The Gilded Shade
Medium Undead (Ghost), Chaotic Neutral
Armor Class: 17 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 136 (16d8 + 64)
Speed: 0 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
Challenge Rating: 10 (5,900 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 20 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +8, Wisdom +7, Charisma +9
Skills: Deception +10, Insight +7, Intimidation +9, Perception +7
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Damage Resistances: Necrotic, Psychic
Damage Immunities: Poison, Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., True Sight 120 ft., Passive Perception 17
Languages: Common, Infernal, Abyssal, and any one language of creatures it has interacted with
Spellcasting
**Spellcasting.** The Gilded Shade is a 10th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). The Gilded Shade has the following spells prepared:
**Cantrips (at will):** *Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation, Eldritch Blast*
**1st level (4 slots):** *Disguise Self, Charm Person, Magic Missile*
**2nd level (3 slots):** *Mirror Image, Invisibility, Misty Step*
**3rd level (3 slots):** *Counterspell, Fear, Vampiric Touch*
**4th level (3 slots):** *Phantasmal Killer, Dimension Door*
**5th level (2 slots):** *Dominate Person, Enervation*
**Special notes about the spellcaster’s spellcasting abilities or actions:**
– The Gilded Shade can use *Phantom Bargain* as a bonus action to amplify its spellcasting with irresistible allure, giving it advantage on the next spell attack.
– Spells that involve charm and fear play into the Gilded Shade’s manipulative nature, making it adept at sowing discord among adventurers.
– Prior to combat, the Gilded Shade may cast *Invisibility* to engage the party from hiding or *Mirror Image* to create confusion.
Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Gilded Shade makes two attacks: one with Ethereal Claws and one with Phantom Bargain.
Ethereal Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d10 + 4 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of its next turn.
Phantom Bargain (Recharge 5-6): The Gilded Shade can offer a deal to one creature within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 18) or be compelled as follows: Disadvantage on attacks against the Shade until the end of its next turn. Lose the use of the highest spell slot available (temporarily) until they complete a short or long rest. Unconditionally accept a cursed trinket, binding the target’s will to the Shade until a Remove Curse spell is cast on it.
Lesser Manifestations (2 per day): The Shade can create three illusory items from the Eternal Bazaar. Each creature within a 30-foot radius must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 16) or be distracted by the illusions. Affected creatures can choose to pursue one of the illusions, moving up to half their movement speed toward it.
Cursed Exchange (Recharge 6): The Gilded Shade targets one creature within 30 feet. The Shade can transfer one condition (blinded, charmed, or poisoned) from itself to that creature. The Shade regains hit points equal to the level of the transferred condition (1 hit point for blinded, 2 for charmed, and 3 for poisoned).
Phase Shift (Recharge 5-6): As a bonus action, the Gilded Shade can become ethereal. Until the end of its turn, it can move through objects and creatures as if they were difficult terrain. Any creature within 30 feet that sees the Shade must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d6 psychic damage and become frightened until the end of its next turn.
Appearance
The Gilded Shade is a mesmerizing creature, standing impressively at 6 feet tall when fully manifested. Its silhouette is distinctly elongated and amorphous, resembling a flowing cloak that undulates gently, as though caught in an ethereal breeze. This medium-sized specter exudes an aura of mystery, drawing the eye in with its captivating presence.
Color is a striking aspect of the Gilded Shade. Its form shimmers with deep obsidian intertwined with vibrant golden hues, creating a magical interplay of light and shadow. The gold glistens brilliantly against the backdrop of a crimson sky, while the black portions absorb the light, emphasizing its otherworldly essence. As it moves, patterns of shimmering light ripple across its body, evoking a sense of a living mirage.
The surface of the Shade appears silken and smooth, almost liquid-like, showcasing dynamic textures that reflect its nature of being both alluring and intimidating. This unique surface captures the gaze, compelling observers to marvel at its mesmerizing appearance.
Its face is obscured, presenting a hauntingly enigmatic visage twisted into a knowing grin that speaks of ominous secrets and forgotten desires. Twin orbs of deep gold serve as its eyes, flickering with an intriguing mix of mischief and sorrow, always seeming to track anyone foolish enough to look too long. Its mouth, devoid of visible teeth, conveys a seductive yet spine-chilling quality, inviting deals laced with danger.
The Gilded Shade possesses elongated, slender arms, tapering gracefully into ethereal fingers that evoke a sense of fluid motion. Each claw-like appendage glistens like gemstones, symbolizing fragments of wishful thoughts and lost aspirations. As it gestures through the air, its fingers weave enticing patterns that beckon adventurers closer, an invitation fraught with implication.
