Path of the Shadow Arcana

*Darkness comforts the weary.*

**Requirements:** Extend Darkness (Magician)

**Path Completion Bonus**: +1 Spirit

## Core Abilities

**Shadow Proficiency**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation**: Passive

For every 4 abilities purchased in the Path of the Shadow Arcana, gain +1 to casting rolls for Shadow Arcana spells.

**Shadow Bolt**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 0 / 1 / 2 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

This spell always succeeds and does not use a casting roll. You attack with a shot of shadow energy; this is a basic attack that uses Dexterity as its weapon attribute. **Shadow Bolt** deals [ 0 / 1d6 / 2d6 ] + SPI damage. On a direct hit, the target gains the debuff *Shadow Bolt*: [- 1 / -2 / -3 ] Perception and [ -10 / -20 / -30 ] Accuracy.

**Mask of Concealment**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 5 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 9 / 15 / 19 ]

**Activation**: 1 Action

**Range**: 12 meters

You bind shadows to the eyes of a target within range, giving an unavoidable [ -10 / -25 / -50 ] Accuracy debuff.

**Darksight Aura**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 0 / 1 / 2 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 9 / 13 / 16 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: [ 0 / 6 / 12 ] meters

You and all allies within range can see perfectly in darkness up to [ 12 / 12 / 30 ] meters. This spell lasts while maintained as a Reaction. You may have one aura active at a time.

**Lesser Darksight**

**Prerequisite**: **Darksight Aura**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation**: Passive

You can see in complete non-magical darkness and your own magical darkness up to 30 meters, although you only see monochromatically (you can’t identify colors in the darkness).

**Umbral Cloak**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 0 / 1 / 2 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 10 / 14 / 18 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: Personal

You enshroud yourself in shadows, granting you an additional [ 2 / 4 / 8 ] Armor. This spell lasts while maintained as a Reaction.

**Gather Shadows**

**Prerequisite**: **Umbral Cloak**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 0 / 0 / 0 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 10 / 14 / 18 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: Personal

*You collect nearby shadows around you, stealing ambient light energy.*

This ability is usable only if you do not have the buff *Shadows Gathered*. You regain [ 3 / 6 / 12 ] MP. Gain the buff *Shadows Gathered* until the end of the next Rest: all of your attacks and spells deal an additional [ 0 / 2 / 5 ] + SPI damage and all light within [ 6 / 12 / 30 ] meters of you is reduced (bright light becomes dim light, dim light becomes darkness). Choose one drawback to this spell:

* While *Shadows Gathered* is active, your casting roll DLs are increased by [ 1 / 2 / 3 ].
* The next time you Rest, take a [ -1 / -2 / -3 ] penalty to your roll for a Resting Encounter.

**Blend**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 10 / 14 / 18 ]

**Activation**: 1 Action

**Range**: Personal

You blend into the darkness, providing yourself with a [ +3 / +6 / +12 ] bonus on Agility checks made for the purpose of stealth while you remain in shadow. There must already be some natural shadows present or the spell has no effect. **Blend** lasts while maintained as a Reaction.

**Shadow's Camouflage**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation**: 1 Action

**Range**: Personal

The shadows around you disguise your location. Gain [ 2 / 3 / 5 ] Alert(s).

**Shadow Jump**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 12 / 16 / 22 ]

**Activation**: 1 Action

**Range**: [ 6 / 12 / 30 ] meters

You disappear into an adjacent shadow and reappear through another shadow within range.

**Darksight**

**Prerequisite**: **Lesser Darksight**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation**: Passive

You can see in complete non-magical darkness and your own magical darkness, although you only see monochromatically and can’t identify colors in the darkness.

**Blind**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 10 / 14 / 18 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

Choose a target creature. They make a Spirit vs Spellpower check or gain the debuff *Obscured Vision*: [ -1 / -2 / -3 ] PER and [ -10 / -20 / -40 ] Accuracy.

**Wall of Obscurity**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

You conjure a wall of shadows. The wall occupies a [ 3 / 6 / 12 ] meter line that is [ 1 / 2 / 3 ] meters tall. It is impossible to see in or through the wall, and any creatures inside the wall can't see outside of it. Attacks aimed at a target in or beyond the wall have 0 Accuracy. **Wall of Obscurity** lasts while maintained as a Reaction.

**Death’s Embrace**

**Prerequisite**: Blind

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 3 / 6 / 9 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 13 / 17 / 24 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

*You conjure a giant ethereal hand of pitch-black shadow to rise from the ground and destroy your foes. In addition to being terrifying, the shadows are excellent at obscuring their vision as well.*

Your target is assaulted by a shadowy hand. This is a Dexterity-based basic attack that deals [ 1d6+2 / 2d6+4 / 3d6+6 ] damage which ignores Armor, and applies the **Blind** spell at [half-cast / normal cast / twice-cast] strength with impact.

## Course of Conditions

**Stark Nightmares**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisites**: Course of Conditions, **Shadow Bolt**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for**: Magic

**Activation**: Passive

On success, **Shadow Bolt** also applies a stiff debuff.

## Course of Damages

**Shadefire**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Damages

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for**: Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 4 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

This spell always succeeds and does not use a casting roll. You attack with a shot of flaming shadow; this is an Arcane weapon basic attack. **Shadefire** deals [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 3d6 ] + SPI damage and an equal amount of burn damage with impact.