You are one of the mortals unfortunate enough to be born into the Shadowfell, exposed to the magic that permeates the land. This leaves a distinct mark on your existence, and people can probably feel this even just being near you. You are undeniably set apart from others by the taint on you. Normal people, natural beings, and fey, in particular, are all wary and uneasy near you. This can make it hard for you to tame animals and may augment suspicions against you. However, you enjoy the attention (possibly unwanted) from other shadow beings like shadar-kai, shades, and creatures of the Plane of Shadow. They may see you as less of a threat or even as a possible comrade, thus offering you more opportunities to avoid fighting with them and bargaining.

Do you seek ways to cleanse yourself of this, maybe hide it, or has this merely tempted you into a whole new world of dark arts?

 

Skill Proficiencies: Whether you have escaped to another plane or still inhabit the plane of shadow when this adventure finds you, your life up to this point has left you with certain skills and abilities. The undead horrors stalking the wastelands and grim forests of your home have taught you how to survive unseen in a hostile environment, and the sights which still haunt your dreams make lesser fears unimpressive.

Languages: You know common and undercommon. 

Spell List

Being born in the Shadowfell has left you tainted by its magic forever. You may have learned to manipulate this magic over time to your benefit, but have found that using it has its cost.

Spell Level	Spells
2nd	darkness, darkvision, shadow blade

Suggested Characteristics

Shadowborn bear the physical and emotional scars of their life in the Shadowfell. They are slow to trust, but when they do they can be fiercely loyal. Whether through luck, strength, sacrifice, or some combination of the three they have escaped their horrific homeland, and the memories of that place haunt their dreams.

d6	Personality Trait
1	I cannot stand to be left alone and always seek the safety of company.
2	It's hard for me to find solid rest, because I'm terrified of what my dreams might hold.
3	I always look for things to do so I'm never idle in body or mind.
4	I can't help but smile at people suffering sometimes.
5	Jokes other than dark humor often go way over my head.
6	I speak softly even when I am mad.

d6	Ideal
1	Self Preservation. The world is a dangerous place. It's everyone for themselves. (Neutral)
2	Dark Embrace. This is but a taste of the true power I desire and now seek. (Chaotic)
3	Cruelty. To control the darkness, you must embody it. (Evil)
4	Protection. Nobody should ever have to experience the horrors of the darkness. (Good)
5	Routine. There is a reason certain normalities exist, and many seem to forget this. It is how we survive. (Lawful)
6	Survival. Like it wasn't hard enough living without this problem. I want to just carry on like nothing's wrong. (Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	Everyone I ever knew abandoned me over this curse. I want to hunt them down.
2	There is one person who has stuck with me all this time, through thick and thin, and they are my world.
3	I want to find others with this affliction so they may help me.
4	Everyone I've ever loved has died. I'll never let anyone get that close again.
5	Gods, give me a friend. I don't care who...
6	Relationships are of the moment, fleeting and ephemeral. I seek those with use as the situation calls for it, nothing more.

d6	Flaw
1	The Shadowfell scarred me. If pushed, my control may slip and the darkness will be let out.
2	I stopped being afraid long ago. A thing can't kill you if you kill it first.
3	Why risk death in a fight? I'd rather run and live to see another day.
4	I unnerve others with my creepy smile and dark humor.
5	I often do things on my own, without telling others.
6	I am mistrusting of others and am constantly reading into their intent.