SHADOW MAGIC

We who bear the Tenebrist Eye,

See the truth within the lie.
In this world where magic reigns,
Light will fade, and dark remains.
The Shadowcaster

B
efore the dawn of time, when life was but a
dream, there was only darkness. Even now it
waits, in the spaces between worlds, in the
emptiness between the stars, and in the corner
of every room. When the light is gone, darkness
will remain.
An elf, clad in black, stands unnoticed behind
the front lines. He begins to chant, hands moving to the
rhythm with a sense of familiarity. Behind him, his shadow
makes a different set of gestures. Cold flame erupts from his
fingers, engulfing the enemy soldiers.
A human watches the passing guards, counting. With a
silent whisper, their torches are extinguished. By the time
they're relit, the door stands open, the human gone.
A gnome nimbly ducks the swing of a sword before rolling
through the door. Her assailant follows, right into the waiting
teeth of a shadow elemental.
Shadowcasters look beyond the narrow minded view of
those who live in the light, beyond their natural fear of dark.
They understand that shadow is not always evil, and that light
is not always good. They embrace the shadows, and wield the
power they find within.
Life in the Shadows
In many societies, shadow magic is considered strange and
unpleasant at best, and evil and depraved at worst. As such,
most shadowcasters choose to live more privately than most
adventurers, choosing quite study, meditation, and
contemplation.
When they must take to the streets, they tend to prefer the
night, when their natural skills are most potent, and they can
circumvent most trouble.
The Plane of Shadow
The Plane of Shadow, also called the Shadowfell in some
world models, is a dark and twisted reflection of the Prime
Material Plane, working as a sort of counterpart to the
Feywild, and it is the source of all shadow magic.
Color is faded within the Plane of Shadow, muted to
shades of gray. Emotions are as muted as colors, leaving only
need to drive the native races. Even conjured light shines but
half as brightly, and fire is a dim reflection of warmth.

The Shadowcaster
Proficiency Fundamentals Apprentice Initiate Master
Level Bonus Features Known Mysteries Mysteries Mysteries
1st +2 Shadowcasting, Favored Mystery 2 2
2nd +2 Umbral Sight, Shadowcaster Ideal 2 2
3rd +2 Cloak of Shadows 2 3
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 3 3
5th +3 Extra Attack 3 4
6th +3 Ideal Feature 3 4
7th +3 Greater Favored Mystery 3 5 2
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 4 5 2
9th +4 Winter's Touch 4 6 2
10th +4 Ideal Feature, Favored Mystery 4 6 3
Improvement
11th +4 Umbral Sight Improvement, 4 6 3
Sustaining Shadow
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 4 6 3
13th +5 Sustaining Shadow Improvement 5 6 4 1
14th +5 Ideal Feature 5 6 4 1
15th +5 Sustaining Shadow Improvement 5 6 4 1
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 5 6 4 1
17th +6 Sustaining Shadow Improvement 5 6 4 2
18th +6 Ideal Feature 5 6 4 2
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 5 6 4 2
20th +6 Mastered Mysteries 5 6 4 2

Class Features
As a shadowcaster, you have the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per shadowcaster level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8+ your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution
modifier per shadowcaster level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, Rapiers, Shortswords
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Intelligence, Dexterity
Skills: Choose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Intimidate,
Investigation, Perception, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the
equipment granted by your background:
(a) a rapier or (b) a shortsword
(a) dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
A trinket or keepsake touched by the Plane of Shadow
Alternatively, you may start with 4d4 x 10 gp to buy your
own Equipment.
Shadowcasting
As one who has studied the Plane of Shadow, you have
gathered a number of magical abilities that fall into two
groups: Fundementals and Mysteries.
Fundamentals of Shadow Magic
As a shadowcaster, you must master the basics before
proceeding to more powerful shadowcasting. These basic
powers, called Fundamentals, are akin to cantrips cast by
wizards or sorcerers. You can use a fundamental you know
any number of times each day. At 1st level, you know two
fundamentals of your choice. You learn additional
fundamentals at higher levels, as shown in the Fundamentals
Known column of the Shadowcaster table.
Mysteries of Shadow Magic
You do not cast spells as other classes do, but channel your
power through abilities called mysteries.
You do not prepare spells each morning, nor do you use
spell slots. Instead, you know a number of mysteries of each
type as shown on the Shadowcaster table, and can invoke
each mystery you know once. You regain all expended
mysteries when you finish a long rest.
Invoking a mystery, while different than casting a spell, has
enough similarities for shadow magic to interact with some
more mundane magic. Invoking a mystery will end an
invisibility spell, just as casting a spell will. It will also provoke
an attack from a creature with the mageslayer feat, and
mysteries can't be invoked within the area of an antimagic
field.
Learning Mysteries
At 1st level you know two apprentice mysteries of your
choice. You learn additional mysteries of each tier as shown
in the Shadowcaster Table.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can
choose one of the mysteries you know and replace it with
another mystery of the same tier.
Shadowcasting Ability
Intelligence is your shadowcasting ability for your
shadowcaster mysteries, since the power of your shadow
magic relies on your study and deep understanding of the
Plane of Shadow. You use your Intelligence whenever a
mystery refers to your shadowcasting ability. In addition, you
use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw
DC for a mystery you invoke and when making an attack roll
with one.
Shadow Magic save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus +
your Intelligence Modifier
Shadow Magic attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +
your Intelligence Modifier
Your shadowcasting ability is used in the place of a
spellcasting ability when one is needed, or when targeted by
an effect such as a Skiamancer's Eldritch Disruption.
Variant: A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi
While the intense study of planar magic is most
often an intellectual pursuit, there have been some
notable shadowcasters with an innate talent for
shadow magic.
If your DM allows it, shadowcasters can be played
using Charisma rather than Intelligence as their
Shadowcasting ability. In these cases, class abilities
that use Intelligence, such as the Shadowmaster's
combat prowess, instead use Charisma. For skill
proficiencies, choose two from Deception, Insight,
Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, Sleight of
Hand, and Stealth. Additionally, you are proficient
in Charisma and Dexterity saving throws.
Favored Mystery
At first level, choose an apprentice mystery you know. You
may invoke that mystery an additional time, and you regain
one expended use of that mystery upon completing a short
rest. At 10th-level, choose an additional favored mystery.
By spending 8 hours in meditation, you can change your
favored mystery to another Apprentice mystery you know.
Shadowcaster Ideal
At 2nd level, you choose an ideal: Nightblade, Shadowmaster,
Shadowsmith, Skiamancer, each of which is detailed at the
end of the class description. Your ideal gives you features
when you choose it at 2nd level and additional features at 6th,
10th, 14th, and 18th level.
Umbral Sight
As your studies of shadow magic progress, your vision
extends slightly into the Plane of Shadow. At second level, you
gain Darkvision out to 30 feet. If you already have Darkvision,
its range is extended by 30 feet. At level 11, your darkvision
improves, allowing you to see in darkness within 30 feet of
you, including magical darkness, as though it were bright
light.
Cloak of Shadows
Beginning at 3rd level, shadow clings to your form when you
hide. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made
when you are in darkness. At seventh level, you gain this
benefit in dim light.
Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and
19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice
by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by
1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20
using this feature.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can Attack twice, instead of once,
whenever you take the Attack action on Your Turn.
Greater Favored Mystery
At 7th level, choose an initiate mystery you know. You regain
one expended use of that mystery upon completing a short
rest.
By spending 8 hours in meditation, you can change your
greater favored mystery to another initiate mystery you know.
