Shaodowsmiths (Pinnacle)
The Shadowsmiths (Embracers of Entropy)
On the surface, the Shadowsmiths appear to be a group of beings who derive power from the technology they employ, referred to as technomancy, this strange form of artifice marries magic and technology allowing the Shadowsmiths to access unusual powers and abilities or create implausible effects which defy what are widely believed to be the immutable laws of nature itself. To the outside observer their bizarre nonsensical goals apparently revolve around taping into the unknown energy that powers these devices which invariably involves even stranger machines operating in an equally improbable manner. Their methods often place them at odds with the surrounding populace as it at first results in minor anomalous and destructive phenomena which grows progressively larger in scope until it results in the utter destruction of the environment they are in. The truth of the matter lies in the goals of its supreme leader, the Hierophant of Shadows, who ultimately seeks the destruction of creation and by doing so converts this destructive energy for its own uses and doles it out among its followers.
It is unknown how the Shadowsmiths recruit their followers and casual observation (mostly through the lexicon they employ) suggests that they are from an altogether different place. Oddly, higher ranking members of the Shadowsmiths do not employ the typical words and expression used by the lower caste which further complicates the issue of the cabal’s origin and the origin of the members themselves. The matter is further complicated by the garb worn by the Shadowsmiths. Their uniforms cover the entirety of their bodies concealing their true form. In general, the uniform is the same for most of the cabal, with the exception being the very highest ranks of office. All Shadowsmith members wear some sort of mask which appears to be the primary source of their power. These devices constructed from unknown alloys and filled with the arcane circuitry favored by the Shadowsmith allow them to tap into their power supply, provide communication, life-support in hostile environments and a host of other functions that are as yet undisclosed and like the uniforms, the masks differ with station.
There are four castes within the Shadowsmiths and two are further broken down into three sects, they are (in ascending order of power for three); the hounds (with three sects referred to as circles and named Circle of the 1st, Circle of the 2nd, Circle of the 3rd , ect – although in practice its is usually shortened to “of the first and so on), the shrikes (with a similar system of sects), the true believers (unusual beings who seemingly derive their power without the aid of technomancy), and the ruling class which is composed of the Dark Archimandates, the Numinous Dark Mother, and the Hierophant of Shadow. It is unknown if there are other castes or beings who support or consort with the Shadowsmiths as none have been encountered.
The cabal primarily operates from secret bases typically below ground (often referred to as warrens) and occasionally elsewhere when no such suitable location is available for their purposes. Locations inhabited by the cabal all share one disconcerting trait apparently as a consequence of the machinery they operate. All cabal bases seem to exist at the juxtaposition of planar boundaries which creates the eerie condition that there is activity just outside the peripheral senses (movement outside the corner of the eye, whispers when it is silent, shadows growing deeper when the light neither changes intensity or location). Another disconcerting feature of Shadowsmith bases are their complete reliance on the machinery contained within the warren to support and maintain it (to which the Shadowsmiths are unusually sensitive and any damage to the machines prompts immediate response). If enough machinery is damaged the warren will literally dissolve and disappear as the space in which it occupied is rapidly reclaimed by the reality they inhabited. All Shadowsmith technology shares this characteristic, including the cabal members themselves. When sufficiently injured a cabal member faces dissolution and in short order fades from existence leaving no trace (which frustrates investigation into the cabal and its technology). It is conjectured that this is either some sort of protective measure or owing to their philosophy are absorbed by the Hierophant of Shadow in its role as the living(?) embodiment of entropy.
