THE ABYSSYM 

 HIT DIE: D4
Lvl BA For Ref Wil Special Spellcasting
B t l
1 0 2 0 2 Eldritch Blast +1d6, See in Darkness +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
2 1 3 0 3 Abyssm of Cold +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
3 1 3 1 3 Bonus Metashadow Feat              +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
4 2 4 1 4 Eldritch Blast +2d6                +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
5 2 4 1 4 Abyssym of Fear, Eldritch Splice +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
6 3 5 2 5 Bonus Invocation                  +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
7 3 5 2 5 Eldritch Blast +3d6                +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
8 4 6 2 6 Abyssym of Darkness                +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
9 4 6 3 6 Bonus Metashadow Feat              +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
10 5 7 3 7 Greater Eldritch Splice, Eldritch Blast +1 mystery-using class/+1 invocation-using class
+4d6
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level): Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana),
Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Move Silently, Search, Spellcraft, Spot, Use Magic Device

Due to the prerequisites, it is perhaps best to assume
that most are shadowcasters. Cultists have no more
difficulty meeting the prerequisites, but shadowcasters
will be able to get the most versatility due to their larger
selection of mysteries.
Entry Requirements
Alignment: Any Nongood
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Knowledge (the
planes) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks
Shadowcasting: Able to cast 2nd-level mysteries
Special: Eldritch blast 2d6
class before becoming an eldritch disciple, you must
decide to which class to add each level for the purpose
of determining caster level and invocations known.
Eldritch Blast:At 1st level, and then again at 4th, 7th,
and 10th levels, the damage from your eldritch blast is
increased by +1d6
See in Darkness (Su): Borrowing from shadow magic
and fiendish blood alike, you improve your sight,
allowing you to see through darkness and magical
darkness out to 60 feet.

CLASS FEATURES
As an abyssym, you blend together your shadow magic
and invocations with great ease.
Mysteries: At each level, you gain new mysteries and an
increase in caster level as if you had also gained a level
in a mystery-using class to which you belonged before
adding the prestige class level. You do not, however,
gain any other benefits a character of that classes would
have gained. If you had more than one mystery-using
class before becoming an abyssym, you must decide to
which class to add each level for the purpose of
determining caster level and mysteries known.
Abyssym of Cold (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, you can
start to modify your eldritch blasts and mysteries
through the interaction of energies that they generate.
As a free action, you may add the cold descriptor to the
next eldritch blast or mystery that you cast. Any
creatures that are targeted or who are caught in the
area of this eldritch blast or mystery take 1 cold
damage/caster level (if a mystery) or invoker level (if an
eldritch blast)
Bonus Metashadow Feat: At 3rd level, and again at 9th
level, you gain any metashadow feat that you qualify for
as a bonus feat.

