New Dungeon Article

[Kobold Avenger]

Now, now. Every edition has its atrocious monsters; if shadar-kai are the worst we get from 4E, we should count our blessings.

Shadar-Kai originated from 3e, in the Fiend Folio. Though in 4e their origins got changed around from being cursed fey to being cursed humans.

 

[Imban]

Yeah, they're like some combination of Abyssal/Wraith/Vampire emo gothness. And frankly, they sound pretty neat IMO (D&D needs the whiny angst-ridden emo crap to lure in some more new gamers ). I'll be interested to see how "master of illusion and shadow magic" makes its way into the game world.

I can tolerate the darkness and spiked chains, but making a race out of Penance should be a crime against humanity.

 

[Thyrwyn]

Ah, much better. Sorry, I had to do that so my mind would stop screaming about the atrocity.

Yes, removing "consisting of" helps. Thanks!

 

[Blair Goatsblood]

I would dig the orcs a lot more without the giant hands.

 

[coyote6]

I can tolerate the darkness and spiked chains, but making a race out of Penance should be a crime against humanity.

Thankfully (?), the shadar-kai predate Speedball's Iron Age-ification; as noted above, they originated in the 3e Fiend Folio (published April 2003, if Wikipedia is correct).

 

[hong]

Any chance of you sharing any of that, Hong?

I haven't got anything concrete yet. If and when I get my act together, I might start a thread in Plots & Places, and later put it on a web page.

 

[Imban]

Thankfully (?), the shadar-kai predate Speedball's Iron Age-ification; as noted above, they originated in the 3e Fiend Folio (published April 2003, if Wikipedia is correct).

On one hand, this makes them not ripoffs. Not ripping off a crappy, crappy Marvel character is good.

On the other, there's a reason that Speedball's Iron Ageified version is crappy, and it applies equally to the Shadar-Kai.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I think the Shadar-Kai could be taken in a very-interesting light if you wish too focus less on the masochistic tendencies and more on the sensationalist tendencies.

The reason they explore new manners of pain is too keep their minds grounded in reality so that they do not "die" by becoming distanced from what is real and essentially becoming another being of the Shadowfell.

It makes sense that masochism would be appropriate with the Shadar-Kai in the Shadowfell given the connection between pain and the onslaught of possible demise. But, we also see they are masters of combat and strive to become the best at what they can do. Each high and exhalation in combat (almost say to the degree of sadism) also keeps them grounded since these are the final sensations left that can keep them grounded, all others having been exhausted long ago.

I could also see this love of combat and understanding of death working in-tune with the Raven Queen. I could imagine a army calling upon the Raven Queen to give them her "Children of Death", summoning generals and soldiers of the Shadar-Kai to help lead them in war.

 

[theskyfullofdust]

I've already starting using the Shadar-Kai in their 4th Ed incarnation in my current 3.5 game; making human with a few abilities (chiefly hide in plain sight). This article- aside from the grammar- was quite good, certainly gives me a few ideas.

 

[Greenfaun]

Within the sometimes cruel meritocracy of shadar-kai culture, contests of wit, skill, and combat prowess abound.

Ah, much better. Sorry, I had to do that so my mind would stop screaming about the atrocity.

Yeah, I think that's what they meant. And you did it without resorting to more clauses than a family reunion at the north pole. Still, eurgh.