hold stairs, guard prisoners, prevent access to a room, or stop a creature from reaching a ledger, witness, or patron.

House Muscle. While inside one of Cresswell’s houses, rented rooms, tavern back rooms, or known safe places, the guard gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Perception checks to notice intruders, drawn weapons, forced locks, or people moving where they should not be.

Interpose. Once per round, when an adjacent ally, patron, witness, or clerk is targeted by a melee attack, the guard may grant that creature a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against that attack. The guard must be aware of the attack and able to move.

Gear

Armoured coat or studded leather, buckler, short sword, club, heavy boots, door wedge, keys to one part of the house, cheap purse, and a token proving he is paid by someone dangerous.

Use in Cresswell Encounters

Use Cresswell House Guards in pairs when the scene is about delay rather than battle. They block stairs, bar doors, drag witnesses out of reach, shove investigators into furniture, and keep the party busy while Cresswell talks, bargains, or escapes.

They work best beside one Cresswell House Agent to lie, one Ledger Clerk or Whisper Runner to flee with papers, and one Bought Constable to turn violence into a legal problem.

Cresswell House Agent

A smooth liar, room-keeper, false-name handler, quiet messenger, recruiter, or trusted bawd in Mother Creswell’s service.

Mechanics Tabs

The rules below are mechanics compatible for different game editions.

D&D 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Agent

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 13
Initiative +2
Hit Points 22
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2

Saving Throws Cha +4
Skills Deception +6, Insight +3, Persuasion +4, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 11, passive Insight 13
Languages English, thieves’ cant
Challenge 1

Traits

Practised Lie. The agent has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks made to deny knowledge of a room, conceal Cresswell’s presence, give a false name, misdirect strangers, or explain away suspicious movement inside one of Cresswell’s houses.

Knows the Rooms. While inside one of Cresswell’s houses, rented chambers, tavern back rooms, or safe locations, the agent has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) and Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks made to hide keys, pass notes, move through servants’ passages, conceal tokens, or reach a door before an outsider.

Useful Face. If the agent is not openly armed and has not yet attacked, creatures have disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks made to recognise the agent as a deliberate threat during the first round of a social encounter.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 piercing damage.

Misdirect. One creature within 30 feet that can hear and understand the agent must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Insight), or Intelligence (Investigation) check made before the end of its next turn.

False Name. The agent speaks an alias, invented errand, false client name, or misleading room number to one creature within 30 feet that can hear and understand them. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or be unable to use reactions against the agent until the start of the agent’s next turn.

Bonus Actions

Hide the Token. The agent conceals, pockets, drops, or passes a Tiny object, such as a key, note, coin, ring, folded letter, ribbon, receipt, or room token.

Signal the House. One Cresswell House Guard, Ledger Clerk, Whisper Runner, Bought Constable, or other allied creature within 30 feet may move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks, provided that movement is toward a door, stair, witness, document, or exit.

Reactions

False Outcry. When a creature within 30 feet makes an ability check to search a room, question a witness, force a door, or seize a document, the agent can cry out, accuse, distract, or create a sudden scene. The triggering creature subtracts 1d4 from the roll.

Not That Door. When a creature the agent can see moves toward a door, stair, curtained passage, desk, chest, or private room within 30 feet, the agent can move up to 10 feet and make a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the creature’s Wisdom (Insight). On a success, the creature’s speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of the current turn.

Encounter Use

A Cresswell House Agent is most dangerous when nobody is sure whether violence has begun. The agent lies, stalls, names false patrons, hides tokens, sends guards to the right door, and gives the ledger clerk enough time to vanish with the useful page.

Use one agent alongside two House Guards and one Ledger Clerk or Whisper Runner when Cresswell is in a prepared room.

Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Agent

CR 2
XP 600
Human expert 3
Alignment NE
Size and Type Medium humanoid
Init +2
Senses Perception +5, Sense Motive +7

Defence

AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11
hp 17
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +4

Offence

Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger +2, 1d4, 19–20
Ranged dagger +4, 1d4, 19–20

Ability Scores

Skills

Bluff +13, Diplomacy +10, Disguise +10, Gather Information +10, Sense Motive +7, Sleight of Hand +8, Stealth +8

Feats

Deceitful, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Bluff)

Special Abilities

Practised Lie. The agent gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks made to deny knowledge of a room, conceal Cresswell’s presence, use a false name, explain away suspicious movement, or mislead outsiders inside one of Cresswell’s houses.

Knows the Rooms. While inside one of Cresswell’s houses, rented chambers, tavern back rooms, or safe locations, the agent gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hand and Stealth checks made to hide keys, pass notes, conceal tokens, move through servant routes, or reach a door before an outsider.

False Outcry. Once per encounter, when a creature within 30 feet makes a Perception, Sense Motive, Disable Device, Search, or Gather Information check, the agent may create a sudden distraction, accusation, sobbing scene, or misleading interruption. The triggering creature takes a -2 penalty on the check.

Signal the House. Once per encounter as a swift action, the agent may direct one allied guard, clerk, runner, servant, or bought constable within 30 feet. That ally may immediately move 10 feet as an immediate action, provided the movement is toward a door, stair, witness, document, or exit.

Gear

Plain but decent clothing, padded coat or light leather bodice, hidden dagger, purse, false room key, folded note, cheap perfume or scented cloth, ribbon token, list of aliases, and one object that marks the agent as trusted by Cresswell’s house.

Use in Cresswell Encounters

Use a Cresswell House Agent when the scene needs lies, hesitation, false doors, hidden papers, frightened witnesses, or social confusion.

The agent works best beside one or two Cresswell House Guards to block movement, one Ledger Clerk or Whisper Runner to escape with names or papers, and one Bought Constable to turn the party’s force into a legal problem.

Cresswell Whisper Runner

A fast-footed message carrier, errand runner, street informant, token-bearer, or coded-note courier in Mother Creswell’s service.

Mechanics

The rules below are mechanics compatible for different game editions.

Cresswell Whisper Runner 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell Whisper Runner

Medium Humanoid, Neutral

Armor Class 13
Initiative +2
Hit Points 14
Speed 35 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2

Saving Throws Dex +4
Skills Deception +3, Investigation +3, Perception +3, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages English, thieves’ cant
Challenge 1/4

Traits

Knows the Back Way. While in a city, tavern, rented house, market, alley, dockside, or crowded street, the runner has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to escape notice, vanish into a crowd, or move through a servants’ passage, alley, stair, yard, or back door.

Small Thing, Big Trouble. The runner has advantage on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks made to hide, pass, drop, swap, or steal a Tiny object such as a key, ribbon, coin, folded note, seal, room token, ring, or ledger scrap.

Paid to Carry Word. If the runner begins its turn carrying a message, token, key, ledger page, name-list, or warning for Cresswell, its speed increases by 10 feet until the end of that turn.

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 piercing damage.

Throw Dust. One creature within 5 feet must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or have disadvantage on the next opportunity attack it makes before the end of its next turn.

Point the Wrong Way. One creature within 30 feet that can hear and understand the runner must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Insight), or Intelligence (Investigation) check made before the end of its next turn.

Bonus Actions

Run the Message. The runner takes the Dash or Disengage action. The runner can use this bonus action only while carrying a message, token, key, ledger page, name-list, or other small object entrusted by Cresswell or one of her agents.

Pass the Token. The runner passes one Tiny object to a willing creature within 5 feet without making the exchange obvious. A creature watching closely may notice the exchange with a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check.

Reactions

Drop the Trail. When a creature within 30 feet makes a check to follow, track, identify, or pursue the runner, the runner may drop a false token, duck through a side passage, shout a false name, or scatter bystanders. The triggering creature subtracts 1d4 from the roll.

Through the Legs. When a creature misses the runner with a melee attack, the runner may move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks from that creature.

Encounter Use

A Whisper Runner should rarely stand and fight. Their purpose is to carry the thing the party did not realise mattered: a warning to Cresswell, a key to a second room, a client’s name, a folded note, a ribbon token, a copied ledger page, or the identity of the person asking questions.