Winter's Touch
At 9th level, the touch of shadow magic has inured you to the
cold. You have resistance to cold damage and can survive
comfortably in cold environments.
Sustaining Shadow
When you reach 11th level, your connection to the Plane of
Shadow deepens, mitigating certain biological needs. You
need only eat a single meal per week. At 13th level, you only
need to sleep one hour each day, though you must still rest
for the duration of a long rest to gain its benefits. At 15th
level, you become immune to disease. Finally, at 17th level
you no longer have to eat, sleep, or breathe.
Mastered Mysteries
At 20th level, you have mastered your your simplest
mysteries. You can invoke your favored apprentice tier
mysteries any number of times before resting.
Shadowcaster Ideals
While all who study shadow magic learn the fundamentals
before branching out into mysteries, not all agree on how
best to focus their later studies. The different branches of
shadow magic are called ideals, and represent what the
individual shadowcaster believes is the truest essence of their
power.
Nightblade
To understand the beauty and power of darkness, it is not
enough to study shadow. You must become shadow.
Nightblades go by many names: dark transmogrifists, dark
ascendants, children of night. They are more than scholars,
more than spellcasters, and, in some cases, more than mortal.
Nightblades tend to mimic those non-magical mortals who
best represent their ideals. Those who can vanish in the
shadows and move unseen.
Skulking in Shadows
When you take this ideal at 2nd level, you gain proficiency
with thief's tools and hand crossbows if you aren't already
proficient with them.
Sudden Strike
At 2nd level, you learn to strike from the shadows and exploit
a foe's blind spots. Once per turn, you can deal extra cold
damage to one creature you hit with an Attack. The extra
damage is equal to your proficiency modifier. The extra
damage is doubled if you have advantage on the attack, or if
another enemy of the target is within 5 feet of it, that enemy
isn't Incapacitated, and you don't have disadvantage on the
attack roll.
Shadow Walk
Beginning at 6th level, while moving on your turn, you may
become a shadow. While moving as a shadow, you have
advantage on Dexterity(Stealth) checks, creatures have
disadvantage on Wisdom(Perception) checks to notice you,
and all attack rolls against you are made with disadvantage.
Additionally, you can move through spaces as narrow as 1
inch wide.
You return to your original form if you take any action other
than dash or hide. If you return to your original form in a
space that you couldn't normally fit within, you're expelled to
the nearest unoccupied space and take 4d6 bludgeoning
damage.
Fade to Black
Beginning at 10th level, you can use an action to become
invisible while in darkness or dim light. You remain invisible
until you use a bonus action to end the invisibility, you attack
or cast a spell or invoke a mystery, or enter an area of bright
light.
Shadow's Grace
At 14th level you draw closer to the Plane of Shadow,
becoming lighter on your feet. You have a flying speed of 60
feet. Additionally, you leave no footprints when you walk, you
do not set off non-magical traps, and you have advantage on
Dexterity saving throws against effects you can see.
Night Form
At 18th level, you gain the ability to briefly become one with
the shadows. As an action, you can take on an incorporeal
form, gaining the following benefits:
You have resistance to all damage except force damage.
You can see creatures on the Ethereal Plane within 30
feet of you.
You can not be restrained or grappled.
You can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide.
You can stay in this form for up to one minute. The form
ends early if you become incapacitated or use a bonus action
to end it.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
Shadowmaster
For some individuals, use of shadow magic isn't enough. They
seek nothing less than mastery of darkness and control over
the denizens of the Plane of Shadow. Shadowmasters fight
side by side with a shadow elemental they have befriended,
tamed, or conquered, sending the creature to the front line
while they support from a safe distance.
Shadow Companion
When you take this ideal at 2nd level, you gain a companion
from the Plane of Shadow. With 8 hours of work and the
expenditure of 50 gp worth of spell components, you call
forth and empower a lesser shadow elemental, turning it into
your shadow companion. If your companion is ever slain, it
returns to the Plane of Shadow until you perform the ritual to
summon it again.
Master's Bidding
Your companion grows in strength as you do, gaining a
variety of benefits that normal elementals don't have. The
companion obeys your command as best it can. It takes its
turn on your initiative, and you determine its actions,
decisions, attitudes, and so on. If you are incapacitated or
absent, your companion acts on its own.
When you invoke a mystery with a range of touch, your
companion can deliver the mystery as if it had invoked it.
Your companion must be within 100 feet of you, and it must
use its reaction to deliver the mystery. If the mystery requires
an attack roll, you use your attack modifier.
Your companion has the initial abilities and game statistics
as listed in the shadow companion stat block, but grows in
power as you level up. It uses your proficiency bonus rather
than its own. In addition to areas where it normally uses its
proficiency bonus, it also adds its proficiency bonus to its AC
and damage rolls.
Your shadow companion gains proficiency in two skills and
two saving throws of your choice.
For each level you gain after 2nd, your shadow companion
gains an additional hit die and increases its hit points
accordingly.
Whenever you gain the Ability Score Improvement class
feature, your companion's abilities also improve. Your
companion can increase one ability score of your choice by 2,
or it can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As
normal, your companion can't increase an ability score above
20 using this feature.
Shadow Companion
Medium elemental, Any Alignment
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 19(3d8 + 6)
Speed 30ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 6 (-2) 6 (-2)
Damage Resistances cold; bludgeoning, piercing,
and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled,
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained,
unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages None
Shadow Form. The shadow companion can enter a
hostile creature's space and stop there. It can move
through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without
squeezing.
False Appearance. The shadow companion can
appear as a cloud of black smoke, or take on a solid
seeming appearance, passing for an animal of black
and gray coloring.
Actions
Touch. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft.,
one target. Hit 5 (1d6 + 2) cold
Combat Prowess
At 6th level, your shadow companion learns a number of
combat abilities. As an action, it can use one of the following
abilities.
Your shadow companion can use this feature a number of
times equal to your Intelligence modifier (Minimum one
time). You regain expended uses when you finish a short or
long rest.
Frenzy
Your shadow companion lunges at a single target, attacking
all out. It makes two touch attacks against the target.
Whirlwind
Your shadow companion becomes a whirlwind of slicing
tendrils of shadow. It makes an attack against each creature
of its choice within 5 feet of it, with a separate attack roll for
each target.
Veil
Your shadow companion enters a patch of darkness, melding
with them completely. While hidden within the shadows, it
can not see what occurs outside them, but it can hear sounds
originating from outside them. Additionally, while hidden in
this way, your companion can not be hit by attacks or spells. If
the shadows in the space your companion is hiding within is
replaced by bright light, your companion exits the shadows
into the nearest unoccupied space and takes 6d6 radiant
damage.
Threaten
Your shadow companion attempts to keep one creature's
focus on itself. One creature it can see within 30 feet must
make a Wisdom saving throw against your shadow magic
save DC. On a failed save, the target feels threatened by your
companion's presence. For the next minute, it has
disadvantage on attack rolls against creatures other than
your companion. At the end of each of its turns, the target can
make another Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the effect
ends on the target. Creatures that can't be Frightened
automatically succeed on their saving throw.
Greater Shadow Elemental
At 10th level, your companion grows in size and strength. Its
size becomes large and its speed becomes 40 feet. Its touch
attack deals 2d6, rather than 1d6, and its hit dice become
d10s, and its hit point maximum increases by 10 to reflect
this change.
Dark Wings
At 14th level, your companion gains the ability to manifest a
pair of wings. As an action, it gains a pair of wings that last
until it uses an action to remove them. While these wings are
manifested, your companion has a flying speed of 60 feet.
