“The townsfolk cried, ‘a mournshade, it’s a mournshade!’ The lingering trails of glittering black fog betrayed its passage. Then, from behind our sights, it started taking us, one by one.”

Mournshade

The mournshade is a slender creature, longer than most Humans are tall. At first glance, it appears similar to a dark, emaciated gazelle, wiry in form and bearing two ringed horns atop its head, curled forward ever so slightly and ending in sharp, often blood-stained points. But if one gets the misfortune to draw close, they may note the mournshade’s bird-like features before dying a gory death: the dark, purple and grey plumage covering its body, the imposing, hawk-like beak, and the talon-like claws at the ends of its front legs. Otherwise painted with dark hues of grey, purple, and blue, its piercing red eyes stand out as a recognizable feature.

A shadow - hard to hear moving, even harder to catch sight of. Dashing around its prey, enveloping them in a dark, dense fog that robs their senses and obscures its own shape - until a mournful, chilling shriek is heard. And lastly, a pair of glowing, red eyes seen through the fog. By then, it’s much too late to run.

The mournshade’s methods of tearing prey apart are simple - claws sharp enough to rip small creatures in half, a beak strong enough to pierce through armour - but that comes last, in the final moments. First, the mournshade stalks its prey at night, gracefully moving between trees, sticking the shadows and staying unseen, save for the glow of its eyes. Then, it nears - prancing around its victims with fearsome speed, seemingly making shadows themselves rise and dance around - in reality, this is the victim’s sight and hearing stumbling over itself due to the perception-altering fog exuded by the mournshade’s feathers. Finally - it lets out a mournful shriek and pounces for the kill.

Mournshades tend to reside in the northern parts of the realm, roaming dense, Valkian forests. The absence of light helps them hide, while the snow-covered grounds muffle the sound of their already-quiet steps. Some may migrate further south in search of more food to fuel their extremely efficient metabolism, but they always stick within shadowy forests.

Written by Electric, NOS, and Aguila

DM Guide

The information below is almost exclusively intended for DMs: an explanation of the creature's behaviour, weaknesses, its unique abilities, and a full statblock to aid in rolling checks and contests where applicable. Characters may reasonably have the knowledge of the information in the above post. The information below is more OOC-facing and can be learned in detail via IC research (a research ticket or event) or known in vague, broad strokes where applicable: common sense applies! A Falstoner may have a vague idea of a Faded Steppe creature's abilities, but not specifics. For example: "the creature spews blood, but I don't know how, when, and what that looks like."

Not every spell, feat, or ability interaction is defined for beasts. DMs are expected to use their discretion when adjudicating interactions that are not explicitly covered. Additionally, the mechanics of bestiary creatures are set in stone and not open for adjustment unless specific issues are noted through DMed encounters.

Spoilers ahead... proceed with caution! Here be dragons!

Weaknesses

While a mournshade excels at stalking, disorienting, and ultimately killing its prey, it lacks much of any defensive capability. The plumage covering its body is simply that; feathers, leaving it largely unarmoured. Additionally, the mournshade’s fog, which draws from the Nocturne to fuel its arcane properties, acts as a lightning rod for magic - while steel can easily pierce the creature, arcane blows leave a heftier mark.

Statblock

Boons

[Shadow Dance] Before combat begins, the mournshade races around its targets and spreads a dark, shadowy fog in the area. Sight and hearing is diminished in the dark haze: at the start of their turn, players roll a perception check. Upon success, they can make out something of a figure within the fog, granting them only a -1 on combat rolls. Otherwise, their rolls are made with a -2. The fog lasts 2 rounds, after which it takes an entire turn for the mournshade to dash and recast it.

[Mournful Shriek] A practiced stalker of its prey, the mournshade always strikes first. When rolling initiative, it is rolled with a 2d10+4. This +4 is in place of the mournshade's DEX score, not in addition to it. On its first turn, it will do an extra 1-2 points of damage.

Banes

[Arcane Magnet] Those with the gift of magic can sense the arcane nature of a mournshade’s fog. Any spells cast whilst within the fog are rolled with an additional +1 and are not subject to the penalty from [Shadow Dance]. Damage to the creature as a result of magic is doubled.

Mechanics Guidance

• Light Armour
• 30-40 HP
• 2 actions per turn
• Movement
  • 8m (8 block) per turn
• Attack rolls and damage - general guidance:
  • Claw slash, pounce, etc,
    • /roll attack 2 4-6
    • 4-6 damage
    • 1 action
    • Melee distance 
  • Beak stab, bite, etc.
    • /roll attack 2 3-5 AP
    • 3-5 AP damage
    • 1 action
    • Melee distance 
• For the purposes of contesting spells or making otherwise necessary checks, the following stats are provided: