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Shades are a Cognitive Shadow generated when a personThrenodite,{{book ref|sfs}}{{wob ref|16317}} or another animal,{{wob ref|7445}} is killed by another shade.{{book ref|sfs}} Threnodites may also turn into a shade after they die, even when off of Threnody.{{book ref|tsm|7}}{{book ref|tsm|epilogue}} It is uncertain what mechanism controls this process. However it is known that the Cognitive aspect of the person is imprinting on extra available Investiture, allowing this Investiture to remain sentient after the death of the person's Physical form.{{au ref|threnody}} This is due to the high levels of ambient Investiture on Threnody,{{wob ref|8324}} possibly left over from the death of Ambition.{{book ref|tsm|7}} The absence of any Shards on the planet itself however impacts the shades, causing them to behave differently than other Cognitive Shadows.{{wob ref|6891}} This is possibly the cause of their diminished self-awareness. It is possible for non-intelligent organisms to become Shades, although this doesn't happen naturally.{{wob ref|15046}}
The exact population of shades is uncertain but is known to number in at least the thousands and is in reality likely much higher.{{book ref|sfs}} As shades are themselves composed of Investiture, they struggle to leave Threnody's subastral, but would be able to survive elsewhere if they managed to do so.{{wob ref|8543}}{{book ref|tsm|22}}{{book ref|tsm|epilogue}} Other types of Cognitive Shadows that travel to Threnody do not become automatically shades themselves.{{wob ref|7444}}
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