Shammaeloth

*(shah-MAY-loth])*

Malevolent deity of a once-prominent religion in Andarra.

**Seriously, this page is chock full of spoilers. Don't read anything if have not finished the series. Here's a second warning for emphasis**

## Identity

Shammaeloth is a god-like being from the Darklands. He is generally considered evil, especially by the protagonists. He certainly compels them to commit many evil actions to further his goals.

### False

For over a thousand years, Shammaeloth has fooled people - notably the Venerate, into thinking he is a benevolent deity called El. As El, he was supposedly trapped within time by his 'enemy' Shammaeloth, all outcomes following a predestined fate and thus cursing the universe with no true freedom. He further fools the Venerate into thinking he is guiding them towards reversing this action and undoing everything, creating a world with true free will. Through this reasoning, the entity was able to convince these people to enact horrors on other people, as if time is undone the suffering would never have occured to begin with.

### Actual

As Andrael suspected, Shmmaeloth's true aim was to fully open the rift in Deilannis, in the process allowing the hellish Darklands to spread everywhere and allowing Shammaeloth to return from where he came.

The specifics of Shammaeloth's origins is not fully confirmed, and it is not stated by it or anyone whether El exists or if the religion was another aspect of its long term manipulations. The entity is shown to be capable of being overwhelmingly charismatic and convincing, even to those fully aware of it's true nature. But when properly beheld through its lies all universally percieve it's presence to be foul and unpleasant.

## Appearance

"An immense heaving mass towered over the platform, impossibly tall, formless and writhing and slick with wet darkness. Tendrils covered in black pustules whipped around and slithered along the cavern walls; some of the boils throbbed and burst into dripping shadow..."

Shammaeloth is described as an emormous mass of unclear height, without clear form other than a writhing column of slick, wet darkness, covered in tendrils and pustules that burst. It's presence is described as intolerably foul and corrupt, though only rarely, as Shammaeloth takes pains to never fully reveal itself without weaving illusion, or simply projecting communication towards people so as to convince them with its charisma and rhetoric.

It is not confirmed if Shammaeloths physical appearance is influenced by those percieving it, as Alaris refuses to entertain the idea that Tal'kamar's description is anything more than his perspective. Alaris' stubbornness and unwillingness to change his mind cast this into doubt, however.

## Power

Shammaeloth's power, even cut off from the darklands, the source of Kan and it's power, is immense. Shammaeloth has the ability to manipulate the mind to restore lost memories and even share those memories with others. It is unclear if this power is related to the control of Kan, or some other faculty natural to the entity.

Shammaeloth is said to specifically be unable to affect the physical world in any way, the reason it gathers servants to its side. Shammaeloths danger is in its sheer persuasive power, it's attention is supernatural and overwhelming, allowing it to lie and influence those who are directly opposed to it, and colouring their thoughts with its rhetoric for the rest of their life. Combined with the fact that Shammaeloth is more intelligent than any human, it's persuasive ability is the most phenomenally dangerous weapon at it's deaposal, limited only by its own malicious inclinations and by Essence, which weakens it's influence in proximity, making it harder for its persuasive powers to work. Shammaeloth can induce feelings from a distance, generally those which will make humans more complacent and willing to obey it, such as joy, peace and safety. When stripped away by sufficient essence or when the entity chooses, it's true nature manifests as a sense of corruption, danger, unease and malice.

Shammaeloth can project its presence far from its physical form, aiding it in it's deception, and physically may move at phenomenal speed in the form a mass of writhing shadow that fills the sky, similar to the black smoke seen by Davian when a person lies.

The power of Shammaeloth is lessened only by the presence of Essence in high quantities. Shammaeloth is likely immortal in the truest sense of the word, in the opinion of Davian and his friends. As Shammaeloth is alien to the world, it is very likely its powers would be greatly increased in the Darklands. With the closure of the Rift, and Kan severed from the world, it is unclear how much power Shammaeloth has. Once the Rift was closed Shammaeloth fled at once, and without the Rift it is not possible for the entity to escape into the Darklands ever again, ending any threat of it gaining any physical influence over the world.

## Timeline of Events

### **The Past**

* Shammaeloth headquarters in Illsahn Gathdel Teth, possibly by the Builders (Shammaeloth's relation to the builders is unknown). It is assumed Shammaeloth may have been influencing the Builders to build the Forge as well, in accordance to it's plan.
* Shammaeloth convinces the Venerate and humanity that it is El and trying to help them break free of Fate. Among the first to be convinced is Gassandrid, among the last Tal'kamar.
* Shammaeloth tells Tal'kamar to build the Columns and destroy Dareci. The remaining Darecians flee south to what would become Deilannis and locate the Rift. There they build the Jha'vett to use the Rift to travel back in time to before the war started and take revenge. They unknowingly widen the Rift, which Shammaeloth plans to use to engulf the world into the Darklands.
* The destruction of Dareci splits the Venerate, many who do not believe El (Shammaeloth) would ask such a thing, eventually they return, but Alaris is unconvinced.
* Andrael uncovers Shammaeloth's true identity and goal. The rest of the Venerate are unconvinced
* Tal'kamar, increasingly unsure of himself and Shammaeloth after being admonished by a future Davian returned through the Rift, goes on a quest to discover the truth, including visiting the Wells and the Mirrors. He discovers Shammaeloth as false and tells him so. In the course of these events, the abuse of ancient machinery creates several connections to the Darklands, resulting in new humans being born with access to Kan, though without immortality. This results in the creation of the Augurs.
* Shammaeloth and the Venerate who still follow him construct an army of the Blind, to conquer Andarra and Deilannis and most importantly, the Jha'vett - the opening to the rift.
* In a desperate attempt to stop the army while they come up with a better plan, Tal'kamar and Andrael construct the Ilshara, also known as the Boundary. It is powered by Cyr, who has now joined their side Isiliar and Meldier are also used as power sources, after being forced into the machinery by Tal'kamar.

### **The Present**

* The boundary, only meant to be a temporary measure, starts to fail, as Tal'kamar puts his plan into action to close the rift and end Shammaeloth's reign.
* After Meldier is killed by Davian and Tal'kamar escapes, the remaining Venerate imprison Davian and Shammaeloth safeguards Licanius, a weapon created by Andrael capable of permenantly destroying the Rift.
* Tal'kamar arrives to retrieve Licanius from Shammaeloth, shielded by a miniature Ilshara created by Ashalia. In return, he asks for all of Tal'kamar's memories to be restored and visible to Ashalia and Nethgalla. In his grief and shame, Tal'kamar attempts to commit suicide only to be saved by the arrival of Davian. Despite being stabbed by an Al'goriat wielding Licanius, he survives and takes Licanius from Shammaeloth, to finish up his plan.
* When the Ilshara finally falls, Shammaeloth escapes and heads towards Deilannis with an army of Banes, where Gassandrid is already working on the Jha'vett.
* Tal'kamar and the others succesfully kill Gassandrid and Ashalia builds a miniature, temporary Ilshara around Deilannis to delay Shammaeloth. Shammaeloth tries to find cracks in its defenses and distract Asha, but Wirr orders Asha to remain focused using the oathstone, as he and Davian kill any Banes which make it through.
* Tal'kamar returns after taking care of Alaris, severs Davian's connection to the rift, and goes back in time through the Jha'vett, closing his loop. On his death, the final connection into the Darklands is severed and the Rift closed. Robbed of its victory, and with it's Bane army instantly dying without access to Kan, Shammaeloth flees.