A Tour Through the Shadowfell

How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM, the official podcast of Monsters.Rent. Thank you for joining me, I’m Justin Lewis, and today, I will be your guide through the Shadowfell. We have a lot to cover, including me talking with a very special guest later in the show.

Real quick if I can, I would like to say thank you to all of you who have joined The Guild. It’s been amazing seeing the collaboration between everyone in the Discord server and getting to know people from across the world. It’s also been cool to see some of the homebrew creations you have made. It’s fun being a part of it and seeing you guys make it really cool so just wanted to say thank you guys.

Now, let’s take a tour of the Shadowfell.

In today’s podcast episode, you will come with me as we enter into the Shadowfell, look for some of its inhabitants, talk about some of its dangers, and hopefully make it back out alive.

The Shadowfell is a very dangerous place. Please, stay with the rest of the group, we don’t need any Wandering Wanda’s or Misbehavin Mavens.

We have a big group in the tour with us today so if you get lost look for this big yellow flag I am holding up.

Alright, so as you all know, right now we are standing in Faerun, one of the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons. Traveling here was no easy feat for many of you, but this tour is going to be worth the cost. Also, I can see many of you looking around warily. I know we are walking into a crypt. It’s ok, I’ve used a turn undead spell, so most of the undead in this general area should be turned right now… hopefully. I’ll explain why we are here in this crypt a little later.

What is the Shadowfell

Before we get to the Shadowfell, there are a couple things that you should probably know, like what the heck is it in the first place?

Well, because the multiverse is so vast and complex, the Shadowfell can be anything you want it to be, but for the most part it has some similarities multiverse to multiverse. I will also say, that because the Shadowfell changes D&D game to D&D game and sourcebook to novel, I might miss some things in this edition of a tour of the Shadowfell, so if I miss anything, please let me know. Send a message to @howtobeabetterdm or @monsters.rent on Instagram.

The first thing you need to know is that the Shadowfell is always a separate plane unto itself, a demi-plane, or a region, depending on where in Reality you find yourself. Generally, traveling to the Shadowfell is a bit more involved than just going there, but we’ll get to that in a second.

On this tour, we’ll be visiting the Shadowfell as a completely separate plane than our own. We’ll explain a little more of what the Shadowfell is once we get there, but for now, know that it is a plane of shadow, darkness, despair and danger. So should be a fun place to visit right.

Traveling to the Shadowfell

Ok, then, when it comes to travelling to the Shadowfell, there are a few options.

Of course you can use the Plane Shift spell to get there, but aside from needing to be able to cast a 7th level spell, that means you must also have a tuning fork tuned to the Shadowfell, or know the specific sigil sequence of a teleportation circle within the Shadowfell. The tuning fork is a littler easier to come by, but the spellcasting ability, not so much. With the tuning fork, it needs to already have been attuned to the frequencies of the plane, meaning it was on the plane and it was struck on something.

Alternatively, you can simply find a place where the planes converge. These places are naturally called, convergences. For any planes that share a convergence, these Gates can be virtually anywhere, but they usually are where magical energies pool. For example, you might find a dark wood where the shadows of 7 trees overlap, or you might find that a pipe in a sewer leads straight to the Shadowfell, or you might find a crypt with a corner of a mausoleum that is just a bit too creepy. In fact, that last example is the one we are going to.

Alright everybody, step this way. Mr. Johnson, please don’t frolick with the resident undead, yes thank you, I’m aware they want to eat you and bite you. Please stay with the group.

Ok, everyone, we are now in one of the mausoleums of the Crypt and if you look in that corner, no light penetrates it at all. Over there, right now, is a gate to the Shadowfell. Now, in a moment we are going to walk through there. But first, let me warn you, intraplanar travel is sometimes unpleasant. If you feel sick, put your head between your legs. Please don’t throw up on the nice vests we gave you, as you will have to return those at the end of the tour.

Ok, here we go… Lets step through the portal……

And voila, we are in the Shadowfell (sound of people throwing up in the background).

