Shadar-kai

Shadar-kai, also known as shadow fey, were a race of shadow-like fey connected to the Shadowfell. They were believed to have originated as an offshoot of elves associated with Sikha, although other legends of their origins also existed, as well as shadar-kai who were connected to other deities and processes related with the Shadowfell.

## Description

Some shadar-kai resembled blighted elves, in a perpetual state between life and death, while others were human-like in appearance. They were usually slender and ranged from slightly taller to slightly shorter than humans, exhibiting graceful movements well suited to stealth.

They had dusky gray skin and colorless complexions that varied from alabaster to dark gray; black hair, with few shadar-kai having pale hair, that ranged within human hair colors; and dark eyes lacking any sclera or clear pupil. Shadows on their bodies or clothing always seemed to be deeper and darker than shadows elsewhere, and shadow seemed to follow them and reach out, especially when they were angry. They were easily lost from view. Many shadar-kai displayed all kinds of iron body piercings in nose, ears, eyebrows, shoulders, and other parts of the body, and purple-inked tattoos on body, limbs, and face.

Despite having a somewhat youthful appearance while in the Prime Material plane, being in the Shadowfell revealed the shadar-kai's cursed state. They appeared visibly aged and withered, with swollen joints that gave them an overall corpse-like aspect. For that reason, many shadar-kai wore masks to conceal their decrepit state while in the Shadowfell.

Shadar-kai bred true. Their pairings produced shadar-kai offspring, as well as the pairing between a human and a shadar-kai.

### Personality

Due to their prolonged exposure to the Shadowfell, shadar-kai were nearly devoid of emotion. They were known to be bitter, grim-natured, troubled, and driven, with souls tainted by darkness. They were often seen as cold and pitiless to outsiders.

Shadar-kai had very little regard for their own lives. Often viewing a present incarnation as but one in an endless cycle and death as foretold and impossible to change, they had grown jaded and careless with their bodies. Their affinity with the Shadowfell defined them as a people and influenced every aspect of their culture.

Shadar-kai embraced living to the limits of pleasure, while striving for personal greatness, so that when they fell, stories of their great deeds would grant them a sort of immortality. In their search for personal glory, most shadar-kai ignored comfort, morality, and safety, traits they considered banalities.

Thanks to their strong affinity with the Plane of Shadow, shadar-kai were a deceptive and subtle people. They preferred to attack from ambush and steal without being seen. Some shadar-kai enjoyed watching other creatures succumb to despair, as their very presence brought about feelings of sadness and the awareness of one's own mortality.

Shadar-kai favored the path of the rogue, and these were the most frequent among them. Many others were clerics or wizards. These spellcasters had a predilection for illusion and shadow magic.

They generally detested other fey, and would hunt down and destroy those who had the misfortune to encounter them. Nevertheless, sometimes, they would ally themselves with other wicked fey beings, often so they could trick or infiltrate a good humanoid society.

Shadar-kai of Netherese origin were more sinister than shadar-kai from other origins.

### Society

Shadar-kai who lived in settlements in the Shadowfell were divided into two distinct societies: the shadar-kai who were part of Netheril, and those unrelated to them. Shadar-kai who were bound to the Raven Queen organized their societies around performing her bidding. They usually established dwellings in the Shadowfell near the Fortress of Memories, Sikha's divine realm. Netherese shadar-kai had developed a meritocratic society based on power and prestige of deeds.

In the 14th century DR, the majority of shadar-kai realms were magocracies. These were ruled by puissant illusionists. Their societies were described as predatory. Leaders among them were titled "kithlord" while lesser commanders were titled "kithguard". It was common for shadar-kai communities to reenact ancient elven rituals and festivities, as a grim reminder of their distant origins.