Cursed Shadowmaster
Medium Undead (Cursed Thief), Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 15 (Leather + Dexterity Modifier)
Hit Points: 66 (12d8 + 12 average: 66)
Speed: 40 ft.
Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 15 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +7, Intelligence +6, Charisma +5
Skills: Acrobatics +8, Deception +6, Investigation +6, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +7
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Necrotic, Psychic
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages: Common, Thieves’ Cant, Infernal
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. The Cursed Shadowmaster is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The Cursed Shadowmaster has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Mage Hand*, *Minor Illusion*, *Eldritch Blast*
1st level (4 slots): *Hex*, *Disguise Self*
2nd level (3 slots): *Misty Step*, *Mirror Image*
3rd level (2 slots): *Fear*, *Shadow Blade*
**Special notes about the spellcaster’s spellcasting abilities:**
– The Cursed Shadowmaster often begins encounters by casting *Hex* on a target, enhancing her damage output with her dagger attacks.
– *Disguise Self* allows her to infiltrate and evade capture, aligning with her backstory as a master of deception.
– In combat, she utilizes *Misty Step* to reposition herself, enhancing her elusive nature.
– *Mirror Image* grants her a means to avoid damage, making her harder to hit during fights.
– The spell *Fear* embodies her terror-inducing aspect, causing enemies to flee while she remains hidden.
– *Shadow Blade* allows her to create a weapon from the shadows, dealing psychic damage, which resonates with her theme of wielding darkness.
– As a former master thief, she is skilled at using her spells to manipulate the environment and escape or outmaneuver her foes, often casting them before combat to gain strategic advantages.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Cursed Shadowmaster can make two attacks in one action, choosing either two dagger attacks or one dagger attack followed by a use of Shadow Thief’s Trick to deceive foes.
Dagger of Shadows: Type: Melee Weapon Attack
Attack Bonus: +7 to hit
Reach: 5 ft.
Targets: One creature
Damage: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.
Additional Effect: A target hit by this attack must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be afflicted with a shadowy taint, imposing disadvantage on their next attack roll.
Shadow Thief’s Trick (Recharge 5-6): The Shadowmaster magically creates an illusory duplicate of herself lasting for 1 minute. The duplicate cannot attack or take actions but can move freely mimicking her movements.
Effect on Targets: Enemies within 10 ft. of the duplicate must make a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw. On a failure, they become confused and have disadvantage on their next attack roll as they can’t determine whether they are targeting the real Shadowmaster or the illusion.
Soul Collector (Recharge 6): Type: Bonus Action
Range: 30 ft.
Description: After damaging a creature, the Shadowmaster can attempt to siphon life energy from that target.
Saving Throw: The target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw.
Effects:
– On Failure: The target takes an additional 14 (4d6) necrotic damage, and the Shadowmaster regains hit points equal to half the damage taken.
– On Success: The target takes half as much damage and the Shadowmaster gains no hit points.
Shadow Meld: Type: Special Ability
Description: When in dim light or darkness, the Cursed Shadowmaster can choose to become invisible until she attacks or casts a spell.
Tactical Use: This ability allows strategic positioning to avoid detection, set up ambushes, and engage enemies at her advantage—ideal for hit-and-run tactics.
Ethereal Chains (Recharge 5-6): Description: The Shadowmaster conjures ghostly chains that lash out toward one creature within 30 ft.
Effect: The target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or become restrained as chains wrap around them, immobilizing them.
Restrained Condition: The restrained creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, breaking free on a success.
Whispers of the Lost: Type: Reactions
Description: The Cursed Shadowmaster can invoke the whispers of tormented souls to distract an enemy that targets her with an attack.
Mechanics: When an enemy makes an attack roll against her, she can impose disadvantage on the roll as ghostly whispers haunt the attacker’s mind.
Limitations: This ability can only be used once per round.
