Title: The Shadows' Snare
Description: [-Private-]
Tariq Hopeslayer - December 24, 2007 01:01 AM (GMT)
In all of Arda, many dreamed of the grand power to rule over all living beings. Few of these dreamers ever rose to the expectations to grasp the power in which they so desired. Even fewer are willing to spend their entire lives working towards this seemingly impossible goal. It was this fact that kept the strength of the followers of Light and Life in tact. It had been so for many years. The Darkness was weakening. It had only fools and cowards following it's religion with a scattered few competent enough to fulfill even a small smidgen of progress in the name of Death. This was all destined to change. First, the Guardian of Shadows, Xoco, was working to gather about the strongest followers of Darkness in order to try and restore the lost strength it once had. Most felt it was a grand gesture that would be rewarded with success.
Most.
One single Atani scoffed at the struggle of Xoco's efforts. Beacon of Chaos, Sword of Pandemonium, Bane of Existence. Only one man would have the guile to ridicule a Maia. The one known across the realm as the Hopeslayer. Lord Tariq was a being who had dedicated his entire life to harnessing the true power of Darkness. He had given everything up in order to make room for this unimaginable goal. Going so far as to undergo a forbidden ritual to channel his Urulóki blood into a manifestation of pure Chaos energy, only to absorb it's entirety for power. Wielder of Kausu'yasumi, the Respite of Chaos, Lord Tariq is almost destined to be a harbinger of destruction to all that oppose the way of Darkness.
However, even he knew that his job could not be completed on his own. He has gone behind Xoco and allied himself with some of the strongest warriors to grace Arda's plane. His techniques are ruthless and his mind games have broken the will of even the most resolute spirit. His followers grow by the number each day and all are exceptionally powerful, even without Lord Tariq's training. This night would be no different. He had found another prospective follower. An elven warrior who's true allegiance is shrouded in mystery. She has proved to be an interesting find on Lord Tariq's behalf, and so he has invited her to meet him under the Lunar Star above the Salquedor Grasslands to convert her to his cause.
Despite his impressive psychic abilities, Lord Tariq has never forced an individual to join his ranks. They either came to him willingly or eventually saw the grandeur of the Darkness and converted. In other words, Lord Tariq only enlists the willing, whether they know it or not.
Sairalindë Lúrion - December 24, 2007 04:33 AM (GMT)
There was something to be said about having a purpose in life, regardless of whether the intentions that enshrouded said purpose were meant for good or evil. No one could have testified to this with more passion than one rebellious Elven woman. She crept quietly through the tall grass with long, naturally graceful strides and a keen sense of direction; as though she’d traveled that particular area frequently throughout her long, considerably eventful lifetime. It was true; there wasn’t much of this land she hadn’t traversed in the hopes of discovering something worthwhile. Her long, silvery-blonde hair gleamed as she stepped lightly past a cluster of young trees, their thin branches allowing a filtration of moonlight to touch upon her delicate, pointed features and svelte form. Aside from her remarkably long ears and ethereal presence, there wasn’t anything that was quite as noteworthy as the white armor that clung to her person like a second skin. Walking, one would never have been able to guess that it might be uncomfortable. In fact she carried the extra weight as though it were nothing more than an additional layer of leather. Golden embellishments swirled at the shoulders and about the hem of what appeared to be some sort of chain mail underskirt; the links clinking softly as her lean legs took her with haste ever-closer to her destination.
What was unfortunate however, was the fact that this knowledgeable creature – however well versed in the studies of men and elves alike, as well as their history together – had long forgotten, nay, long since shed any said purpose or the belief that there might be one waiting for her in the near future. In fact she had disbanded from her own kin in an effort to achieve something different. Something that wasn’t simply a duty one was born into but felt apathetic towards. She needed to feel emotion; she needed to feel as though she were working towards a great cause. Indeed, what she needed above all else, was meaning.
