Zed, the Blade's Shadow (5e Creature)
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Zed, the Blade's Shadow[edit]
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral Armor Class 21 (natural armor)
Saving Throws Dexterity +14, Intelligence +9, Charisma +11 Contempt for the Weak. If a target of a Punching Dagger attack is below half of its Hit Point maximum, it takes an additional 2d6 necrotic damage. The target cannot be affected by this feature for 3 rounds. Pierce the Light. Zed's attacks are considered magical and his weapon attacks ignore resistance to piercing damage. Sneak Attack. Once per turn, Zed can deal an extra 5d6 damage to one creature he hits with an attack if he has advantage on the attack roll. ACTIONSMultiattack. Zed makes three punching dagger attacks. He can swap one of those attacks with a razor shuriken or a shadow slash. Zed can take one more attack action after Living Shadow. Punching Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage. Razor Shuriken. Zed and his shadow both throw their spinning blades forward, dealing damage to any targets they pass through. All creatures within a 20 ft. line make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, targets take 26 (4d8 + 7) slashing damage, and half as much on a successful save. The line attack from a Shadow goes toward the same targeted area as Zed's. Living Shadow (Recharge 5-6). Zed's shadow dashes forward to a space within 40 ft. of him, remaining in place for two rounds after casting, and mimicking his spell casts. Zed can swap places with the shadow using a bonus action. He cannot if the Shadow's space is occupied. If Zed swaps positions with a shadow out of the line of sight of an enemy, Zed takes a Hide action as a Free Action. Shadow Slash. Zed and his shadow spin their blades, creating a burst of shadow energy All creatures within 5 ft. of Zed or his Shadow make a DC 24 Dexterity saving throw. A creature in range of both make this saving throw twice. Zed and his shadow slash, dealing 23 (3d10 + 7) slashing damage to creatures, or half as much damage on a successful save. Enemies hit by both Shadow Slashes have their movement halved until Zed's next turn, but will not take additional damage. Death Mark (Recharge 6). Zed briefly becomes untargetable and spawns a shadow at his location that lasts for two rounds. He then dashes to a target up to 35 feet away and marks them for death, appearing in the nearest unoccupied space next to the target. At the end of the next round, the mark will trigger, dealing 21 (6d6) slashing and 21 (6d6) piercing damage, plus 3 (1d6) for each attack Zed and his shadows landed on the same target while the mark was active. Zed can switch positions with this Shadow as a bonus action. REACTIONSUncanny Dodge. If an attacker that Zed can see hits him with an attack, he can use his reaction to halve the attack's damage against him. |
Zed is the first ninja in 200 years to unlock the ancient, forbidden ways. He defied his clan and master, casting off the balance and discipline that had shackled him all his life. Zed now offers power to those who embrace knowledge of the shadows, and slays those who cling to ignorance. An orphan, Zed was taken in and trained by a great ninja master. Only one other student appeared to be Zed's equal - the master's son, Shen. It seemed Zed could never win the favor of the master, as every match between the rivals ended in a draw. Frustrated and jealous, he sought an advantage. The young ninja ventured into a sealed part of the clan's temple, where he found an ornate, foreboding box. Sensing the dark knowledge within, Zed knew he should not open it, but he peered inside nonetheless. In an instant, shadows touched his mind, revealing techniques that had long been hidden. Now armed with a secret edge, he challenged Shen, and this time he defeated the master's son. He expected praise and recognition in his moment of victory, but somehow the master knew Zed had used forbidden ways, and banished him. Humiliated, the young ninja wandered for years. His bitterness turned to ambition, and he began to train others in the style of the shadows. As his power grew, so did his circle of followers, but he knew that without the box, his technique would never be perfect. One day, Zed looked at his followers and saw that his students were now an army. He led them back to the temple to claim his prize. At the gates, he was surprised to find the old master waiting, receiving Zed and his disciples as if they were welcome guests. The old man laid his sword at Zed's feet, declaring that he had failed Zed as his master. By banishing his former student, the master had doomed Zed to the shadows, instead of leading him to the balanced path. The old man implored Zed to enter the temple, destroy the box, and lead his followers to balance. The dark ninja followed the master inside. Moments later, the assembled ninjas heard Zed cry out in pain. Mysteriously, he emerged unscathed, and threw the severed head of the master at Shen's feet. Screaming in rage, Zed commanded his followers to slaughter the master's students and seize the box. That day, the old ninja order fell. Though many students died, some escaped thanks to Shen's heroic efforts. Now the temple is a dark training ground for the Order of the Shadow. Zed rules as the Order's master, and his edict is simple: perfect one's technique, and kill all ninjas who refuse to embrace the shadows. Balance is a lie - we are the true ninjas. -- Zed |
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