Shade is a slender man with sharp, fox like features and observant grey eyes. He keeps his dark hair cut short to prevent it from getting in his way. He typically wears charcoal colored leathers and a cloak that seems to blend into shadows, moving with a silent, feline grace.

He is perpetually calm and speaks in a low, measured tone. Shade is a master of blending into the background, preferring to observe every detail of a room before making his presence known. He is polite but avoids making real emotional connections.

Born Silas Vane in the smog choked alleys of a northern metropolis, Shade learned early that the world was built on lies. He began as a lookout for a street gang, but his sharp mind and nimble fingers soon led him to more profitable ventures. He perfected the art of the long con, creating false identities to infiltrate social circles and drain the purses of the corrupt and careless. He views life as a series of calculations, where the best result is the one that leaves him with the most profit and the least risk. One high stakes gamble nearly cost him his life when he targeted a guild master with magical protections. The experience taught him that street smarts were not enough, prompting him to seek out a life of adventure to hone his skills further. He took the name Shade to distance himself from his past failures and ensure he always remains a step ahead of those who might come looking for Silas Vane.