Dark Magic is an Rare Magical skill. Skill checks with it are modified by Intelligence.
Dark Magic is the Basic Magic of shadow, fear, illusion, and the unseen forces that linger beyond the edge of light. Those who master it learn to bend darkness into weapons, concealment, and subtle manipulation, wielding shadows not merely as absence, but as a living force of uncertainty and dread. Dark Magic is patient and deceptive, capable of swallowing sight, twisting perception, and striking from places others cannot comprehend.
Practitioners of Dark Magic excel at disruption, concealment, control, and psychological warfare. Some weave shadows into protective veils and illusions that confuse their enemies, while others manifest tangible darkness capable of restraining, draining, or terrifying those who oppose them. Darkness can hide allies, cloud the mind, or transform the battlefield itself into a place of paranoia and fear. Even when no enemy can be seen, a skilled Dark caster ensures no one ever feels safe.
Each rank in the Dark Magic skill increases your Accuracy bonus with Dark Magic spells by 1, boosts your damage with Dark Magic spells by 1/5th, and enhances your chance to score a Critical Hit with Dark Magic spells by 1/10th.
As your skill in Dark Magic grows, you will gain additional benefits from it.
Improved Affinity (All Ranks)
Embracing the primal nature of Dark Magic allows you to call upon it in many forms. Upon attaining a new rank title (Initiate, Apprentice, Journeyman, Adept, Master, Grandmaster), you gain a 25% affinity bonus in one of the following skills: Dark Magic, Infernal Essence, Persistant Shadow, Clinging Shadow, Efficient Teleportation, or Tranquil Casting. You can gain this affinity even if you did not have a previous Affinity Bonus or Ranks in the chosen skill.
Initiate (Ranks 10–19):
As an Initiate, you begin to understand the subtle and consuming nature of darkness. Shadows bend more willingly around you, masking your movements and dulling the awareness of those nearby. You gain the ability Shadow Veil:
Shadow Veil: As a Bonus Action, you can surround yourself in shifting darkness until the end of your turn. While active, you gain a +10 bonus to Stealth checks, and creatures more than 20 feet away suffer a -5 penalty to Accuracy Checks made against you unless they possess Darkvision or a similar magical sense. This ability lasts for 10 minutes, and can be used once per day.
Apprentice (Ranks 20–34):
Your mastery of Dark Magic allows you to draw strength from fear, uncertainty, and hidden places. Darkness itself begins to shield and sustain you. You gain the ability Cloak of Dusk:
Cloak of Dusk: As a Reaction when you take damage from a spell or attack while in dim light or darkness, you can partially dissolve into shadow. Reduce the damage taken by an amount equal to half your Dark Magic ranks (rounded up), and you may immediately move up to 5 feet if you are not Immobilized.
All of these bonuses are cumulative.