Territory

Berphaunt

Appearance

In her true form, Shiloth is a shadowy, serpentine Wyvern with large, thin wings and blazing blue eyes. The shade that is her body emanates tendril-like shadows and long talons protrude from the tips of her wings, glistening with alchemy capable of dominating her victims with a single slash. Though slight, her tail stands upright, coiled to strike, and carries a thin, piercing spike laced with chemical death. While she is visually striking, her size is relatively unassuming in comparison to the other Dragons of Arthos. From tooth to tail, Shiloth measures fifteen meters in length with a height of eight meters and a wingspan of ten meters. When Shiloth maneuvers among the mortals of Arthos she always takes the appearance of a slender human woman of defined maturity and grace (possibly due to humans being the most numerous of the races, and thus a greater base to manipulate). No matter her manifested form, her eyes always remain piercing blue and calculating. Attractive and cold, Shiloth’s appearance and movements are lithe and direct, while her attire reflects that of her chosen form. Even in her simplest of dressings, she always appears clean and elegant with her hair tied neatly with a tasteful alchemical pin.

Passions

Shiloth’s domain is the shadows, and as such, she uses manipulation to further her power and influence. To achieve this, Shiloth hordes damning items, to use as evidence, solidifying her power base and assisting her in moving the pieces on her chessboard of nations (many times unbeknownst to the pieces themselves). The items in Shiloth’s horde are never stolen and must be taken or manipulated away from people of influence. They are always physical in nature and must have relevance and importance to the person they are obtained from. Items belonging to people of note are most frequently offered to Shiloth to manipulate, blackmail, bribe, extort, incriminate, threaten, or expose. In most cases, this equates to a tangible item of power that they hold dear, but sometimes physical proof of a misdeed or transgression will suffice.

For example, a holy relic of Kael, that was once held by a powerful Paladin, was given to a secret Shiloth follower after she seduced him. This item, once placed in Shiloth’s horde, could be used to falsely incriminate the Paladin at the scene of a crime, or blackmail him into doing a nefarious deed, lest the church find out he gave the relic away. Not all items need to be powerful items of magic, but all must hold some degree of proof of a misdeed that the Kingmaker can use against them. The private journal of the local magistrate, documenting his thefts from the city coffers, would suffice so long as the evidence is damning enough to force him to her will.

Items of value to Shiloth’s horde are gathered by Aspiring Dragon Knights. Any item which can be used to manipulate, blackmail, bribe, extort, incriminate, threaten, or expose is of interest to these shadowy figures. The vows they make specify the item to be acquired and its use to Shiloth. It is, however, not enough to simply acquire these items; manipulation evokes the essence of Shiloth, and it is through such actions that these vows must be fulfilled. If an Aspiring Dragon Knight wishes to attain The Holy Chalice of Kael from a Paladin of same, they must carefully manipulate the warrior into relinquishing the Chalice of their own free will. Of course, any failed vow requires another to be made.

Temperament

Shiloth’s most distinguishing characteristic is her calm, calculating air of confidence. She never allows herself to show surprise, anger, fear, or any other strong emotion. Arrogant to a fault, she takes great pride in her skills and appearance and always acts in the most distinguished fashion. She views all of Arthos as a giant chessboard, and the mortal races as her pawns. She is a cunning mastermind and never allows anything to disrupt the aura of control she wields. Her grand plots and machinations always go according to plan, and if they don’t, she weaves her failure into a greater scheme and leaves none the wiser.

Shiloth abhors the idea of direct involvement. She uses deception, subterfuge, and manipulation to further her position in the great game. She is the game master of this world and would never allow herself to fall to the level of the pieces she plays with. She works from the shadows, as do her followers, manipulating those in power rather than overthrowing them. She is the Kingmaker, never the King. Shiloth utilizes strategy – not might – to win the game she plays and will outmaneuver her opponents to avoid all forms of direct combat. Some dare to call her cowardly, but she would claim to be above the savagery of combat.

Affinities

Shiloth is the master of deception, manipulation, and strategy. Excluding divine, she is skilled in all schools of magic, though she is master of none. She, like all Dragons, exudes an aura of fear with her very presence. At full strength it is approximately fifty meters in radius, however, she tends to keep this aura tight and under control so as to not frighten off those she plans to manipulate. She also draws upon her unique mastery of chemistry and alchemical compounds. Some legends even state that it was Shiloth who originally brought this knowledge to the mortal races of Maud’madir. She encourages the liberal use of alchemy among her followers, especially those alchemical compounds that alter one’s free will. While she is one of the weakest Dragons in terms of physical prowess, she is one of the most formidable Firstborn on Arthos due to her vast network of pawns and her skill at using them.

