Shadar-Kai
"Shadar-kai were once elves, native to Majin. They were all members of an extended tribe who called themselves Shadar-Kai. These early elves had seen the abuses Aeteria, Omnipotence of Majin, perpetrated on the souls who opposed their power. They also had a great fear of death, the eternal journey into the Dream. When the Raven Queen broke free from Aeteria and ascended to godhood, in an age now largely forgotten, the Shadar-Kai struck a deal with her. They promised to serve as her mortal agents, and in exchange, she gave them incredibly long life and freedom from frailty. The Shadar-Kai believe that, through their pact, they became the chosen people of death and winter.
The Shadar-Kai moved to the Shadowfell, setting up their communities on the borders of Letherna, the Raven Queen’s domain. Life in shadow changed the elves, reshaping them and altering their appearance. Eventually, they were so different from elves that they became a distinct species. As they expanded their territory in the Shadowfell and began interacting again with the mortal world, the tribal name became the name for their race." - The Interplanar Guide to Majin, pg 1208
Ashen and Scarred
Shadar-Kai are elf-like, but the weight of existence in the Shadowfell has shaped them to be slightly shorter and much thinner than their elf counterparts. A Shadar-kai has a colorless complexion that varies from alabaster to dark gray. Shadar-Kai hair is similarly drab or raven black. Pale hair might have a hint of color within the range of elf norms. The eyes are lustrous and black, lacking any white or clear pupil. Shadows near a Shadar-Kai sometimes seem to reach out or deepen, especially when the Shadar-Kai is angry.
Although drab in natural appearance, Shadar-Kai are quite elaborate and idiosyncratic in personal adornment. They like dark and exotic clothing, jewelry, and weapons, often decorated with swatches of bright color. Hair is similarly ornate and often dyed, and many embellish their skin with tattoos, scars, and piercings.
The tattoos, scars, and piercings a Shadar-Kai wears have more than one purpose. They exist as a testament to the wearer’s ability to withstand pain as well as a means of personal expression and decoration. Each decoration can also be a record of a deed done, an honor gained, or a misdeed declared.
The Raven Queen
Through their pact with the Raven Queen, each Shadar-Kai is an instrument of death and fate. The Raven Queen doesn’t demand worship from the Shadar-Kai, though she receives it in abundance. She demands only that they observe the pact by following her commandments. So most Shadar-Kai hold no pity for the dying and try to punish those who defy fate. But Shadar-Kai also believe that nobody truly knows what fate holds.
The Raven Queen is a fair mother, if not a loving one. When the Shadar-Kai called upon her in ancient times, she answered. She still does. While she spares little love, she also never demands the love of her children. Almost all Shadar-Kai revere the Raven Queen, but each Shadar-Kai is free to choose his or her destiny and way of life, including religion.
Strong Emotions
The Shadowfell saps living creatures of creativity and the will to live. When Shadar-Kai moved to the Shadowfell ages ago, they were not immune to this depression. Numerous members of their early society gave in to ennui and simply slipped out of existence, driving the Shadar-Kai to change their lifestyle, embracing strong emotions and peak experiences. These practices, born out of necessity, became traditions over countless generations.
The current culture of the Shadar-Kai is a study in pushing boundaries. Shadar-Kai welcome difficult tasks and physical and emotional extremes as a way of life. They learn to channel the darkness of the Shadowfell rather than allowing that darkness to consume them. And they accept death as the inevitable end for those who fail to attain the right amount of power or fame. Shadar-Kai embrace living with gusto. The limits of pleasure and pain distract them from the wearying melancholy of the Shadowfell. They also strive for personal greatness, so that if they fail to gain the ability to live forever, stories of their great deeds will grant a sort of immortality. In this search for personal glory, most Shadar-Kai ignore banalities such as comfort and safety.
Heralds of Death and Winter
The Shadar-Kai often venture forth from the Shadowfell to spread the wisdom of the Raven Queen throughout the Material Planes. They believe a pilgrimage from their dark home helps provide perspective, and thus many Shadar-Kai will travel throughout the Material Plane at one point in their lives. Whether as tourists or apostles is dependent on the specific person. The Shadar-Kai are a rare sight in Sanctuary, but not unheard of. Elves of Sanctuary harbor, at the very least, at deep mistrust of Shadar-Kai.
Shadar-Kai Traits
Age. The Shadar-Kai reach physical maturity at the same rate as humans, but they generally live far longer. A shadar-kai may live up to 400 years.
Size. Shadar-Kai are generally a tad below 6 feet in height and they weigh between 110 and 170 pounds. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Accustomed to the black skies and eternal shadow of the Shadowfell, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of grey.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed condition on yourself.
