Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Moon was high in the sky, its soft light coming down over the battlefield. A bizarre land where sections of earth were suspended in the air as if unaffected by gravity. These sections of floating lands can in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most were large enough to host a single tree. It was a strange site to see a flat barren earth, but above it a floating forest of leaf-less trees.

Standing beneath the pieces of lands that floated above his head, stood a decently tall man in a rather formal attire.

The sound of a violin filled the air, as the well dressed man tried to replicate the feel of the lands through the music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIuotFZnBtk

This man was Dominix, The master of shadows.


A once lush and beautiful forest full of life and magic of pure spanned for miles upon these once elfin grounds, though no longer. Ground so dry that it cracks and splits under the rays of the hot run, protected no longer by the trees that once gave it shade. Stone white trees are the only remains of the forest now, but they are both without leafs and without life. Frozen in time by the magic of this place, they do not fade, but remain as a testament of the sickened lands.
As night falls over this patch of no man’s land the remains of the magic seeps into the earth, the earth shifts and separates as small islands only large enough to hold a single tree or a full grown man lift into the sky. Held airborne by the magic these small islands float in varying heights upon the travelers that walk through these lands under the light of the moon.
The battle will take place upon the battlefield of the floating isles, the elfin graveyard...

Dominix certainty dressed the part of a rich gentlemen like man, the violin being a nature fit to his attire. But despite his arguable awkward clothing choices for combat their was nothing special about his suit that was worth paying mind too. But if one were looking for details, one could point out his suit was wrinkle free, straight and clean. The suit was not a very good outfit that too support mobility, but that wasn't a clear weakness as much as a suggestive hint of how a man like himself would fight.

Dominx enjoyed how this music was matched with voice, creating what he would have called a "lovely duet". One of the best he had maybe had the pleasure of preforming in, but he did not dare judge past that. A man's mind can be so easily tricked by emotions to misjudge a truly masterful tune over a distracting set of eyes or other assets.

With the duet finished, the shadow keeper proceeded with a slight bow as if ending a show. Releasing his grip on the violin, it fell towards the dirt only to drop into its own shadow and disappear from sight.
Reaching into his left pocket jacket, the young Dominix pulled out a pair of white gloves. He spoke as he pulled the first glove tightly over his right hand. "Yes, i am Dominix. You must be Wren" Dominix paused for a second as he went to slip on his second glove. "It appears the flattering rumors about you are more then true." Dominx snapped the button of the final glove and lowered both his hands into his pant's side pockets.

He let out a soft sigh and relaxed his stance from the stiff stance he carried while playing the violin. "But we cannot spend all day admiring each others gift of music."

Dominix raised his right foot slowly, retraining his balance on a single foot perfectly. Closing his eyes, he brought his foot down hard with a flat clap against the ground. This triggers a response from the Dominix's shadow that responded by forming itself into a pair of hounds. As if constructed of ink, their pure black beasts moved freely. The hounds had claws and fangs, but like shadows of dogs they didn't have details they were only three dimension shadow versions of the animals.

The hounds growled, and snarled before the pair catching the scent of Wren off the winds and going after they prey. The dogs were collars to Dominix by long tails expanded and thinned as they ran, the tails linked to the center of Dominix's shadow that rested under him.

This attack proved their was a limit to how much a shadow could expand, but prove it was not limited to the exact size of its original form.

Dominix's eyed Wren as the dogs leaped at her, with teeth ready to bit down on her limbs.

Dominix smiled as Wren had taken full advantage of the shadow puppets weak link of connection to the core source of manipulation. The disconnection, causing the hounds to instantly lose form and their shadow material bodies and retreat back towards Dominix to once again join the "main shadow". This retreat function was near instantaneous, the shadows not effected by means of travel the humanoid body was forced to obey.

Dominix dropped into his own shadow, using the realm of shadows and its coexistence with the material realm to preform a form of teleportation. At least this his how it would appear to those on the material plane. For Dominix only used the shadow plane as a "shorter and faster" means of travel, meaning he did indeed walk the distance just in a more condense version.

Exiting from a shadow on one of the single tree floating islands. Increasing the distance between the two warriors by several meters and giving Dominix the advantage of height as he walked to the edge of the 4 square meter floating earth.

Dominix had to admit, the battlefield wasn't the best suited for his style of combat, though shadows weren't lacking, he didn't have a impressively large number either. After all their was a defining line between shadow and darkness, one often confused by many.

