Echo The Ruptured Shade
Medium Undead, Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 105 (14d8 + 42)
Speed: 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 6 (2,300 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Strength +6, Dexterity +9, Constitution +7, Wisdom +7, Charisma +8
Skills: Acrobatics +9, Stealth +9, Deception +8, Insight +7, Perception +7
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison, Force, and Necrotic Damage
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages: Understands Common and Celestial but cannot speak
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. Echo the Ruptured Shade is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). Echo has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Eldritch Blast*, *Minor Illusion*
1st level (4 slots): *Cause Fear*, *Disguise Self*
2nd level (3 slots): *Mirror Image*, *Misty Step*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear*, *Spirit Guardians*
4th level (3 slots): *Greater Invisibility*
5th level (2 slots): *Dominate Person*
Echo often incorporates spells like *Disguise Self* to create deceptive copies of itself before combat, enhancing its ambush tactics. Additionally, *Greater Invisibility* allows Echo to gain the upper hand in a surprise encounter, positioning itself wisely within the chaotic domain of the Heart of Ambrosia.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: Echo The Ruptured Shade makes two attacks: one with its Shadow Blades and one with its Rupture Pulse.
Shadow Blades: *Melee Weapon Attack:* +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. **Hit:** 2d8 + 4 slashing damage plus 1d6 psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll or saving throw due to the chaotic magic wrenching at its mind.
Ambush of Shadows (Recharge 5-6): Echo creates illusory copies of itself, manifesting up to three duplicates in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet. Each duplicate lasts for 1 minute or until destroyed. When Echo attacks a creature within melee range while the creature is engaged with any duplicate, it has advantage on its attack roll. The duplicates can move independently but cannot deal damage; they simply mimic Echo’s movements.
Rupture Pulse (Recharge 4-6): **Effect:** Echo unleashes a wave of chaotic energy in a 30-foot radius. All creatures in the area must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. **On a failed save:** The creature takes 3d10 force damage and is pushed 10 feet away from Echo in a random direction (roll 1d8 to determine direction). **On a successful save:** The creature takes half damage and is not pushed.
Veil of Enigma (Recharge after a short or long rest): As a bonus action, Echo can cloak itself in shadows, becoming invisible until it attacks or uses its movement. This grants Echo the ability to reposition stealthily, ambushing isolated foes with its shadowy presence.
Shadow Step: *Triggered when Echo is targeted by a melee attack.* Echo can teleport up to 15 feet to an unoccupied space it can see, causing the attack to miss. Additionally, when it teleports, Echo can immediately make a Shadow Blades attack against a target within reach as part of this reaction.
Cloak of Illusions: Echo creates two illusory duplicates of itself, as per the **Ambush of Shadows** action, but all duplicates must occupy different spaces.
Dark Whispers: Echo targets one creature it can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the end of its next turn as Echo’s psychic chaos invades their mind.
Appearance
Standing at an imposing height of six feet, Echo The Ruptured Shade possesses a slender, almost ghostly form that captivates the eye while instilling an undercurrent of unease. Its elongated limbs, reminiscent of phantom appendages, flow gracefully through the air like a dancer caught in motion—a silhouette teetering on the edge between beauty and terror. Echo’s posture is subtly hunched, accentuating its skeletal frame while enhancing its stealthy, predator-like demeanor.
Drawing attention is its mesmerizing coloration. The core of Echo is a profound midnight blue that absorbs surrounding light, while streaks of iridescent hues ripple across its surface—brilliant purples and vibrant greens swirling like molten colors. This unique interplay of shadows and luminescence creates a visual spectacle that captivates those who gaze upon it, reflecting the chaotic energies of its environment.
The texture of Echo’s skin contributes significantly to its otherworldly presence. With a surface that gleams like polished obsidian, it appears smooth and liquid, yet each movement unleashes a mesmerizing aura of shifting patterns. Wisps of shadow trail behind the creature, dissolving into the ether and enhancing its enigmatic form.
Echo’s face—or lack thereof—is a haunting abyss, an ever-changing canvas swirling with ghostly shapes that tell the tale of its past. In the depths of this void, fleeting glimpses of forgotten memories flicker momentarily, yet no mouth or traditional eyes provide clarity, enhancing its menacing allure. Instead, an occasional shimmer in the place where eyes might dwell hints at awareness, creating an atmosphere of unpredictability.
Its limbs are unnaturally long and thin, ending in razor-sharp claws perfectly designed for both slashing prey and climbing with ease. An agile, tail-like appendage trails behind, undulating rhythmically as if sharing in Echo’s fluid grace. This appendage serves to stabilize its movements, allowing for rapid, unpredictable shifts as it navigates its surroundings.
Echo moves with a captivating rhythm, gliding effortlessly over the ground, each step marked by a blend of fluid grace and predatory intent. The creature’s cold aura sends a chill through its lair, encompassing its presence in an air of muted chaos that reflects the magic it wields.
