Shadow ascendant The Forgotten Shadow is a powerful religion that sweeps through the Forsaken . A devotee may throw off the shackles of their zombie - like body , becoming one with the Shadow . Those who succeed become shadow ascendants . Outsiders , however , do not understand the process that fuels the ascendant ' s evolution from a physically powerful ( but slow ) corpse to a quick and deadly shadow . The Cult of Forgotten Shadow , however , preaches that all Forsaken are born from the Shadow , and that they carry a portion of the Shadow within them . By strengthening their ties to death and undeath , the ascendant manifests their inner Shadow , bonding with it until they become a living shadow : the ultimate manifestation of the Shadow from which they were supposedly born . Changes . As the Forsaken undertake their journey , many changes manifest . The Forsaken ' s skin darkens and shadows cling to their body . Their features blur and become indistinct , almost as if they were melting away . The ascendant becomes more sensitive to light , preferring to stay in darkness . Later , the air becomes cold around the ascendant . Their voice echoes , as if they speak both words and thoughts . The ascendant becomes one with darkness and shadows , and they feel their emotions grow colder and darker as they continue down this path . Culmination . At the culmination of this path , the ascendant ' s body fades away and they become a living shadow . While the Forsaken lose the strength of an undead body , they gain the perfection of undeath : an incorporeal and inhumanly powerful free soul . This form resembles their old form , but without facial features . Hair and body shape remains , formed of the stuff of shadows , and eyes remain as burning balls of unholy light . The Forsaken still has a body , however , and is not truly incorporeal as a ghost is . The ascendant ' s shadow body bears some substance , almost like an ephemeral , inky fluid , but it is so wispy that it almost doesn ' t exist . Abilities . As the Forsaken ascends the normal coils of undeath and transforms to an undead shadow , they grow supernaturally quicker . An ascendant can use the Stealth skill to hide even while being observed . As long as they are near some sort of shadow , an ascendant can hide from view in the open without anything to actually hide behind . They cannot , however , hide in their own shadow ( for obvious reasons ) . A skilled ascendant can see any invisible creature and may climb any surface , as though it is a spider . The ascendant can travel between shadows as if by means of a dimension door spell , the magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow . A highly skilled ascendant can cause innumerable tendrils of shadows to sprout from their body . The effect is centered on the ascendant , the tentacles don ’ t affect them , and the tendrils retract into their body and the effect ends . An ascendant can attempt to drain the shadows from a creature , and through its shadows , absorb its life forces . If the ascendant pins a foe during a grapple , they drain its shadows . When the ascendant uses this ability , the victim ’ s shadows drain into the ascendant , and the hollows in his facial features , under his hair , and beneath his body pale into nothingness . The ascendant may use this ability to cannibalize a corpse as well , as normal , but they do not need to actually eat any flesh , while the ascendant feeds , the corpse begins to wither , until it turns to dust . The ascendant animates their own shadow into a shade resembling them . Unlike a normal shade , this shadow ’ s alignment matches that of the ascendant , and the creature is always visible to the ascendant . The shade cannot be turned , rebuked or commanded . It serves as a companion to the ascendant and can communicate with them . While the ascendant has a shadow companion , they do not have a shadow of their own . A highly - experienced ascendant finally throws off the shackles of their body and becomes a living shadow . As an incorporeal undead , they no longer have the use of any mundane item unless it has the " ghost touch " property . They can drain shadows only from a helpless victim or a corpse , however , as they can no longer grapple corporeal foes . They retain all other abilities . The ascendant finds themself unable to stand bright lights . While in a source of bright light ( whether natural sunlight or from a spell ) , the ascendant ' s attacks are weaker , they are more vulnerable to attacks and they are less competent at their skills . Furthermore , any light - based attack ( such as the holy light spells or damage from a brilliant magical weapon ) deals double damage to the ascendant . Shadow ascendants in the world . Shadow ascendants , obviously , are universally Forsaken . Ascendants come from all walks of life , but most are priest s ( though the occasional warrior or rogue may find ascension in the Forgotten Shadow ) . Most Forsaken revere ascendants as the perfection of death and their own inner darkness . An ascendant is a powerful creature : a physical manifestation of the Shadow , free of mortal constraints such as a body or feelings . Shadow ascendants hold a special place in the Cult of Forgotten Shadow . Most ascendants are followers of that faith , and expound that their transformations are proof of the faith ' s truthfulness . Ascendants attend the cult as prophets , leading clergies to the path of true undeath . Even ascendants who claim to be atheists have some knowledge of religions and faith , if just to understand their own undead bodies and the Shadow from which they were born . Secretly , an ascendant must have a little faith to begin the transformation , despite how atheistic they may be . Among the Horde , ascendants serve as nigh - invisible spies , priests and assassins . These living shadows frighten other Horde members , but the Horde bears a measure of respect toward them . The shadow - creatures they become resemble some shaman and voodoo spirits , though dark and uncontrollable . Tauren are wary of the creatures , which exude an overpowering stink of death to the tauren ' s spirit - sensitive noses . On the other hand , some trolls revere those who complete their manifestations of true undeath as dark Loa spirits , and go out of their way to please ascendants .