Shade (EXE)

== Physical description ==
=== Height ===
3’3" to 9’9"
=== Eye color ===
Black
Shade is a character created by the user JaredTheBC. Shade was created on April 23rd 2022
== Overview ==
Shade is an urban legend among those who have experienced and/or have known someone who has dealt with copies of video games that were haunted by trapped spirits. It is known to lead those it thinks can free souls to copies haunted games, and punishes those who were involved in a restless spirit’s trapping in games.
== Biography ==
Not much is known on how Shade came to be, nor exactly why it does what it does. Shade is known to only be seen in places where Retro and Vintage games are sold, such as game shops and garage sales, and if you do sense its presence, then that means there is very likely a game being sold that contains the spirit of the departed. Shade will often make its presence known to try and lead someone it thinks can do good in helping a trapped soul be freed from being trapped in a video game purgatory, as it cannot free spirits on its own in its current form. It is said that whoever can help free the trapped souls contained within a copy of a game will be rewarded with great luck during ones most hard times. On the contrary, it's also said that those who were involved in getting a soul being trapped in a purgatory of a video game (whether it be from black magic, a murder that ended in a soul not being put to rest, or doing them wrong in their life before passing) will end up being tracked by Shade in order for their wrongs to be brought to justice, usually by death.
== Abilities/Weakness ==
=== Abilities ===
Shade’s main ability is to influence the living. The ones it chooses are given the affect of having a strong urge to buy the haunted game in the area, as well as tending to be the only one who can feel and/or see Shade in the location they are currently in. Shade can choose who can know where it is, hence why it's only ever been recounted by a small amount of people. Since Shade is a shadow, this also gives the abilities to both move through walls, and be as big or small as it desires.
=== Weakness ===
As Shade is a being made of pure shadow, it cannot interact with the physical world, relying on influencing others to do what it wants to do. This can also count as an advantage though, as this also means it's unaffected when a living person tries to attack it.
== Trivia ==
* Despite it's ability to try and influence those around it into buying games, it cannot force someone into doing so. It is never mad at those who refuse it's urges, and understands not everyone can afford the games that spirits tend to posses, while also feeling some disappointment at the lack of will it thought said person would have.
* If a person it chose to free a spirit from a game ends up dying from said spirit, Shade will go out of it's way to both prevent the person from being trapped in the game as well, and try and apologize to whoever ended up dying. This is also the only time someone will hear Shade speak outside of a few undisclosed exceptions
* Shade’s voice sounds similar to Infinite from Sonic Forces, only more calm and mysterious, and less raspy
* Since it is a shadow, Shade doesn’t need to sleep, and cannot eat without putting a ton of strain on it's body. Despite this, it occasionally eats small amounts of fast food thrown onto the streets.
* Shade goes by It/Its pronouns, and doesn’t consider itself to have a gender identity. It's fine with any pronouns for itself
* Shade is considered a cryptid among those who have seen it, as well as an urban legend many brush off as a hoax or a joke, much like The Mothman or Bigfoot.
* Since Shade cannot physically interact with people, it uses other means to kill those it deems guilty of affecting others. It's preferred method is influencing wild animals to attack, or using it's shadowy form to blind them while doing something dangerous requiring eyesight (such as driving, or working on a roof)
* Despite being labeled an EXE by others under it's urban legend status, it technically isn’t an EXE, as it wasn’t originated by any video game
* Shade doesn’t like causing any long term pain and suffering. Whenever it feels the need to kill someone, it will always try to go for the quickest and least painful way to do so.
* Shade considers itself to be a big fan of Sonic The Hedgehog, more so the world rather than the characters. It's favorite Sonic character is Silver The Hedgehog
* The main reason Shade uses Sonic as a mild influence in it's features is because a lot of the spirits it helps free come from Sonic games, so it's shape managed subconsciously overtime
** Despite this, it does help spirits regardless of the game series or console the spirit is trapped in.
** Shade can also choose any shape for itself as it pleases, as it is a shadow, though it will always have it's eyes connected like Sonic, a permanent black and white color scheme, and will have pointy hair/features.
* Some influence in Shade’s dark and sleek appearance lies in media such as Batman: The Animated series, Cybersix, Spawn, Adventures With Anxiety, and even Splatoon
* There has been at least once case where someone tried to flirt with Shade, it was very awkward
== Gallery ==
File:ShadeBIO.png|
File:ShadeFirst.jpg|The First Concept of Shade
File:ShadeAngles.png|thumb|Sketches of Shade (intended to give some reference of it in 3/4ths and Front Facing angles, design is intended to work best in Side Views)
File:ShadeWorm.png|Shade as a Worm on a String
File:ShadeCrash.png|An example of one of the ways Shade kills it's victims