The Schattenspiegel, or "Shadow Mirror," is a cursed artifact of immense and terrible power, said to have once housed fragments of 
The Schattenspiegel, or Shadow Mirror, is a prototype of soul-binding artifacts like shadeglass. Created in the World-That-Was by Vlad von Carstein, it was forged using the ancient knowledge of Endstones, mystical powerstones of Shyish renowned for their ability to hold and channel the essence of death. Vlad, in his relentless pursuit of immortality and dominion, sought to surpass the limitations of mortal and undead existence. Through forbidden experiments, he infused fragments of Shyishian essence into the mirrored surface of the Schattenspiegel, creating an artifact capable of capturing and manipulating souls.
Unlike the more refined shadeglass of Shadespire, which was later developed from gravesand—a substance echoing the properties of Endstones—the Schattenspiegel was a crude but immensely powerful creation. Each shard of the mirror carried echoes of the countless souls it imprisoned, amplifying their latent power while bending their will to the mirror’s master. Vlad also anchored fragments of his own soul within the mirror, ensuring his survival even in the event of his destruction.
The mirror, however, was not a passive tool. Its fractured surface became imbued with a malicious sentience, born from the collective torment of the trapped souls and the dark essence of Shyish. Over time, the Schattenspiegel became more than an artifact; it was a manipulative entity, whispering promises of power to those who sought to wield it, while subtly steering them toward ruin.
In this way, the Schattenspiegel became the cursed forerunner to the soul-binding arts of the Mortal Realms, its creation foreshadowing the horrors that would later emerge in Shadespire and beyond. A relic of ambition and hubris, it remains a testament to the peril of meddling with the forces of death.