Breath Weapon
At 18th level, your companion gains the ability to exhale a
torrent of destructive energy. When it uses its breath weapon,
each creature in a 20 foot cone must make a Constitution
saving throw. A creature takes 12d6 cold damage on a failed
save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The DC
for this saving throw equals 8 + your companion's
Constitution modifier + your proficiency modifier.
After your companion uses its breath weapon, it can t use
it again until it completes a short or Long Rest.
Shadowsmith
Shadowsmiths find their calling in manipulating the
shadowstuff of the Plane of Shadows, crafting it into any
shape they want. Like many smiths, they view their magic as
a craft, as an art form.
Shadowcraft
When you take this ideal at 2nd-level, choose 3 simple or
martial weapons. You gain proficiency with the chosen
weapons if you aren't already proficient with them. As a
bonus action, you can create one of your chosen weapons,
forming it from shadows. It functions as a normal weapon of
that type. For ranged weapons, you can create and fire a
single piece of ammunition each turn.
Additionally, as a bonus action you can create a simple
object of hardened shadow. The object can have no moving
parts and must be able to fit inside a 5-foot cube.
Created objects and weapons fade if they leave
Shadowsmith s possession for more than 1 minute. Each
use of this ability creates a single object. A Shadowsmith can
maintain only 1 object or weapon at a time.
You also gain proficiency with smith's tools and can use
downtime to craft permanent non-magical items made of
shadowstuff. Shadowstuff is similar in feel and hardness to
iron, but weighs only half as much.
Shadow Armory
Starting at 6th level, your shadowcrafted weapons count as
magical for the purpose of overcoming Resistance and
immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. This bonus
only applies to the three weapons chosen with the
shadowcraft feature. Additionally, as an action, you can
shroud yourself in a protective armor of shadow. For one
minute, you add half your proficiency bonus to your armor
class, rounded down. Once you use this feature, you can't use
it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Chilling Shade
Starting at 10th-level, your shadowcrafted weapons have an
attack bonus of +1 and deal an additional 1d6 cold damage.
This bonus only applies to the three weapons chosen with the
shadowcraft feature. The attack bonus increases to +2 at
14th-level and the extra damage increases to 2d6 at 18th-
level.
Craft Terrain
When you reach 14th-level, you gain the ability to craft
shadows on a large scale. As an action, you create one of the
following terrain effects, centered on an area within 120 feet.
Alternatively, you can create a large shape of your choice with
no additional effects. The shape must be able to fit within a
20 foot cube and have no moving parts.
Wall
You create a wall of hardened shadowstuff within range. You
can form it into a hemispherical dome or a Sphere with
radius of up to 10 feet, or you can shape a flat surface made
up of ten 10-foot-square panels. Each panel must be
contiguous with another panel. In any form, the wall is 1 foot
thick and lasts for 10 minutes.
If the wall cuts through a creature's space when it appears,
the creature within its area is pushed to one side of the wall
and must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the
creature takes 5d6 cold damage, or half as much damage on
a successful save.
The wall has an AC of 12 and 30 hit points, and it is
vulnerable to radiant damage. Reducing a 10-foot section of
wall to 0 hit points destroys it and leaves behind a cloud of
shadow. A creature can pass through the cloud, but can not
see through it unless they can see through magical darkness.
Floor
You create a floor made up of ten 10-foot panels. You can
angle them up or down to make stairs. When making the
floor, you can choose one of the following features. Muffled:
all creatures on the floor move silently across it, gaining
advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Jagged: the conjured
floor has a jagged surface, becoming difficult terrain. When a
creature moves into or within the area of the jagged floor, it
takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet it travels.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
Shadow Waltz
At 18th-level, you gain the ability to control all of your
shadowcrafted weapons in a lethal dance. As an action, you
can manifest all three of your chosen shadowcraft weapons.
They appear hovering in separate unoccupied spaces of your
choice within 30 feet of you and remain for 1 minute.
As a bonus action on each of your turns, you can direct the
weapons to fly up to 30 feet and attack a creature you can
see. Each weapon can attack a separate creature, or multiple
weapons can attack the same creature. You use your
Intelligence modifier for the attack and damage rolls of these
attacks, rather than Strength or Dexterity. While Shadow
Waltz is active, you can't take the attack action. Once you use
this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Skiamancer
The Skiamancer focuses on unraveling the secrets of shadow
magic, plain and simple. Skiamancers have learned to
strengthen their mysteries, adding power and versatility that
other shadowcasters will never attain. To them, shadow
magic is a tool to be analyzed, understood, and used.
Secrets
When you choose this ideal at 2nd level, you gain a deeper
understanding of shadow magic and can modify your
mysteries. When you deal damage with a fundamental or
initiate mystery, you may add your intelligence modifier to the
damage dealt. You learn two of the following secrets. You gain
another one at 6th and 14th level.
You can use only one secret each turn, unless otherwise
noted.
Afflicting Mystery
When you damage a creature with a mystery, you can attempt
to afflict that creature with debilitating shadow magic. That
creature must make a Constitution saving throw against your
shadow magic save DC or be poisoned until the end of your
next turn. You can use this secret multiple times on a single
mystery, but each use must target a different creature.
Elemental Mystery
When you roll damage for a mystery, you can change the
damage type to your choice of cold, lightning, acid, or poison.
Overloaded Mystery
When you roll damage for a mystery, you can roll up to three
additional damage dice. For each additional die rolled this
way, you take 2 points of necrotic damage. This necrotic
damage ignores resistance and immunity.
Positioned Mystery
When you invoke a mystery or use an ability granted by an
ongoing mystery, you may use it as though you were standing
in a different location. Choose a point within thirty feet of
you. Your shadow moves to that point and uses the mystery.
Repeating Mystery
When you invoke an apprentice or initiate mystery that
targets one or more creatures, you can target twice as many
creatures.
Additional Favored Mystery
At 6th level, choose an apprentice mystery you know as an
additional favored mystery. As with your first favored mystery,
you can change it through 8 hours of meditation.
Additional Greater Favored Mystery
At 10th level, choose an initiate mystery you know as an
additional greater favored mystery. As with your first greater
favored mystery, you can change it through 8 hours of
meditation.
Eldritch Disruption
Beginning at 14th level, you can use an action to disrupt the
magical energies of a single target you can see within 60 feet.
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw against your
shadow magic save DC or be disrupted for one minute. A
disrupted creature has disadvantage on spellcasting ability
checks and spell attack rolls. While disrupting a creature with
this feature, you have advantage on shadowcasting ability
checks and shadow magic attack rolls. The effect ends if the
creature is ever more than 120 feet from you.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
finish a long rest.
Channel Shadows
At 18th level you have mastered channeling shadow magic
through your body. You become immune to cold damage.
Additionally, when you are concentrating on a mystery you
have advantage on saving throws against spells and
resistance to the damage of spells.
 Creeping Darkness: Create a moving cloud that hinders
Fundamentals and creatures physically or mentally.
Dark Mantle: Create a shroud of darkness to protect or
Mysteries disguise yourself.
What is a Mystery? Dark Mirror: Dispel or control magical darkness.
Dark Terrain: Control the battlefield with grasping shadows
Mysteries are magical effects brought about through the use or cold fire.
of shadow magic. Unlike most spells, a mystery is a Ebon Whispers: Speak and step through conduits of
multifaceted, versatile ability. One who is trained in the use of shadow.
shadow magic can channel power from the Plane of Shadow, Eyes in the Dark: Bend your perspective and harm others
holding the energy in a specific patter within their mind, and with a look.
then allowing that power to flow into the world. Gloaming Dreams: Attack the mind of another creature.
