Ecology on the Shadowfell

The shadowfell is depicted as a shadowy reflection of the material world, where the geography mimics the material but shifts over time as the lighting changes. It is traditionally depicted as utterly devoid of life aside from the undead, but I find that to be bland and boring. I will provide some pointers on populating the shadowfell below the break...

The shadowfell is a place where all the shadows being cast all over the world have physical substance. In the same way that the shadowfell reflects our geography (including flora), so too does it reflect our ecology. Almost every creature born in the earthly world has a shadowy analogue here.

Every amphiskiopolis* is teeming with shadow people. Most shadow people appear to be twisted reflections of a specific individual, but others appear to reflect traits of multiple individuals at once or none in particular. Some creatures of shadow have no earthly counterparts. An example would be the nysciennes (/nī.sē.ĕnz/), a humanoid race that reflect a mix of dwarves, elves, humans and half-orcs. There are unique races and fauna too, such as the shadow elves, shae, owbs and gloomwings.

* The neologism amphiskiopolis is a compound of the Ancient Greek ἀμφίς ("on both sides") + σκιά ("shadow; shade") + πόλις ("fortified town; city state").

Daily Life

The shadowfell is just as survivable as the earthly world. The air is breathable, the water is drinkable, and the food is edible. The farmers till fields, harvest crops and shepherd cattle. They sleep after every day's work, wear clothing made from animals or plants, and live in houses built of stone or wood. They just happen to look like characters in a Tim Burton cartoon.

Books referenced

• Secrets of the Planes: Planar Races
• Dark Roads & Golden Hells
• Book of Beasts: Monsters of the Shadow Plane
• Shadowsfall: Shadow Plane Player's Companion

Links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20150826033306/http://grandwiki.wikidot.com:80/cpbop7
• https://web.archive.org/web/20150921141949/http://www.andycollins.net/Features/planetouched.htm
• http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-fetchling/shadow-caller-summoner-fetchling/#TOC-Shadow-Creature-Template
• http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/Creature-types/#TOC-Unbreathing-Subtype
• http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/tenebrous-creature-cr-varies-tohc/
• http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/shadow-lord-cr-2/
• http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/simple-template-dark-creature-cr-0-or-1/

Shadow creature templates

Various Pathfinder sourcebooks and 3pp have included various templates to represent shadow creatures similarly to celestial and fiendish creatures in the 3e SRD.

• The "shadow creature" or "dark creature" template appears in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Race Guide,  Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4 and Pathfinder Player Companion: Monster Summoner’s Handbook.
• The "unbreathing" subtype appears in Adventurer’s Handbook: Genius Guide Volume 1.
• The "shadow lord" template appears in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 4.
• The "neverborn" template appears in Dark Roads and Golden Hells.