Left Hand of Darkness (3.5e Vestige)
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Left Hand of Darkness[edit]
An ancient conqueror born from the darkness of the abyss, he betrayed his brethren for the sake of humanity and sealed away his brother. However the seals began to weaken, and so he set out on a quest to ensure their safety but was never seen again.
Level: 7th
Binding DC: 30
Special Requirement: Yes
Legend[edit]
Within some layer of the abyss was born two brothers of chaos, born into noble rank enforced by the brutality of the duo. They were both enlightened, or perhaps born of, an ancient and eldritch darkness trapped upon this plane and it is that power which they wielded: the power of darkness born of infernal flame and the power of darkness of uttercold, borne of chilling nights. The two conquered their realm, and them conquered their surrounding realms until by chance they found a means to invade even the material world itself. So began the conquest and the 100 years of darkness that would shackle mankind under their tyranny. These brothers, known as the Left and Right Hands of Darkness, split their duties among them. The Right Hand would rule this land under an iron fist, while the Left would be his enforcer.
Perhaps it was some divine trick, or perhaps it was merely the fact that his brother was in constant contact with their vassals, but the relationship between the two changed. Unsatisfied with his life he began to emphasize with his victims, and came unto an understanding with a human woman. A spark of empathy and hope was lit in his black heart and he could not abide his brother's cruel nature any longer. Thus did the Left Hand betray the Right and the two became locked in mortal combat. Through the Right Hand was stronger and swollen with vile darkness, we was felled by the power of darkness turned against itself. Using magic lost to time his brother was locked away under countless seals of purity in a place where he was denied the fruits of his tyranny and the corrupting chaos of the darkness.
For 1000 years it is said that the Left Hand stayed within the human realm, helping directly or indirectly and becoming the basis of legends of a dark knight, a mysterious hero who was as noble as he was intimidating. But one day he became aware that the sealing was incomplete, and time would eventually cause them to fail. So it was he set out on one final journey into the realm where his brother lay to finish his quest once and for all.
He did not return, and to this day his fate is unknown. But the belief of his dark justice continues to burn and reflect in the minds of the people as a vestige.
Special summoning[edit]
The Left Hand of Darkness refuses to be bound at the same time as the Right Hand of Darkness. However there are rumors that through the creation of a special pair of gauntlets one could wield the powers of the right and left hands of darkness at the same time.
Manifestation[edit]
The binder's left hand ceases up as if struck by sudden biting cold, and a black spot of dead frozen flesh grows from the binder's palm. The skin cracks and shatters, allowing a black mist to bleed out and spread along the ground staining everything black in a 10 ft radius. As the air dims around the binder a demonic armored figure claws its way out of the darkness below, who then kneels in supplication to the binder. The binder can reject them, or complete the binding by laying their hand upon them to bless the fiend on its quest. The pact is made, and the darkness evaporates into the aether.
Sign[edit]
The binder's left hand appears to be frozen and bruised black, emanating thin wisps of cold mist.
Influence[edit]
The binder seeks to right any wrongs, especially concerning matters of tyranny. You are honorable but brutal, more than happy to solve problems with violence and often mocking of your opponents. You have a personal view of things, preferring the concerns of the individual over the sake of the whole.
Granted Abilities[edit]
Black Hand of Sacrifice[edit]
As a 1 standard action you can summon a floating black claw that duplicates the effects of grasping hand with a duration of your entire bind. If the claw is destroyed you must wait 5 rounds before you can resummon it.
By taking a standard action to focus on the hand you sacrifice hit points from either yourself or your hand and make a touch attack. The target gains a number of hit points equal to the amount you sacrifice, up to enough hit points to leave either you or the hand at 1 hp remaining (maximum 3x your HD). This is not positive energy but instead divine binding force, and so functions on undead as well as constructs.
If combined with the effects of the Right Hand of Darkness and its Black Hand of Spite, you can summon and control both hands with the same actions.
Darkfrost[edit]
You can conjure a weapon you are proficient as the same action of drawing a weapon, composed entirely of stygian ice. You do not take any penalties or damage from wielding stygian ice. You can also forge stygian ice armor and shields as well. Projectile weapons automatically produce mundane stygian ice ammunition for any weapon of 150 gp value or less. You gain proficiency with the greatsword and bastard sword, and proficiency in light, medium, and heavy armor and shields (but not tower shields).
Dropped or thrown stygian ice weapons melt after 1 round. If you are using Gauntlets of the Dark Abyss you may use the reach of your fists or the weapon, whichever is better.
If you would bring a creature below 0 hp, you can choose to encase your opponents within a rime of ice instead of killing them. They are left at 1 hp, stable, and frozen and unconscious until the ice is broken with a DC 20 Strength check, otherwise it melts on its own after 1 hour. Due to its supernatural nature the ice does not melt on exposure to heat and could potentially injure the trapped creature.
As a full attack action you can slam your weapon down into the ground producing a 60 ft line of ice spikes. Make a single melee attack against all creatures within the line. This destroys the weapon, though you can always draw another. This ice line effect can only be used once every 5 rounds.
Curse Eater[edit]
As a touch attack you duplicate break enchantment as a standard action. However the condition is not actually cured, but instead suppressed for 1 minute. During that time you can store the effect you suppressed and can make another touch attack, forcing a save against the stolen effect against another using the original save DCs and other relevant effects. If you successfully transfer the affliction, the original victim is freed from it.
Alternatively you can simply cause yourself to be the target of the affliction, though you do not receive a saving throw in this case. This cures the original victim.
Surge of Darkness[edit]
If you begin an encounter with over 50% hp and are dropped to 50% hp or less, you may choose to empower yourself with the energy of the abyss. For the next 5 rounds you deal an additional +4 profane bonus attack, +4 profane bonus on damage, +2 profane bonus on DCs, +4 profane bonus on saving throws, +4 profane bonus on AC, and gain an extra move action each round. You do not take damage from cold, divine, or unholy damage. You take on a demonic appearance of yourself, and count as an Evil Outsider for the duration. At the end of the duration you release a surge of darkness in an explosion out to your reach that deals 2 points of unholy damage/level with no save, and you are left staggered for 1 round.
You can choose to suppress this ability if you wish.
See in Darkness and Smoke[edit]
You can see through darkness as a devil and see through fog and smoke as if under a constant see through fog spell.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Class Ability Components → Vestiges
| Eiji-kunv |
|---|
| Author | Eiji-kun + |
| Binding DC | 30 + |
| Identifier | 3.5e Vestige + |
| Level | 7th + |
| Rating | Undiscussed + |
| Summary | An ancient conqueror born from the darkness of the abyss, he betrayed his brethren for the sake of humanity and sealed away his brother. However the seals began to weaken, and so he set out on a quest to ensure their safety but was never seen again. + |
| Title | Left Hand of Darkness + |