The rules for casting spells, such as range, targets, Summon Shadow: Create a duplicate of yourself.
duration, and concentration all apply to invoking mysteries Touch of Twilight: Damage and debilitate with a touch
unless otherwise noted. Umbral Mind: Enhance your mental abilities and project
While different, shadow magic can interact with more your thoughts as images.
mundane magics. When subject to an effect such as Vanishing Act: Erase your tracks and disappear into
counterspell or dispel magic, apprentice mysteries are shadows.
treated as second level spells, initiate mysteries are treated as
fifth level spells, and master mysteries are treated as eighth Initiate Mysteries
level spells. Black Magic: Warp spells and hinder magic.
Growing Power
Dark Reflections: Pull twisted reflections of magic from the
Many mysteries grow in power as you increase your Plane of Shadow.
shadowcaster level. For some, this just means doing more Eclipsed Visions: Bend shadows to form complex illusions.
damage. For others, this means a wider array of effects to Ebon Roads: Travel to and through the Plane of Shadow.
choose from. Some effects created by mysteries can only be Elemental Shadows: Shape the world through its reflections
used once you have reached a certain shadowcaster level. in the Plane of Shadow.
These effects are denoted with their required level before the Investiture of Shadow: Bolster yourself with shadow magic.
effect name. Unbinding Shade: Unravel the threads of magic that bind
another.
Invoking a mystery
Walk Amongst Dreams: Enter the dreams of another.
Each mystery description includes a block of information Master Mysteries
including the name of the mystery, the tier, casting time, Breath of Twilight: Debilitate and kill with a thought.
range, and duration. After that the effects are listed, separated Ebon Walls: Imprison others in a never ending nightmare.
into immediate effects and ongoing effects. An immediate Eyes of the Night Sky: See into any place that darkness
effect is instantaneous. This effect harms, heals, creates, or touches.
alters a creature or an object in a way that can t be dispelled, Heart and Soul: Control others through their shadows.
because its magic exists only for an instant. An ongoing effect
remains active, and in most cases requires you to maintain
concentration. Concentrating on a mystery is the same as
concentrating on a spell.
When you invoke a mystery, choose up to one immediate
effect and one ongoing effect. Unless noted otherwise, the
immediate effect of a mystery occurs before the ongoing
effect begins. If a mystery would target an area or any
number of creatures, it targets that area or those creatures
for each chosen effect if possible.
Additionally, if a mystery has the casting time of 1 reaction,
you may also choose to cast that mystery as an action. If you
do, any immediate effect that requires a triggering action
fails.
Fundamentals
Black Candle: Shroud an area in dim light.
Conceal: Hide one object from view.
Dancing Shadows: Create simple tricks of shadow.
Liquid Night: Create a small amount of ink.
Sight Obscured: Gain a benefit to conceal your actions.
Umbral Arrow: Fires a shard of hardened shadow.
Umbral Grasp: Pull objects toward you.
Apprentice Mysteries

Mystery Descriptions
Black Candle
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch one object that is no larger than 10 feet in any
dimension. Until the mystery ends, the object sheds dim light
in a 30-foot radius. Non-magical darkness is lightened in the
area, while non-magical bright light is dimmed. Completely
covering the object with something opaque blocks the light.
The mystery ends if you cast it again or dismiss it as an
action.
If you target an object held or worn by a hostile creature,
that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to
avoid the mystery.
Black Magic
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you see a
creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
Echo Spell: You reach into the Plane of Shadow for the
spiritual reflection a spell that was just cast. If the
triggering spell is 4th level or lower and has a casting time
of one action or one bonus action, you may use an action
on your next turn to cast a copy of it. You choose the spell's
targets and make any other choices involved in casting it.
You cast it at the same level the triggering spell was cast at.
If the echoed spell requires concentration, you may choose
to concentrate on it rather than this mystery's ongoing
effect. Flood of shadow can't interrupt this spell.
Warp Spell: You attempt to interrupt a creature in the
process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell
of 4th level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect. If it is
casting a spell of 5th level or higher, make an ability check
using your shadowcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the
spell's level. On a success, the creature's spell fails and has
no effect.
        When you successfully counter a spell with this effect,
you gain one invocation of an apprentice mystery you know.
This extra invocation must be used within 1 hour or it is
lost.
Ongoing Effect
(Level 11) Flood of Shadow: You fill the air around you with
dense shadow magic, disrupting normal spellcasting.
Whenever a creature within 10 feet of you casts a spell,
they must make an ability check using their spellcasting
ability + their proficiency modifier. The DC for this check is
your shadow magic save DC. On a successful check, they
cast the spell as normal. On a failed check, the spell is
suppressed. They may attempt to finish the spell as an
action each turn without expending an additional spell slot.
The spell slot is lost if they choose not to attempt to cast
the spell.
At Higher Levels
The level of spells Echo Spell can copy increases to 5th level
when you reach shadowcaster level 11 and to 6th level when
you reach shadowcaster level 15.
Breath of Twilight
Master Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
Winter's Crest: A pulse of freezing energy emanates from a
point of your choosing within range. Each creature in a 40-
foot-radius sphere around that point must make a
Constitution saving throw, taking 12d6 cold damage on a
failed save or half as much damage on a successful save.
Ongoing Effect
(Level 15) Tormenting Darkness: Magical darkness fills the
40-foot-radius sphere around a point of your choosing
within range. Creatures can't see through this darkness,
even creatures that can normally see through magical
darkness. Nonmagical light, as well as light created by
spells of 8th level or lower, can't illuminate the area.
        Shrieks of agony, gibbering, and howling winds can be
heard within the sphere. Whenever a creature starts its
turn within the sphere, it must make a Wisdom saving
throw. A creature that fails its saving throw is stunned until
the start of its next turn.
        A creature that fails three saving throws becomes insane
for 1 minute. A creature that fails five saving throws
becomes permanently insane. In both cases, greater
restoration can remove this insanity. An insane creature
can't take actions, can't understand what other creatures
say, can't read, and speaks only in gibberish. The DM
controls its movement, which is erratic.
(Level 17) Ephemeral Storm: Howling winds and jagged
shards of shadow fill the 40-foot-radius sphere around a
point of your choosing within range. Whenever a creature
starts its turn within the sphere, it must make a
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, that creature
takes 3d6 cold damage and 3d6 slashing damage and is
slowed until the start of their next turn. On a successful
save, a creature takes half as much damage and is not
slowed. A creature killed by this damage is frozen and
shattered.
        A slowed creature's speed is halved, it takes a -2 penalty
to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it can't use
reactions. On its turn, it can use either an action or a
Bonus Action, not both. Regardless of the creature's
Abilities or Magic Items, it can't make more than one
melee or ranged Attack during its turn.
Conceal
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: S
Duration: 1 hour
An object that you touch, no larger than 1 cubic foot, blurs
into indistinct shadows. Any creature searching for the
concealed item has disadvantage on Intelligence
(investigation) and Wisdom (perception) checks to find it.
If you invoke this fundamental multiple times, you can
affect up to three objects once each, and you can dismiss
such any or all of these effects as an action.
Creeping Darkness
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
Trick of the Light: When you invoke this mystery, you have
advantage on the first Dexterity (Stealth), Dexterity (Sleight
of hand), or Charisma (Deception) check you make before
the end of your next turn.
