A wraith is the restless spirit of someone who has died but cannot let go of the mortal world. Trapped between life and the ultimate darkness of Oblivion, wraiths find themselves existing in the Shadowlands, a realm of sorrow and unfinished business. Driven by potent passions and fetters—emotions and objects tying them to what they once cherished—they must now navigate a treacherous afterlife haunted by their own Shadows.

Wraiths are invisible to the living, dwelling among echoes of the world they left behind. They are both tormented and empowered by their memories, and every wraith faces a personal struggle: cling to hope and connections or risk being consumed by despair and Oblivion.

In Wraith: The Oblivion, player characters become wraiths when they die with strong unresolved emotions, unfinished goals, or spiritual burdens that tie them to the world. The transition often involves a moment of trauma, regret, or overwhelming passion that anchors their spirit to the Shadowlands. As new wraiths, players awaken in a world shadowed by death—a mirror of the living Earth, but colder, emptier, and more dangerous.

The journey of a wraith begins with discovering their fetters and passions. These form the character's core story hooks, driving their actions and relationships in the underworld and dictating whether they ultimately achieve transcendence or succumb to Oblivion.

• Oblivion: The ever-present threat of eternal nothingness, ready to devour wraiths who falter or surrender to despair.
• The Shadow: Each wraith carries an inner darkness urging self-destruction and sabotage, personified as a second persona within. Read about how your Shadow will appear in our Mud Server. [[Azmodan_ShadowNPC|Shadow NPC]]
• Spectral and Supernatural Threats: Malevolent spirits, ghosts driven mad, and Reapers seek to claim or destroy hapless souls.
• Decay and Despair: The Shadowlands are harsh—memories and passions can fade, fetters may be lost or broken, and hope is a precious commodity.
• Harsh Justice: The social order of the dead, governed by powerful Hierarchies and Guilds, can be as unforgiving as the perils of the afterlife itself.

Survival as a wraith demands strength of will and connection. A wraith’s core motivations revolve around their Passions—the driving forces of memory, vengeance, love, or regret that gave them a second existence. Fetters—special objects, places, or people—anchor them and provide sanctuary, but also risk when threatened.

Wraiths find purpose by helping or hindering the living, unravelling the mysteries of their lives and deaths, and seeking ways to resolve lingering burdens. Some strive for Transcendence, a rumored state of peace and liberation from the cycle, while others fall deeper into damnation.

Social bonds, local networks, and the art of manipulation are vital. Trust, betrayal, and uneasy alliances can mean the difference between fading away and mastering the dark legacy of the Shadowlands.