Shadowfell
The dark shadow of Garn, also known as the Gray Realm or Purgatory, the Shadowfell is a realm as mysterious and unexplored aa the Underdark, the Feywild, or Cloudward.
Like the Feywild, thin areas exist that allow one to walk into this gray realm, sometimes without even knowing before one finds themselves here. Unlike the ways to the Feywild, the thin areas to the Shadowfell exist in mass graveyards, areas of tragedy such as a large war field, or other places of death or despair.
The Shadowfell is a depressing place, constantly cast in shadow, overcasgt being the brightest sky one can expect here.
Dangers are everywhere in the Shadowfell, from the mad and deadly sorrowsworn, to the once elves turned servants of ther Raven Queen known as SHadar-Kai. Various culots to Vekna and Orcus vie for dominion in this realm as well, quelched whenever found out by the Raven Queen and her devoted.
Sometimes known as Purgatory as souls are said to wait here to be collected and seen to their afterlife by the goddess Ulani. It is said there is a strange relationship between the Raven Queen and Ulani, the two ;possibly being sisters or close comrades. Ulani has a lot of sympathy for the Raven Queen, obtaining the position that the Queen, herself, sought once.
Due to the dark nature of the Shadowfell, it is obviously dangerous for other reasons other than just cults and sorrowsorn, including dark beasts such as shadowbats, dire ravens, shadow asps, and shadow mastiffs.
Though the realm is widely unknown, there are a few locations widely talked about in the Shadowfell, though no maps or directions to these locations exist.
The House of the Black Lanterns
This three story inn is a bastion in the wilds of the Shadowfell,
standing at a crossroads through the dark woods that stretch
out in every direction around the place.
The inn has stood for as long as any can remember, centuries
at the least and has had many owners through those long
years, so many that the original owner and builder has been
lost to the Shadowfell's history including the purpose this inn
was built in the middle of nowhere to begin with.
The House is currently owned and operated by a
tiefling named Yarol. Where Yarol is from or how he
came to own the inn is a closely guarded secret he
doesn;t talk about though the tapkeep and owner
is happy to talk on about any number of subjects
that are not himself.
The House of Black Lanterns is noticeable both
for the large belltower that dominated its
courtyard and the namesake black iron
lanterns that hang all over the property,
igniting on their own come dusk each night.
Though the inn is considered a relatively
safe place to take haven in the wilds of the
Shadowfell, the inn is not free of its own
scoundrels and folk of ill respite.
One can find themselves shanked and robbed
in the House as easily as any dive tavern on
Garn, perhaps easier, especially if flaunting too much coin.
The House is also a good place, it is said, to hire a guide to helo navigate the Shadowfell and avoid the more troubling areas or to make it to a specific location if one knows where they are trying to get to of course.
Gloomwrought
The largest city in the Shadowfell, Gloomwrought sits in the
midst of an enormous mire that stretches far inland from the
coast that the city also cits by, having perhaps the only port
in the Shadowfell.
The city is ruled over by Princess Genieve, daughter of King
Rolan, at least in appearance and by face, though it is said
that the Merchant Council has the real power in the city,
definitely having control of the city's coffers.
Corruption and crime run rampant in Gloomwrought, as well
as underground organizations and assassin's guilds making
any stranger one might meet a bad person
to upset.
Despite the corruption and crime,
Gloomwrought stands as a bright spot in the dark
of the Shadowfell and is a trading place where
merchants from across the planes come to ply
their wares (though few of them dare the rest
of the Shadowfell outside of the city.
One can find shops, inns, taverns, and other
such places everywhere in Gloomwrought though
one has to take some good time investigating the
city to find any prices not bloated due to the rarity
of goods in the Shadowfell.
Many of the citizens of GLoomwrought are
Shadar-Kai and tieflings, though it is the most
diverse city in the Shadowfell and all manner of other peoples might be found if one looks hard enough.
Gloomwrought is divided into the Dust Warden where the Queen's Manor and the homes of the nobles and high merchants can be found, the Drowned Quarter which makes up the warf and docks of the city reportedly having a "slimy" atmosphere, the temple quarter centered by the iron spires of the temple of the Raven Queen, and the Fetid Ward of the poor and misfortunate.
