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Vaelen the Night-Blader

Vaelen was once a devoted guardian of the Silver Wake before his capture and ritual conversion in the Shadowfell. Now he views Selûne's light as an irritant that must be bled dry.

Monsters
Medium humanoid · High · Unique

Vaelen the Night-Blader

A Sharran assassin corrupted by the Shadowfell, specialized in infiltrating Selûnite sanctuaries.
AC18
HP110/110
CRHigh
Init
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
ConditionsNone

Combat

AC 18 · HP 110 · High

Vaelen the Night-Blader

Medium humanoid (elf), neutral evil
Armor Class18 (Studded Leather + Proficiency)
Hit Points110 (17d8 + 34)
Speed
30 ft. walk,
30 ft. climb
STR
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Saving ThrowsDEXINT
SkillsStealthDeceptionPerceptionAcrobatics
Damage Resistances
Necrotic,
Cold
Immunities
Poison
Weaknesses
None
Senses
Darkvision 120 ft.,
Passive Perception 16
Languages
Common,
Elvish,
Undercommon
ChallengeHigh
Proficiency Bonus+4
Bane of the Enlightened. Vaelen deals an extra 10 () necrotic damage to any creature that is currently in bright light or is a Cleric or Paladin of a Good-aligned deity.
Shadow Step. While in dim light or darkness, Vaelen teleports up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see that is also in dim light or darkness. He then has advantage on the first melee attack he makes before the end of the turn.
Whispers of the Void. As a free action on his turn, Vaelen can whisper a secret to one creature within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll.
Assassinate. During its first turn, Vaelen has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn't taken a turn. Any hit Vaelen scores against a surprised creature is a critical hit.

Spells

Minor Illusion (cantrip, illusion). Used to create sounds of sobbing or distant footsteps.
Invisibility (level 2, illusion). Cast as a bonus action at will, self only.

Actions

Multiattack. Vaelen makes three attacks with his Shadow Daggers.
Shadow Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 7 () piercing damage plus 14 () necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of its next turn.
Veil of Shar (Recharge 5-6). Magical darkness spreads from Vaelen in a 15 foot radius for 1 minute. This darkness follows him. Vaelen can see through this darkness, but other creatures with darkvision cannot.

Reactions

Fade to Grey. When Vaelen takes damage, he can use his reaction to become invisible and move up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks. He remains invisible until the start of his next turn or until he attacks.

Legendary Actions

Stalking Blur. Vaelen moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Quick Blade. Vaelen makes one Shadow Dagger attack.
Paralyzing Whisper (Costs 2 Actions) (costs 2 actions). Vaelen targets one creature within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed until the end of its next turn as it is overwhelmed by visions of the Void.
Role
Stalker/Assassin
Built for
8

Gear

  • Obsidian Tooth (Magic Weapon, 1500 gp)A dagger that grants +1 to attack and damage rolls.
  • Armor of the Night-Slayer (Magic Armor, 2000 gp)Studded leather that grants advantage on Stealth checks.

Feats

Skulker
Alert

Augmentations

Shadowfell Infusion

Notes for the game master

Prioritize movement over staying in melee.
Use Veil of Shar to negate party advantages.
Target characters holding light sources first.

Tactics

  1. Opening

    Vaelen uses Invisibility to position himself above the party. He opens with Whispers of the Void to target the Cleric's resolve, then uses Multiattack against a target in the backline.

  2. Mid-fight

    He uses Shadow Step constantly to reposition. If the party clumps together, he uses Veil of Shar to split them up and pick off those blinded by the darkness.

  3. End of the fight

    If his HP falls below 30, he uses Fade to Grey and retreats into the walls of the temple, waiting to strike when the party attempts a Short Rest.

  4. Retreat

    Vaelen is a coward of shadows; he will flee if reduced to 15 HP, promising that 'The Night will eventually swallow your soul.'

How it fights

Always attack from darkness to gain advantage.
Target healers first to stop them from cleansing the necrotic damage.
Use high ground to leap between pillar shadows.

Who it attacks first

Clerics of Selûne
Characters holding torches or Sunrods
Lowest AC spellcasters

Works well with

Pairs well with Shadow Demons or Shadows which can hide in his Veil of Shar.
Complements a trap-filled environment where his movement is unrestricted.

How to beat it

The spell Daylight can temporarily neutralize his Shadow Step.
Faerie Fire prevents his invisibility and stealth.

Ways to avoid a fight

Can be heard whispering through the temple vents to bait players into traps.
May offer to spare a party member if they 'extinguish' their companions.

Ecology

Vaelen is a gaunt elf with skin the color of bruised plums and hair like spilled ink. He wears form-fitting leather armor that seems to absorb light, and his eyes are devoid of pupils, appearing only as hollow voids. His daggers are shards of obsidian that trail faint wisps of smoke.

Behavior

Vaelen does not engage in fair fights. He prefers to demoralize his targets with whispers of their failures and the inevitable victory of the Night Lady before striking from the ceiling or floor shadows.

How it lives

As a Sharran agent, Vaelen's biological needs are suppressed by his Shadowfell corruption, allowing him to wait motionless in the dark for days.

Lair

The Silver Wake (Temple of Selûne in Murann, currently desecrated)

Habitat
Urban, Temples, Underdark

Signs that it is near

Sudden, unnatural drops in temperature.
Whispers echoing in the victim's own voice.
The smell of ozone and old incense.
Candles and torches snuffing out inexplicably.

Tags

Sharran,
Shadowfell,
Assassin

Lore

Vaelen was once a devoted guardian of the Silver Wake before his capture and ritual conversion in the Shadowfell. Now he views Selûne's light as an irritant that must be bled dry.

What drives it

To extinguish the 'light of false hope' in the Silver Wake and claim the temple for Shar.

After the fight

Upon his death, Vaelen's body dissolves into a puddle of thick, black oil. Any plant life nearby withers instantly, and a cold wind blows through the temple, signaling Shar's displeasure.

Variants

Vaelen the Unbound: Give him 180 HP and access to the Hunger of Hadar spell for a Level 12 party.

Hooks

Plot hooks

The High Priestess of Selûne sends the party to reclaim the Silver Wake from a ghost of the past.
Party members find their equipment missing and replaced by cold, black sand.

How to use it

As a recurring harasser throughout a dungeon crawl.
As the final assassin guarding the desecrated altar of the Silver Wake.

Treasure

A scroll of Shadow Blade.
An onyx key that opens the hidden vaults of the Silver Wake.
300 gp in blackened silver coins.

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