Invocations: At each level, you gain new invocations
known and an increase in caster level as if you had also
gained a level in an invocation-using class to which you
belonged before adding the prestige class level (this
does not include eldritch blast). You do not, however,
gain any other benefit a characterof that class would
have gained. If you had more than one invocation-using
Abyssym of Fear (Ex): Starting at 5th level, you can
draw more power into your mysteries and eldritch
blasts. As a free action, you may add the fear subschool
and the mind-affecting descriptor to the next eldritch
blast or mystery that you cast. Any creatures that are
targeted or who are caught in the area of this eldritch
blast or mystery must make a will save or become
shaken for 1d4 rounds. This ability may be used with
abyssym of cold.
Eldritch Splice (Ex): Starting at 5th level, the roiling
powers of your magics start to mix. You may apply any
eldritch essence or blast shape invocation to any
applicable mystery. In addition, you may apply any
applicable metashadow feat to your eldritch blast or an
invocation, by using up a daily use of that mystery.
Bonus Invocation: At 6th level, an abyssym learns a new
invocation, which must be an eldritch essence or blast
shape invocation of a grade that they have access to.
Abyssym of Darkness: At 9th level, an abyssym can
power their mysteries and eldritch blasts even further.
As a free action, you may add the darkness descriptor to
the next eldritch blast or mystery that you cast. If the
area or target of the invocation or mystery is occupied
by a spell with the light descriptor of a lower or equal
spell level, the light is dispelled. If the mystery or
eldritch blast has a target, a 20 foot-radius emanation,
originating from that target, is covered in shadowy
illumination for 1d4 rounds. If the mystery or eldritch
blast has an area, that area is covered in shadowy
illumination for 1d4 rounds. This ability may be used
with abyssym of cold and abyssym of fear.
Greater Eldritch Splice (Su): At 10th level, your shadow
magic and invocations have nearly roiled together to
become one. Once per hour, plus one additional time
per day per point of charisma bonus (if any), as a
standard action, you may cast both a mystery and an
invocation simultaneously. If the mystery would be cast
as a spell, it is cast as a spell-like ability. If the mystery
would be cast as a supernatural or extraordinary ability,
so is the invocation. If both the mystery and the
invocation allow saving throws, each one uses the
higher of the two save DCs. This ability may not be used
in combination with the abyssym of cold, abyssym of
fear, or abyssym of darkness abilities.
PLAYING AN ABYSSYM
The depths of your power have been realized. By
combining the your tainted blood with shadow magic,
you have managed to grasp true power. You have
learned that power invariably complements power and
search out for any and all new sources to complement
that which you already hold. You need not forsake or
forget about your compatriots, for they are a power all
their own, able to compensate for your shortcomings.
Neither, however, do you desire to oppress them, for
doing so would make them liabilities. More than your
other pursuits, you seek to ascend into darkness, as
darkness is your birthright and strength.
The Nightshade covenant sees you in much the same
manner as the Votaries of Vecna view children of night,
as a paragon of their cause. The Votaries of Vecna, for
this reason, is not particularly friendly towards
abyssyms, although membership is not denied to them
should they truly wish for it. The Tenebrous Cabal
admires your control of shadow magic and its
interactions with invocations.
COMBAT
At low levels, you are just like any other mystery user or
invocation user. As such, is may be wiser to remain at
the back of the battlefield, harassing your opponents
with mysteries, or, should you run out, with eldritch
blasts.
As you advance, your shadow magic and invocations
warp and fuse, granting you far greater versatility than
practitioners of either path possess. Although this
greatly increases your power, it is still best, throughout
your career, to remain away from the fray.
ADVANCEMENT
As a practitioner of both learned shadow magic and
innate invocations, your methods are somewhat
improvised, but not random. Some of the processes
must be actively learned and practiced in some manner,
but the mixing of the two energies happens all on its
own, triggered by increasing the ties to both forms of
magic simultaneously. Your ascension to shadow, unlike
that of the children of night, is arcane, rather than
physical.
Your mental abilities are key as you level up, especially
charisma, which makes your abilities more virulent. Of
course, you now have to choose both mysteries and
invocations carefully. Most of your mysteries will either
have an area, modifiable through blast shape
invocations, or will deal damage, which allows eldritch
essences to function upon them.
RESOURCES
Abyssyms usually take up a live and let live approach
towards other abyssyms. They have nothing that they
can learn from one another and they naturally vie for
