FAQs
If you haven't noticed by now, our "band" is a little bit different from other bands. Many curious fans have expressed an interest in learning more about our organization, so we thought it would be helpful to provide answers to some of the most common questions. Obviously, we can't tell you all our secrets, but we'll try to shed as much light as possible.
- What is the Book of Shadows?
- What is Shadow13?
- What is the Brotherhood?
- How many people are in the Brotherhood?
- Where did you get the name Shadow13?
- Why do you wear costumes and masks?
- Why did you start a band?
- Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
- Are you good guys or bad guys?
- Aside from playing music, what else do you do?
- What led you to begin fighting crime?
- What is the significance of the number 13?
- Where are you from?
- Do you really live in Antarctica?
- What's it like it Antarctica?
- How old are you guys?
- Are there any females in your band?
- What are your thoughts about life and death?
- Is the Book of Shadows real?
- What happens if the Book of Shadows is used for evil?
- Are you guys real?
- Are you guys Satanic or something?
- What are the inspirations for your names and costumes?
- Why don't you ever play in my town when you go on tour?
- Can I send you a demo of my band?
- Where can I get a copy of your CD?
- Do you have songs for sale on iTunes?
- How can I contact you?
- Who answers all your emails?
- Why is the website construction taking so long?
What is the Book of Shadows?
The Book of Shadows is an ancient manuscript that holds the secrets of the universe. It is filled with powerful magic and centuries of forbidden knowledge. With great destructive capabilities, the Book could be a terrible and deadly weapon if it fell into the wrong hands.
Since the beginning of time, the forces of evil have sought to obtain the Book and use it to further their wicked plans, which is why we guard it with our lives.
It's called the Book of Shadows because of the dichotomy of its contents. Depending on how the Book is read and interpreted, the messages can have a very positive or negative outcome and the power within the book can be used for both good and evil.
Unlike the Qur'an, Bible and Torah, the Book of Shadows is NOT a holy book. It is a source of information and a wealth of knowledge, but it does not contain religions teachings or propaganda. Members of any religion can also follow the teachings of the Book of Shadows.
Interestingly, the Book of Shadows is different every time you read it. The pages constantly change, sometimes turning completely blank. If you flip through page by page, you can never reach the end.
What is Shadow13?
Shadow13 is a group of seven guardians that were summoned to protect the Book of Shadows. They are the leaders of the Brotherhood and they fight to rid the world of evil.
By tapping into the powers of the Book and using them for good, rather than evil, we have been able to save the world and its people from absolute destruction countless times.
What is the Brotherhood?
The Brotherhood is what we call our fan base. It is an organization of like-minded people, where members all have something in common with each other.
We call it the Brotherhood because we want our fans to establish strong relationships with each other. In the Brotherhood, we are all friends, allies, brothers and sisters. Think of the Brotherhood as an extended family. We all have the same rank and status, so we're all equal. Nobody is better than anybody else and we all look out for each other. Everybody in the Brotherhood will "get your back" and we expect you to get theirs.
Members of the Brotherhood keep their eyes and ears peeled for any signs of injustice and they put a stop to it. They fight for what they believe in, stand up for their ideals, protect the weak and always try to do the right thing. They are the elite members of society that everybody else looks up to, so they must strive to set a good example and make the world a better place. The Brotherhood does not tolerate racism, sexism, bigotry, dishonesty or needless violence. Members have respect for themselves, each other and the world. By joining the Brotherhood, members agree to our terms and promise to uphold the code. Violating these terms will result in being banished from the Brotherhood.
Just remember: As a member of the Brotherhood, you represent us. The more that people respect you, the more they will respect Shadow13, so please make us proud.
How many people are in the Brotherhood?
We seven guardians are the leaders of the Brotherhood, but there are thousands of members besides us. Each member acts as our eyes and ears, extending our influence to all parts of the world.
Where did you get the name Shadow13?
Shadow13 is an honorary title that was given to us when we were first summoned by the Book. To make a long story short, the name is derived from a prophecy within the Book that foretells of the impending final battle against the forces of evil. Shadow13 is the name of the army that will march against the Horde of Darkness.
The prophecy is quite vague and confusing and we haven't yet been able to decipher it entirely, so there may be more to the Shadow13 name than we currently know.
Why do you wear costumes and masks?
Why do you wear clothes? It's the same reason for us: we feel naked without them. They also keep our identities secret from our enemies. Plus, we look really sexy in our outfits.
Why did you start a band?
The Book of Shadows contains ancient teachings and scriptures. Unfortunately, much of the information is very powerful and dangerous, so we guard it closely to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. For centuries, we locked the Book away to keep it safe and its great power was squandered in seclusion.
