Shadow elves in Forgotten Realms

[CopperElfCleric]

Shadar-Kai As Characters

Shadar-Kai characters possess the following racial traits.
• +4 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -2 Constitution
• Medium Sized.
• Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet
• A Shadar-Kai’s base land speed is 30 feet.
• Superior Low-Light Vision. A shadar-kai sees four times as good in low-light conditions as humans.
• Racial Hit Dice: A shadar-kai begins with three levels of fey, which provide 3d6 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +1, and a base saving throw bonuses of Fort +1, Ref +3, and Will +3.
• Racial Skills: A shadar-kai’s fey levels give it skill points equal to 36 x (6 + Int modifier, minimum 1). Its class skills are Hide, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spot, and Survival checks. Shadar-Kai also receive a +10 racial bonus on Hide checks made in dark or shadowy conditions.
• Racial Feats: A shadar-kai’s fey levels give it two feats. Additionally, they gain Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked-chain) as a racial bonus feat.
• Armor Proficiency: A shadar-kai is proficient with all light armor.
Weapon Proficiency: A shadar-kai is proficient with simple weapons, shortbows, and spiked-chains.
• Sneak Attack (Ex): Anytime a shadar-kai’s target is denied a Dexterity bonus, or when a target is flanked by a shadar-kai, the shadar-kai deals an additional 1d6 points of damage on a successful melee attack or a ranged attack within 30 feet. This damage stacks with sneak attack damage from other sources, such as rogue levels.
• Hide in Plain Sight (Su): Shadar-kai can use the Hide skill even while being observed. As long as they are not illuminated by natural daylight, the daylight spell, or a similar magical light, shadar-kai can hide themselves from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind.
• Fey Ancestry (Su): Immunity to sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.
* Deathly Cantrip (Sp): You know a single cantrip chosen from a list of Ray of frost, Touch of Fatigue and Ghost sound. This cantrip can't be changed at a later date. Your spellcasting ability score for this cantrip is Charisma.
* Blessing of Shadow (Su): You can use a bonus action to teleport to an unoccupied space within 30 feet. After teleporting, you gain resistance to all damage until the end of your next turn, during which time you appear translucent and ghostly. This supernatural ability can only be used 3Xday.
• Shadow Curse (Su): The Plane of Shadow (otherwise known as the Shadowfell) exerts a tremendous pull on a shadar-kai’s soul, which is only tenuously connected to its mortal body. Any time a shadar-kai is stunned, dazed, staggered, or unconscious (other than from natural sleep), the shadow fey must make a Will save (DC 15) or lose a portion of her soul to the Plan of Shadow. The shadar-kai must also attempt to save any time she removes a gal-ralan, if she has one (see Shadar-Kai Items, Fiend Folio, pg. 151).

A shadar-kai with a damaged soul gains one negative level that cannot be removed until she restores her soul completely. If exposed to another event that requires a save against the shadow curse, a shadar-kai may gain additional negative levels. A shadar-kai on the Plane of Shadow can transfix her soul to her body again with a greater restoration spell. A shadar-kai on the Material Plane (or elsewhere) must use a wish or miracle spell to restore her soul.

A shadar-kai afflicted with the shadow curse cannot be raised from the dead or resurrected, and cannot gain experience. The touch of the shadow curse galls a shadar-kai, filling her heart with an icy emptiness that eventually drives all but the most determined individuals to capitulate and leave the Material Plane altogether.

A shadar-kai who goes to the Plane of Shadow and remains there ameliorates the effects of the shadow curse and suffers no ill effects. However, if she leaves the Plane of Shadow without restoring her soul, she suffers the effects of the shadow curse until she returns to the Plane of Shadow or restores her soul.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Sylvan.
Favored Class: Rogue
Level Adjustment: +2

[StevenC21]

This is an absolutely terrible race mechanically (except perhaps for HiPS) and I would recommend it to no one.

The fluff is cool though.