sources of power if left in the same vicinity. When an
abyssym joins a shadow magic organization, they are
more expected to lead than to receive aid, although
they may find some if they ask. The most reliable source
of aid that an abyssym can call upon are the fiends from
which they gained their power. Fiends (devils, demons,
and yugoloths alike) respect their desire to ascend to
shadow and are generally more willing to help them to
such an end.
ABYSSYMS IN THE WORLD
“Children of night, as you call them, have quite their
journey midway. I, meanwhile, intend to finish it.”
     -Nelson Greymane, Abyssym
Abyssyms communicate a new viewpoint on shadow,
seeing it as a midway point towards darkness. These
enigmatic arcane practitioners have by far extended the
range of what their powers can do through the mixing
of two taboo forms of magic. Some players would be
overjoyed to mix these dark magics together.
DAILY LIFE
Despite the scarcity of abyssyms in the world, it is easy
to describe their everyday life. They typically work by
night (or by dusk, if they should need some
inconspicuous light). The first part of their day is spent
studying or practicing their art, occasionally followed by
some experimentation with their abilities. Afterwards,
they proceed in their pursuit of power. This pursuit can
take multiple forms, ranging from studying an ancient
shrine in a library to exploring a tomb for a powerful
item.
When abyssyms acquire a position of status, they treat
it as another source of power, using it to gain more if
possible. As abyssyms need to remain more or less free
in their pursuit of power and ascension, they tend to
ignore high-maintenance positions, sometimes leading
to large problems.
NOTABLES
Despite their scarcity, rumors and stories of one
particular abyssym have reached across the planes. Mae
Kiar, it is said, managed to bodily and spiritually ascend
into darkness after capturing the soul of the balor her
family’s soul belonged to. The exact method by which
she captured the soul, as no such method exists either
in shadow magic nor invocations, remains unknown to
this day. Mae Kiar today still lives as a deity of darkness
and shadow (see later post for details).
ORGANIZATION
The Tenebrous Cabal officially greets abyssyms with
open arms. Unofficially, they are not trusted and the
cabal often sends spies to try and gain insight into their
power. None has ever found their way onto the
parliament of shadow.
The Votaries of Vecna will allow abyssyms to join, but
they keep an even shorter leash on them, allowing
nothing less than complete and utter compliance from
them.
The Nightshade Covenant, which is dedicated to
darkness as much as shadow, is the only group that
really welcomes someone to aspires to merge their
powers with darkness.
NPC REACTIONS:
As a combination of two untrusted sources of magic,
very few people think highly of abyssyms. Common folk
are normally frightened to death of them, seeing them
as darkness incarnate. Stronger opponents seek to drive
away such a threat, if possible. Warlocks tend to view
you indifferently but most shadow magic users are
unfriendly, as the basis of an abyssym’s philosophy is
that darkness, and not shadow, is the true eternal
power.
Nearly everyone is an enemy of an abyssym, from the
paladins that wish them dead, to the mystery users who
think them wrong, to the shadow organizations that
think them wrong, to the everyday farmer who fears
them as he fears death. Most warlocks are used to such
solitude, however.
ABYSSYM LORE
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcane) or
Knowledge (the planes) can research abyssyms to learn
more about them. When a character makes a skill
check, read or paraphrase the following, including the
information from lower DCs.
DC 10:Abyssyms are dark practitioners of both shadow
magic and invocations
DC 15:Abyssyms are never good news, and they are
almost always evil and self-centered.
DC 20: The mixing of shadow magic and invocations
allows them to meld together, lending the abyssym
great versatility.
     A bardic knowledge check or a Gather Information
check can reveal the same information as these
Knowledge checks, but in each case the DC is 5 higher
than the given value.
ABYSSYMS IN THE GAME
Abyssyms are rare, as they not only need the tainted
bloodline of a warlock but the dedication to learn
shadow magic and the devotion to shadow that fuels
the mixing of the two. For this reason, it is logical to
assume that the PCs have neither heard of nor fought
one yet. The abyssym is appropriate for players who
like both component forms of magic, as the abyssym
makes each more versatile. To make the player’s
investment worthwhile, try to vary your encounters, for
if the player is forced to rely on the exact same tactics in
each encounter, then the experience may quickly
become dull.

ADAPTATION
Due to the unique nature of both component classes
and the ways that they are allowed to interact, it is
much harder to adapt this class. To make it more PC
friendly, you could easily reverse engineer the abyssym
so that it is actually working towards light from
darkness. This way, good players will have an equal
chance to partake in the benefits of this class.