Use a Whisper Runner when the encounter needs movement, urgency, and consequences. If the party ignores the runner for even one round, Cresswell’s network learns something useful.

Cresswell Whisper Runner Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell Whisper Runner

CR 1
XP 400
Human expert 2
Alignment N
Size and Type Medium humanoid
Init +2
Senses Perception +6

Defence

AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11
hp 10
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4

Offence

Speed 35 ft.
Melee dagger +0, 1d4-1, 19–20
Ranged dagger +3, 1d4-1, 19–20

Ability Scores

Skills

Bluff +6, Escape Artist +9, Gather Information +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Perception +6, Profession (runner) +6, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +9

Feats

Fleet, Stealthy

Special Abilities

Knows the Back Way. While in a city, tavern, rented house, market, alley, dockside, or crowded street, the runner gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Stealth and Escape Artist checks made to vanish, slip through a side route, move through a servants’ passage, or escape pursuit.

Small Thing, Big Trouble. The runner gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to hide, pass, drop, swap, or steal a Tiny object such as a key, coin, folded note, seal, room token, ring, or ledger scrap.

Run the Message. If carrying a message, token, key, ledger page, name-list, or warning for Cresswell, the runner may move an extra 10 feet when taking a move action. This extra movement does not stack with magical speed increases.

False Trail. Once per encounter, when a creature attempts to track, follow, identify, or pursue the runner, the runner may create a distraction, drop a misleading token, shout a false name, or use a familiar crowd route. The pursuing creature takes a -2 penalty on the check.

Slip the Door. Once per encounter, when adjacent to a door, curtain, alley-mouth, stair, market stall, or crowded threshold, the runner may make an Escape Artist or Stealth check as an immediate action to move 5 feet without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Gear

Plain street clothing, light leather jerkin or padded coat, hidden dagger, cheap shoes worn thin by running, folded note, false ribbon token, string of room keys that do not all fit real doors, small purse, and one memorised name Cresswell wants delivered.

Use in Cresswell Encounters

Use a Whisper Runner when the danger is not the fight but the message leaving the room.

They work best beside one Cresswell House Agent to create confusion, one or two Cresswell House Guards to block pursuit, and one Bought Constable who can later claim the runner was never there.

Bought Constable

A compromised parish constable, courthouse guard, turnkey, thief-taker, watch officer, or law-facing man who has taken Mother Creswell’s money, favours, or blackmail.

Mechanics

The rules below are mechanics compatible for different game editions.

Bought Constable 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Bought Constable

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil

Armor Class 15
Initiative +1
Hit Points 39
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2

Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +4
Skills Deception +4, Insight +4, Intimidation +4, Investigation +3, Perception +4, Persuasion +4
Senses passive Perception 14, passive Insight 14
Languages English, thieves’ cant
Challenge 2

Traits

Badge as Weapon. The constable has advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks made against commoners, servants, shopkeepers, frightened witnesses, suspected criminals, prisoners, or people who could plausibly be arrested, searched, fined, or publicly accused.

Bought Law. The constable has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks made to justify a false search, delay an arrest, misplace a complaint, deny seeing a suspect, or claim that Cresswell’s people were acting under lawful instruction.

Pistol and Badge. The constable’s pistol is not rare, but it is dangerous in a crowded room when backed by legal authority. If the constable has not fired his pistol during the encounter, he has advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks made to threaten arrest, force witnesses aside, halt a servant, delay a search, or make violence against him look like resisting the law. This advantage does not apply against trained soldiers, veteran adventurers, hardened criminals, or creatures already in open combat.

Official Confusion. If combat or a chase begins in a street, tavern, rented room, court corridor, prison yard, watch post, or crowded public place, hostile creatures within 30 feet that can hear the constable have disadvantage on the first ability check they make before the end of the constable’s next turn to pursue Cresswell, seize a ledger, question a witness, force a door, or follow a runner.

Knows the Charge. The constable has advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks made to plant, alter, hide, or reinterpret legal evidence, including warrants, complaints, witness statements, bribe records, stolen goods, weapons, and marked coins.

