Spire of All Knowledge

Heralded long ago as the benevolent Fount of Knowledge, Shadow Milk Cookie is the antithesis of what his Witch-given purpose once was: he is a malicious trickster who relishes in chaos, confusion, and inequity. This sly entertainer spends his immortality in the Spire of Deceit, gaily weaving untruths and scheming to release Earthbread from its shackles of virtue with his lackeys Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie. Behind his mask of mirth, however, lies a lonely soul whose disillusionment wore him down to the cruel, manipulative individual he is today. Shadow Milk Cookie wields the power of Deceit, a corrupted side of the Virtue of Knowledge he once held. He was the original owner of Head Icon Pure Vanilla Cookie's Soul Jam, being stripped of it upon his descent into villainy. Shadow Milk Cookie is a spindly, average height Cookie with powder blue dough and two differently colored eyes: one cyan right eye with a black slit pupil and black eyelashes, and one cerulean left eye with a white slit pupil and white eyelashes. His mouth is sapphire blue and sly, having teeth which change between straight and sharp depending on his emotions. About his right eye is a pale blue, claw-shaped marking. He has white locks of hair near his face—two that fall against his forehead and one slicked back—azure curled sidelocks, and glossy, sharp, long hair in a dual-toned shadow and lapis style that resembles the extents of a jester's hat. Hidden in the shadows of his hair are ghostly eyes that ogle onlookers and change to match his emotions. Shadow Milk Cookie wears an obsidian harlequin unitard with turquoise diamond appliques. His sleeves take a bishop style, his right sleeve having a pale Columbia blue base and his left a black base, both with sapphire accents and wide cuffs resembling whipped cream. The jester wears a ruff collar from which hang curling coattails with a ghostly blue lining and a black outside. Upon its lining are more gazing eyes. He wears his eye-like Soul Jam of Deceit as a brooch on his collar in the same place that Pure Vanilla Cookie wears his own Soul Jam. Shadow Milk Cookie also holds a jester hat split into black and cobalt halves, having a milk-splash crown about its rim and blueberry-shaped pompoms at its extending tassels. He holds a thin black staff with a blueberry eyeball handle and another milk design at its neck, its eye-like design being a direct reflection of Pure Vanilla Cookie's own orchid staff.

Shadow Milk Cookie was once a heralded champion of all Cookies, baked and empowered by the Witches themselves alongside the other Beasts. He was granted the divine Virtue of Knowledge, becoming known as the Fount of Knowledge. However, despite his nigh-omniscient perception of the world, he saw how Cookies often shied away from bitter Truths and chose to believe in sweet Deceits instead. Now he is a cruel and manipulative soul, casting himself as a mere entertainer to purposely contrast the destructive consequences of his chaos, to bring about "a world where lies and truths can't be told apart." Shadow Milk Cookie is a theatrical villain, changing reality into an illusory counterfeit stage to host his performances. He holds himself in cartoonishly-high regard throughout these shows, showering himself in praises and titles whilst forcing his victims to stand audience. Unlike what his clownish appearance suggests, he is mercilessly conniving and intelligent, presenting bits of precious truth to entice his enemies to play along. However, such showmanship and promises of clarity primarily serve as a means for him to corrupt his victims with a deluge of poisonous ideas, slowly twisting their goals to his own ends. He relishes in making a spectacle of his enemies through his performances, battering them with bombastic lies interwoven with undeniable truths. Should opportunities to drive his hapless targets even further off the precipice of morality present themselves, Shadow Milk Cookie does not even hesitate to pursue them, even at the ultimate cost of his grand plans.

As the antagonistic counterpart to Pure Vanilla Cookie and the original owner of his Soul Jam, Shadow Milk Cookie embodies deception and chaos rather than truth and healing. He sees Pure Vanilla Cookie as both an unlawful thief of his power and a naive would-be savior doomed to also fall into despair, and thus torments him with truths and untruths alike. Similarly, he is more than eager to inflict anguish upon Elder Faerie Cookie and White Lily Cookie, two Cookies who also stand against his return to power.

