Darius

By Darius

• February 11, 2015




Age: 20 Physical Years. Real Age Unknown

Gender: Male

Species: Non-Pony

Appearance: Long white fur that is Silken too the touch. His ears are slightly longer & pointer than that of his kin. He has a long, black elegant mane & tail. <br /><br />He stands a fair bit taller than others of his age, most noteable are his unusual athletic / long legs, unusual for that of a Pegasus. His wings are large, his eyes are green but have an odd aquamarine glow during the hours of the night.<br /><br />As Midnight strikes each night he becomes taller still, his eyes grow larger but narrower, small but noticeable fangs peek out from his upper jaw, his wings become firmer, his whole body becoming more defined and the symbol that graces his flank becomes illuminated.

Cutie Mark: Mesmer Hand / Illusionists hand.<br /><br />

Personality: Too the outside world Darius is an outgoing almost cocky pony who tends to flaunt his physical attributes to the delight of many a young mare around him. Respectful, intelligent and confident to many he seems like the shining example of how a young stallion should be...<br /><br />However on the inside he is often at odds with himself, each decision he makes is always accompanied by an inner battle of two personalities, one of his true self which is what the world most often sees, but also one of a hidden darker self that is concealed beneath confident exterior.<br /><br />The 'other side' of Darius delights in it's physical traits and often using them for unsavory deeds, it is selfish and will only use other creatures for his own desires or benefits. Those few that have seen it often also consider it Cold, Calculating but charming personality but prone do horrendous fits of rage if it does not get it's way often ending in violence or worse though this, thankfully is a very rare occasion.

