The Shadow Brides were created in secret by Nibenay to protect him from his mutant son and other threats. They are his closest body guards secret even to the other templars. This the king believes will give them a tactical advantage over any mutinous forces that enter his walled city within a city The Naggaramakam. Each of the brides has a dark mark tattooed on them of the strongest defiler magic. If they are killed the mark finds a new host carrying with it the memories and abilities of the old host. When they venture out they wear no uniform so they cannot be identified as a cohesive group.