Shade

A Shade was a being, typically a Sorcerer, who was possessed by a spirit/s, thus becoming a Shade. While Shades could originally be any creature, once possessed they adopted similar traits, such as extreme strength, red hair, maroon eyes and magic proficiency.  They can speak an infernal tongue. 

Nature

Since only an evil spirit would welcome the opportunity to enter and control the body of a living creature - making it near impossible for a Shade to be good - Shades are altogether vile and cruel. Nevertheless, they were also intelligent and cunning, as well as skilled in magic and swordplay. They have a reputation of terror and dread among all races as dangerous monsters: Shades leave "Rivers of blood" in their wake. As such, soldiers were expected to attack Shades on sight.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Can only be killed if stabbed though the heart

Biological Traits

Once created, Shades are extremely powerful and dangerous, among the most feared creatures in the world. In addition to sorcery, Shades have superhuman physical abilities, many times greater than the fittest humans. These abilities included supernatural strength, speed, stamina, pain tolerance, as well as unmatched senses: A Shade can see as clearly at night as they can during the day, track scents at great distances.

Their greatest ability is their resistance to death. A Shade can only be killed by being stabbed through the heart: otherwise, it is temporarily disembodied and will reappear elsewhere in spirit form before reforming its body, healed. This process is unpleasant for a Shade and extremely painful, but had no lasting consequences. Shades are actually strengthened from being disembodied.

Genetics and Reproduction

Shades are usually created when a sorcerer summoned a spirit/s that they can't control and consequently became possessed by them in both mind and body.

Some magic users willingly submitted to the control of spirits in order to gain greater magical power, thus becoming a Shade, not realising that they would loose most of themself in the process.

A Shades can also be created by a sorcerer summoning spirits into the body of another, turning the recipient into a Shade. The incantations takes several minutes and leaves the spellcaster/s vulnerable during the casting if they do not take the time to set up the proper wards.

To become a Shade, a humanoid form is not required.

Many Shades have been formed, but most Shades self-destruct shortly after creation if the spirits are not n agreement. Shades which survive the volatile natures of their formation are rare indeed.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

All hosts:

• Eyes = maroon, "as red as wine"
• Hair = crimson, "as red as blood."

Average Intelligence

Highly intelligent and cunning

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

• Darkvision/true sight
• Can cast its mind out

Heightened;

• Hearing
• Smell
• Touch

High stealth/ad on stealth checks

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

The personality of a Shade is the amalgamation of the minds of the spirit/s and the host.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

A newly formed Shade chooses their name when fully formed.

Lifespan

Immortal

Conservation Status

Kill on sight

Average Physique

Human and elf host: lean bodies "like a runner's, thin and compact."

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Nearly translucent skin