Backstory: Life growing up for Darius was full of interest but also full of difficulties. His Father Caleb served in the army of the Crystal Empire following the years of peace since the Tyrant Sombra's demise.<br /><br /> During his service Caleb along with wife and Child were often stationed at Various points in the empire due to his position in the inquisitorial sector. The inquisitors were a very hushed sect of the new found Crystal Empire's forces, their purpose was simple, to find and eradicate any sources of malevolence & evil in the world and those forces from outside it.<br /><br />Over the years of Service, witnessing countless horrors Caleb became more and more reserved, often having little time to raise his child or look after his wife, even though he was a bringer of light & justice the darkness was eventually taking it's toll. During the months approaching the Winter Solstice Darius, Caleb and his wife Mara lived alone at the base of a mountain often known to be frequented by bat-ponies and other unsavoury creatures. <br /><br />Upon returning 'home' one day Mara noticed that Caleb's Golden armour was smeared with fresh blood, his mane matted and his chain mail tattered. He refused to speak of what happened that night, but in his heart he felt a great unease knowing what vengeance could now behold him and his family. <br /><br />That Night he had encountered a Nosferatu, an ancient creature who's race had thought to be long extinct and often blamed for the horror's during the 'Crimson Era':<br /><br />(An age thousands of years past where Vampires and their kin waged war upon the empires of the living and were eventually driven back by the arrival of 'the long dawn', a period where the sun stayed high in the sky for many months and night was unable to fall, thus sapping them of their strength).<br /><br />Upon Slaying the creature after a long engagement the cave fell dark, the walls began to crawl with strange runic symbols and he heard a voice fill the chamber, it's voice chilling the very air making his teeth chatter. '' Many times has mortal blade felled my earthly body and many times have I felled those who sought to take it. Often the fools who slew me would go back to their families, their comrades, their kings and queens over ages past telling them of their 'Victory' over me... their joy was short lived, when I robbed them of what was most dear to them.'' As the voice spoke these final words he felt ghostly, icy fingers grasp at his throat, a voice whispering close in his ear '' In taking my Physical form you must now provide me with another... '' feeling those cold fingers slowly caress over his body he shivered, his fur standing on end as he stared blankly into the darkness and whispered, knowing full well the creatures intent to harm his family, '' I will return at the break of dawn, to protect my wife, my child... I would give my body, my heart and my soul, do not harm them and I will be your willing host''. <br /><br />As Dawn broke that next morning Darius awoke to find his father had taken leave during the night, peering over to his mother sleeping on the opposite side of the room he decided not to wake her to spare her the worry. Instead he opened the door and looked up the grassy mountainside on which their cabin was based. As he squinted against the beams of light shafting through the pine branches he noticed fresh hoof marks in the grass leading upwards, out of worry for his father and his young inquisitive spirit he followed them, upwards, upwards, upwards...<br /><br />Eventually the hoof prints stopped outside of a large cave opening partly concealed by vines and cobwebs. Upon approaching Darius could feel a deep unease and hear eerie whispers coming from inside as well as the voice of his father, though his words were not distinguishable. Slowly trotting into the cave Darius could see in front of him a Stone table too which his father was strapped down, his mane roughly shawn and his coat matted with dirt. <br /><br />In front of him, facing away from Darius, was a tall pale shadow unlike anything he had seen before, long ragged etheral robes hung limply off his body barely obscuring the almost skinless form that lurked beneath, it's ears were long and pointed at the tip, he could also see through the back of it's head that it's teeth were unnaturally long and pointed.<br /><br />As he stood there gawking, his already long legs shaking in fear, he saw the creature beginning to raise a very real looking short dagger in it's right hand, clear with the intent of plunging it into his helpless father. Upon this realisation all fear washed out of him, he catapulted himself through the air at the creature, his fathers eyes opened wide in horror as he begin to shout 'No, Darius Run Aw-....' his sentence being cut off as his son crashed into the creature, causing it to shriek, bringing the blade downwards upon the young stallion who now led covering his father... <br /><br />As the blade sunk down into Darius back he cried out in pain, feeling the cold steel sinking inside him was unlike anything he had ever felt, almost in an instant his wings fell limp, the tip of his right wing brushing against the cold stone floor as blood gently ran down it, pattering onto the floor as if water dripping from the cave roof. <br /><br />As the creature stood there motionless Caleb wrapped his wings around his son and let out a long mournful cry, nuzzling his son gently in the desperate hope that it was all a dream, just wanting to see those youthful cheeky green eyes looking pack at him, brimming with so much life and expectation, now cold and as lifeless as the table he laid upon. <br /><br />As he held his sons head close against his own, a single tear rolled down his cheek, gently splashing on the table beneath him and something strange began to happen. A soft, warming light enveloped both father and son, a small tendril reaching out towards the still motionless creature, tightening as it tried to flee, it's last gurgled words were 'The Sacrifice.... it can't be -...' before disappearing in a brilliant white flash causing Caleb too screw his eyes shut.<br /><br />For a few seconds the light lingered as he re-opened them, as focus began to again take shape he noticed that around the table plant life had sprung up from the ground, roses, dandelions, plants of all sizes and the vines from the cave roof now bloomed with white flowers. As he looked down again at his son expecting to see the cold lifeless glaze, but he sat bolt upright from the straps, now withered, that came cascading off him cradling his son in his arms, staring down back into those youthful green eyes... yet something else lurked there, causing a stab of fear amongst the joyous feelings.<br /><br />Darius stared up at his father a moment before bursting out in tears of joy, nuzzling and licking his face all over before pressing his head against his strong muscular chest, feeling comfort in his embrace. 'Father... I thought... I thought... what... I don't - ...', gently his father places a hoof over his sons mouth and smiled, trying to hide his uncertainty as he gazed into the not so familiar eyes, 'Try not to worry son, lets get you back home... back to your mother...'<br /><br />'But father I...' his sentence cut off as a small pain jarred above his shoulder, whimpering he turned his head to see it heavily bruised, a fresh scar upon it. <br /><br />He sighed and turned his head back to look at his father, tears welling up in his eyes, ' I want to go back home Dad, not back to that stupid old cabin, I want to go back home to the Crystal Empire, my friends... I don't want this life anymore.. I'm tired of always worrying about whether you will come back home... I can't cope with it...', with those last words he broke out sobbing and his father gently lifted him onto his back, walking slowly towards the light of the cave entrance, whispering in his sons ear, 'I understand son, after today I feel the same way and have done for many years, tomorrow at first light we will set off back to the crystal empire, your friends and a normal life', grinning uneasily at the last words, noting to himself the glowing purple hand that now adorned his sons flank, along with the eeiry glow in his eye that faded as they entered the sunlight. Silently they both walked back down the mountainside, towards a loving embrace, the thought of home and the uncertainty of a now altered future..