Base Class: Rogue
Lurking in the shadows, unseen yet ever-present, the Dark Avenger is a rogue who has honed body and mind to become the embodiment of fear itself. Moving through the night like a specter of justice or vengeance, they are an enforcer of their own moral code, using terror as their greatest weapon. Trained in both martial prowess and psychological warfare, these warriors strike from the darkness, vanish before their foes can retaliate, and leave nothing but dread in their wake.
Legends whisper of lone figures clad in darkness, watching over crime-ridden cities and hunting the wicked. Their names vary across the land, but all share the same relentless purpose: to strike fear into the hearts of those who prey upon the innocent. Unlike ordinary thieves or assassins, the Dark Avenger does not kill for coin or pleasure—they kill for justice, or for vengeance, or simply to rid the world of those they deem unworthy of mercy.
With rigorous training, tactical brilliance, and a mastery over shadow itself, a Dark Avenger becomes more than just a rogue—they become a symbol, a nightmare that criminals fear to face.
Masters of Fear and Stealth
Unlike other rogues who rely solely on guile and misdirection, Dark Avengers incorporate the raw power of fear into their combat style. They are not mere shadows in the night; they are the abyss staring back. By manipulating their environment and their enemies’ minds, they turn even the most fearsome foes into quivering cowards.
A Dark Avenger moves unseen, employing supernatural darkness to confuse and disorient. The battlefield is theirs to control, using the veil of shadow to strike, disappear, and reappear elsewhere before their enemies can react. Those who face them quickly learn the folly of fighting something they cannot see—let alone comprehend.
The Cloak of Shadows
One of the defining abilities of the Dark Avenger is their command over darkness itself. With a mere thought, they can shroud themselves in a pitch-black aura, rendering them invisible to ordinary sight. Within this void, they see clearly while their enemies stumble blindly, unable to retaliate effectively.
This ability is not simply a tool for hiding—it is a weapon. A Dark Avenger will use their Cloak of Shadows to divide and terrify their foes, vanishing from sight only to strike from an unseen angle. To the untrained observer, they appear to flicker in and out of reality, attacking from unexpected directions before retreating into the abyss once more.
Terror in the Night
Fear is the lifeblood of the Dark Avenger. Where other rogues rely on speed or charm, they exploit the primal dread that lurks in every heart. A mere whisper from them can send a hardened warrior into a panic, and a single glance from the darkness can break a man’s resolve.
When a Dark Avenger strikes unseen, they leave more than just wounds behind—they leave terror. The most fearless enemies, when caught in the clutches of a Dark Avenger, will find their hands trembling and their courage crumbling. Those who survive an encounter with them rarely speak of it, lest they invoke the nightmare once more.
The Vengeful Phantom
The art of the Dark Avenger is not just about striking terror—it is about being untouchable. Those who attempt to harm them will find themselves swinging at empty air, striking nothing but illusions. A well-trained Dark Avenger can step between reality and shadow at will, leaving false images of themselves behind to mislead attackers before reappearing elsewhere to continue their relentless assault.
By the time an enemy realizes they have been deceived, it is already too late. The Dark Avenger does not fight fair—they fight to win.
The Ultimate Predator
At their pinnacle, a Dark Avenger becomes a living embodiment of darkness and vengeance. Within their shroud of shadow, they are nearly invulnerable, moving faster than the eye can follow and striking with precision that defies belief.
Those who find themselves trapped within the Avenger’s domain experience true terror—an all-consuming dread that steals the strength from their limbs and the breath from their lungs. Even the bravest of warriors hesitate to attack, knowing that the darkness itself fights against them.
At this stage, the Dark Avenger is no longer just a rogue. They are a force of nature, a whisper of death that stalks the wicked and vanishes into the night without a trace.
The Dark Avenger in the World
Whether a self-proclaimed protector of the innocent or a cold-hearted agent of retribution, a Dark Avenger shapes the world around them through calculated, decisive actions. Some operate alone, guarding their chosen territory from the shadows, while others work within organizations, striking against the enemies of justice.
A Dark Avenger might be a vigilante who punishes corruption in a city overrun by crime, or a lone survivor of tragedy, hunting those who destroyed their life. They could be an enforcer of an underground guild, using fear to maintain control, or a wandering knight who has forsaken honor in favor of efficiency.
Regardless of their path, all Dark Avengers have one thing in common: they are the monsters that monsters fear.
Cloak of Shadows
You can vanish into darkness and bring it with you. As a bonus action, you can create a 20-foot-radius sphere of darkness centered on yourself, which lasts for 1 minute or until you end it as a bonus action. This darkness moves with you and cannot be dispelled by nonmagical light. You can see through your own darkness as if it were dim light.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.
Additionally, you gain proficiency in Intimidation, or expertise if you are already proficient.
Shadow Strike
You use fear and deception to manipulate combat. When you make an attack against a creature that cannot see you, you can force the target to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus) or become frightened of you for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Additionally, whenever you hit a creature with Sneak Attack while inside your Cloak of Shadows, you can choose to teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see within the darkness.
Vengeful Apparition
You’ve perfected the art of striking terror. When you roll Intimidation, treat a roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Additionally, as a reaction when a creature you can see hits you with an attack, you can vanish in a burst of shadow. You can teleport up to 30 feet and leave behind an illusory shadow of yourself. The shadow remains until the start of your next turn or until it is attacked. A creature that attacks the shadow realizes it is an illusion only after the attack lands.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Dexterity modifier (minimum 1) per long rest.
The Night’s Embrace
You are an unstoppable force in the darkness. While inside your Cloak of Shadows, you gain the following benefits:
- You have resistance to all damage except force and radiant.
- You can use your bonus action to move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- If a creature starts its turn inside your Cloak of Shadows, it has disadvantage on attacks against you, and it must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus) or be frightened until the start of its next turn.
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