Sheng Seleris is the nightmare of the Lunar subconscious. He is trapped in a Lunar Hell, but every Lunar has nightmares of his escape. These nightmares grew in frequency and terror after the rise of the Boat Planet in 1624. Now that the Redlands are in full revolt, and the King of Wings has defeated the Lunar Army of the south and conquered the satrapy of Oraya, the threat of Sheng’s escape grow. In 1625, the King of Wings invaded First Blessed and the Red Emperor was forced to personally thwart an attempt by Sheng Seleris to slip out of the Underworld. This weakened the Red Emperor and he could not stop the Dragonrise (and instead had to use much of his remaining strength to drive off the awakened True Dragon).
The Red Emperor has ordered that most of the remaining garrisons of the Lunar Provinces be stripped and sent to First Blessed to defend Blessed Torang itself. Jar-eel – the Fourth Inspiration of Moonson – has been tasked with defending the birthplace of the Red Goddess.
And every good Lunar fears that this is all being coordinated by Sheng Seleris, smiling in his infernal realm.
Sheng Seleris may be imprisoned in a Lunar Hell, but that means he is now within us. He lurks in our subconscious. He seeks to escape, preying on our fears and weaknesses, and giving strength to our enemies.
I have heard a story that the Red Emperor never sleeps so that Sheng Seleris cannot enter his dreams. The endless party is there so that whenever the Red Emperor grows weary, he might be enlivened through drugs and debauchery. And when that proves insufficient, he consumes so that his sleep has no dreams.
What is Godunya’s take on this? The awakening of a True Dragon in Dragon Pass is a sign that Godunya shall soon reach his final deathless state and abandon his material form, liberated from the dreams and suffering of this world.
Sheng Seleris is just another fitful nightmare in this recurring dream of suffering and desire. True liberation lies only in the emptiness of the void.