Umbral Sage (3.5e Prestige Class)

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Umbral Sage

"The darkness is nothing to be afraid of; instead, what one should fear are the monsters hidden inside the darkness. Shadow is just another element and, if you are brave enough, the monster lurking within are excellent research subjects." --Josh Kanik, Elemental Savant

Becoming an Umbral Sage

While any spellcaster who spends enough time studying and practicing can become an Umbral Sage, but only those with a superior force of will and a powerful personality can use what they learn to the fullest potential.

Requirements

Skills:	Knowledge (arcana) 10, Knowledge (the planes) 10
Feats:	Iron Will, Umbral Spell
Alignment:	Any but lawful good
Spellcasting:	Able to cast 3rd-level arcane spells
Special:	Must have traveled to the Plane of Shadow and must have either made peaceful contact with a shadow elemental or studied shadow elementals for at least a year

Table: The Umbral Sage

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special	Spellcasting
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+0	+0	+2	Shadow Infusions	—
2nd	+1	+0	+0	+3	Black Candle, Shade Magic, Umbral Knowledge	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd	+1	+1	+1	+3	Shadow Walk	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Adumbrated Step, Shadow Infusions	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th	+2	+1	+1	+4	Shadow Skin 10%, Umbral Knowledge	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Darkvision, Shadow Supremacy +2	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th	+3	+2	+2	+5	Shadow Infusions	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th	+4	+2	+2	+6	Umbral Knowledge	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th	+4	+3	+3	+6	Shadow Supremacy +4	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th	+5	+3	+3	+7	Shadow Infusions, Shadow Skin 20%	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level) Concentration (Con), Decipher Script (Int), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (The Planes) (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis)

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Umbral Sages gain no proficiency with weapons, armor, or shields.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: At each level except 1st, an Umbral Sage gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which she belonged before adding the prestige class level. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (improved chance of turning or destroying undead, a bonus feat, and so on). If she had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an Umbral Sage, she must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day and spells known.

Shadow Infusions (Su): An Umbral Sage can infuse spells with power derived from the Plane of Shadow and shadow elementals to provide additional bonuses or effects. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier (minimum 1/day). Activating this ability requires the caster to use her swift action to infuse the spell. An Umbral Sage may also infuse the mysteries gained in the ‘umbral knowledge’ ability.

Augmentation: Infuse a spell with shadow augmentation to grant any summoned creature the strength of shadow. Any creature summoned from a shadow augmentation infused spell gains the shadow creature template. At 4th level, infused summons become more difficult to dispel. Add 2 to the DC of any caster level check made to dispel a summoned creature. At 7th level, infused summons gain +2 constitution, and then get an additional +2 strength at 10th level. All of these bonuses are enhancement bonuses that stack with the augment summoning feat and last for the duration of the summon spell.

Defense: Infuse a spell with shadow defense to grant allies deflection and resistance bonuses in addition to the original effect of the spell. Any person targeted by a shadow defense Infused spell gains a +1 deflection bonus to AC and a +1 resistance bonus on fortitude saves for 1 round per caster level. The bonuses described in this ability stack with other deflection and resistance bonuses, but do not stack with the bonus on other shadow defense infused spells. If a second shadow defense infused spell is cast, the duration of this bonus is refreshed. These bonuses rise to +2 at 4th level, +3 at 7th level, and +4 at 10th level.

For example, Giana, a 7th level wizard/3rd level Umbral Sage, infuses a "protection from evil" spell with shadow defense, she would get a +3 deflection bonus to AC, a +3 resistance bonus on fortitude saves, and a +2 resistance bonus on will and reflex saves for 10 rounds. After the 10 rounds, she would only gain the +2 deflection and resistance bonuses described in the "protection from evil". If she later infuses a "protection from energy" spell with shadow defense, the infusion bonuses from the spells will not stack. Instead, the duration of the +1 deflection and resistance bonuses will be reset to 10 rounds.