In no rush, Dominix raised both his hands from his pockets and up to about head height as be performed a soft quick clap. This was not an act of mockery, or an applause, but a trigger. Shadow from the trees positioned on their own personal floating island. From the bottom of 5 islands located in a rough star shade around Wren came large black spear heads that came clashing down upon her position on various angles and giving or taking a few feet on aim in order to catch her if she tried to side step. The blades were about a foot wide, but varied in length depending on the distance traveled, the longest being an approximate 21 feet long. Like a spear thrown form horse back, these blades moved fast but not quiet bullet speed. Falling around that of under an arrow shot.

Dominix's naturally smile twisted into a slight frown, this was not meant to be a sign of dislike, but was more a significant expression of this currently thought process. The Shadow bender had been used to fighter dimwitted powerful heads that would act recklessly rather then preforming well thought out actions.
Dominix's left eyebrow raised for a moment as a interesting though came to mind. Her actions were far beyond human thought processing speeds, even if she could see the world more quickly could her mind keep up? But at this point did it even matter? Say perhaps her mind couldn't keep up, with how long she has lived and how much fighting she has most likely experiences her instincts would be better then any human. And therefore having intelligent, almost pre-thought out response could come without thinking. It would be a simply reaction, the bodies built in defensive responses (but a more fine tuned and perfected version).

"Fascinating" Dominix said with a soft voice, mostly to himself. He would have to admit to a degree, he had to envy that skill or speed of the female. Though he himself possessed a mind unlike that of a average mind, his ability to focus came from a sense of calm and focus over an ability to take in and calculate.


Dominix's eyes followed Wren as she felt the ground to took to the air. This was a problem, not only did it prevent the actions Dominix had planned on executing, but it also created a situation in which Dominix had a great disadvantage.

Shadows needed a surface to naturally exist and though Dominix could manipulate them, a target in the air required the stretching of shadows to reach, not to mention travel time. Wren was currently in a location where shadows weren't naturally resting. A fine location to take a breather.

Dominix standing straight and stiff on his floating island, raised a his gloved right hand up to so that his fingers touched his right temple. His head almost resting in his hand and he thought about how he was going to handle this situation. Two ideas came to mind, but one was certainly more dramatic, in both scale and artistic style. But what would it be without a build up. Jumping to such a technique just felt like chugging a bottle a fine wine. No, one had a savor each sip, or at the very least, every glass.

Dominix used his left hand, due to his right being against the side of his face to perform a strong snap of the fingers. Shadows formed from a combination of trees and moon light created small idols shaped like hounds but the size of a wiener dog on each of the floating platforms large enough to host a tree. This would mean, nearly every floating surface's shadows were being controlled. It was indeed common for shadow benders to shadow jump, but their rarely used the shadows for jumping more then just themselves. A foolish thing to overlook, but that criticism being said, not every shadow bender could move objects through the material and shadow plane.

Lowering his right hand he reached into his suit's pocket to reveal shortly a chained pocket watch. Dominix however didn't bother to check the time but rather with a quick flick of the wrist sent the silver colored cased watch speeding at the ground, assisted by the power of gravity.

Within seconds, a logic defining silver chain would criss crossing through out the battlefield, mainly the sky. The chain leaving from the mouths the shadow hounds. Though not currently touching Wren, the chains would form in a cage like fashion around here. There was room to fly through the chains, but due to the different angles it would not be easy and flight speed would most likely be lost.
Due to the size of the chain one might question who this would fit into the pocket of a suit, but if was something else to consider. Who said the watch was ever in the pocket or is this was another shadow portal in which the watch was transported through.
Limiting mobility was key for Dominix, and he believed he accomplished that task. But this was only the beginning.

Extending out both his hands to their full extend Dominix caught within each hand a single pocket watch. One was the silver watch he had thrown earlier, they second was its replica in every way, in exception to a single detail. It was completely without color, only back a white.
This was the shadow realm's version of the same watch, one that moved in the same paths as its material counter part. Though probably unnoticed, the chains that now filled the sky linking together all the floating islands were actually paired the material and the shadow realm chains side by side to remove the chances of his line of connections being easily broken.


