Circle of Twelve

Background

Before Shadowgate

The Circle of Twelve was a council of knowledge formed at the Age of Enlightenment. They met at the Castle Shadowgate within the Gatekeeper Mountain.

During the Great Expansion, Talimar turned evil, sought evil power for his own gain and turned each race against the others. He was banished and named Tykl Droelyn or Warlock King. At the Time of Chaos the Circle gathered strength to help the kings of their lands to defeat the Warlock King. He was put in the caverns below Castle Shadowgate. Only Lakmir the Timeless stayed behind.

Shadowgate/Shadowgate Classic (Win95)

The Circle was composed of twelve of the most powerful Druids of Tarkus: The Great Druids.

• Framus the Golden (computer versions)
• Garolin the White,
• Talotin the Gray,
• Ronlin the Beautiful,
• Talimar the Black
• Magnas the Wise,
• Wontave the Giver,
• Butwik the Seeker,
• Tenmakk the Healer,
• Sharmir the Pure,
• Lakmir the Timeless,
• Turgor the Swift.

It is not known if the Circle still exists but it was said that if the world be in peril again, they intervened for the side of good.

Shadowgate (NES)/Shadowgate Classic (GBC)

• Framas
• Sharnir

Note: Similar list to those in original computer versions wexveptnfor two with alternate spellings given here.

Shadowgate 64

• Lakmir the Timeless
• Magnus the Gold

Long ago Lakmir, along with his brother Talimar, gathered the puwerful mages of the times and forned a brotherhood. They were called the Circle of Twelve and were a force for good to the developing races. But then Talimar turned against his brethren and destroyed the noble ambitions of the enclave.

The Circle of Twelve created the Chamber of Holding as a place for their members to reside in. Though later used to capture the Warlock Lord in the place under the world. The key to it’s power is that it contains the combined might of the Twelve. The Staff of Ages also possesses the essence of the Circle.

The Tower if Trials has a connection to the Circle of Twelve. The weight and oppression of centuries pressing can be found in the tower. An inscription states: Prepare thyself. The trials await Beyond. anoint thyself. The trials lie ahead. Pass these resets and in accordance with the law, your station shall be bestowed! Endure tests of loyalty, knowledge, understanding, strength, courage and skill! Anoint for the trials mean life but also mean death. Leave all possessions behind and enter alone, for only then can you succeed. So has been decreed by the Circle of Twelve.

The wizard Magnus is technically not said to be a member Circle of Twelve, however his name and title appears to share similarities between two of the members in the computer version: Framus the Golden and Magnas the Pure/Magnas (in NES/GBC versions).

Beyond Shadowgate (Zojoi)

• Lakmir the Timeless
• Gabryl the Bard

Shadowgate Reimagined

There are a number of individuals that may be part of the Order, and its appears there have been more than one Order of Twelve through the centuries (see The First Circle & Chronycles of the Twelyve). Some may have been members of more than one version of the order, such as Tylomyr who's history saw Lakmir join the order. There is some clue that Tylomyr may infact be Talimar but it is not specifically stated (although both appear to share the same ambition, and black and shadows may represent the same thing). Tylomyr is the one who brought Lakmir into the circle in a later ages.

First Circle

• Cuthegar the first, master of elements
• Tiresias Hildur (or Hyldur) the second, seer of visions.
• Valyrgas the third, mistress of air.
• Akarina the fourth, lady of the lakes.
• Tylomyr the fifth, master of shadows.
• Shanel Reh the sixth, sorceress of illusions.
• Eldiel the seventh, high priestess.
• Thorgruk the eighth, the first thaumaturge.
• Rase Fayr the ninth, mistress of animals.
• Faratolph the tenth, summoner.
• Tym the eleventh, the enchanter.
• Gluckshag the twelfth, necromancer.

Second Circle

• Fandryl the High (or High One)
• Tylomyr (Talimar the Black)
• Lakmir the Timeless, of the Circle of the Twelve (or Lakmyr)
• Gabryll the bard (signs his name with four lines, indicating he was the new fourth)
• Lotharyth the Historian
• Deldan
• Unthalm
• Lorel the Astronomer
• Greylord the Wizard
• Walynd (a mettalurist, mentioned as being commissioned by the first circle, perhaps not a member, or replaced a member of the first, apparently created the staff portion of the Staff of Ages by imbuing magic into it, also appears to be one who wrote a letter tracing family of Ornsal)
• Adnan

The twelfth individual is unclear. It could be an individual from the previous circle or someone new. It's also possible that Tylomyr was only part of this circle shortly, before he was replaced by someone else.

Others

These are said to be ancients in one of the documents, and tied to the Library, or listed as authors od the books. But its unclear if they were members of the Circle proper.

• Abnur
• Danswith Beorn
• Ularu'a (context unclear could be a person, place or something else)
• Horradic Serf
• Laelf Drytzlin
• Lillith Aer
• Eldar Annham
• Delem Manials
• Jair Cuthegar (due to his royal heritage, becomes an initiate of the Circle)
• Philosopher, historian (likely a reference to (Lotharyth), the bard (likely a reference to Gabryll), the priest (possibly a reference to Eldiel).
• Yorick (not specifically stated to be a member, but seems to have some history with Talimar, and his skull is found near the other skulls of the Hidden Ascent, but its also lacking the rune)
• Gunthar