Shadow Drinking. A brightener radiates bright light in a 5ft. radius. If a brightener does not move for an hour, that radius extends to 10ft. And if the brightener does not move for a full day, the radius extends to 30ft, its maximum radius. Once at its maximum radius, the light remains for a day, even if the brightener leaves the area. This effect dispels preexisting magical darkness, but a new application of magical darkness will dispel light created by this effect.
Shadow Theft. If a brightener ends its turn adjacent to a medium-sized or smaller creature and manages to remain adjacent to it until the end of the brightener's next turn, it will consume the creature's shadow. The creature no longer casts a shadow and glows as though affected by the faerie fire spell, save the effect vanishes if the target becomes invisible, returning when it becomes visible again. The target's shadow returns after an hour has passed, ending the effect.
The brightener can effect larger creatures, needing to remain adjacent to it for an extra turn per greater size category to consume the creature's shadow (two turns for a Large creature, and so on).
Description
Brighteners are strange creatures that feed on darkness. How the creatures gain sustenance from shadows is a question that gives sages headaches. They can be found anywhere that darkness is prevalent, especially in the underdark, dwelling in groups of around a half-dozen. As they feed, the darkness around them is replaced with light, forcing them to move on. A brightener will avoid areas of bright light, since it will starve and die in a few hours without darkness to feed upon.
Brighteners are a special bane to rogues and others who prefer to move stealthily through darkness, because they can consume the shadows that cling to the nooks and crannies of the body, effectively sheathing it in light. Brighteners seem to enjoy the "taste" of living creatures' shadows, making them a persistant nuisance, following creatures and feeding on their shadows until killed or driven away. Needless to say, creatures of darkness hate brighteners and kill them on sight. Those who love the light and hate the darkness, on the other hand, often try to encourage brighteners to remain nearby, which is difficult since they cannot be trained or communicated with unless magic is used.
A brightener is pale blue and saucer-shaped with a soft, puffy body like a cumulus cloud. It has two small black eyes on one side. A diaphanous fin surrounding its body helps it to maneuver.