The Shapers lists all relevant cortex entries of Histories sub section found in the Library main section of the Cortex.
Collection Details
A total of 19 cortex entries make reference to the The Shapers.
The following Cortex Entries try to explain about the Shapers.
Anzu (1)
See Cortex Entry: Anzu (1) for More Details
The word "Anzu" is a group term for any creature formed at the dawn of creation, not of the natural world. When the Shapers departed, the Anzu were left to fend for themselves. Some survived, some did not.
Though most references to Anzu live in folk tales and children's stories, our world does have a considerable number of pre-urgoth structures. The Sunken Garden submerged in the center of Shadowmark, The Vault of Monument Watch, and The Golden Monolith of the Mirelands possess similar architecture not associated with Shapers, humans, or urgoth, and perpetuate the myth of ancient beings from long ago.
Anzu (2)
See Cortex Entry: Anzu (2) for More Details
As for my students, Klata believes that the Anzu, creatures as old as time, are not gone, but merely living among us... that perhaps a titan or even humans are Anzu. This is ridiculous. When has a titan ever built anything? And if humans were Anzu, don't you think we would have some sort of knowledge of that? There are stories of Anzu in the north guiding the Dominion's hands, but this seems like Dominion propaganda to me. They're much scarier if we all think they have some ancient being guiding them now, aren't they? The Anzu are gone, simple as that.
— Arcanist diary
Anzu (3)
See Cortex Entry: Anzu (3) for More Details
Under the hill, there lived an Anzu named Ezurite, whose cruel and nefarious ways were known to all travelers of the high road. Furious that the urgoth who once worshipped him were no more, Ezurite found amusement in bringing ruin to peaceful settlements and devouring whole herds of korox. This was the task the Emperor set before them—to rid the north of this malicious monster and clear the trade route to Freemark. And so, after settling their tab and getting a night's sleep, the Freelancers Three set off in search of the monstrosity.
— From The Freelancers Three by Fallon Dalathie
Shaper Relics (1)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (1) for More Details
Instruments left behind by the Shapers when they abandoned the world they'd created. Varying in shape, size, and purpose, relics are powered by the Anthem of Creation, and are commonly believed to be the very tools that constructed the world.
If an activated relic becomes overwhelmed by the Anthem, it creates a Cataclysm, often causing fragments to break off the relic. Lancers have discovered through trial and error that returning these fragments to their rightful place can, in some cases, silence a relic.
Shaper Relics (2)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (2) for More Details
While Cataclysms have been a constant in our world, we have chosen not to experiment with the Anthem of Creation. Scars have no such reservations. They seek out Shaper relics for their own purposes. The Scar Luminary who led the attack on the terraces used a relic to charge its weapons with extra firepower. In a separate attack, Junkhead sought to use a relic to make itself physically stronger. While a tempting experiment, Antium has declared that relics are simply too unstable to be safely manipulated by humans. As always, every effort should be made to keep Scars from accessing relics.
— From Cataclysms and their Effects, 41st Edition
Shaper Relics (3)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (3) for More Details
Oceans of ink have been spilled over the erratic behavior of Shaper relics. Some relics disappear when silenced. Others do not. Some reappear hours or years later. Others vanish forever, or at least have never been found.
Yet before you study, consider the most illuminating aspect of Shaper relics: not that they had the ability to play with time and space, but that it is possible to play with time and space at all.
— Arcanist Orun, transcript, Arcanist archives
Shaper Relics (4)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (4) for More Details
Arcanist Research: There's really nothing to be troubled over. Moving relics is inherently unpredictable, but I have gone over the calculations extensively and submitted the results to my superiors in triplicate.
Sentinel Cal Andrin: It's not that I don't trust you. It's that you keep saying "theoretically" in front of "safe."
— Transcript, Arcanist archives
Shaper Relics (5)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (5) for More Details
One commodity remains valuable to certain black market brokers, despite political strife, geographical upheaval, and even Cataclysms—stable Shaper fragments. While most—with the dubious exception of Freelancers—would leave well enough alone, there are those fringe elements of society that would risk annihilation for the promise of power.
— From Ancient Goods, the Shapers' Role in the Economics of Modern Trade by Arcanist Bach Jamoon
Shaper Relics (6)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Relics (6) for More Details
The relic shuddered before them, and the Freelancers sprang into action. Perimodes went left, gathered the nearest echo into his pack, then dashed to the relic, quickly restoring it. Gillimer went right, to protect the citizens of the market and lead them to safety. Lastly, Urry—suddenly free of his previous intoxication—raised his mace and chortled heartily at the chimera that sprung from the relic's maw.
