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By giving themselves over to the Shadow and focusing on the dark side of magic, these arcane spellcasters learn how to bargain with their god to make their spells more effective — for a price.

Requirements

Class Features

Spellcasting: At each level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming an escalation mage, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

The Shade Within (Ex): When you first embark upon the path of the escalation mage, you draw strength from the Shadow to prepare for the dangerous road ahead. At 1st level, you permanently gain a number of hit points equal to 1 + your Cha modifier (minimum of 1). At each subsequent level, you gain 1 additional hit point. For example, an escalation mage who reaches 5th level would have received a total of (5 + Cha modifier, minimum 5) extra hit points.

Escalation (Su): By appealing to the arcane mastery of the Shadow, you put yourself at risk in exchange for the promise of power. Beginning at 2nd level, you learn how to instantly work such appeals into your arcane spellcasting, mimicking the effects of metamagic feats. These escalations do not actually change the spell's level or casting time. The more escalations you master, the more powerful your spells potentially become, but the greater the risk to yourself. You can use escalation a number of times per day equal to your class level.

Using an escalation effect requires a swift action unless stated otherwise in the text below, and applies only to the next spell you cast as long as it is within 1 round. You can use only one escalation effect per spell. You can use escalation effects in conjunction with metamagic feats, but doing so involves additional risk, as you must use the spell's new level (including the metamagic effect) to set the caster level check DC (see below).

Each escalation effect requires a caster level check of varying difficulty; if you fail the check, the escalation effect still functions, but Shadow exacts a toll from you. If you take damage as a result of failing the required check, you must also succeed on a Concentration check (as if taking damage during the casting of a spell) or lose the spell entirely.

Esca lation effects can be applied to spell-like abilities just as if they were spells.

Shadow Focus: Upon reaching 2nd level, you unlock the first secret of the art of escalation. You can attempt to increase the effective level of a spell by +1, as though using the Heighten Spell metamagic feat. The caster level check DC is 10 + twice the spell's level. If you fail the check, you immediately take 1 point of damage per level of the spell.

Shadow Power: Beginning at 3rd level, you learn to escalate the potency of your spells. You can attempt to increase all variable numeric effects of the spell by one-half, as though using the Empower Spell metamagic feat. The caster level check DC is 12 + twice the spell's level. If you fail the check, you immediately take 2 points of damage per level of the spell and become fatigued for a number of rounds equal to the spell's level.

Shadow Growth: Upon reaching 4th level, you learn to bargain with the Shadow to shape your magics. You can attempt to increase any numeric measurements of a burst, emanation, line, or spread spell's area by 100%, as though using the Widen Spell metamagic feat. The caster level check DC is 14 + twice the spell's level. If you fail the check, you immediately take 3 points of damage per level of the spell and become shaken for a number of rounds equal to the spell's level.

Shadow Haste: By the time you reach 5th level, you can entreat the Shadow to catalyze your spellcasting. You can attempt to cast the spell with a casting time of 1 full-round action or less as a swift action, as though using the Quicken Spell metamagic feat. (The activation of this ability is subsumed within the casting time of the spell.) The caster check is DC 16 + twice the spell's level. If you fail the check, you immediately take 5 points of damage per level of the spell and become slowed for a number of rounds equal to the spell's level. Unlike other escalation effects, failing this check also means that the spell is not cast (though you don't lose the spell and can attempt to cast it again using the normal casting time, assuming you have sufficient actions remaining in the round).

Soul of Shadow (Ex): At the culmination of your studies, you master enough of the Shadow's capricious nature to exert some small measure of control over your escalations. You can employ each of your four escalations (shadow focus, shadow power, shadow growth, and shadow haste) once per day without a caster level check. These uses are in addition to those normally granted by your class level.

One restriction exists: you may not apply any free escalation to the highest level of arcane spell you are capable of casting. For example, a 5th-level wizard/6thlevel escalation mage can cast 6th-level wizard spells, but can only apply her free escalation effects to spells of 5th level or lower. (Her normal escalation effects can be applied to any of her spells.)

Advancement