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.

This ravishing shadow fey woman moves with alluring grace. Her voice rings like a bell, and in her hearing, worldly cares and sorrows melt away.

Beyond even great physical beauty, the sheer presence of a shadow fey enchantress can lay the most stalwart foes low. Almost universally female, Enchantresses are beautiful beyond compare.

Enchanting Shadows. Enchantresses are also powerful spellcasters who infuse their words and manner with the beguiling power of shadow to turn enemies against one another with a few words and a deadly smile. They augment the force of their minds with fey-wrought blades, infusing their weapons with power that shreds their victims’ psyche as well as their flesh.

Enchantress

Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +6, Cha +7
Skills Arcana +4, Deception +7, Perception +6, Persuasion +7, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Common, Elvish, Umbral
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

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

Phrenic Weapons. The enchantress’s weapon attacks are magical. When she hits with any weapon, the weapon deals an extra 4d6 psychic damage (included in the attack).

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

Actions

Multiattack. The shadow fey enchantress makes two Rapier attacks. She can replace one attack with a use of Spellcasting.

Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) psychic damage.

Shadow Bolt. Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) cold damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage.

Beguiling Whispers (Recharge 5–6). The enchantress speaks sweet words to a creature she can see within 60 feet of her and that can hear her. The creature must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed in this way, the creature has disadvantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against spells cast by the enchantress.

Leadership (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the enchantress can utter a special command or warning whenever a nonhostile creature that she can see within 30 feet of her makes an attack roll or a saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll, provided it can hear and understand the enchantress. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die at a time. This effect ends if the enchantress is incapacitated.

Spellcasting. The enchantress casts one of the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15):
At will: command, message
3/day: charm person, enthrall, fear, hold person, hypnotic pattern
1/day: confusion, dominate person, greater invisibility, hold monster, phantasmal killer

Bonus Actions

Shadow Traveler (3/Day). While in shadows, dim light, or darkness, the shadow fey disappears into the darkness and reappears in an unoccupied space it can see within 30 feet. A tendril of inky smoke appears at the origin and destination when it uses this bonus action.