Nightblade Intro

For most adventurers darkness is an enemy. In the dark dungeons and shadowed ruins they most commonly explore it is ever-present, hiding trap and enemy alike. Their enemies on the other hand can almost universally see in the dark, making being detected and ambushed almost unavoidable.
It is hardly strange that players have wanted to wield the darkness for themselves. Since the very first editions of D&D the Thief and Assassin have skulked in the darkness, and already in AD&D the wizard could take the Shadow Mage kit to use darkness based magic.

The Nightblade is the centerpiece class of The Book of Shadows. It uses the basic chassis of the rogue, with shadow magic instead of sneak attacking. Their spellcasting follows the bard’s progression, with Charisma as their spellcasting modifier. The spell list is varied, with mostly utility and evocations. It obviously contains a large number of shadow and darkness spells.

The class is impressively customizable. Every nightblade must select a specialization called a path at level 1. A path provides a series of unique powers and abilities with a central theme spread out over the nightblade’s levels, as well as access to several distinct nightblade arts. Nightblade Arts are the talents of the class, and among other things allow the nightblade to expand upon their class features and can be exchanged one to one for combat feats or rogue talents.

Role: Nightblades are skill monkeys and stealth specialists. Their shadow spells add versatility both in and out of combat. Their chosen Path and nightblade arts determine their exact role in combat, but their place is always on the side of the battle.

HD: 8
BAB: 3/4
High Saves: Ref, Will
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Dex), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (planes), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points: 6 + int mod

When the denizens of Calignos first fled underground to escape the Earthfall the local thieves guild fled with them. These assassins and thieves were the most eager students of the Forsaken, and when the owbs first showed themselves to the Dark Folk they hid themselves away from these new overlords. To this day their decedents worship the Forsaken on the edges of Dark Folk society, stealing away and training any Caligni throwbacks they can take.

A dwarven hold in in turmoil since the leader of the mining guild has been found assassinated in his private office. In the weeks since more high ranked miners have been found muredered in ever more guarded rooms. Rumors say a shadowy figure has been seen moving through stone walls, and that the murders are connected to a large new mining operation that was being planned.

Yami stalks the Chasm to Shadow, preferring to take the fight to the enemies of life over playing the guiding role his fellow manasaputras favor. He has learned to wield the shadows he casts as a deadly weapon.