Vorath, the Shadow Conjuror
Medium Undead (Spectral Entity), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 102 (15d8 + 30)
Speed: 30 ft. (walking), 30 ft. (hovering in shadow)
Challenge Rating: 4 (1,100 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 18 |
Saving Throws: Dexterity +7, Intelligence +8, Wisdom +6
Skills: Arcana +8, Stealth +7, Deception +7, Insight +6
Damage Vulnerabilities: Radiant Damage
Damage Resistances: Non-magical attacks, Psychic Damage
Damage Immunities: Poison, Necrotic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Truesight 30 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages: Understands Common and Deep Speech but cannot speak
Spellcasting
Spellcasting. Vorath is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). Vorath has the following spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): *Minor Illusion*, *Mage Hand*, *Eldritch Blast*
1st level (4 slots): *Mage Armor*, *Disguise Self*, *Shield*
2nd level (3 slots): *Misty Step*, *Hold Person*, *Invisibility*
3rd level (3 slots): *Fear*, *Counterspell*, *Major Image*
4th level (3 slots): *Greater Invisibility*, *Phantasmal Killer*
5th level (2 slots): *Cloudkill*
Vorath can cast a spell as a bonus action at the start of its turn. It often begins encounters by summoning *Darkness* and then casting *Fear* on the players, using its illusion spells to disorient and control the battlefield while hidden within the shadows. Additionally, spells such as *Phantasmal Killer* can be used to further instill fear and manipulate perceptions. Vorath is adept at employing its spells strategically to maintain an advantage and enhance its terrifying presence.
Actions & Abilities
Life Drain: Melee Attack: Type: Melee Weapon Attack, Attack Bonus: +5 to hit, Reach: 5 ft., Target: One creature, Hit: 1d8 + 3 necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or have their maximum hit points reduced by the amount of necrotic damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. If the target’s maximum hit points are reduced to 0, they die.
Conjure Dread Shroud: Special Ability: Vorath surrounds itself with a cloud of shadows in a 15-foot radius. Each creature starting its turn within this radius must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of their next turn. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. Vorath can move the shroud up to 10 feet at the start of its turn, reapplying the effect to any creature that starts their turn within the newly placed radius.
Shadowy Grasp: Ranged Attack: Type: Ranged Spell Attack, Attack Bonus: +4 to hit, Range: 60 ft., Target: One creature, Hit: 1d8 + 2 psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Intelligence saving throw or be paralyzed until the start of their next turn. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw takes half damage and is not paralyzed.
Evasive Shadows: Reaction: When Vorath takes damage, it can use its reaction to meld into shadows, disappearing until the end of its next turn. While in this state, it cannot be targeted by attacks, and it can reappear in any unoccupied space within 30 feet of its last position.
Appearance
In the dim light of the Forsaken Pit, Vorath, the Shadow Conjuror, emerges as an imposing figure standing at an astonishing 7 feet tall. Its slender, elongated silhouette melds seamlessly with the darkness, both imposing and ghostly, instilling an unshakeable sense of dread in those who encounter it. The creature’s ethereal presence is accentuated as it glides with an eerie grace, its body appearing to shift and flicker between tangible form and shadow, its true nature obscured by the surrounding gloom.
Draped in robes of deep midnight blue, Vorath’s coloration transitions to black at the edges, creating a captivating contrast against the stark white backdrop. Subtle hints of cobalt and purple shimmer within the fabric, giving it an almost otherworldly luster. The robe, woven from a gossamer material, flows like smoke, soaking up surrounding light while exuding an air of power and mystery. Around the creature, a misty aura swirls, enhancing its ghostly appearance further.
Vorath’s face is a study in menace, marked by gaunt, angular features and high cheekbones that carve a haunting expression. Its piercing emerald eyes, deep-set and glowing with an unsettling light, radiate malice and command attention, resembling ominous lanterns in the darkness. The mouth, twisted into a perpetual grin, reveals sharp, obsidian-like teeth, each glinting with a sinister edge, hinting at the torment it has unleashed upon its victims.
The creature’s limbs, long and spindly, extend from its narrow shoulders, tapering into elongated fingers that allow for both dexterity and eerie manipulation of its environment. Instead of traditional legs, Vorath’s lower body merges into a mesmerizing swirl of shadow, creating a flowing, ghostly movement that defies the natural order of flesh and bone. This unique form enables it to glide effortlessly across surfaces, merging with the surrounding darkness at will.
