Curious about Shadowed Men

[Killustrator]

<div>All I've discovered on Shadowed Men is from the L&L book in-game.  Does anyone have more information on these mysterious beings?  I'd appreciate anything I could get, at this point.  My thanks!</div>

[Cusashorn]

<div>Thier origin is a mystery that is still being debated to a heavy extent these days. They play a more important role with the Nightblood and Lamias and Evil Eyes and the Obelisk of Lost Souls, but there's still so much more that we will never find out about them.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In EQlive they didn't play any actual part to the lore. You could find them here an there. A group in Lesser Feydark, a group in West Commonlands, as well as a few other places, but for the most part they were just invisible mobs who dropped poor quality NO-RENT loot (meaning it disapeared when you logged).</div>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><p>I posted this compendium of all lore relating to the Obelisk of Lost Souls (excluding L&L Nightblood/Shadowed Men) to an unofficial board yesterday. It might contain some of the information you're after.</p><p><span></p><hr></span><span><strong>Obelisk Energy Core Management Vol. 1</strong></span>It is imperative that the gathering and allocation of new soul resources are administered and distributed throughout this anchor in an efficient manner. While various departments require certain raw materials to continue their operation, the captives must first be processed through the engine room unless otherwise flagged for knowledge extraction purposes. Our success is dependant on the proper management of all resources gathered, and that begins with the proper channeling of soul resources through the siphoning facility within the core power source.<hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>Important Notice!</strong></span><p>Do not, under any circumstances, devour the souls or flesh of those who haplessly enter this outpost! If the denizens of this world wish to bring fuel and food to us, let them, but do not waste it!You are sufficiently rationed the proper amount of souls and blood, please do not take more than your share. Our success is dependant on the cooperation of all of you.</p><hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>Knowledge Vessel Handling Procedures</strong></span>The proper handling and transfer of knowledge vessels is vital to the success of this operation. The utmost of care must be shown when handling these souls, as they contain the most pertinent and potent knowledge base discovered on this world.In case of an emergency disembarkment or the eventual final fade phase, please be sure to protect and secure this list of particular knowledge vessels, as they are vital to our continued research:1. Fiddy Bobick2. Markus Jaevins3. Tobon Starpyre4. Milea Clothspinner5. Kyle Bayle6. Vurgo<hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>Current Maintained Anchor Index</strong></span>Anchors Dyrt, Iza, Odris, Norrath, Hykor, and Lysis are currently still operating to their full capacity. The Cron anchor is currently off limits, as the per the Medium of Cron's request.<hr><p></p><hr><strong><span>Extended Studies and Multi-sampling</span></strong>The long term study in the swamplands has yielded excellent results, but we must obtain a wider variety of samples. The Creator has decreed that we consume more power and deploy in several other land masses as we are able.In order to minimize the risks while obtaining the widest variety of samples, the new anchor will move from land mass to land mass at random intervals and locations. This will help prevent organized sieges upon the obelisk.<hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>Host Guidelines</strong></span>Here are some important guidelines in regards to the proper care and feeding of your host, and the dangers that accompany employing this particular mode of infiltration.It is important that you follow these guidelines if you intend on occupying a host for any extended period of time. The single most important fact you need to know is that your host must eat.Please study your host before you occupy it, in order to learn what its normal eating habits and feeding rituals are. Having your host die will reveal you to all. They must eat in order to maintain their regular body functions.The most easily attainable and controllable host creatures do not have the capacity to speak. Please do not speak aloud while in these forms, or you will come under scrutiny by the more intelligent creatures. It is suggested that you study the host's vocal patterns and try to emulate them.It is suggested that you study the host's vocal patterns and try to emulate them. Do not remain in the host body for an extended period of time. The base nature of these creatures is very alluring, and their base nature can eventually take precedence over your tasks.Do not lose yourself to their animal nature, you are here for a purpose.<hr><p></p><hr><strong>Remembrances - Norrath</strong><div align="justify"><p>This tome bears the title of "Remembrances - Norrath". When first looking at the text, it appears as if it is written in another language, but after careful examination it most assuredly is written in your native tongue. It appears to be some type of journal kept by a farmer.Darkday 17th - Woke up this morning. Fed the chickens. Milked the cows. Chased off some goblins who were trying to get to the chickens. Saw something glowing off in the distance. Gathered some hay. Ate dinner and went to bed.Burnday 18th - Woke up this morning. Fed the goats. Fed the chickens. Saw that glow again. Gonna check it out tomorrow if it's still there. Found a rusty sword in the ground like all the rest. Tossed it out my way. Ate dinner and went to bed.Soulday 19th - Woke up this morning. Fed the chickens. Got my pitchfork and bundled up some food. Walked out to the woods in the direction of the glow. Stopped glowing halfway there. Getting dark early today. Don't know why. Gonna sleep here for now.Windday 20th - Woke up this morning. Not really feeling hungry. Ate some of my food I bundled. Glow is still glowing, but it's kinda dark somehow. Gonna keep walking and see what this is. Don't want it to spook the cows, you know.Windday 20th - Finally found the thing. It's a doggone tower. I don't know why I've never seen nothing like this before. Could have sworn I would have seen something like this out in these woods on my land. The blasted thing is all black, too.Windday 20th - Been walking around this huge tower, but I couldn't see a way in at first. Walked around it one more time, and this dang thing had some kind door opened. I knew that door wasn't there before, cause I just walked by it. It's all dark inside, too. Gonna head home and get some supplies before walking in there.Steelday 21st - Woke up this morning. Fed the goats, cows, and chickens. Grabbed my pitchfork, a torch, and some food. Gonna go into the tower today and see what it's all about. Maybe there's some gold hidden away from that Combine Empire old Gartho keeps talking about. If so, I'm gonna buy me some new cows.Steelday 21st - Getting near the tower and seeing lots of things out of place. All kinds of shadows being cast by the trees, but it's not time for the shadows to be stretching. I think it just might be my eyes. Gonna go into town and see if a cleric can check me out.Steelday 21st - Dagnabbit. I knew I was seeing some strange things. Got to the front of that tower thing and I could've swore I saw some big ole bull walking in his two feet. Walked toward the direction of the tower. Now I know no bull is gonna go walking on his two feet, and I know there ain't no minotaurs for leagues around. Dagnabbit! I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.Steelday 21st - Must've been much further away than I thought it was going to be. It's nighttime now, but I don't remember walking that far. Don't matter, though, cause I'm going in that tower. Just lit my torch and I'm walking in that door. I'm gonna wish me luck, 'cause when I step inside there I'm gonna be rich!</p><hr></div><p></p><hr><span><strong>Remembrances - Tel'riia'mil'an'ane'ie</strong></span>This odd tome appears to be a chronicle of some sorts. You're not sure who, what, or where it's about, however. At first it appeared as if it was written in a different language, but the more you look at it, the more you realize it actually was transcribed in your native tongue this whole time. Unfortunately, most of the pages have been ripped out of the book. The two words on the cover of the book are "Remembrances - Tel'riia'mil'an'ane'ie."Trirain 30:127 - "And the air will fill with the eyes of storms, and the crystal crops will begin to shatter. When the gathering of the hail-lines begin to fall, the time will be nigh."Trirain 30:128 - "The beautiful will congregate beneath the one true Cynarian Crystal and sing the blessed hymn. They will be bathed in cleansing cinnamon and marked for freedom."Trirain 30:129 - "Rewarded will be those who follow the Cynarian Crystal, and damned will be those who follow the Black Tower."Septrain 9:72 - "And the Ice Taylenes will come collapsing down upon the heads of the deceivers, leaving no merchants or farmers or tam housers. The songs of the many will now become the songs of the few."Septrain 9:73 - "The Man of Talzaron will then be the next to fall. No longer will the crystals hum in his presence, leaving the shadows to walk free among the people."Septrain 9:74 - "The triple moon will darken and haze, causing all those who see with eyes to know of the impending doom. They will seek solace within the Black Tower, knowing this to be their false salvation."Septrain 9:75 - "And as the Last Night comes, the ruby oceans will vomit forth the Pillar of Shadow. The true believers who have been washed with the blessing of freedom will now be released of their tenure. All that will remain will be those who did not choose."Septrain 9:76 - "The division of light and dark will come to those who embraced the shadows. Those who did not choose during these dark times will be consumed by the light that is not, for so it shall be."Septrain 9:77 - "The men of shadows shall show their face and it will be a gaping maw of victory. The last horn shall sound from the Obelisk of Despair and all will know the cycle has ended. Darkness shall wash over the land and all will know nothing."<hr><hr><strong><span>Remembrances - Berrox</span></strong>This odd tome appears to be a chronicle of some sorts. You're not sure who, what, or where it's about, however. At first it appeared as if it was written in a different language, but the more you look at it, the more you realize it actually was transcribed in your native tongue this whole time. Unfortunately, most of the pages have been ripped out of the book. The two words on the cover of the book are "Remembrances - Berrox".The obelisk appeared in the center of the marketplatz on Jallows Day. A great black structure, it spindled higher into the sky than any of the surrounding buildings. At first the citizens of our capital, Darrow's Hollow, had believed it to be some sort of elaborate magical prank. We couldn't have been more wrong.At first King Adan summoned all of the wise men of magical learning. They came from far and near - from the desert lands or Naragin to the floating jungles of the Desolation. Not one of these great wizards could explain what it was or how it came to be.Then King Adan summoned forth all of the bards and jongleurs to see if they had any tales of this forbidding structure. Listening to endless hours of tales of boldness and courage, the King came to the conclusion that they knew as much as the wizards.Finally King Adan called upon all of priests of the Heavenly Pantheon to ask their frightening gods for some insight. After hearing gruesome threats of death and destruction, the King remembered why his ancestors drove the holy men into the wilds. It would seem as if no one could answer the mystery of the obelisk.Messages would come from the marketplatz of frightening creatures lurking near the stalls at night. Being described as creatures straight out of nightmares, the good King feared for his people and began sending adventurers to do combat with these horrors. This would continue until the day that Ultor Szanvon would appear before the court, proclaiming he knew the secrets of the obelisk.Ultor explained to King Adan that the answer lay not with magic or gods or stories, but rather with his ancestors. He claimed to know how to speak with the dead and offered to show the King how to do the same. Both intrigued and at his wit's end, the King agreed to listen to this stranger.For then next month, the king would watch as Ultor would speak with the spirits and would reveal their secrets to the ruler. Ultor would rise to the position of Chancellor, both due to his wisdom and also coincidental deaths among the king's advisors. In the end, Ultor told the king that it was time for the regent to learn the answers of increasingly menancing obelisk.Chancellor Ultor advised King Adan that his forefathers, kings of times gone by, would know about the truth of the obelisk. Knowing the answers were close at hand, the King ordered his squires to bring him the oaken box from within his sleeping chambers. Inside held the key to the burial crypts of the noble line of the Adan Kings - King's Rest.Preparing for a long journey to the mausoleum of the ancient kings, the Chancellor advised that it should be only the King and himself who went. Claiming that the spirits of the fallen regents would be offended at being disturbed by anyone other than nobility, Ultor and King Adan were the only ones to enter the Crypts of King's Rest.And thus is the tale of how the people of Berox would lose their king in these dark days. The obelisk still stands within the center of the twisted ruins of Darrow's Hollow, having never changed. Just as we lost our king in his search for answers to the obelisk, so too would we lose armies great and small in their own search. Countless parties of adventurers have ventured into that now opened doorway on the side of that blackened obelisk... but none have yet to return.