Veiled Ones

The Pashayosi, more commonly called the Veiled Ones are a race of Human native to the city of Pashayos in the southeastern Shadowfell. They are a mysterious and poorly understood people. They are highly secretive and isolationist, which is exasperated by the magical shroud which makes the Shadowfell difficult to reach at all. 

Contact with the outside world largely occurs through trade. Since the start of the Fifth Age, every seventeen years trade fleets depart Pashayos and come to the major ports of the world. A Veiled One ship will dock at a harbor for thirty days exactly, after which time it will depart and return to the Shadowfell. The Veiled Ones trade many wondrous goods during this time. This is a major holiday in many nations, celebrated with feasts, tourneys, and balls. 

The Veiled Ones invariably present as female, with the exception of their first Lord, Sothon the Radiant, who was both male and female, while also being neither and both. However, the Veiled Ones themselves do not use gendered terms, and these terms have been applied to them by outside observers.

The Veiled Ones wear veils which cover most of their faces, often with only the mouth and chin being visible. The Veiled Ones invariably have Red Eyes, and they are sometimes called the Ruby Women because of this. They also have skin in shades and tints of grey. They do not speak to outsiders but understand the Common Tongue and do tell people their names if asked. Instead of speaking, they usually communicate through gestures and nods. They never engage in small talk, simply coming to trade and then returning to their ships. However, they do have a language, which they speak to themselves but have yet to disclose to outsiders. As such, the Veiled Ones are viewed with suspicion and mystique, and are only tolerated because of the extreme value of their goods. 

Pashayosi travel in great boats of black wood, with black sails, called Shadowship. The ships bring a black fog with them.

The Veiled Ones are powerful magicians, and as of present no attack against them has succeeded. It is also known that their ships may enter and exit both the Shadowfell and Feywilds at will, somehow avoiding the randomly activating mists which may trap travelers there or deny their entry. It is believed that they are privy to ancient magical rites which allow them to bypass the mists.

Though they are called the Veiled Ones, they refer to themselves as “We Who Sing the Old Songs,” and they are often found singing beautiful and ancient songs. 

The lifting of a veil is an incredibly sacred and intimate act in Veiled One culture. It typically only occurs between married couples or lovers.

Under their veils, the Veiled Ones have crimson eyes