====== Shadow ======

**Shadows** are dark, twisted manifestations created when **[[ALTERs]]** kill humans, forming from the corrupted **TRACE** energy of the deceased. These beings embody fragments of the victim’s [[trace-magick|TRACE]] energy, corrupted into shadowy echoes of their former selves. Shadows serve as haunting remnants under the influence of the ALTER that created them, often acting as minions or extensions of its will.

===== Nature and Behavior =====

Shadows are bound to the TRACE corruption that spawned them, taking on spectral, distorted forms that lack true sentience. They typically appear as dark, hazy silhouettes or ghostly figures with an aura of despair and emptiness. Shadows are instinctively drawn to TRACE-sensitive individuals, gravitating towards sources of uncorrupted TRACE energy with an almost predatory focus.

While Shadows cannot act independently or intelligently, they possess a basic level of instinct, often ambushing or surrounding their targets to overwhelm them. They are usually encountered in groups, as ALTERs tend to create multiple Shadows over time, each one adding to the oppressive presence of the ALTER that commands them.

===== Creation and Purpose =====

Shadows are created whenever an ALTER kills a human, corrupting the victim's remaining TRACE energy and trapping it in a half-life of darkness. These beings serve as extensions of the ALTER’s influence, acting as guards, hunters, or additional sources of TRACE corruption to further its reach.

Though most Shadows remain bound to their originating ALTER, they can grow in power under specific circumstances. If a Shadow manages to kill and consume the energy of a TRACE-sensitive human, it can evolve into its own **ALTER** — gaining autonomy from their former master.

===== Combat and Vulnerabilities =====

While Shadows are menacing and relentless, they are significantly weaker than full-fledged [[ALTERs]] and can be destroyed with focused TRACE energy. **TRACE Weapons** and purification skills designed to cleanse corrupted TRACE energy are especially effective against Shadows, as they disrupt the energy binding them to existence. In combat, Shadows are dangerous in groups, using swarm tactics to overwhelm, but they rely on numbers rather than individual strength.

===== Presence in the Shattered World =====

In the **[[the_shattered_world|Shattered World]]**, Shadows are a common sight, haunting its darkened ruins and desolate landscapes. They contribute to the overall atmosphere of despair and decay, embodying the corrupted energy that pervades this dimension. As they swarm through the shadows, they serve as a constant reminder of the dangers of TRACE corruption and the hold that ALTERs have over the souls of their victims.

For more on ALTERs and the dark forces that create Shadows, see [[ALTERs]].

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