Denizens
of the Plane of Probability
Compiled by Lorethew Arkelli Feirgetha, Honorary Member of
Heritage House
Prologue:
I sit here in my Crossing home comfortable, well-fed and
gazing at a warm fire that fights back the chill of winter.
So many others, peasant and royalty alike, are probably
doing the same right at this moment. There is a comfort in
feeling safe. Security is one of the base psychological
needs that every race has, whether they be covered in
scales or fur or a journeyman's cloak. At first glance, it
doesn't seem unwise to desire this, to strive for it, and
to at least partially achieve it.
The danger comes in assuming that this sensation of safety
is always real.
Chapter One: The Plane of Probability.
From the day we set foot in a guildhall and take those
first trepidations steps toward a lifelong career, we are
trained to tap the Plane of Probability through trance and
self-hypnosis. As we grow, we learn to make sense of the
swirling seas of chance, and to comprehend the flood of
information. Further, we are able to garner even more
knowledge by divining, and, some say, meditation on this
wealth of possibilities.
In olden days, it was believed this other plane was the
same as the Void. Modern planar theory debunks this
belief, and we now believe the Plane of Probability to be a
place filled with shadows turned solid -- a place where
shadow takes the role that the elements do in the Plane of
Abiding.
Touching this world of shadows for divination is not with
hazard; even such small contact with the Plane of
Probability can result in the most unpleasant experience of
being "visited" by the bat-winged skull vision. Some claim
that this is the consciousness of the Sorceress Tezirah
Eilsina, eternally seeking egress from her exile. While
this may or may not be true, I believe that this universal
vision is the psychic manifestation of anything, sentient
or otherwise, attempting to enter the Plane of Abiding from
the shadow world. Unfortunately, there is little chance to
test this hypothesis.
Not all contact with the Plane of Probability is overtly
obvious, as it often plays a significant role in our lunar
magic. A case in point is the Moongate spell. The formula
for the spell, and the incantations to invoke it, clearly
reference points and computations taking place within the
Plane of Probability. It doesn't take a Moon Mage to know
that the three moons are cyclic, rising and setting on
their own paths. Without the calculation to correctly link
the Moongate spell through one of the moons, the spell
would forever fail, or worse, open rifts into the shadow
world. This last threat is a deadly possibility with the
spell even with these computations should the casting mage
make an error.
When such failures do occur, several things can and have
occurred. One such effect is the vaporizing "black flame,"
which I surmise is in reality shadow of the purest form.
Another risk is the appearance of the creatures known as
"Voidspawn," their name given during the days when scholars
believed the Plane of Probability and the Void were one.
Ironically, the methods that cause such a monstrosity
to
appear are similar to the spells Shadowling and Shadow
Servant, albeit those other methods are more controlled and
directed. Some mages suspect that it is the conjuring
magic which determines what form the shadow lifeforms take
-- a Shadowling entity could easily have been a Voidspawn
if the spell formula was perverted. From this grows the
"Summoned or Created" argument which to this day remains in
debate.
Chapter Two: The Exile of Tezirah and Appearance of Shadow
Beasts.
Few would argue that some of the most talented shadow mages
are those in the Progeny of Tezirah. Theirs is a history
of interest, as some of the greatest successes in shadow
magic come from their ranks -- as well as some of its most
massive failures.
We are all familiar with the events that transpired around
the legendary exile of Tezirah to the Plane of Probability.
For details on that, I would like to recommend the reader
to another of my works, "A Study of the Progeny of Tezirah."
Several things are of note regarding this notorious
incident. Foremost is the confirmation in recent times
that this portal was indeed an opening to the Plane of
Probability. The first recorded incident of the 'bat-
winged skull' which plagues Moon Mages to this day occurred
after the breech had opened. I believe that this 'bat-
winged skull' is a semi-physical manifestation of something
-- be that sentient or otherwise -- partially or fully
entering the Plane of Abiding from the Plane of
Probability. The events with Grandmaster Taramaine Ennis-
Braun on Taisgath lend some support to this theory.
It was during the battle between the Imperial Inquisitors
and Tezirah that we have the first documented reports of
sentient beings from the Plane of Probability.
Unfortunately, few details remain intact. We have
confirmed that the scattered writings from this time refer
to at least four, perhaps five, different species of shadow
spawn. Of these, we have only identified the gaunt shadow
masters, the umbramagi, the shadefield eviscerators, and
the voidspawn.
The Moon Mage Guild suppressed this information for years,
only recently declassifying it enough to allow scholars and
students to study. At the time this incident was recorded,
the eviscerators were the ones which were given the
greatest amount of notation, perhaps due to their sheer
numbers. One scribe who survived had described these as
"hundreds of towering shadowy things, clearly two Togs
high, with heads like skeletal cattle and numerous claws
like a mantess [sic]." There are some further statements
by the scribe that these were "clearly elite troops, but
under [the] whims and directions of the shadow masters,
obeying like puppies following their master." It is
surmised from the reading of these accounts that the
eviscerators communicate with an uncharacteristic 'cooing,'
clacking of their bone blades, and sudden blood-curdling
screams. Like all such creatures from the Plane of
Probability, the eviscerators fade into nothingness once
killed. This in itself is interesting for it implies that
their forms on the Plane of Abiding are only held together
by their life forces, whatever those may be.
