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Character Build: The Shadowflame Phoenix

Tags: #dragonborn  #Character Build Elementalist  #Character Build Nightblade  #Character Build Assassin  #Race:Dunmer  #Rank:Mythic  #Fire  #Phoenix 
  • Member
    December 17, 2012

    A cross between deadly assassin and battle mage, the Shadowflame Phoenix rises from the ashes and punishes any who stand before him.  This build also heavily uses Dragonborn DLC content.

     

    Xaphan was surrounded by a charred landscape littered with nearly a score of smoldering bandit corpses.  He had exhausted the last of his magic in a devastating blast of flames and he drew deep breaths as fatigue set in.  As the smoke cleared he saw a lone figure approaching.  The towering orc was clad in ebony armor and wielded a greataxe almost as large as Xaphan.  The chief of the brigands stalked toward him and then let out a howl and charged with his terrible axe held high.

    Xaphan closed his eyes and held his arms to his side.  The orc bore down on him with all of his might and Xaphan felt his collarbone shatter as the axe drove deep into his chest.  The force of the impact drove him to his knees and blood began to spurt from the mortal wound.  The bandit chief let out a sinister laugh as he ripped his axe from Xaphan and kicked him to the ground.  Xaphan felt a soothing warmth begin to radiate from within.  Xaphan saw a bright light and a rush of extreme heat overtook him in his final moment.

    Xaphan awoke to the smell of thick smoke.  As he stood up he found himself in the bottom of a small crater, his clothes nothing more than singed rags.  A pile of burning embers and molten metal lay before him, and he began to recall a fierce battle.  His memory would come to him in time, and there was nothing here for him.  He climbed out of the crater and remembered that he was headed for Skyrim, although he couldn’t remember why.  He headed off toward the border…

    The Shadowflame Phoenix

     

    The Shadowflame Phoenix is a deadly Dunmer assassin chosen by the Tribunal from the most elite Morrowind has to offer.  They combine the skill set of a master assassin and a battle mage to deadly effect.  To become a Shadowflame Phoenix one must undergo a transformation during a powerful ritual.  The ritual takes place during a solar eclipse atop Red Mountain in Vvardenfell.  The process involves communion with a powerful, yet unknown Daedra (thought to possibly be either Mehrunes Dagon or Clavicus Vile), and being bathed in the lava that flows from the mighty volcano.

    All of those chosen to go through the ritual suffer a painful death by immolation.  Those with the strongest of wills and deemed worthy by the Daedra rise from the ashes of their former self.  They are reborn, their hair crimson like that of intense flames and their eyes resemble smoldering embers.

    The transformation bestows upon them power over shadows and the ability to manifest fire as hot as the sun.  These powers take time to truly master and the pinnacle of the Shadowflame Phoenix is the ability to resurrect themselves.  However, the process of death and rebirth takes a toll and their former abilities must be relearned and perfected.  They also retain only the faintest memories from their previous life and usually only a fragment of their last moments are recalled.  There is a limit to the amount of rebirths that their soul can take, and that depends on the force of will of each individual Shadowflame Phoenix.

    The catastrophic eruption of Red Mountain and the exodus of the Dunmer from Morrowind put an end to the creation of any new Shadowflame Phoenixes.  Only a few have ever existed at one time and it has been nearly two centuries since the last ritual was performed successfully, so it may be possible that none still exist…

     

     

    Race:  Dunmer (for RP purposes)

    Stone:  Atronach Stone

    Stats:  2/4/1 in Health/Magicka/Stamina

    Shouts:  Become Ethereal, Fire Breath, Marked for Death, Throw Voice

    Major Skills:

    One-handed:  The Shadowflame Phoenix relies upon their blade when out of Magicka and for dispatching enemies who resist your flames.  Key perks include:  Armsman (5), Fighting Stance, and Savage Strike.

    Destruction:  Blasts of flame will be the primary means of damage once you break stealth or for handling groups of enemies.  Key perks include:  Novice-Expert, Augmented Flames (2), Intense Flames, and Rune Master.

    Sneak:  Your command of shadows allows you to perform devastating sneak attacks and reposition yourself among the battlefield.  You will eventually take every perk except Deadly Aim and Assassin’s Blade.

    Alteration:  You have the ability to encase your enemies in thick ash and sense the burning souls in other living creatures.  Your supernatural flames weaken enemy spells and occasionally engulf a spell before it reaches you.  Key perks include:  Novice-Expert, Magic Resistance (3), and eventually Atronach.

    Enchanting:  Your arcane talents allow you the ability to imbue your own equipment with magical properties.  Key perks include:  Enchanter (5), Fire Enchanter, Corpus Enchanter, and Extra Effect.

    Minor Skills:

    Restoration:  Your experience of death and rebirth has given you the ability to.  As you become more powerful you will even learn how to resurrect yourself.  Key perks include:  Novice-Apprentice, Regeneration, and eventually Avoid Death.

