The Cult of Shades or the Shades of Dol Amroth or Shades of the Hill were a group of fanatical assassins formed by Gontharan of Dol Amroth.
Although Gontharan's mind had been affected by an ancient sauronic artifact he had discovered, neither the "Cult" nor Gontharan were a religious group, nor did they openly worship the Dark Lord in ritual. The Shades were political dissidents, disenchanted with the society and culture in which they lived and filled with hatred for the Lords they had served, the Princely house of Dol Amroth.
Their ideology was confused and was fueled by real defects and shortcomings in Gondorian society, but it was not consciously evil. Even Gontharan himself was unaware that his disenchantment and rebellious thoughts had been focused by a power far beyond his understanding. The Dark Lord was not aware of the group or of the mayhem the ancient token caused; had he known, he would have laughed and been very satisfied with the Shades' deeds and would likely have tried to use them for his own machinations, connecting the group to his true loyal spies and agents, which were rare in Gondor.
Other members:
Balthórod Iorâl Shadowsword Lothuial of Dol Amroth
See:
- Dark Tree
- New Shadow
- Edain en Dûrardh
- Withered Tree
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