Shadrack

Shadrack (aka Shade) is a member of the Society of the Black Cloak. Very little is known about Shadrack other than that he is a wizard, and was part of a conspiracy between Mordack and Abdul Alhazred to take over and destroy the Land of the Green Isles. He is the author of a note found in KQVI, but does not appear in any of the games himself. Another letter is written to Shadrack by Abdul Alhazred.

Background
Besides playing chess with Mordack, he plotted with the wizard's minion Abdul Alhazred for the destruction of the Land of the Green Isles. To set up their plan, they first needed someone to infiltrate the kingdom and set the plans into motion. Abdul Alhazred, was chosen for the part, and soon worked his way into the royal houshold of the Crown of Green Isles, where he became the new Vizier. Shade and Alhazred continued to be in league with each other in plotting to take over the kingdom. It was Shadrack that suggested that Alhazred get rid of Cassima somehow, leading to Alhazred coming up with the idea of having Mordack kidnap the girl and take her to his palace.

Later Shadrack gave instructions to Alhazred that he would get the crown if he married Cassima, and then got rid of her either through sending her away or killing her. He also wanted Cassima sent to him dead or alive to fulfill his peculiar interests. However Alhazred refused to send Cassima to Shadrack since last time he tried to send Cassima away; Mordack ended up dead, and she ended up returning within a year. Alhazred worried the same thing would happen to Shadrack.

Correspondence
In the Companion's novelization of KQ6, and within the game, there are two notes; one written to Shadrack by Alhazred, and one written by Shadrack. The companion included extended versions of both letters which shine more light on society's plans for the islands. According to those notes Shadrack's nickname is Shade, and that it is his hidden name for himself. It it is stated that he is also a member of the Society of the Black Cloak, and that Shadrack wanted to see the destruction of the islands.

Below is a reconstruction and paraphrase of the information presented in both versions of Shadrack's letter and Adbul Alhazred's reply.

Shadrack's letter

 * To Abdul Alhazred, brother of the Black Cloak
 * From the Wizard Shadrack, also of that company,
 * Greetings to a brother of the Black Cloak,
 * I was sorry to hear of great Mordack's death, though he was a bit of a ninny at chess
 * But it seems the plans for that little kingdom of yours are coming along, you seem to have the destruction of the kingdom well in hand.
 * I must congratulate you on your handling of the king and queen.
 * Isolating the Islands so that no protest could develop was another brilliant stroke.
 * Turning the Islands against one another, and eliminating the King and Queen is a stratagem worthy even of me.
 * It looks like there's not much left to stand in your way. Do as I advise and recommended with that girl, the meddling brat Cassima, and you shall surely have your crown.
 * Shade.

Abdul Alhazred's reply

 * My Dear Shadrack:
 * Salutations from a fellow member of the Society of the Black Cloak, etc. etc. Our plans and my long preparations are about to come to fruition.
 * In a matter of minutes, by the time you read this, I will, and shall have wed the lovely  Princess Cassima, and become a grieving widower as well.
 * The princess has proven infuriatingly stubborn, as you know. She's becoming quite a dangerous little thorn in my side. Once I establish my power and my crown, I can stage another 'accident'.
 * In a way, it is a shame that Cassima must die and I have to kill her--she is lovely and would be amusing to keep around, but the people are loyal to her and I have been unable to gain her trust. I can't risk her talking treason to one of the guards. So far, I've managed to keep her locked away, but I can't continue that forever.
 * Well, on to it now. Knowing your peculiar interests, I wish I could make you a present of her dead or alive. I'd send her to you, but as you know, I had no luck in doing so with Mordack. When I presented her to Mordack, he was slain and she was back here within the year. I will not allow that to happen again.
 * I close in triumph--KING Abdul Alhazred.

Behind the scenes
The fact that Shadrack is a member of the Society of the Black Cloak originates from the King's Quest Companion. Infact a single reference within KQ6, only confirms that Abdul Alhazred is a member, "Salutations from the Society of the Black Cloak, etc. etc. My long preparations are about to come to fruition." Without the King's Quest Companion to put things into perspective, the above quote could even imply that Shadrack is outside of the Society of the Black Cloak (i.e. not a member), and that the conspiracy in the Green Isles to become king, were Abdul Alhazred's plans alone (which is also supported by the KQ6 Hintbook by Lorelei Shannon). Shadrack's line in KQ6 "greetings to a member of the Black Cloak", only loosely implies his own connection to the society.

Shadrack was a character created by Jane Jensen. However Roberta Williams had little part in his creation, or the creation of the Black Cloak Society, nor does she remember much about those details. Its highly possible that he would have never appeared in any official King's Quest games after KQ6, unless Jane Jensen was on board.

"The 'Black Cloak Society' was never an actual term that I instigated or thought up. I'm not actually sure where that came from. The closest thought that I have on that subject is that: when I was working with Jane Jensen on King's Quest 6, and we thought up the evil vizier, we talked loosely about the possibility of putting Mannanan, Mordack, and the vizier together as group -- possibly -- in a future King's Quest. There was loose reference to the possibility in King's Quest 6, although nothing was set in stone at that time. I think that it's possible that Jane Jensen might have mentioned the possibility (perhaps) in subsequent interviews on the subject, although, I'm not sure about that. Later on, I heard about the Black Cloak Society and kind of wondered where that phrase came from, but, I never refuted it as I thought it was kind of cool and, probably, would have gone on with the idea in future King's Quests had I had the chance. And, one final thing: Hagatha was never part in any discussion of a Black Cloak Society." - Roberta Williams at SierraGamers (6-9-2003)

The implication in the companion is not entirely clear, it maybe possible that Shadrack was in league more with Alhazred than with Mordack. That those two magicians were the main ones behind the plot to conquer the Green Isles. Alhazred may have been manipulating his own master Mordack into kidnapping Cassima while he took over the kingdom. Thus Mordack may have little to do with the actual black cloak plot.

In KQ5 Cassima initially mistakes Graham for being a member of 'them', evil men who visit Mordack at his castle, this would include Shadrack, Abdul Alhazred, and possibly other members of the black cloaks.

Shadrack (unofficial)
Shadrack has appeared in a number of fan fiction and fan games, see Shadrack (unofficial) for more information.