So it was with a mix of curiosity and caution that she approached the solitary silhouette that awaited her not twenty feet in the distance. She knew next to nothing about this man, but there had been an intriguing aura that had surrounded him upon the extent of his invitation. What he could possibly offer her that seemed of such great importance she did not know, but it was a step toward what she had been seeking, toward what she had longed for, for so long.
The tips of her ears twitched as she drew as close as she dared, gloved fingers ready to grip the hilt of the daggers secured to her hip if the need arose for such aggression.
Thus far she did not sense any ill-intention on his part, and so her rigid posture relaxed a fraction and she watched him with bright, inquisitive eyes. Never one for evading reason, she decided to introduce her arrival with a considerably blunt question.
“A fine eve calls for an equally fine proposition. What is it you have summoned me here for?”
Tariq Hopeslayer - December 24, 2007 05:23 AM (GMT)
It was late into the night and not a star stained the violet black sky. It was as if every light had been snuffed out by the foreshadowing of the darkest intentions conspired by any living mortal. Every light, but one. One solitary star shone a dim ray over the expansion of grassy hills and plains that seemed to stretch for eons into the horizons beyond. It wasn't enough to rupture the deadly atmosphere of the area, but in line to provide equivalent light for all to see. That was the mysterious thing about the Darkness. Despite it's everlasting power, it always needed a small particle of light in order to be born. It was dependent on it's mortal enemy. Irony at it's fullest.
Not a single breeze flowed through the land, yet the cloak wrapped around Lord Tariq's shoulders fluttered slowly into the air. It's tattered ends seemed to dance like the wispy ends of a shadow. His arms were folded against his broad chest and his eyes stared out into the night with an intense gaze, the color of his irises adding to their already intimidating disposition. Men have been known to go insane from locking eyes with Lord Tariq. Shuffling madly about the place with mumblings of Hell's deepest rings and visions of the damned escaping those very pupils. He was an expert at persuasion, in more ways than one. When it came to gaining followers, however, he never resorted to such torture as fear-inducing illusions.
He saved those games for his opposition.
His eyes caught movement to the west and they moved to lock around a figure coming towards him from the distance. A little late, but when an invitation from a complete stranger is given, one is lucky for the other to show at all. Her armor caused a small frown to play across his lips. It was too bright for his taste, but he'd leave her choice of apparel to her own discretion. He wasn't here to enforce uniforms anyway. He was here on business and it would be accomplished without a moment's delay. The Quendi was also interested to getting right down to the information. She would prove to be one of his favorites by far. Besides her professional attitude, her looks were nothing short of stunning, and Lord Tariq had always loved the pleasures of physical engagement. He would save such thoughts until after the situation was handled.
He gave a solid smirk, before walking around the Quendi. His arms never left their locked position against his torso and his eyes seemed to drink her in. His gaze burned into her, examining her like a finely-crafted book. He learned of her, learned of her ambitions, of her desires, of her inner-most thoughts and past. He had all he needed to almost guarantee her loyalty in his next breath. His lips parted and he began to weave his soul around her heart in expertly articulated words.
"You answered my call not out of a sense of duty, nor a simple wish to trickle away time. My presence intrigued you, stimulated a hidden desire within your very soul. You knew instinctively that if you were to ever discover if your existence had more purpose and meaning behind it than your fellow brethren let on, you would have to start by listening to my tale. You were right," He said, taking a breath to allow his words to sink into her mind."I am the herald to your ambition; The bringer of your deepest wishes. I can grant you the very thing you want the most; Purpose. Come with me, Saira, and you will become more powerful than anything you could have achieved on your own. Swear loyalty onto my being and I will bless your life with meaning. Your potential could help balance the strength of Darkness. I will not lie to you; the Shadows are slowly dying. I am willing to put my entirety into grasping it's power and using it to restore equity amongst the elements. Will you join me on this quest?"
Sairalindë Lúrion - December 24, 2007 06:04 AM (GMT)
It was as though she had completely lost control of her fate the moment he brought his eyes upward to study her. As his slow, deliberate words worked to enrapture her, she found herself unable to tear her gaze from where it was frozen to forever study his emotionless façade. Emotionless at least to her eyes; she had never been gifted with the ability of deciphering another’s mood or intention simply by outward appraisal alone. It was one failure amongst many that had proven her a disappointment alongside the rest of her race. While she was equally as intelligent, they were also adept at feeling with their minds. They were able to divulge the deepest desires and the most terrific nightmares simply by focusing on one that stood before them. It was as though she’d been born into the world blind, stumbling where the others marched gracefully. She had never belonged with them; at least that is how she made to reassure herself whenever a prickling of uncertainty washed over her and argued that it would be safer for her to return home. And then the man who stood against the Darkness while at the same time emphasizing it closed the distance between them, and any thought of what she may have once considered ‘home’ or even ‘sanctuary’ fled from the better of her conscience.
Despite the sudden and unwelcome dubiousness that swelled within her, she found his offer tempting. How could it not be? For so long she’d wandered aimlessly, wishing to be reborn with a cause. He was giving her this one chance at redemption; promising to accept her and embrace the talents she did possess to accomplish something that had once seemed so very far out of reach. Still, there was always a sacrifice to be made and though it may have seemed she had nothing else to lose, she still had her dignity and it was the one thing she would have liked to keep. If he intended to fool her – which might very well have been – it would have been for the sake of Darkness. Was that what she wanted to succumb to? Certainly her kind very rarely found themselves willingly as the servant of evil. Was she willing to hand him what sense of innocence she had left, simply to be able to say she no longer ghosted Arda without ambition?
He was desperate to restore the power of Darkness; that she could tell. But would he keep his promise to her? Or would she be another pawn to throw away once she had fulfilled her bargain?
Things were never as clean-cut as all that.
“I know you are able to read my mind, and you have managed to study all there is about it within the span of a moment. You know more of me, my past and desires than anyone. And you believe I am able to aid you to reach that end? Tell me, once I have grasped this purpose, and when I have come to possess this power – for how long would you allow me to keep it until you grow weary of my eventual uselessness? Will you dispose of me then? Or allow me to wander much as I have been all this time?”
Tariq Hopeslayer - December 24, 2007 06:39 AM (GMT)
Lord Tariq had done well in selecting Sairalindë as a candidate for his Shadow Legion. She was inquisitive and intelligent, even through the glorified future that he had laid out for her. She was prepared to learn all sides of his proposition before agreeing to anything. Despite how annoying this way, Lord Tariq knew it was excellent to find such a competent creature. This meant, however, that Lord Tariq would have to explain to Saira the true purpose of the Shadow Legion in order to assure her that he would not throw her to the side once the first mission of the Shadow Legion had been accomplished. He stopped walking and stood with his back to hers and a little to her right. With his eyes closed and his arms folded, Lord Tariq let out a low, easy sigh. His cloak fell inanimate against his person as he began to explain.
"You've put me in quite a bind, m'lady. You see, in order to gain your trust, I must now reveal the entirety of my plans and the reasons to your being needed at my side. I am in league with no Maia or Vala of my elements. I have no aid for my purpose and even one as powerful as I cannot hope to battle against the strength of Gods in order to attain balance. With this outwardly obvious fact in mind, I created the Shadow Legion." Tariq began, shifting his body to let one burning orange-red eye gaze upon her. Eye contact and a light tone were key to persuasion. An unfaltering speech with direct and strong eye contact can avoid--or start--even the most called for of wars. It was this skill, this seemingly unimportant talent of his, that made Lord Tariq so dangerously strong. He held no true power of his own other than a highly advanced brain. Determined for more, Lord Tariq used what he was blessed with to obtain it. So far, it's worked without the slightest sign of trouble.
