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The Shadowfell, sometimes simply called Shadow, was a parallel plane from which necrotic energies and shadow magic stemmed. It existed as sort of a counterpart to the Feywild in the sense that it was a reflection or "echo" of the Prime Material Plane except that it was a bleak, desolate place full of decay and death.[3]

History

The Shadowfell was created in 1385 DR when Shar, having successfully arranged Mystra's death, bound the energies of the Negative Energy Plane with the Plane of Shadow.[3] Since then, the Shadowfell existed as a center of Shar's power as well as a transitory place for dead mortals on their way towards judgment on the Fugue Plane.[4]

Inhabitants

Much of the Shadowfell was a twisted reflection of the Prime Material plane and was populated primarily by dead creatures such as ghosts, specters, and other undead who for whatever reason refused to leave the Shadowfell and continue on to the Fugue Plane. There were however, numerous other inhabitants, such as communities of shadar-kai, Shadovar, and dark ones.[3]

Notable inhabitants

ShadowfellExplorers

Exploring the Shadowfell.

  • Dark Powers, vestiges of ancient dead evil gods that either dwell on the plane or were banished there, and feed on evil creatures that become trapped in the Shadowfell.[8]

Locations

Domains of Dread

Main article: Demiplane of Dread

In remote corners of the Shadowfell there were demiplanes created by the Dark Powers which served as prisons to trap creatures of extreme evil to serve as sustenance.

One such demiplane was the valley of Barovia, ruled by the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, himself a prisoner of the Dark Powers.[10] Passages to Barovia were rumored to exist somewhere in the Misty Forest, based on reports of werewolf attacks and Vistani presence in Daggerford and surrounding areas.[11]

Elminster, the Sage of Shadowdale, has shown himself aware of count Strahd and his mist-filled domain, as well as how to journey to-and-from there somewhat freely. Elminster having briefly sent Volothamp Gaddarm to Barovia to explore the valley (though Volo was initially unaware of the dangers).[12]

Appendix

Appearances

References

  1. Richard Baker, John Rogers, Robert J. Schwalb, James Wyatt (December 2008). Manual of the Planes 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 978-0-7869-5002-7.
  2. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 43, 51–52. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  4. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 R.A. Salvatore (March 2013). The Last Threshold. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6364-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Warning: edition not specified for The Companions
  7. Paul S. Kemp (December 2008). Shadowrealm. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0786948639.
  8. Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 181. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
  9. Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 202. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
  10. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  11. Christopher Perkins, Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman (March 2016). Curse of Strahd. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 19–22. ISBN 978-0-7869-6598-4.
  12. Ed Greenwood (Feb 2016). Travel Talk: Volo's Visit to Barovia. In Matt Chapman ed. Dragon+ #6. Wizards of the Coast. p. 7. Retrieved on 2017-11-15.

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