Illusion magic works by tricking the senses. Its spells fool other creatures and confound their efforts to discern reality from fantasy, but there are some students of the tradition who seek to create illusions with more substantive effects. While some focus on their art, others search for solutions within other traditions, such as Shadow.
Shadowmancers learn to weave threads of shadowstuff into their illusions and to enhance the darkness they wield with false images and sounds. The combination of these traditions allows shadowmancers to alter reality around themselves to terrorize their enemies. Whether they spawn hideous monsters of living darkness or loose darkness filled with terrifying noises, they command magic that plunges others into waking nightmares.
Level 3 Shadowmancer
Attributes. Increase two by 1
Characteristics. Health +2, Power +1
Languages and Profession. You can speak another language or add a profession to your list of professions.
Magic You discover the Illusion or Shadow tradition or learn one Illusion or Shadow spell.
Enchanced Shadows If you have learned at least one Illusion spell, whenever you cast a Shadow spell that has a duration of 1 minute or that affects an area, you can either increase the duration to 10 minutes or double the size of the area.
Shadowstuff If you have learned at least one Shadow spell, you impose 1 bane on rolls made to discern illusions you create for what they are.
Level 6 Shadowmancer
Characteristics. Health +4
Magic You learn one spell.
Interchangeable Magic You can use an action and expend the casting of one rank 0 Illusion spell to cast a rank 0 Shadow spell that you have learned. Likewise, you can also use an action and expend the casting of one rank 0 Shadow spell to cast a rank 0 Illusion spell you have learned.
Shadow Creatures When you cast an Illusion spell to create an illusory creature, you can expend the casting of a Shadow spell. The illusory creature gains a bonus to its Health equal to 1d6 plus 1d6 per rank of the spell whose casting you expended. In addition, if you expend the casting of a rank 3 or higher Shadow spell, the illusory creature’s attacks deal 2d6 extra damage.
When you cast a Shadow spell that creates a creature, such as shadow monster, you can expend the casting of an Illusion spell. The creature gains a bonus to its Health equal to 1d6 plus 1d6 per rank of the spell whose casting you expended. In addition, if you expend the casting of a rank 3 or higher Illusion spell, the creature’s attacks deal 2d6 extra damage.
Level 9 Master Shadowmancer
Characteristics. Health +4, Power +1
Magic You learn one spell.
Mantle of Darkness Whenever you cast an Illusion spell or a Shadow spell, you can choose for your space to become heavily obscured by darkness for 1 minute. The darkness moves with you, and you can see through the darkness.
Maddening Darkness When a creature takes damage from an Illusion spell or a Shadow spell you cast, the creature must get a success on a Will challenge roll or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the roll at the end of each round and removes the affliction from itself on a success.