General Conditions

Yes Miss Collins, very good question. How do we know that we are in the Shadowfell indeed?

Well, you see, the Shadowfell is what is called a Mirror plane or dimension. It mirror what is on the Material Plane, or our plane. It is similar to the Fey Wild and any other mirror planes that exists.

This means that many things you would find on the Material Plane, also exist in the Shadowfell, with some changes however.

First of all, have you all noticed the chill? Are any of you feeling depressed? Those are effects of the Shadowfell.

Now, I also want you to look around at the Mausoleum. Do you notice any changes?

That’s right, this mausoleum looks much more run down, dirty, and frankly in disrepair. The walls are crumbling and some black ichor seems to be oozing in the corners. The Shadowfell isn’t a perfect mirror, instead, it is a shadowy representation, a darkened simulacrum.

Follow me everyone, we are going to exit the Crypt. Please don’t wander from the tour group, I have a special protective charm here that can protect you, but only if you stay within 30 feet of me. In my last group, a young couple snuck off, and let’s just say, they didn’t get their complimentary Shadowfell Tours Baseball Caps.

Again, notice how similar our surroundings look to the material plane. Yet notice how the gravestones we are walking past are much more decayed and run-down.

Also, look up in the sky. Though it feels like nighttime, there are no stars, and no moon. Even look at my torch. Where this burning light provided about 30 feet of light in the material plane at night, it only provides about 10 feet of light, which is why I provided each of you with a torch as well.

Now, one last thing you should all know before we continue the tour is that even though the Shadowfell is a mirror plane of the Material Plane, it still shifts. That is partly why it is so dangerous. Places may shift location from time to time and even disappear or be replaced with new places entirely. No please, everyone steps into the Tour vehicles. These vehicles have also been warded, but please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicles at all times.

Possible Enemies You can Encounter in the Shadowfell

Right now, we are traveling to a Domain of Dread called Barovia, and I’ll explain that and much more as we continue, but first let me tell you some of the creatures you might find in the Shadowfell.

First of all, notice the trees we are passing. See how the trees are desiccated and craggly. You won’t find greenery in the Shadowfell, unless it is by some foul magic, in which case, I would run far and fast if I were you.

Basically everything here wants to kill you, well not everything. There are the Vistani.

The Vistani are wanderers who wander the Mists of the Shadowfell without being affected by it. They wear bright colors and are known for their musical talent as well as various other trades including entertaining, silversmithing, cooking, and horse-trading to name a few. An adventurer traveling through the Shadowfell might come upon one of their Caravans if they needed to trade for some goods or just some sort of respite from the despair of the Shadowfell. But the Vistani are not ones to cross, they have the “Evil Eye”, an ability that lets them curse anyone they look at. Still, they won’t kill you on sight. In fact, we are coming upon a Vistani caravan right now. Notice the bright colors.

Ho there! How are the roads!

Vistani: “Terrible. Would you like to buy anything?”

Actually, I would love to buy something. What have you got by way of magical potions?

Vistani: “We have a potion of Engorgement, a Potion of Haste, and a Magic Mind.

Oh yes, a Magic Mind! That would be perfect, they are actually the Sponsor of Today’s Tour through the Shadowfell. Would you mind explaining to my tourists what the Magic Mind is and does.

Vistani: “Of course! In the Shadowfell, we are covered with a misma of despair. If you stay here too long, you might be overcome with this despair. You might find yourself waking up, dreading the day, feeling sluggish and like your mind is filled with cement. Magic Mind is designed to help stave off the effects of the Shadowfell despair. It has wonderful ingredients including Ashwaganda, Lionsmane Mushrooms and many more vitamins. It’s the perfect thing for adventurers in the Shadowfell.”

That’s right, and because it is the sponsor of today’s tour, you can purchase one in the gift shop at the end of the tour, or visit any local Sprouts Food Markets, or you can go to https://www.magicmind.com/JANbetterdm and use the code BETTERDM20 at checkout. That gives you 1 month free with a 3 month subscription, but it is only for the month of January.