    Illusion:  You create raging infernos that strike fear in the souls of your enemies, especially when they suddenly appear from the shadows.  Key perks include:  Novice, Quiet Casting, and Aspect of Terror (for increased fire damage).


    Equipment:

    Weapons: 
    Charon’s Claw (Daedric Sword) – This Daedric artifact has an unquenchable thirst for souls.  It is enchanted with Fire Damage and Fiery Soul Trap.  Combine with the Black Star for unlimited charges.

    Apparel: 
    Shadowflame Cloak (Red Vampire Armor) – Fortify Alteration, Fortify Destruction
    Ahzidal (dragon mask) – Resist Fire 50%, Fire Damage increased by 25%
    Shrouded Gloves – Double Backstab damage
    Ashwalkers (Vampire Boots) – Fortify Stamina, Fortify One-handed
    Ahzidal's Ring of Arcana – Grants the Ignite spell
    Brimstone Amulet (Necklace) – Fortify Alteration, Fortify Destruction

    Special Moves:

     

    Rise from the Ashes

    The Shadowflame Phoenix rises from the ashes of his formal self reinvigorated and his foes are encased in thick ash.

    Requires:  Ash Rune/Ash Shell, Avoid Death/Become Ethereal, Fast Healing/Close Wounds


    Eclipse
    Aura

    You are surrounded by black flames and constantly step through shadows to evade your enemies while their flesh burns away.

    Requires:  Flame Cloak, Shadow Warrior, Silent Roll

    Inferno of Souls

    As your fiery aura nearly consumes your foes you unleash a blaze that burns their very souls and transforms them into fire wyrms under your command.

    Requires:  Flame Cloak, Fire Breath, Dragonborn Flame


    Brimstone Execution

    As you cover your foe in flames that melt flesh and armor alike, you take to the shadows.  As the flames subside you end their suffering with a swift decapitation.

    Requires:  Marked for Death, Ignite, Shadow Warrior, Silent Roll, Savage Strike

     

    Will-o-Wisp


    You terrorize your enemies with ghostly flames that cause them to spontaneously combust.

    Requires:  Ignite, Silent Casting, hidden


    Combat:

    The Shadowflame Phoenix never rushes into battle.  Utilizing stealth, they have the advantage whether against a single foe or a large group of enemies.  Single targets are dispatched with a swift slash of the throat whenever possible.  If a sneak attack is not practical, they will employ their Will-o-Wisp while remaining hidden.

    Against groups, they have several tactics available.  A well placed Fire Rune in combination with Throw Voice easily destroys weaker foes, while substituting an Ash Rune against tougher opponents buys them time to assassinate those who've strayed from the group.

    If stealth fails and they are engaged in open combat, the Shadowflame Phoenix has many tricks up their sleeves.  Inferno of Souls ravages weaker enemies and turns them against those that survive.  Brimstone Execution is a useful against very tough opponents.

     

     

     

     

  • December 17, 2012
    I can't take this build seriously... Not after seeing this http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=djQX-_1sq4Y
  • December 17, 2012

    This build looks like it could make a really fun variation on DiD. Instead of outright leaving your character when they die, you could leave it up to chance (flip a coin, roll a dice, ect). Then your death just leads to you being reborn and continuing on your quests. +1

  • December 17, 2012
    In all seriousness though, I like this build, I wanted to try out a new dark elf build and this build is great, it has a interesting backstory, combines stealth and magic to an effective degree, and it offers great roleplaying for characters because if they die they can just say your character was "resurrected", and other things like that. + 1
  • Member
    December 17, 2012

    I like this, tho it seems you got two backstory's and my personal opinoin the first one is kickass you could remove the whole second bit and this build is still good +1

  • Member
    December 17, 2012

    The first part in italics is about Xaphan, my personal Shadowflame Phoenix.  The second part is the general history behind the Shadowflame Phoenixes as a whole.  If the general consensus is that the second part takes away from the build I will gladly take it out.

  • Member
    December 17, 2012

    Wow, top 5...that means a great deal.  Although DiD sounds contrary to the RP of the build, Avoid Death or proper timing of Become Ethereal still allow for resurrection while still following the rules of DiD.

  • Member
    December 17, 2012

    Even the idea above, flip a coin, fits into the RP of this build (each shadowflame phoenix has a finite amount of ressurections, and eventually, your characters going to roll tails! )

    Great build, +1

  • December 18, 2012
    Is this build restricted by gender or could I play as either make or female? All of my dark elves look like deranged killers, and I usually make them incredibly kind
  • Member
    December 18, 2012
    No restriction on gender. Due to their rebirths and lack of memories you can actually play as good or evil too. The default would probably lean toward neutral or even evil though.