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The Many Faced One

“Then, who are you, really?” Finally asked the scribe as he rubbed his flowing white beard, pensively.

With a wistful tone, the Lord Banker replied, “As you can imagine, living so many lives can make things…” A long pause, “hard to remember at some point. I was so many people…”

“A gladiator, who worked for the criminal underworld as a bruiser,” he said, as he removed yet another mask to now have the face of a tough, rugged man with many scars.

“I was a drug dealer, nicknamed the Angel,” he continued, and removed yet another face. ‘He’ now took on a semi-angelic, androgenous face with platinum tones.

As he spoke, he continued to remove faces – masks – the Scribe growing more unsettled with each passing moment, “I was behind a secret thug organization. Mastermind of the terrorists who blew up the King’s treasury. Even battle master of this here arena.” With a weak grin on his face, “I was every person with any ounce of importance in this city.”

He let out a sigh.

“But I suppose, all of this was merely to escape who I truly was,” he continued, as he removed his final mask, “a clown, and a murderer…”

The Scribe, completely oblivious to what was happening around them, finally saw the real face of the man he once thought a friend.

Race

Half-Elf Godblooded of Vecna

Class

Jester 5/Swashbuckler 3/Half-Elf Paragon 2/Master of Masks 10 (1 LA Buyback)

Ability Score

Str 14/Dex 14/Con 10/Int 16/Wis 8/Cha 15

Skills

Bluff 8, Disguise 8, Perform(Act) 8, Perform(Comedy)

Equipment

Shortsword, Whip, Light Crossbow, Chainshirt, Heavy Shield, an Elven Courtblade

Goal

You can do it all. You can cast spells reliably, fight well both in melee and ranged. You’re also a capable scout, face, and even support.

It all depends on the combination of masks you wear at the time. With the gladiator mask you can use an Elven Courtblade. Which will enable you to use both weapon finesse and power attack with two hands.

That’s only one of your seven masks, each with a variety of abilities ranging from sneak attack to spell-like abilities and boosting your caster levels.

Also, Master of Masks is one of my favorite PrCs in 3.5, and it fits so well with Jester that I had to make such a build.

Level	Class	HD	Feat	Special
1	Swashbuckler	10	Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise	–
2	Jester	1d6	–	Jester’s Audacity, Jester’s Performance, Fascinate, Inspiring Quip
3	Half-Elf Paragon	1d8	Versatile Performer, Improved Trip	Divided Ancestry, Elven Vision
4	Half-Elf Paragon	1d8	–	Persuasion, +1 Cha
5	Swashbuckler	1d10	–	Grace +1
6	Swashbuckler	1d10	Imperious Command	Insightful Strike
7	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Persona Masks (Jester’s Mask, Assassin’s Mask)
8	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Lord’s Mask, +1 Cha
9	Master of Masks	1d6	Combat Panache	Mask Specialist, Angel’s Mask
10	Master of Masks	1d6	–	–
11	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Many Faces(2, Move), Gladiator’s Mask
12	Master of Masks	1d6	Power Attack	Hidden Mask, +1 Cha
13	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Faceless’s Mask
14	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Many Faces(3, Swift)
15	Master of Masks	1d6	Improved Disarm	Archmage’s Mask
16	Master of Masks	1d6	–	Many Faces(4, Immediate), +1 Cha
17	Jester	1d6	Deflect Arrow	–
18	Jester	1d6	Improved Feint	Taunt
19	Jester	1d6	–	–
20	Jester	1d6	Snatch Arrow	Jester’s Audacity +2, +1 Cha

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