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Shadow sentinels are elite illumian warriors who protect their people from githyanki raiders, demonic invastions, and hordes of barely imaginable monsters from the Plane of Shadow.

Requirements

Class Features

Shadow Points (Su): Upon entering this class, you gain a reservoir of shadow essence that you can draw upon to power your class features. This reserve increases in size as you advance in level; the table below indicates your daily limit of shadow energy. It takes 8 hours of rest to restore your shadow points to their maximum. Spending shadow points is a swift action.

Umbral Blade (Su): As a new member of the class, you receive an umbral blade in an elaborate ceremony conducted in the Tombs of the Brave in Elirhondas. In the hands of anyone not trained in its use, an umbral blade is merely a weapon with a +1 enhancement bonus made of some unusually dark, oily metal. An umbral blade may be any kind of slashing melee weapon, from a dagger to a longsword to a greataxe; each new shadow sentinel can choose the specific weapon. You can infuse the umbral blade with the power of shadow itself, unlocking greater powers. Your umbral blade acts as a lens, focusing your power to accomplish feats no other weapon can match. In time, your umbral blade grows in power as you become more familiar with it. At 4th level, your umbral blade gains a +2 enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls. The enhancement bonus rises to +3 at 6th level, +4 at 8th level, and +5 at 10th level. This enhancement bonus only applies when you wield it; for any other character it is only a +1 weapon. You can't add other special properties or powers to your umbral blade. You can have only one umbral blade at a time. If you lose your umbral blade, you can transform any slashing melee weapon that has at least a +1 enhancement bonus into a new umbral blade (with all the appropriate powers for your class level) by meditating and infusing the blade with the power of shadow. Doing this costs 100 XP, takes 24 hours, and uses up all your shadow points for that day.

Morphic Blade (Su): Even as a beginning shadow sentinel, you have rudimentary control over your umbral blade. You can spend 1 shadow point to change the dimensions of your weapon, turning it into a slashing melee weapon of your choice (sized appropriately for you). This change lasts for 24 hours or until you change the umbral blade's dimensions again, whichever comes first. At 5th level, you can spend 3 shadow points to allow your umbral blade to mimic a special material (such as adamantine, silver, or cold iron). This effect lasts for 1 minute per class level. Your umbral blade retains the normal hardness and hit points for a weapon of its type. At 9th level, you can spend 5 shadow points to allow your umbral blade to mimic a specific alignment (chaos, evil, good, or law) for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. This effect lasts for 1 minute per class level. If the weapon has a different alignment (such as granted by your race or subtype), the new one suppresses the original alignment for the duration of the effect.

Shadowstrike (Su): You can spend 1 shadow point to momentarily turn your umbral blade into fluid shadowstuff, enabling you to pierce an opponent's defenses. Your next attack with your umbral blade (if made before the start of your next turn) is treated as a touch attack. The attack even ignores any AC bonus from cover (except total cover) that the target may have, since the blade's fluid nature allows it to reach around barriers.

Shadowbane (Su): At 2nd level and higher, you can spend 1 shadow point to grant your umbral blade the equivalent of the bane special ability against evil outsiders and against creatures native to the Plane of Shadow. The effect lasts for 1 round per class level.

Shadowsharp (Su): At 3rd level and higher, you can spend 1 shadow point to double the threat range of your umbral blade. This benefit is the equivalent of the keen special ability. The effect lasts for 1 minute per class level.

Shadow Drain (Su): At 7th level and higher, you can spend 1 or more shadow points when striking a living creature with your umbral blade. The attack permanently drains 1 point of Strength from the target per shadow point spent. You can spend a maximum number of shadow points per round on this ability equal to one-half your class level.

Adaptation

As written, the shadow sentinels are strictly designed for illumians, and they're tied tightly to that race's culture. The mechanics of the class would be appropriate for any race or group with a connection to the Plane of Shadow, so you could use shadow sentinels even in a campaign that doesn't feature illumians.

Advancement