Folds

Folds are a substance that Shadows wear instead of clothing. They are described as being "like the night itself molded into material," and when loose, appear as misty robes. Folds are part of a Shadow's soul, representing its history, fears, desires, emotions, and secrets. Though Shadows can remove their folds, a Shadow would be left powerless if its folds were lost or stolen. Shadows thicken their folds by sucking the life force of humans, which increases their power.

Folds are made up of three kinds of layers. Each Shadow has a "flimsy" layer, a thin, translucent, waterproof layer that the Shadow is born with. Most Shadows also have warm, fluffy inner layers and thick, protective outer layers. An average middle class Shadow has one of each kind of layer, and an aristocratic Shadow has four layers (usually a second outer layer). Astor's folds are the thickest in his kingdom, with five to six layers (two or three inner layers, one flimsy layer, two outer layers).

Shadow folds are naturally mist-like and somewhat amorphous, but they can be "molded" into clothing that directly mimics actual fabric. The thicker the Shadow's folds, the finer and more intricate their clothing. Folds often seem to have a mind of their own. Their movement can be like flowing fabric or like rolling mist, or both, depending on how much they have been molded. Folds are not entirely solid, and in some ways a Shadow's body can simply pass right through them. At the same time, thicker folds have a considerable weight to them. Most Shadows' folds are black with one other base color, which normally corresponds to the color of the Shadow's aura (Astor's is purple, Nyx's is blue, etc.), though the color can be altered by wearing gemstones.

Folds have several unique magical abilities. They provide the Shadow with a kind of pseudo-invisibility, because they enable a Shadow to conceal itself completely in any dark space. Shadows (especially those with thick folds) can also "glide" on their folds, or float ethereally without touching the ground, which allows them to move quickly in complete silence.