I'm also wearing one of those Gale is working for Shar tin foil hats.
But besides the symbol we do have a chosen of Jergal hanging out in our camp (or perhaps an old avatar). And clerics of the dead three get a dismissive line from the skeleton telling them he will serve but isn't really on side with their god. Jergal has always worked to subtly undermine the dead three and he could be doing so again.
But yes, all signs point to Shar and Shar is often the master mind in the shadows -- but is she absolute, is she aiding the absolute or is she part of the absolute?
It seems to me rather the opposite: that Shar is the enemy of the absolute. My guess
It's Shar who tampered with the tadpole using shadow magic and this magic is what shields your character from the absolute's powers. Which is why the goblin priestess, once she sees "the shadows" in your mind when you talk to her, tries to kill you. The absolute cannot access your mind directly; it can only "see you" through the goblin (since it seems to have a direct mind link to its followers) and gives the order to kill you once they notice the netherese magic on the tadpole. Which also implies that everytime you use the tadpole powers you weaken the shadow magic protecting your mind, and that is why the absolute can now invade your dreams.