Ongoing Effect
Cloying Thoughts: You create an 20 foot radius sphere of
invisible fog that hampers thought, centered on a point
within range. All creatures standing in the fog have
disadvantage on Intelligence(Investigation),
Wisdom(Perception), and Wisdom(Insight) checks. As an
action, you can move the fog up to 10 feet.
        A creature that notices something is wrong can make a
Wisdom(Perception) check against your shadow magic
save DC to realize it's being mentally effected. Creatures
that can't be charmed are immune to this effect.
(Level 3) Smoke Screen: You create a 20-foot radius sphere
of black smoke centered on a point within range. The
sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily
obscured. It lasts for the duration or until a wind of
moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per hour)
disperses it. As an action, you can move the cloud up to 10
feet.
Dancing Shadows
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: 1 minute
You create a harmless shape in the shadows on a wall or
floor that lasts for the duration. As an action on your turn, you
can command the shape to move in a certain way. The shape
can be no larger than a 5 foot square.
If a creature uses its action to examine the shadow, the
creature can determine that it is a magical trick with a
successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your
shadow magic save DC.
Dark Mantle
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take in response to
being attacked
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Immediate Effect:
Steel Shadows: The shadows about your form harden for an
instant. Until the start of your next turn, attacks against you
have disadvantage, including the triggering attack. You
must choose to invoke this mystery before the attack is
rolled.
Ongoing Effect:
(Level 2) False Visage: You make yourself including your
clothing, armor, weapons, and other belongings on your
person look different until the mystery ends or until you
use your action to dismiss it. You can't change your body
type, so you must adopt a form that has the same basic
arrangement of limbs. Otherwise, the extent of the illusion
is up to you. The changes wrought by this spell fail to hold
up to physical inspection.
(Level 3) Piercing shadows: When a creature strikes you
with a melee weapon attack, that creature takes 1d6
piercing damage.
At Higher Levels
  The damage dealt by piercing shadows increases to 2d6 at
level 10, 3d6 at level 15, and 4d6 at level 20.
Dark Mirror
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Immediate Effect
Control Darkness: You attempt to rest control of magical
darkness from another creature. Choose an area of
magical darkness, some part of which is within range. If
the darkness was created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, or
by an apprentice tier mystery, you can immediately move
the darkness, centered around a point within range. You
begin concentrating on that darkness for the remainder of
its duration.
Dismiss Darkness: You attempt to banish an area of magical
darkness back to the Plane of Shadow. Choose an area of
magical darkness, some part of which is within range. If
the darkness was created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, or
by an apprentice tier mystery, that spell or mystery ends. If
the darkness was created by a spell of 3rd level or higher,
or by an initiate tier mystery or higher, make an ability
check using your shadowcaster ability. The DC equals 10 +
the spell's level, or 15 for initiate tier mysteries and 18 for
master tier mysteries.
Ongoing Effect
(Level 3) Create Darkness: Magical darkness spreads from
a point you choose within range to fill a 15-foot radius
Sphere for the Duration. The darkness spreads around
corners. A creature with Darkvision can't see through this
darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it.
        If the point you choose 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.
Dark Reflections
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 30 minutes
Immediate Effect
Shadow Evocation: You pull a twisted reflection of an
evocation spell from the Plane of Shadow. Choose an
evocation spell of third level or lower from the wizard's
spell list with a casting time of 1 action or 1 bonus action.
You cast that spell at third level. You choose the spell's
targets and make any other choices involved in casting it.
Reflections of Divinity: You pull a twisted reflection of a
divine spell from the Plane of Shadow. Choose a spell of
third level or lower from the cleric's spell list with a casting
time of 1 action or 1 bonus action. You cast that spell at
third level. You choose the spell's targets and make any
other choices involved in casting it.
At Higher Levels
The level of spells Shadow Evocation and Reflections of
Divinity can mimic increases to 4th level when you reach
shadowcaster level 11 and to 5th level when you reach
shadowcaster level 15.
Dark Terrain
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Ongoing Effect
Black Fire: You conjure cold fire across the battlefield.
Choose three 5-foot squares within range. Whenever a
creature starts its turn within one of those squares, it must
make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 2d6 cold
damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful
one.
(Level 3) Clinging Darkness: Grasping tendrils of shadow
fill a 20-foot square on ground that you can see within
range. For the duration, these shadows turn the ground in
the area into difficult terrain.
        When a creature enters the affected area for the first
time on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must
succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained until
the mystery ends.
        A creature restrained by the shadows can use its action
to make a Strength saving throw against your spell save
DC. On a success, it frees itself.
At Higher Levels
The damage dealt by Black Fire increases to 4d6 when you
reach shadowcaster level 7, to 6d6 when you reach
shadowcaster level 11 and to 8d6 when you reach
shadowcaster level 15.
Ebon Roads
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 8 hours
Immediate Effect
Step into Shadow: You create a conduit through the
shadows, traveling to a spot within 300 feet of you. You
arrive at exactly the spot desired. It can be a place you can
see, one you can visualize, or one you can describe by
stating distance and direction, such as 200 feet straight
downward or upward to the northwest at a 45-degree
angle, 300 feet.
        You can bring along Objects as long as their weight
doesn't exceed what you can carry. This mystery can also
transport other willing creatures of your size or smaller
who is carrying gear up to its carrying capacity. Those
creatures must be within 5 feet of you when you invoke this
mystery, and must use their reactions to step through the
conduit as it opens.
        If you would arrive in a place already occupied by an
object or a creature, you and any creature traveling with
you each take 4d6 force damage, and the mystery fails to
move you.
(Level 9) Pass into Shadow: You and up to eight willing
creatures who link hands are transported to or from the
Plane of Shadow. If traveling from the Plane of Shadow to
any plane but the Material Plane, you must have an item
originating from or tuned to the chosen plane. You can
specify a target destination in general terms, such as the
City of Brass on the Elemental Plane of Fire or the palace
of Dispater on the second level of the Nine Hells, and you
appear in or near that destination.
        You can use this mystery to banish an unwilling creature
to the plane of shadow. Choose a creature within your
reach and make a melee shadow magic attack against it.
On a hit, the creature must make a Charisma saving throw.
If the creature fails the save, it is transported to a random
location on the Plane of Shadow. A creature so transported
must find its own way back to your current plane of
existence.
Ongoing Effect    
(Level 11) Voyage into Shadow: You and up to eight willing
creatures who link hands move along the border between
the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadow for the
duration. Traversing along the twisted reflections of the
Material Plane is much faster than traveling through
mundane means. You and all creatures with you can travel
100 miles each hour. You may move back into the Material
Plane at any time, ending the mystery.
        To use this effect, you must be in an area of dim light or    
darkness on the Material Plane. While the mystery lasts,
you and the creatures traveling with you are unable to
interact with creatures or objects on the Material Plane.
Ebon Walls
Master Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S    
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Ongoing Effect
Prison of Night: You create a 20 foot cube-shaped prison of
shadow around an area you choose within range. The walls
of this prison prevent any matter from passing through
them and block any spells cast into or out of the area.
When you invoke this mystery, any creature that is
completely inside the prison's area is trapped. Creatures
only partially within the area, or those too large to fit inside
the area, are pushed away from the center of the area until    
they are completely outside the area.