— From The Freelancers Three by Fallon Dalathie
The Cenotaph
See Cortex Entry: The Cenotaph for More Details
A large Shaper ruin that destroyed the city of Freemark and produced the Heart of Rage (Cataclysm) Cataclysm when the Dominion attempted to seize control of it. Most of Freemark's population was unaware of the Cenotaph's existence until it was too late. How the Dominion knew that the Cenotaph existed remains a mystery, but there is little doubt they arrived at Freemark specifically to activate the ruin. It is not known if the Dominion expected the casualties on both sides that followed their attempt to control the Cenotaph. In 466 L.V., Freelancers entered the Heart of Rage to try to shut down the Cenotaph, but nearly all of them died in the failed attempt.
The Tale of Tarsis and the Mountain
See Cortex Entry: The Tale of Tarsis and the Mountain for More Details
Nearly everyone has heard the story of General Tarsis battling the dread monster Fulminous at the top of a mountain. For centuries, scholars have debated where this battle took place—if it did at all. Historian Salix Wren collected and compared hundreds of versions of the story, and found a few landmarks in common which led him to believe the mountain was located in present-day Freemark.
There is, of course, no mountain currently in Freemark. But the presence of large Shaper instruments in that area does suggest that both the mountain and the monster were the result of a Cataclysm—making the story of Tarsis and the Mountain the earliest known record of a human silencing a Shaper relic.
Was Fulminous a monster or a metaphor? A living beast made of lightening, or a fictional stand-in for a raging storm? We can only speculate.
— From Dialogues
The Shapers (1)
See Cortex Entry: The Shapers (1) for More Details
Humanity's name for the supreme beings that created the world itself. It is a long-held belief that the Shapers used the Anthem of Creation to build all aspects of our existence, but had to depart suddenly, leaving their tools behind and our world unfinished.
Although they are called "The Shapers," their exact number is not known, and all details or motives are purely speculation.
The Shapers (2)
See Cortex Entry: The Shapers (2) for More Details
The Shapers started something here, but who will finish it? You really think we'll ever understand what the Shapers were planning? That we'll all come together and unravel the mysteries of the world, then lock arms to step into the future? We can't even agree on how to stay alive in this infernal place.
— Anonymous
The Shapers (3)
See Cortex Entry: The Shapers (3) for More Details
He saw the great, dormant instrument reaching to the sky. Though it was still, it seemed filled with longing. Did the Shapers miss their instruments? Why did they leave them? There were too many, they were too large, scattered across the world, to have thoughtlessly forgotten them. Perhaps they simply had no room, and mournfully cast them aside. Perhaps they were bored with their forging of the world and turned elsewhere. Or perhaps, as was his own experience, they left in haste. He'd left countless hammers in the wild due to wolven.
— From A Strider in the Everweald
Shaper Ruins (1)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Ruins (1) for More Details
Massive, ancient Shaper constructs scattered throughout our world. Ruins are classified differently than relics. Not only are ruins often an enormous size, but some do not appear to be capable of accessing the Anthem of Creation. Possibly, those ruins were used strictly for structural purposes. Determining a ruin's original or intended purpose is a matter of educated guesswork rather than proof.
Shaper Ruins (2)
See Cortex Entry: Shaper Ruins (2) for More Details
Shaper ruins are an inescapable reality. While some argue we should be rid of them, I advocate for considering them a natural resource. We build near water because it gives us access to water, and we build near ruins because it offers safe shelter. Look at Dunar. This is a place safe from threat, where no beast can breach our walls. Here we have amassed our research and built our library. As long as the area is free of dangerous relics, living near Shaper ruins is humanity's best chance to grow.
— From Dialogues
Urgoth (1)
See Cortex Entry: Urgoth (1) for More Details
Urgoth are believed to be creatures that enslaved humanity for generations until they were defeated by the Legion of Dawn. There is little direct evidence to support their actual existence. Said to stand taller than a Colossus javelin, most details about the urgoth are taken from Legion folk tales. There have been no confirmed urgoth sightings in centuries.
Urgoth (2)
See Cortex Entry: Urgoth (2) for More Details
Urgoth hiding out behind the wall,
Urgoth climbing, it will never fall,
Urgoth into the darkness fled,
With stolen children who weren't in bed.
Urgoth (3)
See Cortex Entry: Urgoth (3) for More Details
Dear Jaren,
Did you tell Bram and Kriti that urgoth would take them if they didn't go to bed? Now they are terrified to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And that means bed-wetting. Sweetheart, please don't sing that song to them anymore.
Enjoy your lunch.
Kyla