Shadow assassin

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A shadow assassin is a form of magic used by Melisandre to murder Renly Baratheon and Ser Cortnay Penrose during the Siege of Storm's End. Since a shadow is a "servant of the light", the sorceress is able to invoke the human-like shadow assassin and direct it against her enemy. The shadow assassin is formed through an act of sexual intercourse between Melisandre and her liege, Stannis Baratheon. After a period of "gestation", Melisandre can invoke the shadow being by "birthing" it. During the birth, the shadow assassin is visible and takes the form recognizable as Stannis Baratheon. Later, the shadow assassin becomes more shadow-like and difficult to detect by eye. The shadow being is armed with a sword, similar to the flaming sword wielded by Stannis. When the shadow assassin attacks its target it is nearly invisible. It uses its sword and stabs for the neck before disappearing.

The effect on Stannis Baratheon is significant. He appears to have aged years after siring a shadow assassin on Melisandre. Perhaps this is why no shadow assassin is used during the attack on King's Landing. Stannis perceives the actions of the shadow assassin as though they his own dream.

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