Reigan Shen
| Reigan Shen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Path | Path of the Kings Key |
| Rank | Monarch |
| Faction | House of Shen |
| First Appearance | Uncrowned |
| Species | Sacred Lion |
| Family | |
| Home | Rosegold Continent |
Reigan Shen, the Emperor of Lions, is a Sacred Lion, and a Monarch in Cradle, who rules over most of the Rosegold continent.
He practices the Path of King's Key, using Force Madra combined with the Authority over Space, which he was lucky enough to inherit from a Remnant of a Sage.
History
"Reigan Shen is the creator and sole practitioner of the Path of the King's Key. Centuries ago, he consulted an oracle and grew to believe that he was destined to rule the world. He seeks to make that vision a reality.
He fought the Eight-Man Empire to a standstill, though they eventually drove him off. He has stolen Northstrider's prey.
He is considered one of the Ninecloud Court's greatest enemies, though everyone below the Queen is instructed to treat him as an honored guest, should he arrive.
Only about six years ago, he finally slew his longtime rival" ― Will Wight[[source]]
In the Books
Event with the Lion King occur mainly before, during, and after the Uncrowned Tournament. The most relevant books concerning Monarch Shen are Uncrowned, Wintersteel, and especially Reaper.
However, one relevant event occurs in book 6 Underlord. Shen recruits the four cults of the Dreadgods to his cause, to represent him in the upcoming Uncrowned King Tournament. This entire bargain is based on a lie. The lion is comfortable with breaking his word.
Also, at some later point Shen asked Dragon King Seshethkunaaz to join forces with him. He lied, saying he has a plan to wake and kill the Dreadgods, by luring them to the Western Labyrinth, where its security defences will supposedly weaken them. The results of the tournament might decide if the other Monarchs join them.
Bargaining with Eithan
In Wintersteel, Shen begins to fear that Eithan might win the Tournament, so he deals with him. A bargain is struck: If Eithan will throw the match, Shen will send Rootfather Garrylondryth, a green dragon Herald who heals nature, to restore the war-torn Arelius homeland. He will also pay a billion scales to House Arelius and lend one year of protection from his own Herald, Yushi. He will also ensure evacuees from the Blackflame Empire are allowed safe passage when the Dreadgods attack. He will give Eithan his soul forge, kept in a void key. And new clothes. (Wintersteel ch 10)
Eithan stopped himself short of saying “Your head on a platter.” Not only would it set the wrong tone, it wasn’t what he wanted. If Reigan Shen didn’t die to a new generation of Monarchs raised by Eithan, that would be the real tragedy.
-Wintersteel, chapter 10
Lying to Seshethkunaaz
Lion King Reigan Shen asked Dragon King Seshethkunaaz to join forces with him. He said he has a plan to wake and kill the Dreadgods, by luring them to the Western Labyrinth, where its security defences will supposedly weaken them. The results of the tournament might decide if the other Monarchs join them.
However, in book 10, Reaper the truth becomes clear. Shen is still in the labyrinth, working on information Tiberian Arelius gave him, before Shen killed him. He takes the core binding from Subject One, and he takes the ancient soulforge of Ozmanthus Arelius. He battles Lindon and the team. It is stated that Shen really wants the Dreadgods to kill all the other Monarchs so he can rule the world himself. As the Oracle foretold.
