The Twilight Blade (3.5e Prestige Class)

The Twilight Blade

“

Kathryn heard a faint whispering sound from the shadowy corner of the abandoned looking house where she had followed the assassin. She took two steps forward to determine it's source and squinted her eyes as two shadows appeared right in front of her as if summoned, driving their incorporeal hands through Kathryn's full plate into her guts. The strength sapping attack triggered her contingent blessing from Lathander for which she prayed every day and illuminated the dark room instantly destroying the shadows and peeling darkness like a wet ragged cloth from the man standing in the corner. The assassin blew a kiss at Kathryn and finished his spell, leaving a small pea-sized pulsating orb of fire and fell through the wall to the street below. Two heartbeats later an explosion shook the houses nearby as the small ball of fire expanded and engulfed the whole floor of the abandoned house. No-one saw the man clad in black cloak calmy walking into the nearby alley, chuckling silently to himself.

”

The Twilight Blades are usually powerful mages who have studied shadows to enhance their combat prowess. They mix their arcane might with shadow enhanced attacks that target their enemies most vulnerable spots and learn the necessary skills to work undetected and unsuspected.

Becoming a Twilight Blade

Many who become Twilight Blades are arcane spellcasters with some might. Most are wizards or sorcerers, but few beguilers and bards find their way to this class too. Many who take this prestige class have already multiclassed in rogue or assassin although it's not required. Your most important ability score is one that determines your spellcasting, constitution and dexterity are important too to survive in the dangerous underworld. You should not forget wisdom either, since it controls your final ability to become one with shadows.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any non-lawful or non-good.
Skills:	Knowledge (arcana) 8 ranks, move silently and hide 4 ranks.
Feats:	Any feat(s) that improve both hide and move silently skills, such as Stealthy or Skill focus (hide) and Skill focus (move silently).
Spellcasting:	Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells.

Table: The Twilight Blade

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+2	+2	Shadow strike (+1), Sneak attack +1d6	+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+3	Shadow blending	-
3rd	+1	+1	+3	+3		+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
4th	+2	+1	+4	+4	Shadow strike (+2), Shadow evasion	+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
5th	+2	+1	+4	+4	Sneak attack +2d6	+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
6th	+3	+2	+5	+5		+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
7th	+3	+2	+5	+5	Shadow strike (+3), Improved shadow evasion	-
8th	+4	+2	+6	+6		+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
9th	+4	+3	+6	+6	Sneak attack +3d6	+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
10th	+5	+3	+7	+7	Shadow strike (+4), One with the Shadow	+1 to existing arcane spellcasting class
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana, the Planes and local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex).

Table: The Epic Twilight Blade

The epic Twilight Blade continues to advance in Sneak attack, Shadow strike and spellcasting, but does not gain Shadow blending bonuses beyond 10th level.

Class Features

Spellcasting: At each level except 2nd and 7th, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming a Twilight Blade, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Shadow Strike (Ex): Twilight Blades have honed their attacks to take maximum advantage when striking their foes from shadows. The Twilight Blade gains competence bonus to hit whenever she has concealment against her opponent. This ability applies to spells as well as melee and ranged attacks against opponents within 30ft.

Sneak Attack (Ex): This ability works just like Rogue's ability in Player's Handbook.

Shadow Blending (Ex): The Twilight Blade gains +1 competence bonus to hide checks per Twilight Blade level. This ability works continiously, but only in shadowy areas and areas with total darkness. It works even against creatures with darkvision as Twilight Blade's keen understanding of Plane of Shadow allows them to actually find the spots where darkness hinders even darkvision.

Shadow evasion (Ex): This ability otherwise works just like Monk's Evasion ability in Player's Handbook except it functions only in shadowy conditions or in darkness.

Improved Shadow Evasion (Ex): This ability otherwise works just like Rogue's Improved evasion ability in Player's Handbook except it functions only in shadowy conditions or in darkness.

One with the Shadow (Su): At 10th level Twilight Blade becomes able to temporarely transcend into a creature of shadow, gaining incorporeal special quality as an immidiate action for one round. He can do so numer of times in a day equal to his wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). This also effects Twilight Blade's equipment.

The epic Twilight Blade gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic Wizard feats) every 3 levels after 10.

Campaign Information

Playing a Twilight Blade

Combat: <-Typical role in combat->

Advancement: <-Typical advancement options for characters with this class. Include desirable multiclass options->

Resources: <-What kind of assistance members of this class can expect from each other including possible organizations->

Twilight Blades in the World

“

<-Some quote from a character of this class->

”

<-Where characters of this class fit in a d20 world->

NPC Reactions: Twilight Blades are not as well known as Assassins, but their reputation still exceeds them. Player can expect to be hunted down by law-enforcing NPC's for simply belonging to this class if found out. Other NPC's might avert their gazes and make room when spotting a Twilight Blade and others could flee straight out. Their reputation makes most good and law bidding folk fearful, but might gain respect from those who also walk in the shadowy alleys of the night.

Twilight Blade Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (local) or Gather Information can research the Twilight Blades to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge (local) or Gather Information

DC	Result
11	Rogues' guild occasionally employs arcane spellcasters that use magic and shadow to take their enemies by suprise.
16	Twilight Blade is an arcane spellcaster who has become a blade (or spell) for hire. She can employ powerful magic and many are wizards of considerable strength.
21	Shadows shield them from harm in various ways and even allow the most powerful ones to pass through solid objects. They are most dangerous in places with limited light sources or other concealment.
26	Information on a specific member of this class who's challenge rating is not greater than your character level.

Twilight Blades in the Game

<-How characters of this class fit in the game (PC and NPC) and what roles they play->

Adaptation: <-Fitting this class in your campaign->

Sample Encounter: <-DM placement for NPC of this class->

EL whatever: <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block. The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter->

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