<hr><p></p><hr><strong><span>Remembrances - DyzAz</span></strong><p>This tome bears the title of "Remembrances - DyzAz". When first looking at the text, it appears as if it is written in another language, but after careful examination it most assuredly is written in your native tongue. It's very hard to understand what is being said in this tome. It's possible it was written by a bard that was struck mad (or had one too many glasses of wine).Log A9-Green: Several more fluctuals were enhanced after the rise of the third sun. I can feel my dizals quiver in alarm. This is definitely out of place.Log Ce8: The placement of the spindles are out of alignment. This cannot be the case, for I adjusted them earlier between the ninth sun's setting. I am rather disturbed.Log 99L: GxvveR and Cvxlx are delayed in their daily transference. This is unheard of. I am debating whether or not I should float over to the structure myself. If I catch them careening circles from that spire, they will get no hearth-light before sleep.Log AA3-Blue: My budded pair concerns me. I have observed them and they appear to be different. Their glow has faded, which is a sign of the Grizzer virus. But Grizzer virus only comes about during the Lain Cycle, which is three cycles from now.Log Reeg4: The Holy Overlord has quarantined the western house-bowl. My budded pair has become even more sick and it spreads to the other Dyzalar. Their beautiful blue glow is now light-absent, and they no longer recognize me. I fear they are dying.Log Ff63: I have prayed to all nine of the suns for a blessing, but nothing has changed. My budded pair have now lost their healthy spherical shape. If I get too close, I can feel my glow... weakening. It is as if they are drawing my life into them. They have not even named me as their bud-source for six turns now.Log 93: I would have never thought it to be possible, but I too have been forced to break the Tymoth Law. My budded pair deceived me into believing they had their round form again. As I was about to spread my glow around them, they changed into limbed horrors and attempted to consume me. I had no choice but to sever their lines.Log KRV: My simulacrum showed a patch of absent light growing on my upper hemisphere. I have rubbed electrical powder onto that spot, for I do not want the others to know that I have been afflicted. It should not matter, for I see many Dyzalar with light-absent patches these turns. I have even seen the Holy Overlord trying to bandage the limb that is growing from his upper hemisphere.Log BlueGreenBlue: The Holy Overlord has lifted the quarantine from all house-bowls. We are free to walk upon the ground as we please. It is no longer difficult to approach the others, for we will take the form of the Dyzalar. When they approach, we can offer them the gift of light-absence.Log 42hg: The true-limbed ones are pleased by our effeciency. The Dyzalar have been deceased. We are the transcended now. All life, all existence, all being. It is all ours to decease. They have told us where to find more existence to consume. We leave this husk behind.</p><hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>Remembrances - Nyalla-Phon</strong></span>This odd tome appears to be a chronicle of some sorts. You're not sure who, what, or where it's about, however. At first it appeared as if it was written in a different language, but the more you look at it, the more you realize it actually was transcribed in your native tongue this whole time. Unfortunately, most of the pages have been ripped out of the book. The two words on the cover of the book are "Remembrances - Nyalla-Phon."Aggregate Gathering, Hour 1: In attendance - Arisain, Biddledobbles, Dreggas, Grathok, Grij Menkols, Llylleaneans, The Mennoth, Night Tabards, Ondranicains, Ozradicains, Qiv, Tintintoran, Tygars, Wixlefathers, Vuls. In absentia - Crentooks, Thears, Zennic Horde.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 2: Tiva (The Mennoth) to host Grand Bazaar for next decade - two consent, twelve dissent, one abstain. Earthen Flow (Wixlefathers) to host Grand Bazaar - two consent, twelve dissent, one abstain. Silver Citadel (Arisain) to host Grand Bazaar - twelve consent, two dissent, one abstain.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 3: The Grathok insist on disrupting the peace again! Loudly clacking their claws will not speed this up, as the Chancellor keeps telling them. But will they listen? No! It's always about them, isn't it? Sheesh. Whose bright idea was it to let them join the Aggregate, anyways?Aggregate Gathering, Hour 4: Farmlands will no longer encroach upon the shores of the Tintintoran's home - nine consent, two dissent, three abstain. Bronze can be used for weapons only during the bi-annual rise of the Zennic Horde - four consent, three dissent, eight abstain. The Arisain shall continue to guide the Aggregate for the next decade - fourteen consent, zero dissent, one abstain.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 5: Here they go again! Clack-clack-clack! Stubborn to the core, I tell you! How can I keep the minutes of the gathering with all that racket! I am right about to stuff my trunk in my ears if they don't quiet down! Well, it's about time! The Arisain themselves have finally soothed those lobster-headed fools. Hopefully we can get back to business.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 6: Decay magic to be outlawed - nine consent, five dissent, zero abstain. Death magic to be outlawed - twelve consent, two dissent, zero abstain. All magic to be outlawed - one consent, thirteen dissent, one abstain.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 7: This is something to tell my grandchildren about. Never do you see the Arisain vote on anything. They just hover there by gently flapping their feathered wings, making sure everyone's voice is heard during the Gathering. You know, I've heard those ethereal women hated Death and Decay magic, but I didn't realize how much! Wow... to see them actually cast a vote. Amazing!Aggregate Gathering, Hour 8: Lengthening the Lower Wall (Grij Menkols) - twelve consent, two dissent, one abstain. Excavating the Western Spires (Dreggas) - seven consent, seven dissent, one abstain (No Accord - 12th Casting). Full Aggregate investigation of the Shadowed Tower - one consent, thirteen dissent, one abstain.Aggregate Gathering, Hour 9: They're at it again!!! That incessant clacking! Just because their Shadowed Tower resolution didn't pass (again, mind you), they think they can annoy us into doing it? Look! Even the Vuls are upset, and that takes one heck of a lot of effort. Oh. Great. Now the Arisain are going to let them speak. Wonderful. Now we'll be here for hours listening to their tall tales about that tower.<hr><p></p><hr><span><strong>The Lyresmith Poetry Collection - Children's Rhymes</strong></span>This book is titled "The Lyresmith Poetry Collection - Children's Rhymes". It is a collection of rather strange children's rhymes.The following poems are more like songs than actual poetry. Sung by children all over the world, it's hard not to smile when hearing a little one reciting the verses. Though their choice of lyrics may seem a bit strange, the happy kids sing them with all their heart. These are just a few that I've collected from the youngsters themselves over the years."Ring Around the Tower"Ring around the tower,Crackling full of power.Shadows, shadows,Norrath falls down."It's Raining, It's Pouring"It's raining, it's pouringThe shadowed man is snoring.Lopped off your head,Now you're dead,You won't wake up next morning."In a Tower, In a Wood"In a tower, in a woodShadowed man by a window stoodSaw a halfling walking byKnocking at his door, he was about to dieHelp me! Help me! the halfling saidWicked troll wants to eat me dead.Little halfling come inside.Take my hand and you I'll hide."Here Comes a Candle"Here comes a candle to light you to bed,And here comes a shadow to chop off your headChip, chopChip, chopChip, chopChip, ch..."Open, Shut Them"Open them, shut them,Open them, shut them,Give a little clap, clap, clapCreep them, meet them,Creep them, meet them,Put them in your lap, lap, lapKnow them, need them,Know them, need them,Right up to your chin, chin, chinBad old shadowsBad old shadowsOpen wide and let them in!<hr><p><span></p><hr></span><strong><span>The Shadows of Lonesome Hollow</span></strong>This book is titled "The Shadows of Lonesome Hollow." It is the story of a village filled with strange people and the visitor that witnessed their horrific ceremony.The following tale was told to me by my father, which he had heard from his father's father. I won't be alive too much longer, and I have no son to tell this story to. Therefore I will record it in this book. Perhaps someone will find it and pass the story along, keeping the warning alive.Many years ago, there was a community of people that lived not far from here. Having chosen to live away from the big city, they were a very private people. They did not even have an available tavern for the wandering visitor. One such visitor was my great-grandfather, Daramain. Having suffered grievous wounds by an attack from a hungry pack of wolves, he sought shelter in their village.Though he bled profusely, it would seem that no one in the village would acknowledge his cries for help. He would watch as the villagers would peek at him from behind closed curtains, but no one would come to his assistance. Just when he thought he would die from his wounds, a young woman came out of her house and began tending his wounds.Taking him inside, she argued with her parents that they couldn't just let him die out upon their doorstep. After finally agreeing, they took him up to their attic and allowed the young woman to assist him in his convalescence. No clerics lived within the village, so Daramain would only be able to rely upon natural healing to heal his wounds.For the next several weeks, Daramain would slowly regain his strength though the help of this young woman. She introduced herself as Marilitha, and said that he would need to leave the village by the full moon, which was only a few days away. The urgency in her eyes filled Daramain with a sense of unease.That night, as he lay sleeping in the attic, he heard some sounds coming from the town courtyard below. Dragging himself to the window from his bed, he watched the townsfolk in the village's courtyard. They appeared to be erecting some type of wooden structure similar to a gallows pole. Behind the gallows pole was a sheet of odd looking marble that stood about a man's height. Daramain was unsure of the purpose of the stone.Each day, Marilitha would check on his health and urge him to try to build his strength at a quicker pace. She alerted him on the night before full moon that it was imperative he leave. By now Daramain was getting rather worried when speaking with her. He could see fear in her eyes as she would speak with him, and felt there were words that she stopped short of speaking.On the day of the full moon, Marilitha did not come to see to his wounds. Daramain, having taken her warning, gathered his belongings together and braced himself for a long journey across the endless plains. As he approached his door, he found it to be locked. He began to panic with the girl's warnings ringing in his ears. In his weakened state, he was not strong enough to bash the door down. Using everything he could find, he began attacking the door with all the strength he could summon. Eventually, he was able to break open the door, but by now night had already fallen.Limping out of the house, Daramain spotted the entire village congregating around the gallows beneath the full moon. Hanging from a rope was Marilitha, neck broken and dangling to the side. Her shadow, cast upon the marble sheet from the bright moon, was being traced by one of the villagers. When they lowered the body, however, her shadow remained. And started moving on its own.Marilitha's corpse then stood up, dusted off, shook hands with her shadows and then joined the crowd. That's when Daramain noticed that not a single villager cast a shadow in the bright moonlight. By the time the villagers had entered his room, he was already miles away. Several months later he returned with a large posse intent on destroying this village of undead creatures. But sadly, there was no trace the village ever existed. But it did. And this is my warning to you, reader. This was true. This was real. And those shadowy people are still out there.<hr><p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">03-01-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:24 AM</span></p>

