Shadow Priest (Priest Variant)

Shadow priests can melt your face!

Well, not really. However, shadow priests are rightfully feared by most. Despite the moniker, shadow priests deal not in the Shadow or fel magics, but instead with mental prowess and shadowy effects. To the priest, shadow magic grants control over a target’s mind, inflicting damage directly to their psyche, or other feats of mental domination. Neither are shadow priests evil, though many are twisted by dabbling with shadow magic. Most commonly, the Forsaken and trolls raise shadow priests, but any race can find shadow priests among their ranks.

Shadow Priest Alterations

Shadow priests do not gain the aegis, greater aegis, and smite abilities, nor are they able to learn a second domain at 10th level. Instead, they gain the following class features, at the indicated levels:

1st-level — Detect Thoughts (Sp): The shadow priest may use detect thoughts as a spell-like ability at will.

4th-level — Vampiric Embrace (Su): At 4th level, a shadow priest learns to tap into a subjects health when blasting a victim with shadow magic. As a swift action, if the target suffers damage from any mind-affecting spell cast by the shadow priest, the shadow priest heals a like amount of damage. The shadow priest may use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Spirit bonus (minimum 1/day).

10th-level — Shadowform (Su): At 10th level, the shadow priest learns how to transform as a standard action at will into a shadowy form with burning eyes. This form grants the shadow priest a deflection bonus to her AC equal to her Spirit bonus (minimum +1), as well as Darkvision up to 60’ (if the priest already has Darkvision, then she gains Blind-fight instead). She also gains a +10 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks to hide or move silently while immersed in shadows. However, the shadow priest, in shadowform, suffers a -1 penalty to all rolls when exposed to bright light, and all light-based attacks deal double damage. The shadow priest may assume this form indefinitely.

12th-level — Shadow Mastery (Su): At 12th level, the shadow priest learns greater control over the minds of others. Mastering the shadow arts allows the shadow priest to cast spells with the mind-affecting descriptor at +1 caster level, and the save DC for such spells increases by +2.