        A creature inside the prison can't leave it by nonmagical
means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or
interplanar travel to leave the prison, it must first make a
Charisma saving throw. On a success, the creature can use
that magic to exit the prison. On a failure, the creature    
can't exit the prison and wastes the use of the spell or
effect. The prison also extends into the Ethereal Plane,
blocking ethereal travel.
        Whenever a creature starts its turn within the prison, it    
must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes
2d6 cold damage on a failed save.
(Level 15) Tomb of Night: You attempt to send a creature
that you can see within range to a harmless demiplane
between the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadow. The
target must succeed on a Charisma saving throw or be
banished.
        While banished, the target is incapacitated and does not
need to eat, drink, or sleep and does not age. If you
concentrate on this mystery for the full duration, the
creature remains banished. At the end of every 30 days, the
creature can repeat its saving throw against this mystery. If
it succeeds on its saving throw, the banishment ends and
the creature returns to the space it was banished from, or
in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.
(Level 17) Shadow Bind: You channel a pulse of death
magic through the shadow of a creature within range. The
target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save,
the target takes 20d6 necrotic damage and is marked for
the duration of the mystery. On a successful save, the target
takes half as much damage and isn't marked.
    If a creature marked by this mystery would die, it instead
becomes incapacitated at 0 hit points and is unable to die
for the next minute. During that time, you may use an
action to tear the creatures shadow from its body, imprison
it with a gemstone worth at least 500gp per Hit Die of the
target, and replace it with a shadow of your own making.
The creature then regains one hit point and is bound by the
mystery. If you do not imprison the creature's shadow
within 1 minute, the creature dies.
    A creature bound with this mystery retains its
personality, hit dice, skill proficiencies, and ability scores,
but loses all class features and special attacks, such as a
dragonborn's breath weapon or a fighter's extra attack. If a
spell or ability would charm or frighten the bound creature,
the controller of that spell or ability must make an ability
check using its spellcasting ability. The DC for this check is
your shadow magic save DC. On a failed check, the spell or
ability fails.
    The bound creature does its best to obey the commands
of whoever holds the gemstone binding its shadow. When
not currently following an order, it defends and preserves
itself to the best of its ability. A creature holding its own
gemstone can command itself. It can't command itself to
become stronger or smarter, but can command itself to
perform actions, such as forgetting an event or committing
to a decision. A creature that attunes to the gemstone
containing its shadow regains its class features and special
attacks.
    If the creature dies, its shadow is pulled from the
gemstone and the mystery ends. Dispel magic cast at 9th
level, a wish spell, or the Unravel Dweomer effect of the
Unbinding Shade mystery invoked by a 17th level
shadowcaster can free the creature's shadow by targeting
the gemstone. The mystery ends and the creature dies.
    A gemstone can only have one shadow bound at a time.
If you use a gemstone to bind another creature using this
mystery, the mystery ends on the first creature and that
creature dies.
    This Mystery can't be used against a creature incapable
of casting a shadow, such as a ghost or other incorporeal
creature. You can use this mystery to bind your own
shadow. When used in this way, you do not have to die
while marked.
Ebon Whispers
Apprentice Tier Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Ongoing Effect
(Level 3) Pervasive Whisper: You whisper directly to a
creature's subconscious mind, planting a simple idea.
Creatures that can't be charmed are immune. The target
must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it
performs the action. The action can continue for the entire
duration. If the activity can be completed in a shorter time,
the mystery ends when the subject finishes what it was
asked to do. You can not give a creature a command that is
directly harmful to it.
(Level 3) Congress of Shadows: You open up conduits of
shadow between yourself and a creature you can see within
range. While the mystery lasts, both you and that creature
can hear what the other is saying. Additionally, as an
action, you can hear what the other hears until the start of
your next turn. During this time, you are deaf in regard to
your own senses.
(Level 3) Flicker: You gain the ability to step through
conduits of shadow. When you invoke this mystery, and as a
bonus action on subsequent turns, you can teleport up to
15 feet. To do this, you must be standing in an area of dim
light or shadow.
        If you would arrive in a place already occupied by an
object or a creature, or in a space filled with bright light,
you take 1d6 force damage and the mystery fails to teleport
you.
At Higher Levels
The number of creatures Congress of Shadows can target
increases to 3 when you reach shadowcaster level 6, 5 when
you reach shadowcaster level 9, 7 when you reach
shadowcaster level 12, and 9 when you reach shadowcaster
level 15.
Eclipsed Visions
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Ongoing Effect
Veil of Shadows: For the duration, all creatures in a 10-foot-
radius sphere centered on a point or willing creature you
choose within range become invisible. Anything a creature
within the sphere is wearing or carrying is invisible as long
as it is on the creature s person. This mystery ends for a
creature when it leaves the area, or when it attacks, casts a
spell, or invokes a mystery.
        If this mystery targets a creature, the sphere moves with
that creature.
Curtain of Shadows: You create a wall of shadow on a solid
surface within range. You can make the wall up to 60 feet
long, 20 feet high, and 1 foot thick, or a ringed wall 20 feet
in diameter, 20 feet high, and 1 foot thick. Only creatures
that can see in magical darkness can see through the wall.
The wall lasts for the duration.
        When the wall appears, each creature within its area
must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a
creature takes 5d8 cold damage, or half as much damage
on a successful save. A creature takes the same damage
when it enters the wall for the first time on a turn or ends
its turn their.
(Level 9) Shadow Play: You gather nearby shadows to
create a complex illusion of a creature. The creature can be
any species or race you have seen, and you control all
aspects of its appearance. It appears in a space you can see
within range. As an action, you can give the illusion a
mental command, which it will follow to the best of its
ability. You must be within 100 feet of the illusion to do so.
        The illusion can speak and mimic the sounds of
creatures, and has limited Intelligence. It can't devise a lie
on it's own, but it can be instructed to tell a specific lie, and
is capable of elaborating without further commands. To do
so, it makes an ability check using your
Charisma(Deception) modifier.
        Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an
illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that
uses its action to examine the image can determine that it
is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation)
check against your shadow magic save DC. If a creature
discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see
through the image, and its other sensory qualities become
faint to the creature.
Elemental Shadows
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Ongoing Effect
Aura of Shade: Each creature you choose within range has
resistance to fire and cold damage for the duration.
Dark Storm: You fill the air above with dark storm clouds.
When you invoke this mystery, choose up to 3 creatures
you can see within range. Bolts of black lightning strike the
targeted creatures. Each creature targeted must make a
Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 3d6 lightning
damage and 3d6 cold damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one. On each of your turns
until the mystery ends, you can use your action to call
lightning down in this way again, targeting the same
creatures or different ones.
Winds and Tides: For the duration, you can reach into the
Plane of Shadow, shaping the reflection of the world
around you and manifesting those changes in an area you
choose that is a cube up to 100 feet on a side. Choose one
of the following effects when you invoke this mystery. As an
action on your turn, you can repeat the same effect of
choose a different one.
Flood: You cause the water level of all standing water in the
area to rise by as much as 20 feet. If the area includes a
shore, the flooding water spills over onto dry land. If you
choose an area in a large body of water, you instead create
a 20-foot tall wave that travels from one side of the area to
the other and then crashes down. Any Huge or smaller
vehicles in the wave's path are carried with it to the other
side. Any Huge or smaller vehicles struck by the wave have
a 25 percent chance of capsizing. The water level remains
elevated until the spell ends or you choose a different
effect. If this effect produced a wave, the wave repeats on
the start of your next turn while the flood effect lasts.