[DreamerClou]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Cusashorn wrote:<div>Thier origin is a mystery that is still being debated to a heavy extent these days. They play a more important role with the Nightblood and Lamias and Evil Eyes and the Obelisk of Lost Souls, but there's still so much more that we will never find out about them.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In EQlive they didn't play any actual part to the lore. You could find them here an there. A group in Lesser Feydark, a group in West Commonlands, as well as a few other places, but for the most part they were just invisible mobs who dropped poor quality NO-RENT loot (meaning it disapeared when you logged).</div><hr></blockquote><p>As an a addition to what Cusa said, in EQ1 when you killed a shadowman you would get a faction message of gaining faction with the Temple of Solusek Ro.  On the other hand, when you killed NPCs in the Temple of Sol Ro, you would gain faction with the shadowman.  Also, in Mistmoore, there was a Shadowman who betrayed his fellow shadowmen beings.  A traitor of sort (traitor as in betrayer).  If you hailed him he gave some info as well.  I forget what he said.  I just remember a quest involved giving him / it a flower...</p><p> </p><p>edit - spelling</p><p>Message Edited by DreamerCloud9 on <span class="date_text">03-03-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:28 PM</span></p>

[Jooneau]

Traitor, not trader.

[FreaklyCreak]

<div>I would love to hear more, this is such an interesting subject! If anyone has any information about that traitor of the shadowed men.</div>

[Hirebra]

You say, 'A new breed of shadowed man walks Norrath. What can you tell me of the deathspeakers?'Ssynthi says 'Ah, so the deathspeakers have decided to reveal themselves again. They are beings who claim they are closer to the realms of the dead than any other known race, and they have been known to rally the shadowed men in times when they deem other races to be dabbling too much in the powers of death and rebirth. Just as shadowed men as a whole despise those of us who follow Solusek Ro because they deem all of magic to have sprung from themselves.'

[SisterTheresa]

<div></div>Is it me, or do they look like half circle things now?  I miss the floating swords of EQ1.