[Rebel7284]

Catfolk is +1 LA and you don't have to take racial HD or be completely handicapped until you reach mid levels due to the curse. It's considered a mediocre +1 LA race too.

[CopperElfCleric]

Changed the innate abilities to better represent the race.

[CopperElfCleric]

Shadow-Kith

Shadow-Kith are strictly Shadar-Kai that have risen above the standard, common expectations of their race. As Shadow Elves, they were exploited and enslaved by the Shadovar, and understand their history and patronage in the elven pantheon. As Shadow-Kith they know they are chosen for something more powerful and important. Most Shadow-Kith are loyal to The Raven Queen, and that is the typical way to become a Shadow-Kith. Though there are several ways to become a Shadow-Kith, this is the most common. Other ways are more complicated involving the elven god Erevan Ilesere, but that option is very rare and almost always rejected by the trickster god.

Most Shadow-Kith are powerful shadow elves that pledge to defend and promote the cause of the Shadar-Kai. To become a Shadow-Kith one needs to go through a ritual performed by a High Cleric of The Raven Queen. There is no order or affiliation to the queen herself once taken, but that subject must slay or control a Shadovar within 1 month or lose all Shadow-Kith abilities.

Shadow-Kith are Shadow elves (Shadar-Kai) that dwell on the Plane of Shadow, sometimes crossing into other planes where the barriers between dimensions are weak. Just as parts of the Plane of Shadow resemble a strange, distorted version of the Material Plane, Shadow-kith superficially resemble elves from the Material Plane. Shadow-Kith seem as if they have constant shadows leaking from their skin and they are more elusive, and spookier than their material counterparts.

Shadow-Kith are strictly Shadar-Kai elves and are not to be confused with Shadow-Walkers or Shades. Other creatures native to the Plane of Shadow exist that have stronger or weaker connections to the energies of that place (such as the shadow mastiff or a Shade) and therefore do not follow this race specific template.

Creating A Shadow-Kith

"Shadow-kith" is a template that can be added to any Shadar-Kai elf that meets the requirements (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

A shadow-kith uses all the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted here. Do not recalculate the creature's Hit Dice, base attack bonus, saves, or skill points if its type changes.

Size and Type: Shadar-Kai encountered on the Material Plane have the extraplanar subtype and are native to the Plane of Shadow.

Speed: As base creature x 2

Special Qualities: A shadow-kith retains all the special qualities of the base creature, and also gains the following:

Resistance to cold: Equal to 5 + 1 per Hit Die, to a maximum of 20.

Darkvision: Out to 60 feet.

Shadow Blend (Su): In any conditions other than full daylight, a shadow-kith can disappear into the shadows, giving it total concealment. Artificial illumination, even a light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability, but a daylight spell will. This total concealment ability works the same as a greater Invisibility spell cast at your total HD.

Shadow-Kith also have one additional special ability for every 2 Hit Dice they possess (minimum of one additional ability/ maximum 20HD) chosen from the following list:

*+4 luck bonus on all saving throws.
*Cause Fear (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 10th. The save DC is Charisma-based.
*Damage reduction: 10/magic +2.
*Ability scores increase for Dexterity and Charisma by +2
*Fast healing 2.
*Mirror Image (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 15th.
*Dimension door (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 15th.
*Plane Shift (Sp): 1/day, to or from the Plane of Shadow only. Caster level 15th.
*Spell Resistance: 11 + character level.
*Attacks and Damage: Gain a +2 competence bonus on attacks and damage.
*Armor Class: gains a +4 deflection bonus to AC.
*Greater Blink (Sp): 1/day. Caster level 20th

Skills: Same as base creature. Shadow-Kith gain a +8 racial bonus on Hide Move Silently checks.
Feats: Same as the base creature.
Environment: Plane of Shadow
Organization: Same as the base creature.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +2.
Treasure: Same as the base creature.
Alignment: Usually Chaotic neutral.
Advancement: Same as the base creature.
Level Adjustment: Same as base creature +2.

[jdizzlean]

The Mod Life Crisis: Moved to Homebrew