09 Shadowgaeve

Geography and Circumstance:

Shadowgaeve sits in the central-western area of Iolex, and its coastline comprises the majority of the bight formed by Ghostwind, Everwyld and the Bloodwylds, which push deeper into the ocean to the west. To the south and southeast of Shadowgaeve sits the Great Escarpment, which continues its push into the Feywood, occupying Shadowgaeve's northeastern border.   The lands of the Shadowgaeve themselves are constantly shielded from direct sunlight as a result of the influence of the Plane of Shadows upon the land, never quite becoming as bright as direct sunlight in the other lands. As a consequence of this, and the effects of the planar energies themselves, most plant-life within the confines of the Shadowgaeve also require less sunlight to survive and thrive.   Within the boundaries of this eternally-gloomy land exist wide open plains and vast forests, home to shadow-blending varieties of the wildlife that you would find in similar locations: wolves, horses, cattle, sheep, etc., but deep within the heart of the Shadowgaeve lies an area known as the Deeper Dark - an area that lays closer to The Void, that plane of entropic negative energy that spontaneously forms undead. As such, the Deeper Dark occasionally spews forth undead creatures, posing a risk to the survivors and colonists of Shadowgaeve. These undead incursions are always worst during and after the Enshadowed Planestorms.  

Races of Shadowgaeve:

Shadowgaeve is home to sturdy peoples, or those attuned to the void energies that linger in the darkest reaches of the land. As such, the population is predominately comprised of the following Ancestries:

• Dhampir*
• Dwarves
• Elves
• Fetchlings
• Gnomes
• Halflings
• Humans
• Skeletons*

*Dhampir will sometimes be spontaneously born from otherwise normal members of other races within the boundaries of Shadowgave. Also, some individuals may spontaneously become raised as undead Skeletons within a few months of their deaths, forgetting most of their previous lives during the process of spontaneous reanimation.  

Shadowgaeve Society:

The Shadowgaeve is home to a close-knit society built on the concepts of community involvement and support, and defence from the creatures that lurk the night. Though the undead are less of a threat in Shroudscar itself, which sits a good distance from the Deeper Dark, the occasional incursion does roam close to the stronghold, drawn by the vital energies of those who live there.   The peoples of this land of shade and dark are ruled by...  

Stronghold: