Dungeons and Dragons – Mystara
Gazetteer #13 – The Known World – The Shadowlands
(Also known as The Shadow Elves)
Source: The Shadow Elves (0e-gaz-13)
This is the thirteenth of the Gazetteers detailing the hated elves of the setting. The Shadow Elves. They are the equivalent of the Drow for the D&D Forgotten Realms setting, but with notable exceptions to their design.
Firstly they are not evil, they may not be good, but they are not evil as standard.
They are pale skinned, white haired elves and some with birthmarks seen as the touch of their god for destined greatness.
They have the same antagonistic hatred of the surface elves, being the boogy men of folk lore. Play nice little elvesies or the Shadow Elves will come and take you away.
They have all the drow abilities, but not the affinity with spiders in particular. Being an arachnophobic this was a good distinction.
They also have a technology edge most other cultures have not reached, thanks to a god who understands science and its value.
They live in the Shadowlands, under the countries of the known world (no underdark here) and exist in a kill or be killed relationship with other shadowland races.
Dark is the underworld. Darker are the lands of the Shadow Elves. Far underneath the rugged Broken Lands, even deeper than the deepest caverns of the trolls, live these pale-faced warriors. Their law is that of the Immortal Rafiel, and their mystical strength that is their Soul Crystals. Together they will guide people of the shadows to the lands under the sun.​
Shadowlands Character Options
- Starting Languages: Common is Thyatian, characters raised in the region also learn Traladaran and Ylari
- Religions of the Region –
- Available Races – Dwarf of Darkness (Shadownbound)
- Available Classes:
- Barbarian – Path of the Ancestors, Path of the Battlerager
- Cleric – Domain of Darkness
- Druid – Circle of the Land (Shadowlands)
- Fighter – Battle Master
- Monk – Way of the Elements (Darkness), Way of Iron
- Paladin – Oath of Perfection
- Ranger – Beast Master, Gloom Stalker
- Rogue – Assassin, Thief
- Sorcerer – Elemental Essence (Darkness), Shadow Bloodline, Shadow Magic
- Warlock – Pact of the Genie Lord (Darkness)
Shadowlands in the Known World

The Shadowlands are located under the nations of the known world.
Dwarf:
– Shadowbound – their homelands.
– Dwarf: Stone – they delved too far.
Locations of Note

