Jadeshadow
January 29th, 2009, 03:08 PM
Back story, if anyone is actually interested. Note that this background story is not all glittered up. Its the story I created long ago, detailing my true character's dark mood, quiet ways, and subtle strengths: Nearly two decades ago I was born. From the time I left my Mother's womb I was surrounded by love, the naturing of an entire clan all around. I lived in peace within the Valley of Eternal Conquest. My Father was a great blacksmith, and with his skills he armed me and my Kin with weapons. Mother was a healer, a gentle soul. Kind to all, she was renown throughout the Valley. My three Brothers, still young, trained under both of my Parents. So did my two Sisters. All of us were warriors. Lithe and strong, quick. All the males bulged with power, the Females darted with insane speed. I was the odd one. I was slim, frail looking. Yet below my fur rippled strong and willing muscle. My step was deliberate and slow, yet I ran like the wind, my arms were a hurricane of action. For 10 years I grew and trained. But all was not well. There were times when one of my Brothers would rush to my Father and have whispered words, leaving them both looking anxious and afraid. I payed it no mind. I was young. I was free. I was a fool. One night, while I slept, raiders struck. My Clan was asleep. We had no chance. I awoke to the screams of one of my Sisters, and as my eyes opened her head flopped into me. Without the body. I shriek and jump up, arm flinging back to seize one of two twin Spears that were always at my back, whipping it across in time to deflected a sword thrust. My vision is a blur, all I see are flashes of metal, my ears filled with the sounds of pain. In slow motion I turn, watching as my Brothers stand, back-to-back-to-back, desperately fighting off over a dozen attackers. They are swarmed under, and as I cry out and move forward a paw latches onto my shoulder and drags me back. I thrash and look up...directly into the eyes of my Mother and Father. Both are drenched in blood, yet their eyes are warm and clear. "Run" my Father whispers, and it takes a second to register the word. Retreat, he had often said, was cowardly. Yet he told me to run. My eyes shift to my Mothers and she nods, a single tear forming, trickling down her furry cheek "Hide...now" she choked out, pushing me behind her and Father, shielding me as a new wave of raiders came. "Live...and defend this Valley...this acursed place" With clouded vision I stumbled away, turning just as both raised their weapons, Father wielding his War Hammer, Mother lunging with her slim Rapier. I flee, running full tilt, cringing as I hear the scream, knowing the my Clan died even as I fled. The night drifted by, and I huddled alone in a tree. Scouts moved through the words below, searching, yet I was not found. Dawn broke. Silence. I crept back to my Clans dwelling. I smelled the blood long before it came into sight. I could not move forward. I was not strong enough. Turning my back, I walked away into the dark. I trained in darkness, lived in darkness, loved the darkness. My heart grew cold, anger control my mind. I reject all contact, never spoke. Every wondering foe met his end swiftly, throat gouged out, by claws as often as by Spear or Blade. My existance become one of seek and destroy. And as i did so, my mind turned back to my Mothers words..."This accursed place" From the shadows I brooded, and as I did so I came to realize something. A purpose came to me, and I felt as if struck by lightning. This Valley was aptly named. For conquest, here WAS eternal. There were no friends. Just temporary allies. No one cared for the other. Just raw knowledge that numbers meant power. My Clan had risen above that, and had flourished. They had ruled this Haven. Ruled, and he protected those to small to protect themselves in such a place. That was my destiny. My reasons for being alive. I believed myself cowardly for obeying the command to flee. Yet I know saw its reason. Nine years have now passed since the death of my Clan. My Clan... The Jade Clan. I disposed of my name, and I become known only as Jade's Shadow. Others heard this, and simply called my Jadeshadow. I accept this, yet I do not embrace it. I live only to avenge and protect. In the Midst of Darkness, I am a shining beacon of Hope. Come to Me.