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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:45 pm
[[entering]]
The other Shadows seemed so much better suited for this than she did. The way they spoke, the way they carried themselves in the presence of their King. Not like her, pulling on the end of her hood to better hide her anxiety as she waited for the others to speak their peace and gather her nerves to do the same.
Why she had been called before the ShadowLord, she did not know. All she could imagine was the misfortune and blunders that would follow her as she tried to fight for her Kingdom. This couldn't go well, really... it couldn't. Well, for the others, it probably would go a lot better.
The small female Shadow glanced nervously at the others, noticing a lull in the speakers before she gathered the courage to step forward. "My lord," she began as steady as she could, "I am known as The Tower ... t-though, you may call me Maple if it also p-pleases you," oh man, this was already not going well.
"I ... would like to prove myself to you, my lord, that ... I am not a coward," Maple said, it was at least to the point, as she held up a hand to the middle of her chest. Slowly, from behind her, a large Stag like beast appeared and circled around her. It's eyes red like her's with simple horns protruding from its forehead much like her own as well. "I-I simply want to fight for you, my lord and to be one of your Dark Heralds and bring down your enemies."
Would that do it? Well, hopefully that would do it. She couldn't think of anything else really to say. Maple pushed her lips together tightly and bowed awkwardly before stepping back to where she had been before, her Shade following wordlessly behind.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:07 pm
She was called. A word spoken and she knew existence, felt wind and shadow whistle against her form. She turned in the air, looked out over her home, where she belonged. Loved in an instant its constant change and endless mystery. She fell.
Never had the Sun been happier to embrace the darkness.
Time had not dimmed that terrible joy. The petite figure sat at the table, garbed in black armor, wearing a black mask with a sun carved into it like a singular eye, and while Shadow, somehow, she shone. Light shined from the carving in her mask, and winked from the folds of her clothing. She beamed as those before her pledged themselves to her King, and watched in fascination as they displayed their skill.
What wonderful news, to know that their Kingdom would go to war! To fight, and kill, and perhaps be killed!
As Maple took her spot, Sun rose, stepped away from the table, and dashed toward the King, grinning happily. She whirled on the ball of one foot, shadow and light intermingling as they spun out from her body. They twisted into cruel, bright barbs. Sun froze, and the barbs froze as well, mere inches from the King. They held for the space of a breath, and then faded to wisps once more.
"You Called me once, my King." she said, admiration in each word, kneeling at his feet. "You Named me. You Made me! What greater purpose could exist, other than to answer your Call once more? I am your weapon, my King. Loose me at the Foe."
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:32 pm
"My King." She said in greeting, raising to her feet when her turn came. Patience was a virtue, and this creature had it in spades; as the others spoke she listened to them silently, giving them her undivided attention until it was her turn. The only time her attention strayed was in between speakers, where she took the chance to look around the table, to admire the Shadows that had been gathered and to acknowledge that each and every single one belonged where they sat.
"I see familiar faces, some moreso than others...It is a pleasure to see some of you again, and to meet the rest." The shadow creature bowed to those present out of due respect, the ripples of pale yellow shifting through the so called fabric, bringing to mind the sparking of light through shifting leaves. When she straightened she turned towards their King once more, offering him a bow of his own, this one deeper to convey the respect and reverence that he deserved.
"As you know, I go by the name Amrita...but I am The Moon." Long claws rested with an almost calculated care on the table in front of her, her nails covering her name and some of her supposed heroics. "Knowing where you come from is important. It shapes who you are, and it creates the creatures we are today. So I admit, my Lord, that I began with all the doubt, anxiety and tension befitting my card, but as I grew and walked the Kingdom, as I fought with and for you I fought it, the very thing that creates my core. I used the uncertainty to my advantage and forged a strong path for myself. I realized why you would bestow such a card on me; you made me strong through hardships. I am now no stranger to these feelings, and as such our Enemies will not be able sway me with them, though they have tried in the past." The Shadow puffed up almost proudly before she continued.
"I'm sure of who I am and where I belong, and nothing will change that. As always, I will remain loyal to you, my King...and to everyone of you who continue to fight for His cause -" She moved, briefly tearing her attention from their glorious King to those seated around the table, gesturing widely to include them. Like everyone else in the room she served the King, but the he wasn't the only one in their Kingdom. They may have been his pawns, but they all fought for the collective goal. There was strength in numbers. "-Until the very end, and beyond."
