Illem

By P-Jay

• November 19, 2016

Age: 1544

Gender: Male

Species: Earth Pony

Appearance: CURRENT APPEARANCE:<br /><br />Illem is a gray pony, from his hair, to his pelt, to his garments, although the latter is more of a choice than a side-effect. <br /><br />His pelt is scattered with various 'cracks', over his frame. And although some would believe that the cracks are merely patches of black fur, in reality, they're real--his pelt, having grown hard to the point of stone-like, began to crack every time he would move. As such, the cracks are near his joints, or parts of his body that would likely be stretched--the cracks themselves are a dull, dull red. <br /><br />His mane looks similar to his pelt, albeit grown-out, unkempt, and even slightly concealing of Illem's face. Perhaps that's for the best, considering his face is beyond pony at this point--half of it doesn't bear any similarity to his pelt, coming off as actual stone that had grown over his face. The other half, reveals a light blue tinge, and almost as if he stopped aging at age twenty. As if he were a youth, that blundered horribly...<br /><br />His tail is just as overgrown, and tussled as his hair, seeing as it drags along on the ground, to no care what it might snag.<br /><br />YOUNGER APPEARANCE:<br /><br />Illem, in his younger years, was an incredibly pale purple colored stallion, with a slightly red-tinted, pale violet mane and tail. Both of which was well-kept, and groomed. He had a spark in his eye, a mischievous smile, and a knack for giving off a friendly, understanding vibe.

Cutie Mark: A single crack, that looked more as if the grey in his color scheme seeped from the mark, rather than the crack being a simple mark. Considering the rest of his appearance, it would be hard to discern it from the rest of his...Appearance. <br /><br />In his younger years, it appeared as a simple rock with a more vague glyph, barely a shade darker, inside--conveying his skill with his particular branch of magic, which relates to stone.<br /><br />He attained it when he first managed to apply Unicorn magic traits into his natural Earth Pony magic, creating a 'fake' sort of Zebra Shamanism.

Personality: PRESENT ILLEM:<br />In his current age, Illem is devoid of any traits, save for a select few. It would be an understatement, to label him 'hostile', seeing as he's rageful, hateful, grudgeful, and even houses a small trace of bitterness. <br /><br />He lacks any real emotions aside from those stated thus far, any humanity he might've had in his youth--it feels rather insulting to the character to assign the husk he's left behind, as if his current mentality was in any way once a core aspect of what he used to be. <br /><br />To make a long telling short, in the present day, Illem is a cold, hostile husk of who he was--not to be thought that he even maintains coherent thought anymore.<br /><br />YOUNG ILLEM:<br />In his youth, Illem was an observant, caring, friendly, talkative pony--even if he would strangely go quiet once he began to think on a topic, he would get lost in his own mind, thinking out every scenario, every choice, every angle of a situation...As such, while it would be a valuable trait for a planner, or even perhaps political figure, it would be rather annoying to have him seemingly lose interest in the conversation, pondering his response. Even if such an event doesn't occur often...<br /><br />During his years as a small colt, he had a curious mind, a trait that would carry over for most of his life. He was smart for his age, often having the unique outlook while his friends would go about any situation with a generic reaction. The questioner, always wondering how or why certain things are the way they are...<br /><br />In his teen years, he grew to be ambitious, pondering politics, as well as grooming his adventurous attitude. He grew to be stubborn around this time, a strange refusal to believe that the current kingdom he lived in was in any way 'good enough'--he began to be inventive with his thoughts, constructing ideas and ideals on how he believes to construct a better society. In all this thinking, planning, and along with his recent development with his magic, around this age he began to grow prideful, as well--a slight sense of being, simply put, 'better' than others and their lives began to take root in his mentality...Although he never grew arrogant. <br /><br />In his adult years, from solitude and self-reflection, he grew soft-spoken, and even wise--thinking out every action he would make, adopting the mentality of a politician, or even ruler...<br /><br />Once he established his kingdom, however, he changed. As if his personality was being siphoned away by an unknown force, slowly warping his core aspects...He began to grow even more prideful than before, seeming almost desperate to have his kingdom thrive. For the other kingdoms of Equestria and Griffonstone to acknowledge him...