Actions

Truncheon. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 bludgeoning damage.

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 piercing damage.

Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 30/90 ft., one target. Hit: 6 piercing damage. The pistol is loud, smoky, slow to reload, and usually begins an encounter loaded. After firing it, the constable must spend an action to reload before firing again.

False Charge. The constable accuses one creature within 30 feet that can hear and understand him. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or be rattled until the end of its next turn. While rattled, the target has disadvantage on Charisma checks and cannot take reactions against Cresswell, a House Agent, a Whisper Runner, or a House Guard.

Seize Them. The constable targets one creature within 5 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength or Dexterity saving throw, its choice, or be grappled. Until the grapple ends, the target has disadvantage on Dexterity checks made to reach a document, key, door, witness, or fleeing runner.

Order the Room. Up to two allied creatures within 30 feet that can hear the constable may each move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. This movement must be toward a door, witness, prisoner, document, exit, crowd, or Cresswell.

Bonus Actions

Show the Badge. The constable chooses one creature within 30 feet that can hear or see him. Until the start of the constable’s next turn, that creature subtracts 1d4 from the next Charisma check or Wisdom (Insight) check it makes against the constable or one of Cresswell’s agents.

Misplace the Evidence. The constable pockets, drops, swaps, kicks, covers, or hands off one Tiny object within 5 feet, such as a folded note, key, coin, seal, ribbon token, ring, warrant, complaint, or ledger scrap.

Reactions

That Is Official Business. When a creature within 30 feet makes an ability check to search a room, seize a document, question a witness, force a door, or pursue one of Cresswell’s people, the constable may impose disadvantage on the check by invoking legal authority, threatening arrest, ordering bystanders aside, or creating procedural confusion.

Stand Down. When a commoner, servant, frightened witness, guard, prisoner, or low-ranking official within 30 feet would act against Cresswell or one of her agents, the constable can force that creature to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature hesitates and must choose a different target or take a different action. This is a fear and authority effect, not mind control.

Encounter Use

A Bought Constable turns a simple intrusion into a legal trap. He does not need to win a fight. He needs to delay the party, make violence look criminal, protect a runner, spoil a witness statement, confiscate a useful paper, or force respectable characters to hesitate.

His pistol matters because it changes the room. It gives weight to the badge, makes witnesses duck, and lets him frame resistance as a crime. He fires only if Cresswell, a ledger, a fleeing runner, or his own escape is in immediate danger.

Use one Bought Constable when Cresswell wants the law to arrive late, arrest the wrong person, misplace a complaint, protect a doorway, or make the party look like the criminals.

Bought Constable, Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

Bought Constable

CR 2
XP 600
Human expert 2 / warrior 1
Alignment NE
Size and Type Medium humanoid
Init +1
Senses Perception +8, Sense Motive +8

Defence

AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14
hp 24
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +5

Offence

Speed 30 ft.
Melee truncheon +4, 1d6+1 nonlethal
Melee short sword +3, 1d6+1, 19–20
Ranged pistol +3 touch, 1d8, ×4, range 20 ft., misfire 1

Ability Scores

Skills

Bluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Gather Information +8, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (nobility) +5, Perception +8, Profession (constable) +8, Sense Motive +8

Feats

Persuasive, Skill Focus (Profession [constable]), Weapon Focus (truncheon)

Special Abilities

Badge as Weapon. The constable gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks made against commoners, servants, shopkeepers, frightened witnesses, suspected criminals, prisoners, or people who could plausibly be arrested, searched, fined, or publicly accused.

Bought Law. The constable gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff checks made to justify a false search, delay an arrest, misplace a complaint, deny seeing a suspect, or claim that Cresswell’s people were acting under lawful instruction.

Pistol and Badge. The constable’s pistol is not rare, but it is dangerous in a crowded room when backed by legal authority. If he has not fired his pistol during the encounter, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Intimidate checks made to threaten arrest, force witnesses aside, halt a servant, delay a search, or make violence against him look like resisting the law. This bonus does not apply against trained soldiers, veteran adventurers, hardened criminals, or creatures already in open combat.

