The Cursed Shadow
Medium Undead (Thief), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 14 (Dexterity-based)
Hit Points: 45 (6d8 + 18)
Speed: 30 ft., Climb 20 ft.
Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 13 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +5, Intelligence +4
Skills: Stealth +7, Deception +4, Sleight of Hand +5
Damage Vulnerabilities: none
Damage Resistances: Poison, Psychic
Damage Immunities: none
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
Languages: Common, Thieves’ Cant
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Cursed Shadow makes two attacks with his Dagger of Shadows. This action allows him to strike more than once in a single turn, utilizing both his agility and cunning.
Dagger of Shadows: – **Type**: Melee Weapon Attack
– **Attack Bonus**: +5 to hit
– **Reach**: 5 ft.
– **Targets**: 1 creature within reach
– **Damage**: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) necrotic damage.
– **Additional Effect**: The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they suffer disadvantage on their next attack roll.
– **Description**: The Cursed Shadow lunges forward, dagger glinting ominously in the dim light, slashing at the target with a swift precision. The blade leeches away a fraction of the target’s vitality, siphoning it into shadows swirling around him.
Shadowy Escape (Recharge 5–6): – **Effect**: The Cursed Shadow momentarily becomes one with the darkness, teleporting up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space he can see that is within dim light or darkness.
– **Advantage on Next Attack**: After teleporting, he gains advantage on his next attack until the end of his turn.
– **Description**: In a burst of shrouded movement, the Cursed Shadow dissipates into a plume of darkness, reappearing in another shadowy corner of the battlefield. His form appears to flicker, disorienting his enemies as he readies his next strike.
Whispers of Betrayal (Recharge 6): – **Range**: 30 feet
– **Effect**: One target within range must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw.
– **Success**: The target is unaffected.
– **Failure**: The target becomes charmed by the Cursed Shadow for 1 minute. While charmed, the target feels an overwhelming compulsion to deliver a small item must worth 50 gold pieces or less to the Cursed Shadow or divulge one significant secret they hold.
– **Saving Throw**: The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.
– **Description**: The Cursed Shadow leans in, his voice a soft, seductive murmur that echoes in the listener’s mind, floating on the edges of their desires and fears, intoxicating them with the promise of liberation and reward.
Shadowed Grasp (Recharge 5–6): – **Type**: Special Ability
– **Range**: 15 feet
– **Effect**: The Cursed Shadow reaches out with a hand wreathed in darkness to grab a target within range.
– **Saving Throw**: The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw.
– **Success**: The target takes half damage (1d8 necrotic damage) and is not restrained.
– **Failure**: The target takes 8 (1d8 + 3) necrotic damage and becomes restrained until the end of its next turn as shadowy tendrils bind them.
– **Description**: A dark tendril shoots out from the Cursed Shadow’s hand, coiling around the target’s limbs, siphoning away their strength and aiming to ensnare them in a haunting embrace.
Shadows of the Past (Lair Action): – **Initiative Count**: 20 (losing initiative ties)
– **Area of Effect**: 20-foot radius around the Cursed Shadow
– **Effect**: The shadows in the area become difficult terrain until the end of his next turn. Creatures within this area at the start of their turn take 1d6 necrotic damage.
– **Description**: With a melodramatic flourish of his phantom hand, the Cursed Shadow summons the old memories of betrayal and sorrow from the shadows, ensnaring the area with an unsettling gloom that saps the strength of those who dare tread upon it.
Insidious Illusion (Lair Action): – **Range**: 30 feet
– **Effect**: The Cursed Shadow creates an illusory duplicate of himself that can move up to his speed but cannot attack. Any creature within 5 feet of the duplicate must make a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw to discern it from the real Cursed Shadow.
– **Description**: Manifesting a shadowy double, the Cursed Shadow’s illusive self dances among the dimly lit streets, misleading the foes and creating confusion as they question the very fabric of reality around them.
Appearance
The Cursed Shadow of Baldur’s Gate
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Size and Shape: The Cursed Shadow is a medium-sized, ethereal figure that stands about 6 feet tall. His structure is slender and elongated, giving him an appearance that is both haunting and insubstantial, as if he could slip between the cracks of reality with ease.
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Coloration: The cloak enveloping him is a deep black, almost blending with the surrounding darkness. Flickers of shadowy gray can be seen rippling down the fabric, reminiscent of shifting smoke. The remnants of a once-golden trim can be detected, still glimmering faintly in dim light, hinting at his tainted grandeur.
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Texture and Surface Features: The material of his cloak is a faded silk and rough leather, worn and aged from long years of existence in obscurity. The fabric appears to be semi-transparent at times, revealing glimpses of shadowy wisps swirling beneath, as if he is made of the darkness itself.
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Facial Features: The Cursed Shadow’s face is mostly concealed by a deep, flowing hood, but within the abyss, two hollow, glowing eyes emerge, shimmering with an eerie golden hue. His mouth, when it appears, is thin and pitch-black, often curved into a haunting smile that suggests malice and betrayal. Sharp, glistening teeth are visible in the darkness, hinting at a grotesque predatory nature.