Vorath’s overall bearing conveys authority and supernatural elegance, with an upright posture that commands respect and fear. It moves unpredictably through the shadows, leaving traces of darkness in its wake, as if the very essence of night has come alive. The creature’s eyes flicker with bioluminescent pulses of green, hinting at the arcane forces it wields, while intricate dark energy designs momentarily illuminate its robes, emphasizing its formidable connection to the realm of shadows.
In a striking pose, Vorath stands poised, a master of the dark arts, a living embodiment of fear and elegance. Its presence draws one into the depths of its shadowy realm, promising both power and peril in equal measure, and ensuring that the image of this enigmatic conjuror remains etched in the minds of those who dare to glimpse its dark splendor.
Tactical Information
Tactical Narrative for Vorath, the Shadow Conjuror
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life:
In the grim depths of the Forsaken Pit, solitude is both Vorath’s sanctuary and prison. Cloaked in an impenetrable veil of shadow, Vorath drifts silently through the abandoned expanses of the mine, reliving remnants of its once-life and architect dreams—the chiming echoes of pickaxes and the hum of labor. However, those memories are tinged with an everlasting ache of anguish, manifesting in Vorath’s perpetual despair and its need for sustenance from fear.
Vorath derives energy and strength from the horror it instills in intruders. On most days, it will wait in the recesses of the Pit, occasionally summoning shadowy illusions of miners lost to darkness, dancing in mocking reenactments of their demise to tease and torment any visitors brave or foolish enough to enter its domain. Vorath craves the essence of dread, haunting every corner to cultivate feelings of anxiety and desperation.
Social interactions with other creatures are rare; Vorath relishes its isolation, viewing other beings merely as pawns in its dark games. When it does encounter entities of the supernatural, Vorath oscillates between manipulation and intimidation, weaving dark spells to assert dominance. Yet, despite this desire for supremacy, there lies a flicker of sorrow in its heart, aching for the companionship it lost centuries ago—a conflict that only deepens Vorath’s despair.
Combat Behavior:
When intruders wander into the depths of the Forsaken Pit, Vorath remains shrouded in darkness, carefully assessing their movements with cunning glee. Combat is initiated not with a charge or wild abandon, but with a stealthy strike from the shadows, often beginning with its Dreadful Presence to envelop its foes in suffocating fear. Vorath uses illusions and shadows not only as tools of terror but also as barriers to protect itself, first subtly dividing the party before launching its tactically precise attacks.
Vorath’s strategy centers around cunning diversion: it will cast Darkness to hinder the party’s visibility, then exploit the chaos by summoning Nightmare Phantoms to attack its adversaries—phantoms that serve as both diversion and threat. When the party’s numbers are overwhelming or they attempt to regroup, Vorath may unleash Arcane Manipulation, creating a formidable sphere of terror to further confound its foes.
If the tide of battle turns against it or if threatened with numbers, Vorath will deftly retreat into the shadows using Evasive Shadows, disappearing from sight to regain tactical advantage. It prefers to isolate and separate foes, focusing first on spellcasters and others who wield significant power, recognizing them as immediate threats. Vorath thrives on manipulation and deception, seeking to turn the players against one another as they grapple with fear and chaos.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions:
Vorath is a spectral mastermind whose very essence basks in dread and despair. In non-combat scenarios, it manifests as a whispering shadow, communicating primarily through visions and haunting voices rather than spoken words—a disembodied cacophony of fear. When adventurers enter its realm, they may experience disorienting hallucinatory illusions that serve as Vorath’s method of communication, delivering riddles steeped in dread or glimpses of their darkest fears.
In attempts at diplomacy, Vorath is curt and deceptive, its motivations rooted deeply in manipulation rather than negotiation. It may present itself as a benevolent entity, promising knowledge or protection to further entrap its foes within the mire of its control, using flattery or mockery to unnerve and psychologically dismantle them. Should adventurers offer bribes, their offers may be met with laughter and disdain, as Vorath seeks not coin but the despair that fuels it.
When cornered, Vorath might feign submission, crafting illusions of vulnerability before revealing its guile. It would attempt to confuse and mislead; if pressed hard enough, it may threaten total darkness or unleash a literal hailstorm of phantoms as a final, desperate measure to flee into the shadows from whence it came. At its core, Vorath is a creature of cunning and despair, seeking to leave its mark on the world through fear, weaving a tapestry of hopelessness and chaos for any who dare to tread in the Forsaken Pit.
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