Part Water: You cause water in the area to move apart and
create a trench. The trench extends across the spell's area,
and the separated water forms a wall to either side. The
trench remains until the spell ends or you choose a
different effect. The water then slowly fills in the trench
over the course of the next round until the normal water
level is restored.
Gusts: A wind picks up within the cube, continually blowing
in a horizontal direction that you choose. You choose the
intensity of the wind: calm, moderate, or strong. If the wind
is moderate or strong, ranged weapon attacks that that
enter of leave the cube or pass through it have
disadvantage on their attack rolls. If the wind is strong, any
creature moving against the wind must spend 1 extra foot
of movement for each foot moved.
At Higher Levels
The damage dark storm deals increases to 5d6 lightning
damage and 5d6 cold damage when you reach shadowcaster
level 11 and to 7d6 lightning damage and 7d6 cold damage
when you reach shadowcaster level 15.
Eyes in the Dark
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
Killing Shadows: Your eyes blacken as a flood of shadow
pours out of them. Each creature in a 20-foot cone must
make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 3d6 cold
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one.
Ongoing Effect
Bend Perspective: Your shadow moves about on its own,
allowing you to see the world from a different location.
When you invoke this mystery and as a bonus action on
each of your turns, you can switch between seeing through
your own eyes or seeing from a point of your choice within
range. If you choose both this effect and Killing Shadows,
you can have Killing Shadows originate from the chosen
point.
Piercing Sight: One willing creature of your choice within
range gains Darkvision out to 60 feet. Additionally, that
creature can see invisible creatures and objects as if they
were visible, and can see into the Ethereal Plane. Ethereal
creatures and objects appear ghostly and translucent.
At Higher Levels
The damage Killing Shadows deals increases to 6d6 at
shadowcaster level 5, to 9d6 at shadowcaster level 9, 12d6 at
shadowcaster level 13, and 15d6 at shadowcaster level 17.
Eyes of the Night Sky
Master Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Ongoing Effect
Truth Revealed: You see the world as it is. For the duration,
you have truesight, notice secret doors hidden by magic,
and can see into the Ethereal Plane, all out to a range of
120 feet. Additionally, you can see any creature within 120
feet, so long as it is not blocked by more than 3 feet of
stone, 6 inches of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 5
feet of wood or dirt. Creatures appear as a faintly glowing
silhouette. Highly alert creatures glow brighter than
distracted or sleeping creatures.
(Level 15) Peer Through the Veil: You enter a trance in
which you can peer through the shadows on any plane.
Focus on a creature. The target must make a Wisdom
saving throw, which is modified by how well you know the
target, the sort of physical connection you have to it, and
the light level the creature is in. If the target is on the same
plane as you, it has disadvantage on this saving throw. If a
target knows you're invoking this mystery, it can fail the
saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
Knowledge - Save Modifier
Secondhand (you have heard of the target) - +5
Firsthand (you have met the target) +0
Familiar (you know the target well) - -5
Connection - Save Modifier
Likeness or picture - -2
Possession or garment - -4
Body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, or the like - -10
Light Level - Save Modifier
Bright Light - +2
Dim Light - +0
Darkness - -2
        On a successful save, the target isn't affected, and you
can't use this mystery against it again for 24 hours.
        On a failed save, you can see and hear through the
creature's shadow as if you were there. Their shadow
moves with the target as usual, even if it can't be seen. A
creature that can see Invisible Objects sees a luminous
outline around the shadow.
        Instead of targeting a creature, you can choose a location
you have seen before as the target of this mystery. When
you do, you peer through a shadow of the DM's choice at
that location.
(Level 17)Reflections of Things to Come: You gain a
limited ability to see into the immediate future. For the
duration, you can't be surprised and have advantage on
ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. Additionally,
other creatures have disadvantage on attacks against you.
        You can use your reaction to discharge this mystery
when you are hit by an attack. If you do, the attack misses
instead and the mystery ends. You can also use your
reaction to discharge this mystery when you fail a saving
throw. If you do, reroll the saving throw and the mystery
ends. You must use the new roll.
Gloaming Dreams
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Ongoing Effect
Mesmerizing Shade: You create a distracting phantom that
seems to exist just beyond a creature's vision. Choose one
creature that you can see within range to make a Wisdom
saving throw. On a failed save, that creature has
disadvantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws
for the duration.
(Level 3) Sight Eclipsed: You darken a creature's vision,
blinding it for a time. Choose one creature that you can see
within range to make a Wisdom saving throw. If it fails, the
target is blinded for the duration. At the end of each of its
turns, the target can make a Wisdom saving throw. On a
success, the mystery ends.
(Level 5) Nightfall: You gain the ability to attack the minds of
other creatures directly, filling them with lethargy and
lulling them into an unwilling slumber. When you invoke
this mystery and as an action on each of your turns until
the mystery ends, you can attempt to put a creature within
range asleep. The target must make Wisdom saving throw.
On a failed save, the creature falls unconscious. It wakes
up if it takes any damage or if another creature uses its
action to shake the sleeper awake. You can't target a
creature that has succeeded a saving throw against this
invocation of Gloaming Dreams.
Heart and Soul
Master Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Immediate Effect
(Level 17) Scream of Anarchy: You release a mental shriek,
compelling nearby creatures to attack. Each creature
within 20 feet of a point you can see within range must
make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature
uses its next turn to move up to its speed and attack the
nearest creature.
Ongoing Effect
Compulsion: You attempt to invade the mind of a humanoid
within range. It must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw
or be charmed by you for the duration.
        While the target is charmed, you have a telepathic link
with it as long as the two of you are on the same plane of
existence. You can use this telepathic link to issue
commands to the creature while you are conscious (no
action required), which it does its best to obey. You can
specify a simple and general course of action, such as
Attack that creature, Run over there, or Fetch that object. If
the creature completes the order and doesn't receive
further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to
the best of its ability.
        Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new
Wisdom saving throw against the mystery. If the saving
throw succeeds, the mystery ends.
(Level 15) Puppet: One creature that you can see within
range must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save
you move to it and hide within its shadow and posses it.
While hiding within its shadow, you can not be targeted by
any attack, spell, or other effect. Additionally the creature's
shadow can not be removed by shining a light on it.
        While possessing a creature, you control the creature's
body, but don't deprive the target of awareness. You see
what the creature sees, hear what it hears, and feel what it
feels. When the creature takes damage, you must make a
Constitution saving throw to concentrate on the mystery as
though you had taken the damage.
        The possession lasts until the creature drops to 0 hit
points, you use a bonus action to end it, or the mystery
ends. When the possession ends, you appear within 5 feet
of the creature in an unoccupied space of your choice. If
the possession ends for any reason other than you used a
bonus action to end it, you fall prone within that space.
Investiture of Shadow
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Ongoing Effect
Discretion: You gather the shadows about your form, gaining
the following benefits for the duration:
You are invisible. Anything you are wearing or carrying is
invisible as long as it is on your person.
You have a flying speed of 30 feet.
You can use your action to discharge this mystery. When
you do, you teleport to a space within 100 feet of you that
you can see and the mystery ends.
(Level 11) Valor: You gather the shadows about you into a
terrifying winged visage. For the duration you gain the
following benefits:
You are immune to cold damage and have resistance to
fire and radiant damage.
You have a flying speed of 30 feet.
Your attacks deal an additional 1d6 cold damage.
You can use your action to discharge this mystery. When
you do, each creature within 15 feet of you must make a
Wisdom saving throw. On a failed saving throw, a creature
takes 6d6 psychic damage and is frightened until the end
of its next turn.
