Eternal
In the few years you’ve been with the Shadow Guard, you still haven’t gotten used to the idea their strange hierarchy system. The part you understand is the initiate level, which are the prospects who have not yet gone through the ceremony. They are lowest and understand why as far as the shadow hierarchy goes. It’s after the ceremony where it gets confusing to you.
Everyone that passes through the ceremony is either a brother or sister according to gender and nobody is technically above anyone, though there is obviously still a hierarchy system in place based on experience. For example Brother Gray and Brother Murk are supposed to be equals, but Brother Gray is really his superior (along with most others) since he’s been a shadow for much longer and has more knowledge than Murk.
From what you know, this “equality” is part of the idea that Dendrin wanted the shadows to not fight amongst themselves and to concentrate on their true enemy the Empire. While this is a strange concept for you, it must have worked since the shadows do treat each other more like a family and you haven’t observed any real power conflicts with any of them.
The one exception is Master Ebon. Apparently even in a family of “siblings”, there still needs to be a parental figure and Master Ebon would be that “father”. It is he who supposedly speaks to Dendrin directly about his greatest visions, ideas and prophecies on how to best proceed.
Though this seems questionable to you, considering if Dendrin spoke to him directly about the most important matters, why wouldn’t he mention you and your doubting loyalties?
In any event, you’ve come to know quite a few shadows since your time here and against your better judgment, even become friendly with them. You have to admit; they aren’t all like what the common perception of them is. Master Ebon, as mentioned is the overall leader, and other than that you don’t know too much about him personally except that he has been a meticulous planner much like his predecessors.
Brother Gray would probably be the closest thing to a second in command. Brother Gray has always seemed to try to help you though perhaps not in any way you’d like. But his words of encouragement on survival during your training and his concern that you should feel welcome here like a family member display that he genuinely is trying to look out for you since he has on several occasions praised your combat skills.
If there were a proper hierarchy, Brother Shade would probably be your commanding officer or sergeant since he’s been here longer than the rest of you and relays a lot of orders to the rest of you. He still goes on missions as well, unlike Brother Gray. He seems a little more militant than the rest of his fellows, and you don’t mean in his worship of Dendrin, but rather his desire to see the Empire fall. You get the impression he’s tired of waiting.
Sister Talia, or just Talia as you still think of her. During your years with her in Mistress’ class she was much like you in that she kept to the background and mostly just followed instruction. She was a good fighter; you recall her shutting up one of your louder classmates (Edgar you think his name was) with one punch when they were paired up together to fight for the first time. Other than that, you didn’t really talk to her and that continued even during your shadow guard training.
After the ceremony however, she interacted with you more, mostly taunting your shadow magic abilities initially, but in time she began to speak to you on a friendlier level, she even apologized and claimed that she should not have mocked you so, and should have tried to help you instead. Since that time, she’s been cordial with you. In different circumstances, you’d probably appreciate her friendliness in your situation; the problem is she’s part of which you consider the enemy. It’s even worse, since she’s an Eternal like you and her brainwashed mindset is much more distressing to you.
Brother Cyrus or just Cyrus as you still think of him. Much like you and Talia, he kept to the background in Mistress’ class. Also like Talia he was a good fighter, though you remember having to go up against him once, and you beat him. It wasn’t an easy victory, but you sometimes wonder if he continued to hold a grudge because he still remains stand offish to you. He even still says something snide about your shadow magic aptitude once in awhile. Especially since Cyrus himself has proven to be quite apt at using shadow magic
Cyrus seems to have embraced the worship of Dendrin wholeheartedly, even more than Talia, though again you wonder if his new relationship with Draven has something to do with enforcing that, rather than anything Dendrin did to brainwash him. Lately though he’s been away a lot and given more assignments. Apparently he’s moving “up” as far as shadow responsibilities go.
Brother Draven is Cyrus’ special friend, or in other words his lover. You aren’t exactly sure when it started, since you were concerned with your own crisis of loyalties at the time, but you really don’t care anyway.
Draven has never really spoken too much to you, but when he has he’s at least been friendlier than Cyrus. He’s mentioned he was born into the shadows, but that his own parents died when he was young though he doesn’t say how exactly. From what you’ve seen his combat abilities are nowhere near that of you or any of the other Eternals (Then again few shadows are) but his shadow magic is much better. He’s a little older than Cyrus, probably by a few years, but despite that, Cyrus is still obviously the dominant one of the relationship, but then given that Cyrus is still an Eternal at heart, which seems logical to you.
Brother Murk is probably the closest thing you have to a “friend” in here. Though he probably wouldn’t be, if he knew your true thoughts. He’s about Draven’s age, but unlike Draven he was born in the Derlerg province and actively sought out to be part of the shadows, since his family was one of the few that still quietly worshipped Dendrin even after centuries of others forgot him. Apparently it was always a dream of someone in his family to become a shadow, so Murk pestered the shadows until they finally gave him a chance. He passed and it was the happiest day of his life.
Murk was one of the few that tried to reach out to you even when he saw you struggling with shadow magic (among other things). During the times when you were paired up and had to fight actual dissidents who didn’t want to listen to you (Not all are willing to trust let alone join the shadow guard agenda, and some are little more than violent criminals) he’s always had your back. In between missions, he likes to tell you of his latest attempts to woo Sister Bianca.