Oo, Oo, look over there!

If you look out over that forest that is just down in the valley from us, see that very tall figure. Yes, I’m talking about that enormous creature that seems made of shadow and has large horns. That is a Nightwalker. That is one of the creatures that adventurers might find in the Shadowfell. It is definitely one of the more challenging creatures, with a Challenge Rating of 20. The Nightwalker is a sentient creature of undeath and darkness. It takes pleasure in suffering and the corruption of other creatures. The nightwalker generally stands about 20 feet tall and has a natural weakness to sunlight. The nightwalker also has a strange ability to turn its victims into Bodaks, which is another creature adventurers might find in the Shadowfell.

In fact, if you look at the Nightwalker’s feet, you can see a bodak now. See those humanoid looking creatures that have rough clothing on, black skin and a face that looks hollow with a mouth that is too long for the face? That’s a bodak.

Bodaks are similar to Nightwalkers in that they are sensitive to sunlight and they are equally malicious. While a Bodak’s Challenge rating is only a 6, it has a lot of damage resistances that make it a very challenging foe. Add to that the fact that the Bodak has an aura that when activated can cause necrotic damage to most around it within 30 feet. It’s definitely a foe to beware of.

Wait… Listen… do you hear that mournful howl?

Yes, here, let’s take a quick detour… Drive the vehicles this way… And yes there it is.

Over there, sitting on that boulder is a Lonely Sorrowsworn. See its pale body and it’s black tears. Also notice how it is reeling in its long harpoon-like appendage. It has one on both arms.

Sorrowsworn are very interesting creatures. The Shadowfell is a melancholy place, and sometimes that pervasive despair can cause the creation of a Sorrowsworn. There are different sorrowsworn types, and each embody a particular type of despair.

The Lonely Sorrowsworn we have here embodies the deep desire for companionship. Because of this, the Lonely Sorrowsworn shoots out its appendages and pulls its victims closer to it.

The Angry Sorrowsworn can be distinguised by two bickering heads. The Angry also uses violence to sustain itself, making its attacks grow stronger when its opponents fight back. The flip side to that is also true, meaning that if adventurers want to avoid bad encounters with this beast, stop fighting it and its attacks will weaken and it will become confused.

The Hungry Sorrowsworn can be spotted by their gaunt and emaciated frames. They have no fat on their bodies which leads them to constantly seek anything to fill their bellies. They will eat adventurers alive if necessary.

The Lost Sorrowsworn have multiple limbs and grasp at anyone they see in a desperate and fearful attempt to overcome the anxiety of being completely lost. These Sorrowsworn are created by people visiting the Shadowfell who become lost and wander in the mists.

The smallest Sorrowsworn are the Wretched Sorrowsworn. These small creatures are called The Wretched Sorrowsworn. They run in packs, ranging the Shadowfell, devouring anything they come upon. If you adventure in the Shadowfell, beware the massive numbers of these creatures.

There are many creatures that one might find in the Shadowfell. Basically any undead creature or any creature of shadow can be found here. We won’t spend too much time on the creatures because we have an appointment in Barovia.

Domains of Dread

Before we get to Barovia, let me tell you about the Domains of Dread. The Domains of Dread are what you might consider a Demiplane, located within the Shadowfell, somewhat separated by everything else by thick mist. Now this might change universe to universe.

The mists surrounding the domains prevent its inhabitants from leaving through simple means, which means that these Domains of Dread are in some way, sort of prisons as well as terrifying places to visit. In fact these Demiplanes of Dread were created by the Dark Powers, unknown beings of, well, dark power, that then sort of subjugated the lords they installed over each section of the Demiplanes of Dread.

Look here, here are those mists that I was talking about. Everyone please stay inside the vehicles as we pass through.

There are multiple sections within the Domains of Dread, but the oldest and most well known is rules by the vampire, Count Strahd Von Zarovich. In fact, The Curse of Strahd Module, takes place in Barovia, under the watchful gaze of the Count himself (1, 2, 3 ah ah ah).

