Shadowsoul

**Size:**

Same as before affliction.

**Weight:**

Same as before affliction.

**Average Life Span:**

Same as before their affliction.

**Appearance:**

Generally the same as any other human. Aside from their preferred garb there is little change.

**Original Religion:**

Drahgar : “The Faded Brother” was also known as the "Spirit of Spite” or simply the “Shadow of Sorrow”.

**General Culture:**

Long forgotten by most are the days, and nights, upon the mainland of Bravosia. Forgotten with them by vast majority of the masses are the teachings of the religion of the humans before they came to Blacksteel. Once the masses of Blacksteel dwindled in faith, claiming and twisting the religion of the Caraduil Elves in the process, the faith of old faded away like shadows in the dawn’s light. The One God reduced to becoming known as the Lost Lord in the lore of yore and the teachings of The Father of the realm of light lost to time.

Alas, unbeknownst to most the populace of Blacksteel and the lands of Caraduil, there was another world forgotten along with all the warnings of that world and all the precautions advised to protect against that world. The other realm was that of the realm of shadow, and the realm of shadow belonged to The Faded Brother, Drahgar. Drahgar in addition to “The Faded Brother” was also known as “The Spirit of Spite” or simply the “Shadow of Sorrow”. Dhrondarna was yet another name for Drahgar, although it was said that the name was only taken and given when The Shadow of Sorrow ventured to realm of light with intention to spoil, tempt and corrupt that world and its denizens.

Drahgar was said to be unable to exist in physical form within the light and beauty of the waking world, and instead resided in the darkness and was a collector of the dead. It is said that those who show traits of falsehood or deceit were among those who were keeping the company of The Shadow of Sorrow. Drahgar was unable to create, only corrupt and those who truly gave their spirit to Drahgar became a conduit which he was able to possess, and thus interact with the realm of light in a physical capacity.

It is those who have so wholly fell to the corruption of the insidious whispers within the darkness that become what is called Shadowsouls. The existence and concerted efforts of the Shadowsouls, this was believed to be part of the reason that most cloak and dagger activities, crime, or acts of nefarious intent were conducted during the night time under the cover of darkness. The other being that the invasion of the Shadowsoul’s thoughts by the Faded Brother and his insidious whispers of corruption which slithered through the darkness could only be heard within the shadows of night.

Shadowsouls sometimes knowingly though more often than not unwittingly embody what once was known as the Shae Sontras. The Shae Sontras were principles of an atrocious, vile, and at times downright heinous nature. While the words of the Shae Sontras themselves are likely just foreign terms, perhaps in some obscure forgotten tome, the behaviors and mannerisms behind these principles are prevalent even now. A person does not need be knowledgeable in the terminology nor dogma. One merely must act in the interest of the Spirit of Spite by conducting themselves in the following manners and presenting the following demeanors to eventually succumb to the darkness and be transformed into these vessels known as Shadowsouls.

**Requirements:**

* Race: Human or Half-Elf.
* Class: Cannot qualify for any other Racial Prestiege Class and cannot be a Paragon.
* Special: Character must have made a pact with the Faded Brother.

Class Specifics:

* New Race: Aberration.
* Hit Die: d6.
* Armor proficiencies: None.
* Shield proficiencies: None.
* Weapon proficiencies: All martial weapons.
* Skill Points: 4 + Int Modifier.
* High Saves: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will.
* BAB progression: +3/4.
* Class Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Decipher Script, Disable Trap, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge - Architecture & Engineering/Geography/History/Occult/Religion, Listen, Move Silently, Open Lock, Parry, Perform, Persuade, Pick Pocket, Search, Sense Motive, Set Trap, Spot, Survival, Tumble, Use Rope.
* A shadow souls dexterity bonus inverts down the day time becoming a dexterity penalty instead.

**Level by level breakdown:**

* 1: +2 DEX, +1d6 Sneak Attack, Ultravision, Drain Shadow.
* 2: +2 DEX, +2d6 Sneak Attack, Weapon finesse, Shadow Cut.
* 3: +2 DEX, +3d6 Sneak Attack, Assassination.

**Special Abilities:**

* Ultravision: Shadowsouls are able to see in normal or magical darkness.
* Drain Shadow: Shadowsouls can make a special attack that allows them to make a special attack that allows them to feed off the shadows around. If feeding off the shadow of a creature, that creature must make a fortitude save of 10 + the shadow soul's character level + DEX modifer or have one negative level bestowed upon the creature.  Alternatively, the shadow soul can feed off the shadows of the environment. In either case, the shadow soul gains a +10 bonus to hide and move silently which lasts for 5 turns.  Multiple feedings do not stack.
* Shadow Cut: A shadowsoul can make a special attack if it's weapon is not drawn and the conditions for a sneak attack are met. With this attack, the shadowsoul draws their blade the weapon gaining the wounding property (which lasts for 5 rounds) and then  attacks their victim potentially causing a wound that continues to bleed until healed if they fail a fortitude save equal to 14 + 2 times their shadowsoul level.
* Assassination: A shadow soul expands his or her repertoire by being able to sever a victim's soul from their body in one shift attack.  If not in combat and the conditions for a sneak attack are met, a shadow soul gains the vorpal ability on their weapon(s) for 3 rounds after they start their attack. The DC for the vorpal ability is 18.

**Note:** Shadowsouls who do not feed at least once every a month start to feel a compulsive need to do so.  This need results in a -2 to DEX and attack bonus. It also results in a -4 to reflex and a -1 to armor class in addition to a 10% to frenzy thus losing control and attacking the nearest humanoid they can find. These penalties stack for every day the shadowsoul remains in a starved state.