Shadow Mastiff

Shadow Mastiff

Medium beast
Challenge

STR
3
DEX
2
CON
1
INT
−3
WIS
1
CHA
−3

33
6d8+6
14
Fort
+2
Ref
+3
Will
−1
Damage resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from attacks while in dim light or darkness

Speed 8 m.
Skills Occult (wis) +2 (13), Perception +2 (13), Stealth +3 (14)
Senses darkvision 10 m.

Ethereal Awareness. The shadow mastiff can see ethereal creatures and objects.

Keen Hearing and Smell. The shadow mastiff has advantage on Perception checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Spellcasting. The shadow mastiff uses Occult (wis) to cast spells (spell save Difficulty 11, +2 to hit with spell attacks). It has 1 mana, a mana limit of 1, regains all expended mana when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total mana when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following spells:

Cantrips (at will): cloud senses, control shadow, gloom, shadow blade

1 mana: cloak of shadows, darkness, five shadows, obscure, obscuring strike, pass without trace, shadow anchor, shadow jaunt, shadow tendrils, shadow veil, shadowy reprisal, silence, umbral weapon, unseen servant

Sunlight Weakness. While in bright light created by sunlight, the shadow mastiff has disadvantage on skill checks and saving throws.

Actions (2)

Bite (1/turn). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a Difficulty 13 Reflex saving throw or be knocked prone.

Shadow Blend (1/turn). While in dim light or darkness, the shadow mastiff can become invisible, along with anything it is wearing or carrying. The invisibility lasts until the shadow mastiff attacks, is in bright light, is incapacitated, or ends it on its turn (no action required).

Forest, Hill, Shadowfell, Swampvgtm

Spells

As an action, you obscure the senses of a creature that you can touch or see within 5 meters. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d6 psychic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack it makes before the end of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

At higher levels

This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 9th level (2d6) and 17th level (3d6).

As an action, you can manipulate the shadow of a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters. You can cause the shadow to act out simple actions independent of its owner, move it up to 5 meters away from its owner, or alter its shape to be one size larger or smaller than its own.

You can manipulate only one shadow at a time. If the source of the shadow moves, the shadow mirrors its movements, but remains under your control while within 20 meters of you.

When you cast this spell, or as an action on a later turn, you can cause the shadow to turn violent if the creature is within 10 meters of you. You instill the shadow with a maddening hunger for its owner’s life. Make a melee spell attack against the target.

On a hit, it takes 1d10 necrotic damage.

On a critical hit, it takes twice as much damage.

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

After causing the shadow to turn violent the spell ends.

At higher levels

This spell’s damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 9th level (2d10) and 17th level (3d10).

1 minute

As an action, you can decrease the amount of light emitted in a 1-meter radius within 5 meters. You can decrease the light level by one step (from bright light to dim light, dim light to no light).

The change in illumination can be gradual (taking as long as 1 minute) or sudden (occurring immediately when you cast this spell). You can alter the level of illumination from its original level at any time during the spell’s duration as an action.

You can gloom up to three areas at a time and dismiss a gloom on your turn (no action required).

When you cast this spell, or as an action on a later turn, you can cause a gloomed area to engulf a creature within 1 meter of the gloom. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d6 necrotic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack it makes before the end of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

After the gloom engulfs, the gloomed area ends.

At higher levels

This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 9th level (2d6) and 17th level (3d6).

5 minutes

As an action, you weave together threads of shadow to create a blade of solidified gloom in your free hand which lasts for the duration. You create the blade as a magical dagger, katar, sai, sickle, greatsword, kama, kukri, longsword, scimitar, or shortsword.

The spell ends if you dismiss it on your turn (no action required), if you cast it again, or if you end your turn without the blade in your hand.

At higher levels

When you reach 9th level, you can make an attack with the blade as part of the same action to create it.

1 minute/mana

As an action, you wrap yourself in a mantle of shadow. For the duration, any creature has disadvantage on attacks made against you. An attacker is immune to this effect if it doesn’t rely on sight, as with blindsight, or can see through darkness.

Augment

You can expend 1 additional mana to cast the spell as a reaction, which you use when you are hit by an attack or missed by 4 or less. The attacker must make an additional roll and use the worst result and the duration changes to the end of your next turn.

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.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, you pierce a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters to the core with shadow for the duration. At the start of each of its turns for the duration, the creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 3d6 necrotic damage and rolls a d6.

On a roll of 1–2, the shadow spreads to the legs. It is immobilized until the start of its next turn.

On a roll of 3–4, the shadow spreads to the arms so the creature has disadvantage on attacks until the start of its next turn.

On a roll of 5–6, the shadow spreads to the head so the creature is blinded until the start of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage and and the effect ends.

On a critical success, it takes no damage and the effect ends.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 4d6 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, the eyes or ears of a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters are engulfed in shadow. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 2d6 necrotic damage and is blinded or deafened (your choice) for the duration.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 4d6 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, make a weapon attack.

On a hit, add 1d6 + your spellcasting ability necrotic damage to the attack’s damage roll and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or its eyes or ears are engulfed in shadow as it is either blinded or deafened (your choice) for the duration.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

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

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 3d6 for each additional mana expended.

1 hour/mana

As an action, a veil of shadows and silence covers you, masking you from detection. For the duration, you have advantage on Stealth checks and can’t be tracked except by magical means. A creature that receives this bonus leaves behind no tracks or other traces of its passage.