However, there is much debate on this being the first
actual account of violent shadow creatures visiting the
Plane of Probability. A century before Tezirah's exile --
or execution, as the case may be -- Emperor Chezarek was
killed by something purported to be a "demon of unknown
origin." Descriptions of this beast are eerily similar to
how we modern sages describe shadow denizens. Though there
are parallels to a typical shadow master in the skeletal
features, there are also some remarkable differences. This
beast was thought to have, as one observer wrote, "the
extensive head of a slug with a row of eyes only on the
left side" and was "nimble beyond reason, moving with a
wonderful grace that made [all of us] shift uneasily just
to maintain our footing." If additional accounts are to
be assumed unexaggerated, this foul thing was also far more
dangerous than a standard shadow master. In this case, we
have what may be an entirely new species, thankfully rare
and unknown in our times.
Chapter Three: Classifications
If there were a hierarchy that we could assign to the known
shadow lifeforms, we find that the more complex individuals
are inevitably the most violent. Whether this is a trend
of evolution on the Plane of Probability or simply what
small fractions we have been exposed to is unknown. It is
clear to see that Shadowlings and Shadow Servants are the
most benign and harmless of sorts, while Devourers have
some questionable potential. In fact, it is this tendency
of Devourers to meld which may eventually lend us further
insight into how shadow creatures behave on their own
plane. This function may in fact be a means of evolving
into a more complex form.
Voidspawn do not show this tendency to meld, and this is
easily confirmed since they are among the most common of
the violent shadow things to study. On the other hand,
Voidspawn will shatter into Tenebraelings, which begs
questioning if a Voidspawn is an evolved collection of
Tenebraelings. The answer is not clear, as, despite their
rage, Voidspawn seem only slightly more intelligent than
Shadowlings.
In the years past, during a time when the infamous Mirror
Wraith Prophecy was concluding, the Moon Mage Guild was
unfortunately witness to first hand interaction with the
Shadow Masters. The first appearance was the result of a
highly dangerous group prediction in the Middens near the
Crossing Guildhall, when a single Shadow Master managed to
form. This foul thing killed scholar, student, warrior,
and bystander indiscriminately, and it wasn't until the
timely arrival of a Paladin-led force did the Shadow Master
finally fall. Though many lost their lives in this
grievous event, it did present a rare opportunity to study
the nature of the shadow creatures -- an opportunity that
would later turn out to be not so uncommon after all.
Shadow Masters are clearly the leaders, summoning other
such beings (or creating them; it would be reasonable to
assume that whatever method they use is similar to our own
for Shadowlings and the like). In this regard, they act as
generals, directing the other lesser creatures toward
targets. Additionally, the Shadow Masters also show a
gestalt nature, splitting into smaller but no less lethal
forms when struck.
The Shadow Masters themselves are also capable of
communication, having been shown to speak on occasion.
Usually nothing more than threats of further violence, it
is likely this is done solely to cause morale to fail. In
other instances, especially during incidents where the
Shadow Masters managed to hold their ground from all foes
however temporarily, these beings have been known to carve
sigils upon available surfaces with their claws. The
purpose of these sigils may be magical; some scholars feel
that if left alone long enough, these carvings would
eventually open a larger rift back to the Plane of
Probability and allow reinforcements. Others believe it is
nothing more than harmless graffiti in the Shadow Master
tongue, likely further insults or declarations of
ownership.
Only one other shadow being has shown the capacity for true
conversation: the Umbramagus. These two-headed beings are
dreadful in many other ways, bearing a resemblance to
particular ancient icons of the G'nar Pethians and other
groups. Though it is the equivalent of blasphemy to say,
some even feel that the legendary Kir Dir'na'torna was
possessed - or at least influenced -- by such an Umbramagus
during his vision quest.
One of the most horrible aspects of the Umbramagi are their
obvious ability to predict the future. This is not really
surprising given their origins; some might say it is more
surprising that other shadow beings do not possess this
ability. As of this writing, all such observations of this
phenomenon were used solely to help turn the tides of
battle in favor of the shadow creatures. The eradication
of an Umbramagus from a force of shadow denizens should be
of paramount importance in any combat scenario, which is,
of course, completely at odds with studying the beings
further.
Rumors have been spoken in quiet tones and out-of-the-way
corridors of the scholarly halls of Throne City lately.
Unsubstantiated reports that discussions with Umbramagi
were had by our Guild on some occasions, and that the
Shadow Masters and their ilk are justified in their wanton
attacks. This war, as it is called, was begun by the
banishment of Tezirah and construed as an attack on their
plane. Since we have no way of knowing what Tezirah did
upon her arrival to the Plane of Probability, it is
entirely possible that such an incursion would technically
be the fault of our peoples.
What the future holds for the coming relations between the
Plane of Abiding and the Plane of Probability is obscured
to scryers. Into this dark time, we all move forward
blindly.