Caligni Assassin
Level 8Attacks
Abilities
A creature with greater darkvision can see perfectly well in areas of darkness and dim light, though such vision is in black and white only. A creature with greater darkvision can see through even forms of magical darkness.
Caligni assassins are Concealed in dim light or darkness even to creatures that can see clearly in those light levels.
The assassin can move their full speed while Sneaking.
Trigger A creature within 60 feet casts a light spell Effect The caligni assassin attempts to counteract the triggering spell. Caligni assassins automatically recognize light spells.
When a caligni assassin dies, their body disintegrates into a veil of supernatural darkness for 1 round. A 4th-rank Darkness spell appears, centered on the assassin's location, with a counteract DC of 23.
The assassin isn't Off-Guard to creatures of 8th level or lower that are Hidden, undetected, flanking, or using surprise attack.
When first exposed to bright light, the monster is Blinded until the end of its next turn. After this exposure, light doesn't blind the monster again until after it spends 1 hour in darkness. However, as long as the monster is in an area of bright light, it's Dazzled.
You draw your weapon and attack with the same motion. You Interact to draw a weapon, then Strike with that weapon.
Requirements The assassin is in dim light or darkness
The assassin vanishes into shadow, appearing in a square of dim light or darkness within 60 feet. If the assassin appears adjacent to a creature, they can Strike that creature, otherwise the assassin can Hide.
The assassin deals an additional 2d6 precision damage to Off-Guard creatures.
Requirements The assassin's last action was a successful melee Strike
The assassin extends a tendril of shadow to obscure the target's vision, blinding them for 1 round (DC 23 will negates). On a critical failure, they're blind for 1 minute. Creatures with greater darkvision are immune to this ability.
Description
Lauded and shunned, caligni assassins often become unwitting pawns in clashes between caligni settlements or between rival factions of caligni society.
Calignis often get stereotyped as murderers, but the title of assassin is one of the rarest in their society. Caligni settlements go decades without having offspring born with enough potential. However, once a child shows they have "the gift"; the settlements leaders might give the babe to the owb, who mold and shape the child into an instrument of shadows and death.
Shadowfade
Caligni assassins gain their power from an infusion of planar essence directly from the Netherworld, which the owb help them develop into powerful abilities. This comes at a cost: all caligni assassins eventually succumb to an affliction known as shadowfade. This magical malady causes the caligni's body to painfully warp when concealed in shadows, as the plane's ability to create twisted reflections of reality changes their physical form directly.
Sometimes a caligni assassin will flee home and strike out on their own to avoid becoming a twisted tool for their greedy leaders. Such freelancers are in high demand for those seeking a fatal solution to their own political problems.