Shahira

Archmage Mikel approached the Temple of Serebjer with the High Cleric Erik, Chief Mukashe, and Elder Conner. He could see where the corruption of the temple began, the grass brown and the ground cracked. The four Masters stood at the edge of the line of death and looked toward the temple. The air shimmered with the force of the corruption, but they could see movement around the temple. They had been watching for a week, not daring to get any closer since their guide had been lost inside, but hadn't seen any of the sorcerers that had made the temple until today.

"Erik, can you see who is there?" Mikel looked to the High Cleric, who nodded and sat cross-legged on the ground, humming to reach the state of seiness required for starwalking. They waited for several long moments until Erik opened his eyes again.

"It does not look good, Archmage. It's the sorcerers of the Fallen, but something is wrong with them. They have become twisted and bent. I could feel the evil even while starwalking. I did not dare go into the temple proper."

The four Masters gestured for the eight representatives of their class to come forward. The masters separated, one at each cardinal point around the temple, with the others spread between them. As they called forth their powers to contain the spreading corruption, Mikel could feel it fighting back, pulsing against him. The moving figures inside the corruption turned to look at the sorcerers.

Their eyes were like dying stars, their bodies twisted until they barely looked human, and their robes fluttered, but there was no breeze.

-Highmage Mikel

As the Highmage watched, another figure stepped out from the sanctuary of the temple. The figure looked at him and gave him a wide smile full of pointed teeth. Mikel recognized him as Magister Dakarai, the Master of Serebjer. The Magister raised his hands and pushed them out from him. The other sorcerers within the circle of corruption flew, literally, toward the ones outside.

The four Masters shouted the last of the spell to contain the corruption, but it was too late. A druid fell as a spirit pounced, the mage next to him blasted the creature away and out of the corruption. The creature roared and burst into ash outside of the blackened ground. Mikel called out to the others to get the creatures out of the corruption and push the containment spell inwards. Slowly, so slowly, they walked forward, but the closer they got to the temple, the harder the spirits pushed back, though several were destroyed as they were forced out of the containment spell.

We should have realized, should have seen it coming. Erik had been tainted when his spirit entered the corruption's center. We should have seen it.

-Elder Conner

They had barely made it to 100 feet of the temple when Erik crumpled to the ground across from Mikel, the sudden loss of power pushing them back a few feet, leaving him inside the corruption. The cleric next to him, Elora, rushed to his side, trying to pull him out, but it was too late. The Magister walked up to them and enveloped Elora in his dark magic, lifting her from the ground. He held her in place, speaking words too softly for Mikel to hear. Dakarai released her, lifting Erik as she fell to the ground. Once he had dropped Erik back onto the ground, he walked away.

It was horrible. They disappeared in a flash of black light, but when the light faded, they were different. They looked just like the others, glowing eyes and all. They looked at us and grinned. Sent a shiver through me, for sure.

-Cleric Esaia

The creatures that were once Cleric Elora and High Cleric Erik glided over to Mikel. He looked across at the remaining cleric, Esaia, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to hold the spell. He looked to Conner and Mukashe as they struggled in their places and knew it was time. They could go no further.

By the Light of Elyon
the Fire of Laich'an
the Wisdom of Agni'an
the Blessing of Lyes'an
and the waters of Adroni'an
We bind you here,
spirits of darkness.
We bind you here,
to do no harm.
We bind you to this place,
for now and forever.
By the Light of Elyon,
you are bound!

-binding spell

A dome of light covered the temple and it's grounds. Magister Dakarai screamed, the sound piercing Mikel's soul, but the spell held, even as the creatures that were once Erik and Elora beat and scratched at the boundary. The remaining sorcerers fell to their knees, weakened by the force of the containment spell. Mikel looked up at Erik, eyes glowing. "I'm so sorry, my friend."

Basic Information

Biological Traits

The spirits look like twisted versions of the humans they posessed, so they vary in height and weight.

Ecology and Habitats

They are contained within the grounds of The Ruins of Serebjer.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They are led by the Magister of Darkness, Dakarai.

Facial characteristics

Glowing eyes, pointed teeth and gnarled claw-like hands.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They are contained in a temple in the country of Meleki.

Average Intelligence

After they have been possessed, their intelligence drops as they become nearly mindless evil.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They are capable of sucking out the souls of innocent wanderers, filling them with darkness, creating more Shahira.

Civilization and Culture

History

They were created when the corruption of the magic used to create the temple spread to its inhabitants, twisting them into spirits who desire only to kill.

Origin/Ancestry

Melekite

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

They have a faint purplish tint to their skin and hair, their eyes have a faded blue glow and their extremities darken to black in their hands and feet.