Medium humanoid (elf), neutral
Armor Class 14 (17 with mage armor)
Hit Points 104 (16d8 + 32)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +7 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 (+0) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 15 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws Dex +8, Con +6
Damage Immunities necrotic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common, Elvish
Challenge 9 (5000 XP)
Burden of Time. Beasts and humanoids, other than shadar-kai, have disadvantage on saving throws while within 10 feet of the gloom weaver.
Fey Ancestry. The gloom weaver has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put it to sleep.
Innate Spellcasting. The gloom weaver’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no
material components:
- At will: arcane eye, mage armor, speak with dead
- 1/day each: arcane gate, bane, compulsion, confusion, true seeing
Spellcasting. The gloom weaver is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock spells:
- Cantrips (at will): chill touch (3d8 damage), eldritch blast (3 beams, +4 bonus to each damage roll), minor illusion, prestidigitation.
- 1st to 5th level (three 5th-level slots): armor of Agathys, blight, darkness, dream, invisibility, fear, hypnotic pattern, major image, contact other plane, vampiric touch, witch bolt
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The gloom weaver makes two spear attacks and casts one spell that takes 1 action to cast.
- Shadow Spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage, or 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage if used with two hands, plus 26 (4d12) necrotic damage.
REACTIONS
- Misty Escape (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). When the gloom weaver takes damage, it turns invisible and teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see. It remains invisible until the start of its next turn or until it attacks or -1 casts a spell.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
The Gloom Weaver is a type of shadar-kai, a race of elves that dwell in the Shadowfell, a plane of darkness and despair. The Gloom Weaver is a master of shadow magic, using it to manipulate the emotions and perceptions of others. They are often cloaked in dark robes and wear masks that hide their pale and gaunt faces. Their eyes are sunken and glow with a faint purple light. They wield shadow spears, weapons that can drain the life force of their enemies and return to their hands after being thrown.
The Gloom Weaver is a formidable warrior, but also a cunning and subtle manipulator. They prefer to hide in the shadows, watching as their very presence affects their victims. Their bleak energy weighs down the heart, causing those nearby to feel the approach of death. If detected, they use their shadow magic to reduce enemies to ghastly corpses. They are loyal to the Raven Queen, the goddess of death and fate, and serve her as spies, assassins, and emissaries.
COMBAT
The Gloom Weaver is a dangerous opponent in combat, using its speed, stealth, and magic to gain an advantage. It can make three attacks with its shadow spear, which deals both piercing and necrotic damage. It can also cast a variety of spells, such as arcane eye, bane, confusion, darkness, fear, major image, true seeing, and arcane gate. The Gloom Weaver does not need any material components for its spells, and uses its charisma as its spellcasting ability.
The Gloom Weaver has a unique ability called Misty Escape, which allows it to turn invisible and teleport up to 60 feet away when it takes damage. It remains invisible until it attacks or casts a spell. This makes it hard to pin down or catch off guard. The Gloom Weaver also has immunity to necrotic damage and charmed and exhaustion conditions. It has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic cannot put it to sleep.
The Gloom Weaver has another ability called Burden of Time, which affects beasts and humanoids (except elves) within 10 feet of it. These creatures have disadvantage on saving throws while near the Gloom Weaver, as they feel the weight of their mortality.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
The Gloom Weaver lives in the Shadowfell, a plane of gloom and sorrow that mirrors the Material Plane. The Shadowfell is a place where colors are muted, sounds are muffled, and emotions are dulled. The shadar-kai have adapted to this environment by becoming cold and ruthless. They seek out sensations and experiences that can make them feel alive, such as pain, pleasure, or danger.
The Gloom Weaver is one of the elite members of the shadar-kai society. They are respected and feared by their peers for their skill and power. They often serve as leaders or advisors for other shadar-kai groups or factions. They are devoted to the Raven Queen, who rules over the Shadowfell from her fortress of Letherna. The Raven Queen is a mysterious and enigmatic deity who oversees the transition of souls from life to death. She also has an interest in fate and destiny, and sometimes intervenes in mortal affairs.
The Gloom Weaver acts as an agent of the Raven Queen, carrying out her will and commands. They often travel to other planes or worlds to spy on or assassinate those who oppose or threaten the Raven Queen’s plans. They also seek out secrets and knowledge that can benefit their goddess or themselves. They are not above using deception or manipulation to achieve their goals.
ECOLOGY
The Gloom Weaver is a humanoid creature that requires food, water, air, and sleep like any other living being. However, they have some traits that set them apart from other races. They have a longer lifespan than most humanoids, but not as long as other elves. They age slowly until they reach adulthood, then stop aging altogether until they die.
The Gloom Weaver is affected by the Shadowfell’s influence on their body and soul. They have pale skin, dark hair, and glowing eyes that reflect their connection to the plane of shadow. They also have a tendency to become detached and emotionless over time, losing their sense of self and purpose. To counteract this effect, they often engage in extreme or risky behaviors that can stimulate their senses or challenge their fate.
The Gloom Weaver reproduces sexually like other humanoids. They can mate with other shadar-kai or other races that are compatible with them. However, they do not form lasting bonds or attachments with their partners or offspring. They see love and family as distractions or weaknesses that can hinder their service to the Raven Queen.
The Gloom Weaver does not have any natural predators or enemies in the Shadowfell, except for other shadar-kai who may compete or conflict with them for resources or power. They may also encounter other creatures that inhabit the plane, such as undead, shadow dragons, or nightwalkers. The Gloom Weaver may hunt or avoid these creatures depending on the situation.