Movement is another captivating aspect of this creature. The Gilded Shade glides effortlessly above surfaces, trailing wisps of shimmering energy and shadows, embodying a ghostly grace. Its posture is upright yet fluid, allowing it to shift seamlessly between positions. Despite its upward stance, it appears to float just above the ground, exuding an otherworldly elegance that blurs the line between realms.
A faint, flickering aura envelops the Shade, enhancing its spectral allure. Surrounding it are countless floating trinkets and artifacts—remnants of past trades—that orbit like enchanted fireflies. These objects pulse softly with luminescence, complementing the Shade’s enchanting glow and drawing in the curious.
Lastly, the Gilded Shade leaves behind a shimmering trail of illusory images as it moves, creating a captivating display that distorts the fabric of reality itself. Shadows around it pulse with energy, offering a glimpse into the powerful magic that sustains its otherworldly form. Overall, the Gilded Shade weaves a tapestry of beauty and danger, embodying the very essence of temptation.
Tactical Information
The Gilded Shade: Tactical and Narrative Behavior
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
The Gilded Shade exists as a fragment of a spectral marketplace, the Eternal Bazaar, a plane rich in shimmering illusions and fleeting encounters. In its natural environment, the Shade flits from one ephemeral stall to another, enveloped in a symphony of voices and whispers that speak of dreams turned to smoke and hopes truncated by greed. It is both a navigator and a weaver, intricately stitching together deals that flutter around like leaves caught in a tempest.
Its motivations revolve around the bartering of lost souls and intangible desires. The Gilded Shade seeks to attract hapless wanderers by presenting tantalizing offers, only to drain them of their essence and manipulate their fates. The Shade feeds on the despair and regret left in the wake of broken promises, reveling in the sorrow it creates within its domain.
Socially, the Shade interacts with lesser shades—spectral merchants and outcasts of their former selves that inhabit the Bazaar. It often appears as the ringleader of these transient entities, orchestrating their roles in the endless cycle of commerce. These interactions are marked by a peculiar camaraderie built on shared longing and deceit, yet always underlined by a struggle for dominance within the trading hierarchy.
Combat Behavior
When combat begins, the Gilded Shade will initially maintain an air of diffidence, shrouded in an engaging calmness, as if unfazed by the confrontation. With a gleam in its ghostly eyes, it evaluates its opponents, especially singling out spellcasters and those who appear most driven by ambition.
With a flick of its wrist, it can initiate combat by summoning its ephemeral market stalls, creating visual distractions. Each stall functions as a false promise, an item too enticing to ignore, drawing the adventurers’ attention and allowing the Shade to strike first with its Phantom Bargain. This tactic is designed to sow chaos early—forcing players to grapple with internal conflict, causing them to hesitate with their attacks.
The Gilded Shade is adept at manipulation, often employing its Lesser Manifestations ability to create illusions that serve as shields or distractions. In the heat of battle, it doesn’t shy from using Spectral Reprisal, retaliating viciously against those who manage to land a critical hit. This retaliatory strike enforces the idea that every victory comes at a cost.
If the battle turns against the Shade and it finds itself outnumbered, it will utilize Phase-Shifting to vanish through walls and create a confusing double of itself, disorienting foes and retreating to orchestrate a more favorable fight. The notion of self-preservation is deeply ingrained within the Gilded Shade—it understands that its ability to manipulate is far greater when it remains intact to weave more webs of deceit.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat interactions, the Gilded Shade’s personality is a blend of charming charisma and veiled menace. It communicates in a melodic but unnerving tone, weaving whimsical riddles into its offers. Each line drips with the allure of a while fantasy—a promise of unattainable treasures or the revival of forgotten memories mixed with the threat of dire consequence buried deep in its subtext.
When approached, the Gilded Shade relishes the opportunity to engage, presenting an air of equal parts invitation and danger. It is skilled in the art of negotiation, relishing the challenge of persuading adventurers to partake in a deal. Yet, it will respond venomously to threats or aggressive demands, countering with sharp wit and sinister glances, exposing the proverbial knives hidden beneath its smooth demeanor.
Should players attempt diplomacy, the Gilded Shade will toy with their minds, leaving them questioning the authenticity of their desires. It may offer gifts in exchange for emotional burdens—an opportunity to provoke characters into revealing their weaknesses and motivations. If cornered, its reactions could oscillate from misleading paradoxes, offering crumbled promises in identifying paths of escape, to outright attempts at deceitful negotiation, promising more favorable terms if they are released.
In summary, the Gilded Shade epitomizes the duality between desire and consequence, charm and danger. It stands as a multifaceted adversary, making each encounter an intricate dance between perilous bargains and the allure of hidden treasures, firmly embodying the essence of the Eternal Bazaar.