Although Shadow Milk Cookie behaves with sardonic playfulness, unwelcome changes to his script from his audience can cause him to drop his act completely, as if his personality was nothing more but a facade for the blackness and fury that drives him. Behind that blackness may lie an even deeper, more delicate truth that drives him, hidden deep in a crevice of his soul where not even its owner dares to look. Ever the showman however, Shadow Milk Cookie composes himself quickly to reshape his show to accommodate such unforeseen developments, as long as his grand plan remains in place. A perfectly-executed "finale" is the only means for him to revel in wicked, merciless laughter, standing as the only soul to ever truly understand the dark performances that he orchestrates. Shadow Milk Cookie is primarily based on the court jester, contrasting Head Icon Pure Vanilla Cookie's role as a just king; jesters are directly tied to kings, as they were designated by decree to be the official entertainers of a royal court. They had the freedom to throw insults at anyone in the court without possibility of reprisal, even the king himself, and could even be the means of sharing bad news that no other messenger would risk delivering in person. Shadow Milk Cookie's seemingly-untouchable nature can be seen as a reflection of the court jester's immunity to reprisal, while his endless mocking of others serves as a clear extension of the jester's duties. But whereas jesters were subservient to kings, Shadow Milk Cookie subverts his role by wielding a cruel amount of power over his counterpart Pure Vanilla Cookie.

The archetype of the jester and fool would be further reinvented in the plays of William Shakespeare, who often used them to be the orators of truths that other characters in the play failed to see. Later in history, traveling bands mimicking the court jester tradition would evolve into pantomime actors, who would occupy the stage and entertain crowds with comedic tales and enacted fables. The most relevant of these roles to Shadow Milk Cookie is the Harlequin, a role that took its name from Alichino, a devil named in Dante's Inferno. The Harlequin was a light-hearted, clever servant that wore a checkered costume and was capable of feats of acrobatics and magic, often undermining the master he served with his antics. Another relevant role is Harlequin's complement, the Clown: a buffoonish lower class idiot whose actions always resulted in chaos. One of Shadow Milk Cookie's most common motifs is the eye, which is present in any space warped by his influence. Eyes can often symbolizes sight and recognition of one's material reality; conversely, a closed eye symbolizes blindness to reality.[1] Even prior to his fall, Shadow Milk Cookie's Soul Jam featured an eye slit, suggesting a power able to perceive the world around it, unlike its other fellow Soul Jams. However, Shadow Milk Cookie's eyes all feature a vertical slit which is a common feature of predatory ambush animals, alluding to their dangerous nature. Their colors often being dark-blue against a black background also give the impressions of unknowable beings that wait in the darkness, which are a common element of the cosmic horror genre, where terrible truths overwhelm hapless scholars who would seek them out. Shadow Milk Cookie's corruption drastically multiplies the eyes on his design and his surroundings, suggesting not a single entity but multiple ones, much like how multiple lies can each pretend to be the actual truth.

Relating to Christian theology, the closest relevant example of the eye is the Eye of Providence, the all-seeing eye of God that sees and knows all things. Providence itself, however, is signified by the triangle that surrounds the eye; without it, the eye alone can only symbolize knowledge without divinity. This idea is especially represented in the Eye that appears behind Shadow Milk Cookie as he gains star promotions; the Eye first in only dark-blue colors, but adopts elements and colors symbolizing light and purity, such as a stylized rays of light colored tarnished gold. Thus does the eye represent the idea of a false Providence pretending to be the true one, which exemplifies Shadow Milk Cookie taking on the role of Lucifer—the Devil himself, a deceitful demagogue, to contrast Pure Vanilla Cookie's role as a savior figure.

Supposedly a creation of the Beast of Deceit himself, Candy Apple Cookie is committed to her master's cause of spreading chaos—both for the fun of it, and to earn his praise. This gleeful imp insists she was born from the first lie ever told, a lie covered in syrup sweet enough to make anyone turn their back on truth. She often schemes alongside her far less giddy cohort Black Sapphire Cookie.