Adding to its allure, Echo is adorned with bioluminescent streaks that pulse and spark like miniature stars, drawing intruders in and distracting them from its predatory nature. This display of chaotic energy dances across its form, creating illusions that weave every facet of its being into a tapestry of both beauty and menace—an ephemeral glimpse into the depths of darkness, forever haunting yet mesmerizing.
In its striking pose, Echo embodies the intricate balance of beauty and horror, a dynamic blend of shadow and light, forever etched in memory against a stark white background.
Tactical Information
Tactical Information for Echo The Ruptured Shade
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In the shadows of the Heart of Ambrosia’s cavernous chamber, Echo The Ruptured Shade thrives as a spectral remnant of chaos, roaming the area with an unsettling grace and purpose. Its existence is defined by its dual nature: a haunting reflection of the once noble Lyra, and a chaotic entity driven by the primal instincts of survival and predation. Echo typically spends its days lurking at the edges of its domain, observing the delicate balance of light and shadow, drawn inescapably toward any vibrations of life that disturb its solitude.
Echo revels in the arcane whispers that weave through the chamber, feeding on the emotions of confusion, fear, and isolation. It has no social interactions akin to living beings but is intricately attuned to the energies of its surroundings. When an adventurer stumbles into its lair, Echo senses the disturbance—a flicker of excitement igniting its essence. It becomes both curious and wary, watching intently while their presence triggers the remnants of its lost protective instincts. During these quiet moments, it often manifests faint illusions, teasing the boundary between friend and foe, as it assesses the intentions of interlopers.
Though Echo does not need to “feed” in a conventional sense, it absorbs the chaotic emotions and fears generated by living creatures. The more despair and confusion that swirls about it, the stronger it becomes, awakening dormant spells and powers within its form.
Combat Behavior:
When confronted with intruders, Echo The Ruptured Shade bridges the gap between ambush predator and chaotic enforcer. Combat begins when it scents weakness. It frequently strikes first from the shadows, employing Veil of Enigma to cloak itself and position itself advantageously before unleashing its terror upon unsuspecting adventurers. The creature thrives on fear, using the illusions of its Ambush of Shadows ability to create disorienting duplicates that disperse the party’s attention and cohesion.
In combat, Echo prefers to isolate its targets, focusing on those who appear to exhibit signs of uncertainty or fear. It deftly maneuvers through the chamber, harnessing environmental features such as large bioluminescent plants that distort visibility and enhance its ability to remain concealed. It exploits any opportunity to strike from darkness with Shadow Blades, shattering the resolve of its prey through calculated precision and whimsical chaos.
If confronted by a group, Echo adjusts its tactics to exploit their formations, employing Rupture Pulse to scatter foes while simultaneously striking vulnerable backlines. When outnumbered, instead of retreating entirely, Echo uses illusions to create confusion. It might feign an escape to draw opponents into a narrow corridor or pit where they cannot leverage their strength effectively. Strength lies in manipulation; it uses cunning and quickness to maintain an elusive presence, always keeping the party guessing about its next move.
However, as it finds itself facing unmatched numbers or skilled foes with powerful countermeasures, Echo may become increasingly desperate, trying to create panic rather than confusion. Should the tide turn against it, Echo will employ its Veil of Enigma or retreat to the shadows, disappearing into the darkness to regroup—biding its time until a more favorable opportunity arises.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
Outside the clamor of combat, Echo The Ruptured Shade is an enigma unto itself. Its spectral form, while unnerving, can also evoke a sense of haunting beauty. When adventurers approach it—whether with hostility or curiosity—it becomes a sidelong mirror of their intentions. Echo communicates primarily through haunting whispers and shimmering illusions that animate the walls of the chamber. It may project echoes of the intruders’ own fears, using their emotions against them as a means of negotiation or deception.
When adventurers demonstrate overt aggression, Echo displays a fierce self-preservation instinct, swirling into a tangible mist of shadows and preparing to defend its territory. However, should an adventurer approach with calm and respectful intent, perhaps attempting to understand or negotiate, Echo might respond with curiosity instead, offering cryptic insights into the nature of chaos and the Heart of Ambrosia itself. It might allow a brief discourse—illusions manifesting to reflect the truths and lies of conversation, drawing in those inquisitive enough to engage.
Echo is neither malevolent nor benevolent; it exists suspended in chaos, navigating emotions, and seeking the essence of what lies beyond its isolation. A wily and cunning spirit, it may demand offerings of knowledge or emotions, probing for vulnerabilities in the adventurers’ resolve, often hinting at forgotten truths of the Heart. If cornered without an option left for escape, Echo might reveal bursts of empathy, hinting at its tragic past, eliciting a poignant reflection on duty and sacrifice. However, it never lays down its guard easily: deceitful shadows linger as part of its very nature, making every interaction as unpredictable as the chaos it embodies. Such complexity presents a roleplaying challenge, where the party must weigh their desires against the potential for manipulations and even temporary alliances.
In sum, Echo The Ruptured Shade weaves a tale of chaotic beauty—one that promises thrilling encounters, profound emotional interactions, and the haunting revelations of its tragic origin, wrapped tightly within the shroud of the Heart of Ambrosia.
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