[syous01]

<div>I missed the ice cream cones they sometimes had <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[Vhalen]

<div></div><div>Ah, the Shadowed Men. Those troublesome entities from afar, or is it much closer than you think? Where they are currently residing and where they originated from may be two different locations. Why did they come to Norrath? Maybe there is something here they want. Maybe they are just exploring. Maybe they are reclaiming. There are too many questions to be answered and I doubt the answers rest in a safe location. I have heard rumors and myths among some of the great sages and scholars that were gracious enough to allow me a place to stay during my journeys on Norrath. I will share a few Shadowed Men thoughts with you soon. </div>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><div></div><p>I had originally thought that the Obelisk of Lost Souls was their birthplace, but then when I was reading over this text below again, I noticed something.</p><p> </p><p></p><hr><p><strong><span>Remembrances - DyzAz</span></strong></p><p>This tome bears the title of "Remembrances - DyzAz". When first looking at the text, it appears as if it is written in another language, but after careful examination it most assuredly is written in your native tongue. It's very hard to understand what is being said in this tome. It's possible it was written by a bard that was struck mad (or had one too many glasses of wine).Log A9-Green: Several more fluctuals were enhanced after the rise of the third sun. I can feel my dizals quiver in alarm. This is definitely out of place.Log Ce8: The placement of the spindles are out of alignment. This cannot be the case, for I adjusted them earlier between the ninth sun's setting. I am rather disturbed.Log 99L: GxvveR and Cvxlx are delayed in their daily transference. This is unheard of. I am debating whether or not I should float over to the structure myself. If I catch them careening circles from that spire, they will get no hearth-light before sleep.Log AA3-Blue: My budded pair concerns me. I have observed them and they appear to be different. Their glow has faded, which is a sign of the Grizzer virus. But Grizzer virus only comes about during the Lain Cycle, which is three cycles from now.Log Reeg4: The Holy Overlord has quarantined the western house-bowl. My budded pair has become even more sick and it spreads to the other Dyzalar. Their beautiful blue glow is now light-absent, and they no longer recognize me. I fear they are dying.Log Ff63: I have prayed to all nine of the suns for a blessing, but nothing has changed. My budded pair have now lost their healthy spherical shape. If I get too close, I can feel my glow... weakening. It is as if they are drawing my life into them. They have not even named me as their bud-source for six turns now.Log 93: I would have never thought it to be possible, but I too have been forced to break the Tymoth Law. My budded pair deceived me into believing they had their round form again. As I was about to spread my glow around them, they changed into limbed horrors and attempted to consume me. I had no choice but to sever their lines.Log KRV: My simulacrum showed a patch of absent light growing on my upper hemisphere. I have rubbed electrical powder onto that spot, for I do not want the others to know that I have been afflicted. It should not matter, for I see many Dyzalar with light-absent patches these turns. I have even seen the Holy Overlord trying to bandage the limb that is growing from his upper hemisphere.Log BlueGreenBlue: The Holy Overlord has lifted the quarantine from all house-bowls. We are free to walk upon the ground as we please. It is no longer difficult to approach the others, for we will take the form of the Dyzalar. When they approach, we can offer them the gift of light-absence.Log 42hg: The true-limbed ones are pleased by our effeciency. The Dyzalar have been deceased. We are the transcended now. All life, all existence, all being. It is all ours to decease. They have told us where to find more existence to consume. We leave this husk behind.</p><hr><p>Notice how the author comments about developing "light absent" spots and rubbing "electrical powder" onto them. Think maybe this text speaks of the origins of Shadowed Men?</p><p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">03-04-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:26 PM</span></p>

[Cusashorn]

<div>Geeze. The Shadowmen are so mysterious that not even Vhalen knows much about them.</div><div> </div><div>/sarcasm...</div>

[Killustrator]

<div>I've always viewed the Shadowed Men as a possible race that dwelled here before the arrival of the gods and their created races.  Perhaps, creatures of the great Void, even existing prior to the arrival of the Nameless itself.  I guess we'll never know, unless Vhalen shares some arcane lore with us. </div><div> </div><div>Special thanks to those of you who answered my question.  I would love to hear more about the traitor though, as I wasn't aware of his existence.  Rather interesting.</div><div> </div><div>~ Njal G'Nox</div>

[DreamerClou]

<div></div>I wish I could remember more about that traitor shadowed man.  Like I said earlier he was in Mistmoore, in the graveyard, in EQ1.  Hirebrand posted part of the conversation you get from him, in an above post.

[Nastharl]

The feeling i got from the last 2 was almost like someone else entirely wrote it. Went from worried about kids and such, to eradicate all life. Almost like he was taken over by someone and they just kept writing in the journal for kicks.<div></div>

[Iagan the Swart]

Agreed.  The writer was corrupted.  I think the light absent spots are a manifestation of the corruption itself.  Other texts point to the fact that shadowed men can possess other beings.  I think that is obviously what we're seeing here.  The final entries were made, because shadowed men are cautioned to keep up appearances and act as naturally as possible when possessing someone. <div></div>

[lillin]

<div></div><div></div>If i remember reading those scrolls in obelisk right...... basically shadowmen and thier counterparts use norathian beings as food .  Then it also hinted at them inhabiting different worlds and it gave a few names for these planets as well as listing norrath.<p>Message Edited by lillin on <span class="date_text">03-05-2006</span><span class="time_text">07:15 AM</span></p>

[DeviousPande]

<span><blockquote><hr>lillin wrote:<div></div><div></div>If i remember reading those scrolls in obelisk right...... basically shadowmen and thier counterparts use norathian beings as food .  Then it also hinted at them inhabiting different worlds and it gave a few names for these planets as well as listing norrath.<p>Message Edited by lillin on <span class="date_text">03-05-2006</span><span class="time_text">07:15 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>To Server Norrathians..Is..A cookbook!!! <span>:smileysurprised:</span> Or..Or...The Soylent Green is made of....Dark Elves!...Nothing constructive in this post..So sad <span>:smileysad:</span></span><div></div>

[Vhalen]

<div>"There is a time that I recall being offered safe haven within a castle in the woods of the ashlands. Something was very creepy about my guests, but all in all, the food was great, the conversations enlightening and the beds were comfortable. I was never able to discover the home of my gracious hosts again, but I recall reading a book within their library that contained very odd runes. I was unable to decipher the runes and I can hardly recall their structure. One thing I could recall was the symbol that was emblazoned upon the binder. This symbol was one I would not encounter again until I managed to compile the notes and charts from my harrowing trip into the obelisk. To think that the symbol was right in front of me all that time and I overlooked it. What was more amazing were the instances of that symbol that occurred in other locations. I wonder what this all means and how they tie together. I will find out." - Hasten Bootstrutter</div><div> </div><div>Words from one of Norrath's legends. I wonder if the little guy is still around.   </div>

[Didi]

<div></div><p>In EQlive, shadowed men also dropped Essence of Shadow, which was used as a temper in dark elven cultural armoursmithing.  Although there were several groups of shadowed men not far from Neriak, killing them did not seem to either please or dismay the dark elves (though it did please the dark elf smiths who got the essences... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> )</p><p>As mentioned, they were clearly direct enemies with the Temple of Solusek Ro.  In addition to the faction changes mentioned above, many quests given by the Temple required you to kill shadowed men and use various items from them to forge magical items.</p>

[Ogrebe]

I know there are a few items he made in the game, but i haven't seen him in person in the game.<div></div>

[Iagan the Swart]

Ok for those of us who didn't play EQ Live, where are the Ashlands?  I am assuming this is a reference to Nektulos.  Is that correct?<div></div>

[Cusashorn]

<div>The Ashlands was never a zone in EQlive. Not even one of those areas listed on the world map but were never put into the game.</div>

[TheMightyTaco]

I would consider the woods of the ashlands to be Nek, personally. And what was written above would have been really cool if the Lore and Legend: Shadowed Man started in the Nek Castle library, but that's Fairy lore there.   Hmmmmmm ???<div></div>

[Pyrrhx]

<div></div><p>Is it possible that the faction gain/loss of Solusek Ro~shadowmen relationship is because they are polarized?  Kinda like the shadowmen despise the sun for banishing the darkness from dawn to nightfall.. idk.. just a thought</p><p> </p><p> </p>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>MisterCode wrote:I would consider the woods of the ashlands to be Nek, personally. And what was written above would have been really cool if the Lore and Legend: Shadowed Man started in the Nek Castle library, but that's Fairy lore there.   Hmmmmmm ???<div></div><hr></blockquote>Note that there is Obelisk technology (the floating robots) within Nektropos Castle and that there is one really powerful Nightblood (the Shadowed Men's partners in crime) living there.<p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">03-06-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:34 PM</span></p>