Liquid Night
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous
You reach into nearby shadows and pull out a small supply
of ink. As an action, you can fill a container with enough ink
to fill a single page. You can also create the ink directly on a
surface, writing up to ten words with a single invocation of
this fundamental.
Sight Obscured
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You touch one willing creature. Once before the
fundamental ends, the target can roll a d6 and add it to a
Dexterity (Stealth), Dexterity (Sleight of hand), or Charisma
(Deception) check of their choice. It can roll the die before or
after making the ability check. The fundamental then ends.
Summon Shadow
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
(Level 5) Transpose Shadow: You switch places with your
shadow. Your shadow must be within 100 feet. When you
use this effect as a reaction, any attack or spell that would
have targeted you instead targets your shadow, and any
attack or spell that would have targeted your shadow
instead targets you.
Freezing Grasp: You move your shadow up to thirty feet to
an unoccupied space you can see and make a melee
shadow magic attack against one creature within five feet
of it. On a successful hit, the target takes 2d6 cold damage.
Ongoing Effect
Doppleganger: You create a shadowy copy of yourself in an
unoccupied space that you can see within range. The
shadow is an object that has an AC of 10 and hit points
equal to half your hit point maximum. If it drops to 0 hp,
the mystery ends.
        While the mystery lasts, you may use a bonus action on
each of your turns to use Transpose Shadow or Freezing
Grasp. Additionally, you may use Transpose Shadow as a
reaction to you or the shadow being targeted by an attack
or spell.
At Higher Levels
The damage dealt by Freezing Grasp increases to 2d6 at
shadowcaster level 5, 3d6 at shadowcaster level 9, 4d6 at
shadowcaster level 13, and 5d6 at shadowcaster level 17.
Touch of Twilight
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
Immediate Effect
Life Fades: Make a melee shadow magic attack against a
creature you can reach. On a hit, the target takes 3d8
necrotic damage.
Ongoing Effect
Flesh Fails: The creature hit by Life Fades must make a
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature
gains one level of exhaustion for the duration. If you
concentrate for the full duration, the level of exhaustion
remains after the mystery ends.
Spirit Falters: The creature hit by Life Fades must make a
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is
slowed for the duration. The creature's speed is halved, it
takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it
can't use reactions. Regardless of the creature's abilities or
magic items, it can't make more than one melee or ranged
attack during its turn.
        A creature affected by this spell makes another
Constitution saving throw at the end of its turn. On a
successful save, the mystery ends.
At Higher Levels
The damage dealt by Flesh Fails increases to 5d8 at
shadowcaster level 5, 7d8 at shadowcaster level 9, 9d8 at
shadowcaster level 13, and 11d8 at shadowcaster level 17.
Additionally, at shadowcaster level 9, Flesh Fails causes 2
levels of exhaustion, or 1 on a successful saving throw.
Umbral Arrow
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire a shard of hardened shadowstuff at a creature
within range. Make a ranged shadow magic attack against the
target. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 piercing damage. This
fundamental counts as a ranged weapon for the sneak attack
class feature.
This fundamental's damage increases by 1d8 when you
reach 5th level (2d8), 11th level (3d8), and 17th level (4d8).
Umbral Grasp
Fundamental Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: Instantaneous
You create a long tendril of shadow that lashes out at your
command toward a creature or unattended object in range. A
large or smaller creature targeted by this fundamental must
make a Strength saving throw. On a failure, that creature is
pulled up to 10 feet closer to you. An object weighing no
more than 30 pounds targeted with this fundamental is
pulled up to 30 feet you.
Umbral Mind
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take in response to a
creature within range speaking
Range: 30 feet
Components: S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Immediate Effect
Pierce Lies: When you invoke this mystery, you immediately
know if one statement spoken within range was truth or a
lie.
Ongoing Effect
(Level 3) Thoughts of Shadow: You bestow one target
creature within range with enhanced mental capabilities.
For the duration, that creature has advantage on your
choice of Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom Checks.
Hinder Duplicity: For the duration, all other creatures within
range have disadvantage on Charisma(Deception) and
Charisma(Intimidation) checks.
Unbinding Shade
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Immediate Effect
Shadows Fade: You touch a creature within reach. Any spell
of 4th level or lower and any apprentice tier mystery on the
target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher or Initiate
tier mystery, make an ability check using your
shadowcasting ability. The DC equals 10+ the spell's level,
or 15 for initiate tier mysteries. On a successful check, the
spell or mystery ends.
Dismiss into Darkness: Make a melee shadow magic attack
against a celestial, an elemental, a fey, a fiend, or an undead
you can reach. On a hit, you attempt to drive the creature
back to its home plane. The creature must succeed on a
Charisma saving throw or be sent back to its home plane (if
it isn't there already). Undead are sent to the Plane of
Shadow, and fey are sent to the Feywild.
(Level 11) Unravel Dweomer: You touch a creature within
reach. Each effect causing the creature to be charmed,
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, or possessed ends. This
effect also ends any spell that says it can be ended by the
Greater Restoration spell, such as Feeblemind and Modify
Memory.
Vanishing Act
Apprentice Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
Immediate Effect
Hide Tracks: You release a wave of shadow magic that
travels in every direction, blurring the presence of
creatures in the area. All footprints, scents, and similar
signs of passing within range fade from view.
Ongoing Effect Ongoing Effect
(Level 3) Hideaway: You create a small doorway in an area Dream: A creature affected by Waking Sleep can use its
of shadow within range. The doorway looks no different action to enter the dreams of another sleeping creature and
than the area surrounding it, though True Seeing or a deliver a message. It can enter the dreams of a target
similar effect reveals the area as transparent. creature it can see, or those of a creature it knows that is
        You can only make the doorway as large as the shadow asleep on the same plane. The creature appears in the the
you touch, and it must be no smaller than a 2 foot square. A target's dreams and can converse with the target as long as
creature that walks through the doorway finds themselves it remains asleep, through the duration of the mystery. The
in a simple extradimensional space. Attacks and spells target recalls the dream perfectly upon waking.
can't cross through the doorway, but creatures inside can (Level 9) Nightmare: A creature affected by Waking Sleep
see out of it. The space is large enough to hold eight can use its action to enter the dreams of another sleeping
medium or smaller creatures. creature and create a nightmare. It can enter the dreams of
        The doorway and the area beyond last for the duration. a target creature it can see, or those of a creature it knows
Light can not remove the shadows from the doorway, but that is asleep on the same plane. The creature appears in
can remove the surrounding shadows, revealing the exact the the target's dreams as a monstrous entity and can
location and shape of the doorway. Anything inside the deliver a message of no more than ten words. The target
space is ejected to the nearest unoccupied space when the must then make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save,
mystery ends. the nightmare takes root and lasts for the duration of the
(Level 3) Silent as a Shadow: For the duration, each target's sleep, preventing it from gaining any benefit from
creature you choose within range (including you) has a +10 that rest.
bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks.         Once this effect has been used, it can't be used again
Walk amongst dreams with the same invocation of this mystery.
Initiate Mystery
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 8 Hours
Immediate Effect
Waking Sleep: One willing creature you touch immediately
falls asleep. While asleep, the creature's consciousness
leaves its body and exists within an identical but
incorporeal dream body. It gains a flying speed of 30 feet
and is invisible. It can pass through solid objects, but can
not interact with the material world in any way.
        A creature can use it's action to wake up, ending the
mystery. The mystery also ends and the creature wakes if
the creature's real body takes damage, or if the dream body
is targeted by a dispel magic spell or similar effect.
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