Shayde, Shadow's Champion's page

*numbers after slash (/) are modified for when Stalker is inhabiting shadow
Elf Spiritualist (Shadow Caller)/Slayer 3
N Medium Humanoid(elf)
Init + 3 Senses low-light vision, Darkvision 60/90, Perception +9
Deity: Shadow and Twilight, Light and Dark
Defense:
AC 19 Touch 14 FF 15 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural)
HP 33 (3d10+3)
Fort +4; Ref +6; Will +6;
Elven Immunities
Offense:
Speed 30 ft.
Elven Curve Blade + 2 (1d10+3) 18-20/x2
MW Cold Iron short sword +7 (1d6+2) 19-20/x2
Shortbow +2 (1d6) /x3
Dagger +6 (1d4+2) 19-20/x2
Statistics:
STR: 14 DEX: 16 CON: 12 INT: 14 WIS: 16 CHA: 8
Base Atk: +3; CMB +6; CMD 18
Traits:
Called, Chance Encounter
Racial:
Shadowplay, Blended view, Weapon Familiarity (elven), Elven Immunities
Feats: Dodge, Stealth Synergy
Skills:
Stealth +8/11*, Perception+ 9, Acrobatics +8, Intimidate +5/8, Linguistics +6, Disable Device +9, Survival +9, Sense Motive +9, Perform (Dance) +4
*+4 stealth in dim light or darkness vs. foes without darkvision
SQ:
Link, Shadow Bound, Inhabit Shadow, Bonded Senses
Gear:
Elven Curve Blade, MW Cold Iron short sword, Chain shirt, Shortbow, 20 Cold Iron arrows, 20 normal arrows, 2xdagger, sap, bedroll, backpack, traveler's clothes, 50ft silk rope, 2 days rations.
120.3 gp.
Languages known:
Common, Elven, Draconic, Sylvan, Shae
SA:
Called (reroll a 1 on an attack 1/day)
Studied target +1
Track +1
Sneak Attack (1d6)
Bonded Manifestation

Spell-Like abilities CL 3:
Disguise self 1/day

Spiritualist Spells known:
0th: Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Telekinetic Projectile, Detect Psychic Significance
1st: Dancing Darkness, Obscuring Mist, Psychic Reading, Cure Light Wounds
Spiritualist Spells per day:
1st: 4

Slayer Talents:
Fast Stealth

Stalker (Ectoplasmic/Incorporeal)
N Medium Outsider(phantom)
Init + 2 (normally tries to match Shayde) Senses: Darkvision 60ft Perception +4

Defense:
AC 16/18 Touch 14/18 FF 14/10 (+3 Dex, +4 natural/(+4 dodge, +2 deflection))
HP 33 (3d10+3)
Fort +2 Ref +7 Will +3
DA: (DR 5/Slashing) / (Incorporeal traits)
Offense:
2 Slams +5 (1d6+1 + weakening touch)
Statistics:
STR: 12 DEX: 15 CON: 13 INT: 7 WIS: 10 CHA: 14
Base Atk: +3 CMB: +5 CMD 16
Feats:
Lightning Reflexes, Deft Maneuvers, Stealth Synergy
Skills:
Intimidate + 7, Stealth + 8, Knowledge(Planes) +5, Sense Motive +4, Perception + 5
SQ:
Link, Shadow Bound
Gear:
None

Shayde is a fair bit older than many involved in the battle at the Worldwound; exactly how much is unknown, as even Shayde himself does not know his precise age. Decades ago, Shayde bound himself to the Shadow, trading away his name and some memory of his past, and gaining the constant companionship of his own shadow in the form of Stalker, and a lifelong calling as Shadow's Champion. The exact details of this are unclear; Shayde does not speak of whatever pact he made, and whatever voice speaks to him of his missions and calling is inaudible to all others, though he sometimes communes with Stalker. For one who has been an active 'adventurer' for many years, Shayde is currently surprisingly weak; for some reason or other, the power that used to be his in the past waned when he set out to investigate the Worldwound in behalf of Shadow. While still much stronger than a typical warrior, Shayde was weakened enough that he found himself stretched too far, too deep in the Worldwound to safely escape on his own. At this time, whether through chance or fate, he was aided by a Desnan woman just as mysterious as he was, who guided him out to where he was able to silently follow a band of crusaders back to Kenabres. He sensed melancholy in her, and felt a certain level of kinship with a fellow walker in twilight; perhaps they shall meet gain someday. For now, however, Shayde stalks the streets of Kenabres, waiting for an opportunity to follow a group of crusaders into the Worldwound; he knows he does not have the power to complete his mission alone; he does not even know exactly what his mission is, save that something within the Worldwound is an affront to the Shadow; something lies within there that would twist Shadow and Darkness to evil, snuff out the Light, and banish the Twilight. And that he has been called to stop it.