[TheMightyTaco]

I am going to head to Nek Castle in the near future for screenshots to compare to screenshots of the Obelisk. It strikes me that the contraption in Everlings laboratory is a miniature version (variation) of the larger contraptions in the obelisk. I looked over the one in the obelisk and intended to go back to try to figure more out and this gives me a really good reason to do so. I'll also be stopping in on Archfiend Izzoroth to see what he actually said when he spawned.<div></div>

[TheMightyTaco]

<div></div>Okay, I went back to Nek Castle and to the Obelisk last night and took lots of screen shots. Below are a list of the interesting things I found. There are many more pictures and if anyone wants I will post them all on a page on my website. I probably will anyway, but here are the neat ones. They vary from 50 KB to 250 KB in size. I apologize if the color is bad on your monitor. These pictures look great on my flat panel but very dark on my CRT.<b>Lord Everling's bedroom wall design in Nektropos Castle</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000028.jpg">http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000028.jpg</a>Notice the alternating pattern of vertical glyphs and large emblems.<b>Netropos Castle basement wall design on way to Lord Everling's Lab</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000032.jpg">http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000032.jpg</a>Notice the large emblems running along the top of the wall.<b>Avulsor room wall design in Obelisk of Lost Souls</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000061.jpg">http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000061.jpg</a>Notice the pattern of vertical glyphs<b>Wall design in lower levels of Obelisk of Lost Souls</b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000088.jpg">http://www.fipslide.com/Uploads/EQ2/Lore/ShadowedMen/ScreenShots/EQ2_000088.jpg</a><div></div>Notice the large emblem, naturally.I have several pictures of the machinery in both places. I am still going over those to see if there is anything I notice. They look quite different, however. Everling's contraption looks like a cylender that holds a subject and allow for injection or removal of fluids through two syringes. The contraptions in the obelisk vary from tables which collect fluids draining off subjects to the large multi-chamber device with may hold several subjects or materials wich feed or are fed by the central vat. Quite different.My curiosity is wondering if Everling is a man turned mad as a host for a shadowed man or if he paid dearly for the shadowed man technologies. From what I see, the shadowed men simply operate without emotion or care. They are simply doing a task. Everling, is a passionate man hell bent on protecting his daughters. I need to go back and read the book in his bedroom which is quite damaged but speaks of the death of a young son. And it makes me wonder if he pursued any means to reanimate the dead or prolong life. We know he hired the Archfiend that spawns in Dierdre's room from the dialogue (sorry, I could not get this). Did he purchase even more from the shadowed men?Enjoy.<p>Message Edited by MisterCode on <span class="date_text">03-07-2006</span><span class="time_text">09:22 AM</span></p>

[Anoixia]

<div></div><div></div><p>wow cool pictures wish I could play the game at that high quality :smileytongue:</p><p>I find it unlikly that the Shadowmen would give technology to Everling or sell it too him directly.  I just do not see Everling having anything to offer that a shadowman would want (besides his fluids =P).  I could see an ex-host, current host, or wild host (shadowman staying with the host out of personal enjoyment not part of the mission, similer to anthropologists "going wild&quot<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> offering Everling information.  Perhaps Everling himself is a wild host, unable to cope with the emotions of loss driving him mad and bring people back to life.  It is also important to note that those symbols have been there awhile prehaps since the castles construction...</p><p>INtersting fact...</p><p>Kyle Bayle is linked directly to the Droags in SoS, he is also one of the "particular knowledge vessels, as they are vital to our continued research"...  The Shadowmen always seem to be in the background somehow...</p><p>Message Edited by Arnou on <span class="date_text">03-07-2006</span><span class="time_text">06:53 AM</span></p>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><div></div><div>This is my personal theory on the Obelisk and all those involved. (My comments highlighted in bold red.)</div><div> </div><div><hr></div><div><span><strong>Knowledge Vessel Handling Procedures</strong></span>The proper handling and transfer of knowledge vessels is vital to the success of this operation. The utmost of care must be shown when handling these souls, as they contain the most pertinent and potent knowledge base discovered on this world.In case of an emergency disembarkment or the eventual final fade phase, please be sure to protect and secure this list of particular knowledge vessels, as they are vital to our continued research:1. Fiddy Bobick2. Markus Jaevins3. Tobon Starpyre4. Milea Clothspinner5. Kyle Bayle6. Vurgo</div><div> </div><div><strong><font color="#ff0000">"In case of an emergency disembarkment or the eventual final fade phase." This implies to me an attempt to "turn out the lights" on Norrath, so to speak.</font></strong></div><div><hr></div><p></p><div><hr></div><div><span><strong>Remembrances - Tel'riia'mil'an'ane'ie</strong></span>This odd tome appears to be a chronicle of some sorts. You're not sure who, what, or where it's about, however. At first it appeared as if it was written in a different language, but the more you look at it, the more you realize it actually was transcribed in your native tongue this whole time. Unfortunately, most of the pages have been ripped out of the book. The two words on the cover of the book are "Remembrances - Tel'riia'mil'an'ane'ie."Trirain 30:127 - "And the air will fill with the eyes of storms, and the crystal crops will begin to shatter. When the gathering of the hail-lines begin to fall, the time will be nigh."Trirain 30:128 - "The beautiful will congregate beneath the one true Cynarian Crystal and sing the blessed hymn. They will be bathed in cleansing cinnamon and marked for freedom."Trirain 30:129 - "Rewarded will be those who follow the Cynarian Crystal, and damned will be those who follow the Black Tower."Septrain 9:72 - "And the Ice Taylenes will come collapsing down upon the heads of the deceivers, leaving no merchants or farmers or tam housers. The songs of the many will now become the songs of the few."Septrain 9:73 - "The Man of Talzaron will then be the next to fall. No longer will the crystals hum in his presence, leaving the shadows to walk free among the people."Septrain 9:74 - "The triple moon will darken and haze, causing all those who see with eyes to know of the impending doom. They will seek solace within the Black Tower, knowing this to be their false salvation."Septrain 9:75 - "And as the Last Night comes, the ruby oceans will vomit forth the Pillar of Shadow. The true believers who have been washed with the blessing of freedom will now be released of their tenure. All that will remain will be those who did not choose."Septrain 9:76 - "The division of light and dark will come to those who embraced the shadows. Those who did not choose during these dark times will be consumed by the light that is not, for so it shall be."Septrain 9:77 - "The men of shadows shall show their face and it will be a gaping maw of victory. The last horn shall sound from the Obelisk of Despair and all will know the cycle has ended. Darkness shall wash over the land and all will know nothing."</div><div> </div><div><font color="#ff0000"><strong>"The men of shadows shall show their face and it will be a gaping maw of victory. The last horn shall sound from the Obelisk of Despair and all will know the cycle has ended. Darkness shall wash over the land and all will know nothing"</strong></font></div><div><strong><font color="#ff0000"></font></strong> </div><div><strong><font color="#ff0000">Note how there is a Shadowed Man guarding the second floor of the Obelisk named "the Keeper of Nihility" (as in Nihilism, belief in nothing). This document supports the theory that the Obelisk is in the business of destroying worlds. The wording "all will know nothing", when you consider the name of the Obelisk 2nd floor's guard, implies that they believe that they are cleansing existance of things that are false.</font></strong></div><div><hr></div><div></div><div><hr></div><div><strong><span>Remembrances - DyzAz</span></strong></div><p>This tome bears the title of "Remembrances - DyzAz". When first looking at the text, it appears as if it is written in another language, but after careful examination it most assuredly is written in your native tongue. It's very hard to understand what is being said in this tome. It's possible it was written by a bard that was struck mad (or had one too many glasses of wine).Log A9-Green: Several more fluctuals were enhanced after the rise of the third sun. I can feel my dizals quiver in alarm. This is definitely out of place.Log Ce8: The placement of the spindles are out of alignment. This cannot be the case, for I adjusted them earlier between the ninth sun's setting. I am rather disturbed.Log 99L: GxvveR and Cvxlx are delayed in their daily transference. This is unheard of. I am debating whether or not I should float over to the structure myself. If I catch them careening circles from that spire, they will get no hearth-light before sleep.Log AA3-Blue: My budded pair concerns me. I have observed them and they appear to be different. Their glow has faded, which is a sign of the Grizzer virus. But Grizzer virus only comes about during the Lain Cycle, which is three cycles from now.Log Reeg4: The Holy Overlord has quarantined the western house-bowl. My budded pair has become even more sick and it spreads to the other Dyzalar. Their beautiful blue glow is now light-absent, and they no longer recognize me. I fear they are dying.Log Ff63: I have prayed to all nine of the suns for a blessing, but nothing has changed. My budded pair have now lost their healthy spherical shape. If I get too close, I can feel my glow... weakening. It is as if they are drawing my life into them. They have not even named me as their bud-source for six turns now.Log 93: I would have never thought it to be possible, but I too have been forced to break the Tymoth Law. My budded pair deceived me into believing they had their round form again. As I was about to spread my glow around them, they changed into limbed horrors and attempted to consume me. I had no choice but to sever their lines.Log KRV: My simulacrum showed a patch of absent light growing on my upper hemisphere. I have rubbed electrical powder onto that spot, for I do not want the others to know that I have been afflicted. It should not matter, for I see many Dyzalar with light-absent patches these turns. I have even seen the Holy Overlord trying to bandage the limb that is growing from his upper hemisphere.Log BlueGreenBlue: The Holy Overlord has lifted the quarantine from all house-bowls. We are free to walk upon the ground as we please. It is no longer difficult to approach the others, for we will take the form of the Dyzalar. When they approach, we can offer them the gift of light-absence.Log 42hg: The true-limbed ones are pleased by our effeciency. The Dyzalar have been deceased. We are the transcended now. All life, all existence, all being. It is all ours to decease. They have told us where to find more existence to consume. We leave this husk behind.</p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">The impression I have gotten from L&L Shadowed Man is that the Shadowed Men were born from the Void itself. The Obelisk being a manifestation of it that allows the denizens of the Void to interact with other planes. To me, it seems like the author of this document was slowly brainwashed by the Shadowed Men and was eventually converted into one, meaning that Shadowed Men can be made in two different ways.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">The lines "all life, all existance, all being. It is all ours to decease." backs up the "Obelisk denizens being nihilists" theory I mentioned earlier.</font></strong></p><div><hr></div><p></p><div><hr></div><div><span><strong>The Lyresmith Poetry Collection - Children's Rhymes</strong></span>This book is titled "The Lyresmith Poetry Collection - Children's Rhymes". It is a collection of rather strange children's rhymes.The following poems are more like songs than actual poetry. Sung by children all over the world, it's hard not to smile when hearing a little one reciting the verses. Though their choice of lyrics may seem a bit strange, the happy kids sing them with all their heart. These are just a few that I've collected from the youngsters themselves over the years."Ring Around the Tower"Ring around the tower,Crackling full of power.Shadows, shadows,Norrath falls down.</div><div> </div><div><strong><font color="#ff0000">Wow, if this isn't what you'd call specific, I don't know what is.</font></strong>"In a Tower, In a Wood"In a tower, in a woodShadowed man by a window stoodSaw a halfling walking byKnocking at his door, he was about to die</div><div> </div><div>Help me! Help me! the halfling saidWicked troll wants to eat me dead.Little halfling come inside.Take my hand and you I'll hide.</div><div><strong><font color="#ff0000">Could be a reference to Fiddy Bobick.</font></strong></div><div><hr></div><p><span>My personal </span><span>theory:-</span></p><p><span>The Obelisk of Lost Souls is a physical manifestation of the Void that allows the otherwise shapeless beings who inhabit it to interact with the worlds that exist outside it. </span></p><p><span>The Obelisk, and the Void itself, <a target="_blank" href="http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5162/adumbrate4ij.jpg">is timeless</a>, as implied by Kai Vhri'Jah who states that the Obelisk uses portals to travel between "the realms and times of Norrath". The Void has existed as long as the Nameless has, and has every intention of outliving it. The Obelisk has undoubtedly become more active in recent times (the Shadowed Men having gained access to their true form whilst on Norrath), the mass emergance of portals across Norrath, the Nightblood/Lamia presence in the Enchanted Lands and of the Tower of Zul. It seems that there is something that the Obelisk can do here and now that they couldn't do 500 years ago (maybe in part due to the presence of the gods).</span></p><p><span>Although such beings as the Shadowed Men and the Nightblood were born from the Void, the Obelisk does sometimes pick up new minions from the worlds that it targets if they are of use. The "ascendant Dyzalar" are one example, Norrath's very own Evil Eyes are another. I'd like to take the time to point out that if the Evil Eyes are working for the Obelisk, and the Evil Eyes are the secret power behind Runnyeye, <a target="_blank" href="http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2659/freeportwrit8pa.jpg">then...</a></span></p><p><span></span><span>The Obelisk's ultimate goal, I would guess, is to cleanse reality of anything that won't embrace the emptiness of the Void. The question is, if this is their intention, how long will it be before they make their next move.</span></p><p><span></span> </p><p><span>One last note. An orc in the Feerrot known as General Fandrak asks you to retrieve the soul of an orc horticulturist named <a target="_blank" href="http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/9753/tarinax9tt.jpg">Tarinax</a> from the Obelisk of Lost Souls. The soul is set aside on the 1st floor and requires a great deal of effort to retrieve, clearly important to the Obelisk. Tarinax is also the name of the undead dragon know as <a target="_blank" href="http://static.flickr.com/34/96159357_7a9fa6fcec_o.jpg">Tarinax the Destroyer</a>. Connection?</p></span><p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">03-07-2006</span><span class="time_text">07:41 AM</span></p>

