Shadow Fade (Rogue/Summoner)

Most rogues prefer to keep to the shadows and are often at home in the darkness. However there are a small few that possess an unquenchable affinity to the endless night itself. As a result, these rogues have devised a way to transform this singular affinity into a powerful and deadly obsession. Thus enters the shadow fade. Shadow fades draw upon the mutable essence of the Shadow Plane to enhance their stealth and legerdemain, while warping their summoning magic to their will to call upon the service of a powerful incorporeal creature similar to the feared shadows of undead claim. This shadow companion serves the shadow fade as an unshakable ally, while adding infinite versatility and depth to his already vast assortment of expertise. Whether vanishing into the shadows and reappearing yards away, empowering his blade with the capacity to strike incorporeal creatures, or hiding within the murky form of his shadow servant itself, the shadow fade is the master of darkness, twisting and turning it to greatest advantage. (Original Concept by Elghinn Lightbringer)

Primary Class: Rogue.

Secondary Class: Summoner.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The shadow fade may select three summoner skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal rogue class skills. The shadow fade gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 6 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The shadow fade is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, and short sword. The shadow fade is proficient with light armor, but not with shields.

Sneak Attack (Ex): This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name, except that the extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 at 3rd and every four levels thereafter, to a maximum of 6d6 at 19th level.

Rogue Talents: This is exactly like the rogue ability of the same name, except that the shadow fade gains a rogue talent at 2nd level and ever four levels thereafter.

Shadow Fade (Sp): Starting at 2nd level, whenever the shadow fade is within 10 feet of an area of dim light (including his shadow companion), he can vanish from sight. This ability functions as invisibility. The shadow fade can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to his shadow fade level + his Cha modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive. This ability replaces evasion.

Shadow Servant: At 4th level, a shadow fade gains the ability to summon to his side a powerful outsider creature from the Plane of Shadows called a shadow servant. The shadow servant forms a link with the shadow fade, who, forever after summons an aspect of the same creature. A shadow servant is similar to the Shadow described in the Bestiary. Unlike a normal shadow, this shadow’s alignment matches that of the shadow fade, and the creature cannot create spawn. This shadow serves as a servant to the shadow fade and can speak all of his languages. If a shadow servant is destroyed (sent back to the Plane of Shadows), the shadow fade must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude save. If the saving throw fails, the shadow fade gains one temporary negative level until the next time that the shadow servant is summoned. A successful saving throw avoids this negative level. This temporary negative level has no time limit and can never become permanent. In addition, due to the shadow servant’s incorporeal nature, it is unable to use magical items. The shadow servant otherwise functions like a summoner’s eidolon, except for changes described in this entry or hereafter. This ability replaces sneak attack 3d6, 5d6, 7d6, 9d6, and trapfinding.

Ghost Blade (Su): At 5th level, a shadow fade’s weapons are treated as having the ghost touch special weapon ability. This ability does not function if another creature attempts to use the shadow fade’s weapon. This ability replaces trap sense.

Shadow Camouflage (Ex): At 8th level, whenever a shadow fade is in an area of dim light (including his shadow servant), he can use the Stealth skill to hide himself within that area of dim light. He cannot, however, hide in his own shadow. This ability replaces uncanny dodge.

Maker’s Call (Su): At 9th level, the shadow fade gains the summoner’s maker’s call ability, except that it applies to his shadow companion. This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.

Advanced Talents: At 10th level, the shadow fade can choose an advanced rogue talent whenever he could choose a rogue talent, or when he selects the Extra Rogue Talent feat. The shadow fade adds the following rogue abilities to the list of advanced talents he may select: Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, and Improved Uncanny Dodge. A shadow fade must select Uncanny Dodge before selecting Improved Uncanny Dodge. In the case of the Improved Evasion talent, the shadow fade must have Evasion to select it.

Shadow Step (Sp): At 11th level, the shadow fade can use this ability to walk through the Shadow Plane and reappear as a standard action. The shadow fade can travel up to 30 feet per shadow fade level per day in this fashion, either in a single round or broken up across multiple shadow steps. This movement must be used in 5-foot increments and does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Travel through the Shadow Plane is imprecise; when the shadow fade arrives, he re-enters 1 square off target, as per the rules for thrown splash weapons (see the Core Rulebook). If this would place the shadow fade in an occupied square, he instead arrives in the nearest safe location. When the shadow fade arrives, he is cloaked in shadow and gains concealment as the blur spell for 1 round. The shadow fade may bring other willing creatures with him, but you must expend an equal amount of distance for each additional creature brought with him. They likewise re-enter off target (roll location for each creature) and are cloaked in shadow for 1 round. This ability replaces rogue talent at 10th level.

Greater Shadow Fade (Sp): At 12th level, a shadow fade can become invisible (as greater invisibility, a glamer), and at the same time, an illusory double of himself (as major image, a figment) appears. This ability functions like the mislead spell, using the shadow fade’s level as the caster level. The shadow fade can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to his shadow fade level + his Cha modifier. These rounds do not need to be consecutive. This ability replaces rogue talent at 12th level.

Transposition (Su): At 13th level, the shadow fade gains the summoner’s transposition ability, except that it applies to his shadow companion. This ability replaces rogue talent at 14th level.

Hide in Shadows (Ex): At 16th level, a shadow fade can use the Stealth skill even while being observed. As long as he is within 10 feet of an area of dim light (including his shadow servant), a shadow fade can hide himself from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind. He cannot, however, hide in his own shadow. This ability replaces rogue talent at 16th level.

Merge Forms (Su): At 17th level, the shadow fade gains the summoner’s merge forms ability, and becomes one with his shadow servant. This ability replaces rogue talent at 18th level.

Shadow Strike (Su): At 20th level, whenever a shadow fade is in an area of dim light, he can transform himself into an incorporeal, shadow-like form. This form is similar to the shadow described in the Bestiary, but he cannot create spawn like a true shadow. While in this shadow form, the shadow fade retains all his racial and archetype abilities, and gains DR 5/— and a +4 Stealth bonus in dim light (–4 in bright light). If the shadow fade makes a successful attack while in this shadow form (including a successful sneak attack), he deals 1d8 points of Strength damage to the target, in addition to any normal damage. The shadow fade can assume this shadow form for a number of rounds per day equal to his shadow fade level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive. This ability replaces master strike.

Table: Shadow Fade