Shadow

Footage of a contained Shadow.

Mimics

FRAGMENTS OF A BROKEN GOD

**Shadows** are malevolent creatures from the Nightmare Realm that have been corrupted by an unknown anomaly manifested by The Empress, turning them into warped versions of themselves. They are the ones responsible for creating the Afflicted.

Their collective goal is to kill all live in the universe so that they can claim it as their new home, where they can manifest into physical beings, and escape from their home dimension.

They appear to share a connection to the Coactive Species, while they are subservient to Nightmares, often acting as their servants/soldiers.

## Kait's Notes

*These creeps are former humans, the ones who inhabited the Nightmare Realm before it was the Nightmare Realm.*

*Still, can't help but feel bad for all of them. None of them asked to be turned into these things.*

*These are what Alex and I would have become if we weren't Nightmares, not a pleasant thought to have.*

*Anyway, the real threat that comes from them is the fact that they possess people to turn them into monsters, you know, the Afflicted?*

*And there's no real way to stop them from doing so, and there's no cure. So, if you're possessed, you're screwed.*

*You can't even kill them, well, not in this current situation anyway. Might have to do some more digging into that.*

*Just... watch your back, alright?*

## Abilities

**Malleable Forms/Transformation and Transmogrification:** Shadows can bend their body and limbs at unnatural angles, sink into the ground, form weapons and tools out of their forms, and alter their physiology to suit their needs. Powerful creatures such as Nightmares are even capable of molding Shadows into different forms and creatures, serving as the origins for Demons such as the Death Angels.

**Physical Interaction:** Shadows normally are intangible, unable to be touched or even seen by the naked eye. However, should they choose, Shadows can "make" themselves visible, or even capable of physically interacting with objects or people without phasing through them or killing them outright. Typically doing this when enraged, they often pair this ability with shaping their fingers into claws or shaping their hands and arms into other weapons. Even when still invisible, skeletal handprints and footprints can appear and act as an indicator of their location. Usually these same imprints also emit the same black smoke.

**Regeneration:** Shadows can quickly regenerate lost parts of their body on the offhanded chance they are injured, even if their head or other major organs are destroyed or lost. There are a few things they can not regenerate from as easily (such as a Nightmare).

**Possession:** A main staple of the species, Shadows can possess humans, overtaking their bodies and turning them into Afflicted. The Shadow remains in control until the form expires. Though rare, they are some Shadows that are so skilled at possession, that they can control their host and masquerade as them without turning them into an Afflicted, although there is still a limit as to how long they can do this.

**Merging/Parasitic Connection:** To be added

**Phasing:** Shadows can phase through physical objects, such as walls, floors, and ceilings. They can even make physical attacks move right through them without injury, as though they aren't really there. They can also phase through individuals (which is different from possession), but this always causes immediate death for the victim (more info to be added later).

**Duplication:** Shadows have a finite lifespan, decaying after a few hundred years. At the end of their life, the Shadow will commence a sort of self mitosis, splitting themselves in two, with one half living their new life of suffering while the other withers away.

**Dimensional Travel:** Shadows can travel from the Nightmare Realm to alternate dimensions (mostly the current universe they are invading). They can not do it often since it takes a lot of energy, and they need to find a host quickly, or else they will return.

**Host Empowerment:** During the host's transformation into an Afflicted, they gain increased strength, durability, stamina and speed. Shadow's can also do this for hosts that aren't turning as well.

**Touch of Darkness:** Should they choose, Shadows can instantly kill organisms through touch. This is usually done in a frenzy.

## Physical Description

Shadows, being human once, look like their past selves. As their name suggests, they are creatures who have a dark appearance, lacking skin pigmentation, and most distinguishing features. They do have glowing eyes which seem to vary in color from person to person, and mouths that only appear visible when open. They often have disturbing smiles, and strange black smoke that also resembles flames emerging from their skin constantly. They also seem to switch from being invisible to the naked eye to being fully visible, it is unclear why this happens.

When having a physical form, they look like their human counterparts, even mimicking clothing. Although they often keep the smile, and have dark eyes with glowing iris, and black pupils.

## Behavior

Shadows have the same personality, mannerisms, and traits of their human counterparts, however, they all share the same bloodlust and desire to escape from their home. They are cautious when near their human versions, as to not arouse suspicion.

Shadow's do not seem to have any problems with killing their human selves either via murder, or turning them into an Afflicted.

## Types

**Standard Shadow:** Often having a slim appearance with a disturbing smile and glowing eyes, this is the most common type of Shadow. They often cross into the alternate universe's to turn people into Afflicted. Their personality can vary, but it is often a twisted version of the human version. Some Shadows can have non-human features, such as horns, tails, or spikes.

**Physical Shadow:** The ultimate goal of the species, Physical Shadows are the result of Shadows crossing into the physical world and gaining new forms. These Shadows look almost exactly like a human, more specifically, the human they used to be, and their human counterpart in the neighboring universe. The only difference being that they possess dark eyes with glowing iris that vary in color with dark pupils, depending on the individual. These creatures also possess powers that they did not have before, leading the few who have seen this type of Shadow to consider them an evolved state.

**Colossal Shadow:** To be updated

## Known Shadows

Sangeras

Erzomek

Alex Kura (disguised)

Kait (disguised)

## Weaknesses

Shadows have few known weaknesses as they are not physical beings. However, when an Afflicted dies, the Shadow controlling it is sent back into its dimension.

Shadows in their ghostly forms do seem to have an aversion to both fire (despite it not harming them) and bright sources of light (such as flares), which will make them freeze up completely,. Almost as though these two objects bring back traumatic memories.

Physical Shadows, however, can be killed for good. While it does require more effort than killing a human, it is possible. When a Physical Shadow dies, their body disintegrates, leaving nothing behind and making them impossible to revive.

Shadows are also not immortal, over centuries, they will corrode and die for good.

For Physical Shadows, their most notable weakness is fire. Burning them, or using a incendiary weapon is the best way to kill them. While they will not freeze, they do still have an extreme aversion to bright sources of light, recoiling whenever it is encountered.

In their spectral form, Shadows can only be interacted with physically by other demons (especially Nightmares). In this form, their weakness is their spinal cord. Hitting/breaking/slicing it will kill the Shadow instantly. Some specific Anti-Shadow Weaponry are laced with materials that can completely attack a Shadow's phase space regardless of whether or not they are intangible.

## Gallery

A Shadow interacting with a Human (image provided by Just Roon)
## Trivia

* Many Shadows are referred to using nicknames instead of their traditional birth names. A notable exception to this custom is Kait.
* Shadows are based off of Doppelgangers from folklore, as well as Demons.
* There are rumors that animal Shadows exist as well, this is unconfirmed however.