Shadar-kai

Shadar-kai were a race of shadow humanoids connected to the Shadowfell.

Shadow Curse
All shadar-kai were subject to the "shadow curse", doomed to lose their souls to the "dark powers" of the Shadowfell. The "shadow curse" sapped their will to live and filled their hearts with ennui, melancholy, and utter sadness. Those shadar-kai who voluntarily surrendered to the curse were transformed into shadow-like undead horrors.

In order to avoid being affected by the curse, shadar-kai lived extreme lifestyles, embracing strong emotions and peak experiences. Most of them used pain to keep their focus, decorating their bodies with tattoos, scarification, and body piercings, in extremely sensitive parts of their bodies. Likewise, some of them engaged in self-flagellation, to the point of injuring themselves if they felt that they were being overtaken by the curse.

Powers
Shadar-kai used their ability to shadow jaunt in order to teleport a short distance away. When they did this, they reappeared in a (temporarily) wraithlike state.

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

Because of their belief systems, shadar-kai generally had no fear of death. Most shadar-kai believed that their death was foretold and impossible to change. Shadar-kai were often seen as cold and pitiless to outsiders.

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. The latter had developed their own society unlike that of the Netherese that was meritocratic and based on power and prestige of deeds.

History
After the Spellplague of 1385 DR, some shadovar humans and the children they gave birth to, as well as other humans across Toril that were somehow tied to the Shadowfell, were affected by the Spellplague and transformed into shade-like creatures. To avoid chaos among the shadovar, Prince Rivalen Tanthul said that they had been blessed by Shar, and called them "shadar-kai" (meaning "Those of Shadow's Gift", in the ancient Netherese language). Prince Rivalen even devised a ritual to change a human into a shadar-kai.

Locations
The largest settlement of shadar-kai in Faerûn lived in Ikemmu in the Underdark. They were also found in Gloomwrought.

Notable shadar-kai

 * Ashok
 * Chanoch
 * Cree
 * Ilvani
 * Natan
 * Skagi
 * Traedis
 * Uwan
 * Vedoran

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * The Captive Flame
 * Unbroken Chain
 * Unbroken Chain: The Darker Road
 * The Adversary
 * Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils
 * Sword of the Gods: Spinner of Lies


 * Computer games:
 * Neverwinter
 * Dungeons & Dragons Online: Shadowfell Conspiracy