4.15.8 Roleplaying a Sciomancer
The Sciomancers are mages trained in the dangerous but powerful manipulation of shadow.
[0;1;33mWhat is shadow?[0m
Czjetija, the Plane of Shadow, is the source of the elemental shadow that naturally weaves part of the Prime Material Plane. A dangerous and treacherous element, its nature is consumption and corrosion, entropy, and insatiable hunger. Its imbalance in mortals is what allows for Undeath. Access to Czjetija is gated through Severn, the Manipulator, who wards off the Shadow Mother, Ohlsana, imprisoned within.
[0;1;33mHow you access the elements:[0m
- Direct channel to Shadow (limited through Severn)
- Singularity manipulation
- Ambient elemental manipulation
- Focus embedded within a staff, crozier, or shortsword
*Note: Sciomancers do not have innate weapon proficiency in croziers and must spend 100 lessons to attain it if desired; this does not apply to the staff or shortsword, which do come with innate proficiency.
Sciomancers are first and foremost masters of the element of shadow, manipulating it directly and with greater potency than other mortals. Through their training, they can create stable singularities and control their phenomenons, as well as curse others with different applications of maddening, corrosive shadow. They bargain with their own wellbeing for power.
[0;1;33mVisual style of the class:[0m
Repeated use of shadow would darken the skin. Notably, eyes blacken, especially when actively using certain skills. There are martial, forceful gestures indicative of intense willpower, as well as a frequent trailing black miasma reminiscent of smoke.
[0;1;33mSide effects of the class skills:[0m
Shadow is by far the most temperamental and dangerous element to directly manipulate. Repeat use and exposure can both grow beyond the wielder's control to devastating effect, as well as risk corrupting the user to Ohlsana's influence. Those who become inflicted with the shadowplague will slowly become one of the Shadowbound, a facsimile of who they were, grown monstrous and under Her control.
** Note: This is a mechanical disease!
Repeated use will have physical changes that cannot be easily hidden. The eyes will become black and nearly solid, and the corruption will be visible in the veins sprawling outwards from them. Fingertips will also darken, and skin texture may change from something porous and organic to something strange and irregular. There are chances of voices in the back of the mind, whispering in incomprehensible languages, and the world losing the vibrancy of its colour. Finally, personality may reflect a more reserved set of mannerisms and mindset as the mage exerts the guild's focus of control to ignore the temptations shadow offers.
[0;1;33mRoleplaying the class:[0m
It is important to understand and recognize the pendulum tradeoffs of a Sciomancer. To take the risks with the environment and with themselves that they do, to use such a dangerous and volatile element so wantonly, is no small feat. It is not something any should take on lightly, for a weak will shall surely succumb to Ohlsana.
[0;1;33mShadeling lore:[0m
The Plane of Shadow is a voracious place, seeking to devour everything that would venture into it. Those mortals foolish, or unlucky, enough to venture into the dangerous plane will find that their soul is forever trapped, unable to escape its pull in order to reach the Plane of Death. Over time, these souls become pulled apart and remade, turning into the amorphous shadeling with no memory of its former life that can be summoned to the Prime Material Plane as an extension of the summoner's own soul. Of note, a disproportionate amount of summoned shadelings will have a vague resemblance to a Minotaur. When customizing the shadeling, its colour can only be in shades of black. It's an amorphous, almost fluid-like creature, that bears a vague resemblance to a mortal Sapience race.