Official Confusion. Once per encounter, when a creature within 30 feet attempts a Perception, Sense Motive, Disable Device, Search, Gather Information, or Survival check to pursue Cresswell, seize a ledger, question a witness, force a door, or follow a runner, the constable may create procedural confusion. The creature takes a -2 penalty on the check.

False Charge. As a standard action, the constable may make an Intimidate check opposed by the target’s Sense Motive check. On a success, the target takes a -2 penalty on Charisma-based checks and cannot make attacks of opportunity against Cresswell’s guards, agents, clerks, or runners for 1 round.

Seize Them. The constable gains a +2 circumstance bonus on combat manoeuvre checks made to grapple, trip, disarm, block, or detain a creature while acting under colour of law.

Gear

Armoured coat or studded leather and buckler, truncheon, short sword, loaded pistol, powder flask, shot pouch, badge or staff of office, cheap warrant papers, marked coins, manacles, keys to one holding room, notebook of complaints, folded bribe note, and a small purse that contains more money than his wages explain.

Use in Cresswell Encounters

Use a Bought Constable when the encounter needs legal pressure rather than more muscle. He is the man who arrives too early, too late, or exactly when Cresswell needs him.

He works best beside one Cresswell House Agent to supply a lie, one Whisper Runner to escape with the useful name, and one or two House Guards to make the constable’s “lawful order” physically hard to ignore.

Cresswell House Woman

A woman of Cresswell’s houses: courtesan, kept woman, paid companion, witty favourite, informant, recruiter, or quiet social operator. She knows how men talk when they think themselves admired, desired, drunk, clever, or safe.

Her danger is not the knife. It is charm, memory, timing, and the ability to make a powerful fool believe the thought was his own.

Mechanics

The rules below are mechanics compatible for different game editions.

Cresswell House Woman 5.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Woman

Medium Humanoid, Usually Neutral

Armor Class 12
Initiative +1
Hit Points 16
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2

Saving Throws Wis +3, Cha +4
Skills Deception +4, Insight +5, Performance +4, Persuasion +4, Sleight of Hand +3, Stealth +3
Senses passive Perception 11, passive Insight 15
Languages English, London underworld signs
Challenge 1/4

Traits

Knows the Room. The house woman has advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks made to recall or identify who entered a room, which name they used, who paid, who waited outside, what was hidden, which door opened after dark, or which guest became nervous when a certain name was spoken.

Charming Performance. The house woman has advantage on Charisma (Performance) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks made to entertain, flatter, distract, draw out gossip, soothe anger, or keep a conversation moving away from danger.

False Smile. The house woman has advantage on Charisma (Deception) checks made to hide her intent, deny knowledge, flatter a suspicious client, misdirect a violent visitor, or make a lie sound like harmless flirtation or ordinary house business.

Not Easily Noticed. If the house woman has not attacked or openly interfered in a scene, creatures have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made to recognise her as the person carrying the useful note, key, token, name, or warning.

Actions

Concealed Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 piercing damage.

Dagger. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3 piercing damage.

Diverting Word. The house woman targets one creature within 30 feet that can hear and understand her. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on the next Wisdom (Insight), Intelligence (Investigation), or Wisdom (Perception) check it makes before the end of its next turn. This represents charm, embarrassment, curiosity, flirtation, social pressure, or distraction, not mind control.

Useful Whisper. The house woman quietly gives one creature within 5 feet a name, alias, room number, warning, or direction. Until the end of that creature’s next turn, it has advantage on one Wisdom (Insight), Intelligence (Investigation), or Charisma (Persuasion) check related to that information.

Bonus Actions

Hide the Note. The house woman conceals, drops, pockets, swaps, or passes a Tiny object, such as a folded note, coin, ribbon, key, seal, room token, ring, or scrap of ledger paper.

Signal the House. One allied House Guard, House Agent, Whisper Runner, Bought Constable, servant, or witness within 30 feet may move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks, provided that movement is toward a door, stair, private room, witness, document, or exit.

