A gray-skinned elf steps out of the darkness itself. Its pair of onyx horns seems to absorb the light around it. It gives a friendly smile, revealing small fangs.

To most, the shadow fey are little more than a dancing shadow among the leaves. To savants, they are the creatures that taught the shadowdancers all they know—and kept many secrets to themselves. They were once elves like all others, dwelling in mortal lands beneath the sun. An ancient catastrophe drove them to darkness, and now they are creatures of the shadow. Though they can be found on the Material Plane, they are inextricably tied to the Plane of Shadow, and that is the seat of their power and culture. Their bond with darkness allows the shadow fey to slip through distant spaces, traversing darkness itself from one place to another.

Shadow Elves. Shadow fey superficially resemble other elves, but they’re rarely mistaken for their light-bound cousins. Skin tones among the shadow fey range from alabaster white to ebony black, with shades of gray in between, but they otherwise lack color. A few have a scintillating shimmer to their skin. Many shadow fey grow horns that sweep out from their hair, varying in size from subtle nubs to obvious spikes. Others have shocking sets of teeth.

Dual Natured. The shadow fey are contradictory beings. They boast some of the best features of elves, tempered by aspects of a fouler nature. They can be deliberate and purposeful, but they’re also given to perplexing whimsy. Mortal creatures trying to fathom shadow fey motivations are in for a maddening experience; they are often illogical, capricious, and seemingly thrive on annoying others.

Split Rulership. The Summer Court and Winter Court each rule the shadow fey in the appropriate season. The turning of these seasons follows no clear calendar or schedule, though it is skewed toward summer. The Queen of Night and Magic and the Moonlit King each claim dominion in turn, ruling over the Summer and Winter courts respectively.

Shadow Fey Brigand

Skills Arcana +2, Perception +2
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Elvish, Umbral
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)

Fey Ancestry. The shadow fey has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put it to sleep.

Innate Spellcasting. The shadow fey’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. It can cast the following spells innately, requiring no material components.
1/day: misty step (in shadows, dim light, or darkness only)

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the shadow fey has disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Traveler in Darkness. The shadow fey has advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks made to know about shadow roads and shadow magic spells or items.

Actions

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.