Knight of the Shadow Court

You are from the Shadowfell, or your parents are, and you feel the claim on your soul. It drives you ever forward, driving you to perform the bidding of the Raven Queen. Even if you do not understand her requests. Still, you know that if you perform well, if you are worthy, you will be called home. 

As a newly minted member of the Shadow Court you have one goal, to be called and welcomed home to the Shadowfell as a Knight of the Raven Queen.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception. Intimidation, Religion, Perception or Stealth - Pick two

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: Insignia of the Raven Queen,  vestments, a set of fine clothes, and a belt pouch containing 1 pp (a coin from the Shadowfell)

Spell List

For you, the spells on the Shadow Court Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.)

Spell Level	Spells
Cantrip	guidance
1st	command, guiding bolt, illusory script
2nd	spike growth, spiritual weapon, zone of truth
3rd	haste, speak with dead, spirit guardians
4th	blight, death ward, leomund's secret chest
5th	geas

Your magic tends to manifest as swirling shadows, brilliant light, or sometimes the momentary appearance of shadowy spirit forms. Your spells might draw the blood of your enemies, or even directly touch their souls.

Suggested Characteristics

Members of the Shadow Court range from the decadent nobility at the top of the oligarchy to the debt-ridden wretches at the bottom. You fall somewhere between those extremes, so you might behave with the arrogance of the very rich or the humility of the impoverished.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I am always willing to act in accordance with the Raven Queen's goals.
2	Debts are never meant to be forgiven.
3	I am accustomed to enjoying the finest pleasures money can buy.
4	No one could doubt that I am a cut above the masses of pitiful peasants that infest the city.
5	I can’t stand to spend a copper more than necessary to purchase what I need.
6	I hate it when people try to make light of a serious situation.
7	I want to make sure everyone is aware of how wealthy, powerful, and important I am.
8	I can’t think of anything to look forward to.

d6	Ideal
1	Religion. The Queen's will is all that really matters. (Any)
2	Wealth. I will do whatever it takes to treasures for my Queen. (Evil)
3	Power. One day, I will be the one giving orders. (Evil)
4	Prestige. I will uplift the lives of others by enlightening them with the Raven Queen's tenets. (Good)
5	Stability. The economy functions best when chaos is kept under control and everyone knows their place. (Lawful)
6	Eternity. I want to live forever — in the service of my Queen, in the Shadowfell. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	The unbearable weight of my debt has driven me to desperation.
2	I’m duty-bound to obey the dictates of an ancestor on the Shadow Court.
3	I value my Queen's needs more highly than my mortal life.
4	An member of the Shadow Court publicly humiliated me, and I will exact revenge on that whole family.
5	My faith in the Raven Queen never wavers.
6	I want to prove myself more worthy than another Raven Knight and thereby ensure that I return to the Shadowfell with great standing.

d6	Flaw
1	I hold a scandalous secret that could ruin my teacher — but could also earn me the favor of the Shadow Court.
2	I’m convinced that everyone I know is plotting against me.
3	I’ll brave any risk if the monetary reward is great enough.
4	I am convinced that I am far more important than anyone else is willing to acknowledge.
5	I have little respect for anyone who isn’t in service of the Raven Queen.
6	I’ll take any opportunity to steal secrets and keepsakes from others, or even worthless trinkets.

Contacts

The Shadow Court operates according to a strict hierarchy built on a network of connections among old, wealthy families, nobility, craftsmen, and merchants. Your family might provide important contacts, while your family’s standing with the Raven Queen could tie you to members of the Shadow Court.

Roll twice on the Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Shadow Contacts table.

d8	Contact
1	The spirit of an ancestor has taken an interest in me.
2	An older cousin has the ear of a powerful member of the Shadow Court.
3	I know a knight who is responsible for collecting debts from powerful people.
4	A vampire pontiff tried to use me as a pawn in past schemes.
5	A silent spirit follows me around.
6	A sibling has keys to parts of local Bank.
7	A giant thinks I’m adorable.
8	I regularly offer tribute to an angel, and the angel has been kind to me in turn.

d10	Non-contact
1	An member of a Sect of Orcus is always snooping into my order's business transactions.
2	A paladin of Vecna saved my life, to my everlasting shame.
3	I know a shopkeeper who is secretly an agent of the underdark and they try to make sure that I keep that secret hidden.
4	I’m fascinated by the culture of the Lizardfolk, and I have formed a friendship with one of their priests.
5	A High elf druid hates me but would never dare to touch me.
6	I know a gnome engineer who is desperate to pay off a debt accrued by a deceased relative.
7	Roll an additional Shadow contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival.
8	My childhood friend is now a chef that specializes in tortle. We still meet for drinks occasionally.
9	I have the key to a vault where a Myconid druid is hiding an item of secret shame.
10	I was married to a Shadar-kai weapon master.