Death's Shadow (Patreon)

Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)

This black garnet amulet is carved into the shape of a bird's skull and is adorned with several dark feathers. At its center is a single phoenix feather that serves as a catalyst for this strange talisman's necrotic magic. While wearing this amulet, you are immune to necrotic damage.

Shadow Form. When you are reduced to 0 hit points while wearing this amulet, a shadowy version of yourself rises from your unconscious body. You control this form, which has your equipment and statistics. It has 100 temporary hit points and resistance to all damage that isn't force, psychic, or radiant. The shadow form can't move more than 60 feet from your body. The shadow vanishes after 1 minute or when it falls to 0 temporary hit points. If the shadow survives for the duration, it returns to your body and causes you to regain a number of hit points equal to the shadow's remaining number of temporary hit points. If the shadow is defeated, the amulet is destroyed and you immediately fail 2 death saving throws.

While your shadow form is defending you, your unconscious body is covered by an impenetrable veil of shadow. While covered in this way, you can't be interacted with: you are immune to all damage, don't make death saving throws, can’t regain hit points, and can’t be affected by spells or magical effects. A creature can use an action to make a DC 30 Strength check, moving the covered body up to 10 feet on a success.

Once this property has been used, it can't be used again until 7 days have passed.

The hero stood before the tides of war. Of evil. Their weapons glinted red with the blood they'd already spilled. They wouldn't go further. They wouldn't harm another person. The hero wouldn't let them.

Despite the hero's determination, the overwhelming force wore them down. Arrows stuck out from their chest. Gashes of mortal wounds lay bare and exposed to the harsh air.

The hero fell.

Darkness took hold. It was comforting. Warm. Safe.

From the darkness, a face. A white mask wreathed in an impossibly black dress. A guardian of the mortal coil's threshold.

"Rise, champion. Your fight is not yet over. There are those that still need saving."

The figure leaned in as it whispered. As the voice melted through the hero's aching muscles, an amulet was draped around their neck.

The soft darkness remained, but the sense of safety was more fleeting. The hero's consciousness extended outward, through the darkness to find refuge in another form. Something not quite alive, but far from dead.

From beyond the shadow's refuge, the horde of monsters saw only the body of the hero become cloaked in a billowing black vapor. Arrows were brushed harmlessly away from it, and sword strikes slowed to a gentle touch. From the shadows came a burst of a dark flame, a rising avenger.

The shadow was unwilling to fall. It was unwilling to break. It was unwilling to let evil reign.

The hero rose.