Many of the teachings in the book are actually very positive, uplifting and inspiring, and it eventually dawned on us that the Book could be used for good as well as evil. We realized that we could use the Book to promote goodwill, encourage positive change and stifle the spread of evil, so we began traveling around the world, reading its scripture to anybody who would listen.
In addition to the teachings, stories and anecdotes, the Book also contains psalms (musical scripture), which proved to be surprisingly popular with our audiences. Each and every one of our songs is actually a psalm from the Book. Over the years, we realized that forming a band would be the best method for reaching people and introducing them to the Book of Shadows. Instead of performing on random street corners, it was much easier to play at established venues. Forming a band allowed us to reach a broader audience and attract larger crowds.
We are a band, but we are guardians of the Book first and foremost. We must remember that the forces of evil would surely use it to destroy the world if they ever got their hands on it.
Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
Our music and songs are actually direct passages from the Book of Shadows. The Book contains psalms, which are written in an archaic and long-forgotten language. We spend much of our time deciphering and translating this ancient language into a modern format, like English, that people can more easily understand. All of the lyrics and melodies come directly from the Book, so we don't actually write anything.
Are you good guys or bad guys?
Good guys.
Aside from playing music, what else do you do?
We don't like bad guys, so we do whatever we can to stop them. Whether it's patrolling the streets for small-time thugs or busting up big-time criminal syndicates, we're always able to stay pretty busy. Our members go out on assignments and can be gone for months at a time. Assignments often include protecting VIPs, disaster relief, escorting convoys, rescuing hostages and capturing dangerous criminals. Once an assignment is complete, we return to the base for a new one.
In order to help pay the bills, we sometimes take on freelance or contract work for the government, military or independent agencies, just as long as it doesn't go against our morals.
If no new assignments are available and we have time to kill, we perform live shows.
What led you to begin fighting crime?
Originally, we were simply protectors for the Book of Shadows, keeping it safe from the forces of evil. Eventually we realized that we could actually tap into the Book's power and use it to combat and eradicate evil altogether.
Taking an active and aggressive stance towards our enemies made much more sense than just waiting for them to seek us out. It's beter to be proactive rather than reactive, therefore we began striking out at all forms of injustice, crime, corruption and villany. Our targets ranged from petty pickpockets to powerful and morally bankrupt political figures.
For centuries, we struggled to uphold justice, but the world is a very large place and the forces of evil continued to spread faster than we could stop them. Eventually we realized that the seven of us could never entirely eradicate every last bit of evil by ourselves, so we began recruiting members into the Brotherhood to assist us.
The rest, as they say, is history and here we are today.
What is the significance of the number 13?
In many cultures, the number 13 is considered to be lucky. In many other cultures, the number 13 is considered to be very unlucky. The same goes for the number 7. It's up to you to provide your own meaning.
Where are you from?
We are from all over the world, but our organization is based in Antarctica. We travel across the globe, performing shows or working on various missions, but we reconvene often to strategize and work on projects.
When the order has been given to regroup, each guardian must immediately return to the subterranean base in Antarctica, unless they are in the middle of an important assignment. Once we arrive at the base, we stay as long as it takes to complete whatever project we're working on, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Once we're finished, we split up again and set out on our individual missions and assignments. We try to keep at least one guardian stationed at the base at all times in case of emergency.
Do you really live in Antarctica?
Yes, we live in an old military installation under the Transantarctic Mountains. It was abandoned after World War II and it suited our needs perfectly, so we made ourselves at home.
The base is powered by solar, wind and hydroelectric systems. Similar to the technology used on a submarine, we use an oxygen generator to pull oxygen gas out of water via electrolysis and we use scrubbers to filter carbon dioxide out of the air. We distill fresh water from salt water and steam powered turbines help to power our electric heating system. All of our power sources are renewable and we operate with a zero-carbon footprint.
Our subterranean base is made of concrete, steel and natural stone, so it can be quite dreary. We brought in thousands of low-light/water plants, which help to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and also make the place feel less like a dungeon. Some areas utilize artificial sunlight and false windows to give the decor an "above ground" appearance.
Getting too and from the base can be extremely difficult. An electric train and an underground tunnel run along the length of the Transantarctic mountains. The train can take us as far as McMurdo research station, where we can catch a plane, boat or helicopter to New Zealand. To get to the Western Hemisphere, the train can take us under the Southern Sea to Chile.
We keep an ample amount of food and medical supplies on hand at all times. We have a large cold storage facility where all of our perishable items are stored. We restock our supplies once a month, except in the middle of winter when the cold and ice prevent the shipments from coming through.
We have a very advanced computer and satellite system, which we use to communicate with the outside world. Extreme weather conditions can sometimes knock our communication systems offline. Sometimes we collaborate with scientists and researchers who are stationed here in Antarctica. Our unique location and advanced technology provide them with an ideal vantage point to study tectonic and geothermal activity. In exchange for allowing them on our premises, we are able to visit and use their facilities when we travel across the continent.