Elven Clans of the Shadowlands
Celebryl
Felistyr
Gelbalf
Porador
Section still under development
Elf:
– Blood (Scattenalfen) – a group of fiend worshiping elves.
– Shadow – a group of elves in the darkness.
– Spirit – another group of elves in the darkness.
Genasi:
– Darkness – homeland of these secretive people.
Gnome:
– Deep – their homelands.
Wrath of the Immortals Timeline
Phase One (Levels 1-5)
AC 1000 (Tier 1 – Level 1)
Timeline – AC 1000 – Shadowlands
Shadowlands Escape – Waking up as prisoners in a foreign land under the earth. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
(GAZ13) Contraband. Guard duty through the Shadowlands.
AC 1001 (Tier 1 – Level 2)
Timeline – AC 1001 – Shadowlands
Shadowlands Refuge – A long harrowing journey in the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
AC 1002 (Tier 1 – Level 3)
Timeline – AC 1002 – Shadowlands
Shadowlands Journey – After learning to survive in the Shadowlands, it is now time to journey home after discovering a clue on how to get there. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
Shadowlands Mine – Out of the Abyss – Gracklstugh – Finding the Dark Dwarves and making deals might lead to a way home.
(GAZ13) Spider Hunt! – Spiders from the Blood elves are causing trouble and various groups try and deal with it.
The Blight – City of Paradise – Gea’s End
AC 1003 (Tier 1 – Level 4)
Timeline – AC 1003 – Shadowlands
Still to be Edited
Shadowlands Upwards Bound – Out of the Abyss – Neverlight Grove – The home of the Myconids
Shadowlands Salvation – Out of the Abyss – Blingdenstone, home of the deep gnomes.
AC 1004 (Tier 1 – Level 5)
Timeline – AC 1004 – Shadowlands
Still to be Edited
Shadowlands Sunrise – Out of the Abyss – Escape from the Shadowlands – A way out leads to Rockhome
(mdt) Hungry Waystation – A place in the darkness where people can rest.
(mdt) Trade is Out Sword – Toll for travel.
Rise of the Drow – Descent into the Underworld
Tales of the Old Margrave – The Griffon Hatchling Heist
Phase Two (Levels 6-10)
AC 1005 (Tier 2 – Level 6)
Timeline – AC 1005 – Shadowlands
Still to be Edited
(mdt) Abandoned Shrine – A safe haven in the darkness.
AC 1006 (Tier 2 – Level 7)
Timeline – AC 1006 – Shadowlands
Still to be Edited
(GAZ13) Follow the Patsy – An academic who wants to explore the shadowlands and has hired some guides.
Tales of the Old Margrave – The Tongue of Derende
Tales of the Old Margrave – Blood and Thorns
AC 1007 (Tier 2 – Level 8)
Timeline – AC 1007 – Shadowlands
Thanatos and the Azcans – The dark elves of the hollow world travel to the surface world guiding travellers to the inner world.
Thanatos and the Nithians – Long dormant creatures of worlds core are awake and moving, consuming all in their path.
Rumours Only
The Day Magic Died – The quiet in the dark, no war, no conquest, no skirmishes, just the quiet before the storm.
Still to be Edited
(GAZ13) Something Rotten in the Warrens – This is causing pollution in the main water source, and for the people to live it needs to be cleaned up.
The Rise of the Drow – The Scourge of Embla
AC 1008 (Tier 2 – Level 9)
Timeline – AC 1008 – Shadowlands
Still to be Edited
AC 1009 (Tier 2 – Level 10)
Timeline – AC 1009 – Shadowlands
Shadowlands Audience – The dwarven King of Rockhome is seeking adventures with knowledge of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
DAZ13 – Death in Darokin – As part of their operations, they are starting to deal with key positions in Darokin City.
Phase Three (Levels 11-15)
AC 1010 (Tier 3 – Level 11)
Timeline – AC 1010 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part One – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
Rise of the Drow – Usurper of Souls
AC 1011 (Tier 3 – Level 12)
Timeline – AC 1011 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part Two – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
AC 1012 (Tier 3 – Level 13)
Timeline – AC 1012 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part Three – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
Rise of the Drow – Commander of Malice
AC 1013 (Tier 3 – Level 14)
Timeline – AC 1013 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part Four – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
Still to be Edited
GAZ13 – Crown of Corruption – In the Desert of Lost Souls an artefact of power is rediscovered.
AC 1014 (Tier 3 – Level 15)
Timeline – AC 1014 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part Five – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
Phase Four (Levels 16-20)
AC 1015 (Tier 4 – Level 16)
Timeline – AC 1015 – Shadowlands
War in the Shadowlands – Part Six – War of the Shadowlands. (Out of the Abyss)
AC 1016 (Tier 4 – Level 17)
AC 1017 (Tier 4 – Level 18)
AC 1018 (Tier 4 – Level 19)
Timeline – AC 1018 – Shadowlands
TBA
Notes from the Mini Gazetteer Campaign
This campaign was never played by my group as they wanted to get stuck into the storyline.
Notable changes to the setting:
– They are Drow, but not evil, bound to demons, or using spider motifs. They also have albinoism instead of being dark skinned.
– They have access to technology unknown to most of the world.
– This setting is good to keep the rest of it secret from my players so less is more in context of this blog.
Content Updates
- 2022-01-15 – Adding in AC 1010 to 1018.
- 2021-10-25 – Added in AC 1008 and AC 1009 with Timeline cleanup.
- 2021-02-28 – Added in character options and links.
- 2020-10-02 – Added more into details from my Realm Works transfer.
- 2020-08-24 – Timeline Cleanup.
- 2020-08-06 – Added in Timeline for AC 1007.
- 2020-04-23 – Migrated content from my google site to here.
- 2020-04-17 – Structure and moved the shadowlands pantheon to its own page.
- 2020-04-01 – Structure.
- 2020-03-03 – Added in Timeline for AC 1005.
- 2020-02-18 – Added in Timeline for AC 1005.
- 2020-01-14 – Added in Timeline for AC 1004.
- 2019-12-31 – Added in Timeline for AC 1003.
- 2019-12-17 – Adding in Timeline for AC 1001.
- 2019-12-11 – Added in Timeline for AC 1000.
- 2019-11-28 – Updating races and religions found in the region.
D&D Gazetteer
The Known World Region: Alfheim, Atruaghin Clans, Broken Lands, Darokin, Ethengar, Five Shires, Glantri, Ierendi, Karameikos, Minrothad, Northern Reaches, Rockhome, Shadowlands, Ylaruam
Other Places of Note: Alphatia and Thyatis, Norwold Region, Thunder Rift
Library of Books
B5, d20 System, Pathfinder, SW

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