The Shadow
Wizards are the most secretive and mysterious of all the eight Colleges of Magic.
They utilise the Grey Wind, Ulgu, which is the sense of confusion, misdirection,
misrepresentation and illusion. Wizards of the Grey Wind, or Shadowmancers, are
skilled in making themselves disappear, or appear otherwise than they are. It is
said that the normal physical appearances of high-ranking wizards are shifting,
so that two people will not remember the same features on the same mage.
Some among the common folk have a strong suspicion of this order, knowing them
as Trickster Wizards. Generally the only encounter they will make is with the
wandering stranger with the strangely indistinct features, passing through. Yet
seldom if ever, despite what the peasants might claim later, does anything go
missing, as the Grey Order is in fact more concerned with policing itself and
the empire than other Colleges might be. Knowing the lures of the illusory magic
in the Lore of Shadow, the Order train only the most regimented minds, and the
focus of a Grey Wizard’s life is almost always the relentless purging of
Imperial Society of Chaos. Shadowmancers are natural spies and assassins, and
they use their skills to monitor the activities of all ranks of society,
including those who might be exempt from such scrutiny by other bodies like the
Witch Hunters. Knowing the strong lure of power on the mortal human heart, the
Grey Mages renounce all claim to it, and make it their life’s work to ensure
that those who hold power do not turn to the service of the Chaos Gods.
The symbol of the Grey College is evidence of the conundrum at the heart of the
Lore of Shadow. The Sword of Justice represents both the honourable duty the
Shadow Wizards perform, and the underhanded, devious and (in the eyes of most)
dishonourable methods they use to.
The Shadow Mage has identical statistics to the Wizard, both initially and at higher levels. Instead of the Hand of Death Scroll he starts with the Cloak of Mysteries.
Once per adventure the Wizard can use the power of this cloak to vanish from sight and memory. He disappears into the shadows, and reappears at the start of the next Warrior’s Phase at any point on the board section within his Move range x 2, ignoring any concerns of pinning or obstruction. He may take his turn as usual.
The Shadow Mage may use any items available to the Wizard, except for any new
spells he might discover outside of his own list, which are not part of his
Lore. If the Shadow Mage should receive any unusual tools related to underhanded
duties like lock picks or garrottes, he may use them, the chances are that he
will be able to use them.
As usual, he may wear no armour at all, because it interferes with his
spellcasting, but any sort of enchanted robe or non-armour item that the
original Wizard could wear is fine.
The Shadow Mage may also use any type of sword. Although he is no stronger than
the average wizard, his training includes the use of even large, unwieldy swords,
though he is not expected to favour them as a matter of course. Therefore, he is
permitted to use any sword, though at the usual penalties if any exist.
The Shadow Mage interacts in Settlements in the same way that any other Wizard might. If there is another member of the party with access to underworld contacts, the Shadow Mage, at the other’s discretion, may participate.
The initial spell deck is the following selection of spells.
Marsh Lights (D2)
Shadowcloak (S3)
Secret Blade (A4)
Rebound (D4)
Shades of Death (D4)
Healing Hands (H4)
Pit of Shades (A5)
Dazzle (D5)
Cataclysm (A6)
Fool's Gold (D6)
Cause Animosity (S6)
Bewilder (S6)
The following list is the full corpus of spells the Shadow Mage can learn at
higher battle-levels. He learns spells in the same way as the Wizard. Some
spells have had their power cost adjusted.
* Indicates a new spell
+ Indicates a spell with altered Casting Level or special rules.
Attack
Poison Mist *
Defence
Coughing
Drop
Special
Fleet of Foot
Open
Lock *
Defence
Feign Death
Marsh Lights
Nausea
Slip
Special
Tongues
Zone of Silence
Defence
Confuse
Shadow Robe (Glittering Cloak)
Pelt of Midnight *
Special
Shadowcloak *
Speed
Casting 4
Attack
Secret Blade (Fist of Iron)+
Defence
Levitate
Rebound
Shades of Death *
Healing
Healing Hands
Special
Invisibility +
Dispel Magic
Second Sight
Attack
Pit of Shades *
Defence
Dazzle
Special
Steed of Shadows *
Attack
Cataclysm
Defence
Fool’s Gold +
Special
Bewilder *
Cause Animosity
Defence
Halo of Vengeance
Healing
Voidmaster
Special
Cage of Gloom (Cage of Stone)
Attack
Shadow Knives *
Creeping Death *
Defence
Pall of Darkness *
Attack
Window of the Void+
Defence
Dread Aspect *
Radiance of Ptolos
Healing
Lifestealer +
Special
Winds of Fate
Special
Tower of Isolation
A cloud of green mist seems to leap from the Wizard's open palm, burning
those who breathe it in.
Roll 1D6 for each Monster adjacent to the Wizard. On a score of 6 that
target takes 1 Wound, with no modifiers for Toughness or armour. This spell may
be cast once per turn.
Target: All Monsters adjacent to the Wizard
Duration: Immediate
The Wizard passes his hand over the door’s surface and a grey wave washes
over it. Subtle clicks indicate internal changes and a protrusion forms in the
shape of a fortified keyhole.
This spell bars a single doorway so that none (except Ethereal beings) may
pass through it. The lock may be either voluntarily dispelled by the
Illusionist, or the chains will vanish once the lock is picked (as normal, with
Lock Tools). If the door should be somehow destroyed, the chains and lock will
instantly vanish as well.
Target: A single doorway
Duration: Until dispelled
The Wizard swirls his cloak, scattering the lantern light and a thick fog
seems to hang over the warriors, obscuring detail and providing cover.
This spell can be cast on an area 2x2 in size. Once cast, all subsequent
shooting directed at models within this space require a 6 or better to hit.
Once it is cast, the Pelt of Midnight continues to affect those squares as
long as the maintenance is paid, costing 1 power per turn, or until the Wizard
is reduced to 0 Wounds.
Target: 2x2 area
Duration: While Maintained
The Wizard draws the darkness around himself as a cloak, becoming
anonymity; silence; forgetfulness, as he disappears from sight.
Upon casting Shadowcloak the Grey Wizard can make an immediate attempt to
hide. Roll 1D6 and add his Initiative, +1 if he is more than 2 spaces away from
the lantern. If he succeeds with a roll of 7 or more, any Monsters currently
targeting him will attack the nearest another Warrior, and he is removed as a
target for any actions. This includes his own party, so that while under the
Shadowcloak he cannot be the target of other healing spells, for example. If the
initial attempt to hide fails, he may make another attempt without casting again
at the beginning of the next Warrior Phase, as long as he does nothing in the
meantime.
The Shadowcloak remains as long as the Grey Wizard makes no attacks, casts no
Attack spells, and takes no aggressive actions.
Target: The Wizard
Duration: Until the Wizard attacks
The Wizard conjures up a slender knife of grey steel and sends it hurtling
towards his opponent.
Pick any Monster up to 6 squares away from the Wizard and roll 1D6. If the
score is greater than or equal to the range of the target it suffers 1D6+ 1
Wounds.
Target: Any Monster up to 6 squares away
Duration: Immediate
The Wizard's image seems to shimmer and becomes he seems taller, stronger,
more threatening. A scent of menace extrudes and touches the eyes of all the
foes.
Pick any Warrior on the board (including the Wizard). The model now causes
Fear, so that any attacks are made at –1 to hit. It continues to work until the
Wizard stops maintaining it, which costs 1 Power per turn, or is reduced to 0
Wounds.
Fear has no effect on Daemons or the Undead.
Target: Any Warrior on the board
Duration: While Maintained
The Pit of Shades appears in the midst of the enemy ranks, occasioning
despair as the closely packed troops find the ground disappearing.
Pick any 2x2 square area on the board and place the Pit of Despair marker on
it. Roll 1D6 for each model standing in the four squares covered by the pit. On
a score of 1 or 2 it falls into the pit and is killed. On a score of 3, 4, 5 or
6 it scrambles out of the way - place it in any empty square on this or any
adjacent board section. If there are no empty squares available the model falls
into the pit anyway.
