Brutal Slayer

**Parent Class:** Stalker

Where other stalkers use grace and finesse, the brutal
slayer relies on strength and fury. Wielding heavy, two
handed weapons with blinding speed, the brutal slayer
is a terrifying predator of the night.

Survival as a class skill, and otherwise learns, readies, and initiates maneuvers as a standard stalker.

This
ability alters maneuvers.

### **Maneuvers Readied**

Instead of recovering maneuvers
like a standard stalker a brutal slayer uses his ki to
reinforce his body as a full-round action. When he does
so, he recovers a number of expended maneuvers equal
to his brutal slayer initiation modifier (minimum 2) and
gains temporary hit points equal to twice his initiator level and damage reduction/– equal to his brutal slayer
initiation modifier (minimum 0). These temporary hit
points and damage reduction last for one round, and
stack with any other sources of temporary hit points or
damage reduction he may have. In addition, the next
strike he initiates this encounter deals additional bleed
damage equal to his brutal stalker initiation modifier.
The target continues to bleed until the bleeding is
stopped via magical healing or a successful DC 15 Heal
check. Alternately, the brutal slayer can take a moment
to realign himself and recover a single maneuver as a standard action.

This ability alters maneuvers readied.

### **Brutal Strikes (Ex)**

Starting at 1st level, whenever a
brutal slayer confirms a critical hit against a creature,
he gains a +4 profane bonus to Strength for a number
of rounds equal to his brutal slayer initiation modifier.
This bonus increases to +6 at 8th level and to +8 at 16th
level.

This ability replaces deadly strikes.

### **Stalker Arts (Ex or Su)**

Whenever a brutal slayer
gains a new stalker art, he may choose from the
following list in addition to the standard stalker’s stalker
arts. This ability alters stalker arts, but does not cause
the brutal slayer archetype to be incompatible with
other archetypes that alter the stalker arts class feature.

*Brutal Ambush (Ex)*: Whenever the brutal slayer
attacks a flat-footed opponent, he increases his Strength
while making that attack as if he had activated his brutal
strikes ability. This benefit ends after his attack resolves.

*Brutal Assault (Ex)*: As a swift action, the brutal slayer
can spend a point of ki and target a single creature he
can see. He gains the benefit of his brutal strikes ability
when making attacks against that creature for a number
of rounds equal to his initiation modifier.

*Furious Strikes (Ex)*: The Strength bonus granted by
the brutal slayer’s brutal strikes ability increases by +2.
In addition, he treats his class level as his base attack
bonus for the purposes of qualifying for critical feats. If
the brutal slayer possesses fighter levels, he also adds his
brutal slayer level to his fighter level for the purposes of
qualifying for critical feats.

*Cruel Strike (Ex)*: When the brutal slayer hits with
a melee attack while under the effect of his brutal strikes ability, he can reduce the damage he deals by
1/4 (rounded down) to sicken the target for a number of
rounds equal to his brutal slayer initiation modifier.

### **Armor of Scars (Ex)**

The brutal slayer takes as well as
he gives, becoming protected by the scars of wounds he
has already survived. At 1st level, a brutal slayer gains
a +1 bonus to his natural armor bonus to AC. (this stacks
with his existing natural armor bonus, if any) At 4th level
and every four levels thereafter, this bonus increases by
+1. In addition, the brutal slayer’s instincts enable him to
better dodge incoming blows; whenever he spends a full-round action to recover maneuvers, he gains a dodge
bonus to AC equal to his brutal slayer initiation modifier.

This ability replaces dodge bonus.

### **Muscle Memory (Ex)**

The muscles of a brutal slayer
are honed to deadly efficiency, just like his blades.
Starting at 2nd level, a brutal slayer may add 1/2 his
Strength modifier to his AC and to Reflex saves instead of
his Dexterity modifier. At 6th level, the brutal slayer may
add his full Strength modifier instead of his Dexterity modifier, rather than 1/2. The brutal slayer’s Strength
bonus to his AC is still limited by his armor’s maximum
Dexterity bonus.