Factions of Shemal-Lilitu

The jeweled gate caved in under the abuse of the trespassers, who swaggered in over the broken corpses of giant, two-headed Warforms and nameless guards. The intruders fanned out and strode down the extended corridor leading to the steps of the dais of the throne of Ashur-El Artashumara. They were mindful of booby-traps, having lost fellow conspirators throughout their coup d'état to a number of diabolical mechanisms. Every few steps screaming supplicants in robes would rush from darkened alcoves and colonnades, and silent guardsmen in baroque armor. None proved a match for the rebels and soon their leader stood at the base of the dais, looking up at his one time master and his cringing interpreter. The Gossamer Liege was aptly titled: pale and still as a porcelain doll, eyes closed, his person and his throne wrapped in silken webs and crawling with alien arachnids. "Your day has come oh Prince. Your captains have aligned their futures with mine, we cast off the shackles of your dreams and will take the Twisted Tree for our own! Behold, I have seen her darkest roots and most distant branches and the weapons of an age were bequeathed to me. Face me and fall upon my claws!"

The rebel gestured, pointing at History's Final Hero with a long claw of matte, dark grey metal, glowing with an unlikely black radiance. The shaking interpreter looked to his motionless God for a moment and then down to the assembled traitors. "Our King, our All-God congratulates you and acknowledges your valor. He will confer upon you great honors and the full measure of His forgiveness if you were all to slit open your throats without delay."

The rebels looked unsteady for a moment, and then their captain slashed the air before him with such divisiveness and incredulity as he could muster. "He is no god of ours, and soon none will bow to him ever again." The interpreter looked pleadingly at the rebel, but it was too late. Ashur-El opened his eyes, which immediately began to run red with tears of bright red blood, staining the webs as they ran first down and then up, dripping towards the ceiling. With a crack of breaking stone, His lips parted and his shallow exhalation billowed white in the chilled air. The rebels found themselves unable to look away, unable to step away and one by one they fell prone. Their faces frozen in the terror of waking nightmare, their screams stuck in their throats. Only their leader remained, the leader of the Arbor Gate, who had rallied the other factions to his plot and destroyed those who had remained loyal. He too was unable to move, but he yet stood tall, watching as the interpreter descended the steps and stood among the throne of rebels. "Sweet Master, for whom each moment I am able to serve is as generous and delightful as ever I could hope for. With these acts, Iteration X is complete. This is the third time Coreish of Arbor Gate has organized such a revolt, as you surely recall. At your pleasure, I shall have the Cabalists restore them to a prior state to resume their responsibilities. Yes Lord, I understand and shall commence with your instructions at once. Coreish, our Magnificent and Unconquered Master tires of you and bids you dispose of yourself before we begin Iteration XI."

Coreish the rebel's mind worked furiously, this was his third attempt to overthrow Ashur-El? Surely he should recall such momentous acts. He pondered and pondered, but he tore himself apart with his newly acquired claws before answers came.

Ave Obscura
"A secret revealed possesses neither power or value."

- factional adage

Shemal-Lilitu's power is tied directly to its mystery: this is the core belief of this faction. They use assassination, blackmail, sabotage, and theft as their primary weapons in order to remove lore and mythology regarding the mighty edifice from circulation. They're regarded as a lesser faction for their lack of an agenda beyond ensuring ignorance of Shemal-Lilitu reigns, they've always proven vulnerable to being used by their own leadership for whatever vanity projects they desire.

Nitimur in Astrum
"As the flower bends to the light, the tree twists towards its native star."

- factional adage

Shemal-Lilitu was surely not created in transit. Its creators had a home, and that home surely orbited some lonely star. What wonders might be hidden there? What power might be harnessed? This is what this faction seeks out, exploring and seeking out charts of ancient and dead stars.