Shade
| Please note: The following information is scarcely known. As such, you cannot assume to be aware of this information unless taught about it in-character. |
|---|
|
Background
The Birth of Desolation
A great devilry brought forth in the time of Aegis - its very essence a corrupting twisting destroyer of all normalcy in the souls of those befallen - came, as all great evil does, from the principal chaos of our world, the Archdaemon Iblees.
During this age of darkness and strife many fought against the Archdaemon and his forces, spewing a deep hatred and zealous denial towards him and the chaos he sowed. A fair few, however, were deemed worthy of passing by his ire and were therefore brought forth to serve among his undead legions. One select soul, however, was chosen above all others, that of the Elf, Rilath Ilwindor, who became the first malign, the first Shade. What became of his soul was a unrecognizable ulterior to that which is norm. What was once a platform of untainted emotion became a dreadful hellscape of desolation and darkness. And yet Rilath, unlike all who would follow in his footsteps, never fell to the clutches of insanity of the Parasite for his mind was unable to resist its control.His consciousness was forever suppressed by the will of the creature within him, and so was born a powerful agent, a once-faithful servant of Iblees.
Rilath went forth into the world a being elevated beyond that of his former self. The creature which now walked among men hid a great stiring evil within him that desired to spread its being among those worthy of its curse. To achieve this end an artifact of indiscernible power was brought into existence, birthed of the Archdaemon and known as the Shade Gem. This stygian stone was an amalgamation manifesting chaos and anger, bringing along the knowledge of creation of creatures infused with such destructive emotions. Using this artifact Rilath was taught to birth new Shades, bringing together the first Coven and all the while loosening Iblees’ influence over the Shades. Their autonomy in growth and direction was indubitable with the power to spread independent of Iblees. Too was born among the churning evil of the gem, the trapped Mother, Arun’Asna, a gathering of the warring emotions within, a whole greater than its parts.
Darkness in the Light
As time went on Arun’Asna lay within the first shade gem, and every gem created thereafter, her essence split between each gem acting as the conduit through which all new Shades are born and ushered beyond the limitations of their initial birth. The stagnancy of this life became an unbearable force perpetually eating away at Arun’Asna, her desire to ascend to something greater was a great impetus, known and demanding action. The offspring of chaos, a child indirect of the Lord Daemon, her ambition knew few bounds and her yearning for anarchic repute rejected permiancy to her state. The ample power of the Forebearers was beyond understanding for most, and yet was understood perfectly to her. The Daevas knew few blockades in their work, mundane or magical. Knowing one great sacrifice was all required to elevate her state of being; She recalled the gifted power and snapped the connection between her and her forbearing children, thus ushering the Shades into a new era. With this restored power, Arun’Asna stepped forth and ameliorated herself from the prison of the gems, bringing her being into one omnipresent before all Shades, now freed fully from the cage of stagnancy she had been born into.
As consequence for her actions those who once knew themselves as her chosen, the Forebearers, were returned to the nightmarish existence they had once freed themselves from, knowing not if they would one day return to their thrones. The rush of voices, the return of the call for evil and never ending chaos came upon them like a great tidal wave, quite suddenly returning them to the true insanity of Shadedom. All were made equal beneath the watchful eye of the ascended Arun’Asna, unchained Mother of all Shades. She heralded her children to unity. Her voice echoed across the cords that formed the web intertwining the gems and Shades. Her children and their Fathers were gifted a clear path forward. So were set in stone the tenants serving to weed out all poor fools who believed themselves free of directive. Arun’Asna sought obedience, for with the newfound nonexistence of Daeva she desired to keep the order they had once enforced, bringing such responsibility unto herself for the Fathers of the shades to carry out, stripping any reprobate children of their curse for their Parasites to be called back into the gem from which they came ensuing their annihilation.
The Malignant Child
Arun'Asna, Mother of Shades The Harbinger of Tenebrous, the disembodied source of power and desolation of the Shade parasite. All Shade Gems link to Arun’Asna who purloined such responsibility and power into herself from what was previously uncontrolled churning chaos birthed by Iblees. The Shade Gems act as the conduit through which Arun’Asna beckons and acts. However, if a Shade Gem were to be destroyed, it would not mean the end of those connected to Arun’Asna, nor would it mean a debilitation of a Shade’s ability to utilize the boon. Any created Shade Gem allows for the full fledged connection of a new Shade to Arun’Asna regardless of through which gem this connection was formed, as well as the removal of a Shade parasite from the soul. The Shade Gems are not ultimately vital to the existence of the Shade curse as they serve but to allow Shades to ascend to the post of Shade Father and to broadcast to those afflicted with the Shade curse, an ability reserved for the Shade Fathers that effectively lets a message resonate within the minds of the Shades.
Mechanics *Any formed Shade Gem acts as a conduit through which Shades ascend to the post of Shade Father, requiring a Shade to be connected to the Gem and through the Gem to Arun’Asna to ascend beyond tier three at which they are locked if they are not connected.
Redlines *Arun’Asna is a sentient entity who communicates through her gems to all connected on extraordinarily rare cases. Her existence is something that must be explained ICly to new Shades as it does not come innately. While Shades may feel her presence they do not immediately understand it. Even Shade Fathers do not completely know who she is. If a player is removed or temporarily stripped of Shade magic OOCly, such as due to a blacklist, ban, or inactivity, Arun’Asna acts as the lore reason for their temporary or permanent disconnection or Amber connection removal. Arun’Asna is not housed within the current, nor within any Shade Gem that exists. Instead they are like air. You can’t see it, but it’s there.
| |||||||||||||||
