"I guess we know from where the Netherese shadow magic is coming from now..."
The tadpole tampering seems to be a more recent event. If there is a source of the shadow magic at moonrise towers it makes sense for someone to go there and exploit it. Why don't the tadpoles need to eat? Something must power them. We know that humanoids can be sustained by big ion stones, maybe the same works for splinters and tadpoles.
The tadpoles are technically in stasis, that's probably why they don't eat. They are in suspended animation unless you use them going by the explanations after using them or getting it upgraded by Omeluum. If pocked enough they will eat chunk of your brain and grow bigger. Also probably why they can cause insta-transformation as seen in the ship if you play the console in one of the room. I said it previously, but I don't think the stasis is caused by the shadow magic. That's a modification done by the mindflayers. I think the shadow magic is what stop you and the other party members from being thralls and under the control of the Absolute from the get go, like all the others we have seen infected.
As for the shadow magic, my point was more that the only source had to be the Shadow Curse. Whatever it's just a side effect because it's all over the area (Haslin's note does say it corrupts everything living) or because someone is using it on purpose is something we will only understand once we have the rest of Act 1 I think.
