The Shadow Court

The Shadow Court are a group of twenty-five corrupt elves in the Blades of Light and Shadow series. They make their first appearance in a flashback in Blades of Light and Shadow, Chapter 1.

History
Two thousand years prior to the events of the series, twelve powerful mages gathered in the capital city of Valen to push the boundaries of magic. Originally called "the Society for Unorthodox Magic", some believed their intentions were dark from the start while others believed they started with good intentions but were corrupted by what they found. Their pursuit resulted in them tapping into another dimension, a world of pain and darkness, called the Realm of Shadow. They made contact with the Dreadlord who promised them immortality and unimaginable power in return for their servitude.

The circle of twelve elves expanded to a band of twenty-five rogue elves. When King Xaius learned what they had done, the Great War ensued which left hundreds of thousands dead. During a battle, King Xaius and his battlemage and lover, Ellara, fought against the forces of the Shadow Realm. They believed that victory was within their grasp until the revelation that the elves had summoned the Dreadlord, who ended up killing them and destroying the Great Elven empire. According to Scholar Vash, the twenty-five elves were eventually defeated at a great cost and were banished to the Realm of Shadows, where they became known as the Shadow Court.

During the Great War, four Onyx Shards were left behind by the Court. The Shards contain dark magic, are incredibly dangerous, and can bring members of the Shadow Court back to the mortal realm. They can also be used as conduits to corrupt mortals into becoming loyal servants to the Shadow Court or imprison them in the Realm of Shadows if the Shards are touched by bare hands.

Present
In Chapter 2, when Mal Volari opens the glowing metallic puzzle box containing one of the Onyx Shards, Duke Erthax materializes in the Temple of Ellara. Duke Erthax summons two Shadow Hounds to attack your party. He is temporarily stopped when Mal throws his dagger at the archway, triggering a trap which causes the former to be buried in rubble.

Members

 * The Dreadlord (Leader)
 * Duke Erthax
 * Duchess Xenia
 * Baron Vostrasz
 * Twenty-two unnamed elves
 * Shadow Gargoyles
 * Shadow Hounds

Trivia

 * The Dreadlord is shown on the cover of Blades of Light and Shadow.
 * Their crimes include treason, conspiracy, and mass murder.
 * The third Lore Tablet reveals that they were originally called the Society of Unorthodox Magic. It also gives information on the Court's history, members, and powers.
 * The Dreadlord is the monarch of the Shadow Realm, a dimension entirely separate from Morella.