Breath Weapons

Though rarely witnessed, Shiloth is able to manifest a breath weapon capable of escaping the direst of situations. There are a number of recorded histories that tell of the few times she has had to call upon this power.

As she draws in air, the shadows creeping over her skin are pulled forward and brought into her lungs. There, they mix with unique compounds in her body chemistry, and when expelled, the product is a thick fog which slowly crawls along the ground. This fog is able to cover a vast amount of space, but dissipates, causing diminished potency over distance. Those within the shadow of Shiloth’s breath find they are unable to see through the cloying shadows seeping into their minds and rational thought abandons them to confusion and despair. By the time the shadows have dispersed, those affected do not remember how, or even why they have found themselves in such a position.

Excerpt from the Annals of Telmyn Rayan the Chronicler:

The Horde of Greenskins assembled at the foot of the mountain, the morning sun glinting off their fierce weapons and brutal banners. I was not near them, but I heard their war cry across the plains. They had cornered their ancient enemy within and they shout of the bloodshed to come and the glory that will be theirs when they fell The Dragon of Shadows. An order was given by the Warboss and the Greenskins siege weapons began to hurl massive stones.

One volley after another crashed into the mountain. A cascade of rocks began to fall. The dust had cleared, only darkness could be seen in the gaping fissure of the mountain’s face. With a unified and singular cry, the horde of Greenskins began to charge towards the breach. A pair of blue eyes emerged from the darkness, burning with malice. The Greenskins, so close to their quarry, are unaffected by the fear that grips me. I hear a sharp intake of breath and saw the dust around the area get drawn towards the blue eyes. Then, as if the darkness within the mountain took a form of its own, a fog of shadows washes over the Greenskin horde; they charge further into it, anticipating the death of their quarry.

I do not know what happened in the minutes after the fog, but as I looked upon the Greenskin horde, they were no longer charging. They seemed confused as if they no longer knew why they had gathered in the first place. The Greenskins appeared to blame their war-chiefs; they had turned on each other and the once great horde fought among itself.

As the battle reached its conclusion, it seemed there was no victory or great reward to be had. The remaining Greenskins left with a single human prisoner, likely to be ransomed off later. She was a slender and graceful woman; I saw her lips curl into a knowing smile as she turned the gaze of her radiant blue eyes upon me as if seeing me through the shadows

Style of Governance

Shiloth commands great power throughout Arthos, and unlike most other Dragons, this is not limited to her territories. While the interests of most firstborn end within the bounds of their territories, Shiloth sees all of the mortal realms as her chess board and all creatures her pieces to play with. Her favourite mortal game is chess; so much so that she has adopted the names of chess pieces for the ranks within her Temple. Her power and influence are felt from the highest order of kings to the lowliest peasant. Her method of governance and her means to gain and hold her power do not come through direct control or clout, instead, Shiloth relies on subversion and manipulation from the shadows.

Her network of spies keeps her informed of the movements and machinations of the most influential kingdoms and factions. This information, constantly being monitored, allows her to send her most loyal and trusted of servants to infiltrate and take up positions within the shadows, giving her the power and influence among the leaders and decision makers of Arthos. Her schemes and manipulations are so vast and go so deep that often times even those who would not choose to serve her of their own free will find themselves doing so without their knowledge. When whispered words and carefully planted advice are not enough to forward her goals, Shiloth uses her horde and the secrets contained within to extort and play upon the desires of the mortals she wishes to control.

Shiloth does not view all mortals as equal in value, viewing the least civilized as savages, and unworthy of her time. For example, the impact and influence that a tribe of wild elves may have means little to her in comparison to that of the greater and more influential kingdoms. Above all, she has no time or love for the greenskins, as they are far too unpredictable and chaotic for her to control.

Temple Structure

The specifics of Shiloth’s temple and organization are clouded in secrecy and hidden to most, even her own followers. She does her best to keep such information away from those who could use it against her. What is known is that she masks her servants under the guise of her favorite mortal game, chess.

To Shiloth, everyone is part of her great game – whether they know it or not. She is the one and only player in this game and she considers herself above all others. Even gods and other Dragons are not exempt from this game. Each piece is coded with a color: Black are those who know and willingly serve Shiloth with unshakable devotion. White pieces, on the other hand, are those who do not know they are being played.

Beyond that, it is believed that there are a few broad categories into which her followers are placed.

Pawns: While Shiloth views everyone on Arthos as a pawn in her game, when used in reference to her organization it is a title for those who have yet to prove themselves. They are usually initiates to the temple, though some remain a pawn for many years until their greater purpose is revealed or they are sacrificed to further her ends.

