Shadows

Shadow Creatures

Probably the closest term we already have to shadow creatures would be cryptids, but they aren't exactly the same, since for the most part, shadows haven't been heard of. While the Shadow network identifies, categorizes, and gives scientific names to each species found, to regular people shadow creatures are just the stuff of legends and urban myths. Shadow creatures generally possess interesting characteristics beyond that of normal animals, but it is difficult to classify what would count as a shadow creature and what is just a very interesting normal animal. Perhaps narwhals used to be considered shadow creatures. Regardless of what classifies, it is generally agreed that shadow creatures are best kept secret to keep the peace and prevent their being hunted to extinction.

Shadows

Shadows are a complex network of what could be considered "hunters" of shadow creatures, as they often serve to take out diseased shadow creatures, keep populations down, or protect civilians from them, but hunting is not their sole purpose. They can be explorers, guardians, people who keep shadow creatures safely hidden for their sake.

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It is unclear how old the shadow organization is, but old records indicate that it has existed at least since the time of the conquistadors, and most likely from even before then. How new recruits are chosen is equally unclear, but what is clear is that being a shadow is generally taxing work that requires a great deal of physicality and power. Once a recruit is decided upon, they find an egg at their door, which gives them access not only to a wide variety of technology, but also may open up abilities thought nonexistent (like the creatures themselves), such as psychic or elemental magic abilities. As such, shadows tend to have different specialties that allow them to combat the problem with shadow creatures. Some rely more heavily on technology, and others more heavily on magical elements.

Eggs

Eggs are the current form of recruitment for the shadow organization. They are mechanical white eggs mailed to new recruits, which can rearrange brain structure, but they serve a wide variety of functions. Eggs are able to wipe the memories of anyone who happens to glimpse a shadow at work, and can open up to act as a computer. They do not have an official name, which is why they are just called eggs, and their deeper mechanism is fairly mysterious. Eggs can be used to access the shadow network, which has a deep repository of news and knowledge about shadow creatures, and can also provide shadows a place to communicate with one another. It is not clear if the more magical abilities existed before the eggs did, nor who creates the eggs, or how.