Recommended Reading for Shadowlands Cluster?

[High Priest Mikhal]

Okay, I REALLY want to know more about the Shadowlands and especially Nidala. But I came into this game at the tail-end of 2e and didn't get into it full steam until 3e. What 2e books/boxed sets/novels would be the best sources for information on these three domains and particularly the history, culture, and lives the Shadowborns, Elena Faith-Hold, the Heretic Wars, and the Circle? I'm relying exclusively on Paizo.com for copies of these OOP products, if that matters.

[The Giamarga]

From the Domain of the Month Shadowlands:

Second edition: Black Box (Realm of Terror), Red Box (RL Campaign Setting), Domains of Dread; Islands of Terror, Darklords (Shdowborn Manor)
Third ed. info: RL3E / RLPH
Adventure: Light in the Belfry; Dungeon #31 (Bane of the Shadowborn)
Novel: Shadowborn
Other selected interesting source: Book of Shadows (Nidala)

The novel Shadowborn is a big source, for the backstory and mood. You can get it for cheap here: Shadowborn at amazon. The Darklords accessory first details Ebonbane and to a lesser degree Shadowborn Manor. Then there's the adventure in Dungeon #31: Bane of the Shadowborn by Bill Connors, which details the manor much more. The Book of Shadows has a lot of it's framing fiction and some articles set in the shadowborn cluster.

Here's the Kargatane Index entry for the Shadowlands cluster. You can click through to the individual entries to see which (and how many pages) each of the references are.
And here are some maps.

[Ail]

And if I recall correctly, a Light in the Belfry is an adventure dedicated to Avoleigh and Morgoroth (this isn't his name, is it? ), which is now in the same cluster with Nidala.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

From the Domain of the Month Shadowlands:

Second edition: Black Box (Realm of Terror)

Minor error there in the DotM page. there's nothing shadowlands related in the Black Box, as far I (and the kargatane catalogue) know.

Novel: Shadowborn
Other selected interesting source: Book of Shadows (Nidala)

The novel Shadowborn is a big source, for the backstory and mood.

Agreed. That and the Book of Shadows framing fiction go a long way to fleshing out the place. And Islands of Terror is a must for Elena's story.

[cure]

There is a story entitled (perhaps) The Red Wolfe, from (perhaps) the Book of Shadows. There is also the story of Gondegel and his order working to keep 'Stormbringer' imprisoned, not realising, apparently, that the Dark Powers aren't about to let it leave its pocket domain.

[High Priest Mikhal]

Thank you all. This should give me enough to piece together a history of the Shadowborns, Elena Faith-hold, and the Heretic Wars. Just one last question: Ebonbane is a loumara, right? Or is it an obyrith? Mr. Mangrum stated such on these boards but I can't find the thread.

[Ryan Naylor]

Technically speaking, exactly what sort of fiend the Ebonbane is has never been established.

I personally think when you get to really powerful fiends (like the Ebonbane and Gwydion), you should try to avoid standard fiend races. But if you must, loumara is what John said.

See also:

http://www.fraternityofshadows.com/foru ... t=ebonbane