"I will continue make our Enemies see their own inner Shadows. I will continue cast doubt and fear into their weak little minds. I will crush them with the weight of their own dark imaginations, or I will continue do it with my own claws." Amrita had no dramatic show to display, no impressive theatrics to prove her point past the brief, graceful curl of claws into a beckoning fist. Aside from that, all she had was herself, her voice, and the determined, focused stare behind a wisp-like veil. She was proud of herself and how far she had come, and she was eager to stretch her long claws. She wanted to feel the peel of skin, the resistance of the flesh and the satisfying snap of bones. For herself, for those like her, for her King and for the glory of the Black Kingdom. The creature grinned then, a line of jagged fangs glowing on her dark face, though half was somewhat obscured by the veil. It was a cruel grin, full of malice and rarely shown - but almost always felt - blood lust. "They will regret every slight they have ever given us."
"And so I offer myself - and my years of dedicated service - as Tribute for you to use as you see fit, my King. I have lived and fought for you, and no matter the role you bestow upon me, I will always live and fight for you - die for you, if necessary. I leave the decision in your capable claws." The creature offered one final bow before she shifted, taking her seat once more.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:39 am
[[Entering]]
Her first memory was of the great fall, into the Darkness of the Black Kingdom.
Why did she fall? She had wings, Azmodel was pretty sure of that, so why did she not stop her free falling? The living must have done something to her, and she would bring them death in return.
Death was the name she knew was hers once she touched the ground.
Her white hair sure does stand out in the Black Kingdom, and that is why she wears a hooded cloak, but her grey skin and pitch black wing-like appendages display her belonging in the darkness without doubt.
And today the King was calling her for the great battle. Such joy was filling her at being deemed worthy of the Shadowlord's presence.
Taking a deep breath the shadow stood and presented herself to the King.
"My Lord, I am The Death, and I long to bring it to your enemies. Some call me Azmodel, and I would gladly become one of your Dark Heralds. Through Death I would become better to serve you. My sword is yours until either I or your opponents find their end."
After a deep bow , she let the next shadow to present themselves.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:28 am
((entering))
As Death finished her piece, two pairs of hands began to clap, one quick and giddy and genuine, the other slow and languid and mocking. It wasn't long until their rhythm synchronized with each other, beats matching in time until it could very well have just been one person making their applause before abruptly ending in silence. Two mouths pulled into a smile, one nervous but eager with the barest hint of teeth, the other wide and confident that reached crimson eyes.
Two figures shared the seat: One dressed in loose fabric, sleeve-ends reaching her fingertips, skirt-hem stopping just short of her boot-clad instep. She sat primly with her back straight, hands folded neatly on her lap. The other figure bared her skin with unabashed delight, her long, shadow-dark hair draped in front of her and out of her large, bat-like wing's way. She was not seated, rather, she had an elbow propped on her seat's backrest, her wings holding herself aloft.
"Mari and I are so very grateful and truly honored you have summoned Us, Our King," the one seated spoke, voice demure, sweet, and with the faintest tinge of desperation.
"It is as Tess says," the winged one agreed, voice strong, sure, and with the faintest tinge of seduction, "And though We are the Lovers, We are still more than eager to join the war."
Tess rose to her feet as she talked, "We can cause confusion, deliver information-"
"-Provide comfort, offer refuge-" Mari continued, the winged torso lowering herself to hover beside the humanoid.
They began to speak in unison, "-Start rumors, act as spies, carry aid, serve as decoy, sacrifice Ourselves, whatever you wish of Her, of Us, of Me," their voices shifted to match the other's pitch, until they declared as one being in one form of one will, "I shall obey!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:02 am
She was silent, listening to the others proclaim their worth to their King, eyes shut as she pondered what she would do.
Marzena did not know why she fell, and hardly cared. Her life of a Shadow was all that mattered. She embraced the darkness that she was, one that was apparent in her clothing choice; mostly that of hues of grey. A spotted pelt was wrapped around her torso, along with a black lacy bolero with a high fur collar that was greyish in color, and dark thigh high boots.
After the Lovers spoke, she finally decided to stand. "Justice." She announced her Arcana out loud with pride. "I am also known as Marzena. I will serve out Justice as you see fit, My King. Let me serve alongside you as a Dark Herald."
There. Short and sweet. With that done, she bowed and seated herself again.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:23 pm
If you are a coward, if you fear the coming storm, leave my sight and never return.
Whelp, Feng was out, time to go home. The dragon beneath him rumbled in deep amusement that Feng could feel and shifted, almost throwing Feng off balance.
You can do this.
Yeah he could but he'd probably make a mockery of himself in the process and maybe break something. Definitely break something. He always broke things. But if this was what his king wanted, he'd go along with it. His duty was to the kingdom and it's denizens. He ran his hands along the dragon's neck, scratching the shade's scales, and they moved forward towards the king as one following Justice.
