"They came here, early in my life. They came fleeing from the

constant wars and the servitude of dragons and giants. They came seeking freedom. But as the elves learned long ago, Malumtra is nothing more than a dark prison, forever chained to a dark realm. And as the generations died off and got replaced, they evolved, infusing the darkness around them with their very bodies, adapting to the very situation they put themselves in. These descendants are what we refer to as the Umbral. "

-- Urt'Kazanther, To Raureif Viatorem



In some unknown corner of Malumtra, a Vampire Lord overlooks his domain. His eyes scan over the dark streets below, viewing the motion of shadowy figures as they go about their normal day. This is a common occurrence, his subjects having adapted to the dark realm they have trapped themselves in.

He thinks back to the beginning, remembering how despite his disease people still flocked to him for salvation from the raging wars surrounding the world. He remembers his servants teaching him the method to reach this dark veil the elves called Malumtra, he remembers the relief of finally achieving their goal and escaping the cursed realm they once called home, And he remembers when the generations started to change and when the initial sickness took over.

The people he once called subjects became nothing more than monsters, living shadows.

How ironic that those who seeked asylum from a monster become monsters themselves.

Life Within Shadows To a normal human, living in a world of colorless grays and shadows would drive one insane, if not inconvenience them. However, for the Umbral who have spent millenia adapting to their environment, its just an everyday part of life. It can be said that this lifestyle has gone and transformed the former human race into a monstrosity, however being touched by the shadows is more beneficial to one who lives in them. To meet a Umbral is but a rare occurrence, do to their sensitivity to any and all forms of light, they rarely leave the realm of Malumtra, the few who do often being clerics to gods of the shadow, or bearers of hexblades, looking to spread their masters influence.

Servants of the Lords The predecessors of the Umbral did not come into Malumtra willingly, they cam following kings, queens, vampire lords, and any rulers who were promising them safety from the wars occurring around them. They came as slaves, a lower class, and under the leadership of immortal vampires, their descendants became a serf race, and rarely find themselves as a free individual with none to guide them. Even when an Umbral finds themselves free from Malumtra, they are usually following the wills of another being. However, if an Umbral finds themselves truly free, they might become a being to be feared. Lords to Which we Follow Count Von Strucker To be trapped in the Territory of Knaerwood Keep is an inauspicious fate. The small land is scarce of nessessities and ruled over by a mad lord. Never has an umbral escaped this lords territory.

Jairus Truthbearer One of the more famous of the Vmapire Lords, Jairus is a just vampire, requiring a small blood tax, and a wife every couple of decades. Many a vampiric umbral hath been birthed of his loins.

The Lady: Those who find themselves within the realm of silence will worship the lady, the deity who watches over them and teaches them how to communicate in a land without sound.

The Shadow King A man made more of shadow than anything, he was once a great king who lead his servants to a new world to escape the culling of his nobility. upon entering the world, he requested his mages find a way to bring about an eternal life, and thus he became the shadows themselves.

The Raven Queen Being the only known god to live within Malumtra, there are many cities of dedicated worshipers, however the Raven Queen has been missing for the past few centuries with no traces of her whereabout to be found.

Urt'Kazanther Whilst Urt'Kazanther is known as one of the few Ancient shadow dragons to exist, he was once a mighty Red Dragon, and such has a tendency to gather servants. He often sends servants out as the bearers of his hexblades seeking any mortals who can free him from his prison.

Umbral Names Male Umbral Names: Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor

Female Umbral Names: Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora