Assassin

The assassin prestige class is one that is closely associated with deadly and unscrupulous killers and spies.

Abilities
The abilities of an assassin are aimed at being able to kill or incapacite a target while reducing the risk to the individual assassin. They are skilled at dealing unexpected damage from sneak attacks and can poison their blade without the risk of accidentally poisoning themselves. With training they can deliver a sneak attack that can instantly kill their target; alternatively, if the target is wanted alive they can merely paralyse it, allowing time for them to be tied up, placed in manacles or otherwise restrained. At higher levels the assassin can even hide themselves while in plain sight of an enemy.

Provided they have a high enough intelligence, assassins also gain a limited amount of magical ability, allowing them to cast arcane spells. The spell effects are generally those that make it easier to approach or kill a target, or those that aid the assassin's escape if discovered. Only spells up to 4th level may be cast.

Requirements for Assassin
To become an assassin, the character must be of an evil alignment. They must also be skilled at disguising themselves, moving silently and hiding from their targets. The final step is to prove their worth by hunting down and killing a target in cold blood, for no other reason than to prove their worthiness of the title.

Any class except paladins can become an assassin; fallen paladins are also accepted.