Shades

The lingering spirit of an Actreine with a goal keeping them tethered to the physical realm. Until this goal is fulfilled, they can't move on to the afterlife. They may get a mortal to fulfill their goal if they aren't able to. However, they must fulfill this goal before they forget it.
A spirit who does not have a goal like that is not kept tethered to the mortal realm, and is able to move on to the afterlife after dying.

Death Markings/Props

Shades have different markings or props depending on how they died:
Blood stains - This Shade was stabbed or attacked
Constant dripping of water - This Shade drowned
Singe marks - This Shade was burnt alive
A rope around the neck - This Shade took its own life

Types of Shades

There are several different kinds of Shades, depending on the spirit's last regret. There are Shades of Envy, Vengeance, Wrath, Depression, Love, and Regret.

Shades of Envy

A Shade of Envy is the Shade of someone who died before they were able to obtain something. Maybe it was wealth, maybe it was an item in particular. Either way, they died wanting whatever it is.
A Shade of Envy has green eyes with stars for pupils.

Shades of Vengeance

A Shade of Vengeance is the Shade of someone who was killed and wishes for their death to be avenged. They will often wait for a mortal to find them, and then request the mortal avenge their death. Sometimes, they don't even know who killed them. Regardless, if the person who killed them is killed, they will be able to go to the afterlife.
A Shade of Vengeance has orange eyes with slits for pupils, and sometimes will glow with an orange light.

Shades of Wrath

Most Shades of Wrath are spirits of those whose last thoughts before dying were thoughts of anger or rage. They have lost all sense of identity, and will kill anyone and anything on sight. However, some Shades of Wrath were originally a different kind of Shade. A Shade of Wrath can never go to the afterlife.
A Shade of Wrath has red eyes with slits for pupils, and are sometimes heard hissing or growling.

Shades of Depression

A Shade of Depression is the Shade of someone who has taken their own lives. They can only go to the afterlife if someone they knew in life "forgives" them (effectively, they have to tell the Shade of Depression that there are people who care about them and that they weren't a burden). Shades of Depression are the ones that most commonly turn into Shades of Wrath, because they are convinced that nobody will "forgive" them.
A Shade of Depression has blue eyes with tears for pupils, a slouching posture, and an ethereal rope around their neck (regardless of how they took their own life).

Shades of Love

A Shade of Love is the spirit of someone whose dying wish was to say goodbye to a loved one (a friend, a family member, a spouse a child). Once they've said goodbye to their loved one, they are able to go to the afterlife.
A Shade of Love has pink eyes. Unfortunately, due to how small a Shade's eyes are, they have sometimes been confused with Shades of Wrath.

Shades of Regret

A Shade of Regret is, simply put, a Shade whose regret doesn't fall into the other categories. Their regret isn't missing a loved one or wanting to be avenged or wishing they'd gotten that really pretty necklace. Their regrets are commonly seen as more comedic (somewhat like the "did I leave the oven on" joke) - "I just want someone to slap my buddy in the face for saying that stupid thing" and "I forgot to put out the campfire" are common ones. However, some are less comedic: "I just wanted to finish my training" is another common one.
A Shade of Regret has yellow eyes, with its pupils strangely always looking back, no matter which direction the Shade is actually looking in.

Shade Hunters

Sometimes, a bounty hunter will be hired by a guild with the sole purpose of hunting shades. Their primary targets are Shades of Wrath, as they are a danger to anyone nearby. However, that isn't their only reason for hunting Shades.

Whisperers

It has been discovered that when a Shade is created, there are often a small handful of Whisperers that are also created. This is especially true for Shades of Depression. The Shades' regrets are what teach the newly created Whisperers which chemicals to go after. Interestingly, Shades of Love are far less likely to create Whisperers.
The Shade Hunters hope that they can catch a Shade before the Whisperers are fully formed, as it takes a few days before they finish forming. They often will hunt down a Shade of Depression, due to their habits of hiding away from everyone else.

Double Death

Despite a Shade being technically dead, a Shade can be killed. Not much is known about what happens after a Shade is killed. Some speculate that the Shade automatically goes to the afterlife, while others speculate that they are reincarnated as an animal. Some even believe that once a Shade dies they are completely forgotten.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Shades look like translucent dark gray hooded robes that are tattered at the bottom. The hoods (and the inside of the robes) look empty, with the exception of the glowing eyes (coloration of eyes depends on the type of Shade). Shades appear to have no limbs, instead floating off of the gound.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They have all the senses of an Actreine, with the exception of magic (Shades can't use magic, due to a. being dead and b. not having an actual respiratory system).

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Their views on Actreines depend on the type of Shade that they are. A Shade of Wrath feels nothing but hatred for Actreines. A Shade of Depression is afraid of Actreines, especially if they're wearing a Shade Hunter uniform. Others may be indifferent. The Shades of Love are often the most friendly, as they just want to see their loved ones.

"A Shade of Love approached me today, while I was walking through the woods near my home. While he looked the same as all the other Shades of Love, his voice sounded like the voice of someone from my home village.
He asked me to guide him to his wife, which quite startled me. I asked him how he knew me. Despite not having a mouth, he smiled and told me who he was."

— From the journal of an elderly woman in Phaera

Estimated time to Become a Shade of Wrath
Shade of Envy - 4 years
Shade of Vengeance - 3 years
Shade of Depression - 4 years
Shade of Love - 10 years
Shade of Regret - 7 years