A lone figure stands destitute in a dungeon, facing a bottomless chasm. Glassed over eyes reflecting the never ending depths of nothing. Staring into the void, it ponders it's fate. Having nothing to lose it reaches out and grabs at the shadows, grasping at hope that isn't there. To the creatures surprise it's emaciated hand  clasp around a featureless shadow, cold to the touch and unmoving. The shadow stares back, it's eyes devoid of all light and hope. The creature stares, realizing the eyes reflecting back are its own. The shadow complies and bends the knee, vowing undying loyalty and servitude until its services are no longer needed. The figure rises, still devoid of light and hope but now filled with shadows and a new purpose in life. The Harvester of Souls, The Master of the Void, The Shadow Monarch is born.....

 

The Shadow Monarch harvest the souls of those he has defeated in battle and summons a shadow of their soul to carry out his will. The strongest rulers command the strongest armies and so a Shadow Monarchs power is judged by the enemies he has defeated and harvested in battle. As a Shadow Monarch your strength lies in defeating powerful enemies, harvesting their souls and conjuring a shadow of harvested creatures to serve you in battle. As you start to unlock your Shadow Monarch abilities you begin to learn your shadows are more than just pawns to throw at enemies, they are your eyes, your shield, your life blood. So go forth and create your own legion of shadows and conquer all who stand before you.

 

 

Master of Shadows

At third level you unlock the potential of harvesting the souls of your enemies. When you reduce a creature to zero hit points you can force it to make a WIS saving throw. The DC is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your CON modifier. On a fail the creatures souls is extracted and becomes a shadow in your service. The CR of the creature can not exceed your proficiency bonus, if is does the creature succeeds automatically and this ability fails. This ability also fails if you attempt it on a creature with legendary actions or resistances. 

As an action you can summon a number of shadows up to your CON modifier. The shadows follow your commands and share the same initiative as you. They also retain their original stat block but gain vulnerability to radiant damage. There is no limit to how many shadows you can store but you can only control a number of shadows equal to your CON modifier. 

When a creatures soul is harvested it is added to your Shadow Codex and its shadow can be used as a summon under your control. You can not summon more shadows of the same creature that you have available in your Shadow Codex. For example if you have 1 Orc in your Shadow Codex you can not summon and control more than one Orc. 

Shadow Step

At seventh level when you receive damage you can use your reaction to swap places with a shadow under your control. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and regain all uses once you complete a long rest. 

 

Bend the Knee

At tenth level when you use your Master of Shadows ability you can choose to impose disadvantage on the target creature. In addition you may use your Master of Shadows ability on a creature that has legendary actions and/or resistances but the creature is granted advantage on the WIS saving throw. 

Shadow Sentinels

At fifteenth level when you use your Master of Shadows ability your summons gain temporary HP equal to your CON modifier. 

Soul Empowered Rend

At eighteenth level when you land a critical hit you can choose to sacrifice any number of shadows under your command. For each shadow sacrificed in this way you can add 1d8 of necrotic damage to your attack. 

Never Ending Conquest

At eighteenth level your power knows no limits. When you use your Master of Shadows ability you may add your proficiency bonus to the number of shadows you can summon and control at one time.