Its members would say that The Shoal is a welcoming oasis within the parched expanse of Tarisia, led by a benevolent prophet calling himself The Depthseer, and inviting only those with the strongest connection to the Miraj into the safety and wisdom of its secret meeting halls.
Its detractors would call it a fanatical cult with an enigmatic and radical leader who proselytizes dangerous doctrines of collective consciousness and the dissolution of self.
The Shoal’s followers adhere to the belief in a universal shared resonance that binds all living things. They call this shared connection The Shoal and it’s their namesake. With an ideology that promises harmony and and end to suffering through the submission of individual desire and submersion into the unity of the greater tide.
They believe that the corrupting sorcery of the Thrones is only a symptom of a diseased collective will to permit such blasphemy to occur, and that through a concerted, universal effort to rebuke and eradicate the magic tradition, can Tarisia be returned to the paradise of legend.
The Depthseer operates with a charismatic, yet insidious, charm that draws followers into the depths of The Shoal. Some whisper of the power to hear thoughts carried upon the wind itself, or glimpse fragments of memory lingering in the world. Others claim the figure is no mortal at all, but an avatar for something ancient lurking beneath the surface of the world. The Depthseer’s true identity remains unknown, fueling both awe among followers and suspicion among outsiders.
Despite the guise of serenity, The Shoal is the subject of persistent and troubling rumors. Whispers of subtle indoctrination, shared hallucinations, vanishing dissenters, and strange rituals designed to erode individuality circle the organization. The Shoal’s allure lies in its promise of a greater interconnectedness, yet beneath the surface, a darker undercurrent of control and manipulation runs deep, and even challenges the delicate power structures of the Thrones.
Those who dare to unravel the secrets of The Shoal find themselves ensnared in a labyrinth of deception, where the boundary between reality and illusion blurs, and the true nature of the cult’s leader remains an elusive mystery waiting to be unveiled.