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Limbs and Appendages: His arms are long and spindly, adorned with tapered fingers that terminate in sharp, dagger-like claws, perfect for swift, treacherous strikes. These fingers seem to elongate at will, as if stretching toward nearby treasures or souls. His legs are equally slender, allowing him to move quietly and quickly, sometimes resembling a gliding motion rather than walking.
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Special Features: The Cursed Shadow emanates a faint, shadowy aura around him, creating an unsettling effect for those nearby. The ethereal nature of his being makes him appear to flicker in and out of visibility, especially in darker environments. When he engages in deceitful acts or attacks, shadows around him seem to pulse and swirl as if echoing his moves.
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Posture and Movement: He holds himself in a somewhat hunched posture but can straighten up when necessary, giving him an agile and alert appearance. The Cursed Shadow glides rather than walks, moving silently through the air, occasionally dissolving into tendrils of darkness, making him difficult to track. His movements are fluid and graceful, blending seamlessly into the darkness around him.
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Additional Notable Traits: As a remnant of his past as a master thief, his cloak is adorned with a myriad of shimmering, stolen trinkets and baubles, each reflecting the faintest light with a seductive sparkle. These items jingle softly, although they seem to whisper of lost power and failed ambitions. Occasionally, the figures of shadowy illusions may briefly surround him, mirroring his form and movements, adding to the confusion and treachery he embodies.
The Cursed Shadow of Baldur’s Gate is not just a creature to be fought but a chilling reminder of the darker aspects of thievery and betrayal, urging players to tread carefully in a world where trust can vanish like mist.
Tactical Information
Tactical Behavior of The Cursed Shadow in Combat
Combat Strategy
The Cursed Shadow uses stealth and deception to gain the advantage in combat, favoring hit-and-run tactics that exploit the environment. He will rely on his high Dexterity and Stealth skills to initiate surprising attacks and quickly retreat into the shadows, making him difficult to pin down.
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Initiation:
- Ambush: The Cursed Shadow will attempt to surprise the party, often waiting in dimly lit areas or behind cover. He will hide using his Stealth skill before launching an attack.
- Target Selection: He targets adventurers who appear isolated or those with visible, valuable items that evoke his greed.
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Attack Patterns:
- Dagger of Shadows: The Cursed Shadow prioritizes using his Dagger of Shadows to hit multiple enemies through multiattack. He tries to inflict both piercing and necrotic damage.
- Shadowy Escape: After making his initial attack, he will use Shadowy Escape whenever he finds himself in danger, allowing him to teleport to safety and maintain the upper hand.
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Utilization of Terrain:
- The Cursed Shadow will often take advantage of shadows and narrow spaces, using them to hide and reposition. If he has the upper hand, he may lure adventurers closer to these shadowy spots.
- When using Lair Actions, he may utilize Shadows of the Past to create difficult terrain, hindering the movement of his foes.
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Psychological Warfare:
- Whispers of Betrayal: He will target individuals who seem trusted within the group to create discord. This attack will create further confusion and mistrust among the party members, turning them against each other while he picks them off one by one.
- He may use deception and veiled threats in dialogue, planting seeds of doubt regarding the worthiness of each character’s loyalty.
Combat Example Scenario
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Round 1: The Cursed Shadow stalks the party through the darkened alleyways of Baldur’s Gate. Concealed in shadows, he waits for the rogue of the party to step out of line. As the rogue loots a hidden treasure, he strikes with a Dagger of Shadows, catching the rogue off guard.
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Round 2: After attacking, he immediately uses Shadowy Escape to teleport behind the group’s wizard, giving him advantage on his next attack. The party begins to scramble, trying to figure out where the threat came from.
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Round 3: Noticing a particularly greedy bard in the group, he whispers a tainted word, attempting to charm them. If successful, he convinces them to hand over an item, creating further chaos within the party.
Narrative Interactions
In addition to engaging in direct combat, The Cursed Shadow will also employ manipulative dialogue during encounters:
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Taunting: He may mock the players about their naivete, reminding them of how foolish trust can be.
- “You think you know your friends, but do they know you? Beneath every face is another shadow waiting to emerge…”
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Misdirection: When conversing with players, he may weave twisted truths or suggest seemingly beneficial trades.
- “Help me and I shall reward you with coins far beyond your wildest dreams. What a small ask! A trinket? A secret? Or perhaps…just your trust?”
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Escape and Parley: If the tide turns against him, and he’s on the brink of defeat, he may offer a seductive proposition, claiming he can reveal hidden treasures and secrets of Baldur’s Gate, providing players with a tempting escape route or path to quick riches if they spare him.
Conclusion
The Cursed Shadow is an enemy that combines cunning with brute force. He moves fluidly between combat and narrative engagement, exploiting fears, desires, and betrayal to create a challenging and immersive experience for players. As they navigate the darkness of Baldur’s Gate, they must wrestle not only with a formidable opponent but also with the nature of their own allegiances and desires.