A deadly smile curved his cheeks as he continued on. "The Shadow Legion is a gathering of the strongest and most capable of evil-aligned warriors to come across my path. With something this powerful in the works, along with my own individual potential, my dream wasn't a mere dream anymore. It was now nothing more than a matter of time. However, why stop at balancing the elements out with such force at my disposal? Why not go one further? Why not drown Arda in a flood of Shadow!?" Tariq asked, his eyes growing slightly wild when revealing the hidden purpose of the Shadow Legion. The mere mention of this fact always brought out the chaotic side of Tariq, but he kept it controlled as he continued to press his point. "You see, Saira, I will be using you and your allies' strength to help me take over Arda. Once the realm is securely ours, I will divide the regions up amongst my followers. Why get rid of those that could help me govern my new domain? No, Saira, the Shadow Legion will have a purpose with me until the very end. And with that, so will you. I only ask for one thing in return; Absolute loyalty. Can you give that to me?"
Sairalindë Lúrion - December 24, 2007 07:02 AM (GMT)
Saira grew suddenly tense as he moved to where she could not see him, or sense his presence. Not even the gentle rustling of his cloak was able to alert her as to how he was positioned so that she would not have been able to pick up on any premeditated strike he may have had in mind. Her fingers strayed again to her hips, but remained idle as the paranoia faded and with it a more reasonable voice reinforced the fact that he needed her help. Why should he set a trap for her instead? Having managed to keep her breathing in check, she lifted her chin and resisted the urge to turn her head and see exactly how close or how far he was from her. It was within moments his words were eating away at the last of her resolve, and though she fought desperately to think of some way she might catch a hitch in his promises or a falsity in his explanation; none surfaced. Still, she forced herself to ask questions. At the risk that he might grow angry and surrender his efforts with her altogether, she needed complete assurance that this would not be a wasted attempt.
She needed to know that she was not selling her freedom in exchange for failure.
“The Legion of Shadows,” she repeated with a hint of wry amusement. “So, you’ve built up an army and intend to conquer all of Arda without the aid of a Vala or Maia? Despite the knowledge even, that though you may have managed to convince the strongest most competent warriors of Darkness, there are others with just the same strength fighting for the opposite cause? Do you not fear that this will end in either a standstill or death by exhaustion?” Would he throw away the lives of his only minions for the sake of this attempt?
Still, there was the promise of exhilaration and direction. She would follow orders and execute them as professionally and accurately as she knew. And then she would be rewarded, magnificently in fact.
No longer would she wander without cause. She would rule and finally be afforded reason for others to find her something exceptional.
“You have struck a precarious bargain with fate,” she continued, turning slowly to face his turned back.
Moments ticked by and the corners of her full lips twisted in a reckless smile.
“I swear to you my eternal allegiance. We are henceforth bound until we have both equally fulfilled our commitments, and forward still.”
A pause as she considered the hopeless life she had just thrown away.
"I am your loyal servant, who you may do with as you wish in the mission to bring a reign of Darkness to Arda and all whom inhabit it."
Tariq Hopeslayer - December 24, 2007 07:24 AM (GMT)
And at last, the last bird had been released from it's prison and set free into a world soon to be enveloped in eternal darkness. Sairalindë had submitted to his will and another follower had joined the ranks of the Shadow Legion. However, there was still the matter of her previous question. What would happen, indeed, if there were others on the opposite side who were just as powerful as any of his Legion? It was actually a simple conclusion. Lord Tariq had a power that many in all of Arda had. He could delve into the minds of others. Not only that, but he had influence over one of the most powerful elements of all; Time. It was not fully developed yet, seeing as he just began practicing it's methods, but it would make up the base of his magical arsenal by the time Total Conquest came into play.
Yes, his plan was protected and his Shadow Legion would be the driving force of his life-long ambition. Sairalindë was far from the level of most of the members of the Shadow Legion, but she held more potential than any of these apprentices had by far. She would be his protegé and receive a grand amount of training and tutelage from Lord Tariq, this much was determined this night. The wheels of fate were beginning to turn in favor of Darkness and soon unimaginable power would course through his veins. Not just his, but through those that helped him achieve his ultimate goal. The days of Light and Life were numbered as Death and Darkness began to rise in the form of a small band of expert warriors.
