Quickstep

With bright, striped pants and rapiers at the ready, it would seem to be impossible to miss the sight of these short, brawling fey. And yet one continually overlooks them, their voices echoing too high to hear.

Small fey, neutral evil

Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 49 (9d6 + 18)
Speed 50 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	19 (+4)	15 (+2)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Saving Throws Dexterity +7, Constitution +5, Wisdom +4
Skills Deception +5, Intimidation +5, Perception +4
Condition Immunities unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Elvish, Umbral
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

Special Traits

• Evasion. If the quickstep is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, the quickstep instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.
• Fey Ancestry. The quickstep has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put it to sleep.
• Startling Speed. The movements of a quickstep are so swift that it is almost invisible when in motion. If the quickstep moves at least 10 feet on its turn, attack rolls against it have disadvantage until the start of its next turn unless the quickstep is incapacitated or restrained.

Actions

• Multiattack. A quickstep makes two attacks with its moonlight rapier and one with its hidden dagger.
• Moonlight Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) cold damage.
• Hidden Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) cold damage.
• Freezing Steel (Recharge 6). Each creature within 10 feet of the quickstep must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw as the quickstep whirls in a blur of cold steel. On a failure, a target takes 9 (2d8) piercing damage and 7 (2d6) cold damage and is paralyzed for 1 round. On a success, a target takes half the piercing and cold damage and isn’t paralyzed.

Reactions

• Quick Dodge. When a creature the quickstep can see targets it with an attack, the quickstep can move to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of it without provoking opportunity attacks. If this movement would put the quickstep out of reach of the attacker, the attack misses.

About

The quicksteps move through life at a hurtling pace, never pausing for more than a moment, speaking quickly and impatiently, always ready to move on while slower, duller creatures surround them with sluggish frustrations.

Fey Fashions. The quicksteps have a fondness for bright, patterned clothing with outrageous puffed sleeves, striped hose, and the like. Bright gems and sharp tailoring always get their attention, at least for a moment.

Cannot Resist a Challenge. Moving swiftly and largely invisibly, quicksteps are excellent messengers, scouts, and spies-but they have a love of dueling and challenges. It is extremely rare for them to turn down an invitation to single combat. They slow down their motions on these occasions, to allow their opponents to see defeat coming.

Friends to Gold and Silver. The quicksteps are happy to visit any fey court, light or dark, and can be quite mercenary in their demeanor. They claim they require rich pay to cover the expenses of their fine clothes and the maintenance of their moonlight-enhanced weapons.