Homebrew Shade Species Details

Over two thousand years ago, the ruler of a Netherese flying city transported his entire city onto the Plane of Shadow in order to explore that dim and perilous plane. For thousands of years, the City of Shade was lost to human knowledge, but in 1372 DR it aprubtly returned to Faerûn above the Dire Wood. Today, it soars above the deserts of Anauroch, land that was once a fertile part of the Empire of Netheril. Why the Netherese – now known as the Shadovars – returned, and what they are planning, are two mysteries that trouble the rulers of every nation in Faerûn. Most fear that solving these vital riddles will provide them with answers they will not care to hear. Until then, the Shadovars scheme in secret, their true goal a mystery to all but their ruler, the High Prince Telamont, and his twelve sons, the Princes of Shade.

Not all Shadovars are shades. The Princes of Shade decide who is to be given such a blessing, and they are stingy with their favors, careful to only empower those who are sure to be loyal to them and their causes. Prospective candidates are stringently tested for ability, loyality, and resourcefulness.

Shades look just like normal humanoids, although their skin is gray to inky black, as are their eyes. They are thinner than most humans, and they prefer to dress in dark-hued clothes or armor. Human Shadovars are never made into shades until after they have reached the age of majority. There are no such things as young shades, and shades who marry produce normal offspring.

Shade Traits

Shades were once humans, but they have had the plane of shadows permanently stain their souls.

Control Light

The shade can decrease the levels of light within a 100-foot radius by a factor of 10% per level. For characters and creatures depending on light to see, this decreases the effective range of vision for them by the same percentage.

Invisibility

The shade can use this ability once per long rest.

Shadesight

The shade has 60-foot darkvision. He can see normally through any darkness effects but not through fog, invisibility, obscurement, and so on.

Shadow Image

Three times per long rest, the shade can use this spell-like ability (similar to the mirror image spell) as a sorcerer of his level. This creates 1d4 figments of the shade.

Shadow Stride

A shade of 8th level or higher can vanish from his current location and reappear in any shadowy area within 500 feet. This is a move-equivalent action.

Shadow Travel

If the shade is 12th level or higher, the can use teleport o reach a shadowy locale on the same world or plane shift to access the Plane of Shadows. A shade can shadow travel once per day.

Spells of Shadow

As beings tied to the plane of shadow shades can cast the spells Darkness and Blade of Shadow,

Armor Class

Shades are difficult to hit in shadow. and as a result gains a +2 to their armor class while in darkness.

Naturally Stealthy

A shade has advantage on stealth checks while in shadow.

Ability Score Increase

 Your Constitution and your charisma increase by 2.

Age

Shades have extraordinarily long lifespans. By trading some portion of their souls for the stuff of shadow, they extend their lifespan tenfold. Shades created from humans use the following aging effect characteristics.

• Shade (human) – 300 – 450 – 600 – +6d% years

Alignment

Shades tend to be nongood.

Size

Shades vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. 50 while in shadow.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice.