Beyond the Veil: A Study of the Shadowed Lands

Beyond the Veil: A Study of the Shadowed Lands is a scholarly tome that explores the mysterious and perilous realm known as the Shadowed Lands—a dark reflection of the material world where shadows live, memories twist, and light itself becomes a fleeting thing.

Compiled by the exiled mage-scholar Thamior Veilstep, the book weaves together field notes, arcane theories, and the firsthand accounts of those who have crossed the veil and returned—changed. It offers detailed descriptions of the geography of the Shadowed Lands, its native entities such as the Umbral Wights, Whispering Shades, and the enigmatic Shadow Lords, and the strange laws of time and magic that govern the plane.

The text also delves into the history of mortals meddling with the veil—ancient pacts, forbidden rituals, and the catastrophic consequences of piercing the boundary between light and shadow. Of particular note is the chapter on “The Breach of Arelith”, which speculates that recurring shadow incursions into the material world are the result of a thinning veil caused by excessive necromantic and planar magic.

Scholars prize the book for its rare blend of magical insight and narrative detail, though many copies have mysteriously vanished from public archives. Some say the book itself is cursed—its words whispered into the minds of those too curious for their own good.