"I'm the Hanged Man," Feng said, uncertainly. "My king, I would serve you as well as I could, perhaps as a Dark Herald. Or, er. Whatever you should need me for, sir. My skill is yours." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and got the hell out of dodge, because there was only so much weird his king needed to be subjected to.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:04 pm
The Fool watched as her fellow subjects and competitors bandied about for their roles. Inferior, all of them: their talents bland and their words weak. For all her faith in her King, The Fool was not filled with confidence at the displays. She clucked her tongue, sharp and raspy-black against her mouth, her features shifting into something completely blank-- as if she were a mannequin-- to hide her displeasure. Shrinking back into the darkness, the shadow angled towards the one who had pleased her the most. The serpent-wielding Hierophant. The Fool sidled up to her, fingers transformed into ichorous shadow-claws, red eyes dulled down to the red of garnets to avoid catching too many eyes. "If we are not chosen to serve the King," she purred, slinking around the other shadow, Balthazar following close behind, his movements utterly silent, "we should ally ourselves, nonetheless." The darkness parted into another tight grin, separating the rest of her head from her chin, a rasping chuckle escaping. "I do not wish to be thrown to the hounds." The Fool laid a hand upon Balthazar's head, peering down at the shade. "No offence intended, my shade."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:51 pm
Night was getting antsy, with all the gathered Arcana he had yet to make his normal perch and it was showing by the way his green eyes shifted back and forth before sliding out of view. The shadow of the cat boy disappeared, phasing along the table as it lost its size until a animal like figure stood on the shoulder of the armored king.
"King, Your awfully silent with all the warriors gathered, should we play with some? just to get it festive in here?" Of course the black cat was all about fun, without fun...war was boring. Fighting was boring. "Should we play a game of chance?" the voice emitting from the small creature carried over though, perhaps maybe to his brother Arcana, Jericho.
Jericho liked to play games too, and was always enough of a opponent to make it fun.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:55 pm
Jericho had just been standing by up until he heard the suggestion for a game of chance. He loved to fight, but he did love trying his luck all the same. Looking over towards Night, he grinned and made his way over towards the feline shadow. "Did I hear a game of chance? If you want to play, I'm going to say hell yes," he smirked. It would certainly help pass the time. They didn't even need to bet anything in particular.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:59 pm
The Fool.
The Hierophant twisted her head to keep The Fool in her sights, her eyes gleaming just barely with open interest. Such a beautiful specimen, this, and her mouth cracked open in a thin, pleased smile.
"I did not dare to hope, Fool, but you honor me with your request." Long, wispy-thin fingers reached up to stroke the other's cheek with an almost reverent regard.
"Wise words. I will guard your back, and you, mine." What a delightful twist. Even the shade earned a smile, and Nevena could have spun with a giddy sort of joy. She did love the thought of oncoming chaos, delighted in it, and the chance to taste blood was too rare to pass up.
"If I am lucky, Fool, I will see you dance yet."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:04 pm
[[Entering]]
She fell threw the skies here so long ago that the time in between the then and now was lost from her memory. She knew one thing, the hope that one day she'll be needed unlike she was before. That there will be purpose to her being, more so then now.
She stood in the tower this day of never ending night and listened to the kings words. She felt it then, it was guiding her, her feet walked out in front of the king and in a loud and confident voice she spoke. "My lord, I am The Star. I will bring the hope nah belay that, the faith that will help guild us to our win as the one true kingdom. I am yours to command as you see fit, I'll be one of your Dark Heralds or what you see fit for me."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:23 pm
Night waved his paw from the shoulder of Aymet's and grinned.
"Game of cards, the dice? Do you want to barter secrets again Jericho? Or should we assume after my last secret winning that you have no more to share?" Of course Night had lost secrets as well, lots of them. It was worth it for those of others though.
"Or do we bet our treasures?" A cat's gleam shadowed the cat, treasures being highly valuable.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:34 pm
Jericho scoffed at that.
"Of course I have secrets. Also I say a game of dice!" he said a little indignantly. At the suggestion of betting their treasures, he growled a little lowly. He wasn't about to give those up! Secrets were easier to deal with. Though... he could always get more too.
Even so, he decided to go with the former this time around.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:47 pm
As the Lord kept silence thinking their words over, Shenny decided to cast a glance around. The shadows, the nobility and aristocracy of the shadow kingdom, those who were called to best of the best, were sitting there idly chatting and trying to impress each other and, hopefully, their Lord. To be honest, she felt proud to belong to this circle of glorious Shadows, yet she didn't think that much of them all. They were allies, and they were useful to her Lord, but was she feeling a bit jealous? She, and only she could be the most humble, loyal and valuable servant of her Lord, no other shadow could be her equal. It must be true, and if it is not, she has to be better in everything until it would be true.
..meanwhile, who of them all might prove to be the valuable ally? The Devil was reading their silhouettes trying to predict the forthcoming events.
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