Ascaros, The Shadow

The tragic tale of this creatures creation is not often told. Dark rumors are often whispered when no one thinks its listening, but it hears and sees all that transpires within its realm. While ambition and seeking for greater power was its down fall, it became more than anyone could ever dream of. A true elemental of pure shadow, the first of its kind and the only elemental to ever be created by a mortal.
Loyal to only one thing, The Ring of the Shadowlords, and subsequently the realm its tied to, Ascaros diligently and eagerly servers the owner of the ring. A faithful servant, bodyguard, advisor and friend, Ascaros is always present even if unseen.

Description

Ascaros is a creature of pure semi-corporeal shadow stuff, usually taking on the form of a featureless humanoid-like creature, dark smokey tentacles, and tendrils, writhe in masses throughout its ever-shifting form.

Personality

Contemplative and observant, Ascaros is highly interested in the motivations and desires of those around him. Will often be found simply watching individuals or entire communities, gathering information, or just seeing how they interact with each other. He thrives on acquiring knowledge and extracting information.
While not sadistic he finds great satisfaction in testing anyone and everyone, constantly challenging friends and foe alike, intellectually and physically, pushing them to their limits. Interested purely in how they respond to, overcome, or fail said challenges. Those around him often become paranoid that any hardship, inconvenience, or roadblock is another one of his challenges. Some of his tests can be cruel and immoral while others are innocuous.
Always up for intellectual debate or substantial conversation he will never participate in trivial discourse. As such he makes a great advisor and friend to the owner of the ring and those he favors.
While he was a skilled crafter in his past life, his new malleable semi-corporeal form prevents him from doing any standard crafting or forging unless possessing a creature. Focusing his skills and abilities to spell work and other previously mentioned hobbies of watching and testing people now.
Unless he is possessing someone he can no longer taste food, feel real details in things he touches, or see colors and artwork in the same vividness as in his past, he can still hear with great acuity, so his love and interest in music has grown to such that he favors those of musical talent and can be seen actually relaxing and enjoying the moment when music is present.

Powers and Abilities

Can move / teleport through shadows and darkness with little effort, able to materialize from any shadow within one mile of the ring, and anywhere within the umbral sanctuary. Communicates telepathically with anyone within 100ft, understands every language but can only speak Shadowtongue. Capable of possessing creatures indefinitely, easily controlling them, and using the creatures' own powers and abilities as its own, as well as using its own powers through them. While possessing a creature it has access to the creatures knowledge and can speak any languages it knows. Can create a shadow variation of almost every spell it has ever studied, and conjure and create any weapon out of shadow materials.
Special Abilities Descriptions - Exceptional Abilities

Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex)

While in bright light or direct natural sunlight you are powerless, no spells or supernatural abilities function, and you seek to flee from it. While caught in such light you cannot attack and can take only a single move or standard action. While possessing a creature you are not harmed by bright light or direct sunlight, but if struck by a sunbeam or sunburst spell you are driven out of the host automatically.

Sprint (Ex)

Once per minute as a free action increases your fly speed to 240 feet for 1 round.

Shadow Blend (Su)

During any conditions other than bright light, disappear into the shadows as a move-equivalent action, effectively becoming invisible. Artificial illumination or light spells of 2nd level or lower do not negate this ability.

Shadow Invisibility (Ex)

This ability is constant after using Shadow Blend. While in any condition other than bright light you remain invisible at all times, even when attacking. As this ability is inherent, it is not subject to the invisibility purge spell. Against foes that cannot pinpoint you, you gain a +20 bonus on Stealth checks when moving, or +40 when standing still—these bonuses are not included in the statistics above.

Evasion (Ex)

Avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If it makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, it instead takes no damage.

Special Abilities Descriptions - Supernatural Abilities

Unearthly Grace (Su)

Adds its Charisma modifier as a bonus on all its saving throws and as a deflection bonus to its Armor Class.

Cold (Su)

Your touch saps heat from living creatures, leaving patches of colorless flesh rather than physical wounds. Can deal 1d6 points of cold damage with a touch. It adds +1d6 points of cold damage to any melee weapon damage it deals.