Candy Apple Cookie's most notable act of deception was her masquerade as Apple Faerie Cookie, in which she feigned innocence to lead Head Icon Pure Vanilla Cookie and his friends straight into Shadow Milk Cookie's scheming hands. Candy Apple Cookie is a tiny, petite Cookie with washed light dough with pale pink cheeks. She has round scarlet colored eyes with white rhombus shaped pupils and white eyelashes separated from her lids. Her mouth forms a cat-like smile and has a single short fang. She has white hair with a grayish-pink stripe in the middle and on the back of her head are two glossy candy apples, akin to pigtails, with black bows at their base. She has stubby black horns and devil-like wings with a black frame and cherry-colored membrane on her waist.

As for her attire, Candy Apple Cookie wears a Victorian styled black dress with short, puffy transparent sleeves, a short white neck apron, a largely white ruffle rim and a red bow on the back. Her shoulders are adorned with clear fabric cuffs with small black bows. She wears a large black bow tie around her neck. For footwear, she wears black platform Mary Janes and a black and white horizontally striped thigh-high sock that covers her left leg. Candy Apple Cookie's personality is as captivating as her glossy, candy-coated exterior—syrupy sweet on the surface but with a core steeped in deception. She may seem immature and playful, yet underneath that she is cunning, a master of trickery who delights in leading others astray with a honeyed voice and an innocent smile. Every fib she spins is carefully crafted, woven like spun sugar into something irresistible, and she adores watching Cookies fall for her mischief. However, her trickery isn't just for fun—it's an endless performance, each act staged in the hopes of gaining Shadow Milk Cookie's favor. In addition to deception, Candy Apple Cookie loves to dress up, putting on the sweetest syrups to fool enemies or to please Shadow Milk Cookie. Candy Apple Cookie also likes to draw, she tends to draw and sketch pictures of her, Black Sapphire Cookie and of course, Shadow Milk Cookie. She also likes creating things, such as costumes, including her horns and wings. Besides this, Candy Apple Cookie is disinterested in most anything else.

Though she rarely shows it, Candy Apple Cookie harbors a deep fear of being unwanted. Her loyalty to Shadow Milk Cookie is absolute—bordering on obsession—and she constantly seeks his validation, yearning for even the smallest gesture of approval, and wishing for him to have her be his main focus.

Black Sapphire Cookie is a loyal follower of Shadow Milk Cookie, being more mature and subtle compared to his impish cohort Head Icon Candy Apple Cookie. This Cookie's suave, refined radio host persona contrasts his passion for broadcasting slander on the Cookies of Earthbread, all for the fun of watching chaos ensue. Black Sapphire Cookie finds very little worth in things like truth and virtue; to him, what matters most is that everyone remains entertained—even at the expense of others.

Black Sapphire Cookie is a tall, lanky individual; he is compact with rounded shapes, and holds a confident posture. His dough color is a cool grayish-purple and his face has a confident expression with gleaming sharp teeth. One of his eyes is completely hidden beneath the bangs of his fluffy, short hair, which falls over most of his face in violet-rimmed obsidian waves. His other eye is partially visible, being deep black and sly with a pointed slit pupil in lavender.

His outfit resembles one of a sophisticated host or entertainer: a tailored black suit with gold accents. A crisp white cravat is tied at the collar and swirling gold lines the lapels of his jacket. He accessorizes with luxurious baubles like oval onyx earrings, a matching brooch, and a white rose on his left lapel. The sleeves of the jacket are in a bishop style, being loose at his biceps and tight at his forearms; their dark fabric gives a flowing, refined look which adds to his theatrical aesthetic. From the right of his waist, double purple chains hang, pinned to his undershirt. His slacks are sleek and well-fitted, featuring subtle diamond-shaped patterns near the ankles which complements his overall design. Behind his legs sit a set of devilish, bat-like wings in shades of purple. Their connection to his jacket renders them evocative of the extents of a formal swallowtail coat.

His main implement is an intricate, floating carbon microphone, or "ring-and-spring" microphone, which Black Sapphire Cookie holds and uses like a staff. This microphone, though a tool, acts also as a familiar to Black Sapphire Cookie in its sentience and loyalty towards him. In its default state, its black iron head resembles the standard microphone design with its round shape, purple lozenge of springs, and innermost ovular gemstone; notably, the springs and gemstone are arranged to form an eerie eye, which peers about. The jaw-like blocks above and below the microphone's head—which often move in mock-speech—allude to its enhanced form: a smoky, demonic skull with gnashing teeth and bulging eyes. Its crooked horns are tipped in gleaming amethyst and its manic eyes are striped in vivid blues, purples, and yellows with misaligned slit pupils.

Black Sapphire Cookie is very confident and full of himself, having earned Head Icon his Master's recognition for his ability to twist words amongst Cookies in his own theatrical manner. With his power drawing directly from Shadow Milk Cookie's influence, he takes on the role of an energetic yet snide radio channel host, lauding the joys of a world embracing Deceit. Behind the scenes, he can be blunt about his true thoughts, upsetting Candy Apple Cookie with his nonchalance to her antics or boasting about the grandeur of the Spire of Deceit above mere kingdoms.

Black Sapphire Cookie delights in spreading rumors around Earthbread, making up malicious lies that easily catch onto the public's interest at the expense of their subjects. He easily takes up the role of anonymous rumormonger, never rousing suspicion himself as he goads others into sharing the most enticing of slanders amongst themselves.

Left of the spire is a small village to rest. The village, despite being peaceful, is still filled with monsters. The people here are merely illusions, as they are puppets of Shadow Milk, or ARE Shadow Milk. The people are mostly fortune tellers, storytellers, shepherds (who raise wolves?) nearly crumbled cookies, and a towerkeeper. The towerkeeper will only let you in if you answer his riddle. The spire is atop of a mountain.

Upon going to the spire, its much bigger in the inside. The inside is filled with blue pictures of people (presumably shadow milk’s disguises), giant clocks, and mirrors. Mostly everything is white bricks. There are also books that are just complete lies. There is also a giant statue of what was the Fount of Knowledge. The spire on the outside is a giant tower with some pillars with graduation hats, giant books, fount of knowledge statues, and a blocked off roof? It was most likely a school or library where people used to write and read. The sky is filled with constellations, and an always crecent moon. The “top” is a library section which is filled with old librarians, poets, and philosophers. Upon reaching what is presumably the top of the spire, the whole thing shifts into a more chaotic spectacle and blue transformation. The sky is now like a theater play, the spire is now a giant labyrinth, and the blocked off roof is now open. The inside of the spire now is more blue, the pictures look at you (and maybe talk?) and at very top of the spire is a VIP room covered in shadows. And also after staying in that room, you get teleported into Shadow Milk's own personal tower.

The tower is much more bigger and taller than the spire. Infact, its right next to it. The tower has a yogurt river of rebirth, hallway of distortion, giant chess games, and tainted illusions of your friends. There is also a room specifically designated for you. The very pinnacle of the tower is shadow milk's hall, where its just you and him.

The village and spire is filled with monsters.. Those monsters are the Lance, Spear, Axe, Trumpet, and Musket Chaos Rabbits, Chaos Preformers, Jesters of Chaos, Mirrors of Confusion, Befuddlement, Hand Mirrors of Confusion, Chaos Chess Knights, Chaos Lancers, Snakes of Lies, Chaos Commanders, and Owls of Lies. and somewhere in the spire is Two-Faced Lies. Its a magician and it has 2 forms. the sheep form is his normal form, mainly used for disguise, and the wolf form is when he is mad. both of his forms have a crystal ball. in his sheep form, he has alot of wool with blue stars, he also has ram horns. he forgot to cover up the wolf tail and legs in this form. In his wolf form, the crystal ball is broken, the wool has eye patterns, and in the middle is his skin with a symbol from ancient times. And in the core, is a milky core called ‘Broken Belief.’ Its attacks are that can make it rain darts, Summon Tarot Cards, slam the ground, Warp space, summoning a wolf's hand from the other-realm to attack, can breath Ice, Fire and Toxic Breath Calls upon three gusts of storm, can summon A giant crown falls from the sky, make jt rain cards, and Magic hands emerge from the other-realm, attack Cookies, and disappear. They strike 3 times.

In shadow milk's tower, more powerful enemies are here such as Rabbits of lies, Commanders of lies, Harp of lies, Cards of Judgement, Chalice, and the Moon, All shining with lies. Wolves in sheeps clothing, Haetaes of lies, Scrolls of lies, Totem of lies, and the Champion of Chaos.

Minor characters here are painters, teachers, and philosophers