Bel Shalor, called the Shadow in the Flame, is an Overlord of corruption and shadows.[1]
History[]
Bel Shalor is one of the Overlords who ruled over all of Eberron during the Age of Demons. Bel Shalor was bound by the dragons and couatl after they jointly discovered the Draconic Prophecy, and the couatl sacrificed themselves to form the Silver Flame.[1]
In ages past, Bel Shalor was imprisoned in the Silver Flame, an abstract object that is the direct opposite of all he is. Where the Flame represents loyalty, goodness, and order, Bel Shalor embodies treachery, evil, and chaos. His strength appears proportionate to (or at least dependent upon) the amount of strife and treason in the world.[1]
Bel Shalor later achieved a partial release from its bonds within the Silver Flame and claimed dominion over the nation of Thrane for a time, before being bound by Tira Miron, a paladin of Dol Arrah, in an event that established the modern Church of the Silver Flame in 299 YK.[1] But this may have been a trick to exert new influence over the world from within its new prison.[1]
Some believe Bel Shalor was an inspiration for the Shadow, the Sovereign of Magic and Mayhem of the Dark Six, and that the entity taught the dragon Ourelonastrix the arts of magic.[1]
Personality[]
Bel Shalor is a mighty fiend of shadow who enjoys corrupting pure intentions for his dark ends.[1]
- Keith Baker's commentary.
He personifies paranoia and the fear mortals have of other mortals, teaching his followers that other mortals are inherently cruel and greedy, with the best option being to strike first.[2]
Description[]
As with all Overlords, Bel Shalor has no true form, and can assume any shape and size of his choosing.[1]
Abilities[]
Bel Shalor's power extends far beyond being able to physically thrash any being foolish enough to challenge him. If released, his malign influence would extend across Khorvaire in a matter of weeks. While under that influence, people pale and become sickly, even as they fight each other rather than stand united against him. However, true heroes are powerful enough to be immune to this effect; Bel Shalor either dispatches minions to defeat them, or, if their threat is great enough, deals with them personally. He has vast powers, including the ability to raise the dead as wraiths bound to his service and manipulating shadows.[1]
Additionally, the shadows of all beings appear sharper, even in dim light. According to legend, these shadows betray their owners, whispering their secret plans to the Shadow in the Flame.[1]
Though bound again by the Silver Flame following Tira Miron's sacrifice, Bel Shalor is more aware of his surroundings than the other Overlords.[1] He corrupts those among the Church of the Silver Flame and delights in tricking the righteous into performing evil acts.[1]
Servants[]
Bel Shalor has many servants, and corrupts the Church of the Silver Flame wherever possible from within.[1]
Bel Shalor's prakhutu is a rakshasa known as Durastoran the Wyrmbreaker.[1] Durastoran, said to be the greatest servant of the Lords of Dust, is an ancient being of great power and knowledge, who ultimately seeks Bel Shalor's release. While he waits, he plays deadly games with the draconic organization known as the Chamber.[1][3]
Bel Shalor influences the corruptible among the Purified of the Silver Flame and corrupts the Church of the Silver Flame from within his prison in Flamekeep. He promises power, and his followers, called the Tarnished, believe he will deliver. Though largely forgotten in the modern age, Melysse Miron, a petrified prisoner of Dreadhold's Stone Ward for the last 500 years, was counted as the strongest among these corrupted members of the Purified.[4][5] Another is Lord Vladimir Kronen, who commanded the Thranish force that invaded the Brelish town of Valin and massacred the inhabitants in a dark ritual in service to the Shadow in the Flame. Lord Kronen now haunts the area of Valin Field in the form of a powerful ghoul.[6] The cult called the Whispering Flame among the Tarnished worships the Shadow in the Flame.[1][5] The cults are destroyed by the knights of Thrane, but new cults always spring up within the church just as quickly.[1][5]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
Keith Baker has suggested on his website that Bel Shalor encompasses corruption.[7] He also suggested that while parallels between the Shadow and Bel Shalor exist, and the Shadow in the Flame may have inspired certain myths, they would be considered distinct entities.[8]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker (2020). Exploring Eberron. (Dungeon Masters Guild), pp. 68–69.
- ↑ Keith Baker (November 2005). “Eternal Evil: The Lords of Dust”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #337 (Paizo Publishing), p. 56–70.
- ↑ Keith Baker and Jason Bulmahn (June 2006). “Dreadhold: Eberron's Inescapable Island Prison”. Dragon #344 (Paizo Publishing), pp. 69–82.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, & C.A. Suleiman (2006). Faiths of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 69–70. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ Keith Baker (01/20/2018). Dragonmarks 5/10/16 : Planes, Druids, and Fiends. Archived from the original on 10/11/2017. Retrieved on 2/10/2019.
- ↑ Keith Baker (01/03/2017). Eberron Flashback: The Lords of Dust. Archived from the original on 08/11/2017. Retrieved on 2/10/2019.
Connections[]
| Known Overlords |
|---|
| Bel Shalor · Eldrantulku · Horned Prince · Katashka · Levistus · Masvirik · Rak Tulkhesh · Sakinnirot Sul Khatesh · Tiamat · Tul Oreshka · Yad-Raghesh |