Once the pit is in place, no model may enter the squares it covers. The pit
closes up after one full turn.
Target: Any 2x2 square area on the board
Duration: One Full Turn
At the Grey Wizard’s command, a form coalesces from the gloom and bears him
up and away from danger.
This spell may be cast upon the Wizard himself or any other Warrior.
Once cast, the model can make a normal flight move of up to 2D6 spaces +1 per
BL of the Wizard. The model can fly out of combat without requiring a pinning
roll.
Target: Any Warrior
Duration: One Turn
The Wizard pulls the stopper from a small bottle and splashes the contents on
the ground as he casts the spell. The liquid seems to be normal ale, but the
effect on the Monster was that of a three-day binge.
This spell may be cast on any one Monster within 12 spaces range. The
effected model rolls on the following table to determine the effect, which lasts
for 1D6 turns.
| 1 | No effect! |
| 2 | Befuddled Attack, Move and Initiative Scores are halved. |
| 3 | Wander Move randomly. Roll 1D6 each turn to determine direction (N,NE,E,S,SW,W) each turn |
| 4 | Attack Attack the nearest model, randomly determined, be it friend or foe. |
| 5 | Nothing The model stands looking blank. Attacks made against hit on anything but a 1. |
| 6 | Curl into a ball Te model lies supine, and may be hit automatically. |
Target: One Monster
Duration: 1D6 Turns
The Wizard holds his hand in the air and clicks his fingers. A trio of blades
appear and he flings them at his foes, striking with unerring accuracy.
The Wizard creates a number of Shadow Knives dependent on his title: 1 for
Novice, 2 for Champion, 3 for Hero, 4 for Lord. Each knife hits automatically
and may be targeted at any Monster or Monsters within 24 spaces. Shadow Knives
cause (The Wizard’s Damage Dice)+3 Damage and ignore all but Magical Armour.
Target: Any enemies in line of sight
Duration: Immediate
Summoning the horrors of the night, the Wizard unleashes discorporate forms
that strike on all sides.
The Creeping Death can be cast on any targets in the Wizard’s line of sight,
within a range of 24 spaces. It automatically hits, and affects D6 enemy models
of the same type, doing 1D6 damage + the Wizard’s Battle level, with no
modifiers for armour.
A model can be affected twice or more only once every other model of the same
type has been affected. Each occasion counts as a separate hit.
Target: Up to six enemies.
Duration: Immediate
The lights flicker and go out as the Wizard casts his spell, summoning a pall
of darkness to encompass the Warriors.
An area 3x3 squares anywhere within the Grey Wizard’s line of sight is
created which no light can penetrate. No one within can see anything or be seen
and therefore cannot be targeted. The Pall of Darkness evaporates after 1D6
turns, but roll a dice for each model within at the start of each turn. On a
roll of 5-6 it has escaped; place it on one of the outside edges. It takes its
turn as usual.
Target: 3x3 area
Duration: 1D6 Turns
A Shadow Mage is an odd character. Most players will want his powerful spells
and abilities in deception and obfusion, but with these powers comes the strict
responsibilities of how to use them. Unless something has gone terribly wrong,
the Grey College would never train someone likely to use the power for personal
gain, so while a Shadow Mage could easily rob his way through life, using enough
magic so that his actions weren’t even noticed, he would never do that without a
very good reason.
Consider again the Sword of Justice. This is the ideal of the Shadow Mages- to
be the inexorable, unstoppable force of Justice in an unjust world. Peasants who
cheat their neighbours, merchants who trade in illegal or immoral goods, nobles
who mercilessly oppress their tenants- all might be outside the remit or
capability of the normal authorities, but not the Shadowmancers. When a cruel
tax-collector finds his shop burnt to the ground and is forced to rely on his
neighbours for shelter, it might be poetic justice, it might be him getting his
just desserts… or it might be a Shadow Wizard.