[blynchehaun]

< <strong><font color="#ff0000">To me, it seems like the author of this document was slowly brainwashed by the Shadowed Men and was eventually converted into one, meaning that Shadowed Men can be made in two different ways. <font color="#ffffff"><b><font size="2">> I don't agree with this bit. I think the shadowed men refer to people as 'vessels' for a far more *literal* reason: they possess people, as an infection. </font></b></font></font></strong><div></div>

[SageGaspar]

<div></div>Y'know, I think she's actually got something here. I think DyzAz might actually be the creation story of the shadowed men.First, SoE writeup on Shadowed Men:<i>Little is known of the Shadowed Men. Highly intelligent, extremely organized, and very secretive, they communicate with one another without a discernable form of speech, perhaps using telepathy. Those rare souls who survive meeting them say their voices crackle with electrical energy. In the past they appeared to have no visible bodies, but their swirling forms now flow with a power drawn from some distant realm.</i>From DyzAz:<i>I am debating whether or not I should float over to the structure myself </i>-- so we know they fly<i>Their beautiful blue glow is now light-absent </i>-- shadowed men are blue with black patches<i>I have rubbed electrical powder onto that spot</i> -- shadowed men's voices crackle with electricity<i>The Holy Overlord has lifted the quarantine from all house-bowls. We are free to walk upon the ground as we please.</i> -- shadowed men float on weird portal bowls, like the ones hovering in the sky above the Obelisk<i>The true-limbed ones are pleased by our effeciency. The Dyzalar have been deceased. We are the transcended now. All life, all existence, all being. It is all ours to decease. They have told us where to find more existence to consume. We leave this husk behind</i> -- so they've turned into shadowed men and now rove from world to world with the obeliskI know this certainly isn't 100% true, but if you notice, in the other remembrances book when the Obelisk takes over, the shadowed men actually come out and play. In DyzAz the population gets converted into something else by some mysterious force.I buy this. I think the obelisk has not always existed on Norrath, I think it's popped into being somewhat "recently" (although time can get skewed, obviously). I think it could be the opposing force to the Nameless (light vs. void). I think the original masters, or whoever built the stuff inside, died out or were killed off. Maybe the obelisk is just on autopilot now, jumping from world to world and the shadowed men taking over the population. As you've said, obviously there's a connection between the shadowed men, the evil eyes, the nightbloods, the lamia, and the gobbies. I think the gobbies are just under the thumb of the evil eyes so they're convenient vessels. Lamia and nightbloods both speak the same language and I'm pretty sure arrived with the Shadowed Men and the obelisk during that story Trinni wrote. Evil Eyes, I have no idea what the hell they're up to, hehe.The final question then just becomes -- who the hell are the true-limbed ones? Hehe.<div></div><p>Message Edited by SageGaspar on <span class="date_text">05-01-2006</span> <span class="time_text">10:03 PM</span></p><p>Message Edited by SageGaspar on <span class=date_text>05-01-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:03 PM</span>

