Even ascendants who claim to be atheists have some knowledge of religions and faith if just to understand their own undead bodies and the Shadow from which they were born. Ascendants attend the cult as prophets, leading clergies to the path of true undeath. Most ascendants are followers of that faith and expound that their transformations are proof of the faith's truthfulness. Shadow ascendants hold a special place in the Cult of Forgotten Shadow. An ascendant is a powerful creature, a physical manifestation of the Shadow, free of mortal constraints such as a body or feelings. Most Forsaken revere ascendants as the perfection of death and their own inner darkness. Ascendants come from all walks of life, but most are priests, though the occasional warrior or rogue may find ascension in the Forgotten Shadow. Shadow ascendants, obviously, are universally Forsaken. Furthermore, any light-based attack (such as the holy light spells or damage from a brilliant magical weapon) deals double damage to the ascendant. While in a source of bright light (whether natural sunlight or from a spell)the ascendant's attacks are weaker, they are more vulnerable to attacks, and they are less competent at their skills. The ascendant finds themself unable to stand bright lights. They can drain shadows only from a helpless victim or a corpse, however, as they can no longer grapple corporeal foes. As an incorporeal undead, they no longer have the use of any mundane item unless it has the ghost touch property. While the ascendant has a shadow companion, they do not have a shadow of their own.Ī highly experienced ascendant finally throws off the shackles of their body and becomes a living shadow. It serves as a companion to the ascendant and can communicate with them. The shade cannot be turned, rebuked or commanded. Unlike a normal shade, this shadow’s alignment matches that of the ascendant, and the creature is always visible to the ascendant. The ascendant animates their own shadow into a shade resembling them. The ascendant may use this ability to cannibalize a corpse as well, as normal, but they do not need to actually eat any flesh, while the ascendant feeds, the corpse begins to wither, until it turns to dust. When the ascendant uses this ability, the victim’s shadows drain into the ascendant, and the hollows in his facial features, under his hair, and beneath his body pale into nothingness. If the ascendant pins a foe during a grapple, they drain its shadows. The effect is centered on the ascendant, the tentacles don’t affect them, and the tendrils retract into their body and the effect ends.Īn ascendant can attempt to drain the shadows from a creature, and through its shadows, absorb its life forces. A highly skilled ascendant can cause innumerable tendrils of shadows to sprout from their body. The ascendant can travel between shadows as if by means of a dimension door spell, the magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A skilled ascendant can see any invisible creature and may climb any surface as though it is a spider. They cannot, however, hide in their own shadow. As long as they are near some sort of shadow, an ascendant can hide from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind. An ascendant can use the Stealth skill to hide even while being observed. The ascendant's shadow body bears some substance, almost like an ephemeral, inky fluid, but it is so wispy that it almost doesn't exist.Īs the Forsaken ascends the normal coils of undeath and transforms to an undead shadow, they grow supernaturally quicker. The Forsaken still has a body, however, and is not truly incorporeal as a ghost is. Hair and body shape remains, formed of the stuff of shadows, and eyes remain as burning balls of unholy light. This form resembles their old form, but without facial features. While the Forsaken loses the strength of an undead body, they gain the perfection of undeath, an incorporeal and inhumanly powerful free soul. The ascendant becomes one with darkness and shadows, and they feel their emotions grow colder and darker as they continue down this path.Īt the culmination of this path, the ascendant's body fades, and they become a living shadow. Their voice echoes, as if they speak both words and thoughts. Later, the air becomes cold around the ascendant. The ascendant becomes more sensitive to light, preferring to stay in darkness. Their features blur and become indistinct, almost as if they were melting away. The Forsaken's skin darkens, and shadows cling to their body. As the Forsaken undertakes their journey, many changes manifest.
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