Denounced as perversions and abominations by the Temple of the Cleansing Flame, strange beings known as Shades are feared throughout the lands of Men. Debate still rages over the true nature of these beings, who seem Human, yet are afflicted with a sinister taint that warps their bodies and poisons their souls. Often called the "Children of the Damned," Shades are born to Human parents, normal but for their bizarre appearance. A Shade's skin is ashen grey and cold to the touch, and their pupil-less eyes are as black as coals. No one knows why Shades walk among us, but the cause is finally becoming clear - when a Human father dies while his child is yet unborn, there is a chance - but not a certain one - that the child will be born a Shade. There are no accounts of such births before the Turning. The pallid visage and detached demeanor of the Shades has given rise to countless rumors and stories that link them to the Undead, and few of any race have grown to trust the Pale Ones.
Temple of the Cleansing Flameによって諸倒錯および諸奸邪として弾劾された，余所的な存在として知られるShadeたちは，Manたちの土地を通り抜けながら恐れられている．論争は，Humanであるようだけれど，肉体を屈折させるうえに魂を毒す下劣な汚辱で打ちのめされた，これらの諸存在における真正な本性をまだ激化して覆う．
しばしば“被咎の子供たち”と呼ばれるShadeたちは，Humanの諸両親から生まれ，かれらの奇態な現然がなかったら標準的です．Shadeの肌は灰のような鼠色かつ触れるのに冷たく，かれらがもつ瞳孔のない目は石炭のように黒い．
なぜShadeたちがわたしたちの間を歩くのかは誰も知らないが，根拠は最終的に明らかになった―Humanの父が死んだ一方で，かれの子供が生まれていなければ，そこには機会がある―しかし，確実ではない―それで子供はShadeとして生まれるだろう．Turningの前にはこのような誕生の勘定はない．
Shadeたちの青白い容貌と分離した振る舞いは，かれらをUndeadと連繋させる無数の噂および物語の上昇を与え，あらゆる種族における少数だけがPale Oneたちへの信頼を育てた．
用語一覧
{C}: Child of the Damned (被咎の子)
{H}: Human (ヒューマン)
{M}: Man (マン)
{P}: Pale One (蒼白者)
{S}: Shade (シェイド)
{T}: Temple of the Cleansing Flame (浄化炎神殿) | Turning (大転回)
{U}: Undead (不死者)