Evade and Strike (Recharge 5-6): Description: The Shadowmaster can swiftly dodge out of harm’s way and strike back at her aggressor in one seamless motion.
Action Mechanics: The Cursed Shadowmaster can use her reaction to disengage without provoking opportunity attacks. If she does so, she can make one Dagger of Shadows attack against the creature that attacked her.
Curse of the Shadow: Type: Special Action
Description: The Cursed Shadowmaster lays a curse upon a target she has struck.
Effect: The target must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, they become cursed, suffering disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws and ability checks for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns to end the effect.
Appearance
No data available
Tactical Information
Combat Behaviors and Tactics of the Cursed Shadowmaster
1. Knowledge of Terrain:
The Cursed Shadowmaster is always aware of her surroundings and uses the environment to her advantage. In dimly lit stages or areas with shadows, she will always position herself to employ her Shadow Meld feature, disappearing into the dark and launching surprise attacks.
2. Hit-and-Run Tactics:
Taking advantage of her high speed and agility, the Shadowmaster will often employ hit-and-run tactics. After striking with her Dagger of Shadows, she will retreat into the shadows, utilizing her invisibility and Stealth to evade immediate counterattacks. Her movement will often route through key vantage points, providing her an opportunity to strike from behind or from above.
3. Deceptive Distraction:
When faced with multiple enemies, the Cursed Shadowmaster will use her Shadow Thief’s Trick to create an illusory duplicate, drawing attention away from her true location. The Shadowmaster will act aggressively while the duplicate distracts, leading foes to attack the illusion instead.
4. Targeting Weakened Foes:
In combat, the Cursed Shadowmaster will prioritize targeting opponents who appear weakened or isolated from their allies. Using her Soul Collector ability wisely, she will attempt to sap strength from wounded enemies, becoming even harder to defeat as she regains health and maintains her aggression.
5. Chasing a Fleeing Opponent:
Should a foe attempt to flee, she will quickly pursue them, employing her Dash action to remain on pace. If faced with an obstacle, she will use her superior Acrobatics to quickly traverse difficult terrain, making her a relentless predator in the shadows.
Narrative Interactions
1. Eerie Presence:
When the Cursed Shadowmaster enters a scene, the atmosphere shifts—doors creak, dim light flickers ominously, and whispers fill the air. Narrative descriptions should emphasize her haunting demeanor now twisted by anguish and corruption; players may feel an unsettling mixture of fear and sympathy as they encounter her.
2. Enigmatic Conversations:
The Cursed Shadowmaster can engage players in conversation, often oscillating between charming wit and dark foreboding. She may offer cryptic advice, warning them about dangers they face, but always with an underlying agenda—testing their moral compass, or seeking potential allies in her pursuit for freedom.
3. Seductive Offers:
Intriguing the players to join her cause, the Shadowmaster might present a tempting offer: a chance for treachery and thrills in exchange for clandestine help. Whether it’s gathering souls or stealing powerful artifacts, she leverages her emotional backstory to confuse and manipulate, evoking sympathy as a victim of circumstances just as much as she is a villain.
4. Haunting Appearances:
When taking flight or slinking away, her last words often echo with a chilling finality, leaving players with cryptic messages or foreboding prophecies about their futures. This will influence their decision-making, possibly inspiring them to seek out her weakness or go on a quest to understand her curse more deeply.
5. Focused Redemption Arc:
As she interacts with players, the Shadowmaster may reveal glimpses of her former self during moments of vulnerability, potentially leading players to sympathize with her plight. Narrative prompts might indicate that aiding her could lead to a possible chance for redemption rather than outright conflict—creating opportunities for alliances or complex moral decisions.
Conclusion
The Cursed Shadowmaster serves as a dynamic antagonist, weaving seamlessly into combat and narrative structures. By embodying the themes of shadows, deceit, and tragedy, she presents compelling challenges and interactions that enrich the quest, ensuring that every encounter is gripping and nuanced.
