Shadow
Sentient shadows drawn forth from the inky pitch of night can bond with specific creatures, adopting their form. These shadows are capable of dramatically enhancing a creature’s capabilities, as well as cloaking them at night. Shadows exact a toll, though. Each time it lends power to a creature, the Shadow feeds on its host. When it grows strong enough, it consumes its host altogether. Clever casters, especially those that practice arcane or occult magic, implement a Shadow’s service for a short time and then battle it off while it is still weak enough to be managed. Unfortunate casters that try to conjure a Shadow into their service but do not properly conduct the summoning might draw forth a dreaded Hungering Shade instead.
Shadow | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Level: 8 | |||||
| Medium. Eldritch Shapechanger (Occult) | |||||
| STR | DEX | END | AWR | INT | CHA |
| -3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Ref: 14 | Fort: 12 | Ant: 12 | Log: 12 | Will: 14 | |
| Armor Rating 14 | Resist Physical 4 Immune Cold, Necrotic, Psychic, Sonic | ||||
| Hit Points 40 | Vulnerable Fire 3, Radiant 5 DR 10/Fire or Radiant | ||||
| Speed 30 ft, Climb 30 ft | Senses Darkvision 300 ft | ||||
| Skills (INT) Evading +4 | |||||
| Features | |||||
| Cast From Light. The Shadow is always considered Frightened of any source of bright light.
Shapechanger. The Shadow can attach itself to a willing creature. This counts as the Shadow grappling a creature, but the grappled creature’s speed is unaffected regardless of size, and the Shadow’s speed becomes 0. While grappling a creature, the Shadow can ignore its Cast From Light feature and can use its Shadow Cloak and Shadow Strength actions. | |||||
| Actions | |||||
The Shadow can take TWO of the following actions, or take the same action twice. | |||||
| Move. The Shadow can move up to its speed.
Claw. Reach 5 ft Natural Weapon. +4 vs AR. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) cold. | |||||
OR the Shadow can take ONE of the following actions. | |||||
| Drain. Reach 5 ft Natural Weapon. +4 vs AR. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) necrotic. On a crit, the creature also randomly reduces one of its Attributes by 1. This lasts until it Takes a Rest or benefits from the Lesser Restoration ritual or similar magic.
Shadow Cloak. A creature that the Shadow is grappling takes 2 (1d4) necrotic damage. The Shadow’s current and maximum HP increase by that amount. The grappled creature then gains +10 to DEX/Sneaking while in dim light or darkness for the next 5 minutes. This can exceed the grappled creature’s normal skill cap of +20. Shadow Strength. A creature that the Shadow is grappling takes 6 (1d4+4) necrotic damage. The Shadow’s current and maximum HP increase by that amount. The grappled creature then increases one of their attributes by 1 for the next 5 minutes. This can exceed the grappled creature’s normal attribute caps, but cannot exceed those caps by more than 2 and cannot raise an attribute above 12. | |||||