Dominix's eyes shifted and took a more animal look, even his teeth followed this trait. Dog like would be the way to explain these traits, and heavy signs of that should be taken seriously. Dominix traits returned to normal after a brief moment as his out stretched arms were throwing inwards, bringing them across his body till both watches were pulled to the opposite side of his body. This tug tightening the chains that traveled through all the islands, as it appeared the chain could extend to further. Causing the islands to be pulled towards one another as the chains tightened. The idea was to slam the islands together on the center of the chains linking cage, the target of course being Wren. An attempt to crush the airborne fighter with a combination of momentum and rock.

The chain and corresponding shadow chain retracted through the same shadows they original expanded from till only the original stop watch existed upon the material plane, resting in the open palm of Dominix's right hand. Which with no hesitation was slide into his suit's right jacket pocket
Raising his left hand up, he pressed his gloved hand against a single sweat drop that began to roll down from his brow. Removing the line of sweat with single flip of his hand. It was not like him to sweat in combat, nor commit to any form of physical labor, but that last attack was worth the effort even if the end result was disappointing.


Dominix had a huge advantage over Wren, this he both knew and proved in his actions that kept the winged woman at bay. He had the advantage of distance, and this could not be taken lightly by either side in this conflict. If he allowed Wren in close he would be putting himself at great risk, but in Wren underestimated him she herself would find herself in a terrible position.


His eyes shifted to the rock islands that now began to float apart as the chains that held them together had all but disappeared and the environmental effects on this world could return to normal. The glance moved back to Wren as Dominix made a soft smile.

"Time for something a little bit more elegant and artistic"

Dominix bowed his head low and extended his arms out wide. if silhouetted against the light this may have been considered a minor mockery as his form was arguably like a bird preparing to take flight.
An echo crashed over the battlefield as his fingers snapped simultaneously, ripping apart the fragile wall between the two corresponding planes. The Shadow and the Material plane were now linked, not completely but partially in a way unable to be noticed by the naked eye, but its effects were as clear as a beam of the sun's rays through a gap in the rainy day clouds.

"Let the Shadows Rain Supreme"

Dominix said, his words being picked perfectly, even if one would possibly never catch the small hint within a sentence in which two similar pronounced words really meant all the difference.


Rain poured down over the battlefield from skies without clouds. Raindrops that reflected no light from the moon nor carried any color themselves, only shades (white to black).
The rain was a heavy downpour that gave the appearance in only due time would flood the lands, but that was unlikely.
Dominix straightened up and placed his left hand out, open palm flat to the sky as rain fell upon his gloved hand. Without explanation or context for that matter, a teacup and saucer appeared within his open palm. Which was taken by his right hand and raised to his lips. Lowering the cup from his mouth, he opened his mouth to explain what had just occurred.

"The Shadow plane, more often then not mirrors the material plane, so i opened a door between a mirrored rain storm on the shadow plane and had it fall upon this battlefield" the Shadow keeper paused to take another drink. "It is important for me to note that the shadow plane can produce shadows even without a light source, so.."
Dominix tossed the saucer into a raindrop in which disappeared and then reappeared several meters away as if by teleportation, spinning through the air like a frizbee till it came to hit the ground shattering into pieces.

"Every drop of rain, is itself a shadow" Dominix finished as he took another drink of his tea.

Dominix unbuttoned the cuffs of his suit, then moved down to unbutton the jacket. "Yes, i could have ripped every material existence in this world within the area. But i assure you, i desire to do nothing of the sort" Dominix straightened his suit with a frown on his face as if insulted by the suggestion.

"The planes correspond together by natural order, and i do no wish to risk creating an unstable event. Why i keep the destruction minimal and why i never take a life" Dominix pulled his gloves tighter over his narrow fingers.
"That does not mean i will not bring pain upon those who try my patience, but i will not give them they honor of the warriors death"

"As a gentlemen, i give you my world that this rain will not be used to rip you apart, but will remain as a tool of travel, but only for complete objects. Example"

Dominix slowly bent down to pull the right leg's pants up to reveal a small revolver strapped to his leg at sock height. Removing the weapon, he fixed his pant leg to keep its straight and professional before taking his normal stance. Extending his firearm baring right arm out towards his foe, he aimed down the sight at his target. This was normal, what was strange was that his left arm extended as well and took the same handhold as if holding the same firearm just aiming wildly to the distance. But as Wren had probably expected, Dominix with he use of the shadow realm was summoning the shadow planes version of his firearm that appeared within his grip in mere seconds.

"I have shown you the beauty of the shadows, but now comes their twisted and monstrous dance. Prepare yourself."

(Wait. Really?)