[numbaseven]

The whole remembrances - DyzAz doesn't sound like he was brainwashed so much as a Resident Evil sort of thing happened to him and his kin. The whole idea that there is a virus and they're changing sounds like the formation of the shadowmen. Maybe they're once glowing balls of blue light and the virus mutated them to taking shape of a human coming through a portal as in "they changed into limbed horrors." The way they don't identify with kin and try to eat each other fits the bill for a Resident Evil type of plot too. How he describes cycles and complex workings of the environment, my guess would be that they're an advanced race that got a little too curious for their own good and found/made something way bad or one of their kind released something bad on them for their own purposes.<div></div>

[The-Fourm-Pirate]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Astralmage wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> MisterCode wrote:<BR>I would consider the woods of the ashlands to be Nek, personally. And what was written above would have been really cool if the Lore and Legend: Shadowed Man started in the Nek Castle library, but that's Fairy lore there.   Hmmmmmm ???<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Note that there is Obelisk technology (the floating robots) within Nektropos Castle and that there is one really powerful Nightblood (the Shadowed Men's partners in crime) living there.<BR> <P>Message Edited by Astralmage on <SPAN class=date_text>03-06-2006</SPAN><SPAN class=time_text>12:34 PM</SPAN></P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>There's also a Lamia in there who attacks you.

[SageGaspar]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>numbaseven wrote:The whole remembrances - DyzAz doesn't sound like he was brainwashed so much as a Resident Evil sort of thing happened to him and his kin. The whole idea that there is a virus and they're changing sounds like the formation of the shadowmen. Maybe they're once glowing balls of blue light and the virus mutated them to taking shape of a human coming through a portal as in "they changed into limbed horrors." The way they don't identify with kin and try to eat each other fits the bill for a Resident Evil type of plot too. How he describes cycles and complex workings of the environment, my guess would be that they're an advanced race that got a little too curious for their own good and found/made something way bad or one of their kind released something bad on them for their own purposes.<div></div><hr></blockquote>You might be onto something too.<i>GxvveR and Cvxlx are delayed in their daily transference. This is unheard of. I am debating whether or not I should float over to the structure myself. If I catch them careening circles from that spire, they will get no hearth-light before sleep.</i>It doesn't sound like they're incredibly concerned about the spire, eh? Maybe it was actually where they did live, or work, or something. They're talking about "daily transference," so they'd probably be using at least some of the technology in there. And the destruction makes sense because things went a little nuts when it went south. Though it doesn't seem like they would've been very nice people even before they became shadowed men judging by the torture devices and stuff in there O.OFirst thought: what do you think about true-limbed ones being Evil Eyes? Sounds a little nuts, right, but they have that spherical shape and they use their stalks like limbs when you fight them. They also follow the same naming conventions. GxvveR and Cvxlx are in the story, and we have in Obelisk, Xychlzys, Troxlep, Paroxroz, Borxx, Braxx, Brixx. Then in Meeting of the Minds we have Overlord Oxulius (<i>high overlord</i>?), who drops a shield called the Interdimensional Guard. And Pkzwk Tzkr just to cement the weird naming policy.Orrr, how about the budded pair being those shadowed things that block out all the light and turn into multi-limbed freaks when you get close. They also have a pair of stalks hanging off their head with buds at the end. They don't seem to have any sort of spherical shape, buuuut... I dunno, maybe.Also, let's not forget the Chamber of Immortality. Varsoon calls out a lamia and a bunch of the little shadowed guys called "extraplanar denziens." Seems they're pals too.Wow, these guys get around, whoever they are, hehe. This is confusing.</div><p>Message Edited by SageGaspar on <span class=date_text>05-01-2006</span> <span class=time_text>10:40 PM</span>

[numbaseven]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>SageGaspar wrote:<div></div><div>Though it doesn't seem like they would've been very nice people even before they became shadowed men judging by the torture devices and stuff in there O.OFirst thought: what do you think about true-limbed ones being Evil Eyes? Sounds a little nuts, right, but they have that spherical shape and they use their stalks like limbs when you fight them. They also follow the same naming conventions. GxvveR and Cvxlx are in the story, and we have in Obelisk, Xychlzys, Troxlep, Paroxroz, Borxx, Braxx, Brixx. Then in Meeting of the Minds we have Overlord Oxulius (<i>high overlord</i>?), who drops a shield called the Interdimensional Guard. And Pkzwk Tzkr just to cement the weird naming policy.Orrr, how about the budded pair being those shadowed things that block out all the light and turn into multi-limbed freaks when you get close. They also have a pair of stalks hanging off their head with buds at the end. They don't seem to have any sort of spherical shape, buuuut... I dunno, maybe.</div><hr size="2" width="100%"></blockquote>I think the tools in there that people call torture devices are really more scientific. Humans in RL have some pretty horriffic tools of their own like a bone saw that isn't used for anything but dissections and surgery. I know I've tortured a few dead frogs and a dead cat in my bio class =). Maybe these places where used to study races and their make-up(whether alive or not when the procedure happened) but when they were transformed, mutated into just torture pits.The eyes would make since as true limbed ones, most of the nameds on the upper floor are eyes and the ones that aren't named seemed to have a purpose in the rooms they're in, not really so much guards as studying things in there.I'm not exactly sure what monsters you're implying with the multip-limbed things but I'm guessing its those little crawlers in the maze. Those look more like watchdogs and are kinda mindless just roaming back in forth down the halls as fast as they can. The budded pair that went bad still maintained quite a bit of their minds if they're able to convince the unfallen that they had come back to sanity. Also, none of those things have any higher positions in the tower. They're always just guarding the stuff, and I believe there's only one named one and thats to open the door at the end of the maze.</div><p>Message Edited by numbaseven on <span class=date_text>05-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:10 AM</span>

[Renita_Serafim]

<P>Something else I'd like to point out. When you're fighting in the heroic arena in Sundered Splitpaw and the Shadow Spider appears, watch closely. You can see Obelisk creatures manifest on the sidelines to watch the battle, whom disappear again when it's over.</P>

[SageGaspar]

<div><blockquote><hr>numbaseven wrote:<div>I'm not exactly sure what monsters you're implying with the multip-limbed things but I'm guessing its those little crawlers in the maze. Those look more like watchdogs and are kinda mindless just roaming back in forth down the halls as fast as they can. The budded pair that went bad still maintained quite a bit of their minds if they're able to convince the unfallen that they had come back to sanity. Also, none of those things have any higher positions in the tower. They're always just guarding the stuff, and I believe there's only one named one and thats to open the door at the end of the maze.</div><p>Message Edited by numbaseven on <span class="date_text">05-02-2006</span> <span class="time_text">09:10 AM</span></p><hr></blockquote>I read the budded pairs as being more like sensory organs or progeny of some sort that aren't really intelligent. They didn't literally "convince" anyone with persuasive speech, I don't think, they just sort of hid their disease and responded in a limited fashion to get the Dyzalar to come close.As for why those things, I was just thinking of what creatures we know that grow extra limbs when they attack -- I believe that's just those shadowed things and the lamia. Of the two, the shadowed things actually have  a pair of eye buds.I want to go back and observe the creatures in the Obelisk more closely sometime just to see their physical structure. </div>

[Trepan]

<div><blockquote><hr>SageGaspar wrote:<div>I read the budded pairs as being more like sensory organs or progeny of some sort that aren't really intelligent. They didn't literally "convince" anyone with persuasive speech, I don't think, they just sort of hid their disease and responded in a limited fashion to get the Dyzalar to come close. </div><hr></blockquote>Many organisms reproduce by budding - growing a replica of themselves off themselves.  Hydra are a popular example.   That is what I understood the phrase to mean in the context of that journal.  His (its?) Budded Pair were its offspring who were infected/possessed.   </div>