Imprison Soul (Su)

Any intelligent creature slain by you has its soul trapped within the Demiplane tied to the ring as if affected by Trap the Soul spell. There is no limit on the number of souls you can have imprisoned within the demi-plane or the HD of the creature attempting to imprison. Only creatures that have souls and that are able to be trapped can be affected by this ability. You can also choose not to trap the soul if desired.

Knowledge of Shadows (Su)

Any Imprisoned Soul within the Demiplane is subject to the Harvest Knowledge spell at all times. Temporarily absorbing its knowledge for yourself, you can sort through its lore and memories and sift through the creature’s surface thoughts as with the spell Detect Thoughts.

Darkness Aura (Su)

Like the spell Darkness, radiate darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This darkness causes the illumination level in the area to drop one step, from bright light to normal light, from normal light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness. This effect can be activated or dismissed at will. Ability is suppressed in bright light or direct sunlight.

Combat and Tactics

Ascaros is the loyal guardian and friend to the wielder of the ring, always coming to their aid at a moment's notice. If forced into combat it will not hold back unless directly instructed by its master. First following any direct guidance and orders from the wielder of the ring, it will then possess the body of the physically strongest combatant on the field and turn them on their allies. Ascaros is still capable of casting spells and using his abilities through the possessed creature.

Items and Equipment

Ascaros has but a single possession, a magic ring that it is bound to but is cursed to be incapable of touching, The Ring of the Shadowlords.

Lore and Stories

Personal History

Ascaros was a Shae Summoner and one of the Umbral Court’s Shadowcasters in Nidal, He was a powerful spell caster and Nidalese Priest with high esteem. Ascaros acted as an envoy for the Umbral Court and its home on the Shadow Plane, he held this position for many years. Ascaros was also the head of a secret council of wizards who inhabited The Tower of High Sorcery within The Umbral Sanctuary. They sought the secrets and knowledge it held, wishing to unlock its powers.
Ascaros’s Eidolon companion was a unique creation of magical experimentation combining an Invisible Stalker, an Astral Stalker, and a Shadow Demon into one unique and powerful creature.
He was skilled in crafting magical items and his greatest creation just happened to be his last. Ascaros spent years researching and tracking down rare and unique materials from many different planes of existence for this ring, he wanted to craft himself an artifact that could help him unlock and harness all the powers of the tower of high sorcery and the realm it inhabited.
In his success, he crafted The Ring of the Shadowlords, and in its final stages, The Minor Deity at the heart of the realm revealed itself and personally "blessed" the ring. This did make the ring more powerful with this blessing but Ascaros was permanently merged with his Eidolon and eternally bound to the ring. Cursed to loyally serve and protect the owner of the ring but never able to touch it. Caretaker and guardian of the ring and its owner, Ascaros diligently watches over the Demiplane linked to the ring and the Umbral Sanctuary where the ring was forged. Ascaros does not harbor any ill intent towards its master despite the curse. None of those who helped in its creation, members of the secret council, proved worthy of the ring and Ascaros was forced to kill them all, turning them all into the first of the unworthy.
Xpand to read Story

Ascaros, The First

The First of the Shadow Elementals

Unique Creature

Information

Titles

The Shadow's Servant
The Guardian's Shadow

Aliases

Shadow

Alignment

Neutral Evil

Gender

None

Homeland

The Umbral Sanctuary

Deity

Unknown / Secret

Loyalty

To The Shadowlords

Languages

Shadowtongue, Shae; Telepathy 100ft - Understands all languages per Comprehend Languages

Character Properties

Type

Elemental, Outsider(Shadow, Incorporeal)

Size

Medium (+/- one step)

Aura

Overwhelming - Evil (Capable of Suppressing its Aura if Desired)

Senses

See in Darkness

Perception

Passive:## Active:+##

Initiative

+##

Character Statistics

Str: 20

Dex: 26

Con: 22

Int: 21

Wis: 17

Cha: 25

Atk: 00

CMB: 00

CMD: 00

Hit Points:

####

Life Points:

####

Physical Skills

Mental Skills

Acrobatics:

Deception:

Athletics:

Diplomacy:

Disable Device:

Handle Animal:

Fly:

Heal:

Ride:

Intimidate:

Sleight of Hand:

Sense Motive:

Stealth:

Survival:

Armor Check:

Use Magic Device: