Rogues Gallery: Phoebus (Jeff Leason)

Phoebus
medium humanoid (lizardfolk), neutral
fighter (champion) 10th level; background: guide

AC: 19; HP: 120 (10D10+60); Initiative: +7 (advantage); Senses: passive Perception 13; Speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

STR: 18, DEX: 17, CON: 18, INT: 14, WIS: 09, CHA: 18

Skills: Athletics +8 (advantage), Intimidation +8, Nature +6, Perception +3, Stealth +7, Survival +3; Feats: Alert, Chef, Fighting Style (Defense, Great Weapon Fighting), Magic Initiate (Druid), Tough; Resistance: fire;  Tool Proficiency: Cartographer's Tools, Cook's Utensils; Weapon Proficiency: martial, simple; Armor Proficiency: heavy, shield; Languages: Common, Draconic, Druidic; CR: 07 (2,900 XP); PB: +4.

TRAITS
Action Surge (1/Long Rest): Take an additional action, except for a Magic Action.
Heroic Warrior: During combat, you can give yourself Heroic Inspiration whenever you start your turn without it.
Hold Breath: He can hold your breath for up to 15 minutes at a time.
Improved Critical: Score critical hit on 19-20. Move up to 15 ft. without provoking opportunity attack.
Indomitable (1/Long Rest): If he fails a save, he can reroll it with a +10 bonus.
Tactical Mind: When he fails an ability check, he can expend one use of Second Wind. Roll D10 instead and add the result to the ability check. If the check still fails, this use of Second Wind isn't expended.
Tactical Shift: Whenever he takes Second Wind, he may move up to 15 ft. without provoking opportunity attacks.

ACTIONS
Multiattack: He can make up to two trident attacks per turn.
Bite: melee natural attack (+8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: D6+4 slashing damage)
Trident +1: melee OR ranged magic weapon attack (+9 to hit, reach 5 ft. OR ranged 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: D10+5 piercing damage PLUS target must make CON save DC17 or be knocked prone PLUS any 1's or 2's on damage dice become a 3 instead.)

BONUS
Hungry Jaws (4/Long Rest): Make bite attack and gain temporary 4 HP.
Second Wind (4/Long Rest): Regain D10+10 HP. Regain one use after Short Rest and all of them after Long Rest.

SPELLCASTING
Attribute: WIS; Spell DC: 11; Spell Attack: +3
Always Prepared (1/Long Rest): animal friendship
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, resistance

SIGNIFICANT ITEMS
Bag of Holding: Consult DMG for details.
Bracers of Defense: +2 to AC.
Figurines of Wondrous Power x2: Golden Lions.
Ring of Fire Resistance: Grants fire resistance.
Trident +1: Grants +1 to hit and +1 damage.

Sources: Rogues Gallery, Dungeonmaster's Guide 2024, Players Handbook 2024

DESCRIPTION
Phoebus was born and lived as Human before he was slain in battle. Clerical help being unavailable, a Druid was enjoined to perform a reincarnation on him instead. He is a wonderment to all in that he comes across as being cosmopolitan and urbane for a lizard man. When most consider his people to be savage and cruel, he acts with good nature and tact. In extraordinary circumstances, he will make another character his "blood kin" which involves the mingling of blood and a sunburst tattoo burned into the wrist of the recipient. After character death, he can find the body through the throbbing pain in his tattoo.

--CKW

DESIGN NOTES
Again I met Jeff as a +1 at GenCon many, many years ago. To my surprise, he took to me immediately. He and his wife were very kind and gracious to me, which I shall never forget. We were reacquainted again at later GenCons, once or twice. To say I knew him well would be an exagerration, but I did know him personally.

Nothing really remarkable about the build, except for the fact that he is a Lizard Man. Guide as a background made the most sense to me, giving him some slight Druidic magic. As for languages, Draconic learned by him mostly to fit in with the other reptilian races he encountered and Druidic given his background as a guide.

--LM