"The Wailing Shadow is the most commonly given name to this non-corporeal shadow creature faring, most likely, from the Negative Energy Plane. Circumstances of her origins and how she came to be are shrouded in mystery. Some people say the Wailing Shadow might have been a real, physical person in the past who only became a wraith after having committed grave transgressions against Higher Powers or other such entities. Others claim she’s a manifestation of concentrated negative emotions, which crystallized and gained form after a terrible incident, like a huge war or a particularly gruesome murder. No person can really say for sure. What is known, however, is that the Wailing Shadow can be summoned by mortals, not dissimilar to how necromancers summon other forms of undead. This endeavor requires a specialized summoning ritual to draw her into the Material Plane. She has been summoned many a time, often requested to serve as swift assassin for power hungry nobles or corrupted magicians. Despite being a creature obviously born from shadows and negative energy, she doesn’t necessarily take pleasure from killing people. From eye-witnesses’ reports she was often seen toying with her victims and targets, but not in a psychotic or sadistic way, but rather similarly to how small children pick legs off of insects. As if there was a morbid curiosity dwelling up inside her, trying to see how human bodies “work.” Normal emotions are quite a foreign concept to her as well. Feelings like guilt, jealousy, loss, hate or malice are all alien and trivial ideas. Strangely the Wailing Shadow seems to exhibit heightened levels of intelligence and cognitive abilities, things rather uncommon for simple incorporeal undead. What she does share, however, with common wraiths, ghosts, and specters is vulnerability to Holy and Positive energies, as well as natural sunlight. The Wailing Shadow also seems quite fond of magical objects and artifacts, requesting such items as payments for the tasks she was ordered to perform. This begs the question, shouldn't the summoning be enough to sate her? Why would she require extra compensation in the form of magical artifacts? Well, the thing is, those objects aren’t really to make her stay and fulfill the end of the bargain, but rather to persuade her to leave. Without such a “bribe” the Wailing Shadow was often seen killing all those who took part in her summoning. And what about her name? If she never makes a sound then why is she called that? Well, this can be best explained by a conversation which happened in an old tavern long time ago between two half drunk patrons:

- Ya heard what happened last week? With the Duke?
- Nasty businesses that. A lot of people wanted him gone. Can’t quite say I’ll miss the poor bastard.
- Aye, I think they summoned that thing, what’s-its-name, shadow-something, to get rid of him.
- The Wailing Shadow. My brother in law caught a glimpse of that creature. He was one of Duke’s servants. He heard lots of terrible screaming that night. Says he’s having nightmares to this day.
- So, how come that thing is called “Wailing Shadow?” Aren’t shadows… you know, supposed to be silent? Where did that name come from?
- Oh, it’s because that shade isn’t the one doing all the wailin’ and screamin’. That comes from the victims."

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