Whether or not it takes place in the Shadowfell, I believe is up to the Dungeon Master.

Ah, and here we are, at Barovia. Barovia was originally a location in a material world that has long since been forgotten, but was transported here to the Shadowfell by the Dark Powers using those mists that we just passed through. As you can see, Barovia consists of a large valley that is mostly dense forest, with some cliffs and rocky outcroppings. Looking overhead, you’ll see the dark overcast sky. It’s always like that. Unlike some other areas of the Shadowfell, Barovia may seem slightly more similar to the material plane in that the trees and animals that populate this region are similar to what we have in the material plane. If you look to your right and left you’ll see hardwood trees while up on that ridge over there are more evergreen type trees.

Now look at the top of the valley and you’ll see our next destination itself; Castle Ravenloft, Strahd’s own home and center of ruling.

Now that we’ve entered the town itself of Barovia, notice how unwelcoming and distrustful the inhabitants here are. Slamming doors and wayward glances are normal here.

Over there, you’ll see the Amber Temple, an ancient temple built by wizards who were then corrupted by the Dark Powers. Inside you’d find images of dark beings from all across the multiverse. In fact, that temple is where Strahd forged his deal with the Dark Powers in the first place.

It’s a pity we weren’t able to visit the other three villages in the valley, Vallaki, Krezk or Oraşnou, but, if you want to visit those villages, then you can book the extended tour. This is afterall, the introductory tour.

Ah, now we ascend up the steep slope to that rocky outcropping, upon which, you can all see, the tall Castle Ravenloft. Strahd’s home.

As we ascend, turn your heads back and notice that you can see most of the Barovian valley. This is presumably why the castle was built up here, as well as its natural defensive nature that any castle should afford.

Ok, everyone please exit the vehicles. Remember as we enter the Castle, we are Strahd’s guests. At Better Dungeon Master Tours, we pride ourselves on our guests survivability rate, and we have a deal with Strahd that as long as you stay with the tour guide (me) you won’t be harmed. If you wander off, I can’t help you.

Yes, these enormous wooden doors were handcrafted decades ago, notice the dark and wonderful workmanship adorning them from top to bottom.

Ah, Count Von Zarovich!

Strahd: “Please, call me Strahd. Welcome to Barovia and welcome to Castle Ravenloft.”

Very well Strahd. Thank you so much for hosting our tour group. Your valley is most impressive.

Strahd: “Thank you. Please follow me. The room you just entered into is our foyer. We will go through just two more rooms before we sit down to have our interview. This next room we are entering is the chapel. Every good castle must have one, and Raveloft is no different.

Moving on, we are passing into the main dining Hall. Notice the enormous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. All three are handmade from Crystal long ago, before I was brought to this accursed plane. Here you will all find seats at my table with a wonderful meal prepared.”

Excellent. Now Strahd, as you know, our tour involves mostly Dungeon Masters who would care to introduce the Shadowfell to their players, but there may be a few players here too.

Strahd: “Yes, this is one reason why I agreed to the interview. If your tourists had been nothing more than peasant, I would have killed each and every one of them.”

Of course. So with our audience in mind, what would you say is the hardest part of traveling in the Shadowfell?

Strahd: “I think the hardest parts involve the pervasive despair for one, and a difficulty of providing food. The Shadowfell is a very difficult place to live. Most of the creatures here are inedible for mere mortals. Even the more mundane creatures that have managed to survive here will not taste fully satisfying. It is part of the curse living here. Any DM that wishes to bring their players here could highlight the despair and for characters who spend extended periods of time here, the DM might choose to have them gain levels of exhaustion, or perhaps shift their entire roleplaying demeanor to be more melancholy and more depressed.

As far as the food is concerned, any food the adventurers eat, unless it has been blessed, will taste dull, and possibly bland. Its very taste will add to the melancholy and despair of the Shadowfell. The water will feel...