Bishops: Bishops are the masterminds that always remain in the shadows. Always planning and scheming, they are the agents who decide which strings to pull and with cards to play. They are often found in unassuming roles in society that usually have access to a wealth of information. Scribes, chroniclers, handmaidens, and even stable boys have been known to be some of the greatest commanders in Shiloth’s army.

Knights: In her great game, these pieces make the key moves and enact Shiloth’s most sinister machinations. They are trusted with the most important tasks, and failure often means death. If the Bishops decide which pieces to play, the Knights are the ones who play them. They are often found in great positions of power where it is easiest for them to move and manipulate the board.

Rooks: This is a title reserved for her most trusted associates. Rooks make up the royal guard. They are believed to operate outside of the typical structure of the temple and take their orders directly from Shiloth herself. Not much is known about these master agents and those who learn too much are quick to disappear.

Queen: Shiloth’s personal warden is given this title. The identity of her warden has remained a mystery throughout the ages, but some believe that the one chosen is always a young maiden.

King: King is the title given to Shiloth’s most important piece at the time. They are often crucial to her current plans and are protected by all of her pieces. They are quite often inspirational leaders or people of monumental influence that she ultimately engineers into real Kings.

Historical Highlights

Excerpt from Amodeus Maepethel, of the Institute of Continental History in Berphaunt

When studying the history of Shiloth and her undeniable presence here on Arthos, we must first consider the role the common Greenskin plays in her story. I, Amodeus Maepethel of the Institute of Continental History in Berphaunt have researched extensively the subject of alchemy and its introduction here on the continent of Arthos. While contemporary theories are rather unimaginative (and most fail to address a contact event entirely) the tome found in the Calligraph Athenaeum, “Women of Silver and Shadow”, contends that it was an early attempt by Shiloth to manipulate the Greenskin tribes of the Crimson Titan. This led to the proliferation of alchemy across Arthos rather unexpectedly. The tome records that, during the early era of Arthos, tribes of Greenskins migrating within what is now known as Berphaunt was uncommon – yet “Women of Silver and Shadow” contends that there was one such occasion when the Crimson Titans in many numbers moved into this territory and Shiloth, being the draconic territory holder of the lands, took offense.

Now, to understand the relevance of this, Shiloth was at first personally indifferent to the Greenskin presence as long as they left her lands. “Women of Silver and Shadow” records that the Dragon of Shadows herself descended upon them in a grand showing, proclaiming her sovereignty over the soil they stood upon, and should they challenge her ultimate rule, she would deal with them herself by dominating their minds and commanding them off the highest cliff over the sea. Displaying herself proudly to the tribe of Greenskins before her, she did not expect the bloody blow from behind and, after the shock of the impact faded, she saw before her the grotesque image of a hulking blood-soaked figure among the tribe. Pouring over her, the God Baaagh picked Shiloth up by her throat and smashed her into the ground repeatedly, each time with more crushing force than the last. A mixture of sickening clotted mottled mud would rise from each impact and spray outward across the surrounding Greenskins witnessing the unbridled brutal response to Shiloth’s miscalculation.

Once subdued, the Tome claims Baaagh dragged the Shadow Dragon before the onlooking tribe and pressed his arm down upon her, physically overpowering the smaller Dragon. To make an example out of her hubris and arrogance, the Chieftain told his goblins, the smallest of his tribe, to feed upon Shiloth’s open wounds; believing the blood of the Dragon would strengthen them. As they gorged themselves upon her blood, an alternative and completely unexpected result occurred. Before long many goblins began retching and choking as they vomited up what lay inside their stinking bellies – many falling over and died within moments. Of the few Goblins that survived the initial effects, it quickly became clear that the fluids they expelled were riddled with the essence of alchemy. The Greenskins, confused and startled by this new discovery, investigated the alchemical pools left upon the ground. Dozens of the tribe fell asleep, entered states of paralysis, dropped completely dead, screamed out with acidic burns or wandered around in a state of general forgetfulness as the secrets hidden in Shiloth’s blood released upon them, and into the world of Arthos. Baaagh, surprised by the reaction of the Greenskins, took his focus off a recovering Shiloth, and at that moment she used his distraction to maneuver out of his grasp and hurl herself into the air away from the scene, escaping the Bloodletter’s final swing. As she left the scene below her, the secret of her blood was now laid open and in the hands of the Greenskins she now so despised, and they wasted no time spreading this new-found boon upon the lands, due to both the nomadic nature of their people and the Goblins rather disgusting habit of expelling their alchemically rich mucus with vigorous frequency. While blessed in a way, the Greenskins of Arthos did find an eternal enemy in the Dragon of Shadows that day. However costly, Shiloth did learn from this early error in judgment, moving her to pursue acts and policies henceforth of misdirection and indirect manipulation from the safety of the shadows she represents.