Darkling Elder

Darkling Elder

Medium fey
Challenge

STR
1
DEX
3
CON
1
INT
0
WIS
2
CHA
1

27
5d8+5
16
Fort
+1
Ref
+3
Will
+2
Defense note leather

Speed 5 m.
Skills Deception +2 (13), Nimbleness +4 (15), Occult (wis) +3 (14), Perception +3 (14), Stealth +4 (15)
Senses blindsight 5 m., darkvision 20 m.
Languages Elvish, Sylvan

Cheap Shot (1/turn). The darkling elder deals an extra 10 (3d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack if it doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack and the target is flat-footed, if it has advantage on the attack, or when the target is within 1 meter of an enemy of the target that isn’t incapacitated.

Death Burn. When the darkling elder dies, magical light flashes out from it in a 2-meter radius as its body and possessions, other than metal or magic objects, burn to ash. Any creature in that area must make a Difficulty 11 Fortitude saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 7 (2d6) radiant damage and, if the creature can see the light, is blinded until the end of its next turn. If the saving throw is successful, the creature takes half the damage and isn’t blinded.

Maneuvers. The darkling elder uses maneuvers (maneuver save Difficulty 13). It has 5 stamina dice which are d8s, a dice limit of 1, regains all expended stamina dice when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total stamina dice when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following maneuvers:

1 stamina die: bloodletting blade, cripple, fan of knives, feint, lunge, nimble, parry, spring attack

Spellcasting. The darkling elder uses Occult (wis) to cast spells (spell save Difficulty 12, +3 to hit with spell attacks). It can cast the following spells:

1/rest: darkness

Actions (2)

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 1 m. or range 3/10 m. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

Feywild, Forest, Swamp, Underdark, Urbanvgtm

Maneuvers

As an action, make a melee weapon attack with a light or finesse weapon that deals piercing or slashing damage to cause the creature to bleed.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature is bleeding 1.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage and bleeding level by 1 for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack to cripple the creature.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or it is slowed 1 until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended and the slowed level by 1 for every two additional stamina die expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is slowed for 1 minute/stamina die. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

As an action you can make two ranged weapon attacks with a dagger, hatchet, sai, dart, or shuriken against two different targets.

Enhance

You can throw an additional weapon for each additional stamina die expended, but you can only attack each creature once.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack along with a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and make a Deception check opposed by the creature’s passive Insight or the creature is flat-footed to you until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack and increase your reach for the attack by 1 meter.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As a reaction, which you use when an enemy moves within 1 meter of you, you can move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

As a reaction, which you use when you are hit by a weapon attack that you can see, you can block the blow with a melee weapon you wield. Roll a d3 and add the result to your Defense against the triggering attack. You can do so after the roll but before any effects of the roll occur.

As an action, you can use the Dash action. If you move at least 3 meters straight toward a creature, you can make a melee weapon attack against it.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

Spells

concentration, 1 hour/mana

As an action, darkness spreads from a point within 20 meters to fill a sphere twice as big as normal for the duration. The darkness spreads around corners.

If the point is on an object you are holding or one that isn’t being worn or carried, the darkness emanates from the object and moves with it. Completely covering the source of the darkness with an opaque object, such as a bowl or a helm, blocks the darkness.

If any of this spell’s area overlaps with an area of light created by a spell using equal or less mana, the spell that created the light is dispelled. Non-magical light, as well as light created by concoctions or spells using equal or less catalysts or mana, can’t illuminate the area.

At the start of each of your turns if the darkness is within 20 meters of you, you can cause it to move up to 2 meters in a direction that you choose. If you spend an action, you can move it up to 10 meters.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the darkness is magical. A creature with darkvision can’t see through this darkness.

  • Maddening Darkness. You can expend 1 additional mana and cast the spell as two actions so the darkness is a gateway to the dark between the stars, a region infested with unknown horrors. The sphere is now sized based on the mana expended and the duration changes to 5 minutes/mana, concentration. Shrieks, gibbering, and mad laughter can be heard within the sphere. Whenever a creature enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make a Will saving throw. On a failure, it is confused until the start of its next turn.

  • Hungering Darkness. You can expend 1 additional mana and cast the spell as two actions so the darkness is a gateway to the dark between the stars, a region infested with unknown horrors. The sphere is now sized based on the mana expended and the duration changes to 5 minutes/mana, concentration. This void is filled with a cacophony of soft whispers and slurping noises that can be heard up to 5 meters away. No light, magical or otherwise, can illuminate the darkness, and creatures fully within the area are blinded. Whenever a creature enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make a Reflex saving throw, taking 1d6 cold damage on a failed save as milky, otherworldly tentacles rub against it, or half as much damage on a successful one. You can increase the damage by 1d6 for every two additional mana expended.