He smiled at her words and turned slowly towards her, his cloak sweeping into the air behind him as it trickled like black tendrils. His eyes flashed lustfully as he moved towards her, his fanged smile continuing to stretch his lips. He was well into her personal vicinity now, only a hair breadth between their bodies. His hand moved up and rubbed gently against her cheek as his eyes burrowed themselves into her own.
"With that said, m'lady, I welcome you to the family." He breathed, his voice dripping into her ears like poison before his head moved forward and pressed his lips against her own. She was his now and he would show her the dominance between them in one kiss. It was not of love or even lust but of nothing more than complete command. After a few moments, Lord Tariq pulled away and ran his tongue over the surface of his mouth as he chuckled deeply. He moved from her and let his actions swirl around in her mind before he spoke again. He would not assure her of the strength of the Shadow Legion. Not yet. She still had much to learn before he revealed such information to her.
Sairalindë Lúrion - December 24, 2007 07:59 AM (GMT)
It was easy to accept the eternal servitude she had just condemned herself to now, but within a few days time the effect would surely wear off and she would be left wondering what had ever possessed her to do something as unimaginable as joining the Legion of Shadows. Memories of her childhood would swim back into focus and her heart would shatter for the thousandth time upon pondering it. In condemning herself, she had also tied their fates to the evil aspirations of the man standing before her. And yet at the same time, as he drew near, she felt a surge of excitement and promise course through her veins. For the first time in what felt like an age, Saira had claimed a purpose. And though it wouldn’t have been something she’d consider seriously before, it was hers now and she would take complete advantage of it. She had been a wayward stray for far too long, but things were changing. She had needed to choose a side before ultimately being swept up and somewhere much worse than where her current predicament found her.
By the time she had broken from her reverie, there wasn’t a second to spare before realizing that his lips had found their way to her own. It was startling, and had she not been so taken aback she would have likely put a dagger to his throat; not out of spite, mind. Out of instinct. Normally she was able to pick up on a person’s pre-planned movements and successfully counteract them but this man was possessed by something supernatural. He would have made a formidable opponent, which was why she was grateful he had instead become an ally. The dominant force of the kiss caused her brows to knit together, but he pulled away shortly and she was left slightly dazed. Never had she allowed any man – Elf or Human – to become so intimate with her, but it seemed that might be about to change more sooner than later.
All things considered, she was his in every way. And it was something she would have to come to terms with.
“You know of my name,” she began a tad breathlessly, “but I have yet to learn yours, m’lord.”
It only seemed appropriate to learn of his name before she inquired as to her first set of instructions.
Tariq Hopeslayer - December 24, 2007 08:35 AM (GMT)
He nodded and turned back towards her. Being a Psionic, he almost forgot that others could not simply pry the needed information from the depths of his mind like he could. He gave a devilish sneer at the sound of her breathless voice. He would enjoy training this one. Hopefully she'd keep that burning spirit in her that made her stand out amongst so many others. Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to sully the name of the Shadow Legion.
"I am known by many names, but you will refer to me as Lord Tariq." He said. His tone was mundane and held no emotion within it whatsoever. Now that she had pledged her life to him, he did not need to stimulate more energy behind his voice than what was needed. If she betrayed him, no matter how far she had progressed in terms of strength, he would kill her without a moment's hesitation. This was a doubtful circumstance to rise, however. He had given her life meaning and she was expecting him to fulfill his dark promise. She would known the meaning of Darkness over these next few months. The training would begin once she was completely committed to the ways of the Shadow.
"Follow. We have much work ahead of us." Tariq commanded. He had already began to walk away from her even as the order escaped his lips. She showed definitely promise, but she was too bright, too innocent. He would have to break her down and rebuild her in his own image. The idea of it brought a smile to his face which was hidden by the hood of his cloak that he pulled over his head. The situation reminded him of when he began training his first follower and the first member of the Shadow Legion; Sinclaire. She was the strongest member of the Shadow Legion and most loyal by far. Tariq only hoped Sairalindë would prove to be as equally rewarding in the end.