Doomspeaker. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Necrotic Resistance. You have resistance to necrotic damage.
Blessing of the Raven Queen. As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Starting at 3rd level, you also gain resistance to all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage when you teleport using this trait. The resistance lasts until the start of your next turn. During that time, you appear ghostly and translucent.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.
The Shadar-Kai moved to the Shadowfell, setting up their communities on the borders of Letherna, the Raven Queen’s domain. Life in shadow changed the elves, reshaping them and altering their appearance. Eventually, they were so different from elves that they became a distinct species. As they expanded their territory in the Shadowfell and began interacting again with the mortal world, the tribal name became the name for their race." - The Interplanar Guide to Majin, pg 1208
Ashen and Scarred
Shadar-Kai are elf-like, but the weight of existence in the Shadowfell has shaped them to be slightly shorter and much thinner than their elf counterparts. A Shadar-kai has a colorless complexion that varies from alabaster to dark gray. Shadar-Kai hair is similarly drab or raven black. Pale hair might have a hint of color within the range of elf norms. The eyes are lustrous and black, lacking any white or clear pupil. Shadows near a Shadar-Kai sometimes seem to reach out or deepen, especially when the Shadar-Kai is angry.
Although drab in natural appearance, Shadar-Kai are quite elaborate and idiosyncratic in personal adornment. They like dark and exotic clothing, jewelry, and weapons, often decorated with swatches of bright color. Hair is similarly ornate and often dyed, and many embellish their skin with tattoos, scars, and piercings.
The tattoos, scars, and piercings a Shadar-Kai wears have more than one purpose. They exist as a testament to the wearer’s ability to withstand pain as well as a means of personal expression and decoration. Each decoration can also be a record of a deed done, an honor gained, or a misdeed declared.
The Raven Queen
Through their pact with the Raven Queen, each Shadar-Kai is an instrument of death and fate. The Raven Queen doesn’t demand worship from the Shadar-Kai, though she receives it in abundance. She demands only that they observe the pact by following her commandments. So most Shadar-Kai hold no pity for the dying and try to punish those who defy fate. But Shadar-Kai also believe that nobody truly knows what fate holds.
The Raven Queen is a fair mother, if not a loving one. When the Shadar-Kai called upon her in ancient times, she answered. She still does. While she spares little love, she also never demands the love of her children. Almost all Shadar-Kai revere the Raven Queen, but each Shadar-Kai is free to choose his or her destiny and way of life, including religion.
Strong Emotions
The Shadowfell saps living creatures of creativity and the will to live. When Shadar-Kai moved to the Shadowfell ages ago, they were not immune to this depression. Numerous members of their early society gave in to ennui and simply slipped out of existence, driving the Shadar-Kai to change their lifestyle, embracing strong emotions and peak experiences. These practices, born out of necessity, became traditions over countless generations.
The current culture of the Shadar-Kai is a study in pushing boundaries. Shadar-Kai welcome difficult tasks and physical and emotional extremes as a way of life. They learn to channel the darkness of the Shadowfell rather than allowing that darkness to consume them. And they accept death as the inevitable end for those who fail to attain the right amount of power or fame. Shadar-Kai embrace living with gusto. The limits of pleasure and pain distract them from the wearying melancholy of the Shadowfell. They also strive for personal greatness, so that if they fail to gain the ability to live forever, stories of their great deeds will grant a sort of immortality. In this search for personal glory, most Shadar-Kai ignore banalities such as comfort and safety.
Heralds of Death and Winter
The Shadar-Kai often venture forth from the Shadowfell to spread the wisdom of the Raven Queen throughout the Material Planes. They believe a pilgrimage from their dark home helps provide perspective, and thus many Shadar-Kai will travel throughout the Material Plane at one point in their lives. Whether as tourists or apostles is dependent on the specific person. The Shadar-Kai are a rare sight in Sanctuary, but not unheard of. Elves of Sanctuary harbor, at the very least, at deep mistrust of Shadar-Kai.
Shadar-Kai Traits
Age. The Shadar-Kai reach physical maturity at the same rate as humans, but they generally live far longer. A shadar-kai may live up to 400 years.
Size. Shadar-Kai are generally a tad below 6 feet in height and they weigh between 110 and 170 pounds. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Accustomed to the black skies and eternal shadow of the Shadowfell, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of grey.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed condition on yourself.
Doomspeaker. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Necrotic Resistance. You have resistance to necrotic damage.
Blessing of the Raven Queen. As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Starting at 3rd level, you also gain resistance to all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage when you teleport using this trait. The resistance lasts until the start of your next turn. During that time, you appear ghostly and translucent.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.
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