Shayde has come to the Worldwound to stem the tide of demons that would defile the darkness. He comes on behalf of the Shadow; whether this be his own self-appointed duty or an actual calling from a supernatural entity is a question he has little interest in answering, but the presence of Stalker suggests that he has the support of some manner of shadow force. In this task the paladins and crusaders are his allies, but that does not always mean friends; Shayde knows that someday, one of them may become too zealous in their fight against darkness, and become his next target as he strives to uphold the balance between Light and Dark, and keep the Shadow pure.

Shayde is tall and wiry, and his skin is a pale, dusty gray. He prefers to keep covered in dark clothing, concealing his features beneath cloth and shadow. It's hard to tell exactly what subspecies of elf Shayde belongs to, as while he is clearly not a drow, he also doesn't fit in well with most known surface elves either, and has a natural affinity for twilight and darkness. The fact that he can easily change his own appearance further complicates matters.
Personality-wise, Shayde is closed about himself, answering personal questions with cryptic comments about shadow and twilight, never volunteering anything about his past. He reveres shadow, light, and darkness as neutral forces, and is always willing to point out that while light is associated with good, it can also burn and destroy, and while darkness is seen as evil, it also provides rest and respite from the relentless brightness of day, sheltering good and ill alike. Shayde is pragmatic in his methods, and seldom fights fair, but neither is he cruel. Combat is a job he has to do, and he neither hates nor revels in it.
Stalker, Shayde's shadow and companion, appears as a hulking, indistinct figure of semi-solid darkness, just barely translucent. It is humanoid, with clawed hands, and tapering legs that thin to the same width as the legs of Shayde's shadow at the tips. Stalker's face can be either nearly featureless save for pinpoints of dim light that serve as eyes, or a ferocious, bestial maw, with jagged jaws of thick darkness and glaring red eyes, depending on its intent.
Stalker is cold and nearly emotionless, fulfilling Shayde's orders and their mutual mission with logical precision and whispered comments in the language of shadows. But when something does manage to draw its ire, or stands in the way of its duty, Stalker can snarl and roar with the best of them, the lack of rage in its actions simply adding to the terror.

Shayde has been active for quite some time; he may already have enemies scattered around from older times, if they can manage to track him down.
Much of Shayde's past is a mystery even to himself; where in the world could this strange shadow-elf have come from?
Shayde finds the mere existence of shadow demons to be a direct affront to what he stands for, a corruption of the Shadow he serves; he would go out of his way to hunt one down if he heard of it.
I have left the exact nature of the pact Shayde has with Shadow deliberately vague; just what is this force he serves? Is it simply an ideal or a philosophy, or is there an actual supernatural entity directing him? And just what is the extent of his current mission?
Stalker may draw all kinds of odd attention, if it manifests somewhere public.
Speaking of Stalker, while it is undyingly loyal to Shayde, what might its other motivations be? Is it truly an emissary of Shadow, or simply a manifestation of Shayde's shadow powers?
With this mysterious entity around, there would also be the question of how it might be or might not be related to the Shadow.
There is also the question of what happened to drain away Shayde's old strength; was it an effect of something in the Worldwound? Or meddling by this mysterious Entity?

Shayde is not a frontline fighter; his damage will never rise as high as many others, and he lacks the durability to stay in combat long-term, even with Stalker to give backup. Instead, he will focus on stealth, subterfuge, and disruption; using spirit magic to weaken and confound foes, and exercise battlefield control. In a one-on-one fight, Shayde fights by opportunistically striking from stealth, then fading away before his foes can counter-attack, gradually wearing away at his enemies until he scores a luck hit or they give in to attrition, never staying where he can be hit if he can help it.

Shayde's opinion on the mysterious entity would depend heavily on how it related to his own devotion to Shadow. If it twists or corrupts Light, Dark, or Shadow, then he would see it as a foe. If it respects them, then perhaps an ally, subject to further observation. If neither, then either as irrelevant or as an annoyance or obstruction.
It would be free to think whatever it would of Shayde; he cares little for what most others think, god-like being or not.