Shadowlands

The Shadowlands, also known as the Shadowfell, is a plane of existence parallel to the Material Plane, where darkness clings to all things and light is a pale, dying ember. It is a place of sorrow and lost memories, where the echoes of the past wander aimlessly and where despair seeps into the bones of those who linger too long.

The Atmosphere & Environment

• The air is thick and heavy, carrying the scent of cold stone, damp earth, and something faintly metallic—like old blood.
• The sky is an endless twilight, neither day nor night, filled with swirling gray clouds that drift like sluggish shadows. No sun, moon, or stars shine here; only the faintest glow of dying embers on the horizon gives the illusion of a setting sun that never truly vanishes.
• The land is a mirror of the Material Plane but twisted and lifeless—forests are skeletal and gnarled, rivers are slow-moving pools of black water, and mountains loom like jagged teeth against the dull sky.

The Laws of the Shadowlands

• Muted Color & Light: Everything appears in shades of gray and black. Even the most vibrant colors appear dull and lifeless. Magical light sources are unnaturally weak, and torches struggle to burn beyond a dim glow.
• Whispers on the Wind: The air carries voices, fragments of forgotten conversations, and ghostly murmurs that seem to come from nowhere and everywhere. Some say they are the voices of the dead, while others believe they are echoes of possible futures.
• Time Moves Strangely: Travelers find themselves losing track of time. What feels like hours may be only moments—or days. Clocks and timepieces malfunction, and only the instinctive passage of hunger or exhaustion provides any sense of time.

Inhabitants of the Shadowlands

The Shadowlands are home to a variety of beings, many of whom were once mortal but have become something… else.

• The Restless Dead: Spirits and echoes of the deceased, unable to move on. Some retain fragments of their identity, seeking closure or revenge. Others are nothing more than empty shades, looping through the motions of their last living moments.
• Shadowborn Creatures: Beasts and beings adapted to the gloom, such as shadow mastiffs, umbral wyverns, and shades—predators that hunt the living to drain their warmth and vitality.
• The Shadar-Kai: Elves bound to the Raven Queen, inhabitants of the Shadowlands who have long since abandoned mortal joys in favor of cold devotion and survival in this bleak plane.
• The Forgotten: Those who have stayed too long in the Shadowlands lose their sense of self, becoming indistinct and blurred, their features fading into shadow until they are nothing more than silhouettes.

Locations of Note

• The Vale of Lost Echoes: A vast valley where the whispers of the dead grow loudest. Here, shadows of ancient battles play out in endless repetition, and the air is thick with regret.
• The Midnight Mire: A swamp of black water and pale, bioluminescent fungi. The ground is treacherous, shifting unpredictably, and creatures unseen lurk beneath the surface.
• The Obsidian Keep: A ruined fortress of black stone, once home to a forgotten king whose name no longer exists. Now, it is a den of wraiths and vengeful spirits.
• The Umbral Spire: A tower that stretches into the sky, said to be the meeting place of shadowy figures who control the fate of the plane.

Dangers of the Shadowlands

• Memory Drain: The longer one stays, the harder it becomes to recall why they came or who they are. Eventually, even the strongest minds may forget themselves entirely.
• Shadow Corruption: Prolonged exposure to the plane can darken the soul, making it harder to feel joy or warmth, and turning the afflicted into something… less than mortal.
• The Hunger of the Void: The Shadowlands themselves seem to thirst for life. Stray too far into its depths, and you may never find your way back.