Augment

You can expend 1 additional mana so each creature you choose within 5 meters of you (including you) has advantage on Stealth checks and can’t be tracked except by magical means.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, you anchor the shadow of a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters to its current location. The creature must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it moves at half speed and takes 2d4 slashing damage for every meter it travels as it tears itself free of its shadow.

A creature anchored by its shadow can use an action to make a Brawn or Nimbleness check (its choice) against your spell save Difficulty.

On a success, the creature is freed.

When you cast the spell—and once on on each of your turns thereafter as an action—you can cause the shadow to pull an anchored creature, tearing its flesh. The creature must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d6 slashing damage and if it is Medium or smaller it is pulled up to 2 meters toward the shadow.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage from moving by 1d4, the damage from being pulled by 4d6, and affect a creature of a larger size for each additional mana expended.

  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

As an action, when you are in dim light or darkness, you can step from one shadow into another. You teleport up to 20 meters to an unoccupied space you can see that is also in dim light or darkness.

You can bring along objects you are touching that aren’t worn or carried by another creature as long as their weight doesn’t exceed what you can carry.

If you teleport 5 meters or less, you can use Stealth without using an action or make a weapon attack.

On a hit, add 1d8 + your spellcasting ability to the attack’s damage roll.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

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

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can teleport an additional 100 meters for each additional mana expended.

  • You can increase the damage by 3d8 for each additional mana expended.

  • There and Back Again. You can expend 1 additional mana at the end of your turn to teleport back to the spot you occupied before teleporting, unless it is now occupied or on a different plane of existence.

  • Continuous Shadow Jaunt. You can expend 2 additional mana to change the duration to 1 minute/mana and on each of your turns before the spell ends, you can use an action to teleport in this way again.

As an action, shadowy tendrils erupt from you, battering creatures. Each creature other than you in a sphere centered on you must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 4d4 necrotic damage, moves at half speed, and can’t take reactions until the end of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Additionally, until the end of your next turn, any bright light in the area is reduced to dim light.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage by 3d4 for each additional mana expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the shadowy tendrils continuously batter creatures around you. The duration changes to 1 minute/mana, concentration and the tendrils erupt around you in an aura shaped as a sphere. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you.

    Whenever a creature enters the area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make the Reflex saving throw. The damage is reduced to 1d4 and additional augments to the damage increase the damage by 1d4 for each additional mana expended, instead of the normal increase.

  • Shrouding Shadow. You can expend 1 additional mana if the tendrils continuously batter creatures around you so you and your allies in the aura are draped in deeper shadow. Creatures that rely on sight have disadvantage on attacks made against creatures draped in this shadow.

As a reaction, which you use when a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters of you attacks you or another creature, you can cause shadows to mask the attacked figure. You impose disadvantage on the roll. An attacker that can’t be blinded is immune to this feature.

Augment

You can expend 1 additional mana so attacks rolls against the target creature have disadvantage until the start of its next turn.

As a reaction, which you use when you are hit by an attack or missed by 4 or less or taking necrotic damage, you absorb some of the incoming energy as shadowy tendrils erupt from your body. Until the start of your next turn you have resistance to necrotic damage and the shadows turn dim light within 2 meters of you into darkness, and bright light in the same area to dim light. If the creature who damaged you is within 10 meters, it must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 2d10 necrotic damage and is pushed or pulled 2 meters away from you or toward you if it is Medium or smaller.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage and is pushed or pulled 4 meters away from you or toward you if it is Medium or smaller.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 2d10 and affect a creature of a larger size for each additional mana expended.

(ritual); concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, no sound can pass through a sphere that surrounds you. Until the spell ends, the sphere moves with you, centered on you.

Any creature or object entirely inside the sphere is immune to concussion damage that originates outside the sphere.

Casting this spell on the same spot every day for a year makes this effect permanent on that spot.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can expend 1 additional mana so no sound can be created within the sphere. Any creature or object entirely inside the sphere is immune to concussion damage, creatures are deafened while entirely inside the sphere, and casting a spell that requires words to be spoken is impossible inside the sphere.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana to cast the spell centered on a point within 20 meters.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana to change the duration to 5 minutes/mana.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, a weapon you touch becomes sheathed in shadow. For the duration, the weapon turns bright light within 4 meters of you into dim light and dim light into darkness and deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage.

Alternatively, you can touch a quiver containing arrows or bolts, granting the ammunition pulled from it the same effect. The spell’s magic ends on a piece of ammunition when it hits or misses.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage by 1d4 for each additional mana expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana to cause an additional weapon you touch to become sheathed in shadow.

(ritual); 1 hour/mana

As an action, you create a mindless, shapeless, Medium shadow that performs simple tasks at your command until the spell ends. The servant springs into existence in an unoccupied space on the ground within 10 meters. It has 10 Defense, 1 health, and a Strength of −4, and it can’t attack. If it drops to 0 health, the spell ends.

Once on each of your turns as an action, you can mentally command the servant to move up to 3 meters and interact with an object. The servant can perform simple tasks that a human servant could do, such as fetching things, cleaning, mending, folding clothes, lighting fires, serving food, and pouring wine. Once you give the command, the servant performs the task to the best of its ability until it completes the task, then waits for your next command.

If you command the servant to perform a task that would move it more than 10 meters away from you, the spell ends.