It is a shame that such a worthy comrade has dedicated his life to the wrong side and it will be regrettable when the day comes that you may have to kill him yourself.
Everyone that passes through the ceremony is either a brother or sister according to gender and nobody is technically above anyone, though there is obviously still a hierarchy system in place based on experience. For example Brother Gray and Brother Murk are supposed to be equals, but Brother Gray is really his superior (along with most others) since he’s been a shadow for much longer and has more knowledge than Murk.
From what you know, this “equality” is part of the idea that Dendrin wanted the shadows to not fight amongst themselves and to concentrate on their true enemy the Empire. While this is a strange concept for you, it must have worked since the shadows do treat each other more like a family and you haven’t observed any real power conflicts with any of them.
The one exception is Master Ebon. Apparently even in a family of “siblings”, there still needs to be a parental figure and Master Ebon would be that “father”. It is he who supposedly speaks to Dendrin directly about his greatest visions, ideas and prophecies on how to best proceed.
Though this seems questionable to you, considering if Dendrin spoke to him directly about the most important matters, why wouldn’t he mention you and your doubting loyalties?
In any event, you’ve come to know quite a few shadows since your time here and against your better judgment, even become friendly with them. You have to admit; they aren’t all like what the common perception of them is. Master Ebon, as mentioned is the overall leader, and other than that you don’t know too much about him personally except that he has been a meticulous planner much like his predecessors.
Brother Gray would probably be the closest thing to a second in command. Brother Gray has always seemed to try to help you though perhaps not in any way you’d like. But his words of encouragement on survival during your training and his concern that you should feel welcome here like a family member display that he genuinely is trying to look out for you since he has on several occasions praised your combat skills.
If there were a proper hierarchy, Brother Shade would probably be your commanding officer or sergeant since he’s been here longer than the rest of you and relays a lot of orders to the rest of you. He still goes on missions as well, unlike Brother Gray. He seems a little more militant than the rest of his fellows, and you don’t mean in his worship of Dendrin, but rather his desire to see the Empire fall. You get the impression he’s tired of waiting.
Sister Talia, or just Talia as you still think of her. During your years with her in Mistress’ class she was much like you in that she kept to the background and mostly just followed instruction. She was a good fighter; you recall her shutting up one of your louder classmates (Edgar you think his name was) with one punch when they were paired up together to fight for the first time. Other than that, you didn’t really talk to her and that continued even during your shadow guard training.
After the ceremony however, she interacted with you more, mostly taunting your shadow magic abilities initially, but in time she began to speak to you on a friendlier level, she even apologized and claimed that she should not have mocked you so, and should have tried to help you instead. Since that time, she’s been cordial with you. In different circumstances, you’d probably appreciate her friendliness in your situation; the problem is she’s part of which you consider the enemy. It’s even worse, since she’s an Eternal like you and her brainwashed mindset is much more distressing to you.
Brother Cyrus or just Cyrus as you still think of him. Much like you and Talia, he kept to the background in Mistress’ class. Also like Talia he was a good fighter, though you remember having to go up against him once, and you beat him. It wasn’t an easy victory, but you sometimes wonder if he continued to hold a grudge because he still remains stand offish to you. He even still says something snide about your shadow magic aptitude once in awhile. Especially since Cyrus himself has proven to be quite apt at using shadow magic
Cyrus seems to have embraced the worship of Dendrin wholeheartedly, even more than Talia, though again you wonder if his new relationship with Draven has something to do with enforcing that, rather than anything Dendrin did to brainwash him. Lately though he’s been away a lot and given more assignments. Apparently he’s moving “up” as far as shadow responsibilities go.
Brother Draven is Cyrus’ special friend, or in other words his lover. You aren’t exactly sure when it started, since you were concerned with your own crisis of loyalties at the time, but you really don’t care anyway.
Draven has never really spoken too much to you, but when he has he’s at least been friendlier than Cyrus. He’s mentioned he was born into the shadows, but that his own parents died when he was young though he doesn’t say how exactly. From what you’ve seen his combat abilities are nowhere near that of you or any of the other Eternals (Then again few shadows are) but his shadow magic is much better. He’s a little older than Cyrus, probably by a few years, but despite that, Cyrus is still obviously the dominant one of the relationship, but then given that Cyrus is still an Eternal at heart, which seems logical to you.
Brother Murk is probably the closest thing you have to a “friend” in here. Though he probably wouldn’t be, if he knew your true thoughts. He’s about Draven’s age, but unlike Draven he was born in the Derlerg province and actively sought out to be part of the shadows, since his family was one of the few that still quietly worshipped Dendrin even after centuries of others forgot him. Apparently it was always a dream of someone in his family to become a shadow, so Murk pestered the shadows until they finally gave him a chance. He passed and it was the happiest day of his life.
Murk was one of the few that tried to reach out to you even when he saw you struggling with shadow magic (among other things). During the times when you were paired up and had to fight actual dissidents who didn’t want to listen to you (Not all are willing to trust let alone join the shadow guard agenda, and some are little more than violent criminals) he’s always had your back. In between missions, he likes to tell you of his latest attempts to woo Sister Bianca.
It is a shame that such a worthy comrade has dedicated his life to the wrong side and it will be regrettable when the day comes that you may have to kill him yourself.