The Shallows

An unnamed Midnight Article regarding "The Shallows," was written by u/cheezbags and posted on r/MidnightPaper.

The text for the Article was as follows:

You likely have no idea what The Shallows are, but some do. It's a phenomenon involving a game, and it can lead to a fate worse than death

The first phase involves finding a small body of water, such as a pond, or small lake, then, the player must recite "I hereby pledge my soul to the Black Mist and my consciousness to the King In The Clouds"

The second phase begins with the water turning slowly black, with mist beginning to form above the surface, and as the mist turns black, The King In The Clouds will descend from his Throne of agony

The third phase begins when the King raises his Scepter and judges your soul, if he finds you unworthy, he adds you to his Throne, but if he finds you worthy, he will allow one request be made, which he will complete

So my question to you is, are you worthy?

Description:

The Shallows is a Trend-Type Oddity involving a game or challenge. It is a ritual of sorts that has to take place over a body of water of shallow depth, like a pond or small lake, and involves summoning an entity known as The King in the Clouds.

Players who fail the King's judgement of their souls are added to his Throne of Agony in some way, whether this be physically or if their disembodied souls are placed there by some unknown means.

Players who succeed are able to ask the King for a request, which he will then complete. It is not known what they limitations of this request are, or how far-reaching they can be.

The King's Scepter is of some importance, as it may hold the key to both the process of adding failed players to the Throne or of granting the "winners" their requests.

UPDATE:

u/cheezbags received a second issue of the Midnight Paper regarding The King in the Clouds, which provided some more information about this strange entity. It specifies that The Shallows "has gained popularity among bored teens," with many of them having disappeared as a result of playing this dangerous game.

The King in the Clouds:

The second issue specifies that The King in the Clouds is the ruler of a place known as V'ratar, "a city of monsters and other ungodly creations." It states that he is the "most ugly, vile, and cruel creation ever birthed from the Crow Mother."

The Crow Mother itself is a powerful eldritch being that births monsters and powerful entities from a hole in its chest. The creatures the Mother births hope to consume "the fear ichor of humans." "Ichor" is defined as "the fluid that flows like blood through the veins of gods." How exactly these creatures are able to harness this from humans is unknown. However, it isn't hard to imagine that, upon being greeted by the eldritch abominations birthed from the Crow Mother, a human being's fear would reach levels so extreme that a being from another plane of existence would find it suitable as sustenance.

This second issue enlightens the reader about The King in the Clouds' scepter and throne.

The Throne of Agony:

Previously, it was speculated that the Throne of Agony might be made up of either the souls or bodies of those who failed The Shallows ritual. Indeed, this second issue confirms that the Throne is made up of the bodies of those who failed the King's judgement. It specifies that, "the Throne is a chair made up of the screaming amalgamation of the humans he finds unworthy. The Throne renders any being added to it immortal and inflicts great pain. The purpose of this is to keep the fear ichor flowing."

About this fear ichor, the second issue also stated that it "keeps the inhabitants of V'ratar alive and temporarily makes them more powerful."

The Scepter:

Previously, it was speculated that the King's Scepter might be a powerful artifact of its own right. But it seems that that speculation was incorrect. Indeed, it appears that the Scepter only possess power when the King himself is holding it. It is an ordinary scepter, but when it is wielded by the King, it "can be used to destroy a soul or to rebuild it." It also grants the King the power to lift beings and objects at will. The issue stated that Scepter was forged in Balos, an alternate dimension where crystals are abundant. The Scepter itself has been created from one such crystal, known as the "Soulstone crystal."