[troodon]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Trepan wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR>Many organisms reproduce by budding - growing a replica of themselves off themselves.  Hydra are a popular example.   That is what I understood the phrase to mean in the context of that journal.  His (its?) Budded Pair were its offspring who were infected/possessed.   <BR></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>That's the way I read it too.  It's unlawful to "sever its lines"... cut it off?<p>Message Edited by troodon on <span class=date_text>05-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>12:10 PM</span>

[numbaseven]

<blockquote><hr>troodon wrote:<div></div> <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> Trepan wrote: <div>Many organisms reproduce by budding - growing a replica of themselves off themselves.  Hydra are a popular example.   That is what I understood the phrase to mean in the context of that journal.  His (its?) Budded Pair were its offspring who were infected/possessed.   </div> <hr> </blockquote>That's the way I read it too.  It's unlawful to "sever its lines"... cut it off?<p>Message Edited by troodon on <span class="date_text">05-02-2006</span> <span class="time_text">12:10 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote>Their lines would more than likely be tenacles. I know most of you out there have seen Independence Day and when they're dissecting the alien in the room and it wakes up and uses its tenacles to talk through the doctor, thats how I see the lines that this one is talking about. They have no form of audible communication so it'd be logical that they'd talk like this.<div></div>

[hahn_ba]

<DIV> <HR> <STRONG><SPAN>Remembrances - Berrox</SPAN><BR></STRONG><BR>This odd tome appears to be a chronicle of some sorts. You're not sure who, what, or where it's about, however. At first it appeared as if it was written in a different language, but the more you look at it, the more you realize it actually was transcribed in your native tongue this whole time. Unfortunately, most of the pages have been ripped out of the book. The two words on the cover of the book are "Remembrances - Berrox".<BR><BR>The obelisk appeared in the center of the marketplatz on Jallows Day. A great black structure, it spindled higher into the sky than any of the surrounding buildings. At first the citizens of our capital, Darrow's Hollow, had believed it to be some sort of elaborate magical prank. We couldn't have been more wrong.<BR><BR>At first King Adan summoned all of the wise men of magical learning. They came from far and near - from the desert lands or Naragin to the floating jungles of the Desolation. Not one of these great wizards could explain what it was or how it came to be.<BR><BR>Then King Adan summoned forth all of the bards and jongleurs to see if they had any tales of this forbidding structure. Listening to endless hours of tales of boldness and courage, the King came to the conclusion that they knew as much as the wizards.<BR><BR>Finally King Adan called upon all of priests of the Heavenly Pantheon to ask their frightening gods for some insight. After hearing gruesome threats of death and destruction, the King remembered why his ancestors drove the holy men into the wilds. It would seem as if no one could answer the mystery of the obelisk.<BR><BR>Messages would come from the marketplatz of frightening creatures lurking near the stalls at night. Being described as creatures straight out of nightmares, the good King feared for his people and began sending adventurers to do combat with these horrors. This would continue until the day that Ultor Szanvon would appear before the court, proclaiming he knew the secrets of the obelisk.<BR><BR>Ultor explained to King Adan that the answer lay not with magic or gods or stories, but rather with his ancestors. He claimed to know how to speak with the dead and offered to show the King how to do the same. Both intrigued and at his wit's end, the King agreed to listen to this stranger.<BR><BR>For then next month, the king would watch as Ultor would speak with the spirits and would reveal their secrets to the ruler. Ultor would rise to the position of Chancellor, both due to his wisdom and also coincidental deaths among the king's advisors. In the end, Ultor told the king that it was time for the regent to learn the answers of increasingly menancing obelisk.<BR><BR>Chancellor Ultor advised King Adan that his forefathers, kings of times gone by, would know about the truth of the obelisk. Knowing the answers were close at hand, the King ordered his squires to bring him the oaken box from within his sleeping chambers. Inside held the key to the burial crypts of the noble line of the Adan Kings - King's Rest.<BR><BR>Preparing for a long journey to the mausoleum of the ancient kings, the Chancellor advised that it should be only the King and himself who went. Claiming that the spirits of the fallen regents would be offended at being disturbed by anyone other than nobility, Ultor and King Adan were the only ones to enter the Crypts of King's Rest.<BR><BR>And thus is the tale of how the people of Berox would lose their king in these dark days. The obelisk still stands within the center of the twisted ruins of Darrow's Hollow, having never changed. Just as we lost our king in his search for answers to the obelisk, so too would we lose armies great and small in their own search. Countless parties of adventurers have ventured into that now opened doorway on the side of that blackened obelisk... but none have yet to return. <HR> </DIV> <P> </P> <P>Now, I forget the exact details - but wasn't Bertoxxulous created when Adan went down into the Crypt with Ultor, and went crazy? And we can assume that Ultor was possessed by one of the Shadowed Men through this reading - did the Shadowed Men have a hand in creating Bertoxxulous in order to speed up their agenda? Why is it that Bertoxxulous is one of the few gods that has no allegiances amongst the Pantheon?</P> <P>[edit] <P>Posted by Vhalen - <P>The Obelisk of Lost Souls has many names. The Obelisk is a myth to most Norrathians. This deadly place has also been called the Obelisk of the Void, The Tower of Shadows, <STRONG>The Tower of Rot</STRONG> and the Obelisk of Vul, as well as many others less popular. <P>Perhaps Bertoxxulous was planned after all?</P><p>Message Edited by hahn_bard on <span class=date_text>05-02-2006</span> <span class=time_text>09:36 PM</span>

[SageGaspar]

<div><blockquote><hr>hahn_bard wrote:<p>Now, I forget the exact details - but wasn't Bertoxxulous created when Adan went down into the Crypt with Ultor, and went crazy? And we can assume that Ultor was possessed by one of the Shadowed Men through this reading - did the Shadowed Men have a hand in creating Bertoxxulous in order to speed up their agenda? Why is it that Bertoxxulous is one of the few gods that has no allegiances amongst the Pantheon?</p> <p>[edit] </p><p>Posted by Vhalen - </p><p>The Obelisk of Lost Souls has many names. The Obelisk is a myth to most Norrathians. This deadly place has also been called the Obelisk of the Void, The Tower of Shadows, <strong>The Tower of Rot</strong> and the Obelisk of Vul, as well as many others less popular. </p><p>Perhaps Bertoxxulous was planned after all?</p><p>Message Edited by hahn_bard on <span class="date_text">05-02-2006</span> <span class="time_text">09:36 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote>First, Berrox -- Bertoxx, not entirely dissimilar.Second, I don't know the Bertoxx creation story unfortunately, but I looked up the Bertoxx raid encounter in EQ1, and you fight a series of King ____ Adans followed by High Priest Ultor. Would make sense if Adan was just a title, somehow all of them got reanimated. I wonder if you fight them in the crypt itself, but I've never seen it first-hand.</div>

[IrishWonder]

<P>More fuel to the fire:</P> <P>My guild completed Halls of Seeing today, and there were quite a few of those "Shadow Man guard dog" creatures (that roam the labyrinth in the Obelisk) inside Halls of Seeing. Each time you encountered one, it was triggered with a message saying "a 'so-and-so' appears from nowhere and attacks your party," or something to that extent. This leads me to believe that this most likely isn't just a misuse of models. So, yet another link between Shadowed Men (Obelisk) and the Awakened (Kingdom of Sky). These guys are starting to become the next orcs... they have their noses in all sorts of business.</P> <P>But, still... why?</P>

[SageGaspar]

<div><blockquote><hr>IrishWonder wrote:<div></div> <p>More fuel to the fire:</p> <p>My guild completed Halls of Seeing today, and there were quite a few of those "Shadow Man guard dog" creatures (that roam the labyrinth in the Obelisk) inside Halls of Seeing. Each time you encountered one, it was triggered with a message saying "a 'so-and-so' appears from nowhere and attacks your party," or something to that extent. This leads me to believe that this most likely isn't just a misuse of models. So, yet another link between Shadowed Men (Obelisk) and the Awakened (Kingdom of Sky). These guys are starting to become the next orcs... they have their noses in all sorts of business.</p> <p>But, still... why?</p><hr></blockquote>Hehe, the orcs have their hands in this too. Reading through the Mark of Awakened book in Halls of Fate, it confirms that Tarinax got his soul stolen by our friends in the Obelisk, and an orc in Feerrott is looking to get this soul for his own ends. How it all comes together? I have absolutely no idea.</div>