Shadar-kai
Culture
In the rare cases when mortals from the Material Plane have spoken with the Shadar-kai, they reported that the Shadar-kai believe that death is temporary. The Shadar-kai believe that when they die, the Raven Queen will capture their souls as they travel through the Shadowfell, and she will resurrect them to serve her again.
Public Agenda
Mortals who have traveled near the Fortress of Memories in the Shadowfell have described observing the Shadar-kai outside the castle performing unusual rituals and ceremonies. While in the Shadowfell, the Shadar-kai can often be seen wearing melancholic masks made of metal or wood.
The Shadar-kai are also known to visit the worlds of the Material Plane, but these cases are rare. During these visits, the Shadar-kai don't wear masks, and their pale faces and dark hair can be seen clearly. Their motivations during these visits to worlds like Toril are unclear; sometimes, they are known to stay in one location, watching and waiting until one day they're no longer there.
History
The origins of the Shadar-kai are linked to the Raven Queen, a mysterious figure from elven mythology whose true name was lost to history.
Theologians believe that the Raven Queen was once been an elven queen whose people loved her more than they loved their gods. As she rose in power, many of the queen's followers freely offered their souls and their magical abilities to help elevate her. These followers called themselves the "Shadar-kai," and they believed that when their queen achieved divinity, she would unify all the elves.
When Corellon Larethian and Lolth were locked in conflict, the Raven Queen tried to use the souls and magic of the Shadar-kai to forge a pathway through the Feywild and directly to the elven divine realm in Arvandor. Within her group of followers, however, a separate group of evil wizards attempted to siphon the energy of the Shadar-kai for themselves through their own self-serving ritual.
By the time the Raven Queen approached the entrance to Arvandor, she realized what the evil wizards were doing. Having already achieved quasi-divine status, she brought her wrath down upon the wizards. She was unable to control her newfound power, and she reached out to the Shadar-kai for more energy, but it was too late. The gravity of the magic pulled the queen, and all who were under her sway, into the Shadowfell. The queen died, and in her place, the new entity known as the Raven Queen was born.
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