3. The Shade Arcane Black Market Overseer CR: 10 (Wizard 8 / Artificer 2) Appearance: Hooded figure wearing alchemical goggles, robes lined with arcane sigils that pulse faintly. Abilities: Forbidden Arsenal — Wields unstable magic items (wands that can backfire, potions with mixed effects). Black Flame Orb — Hurls an orb of sickly black fire (6d8 necrotic + 3d8 fire, DC 17 Dex save for half). Arcane Recall — Once per fight, can teleport to any Velvet Hand member in sight. Tactics: Bombards from range, using minions as buffers. Has contingency spells to escape if cornered. Hook: One of their artifacts is essential for the party’s main quest — they must take it from the Shade. See more