Enervation: Infuse a spell with shadow enervation to sap either the target’s dexterity or strength. Any creature affected by the infused spell, takes either 1 point of dexterity damage or strength damage (DC 10+Umbral Sage level+Charisma modifier), which is decided by the caster upon infusing the spell. This damage can only affect one target per infused spell, but it does stack with any other strength or dexterity damage described in the infused spell. The damage described in this ability rises to 1d2 at 4th level, 1d3 at 7th level, and 1d4 at 10th level.

Flux: Infuse a spell with shadow flux to temporarily tether the target to the Plane of Shadow. The creature or object affected by the spell becomes partially incorporeal as the plane of shadow grips it. Non-magic attacks against or made by a creature affected by this infusion have a 10% miss chance as the creature drifts between the material plane and the Plane of Shadow. Non-magical objects affected by this infusion function in a similar manner and creatures have a 10% chance of passing through the object. This ability lasts for 1 round per caster level. If a second shadow flux spell is cast, the duration of this bonus is refreshed. This bonus rises to 15% at 4th level, 20% at 7th level, and 25% at 10th level.

For example, Giana, a 7th level wizard/3rd level Umbral Sage, infuses a "protection from evil" spell with shadow flux; she would get the normal benefits of the spell, but would also gain a 15% miss chance for 10 rounds. After the 10 rounds, she would only gain the +2 deflection and resistance bonuses described in the "protection from evil" If she later infuses a "protection from energy" spell with shadow flux, the infusion bonuses from the spells will not stack. Instead, the duration of the +15% miss chance will be reset to 10 rounds.

Black Candle (Sp): An Umbral Sage of 2nd level or higher can use "black candle" a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier if any (minimum 1). Her caster level is equal to her Umbral Sage class level.

Shade Magic (Ex): Your magic is more powerful in dark environments that resemble the Plane of Shadow. Spells cast in areas of complete darkness or shadowy illumination are considered to be one level higher than your actual caster level.

Umbral Knowledge (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, the Umbral Sage gains knowledge of one mystery apprentice path and the ability to cast them as if they were spells of the same level. The path chosen cannot be changed later. Former wizards get to add these mysteries to their spellbooks for free, and former sorcerers and bards get to add these mysteries to their spells known, even if this takes them over their normal limit. When the Umbral Sage first gains this ability, she gains the first mystery in her chosen path. For every three levels gained in the prestige class, she gains the next level mystery in her chosen apprentice path. At 5th level, in addition to gaining the 2nd level apprentice mystery, the Umbral Sage gains "shadow conjuration" as a spell known. At 8th level, in addition to gaining the 3rd level apprentice mystery, the Umbral Sage gains "shadow evocation". This class feature does not change the level of the spells or mysteries. An Umbral Sage still must have a spell slot of the appropriate level to prepare or cast a spell acquired through the ‘umbral knowledge’ ability.

Shadow Walk (Sp): Once per day, starting at 3rd level, an Umbral Sage may use "shadow walk" as a caster whose level is equal to her Umbral Sage class level. If she previously possessed the ability to use "shadow walk" as a spell-like ability, she gains a second daily use of that power.

Adumbrated Step (Ex): At 4th level, you gain a bonus on move silently checks equal to your Umbral Sage class level.

Shadow Skin (Su): Beginning at 5th level, an Umbral Sage’s connection to the Plane of Shadow and shadow elementals begins to manifest physically. She gains the ability to turn portions of herself into incorporeal shadow, providing a 10% miss chance on attacks against her for as long as her shadow skin is active. Magical effects and abilities that hit incorporeal creatures (like positive energy, negative energy, force effects such as magic missile, or attacks made with ghost touch weapons) ignore this miss chance. This miss chance rises to 20% at 10th level.

Darkvision (Ex): At 6th level, an Umbral Sage gains darkvision out to 60 feet.

Shadow Supremacy (Su): At 6th level, you gain a +2 deflection bonus to AC. This deflection bonus rises to +4 at 9th level and cannot exceed the Umbral Sage’s Charisma bonus.

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