Reactions

Wrong Name, Right Smile. When a creature within 30 feet makes an ability check to question a witness, identify a client, follow a runner, search a room, or seize a document, the house woman may give a false name, laugh at the wrong moment, draw attention to another guest, or point to the wrong door. The triggering creature subtracts 1d4 from the roll.

Step Behind the Curtain. When a hostile creature moves within 10 feet of her, the house woman may move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks, provided she ends this movement behind a door, curtain, table, guard, agent, client, or other creature.

Social Encounter Feature: Pillow Talk and Private Names

The house woman may know one of the following pieces of information:

She does not reveal this carelessly. She may want payment, amusement, revenge, better terms, protection from one specific client, a favour for another woman, or proof that the party is not merely another set of hypocrites with weapons.

Encounter Use

A Cresswell House Woman changes an encounter by making it socially dangerous. She may be amused, bored, clever, flirtatious, practical, loyal to Cresswell, secretly ambitious, or already playing both sides.

Use her when the scene needs gossip, charm, misdirection, private knowledge, social leverage, or a person who understands exactly how respectable men behave when doors close.

Cresswell House Woman, Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e-Compatible Rules

Cresswell House Woman

CR 1/2
XP 200
Human expert 1
Alignment Usually N
Size and Type Medium humanoid
Init +1
Senses Perception +5, Sense Motive +5

Defence

AC 12, touch 11, flat-footed 11
hp 6
Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +3

Offence

Speed 30 ft.
Melee concealed blade -1, 1d4-1, 19–20
Ranged dagger +1, 1d4-1, 19–20

Ability Scores

Skills

Bluff +8, Diplomacy +8, Disguise +8, Perform +6, Perception +5, Profession (courtesan) +5, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +5

Feats

Deceitful, Persuasive

Special Abilities

Knows the Room. The house woman gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Sense Motive, Gather Information, Perception, and Search checks made to recall or identify who entered a room, which name they used, who paid, who waited outside, what was hidden, which door opened after dark, or which guest became nervous when a certain name was spoken.

Charming Performance. The house woman gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Perform checks made to entertain, flatter, distract, draw out gossip, soothe anger, or keep a conversation moving away from danger.

False Smile. The house woman gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff checks made to hide intent, deny knowledge, flatter a suspicious client, misdirect a violent visitor, or make a lie sound like harmless flirtation or ordinary house business.

Hide the Note. The house woman gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal, drop, pocket, swap, or pass a Tiny object such as a folded note, coin, ribbon, key, seal, room token, ring, or scrap of ledger paper.

Useful Whisper. Once per encounter, the house woman may quietly give one ally within 5 feet a useful name, alias, room number, warning, or direction. That ally gains a +2 circumstance bonus on one Sense Motive, Gather Information, Search, Perception, or Diplomacy check related to that information.

Wrong Name, Right Smile. Once per encounter, when a creature within 30 feet makes a Perception, Sense Motive, Search, or Gather Information check, the house woman may create confusion by giving a false name, laughing at the right moment, pointing toward the wrong door, or drawing attention to another guest. The creature takes a -2 penalty on the check.

Step Behind the Curtain. Once per encounter, when threatened by a hostile creature, the house woman may move 5 feet as an immediate action without provoking an attack of opportunity, provided she ends this movement behind a door, curtain, table, guard, agent, client, or other creature.

Gear

Modestly fine clothing, padded bodice, quilted underdress, cloak or shawl, small purse, hidden dagger or hairpin blade, ribbon token, one key that may or may not fit the right door, folded note, cheap jewellery, perfume or scented cloth, and one private name she has not yet decided whether to sell.

Use in Cresswell Encounters

Use a Cresswell House Woman when the scene needs charm, private knowledge, social danger, flirtation, gossip, leverage, or misdirection.

She works best beside one Cresswell House Agent to control the lie, one House Guard to control the door, one Whisper Runner to carry the warning, or one Bought Constable to make the truth legally dangerous.

She can become an amused informant, jealous rival, reluctant accomplice, favourite of a dangerous client, hidden witness, blackmail source, or ambitious woman looking for a better bargain.