A gymnasium, weight room, gun range, olympic-sized swimming pool and several training rooms help to keep us in peak physical shape (except for Sly). We also have a game room, arcade and movie theater for the times when we feel like indulging.
What's it like it Antarctica?
C-O-L-D. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent in the world. It's the 5th largest continent on Earth and 98% of the landmass is covered in ice. Antarctica also features the largest desert in the world. So all in all, it's not very hospitable.
Antarctica not a country, but several other countries around the world claim parts of it as their territory. Besides for us, the only other people who live here are scientists. There are a few scientific research facilities scattered around, which range in population from a few dozen to a few hundred. Because of the isolation, we have more freedom to train and conduct experiments. Plus, since we're not technically citizens of any government, we don't have to follow their rules. It's lonely down here, but we're able to work in peace without too many distractions.
The weather can be pretty nasty with heavy snowfall, thick ice and almost no rainfall. Temperatures range from -90 C to 15 C, so we try not to go outside at all. While in Antarctica, we spend 90% of our time in our well heated headquarters beneath the Transantarctic Mountains. Being cooped up underground for months at a time can be very boring, so we try to spend as much time as possible traveling abroad. Needless to say, we love visiting warm tropical places like the Philippines or Costa Rica.
Although many parts of the continent are hellish wasteland, Antarctica also has lots of stunning beauty as well. The diamond dust, Aurora Australis, penguin colonies and massive glaciers are truly breathtaking sights to behold.
If you are interested in learning more about Antarctica, we encourage you to look it up on the internet and do some research on your own.
How old are you guys?
We have been battling our enemies and protecting the Book of Shadows for eons. If one of us perishes in combat, the guardian's soul is transferred to a new host body and the guardian is resurrected. This reincarnation process ensures that there will always be 7 guardians to protect the Book. Our ages range from a few decades to a few centuries.
Are there any females in your band?
Sometimes, but it just depends on which host body a guardian's spirit inhabits.
Anytime a guardian is killed or incapacitated, the spirit moves on to a new host body. If the spirit chooses to inhabit a female body, then the guardian will be female.
What are your thoughts about life and death?
Life and death are inevitable. We will all die someday, so we must be as productive with our lives as possible. While we are alive, it is our responsibility to do what we can to make the world a better place and to make life better for others.
We come into the world as infants, but we shall leave it as heroes.
Is the Book of Shadows real?
Most definitely.
What happens if the Book of Shadows is used for evil?
If the Book of Shadows falls into the wrong hands, the results can be devastating. Have you ever wondered about what eradicated the dinosaurs or the lost-city of Atlantis?
Are you guys real?
Of course we're real. If we weren't real we wouldn't be able to make music, chat with fans online or answer all these FAQs. A better question is: are YOU real.
Are you guys Satanic or something?
Um, no.
What are the inspirations for your names and costumes?
Our names and costumes are a product of our different cultures and our histories. Each member has a different story to tell. Maybe one day we'll reveal more of our secrets.
Why don't you ever play in my town when you go on tour?
The world is REALLY big. We don't have the time or the financial resources to hit every country, region or city. We have to plan a strategic route through the largest cities along the way, which means that many places get left out unfortunately (sorry Yazoo, MS).
Can I send you a demo of my band?
In the past, people have given us so many demos that we didn't have time to listen to them all and they started piling up. We don't like wasting your time or energy, so we are no longer accepting any more demos. Besides, we hardly have enough luck getting record labels to listen to our own stuff, much less anybody else's.
Where can I get a copy of your CD?
We were hoping to have a CD ready and available by the end of 2008, but a busy schedule has forced us to push the deadline back until Q1 2009. Sorry for the wait!
Do you have songs for sale on iTunes?
Not yet, but once the CD is finished we will offer songs at several online music distribution sites.
How can I contact you?
You can reach us at web[at]shadow13[dot]com. Due to the high volume of email we get, our inboxes become quite scary. We try to respond to as much email as possible, which takes a while, so don't get offended or take it personally if we don't get back to you right away. We don't want to have to implement a strict "no email" policy, so please make sure you try to limit your questions to just the really important ones. Use it, but don't abuse it.
Who answers all your emails?
All seven guardians answer emails when we can, but our manager and two assistants aid us by also answering messages when we are unavailable. Any of us can reply to an email, so there is a 7/10 chance that fans will talk to an actual guardian.
Why is the website construction taking so long?
Instead of hiring some fancy pants web designer, we decided to do everything on our own. None of us have ever done this kind of stuff before, which means we have to learn as we go, hence the slow progress.
Due to a hectic touring schedule and the fact that Kage, who is computer illiterate, insists on doing it all by himself, the webpage has been taking a little longer than expected. Just remember, patience is a virtue and ninjas do not make good web designers.