Backstory: Illem was born to a philosopher, and his wife--a baker--in the thriving, united kingdom of the three tribes. From a young age, he was educated by his father, in math, in what limited science they had developed, as well as history of the Tribes, and the arrival of the Princesses. Particularly painting Chancellor Puddinghead in a glorious spotlight, as well as Queen Platinum--leading to Illem having an interest in politics even at such an early age as colthood. <br /><br />But perhaps the most influential thing his father taught, was albeit selfishly, his own ideals and opinions. A philosopher such as himself simply couldn't resist sharing his 'wisdom', with his son. This influence of morality, and ideals would be a driving factor towards Illem's dream--which would be to become a figure of power, someone who might be able to change the world for the better. Someone who might be able to improve upon Equestria, and leave it better than what he was born into. <br /><br />He grew surrounded by friendship, love, and support--after all, once the Tribes were united under the Alicorns, Equestria was in a state free of malice, at least, in Illem's young mind--everypony was full of hope, for the bright future. As such, he grew into a spry, energetic, curious-minded, but above all an upstanding, responsible teen. With this growth, his ambition to help improve the world only grew, finding himself wishing to make something new, something that would benefit Equestria for thousands of years...But until he would get serious about his future, he was content to adventure, and play.<br /><br />Although, if one aspect of Illem's flaws stood out from the rest, it would be a slight tinge of jealousy towards Unicorns--after all, why was their magic so much more useful, so much more practical? <br /><br />Through his early to late teen years, this bugged him nearly every day--even so much as to prompt him to visit the archives of the olden Unicorn Tribe, and read their records on their magic. Learning everything they wrote down on their findings, studies, and experiments--by time he was almost a stallion, he had began to implement certain aspects of Unicorn magic traits into his natural Earth Pony magic. <br /><br />As such, eventually, he was ecstatic to discover he had managed to make a simple rock do his bidding--rolling, skipping, floating, and zipping about how he liked, little did he know that he'd 'invented' his own version of traditional Zebra Shamanism. <br /><br />A few more years passed, before Illem finally began to pursue what he considered his dream job--aiming to become a figure of power, on par of that of the Princesses. But, despite a full year of seeking, research, and reading...<br /><br />He eventually learned the hard truth, that as far as Equestria was concerned, all they needed were the Alicorns.<br /><br />Naturally, this didn't bode well with him--after all, he had so many ideas, so many views, so many plans to change everything for the better...He came to the decision, that a new kingdom was needed--after all, if it were possible, he must try his utmost best to attain it. To either influence Equestria as an outside power, or to even create his own version of society...And so, having kept his adventurous mentality from his youth, he set off in search of a method to achieve his dream, just as he passed from young-ling to adult.<br /><br />A few years would pass, as he eventually made his way towards Griffonstone, to learn of their ladder of power, politics, culture, and law. He was welcomed, after all, at that age Griffonstone and Equestria had signed a truce. What he learned there only strengthened his resolve, as he eventually bid them farewell, turning his curious gaze towards the Mysterious South. Making pilgrimage there, it would be worthy to note that at this point, Illem had found his unique branch of magic worked best with stone--so it would be understandable, that upon finding a stretch of land made of nothing but stone, it felt like a goldmine of potential...<br /><br />Equestria and Griffonstone both would likely have ignored this land, in favor of more rich, luscious land. But to Illem--he could feel the ground practically buzzing with a magical aura. Every crack, every pebble, every boulder...<br /><br />He began to construct a shelter near the land, making it a point to explore the stone land, as well as making more of an effort than ever to improve his magic--which resonated well with the land. Even more years passed, as he grew into a late adult, perfecting his magic...Eventually reaching the point where he created a golem, fully capable of moving on it's own, out of the stone land. <br /><br />Pleased, he began to make more...And set them to work, on modeling the land to his liking. Even more years passed, as he constructed a castle, had the golems bring in nutritious land for agriculture from the surrounding areas, dug trenches for rivers, and molded the land to have everything it might need to thrive as an independent country...<br /><br />Until finally, he had the right to call himself King of this land. <br /><br /><br />~~~<br /><br /><br />He humbly asked for help from Equestria, to help kick-start his country, to help him grow it, to fully be considered actually inhabitable. Naturally, upon his return, many mocked him as 'mad' from his years of solitude. Although few did indeed believe him, none felt it would be worth leaving behind their homes for. <br /><br />It was a slow start, although Illem did manage a few things; firstly, he established trade with Equestria, Griffonstone, and the budding Crystal Empire. Trading whatever rare ore he might've had in his land, stone decor, food he'd grown, as well as building his reputation amongst his fellow kingdoms. Through it all, he had to create and maintain more golems, to properly keep up his image. <br /><br />Mere months passed before a few ponies and griffons alike began to arrive at his kingdom, curious about where the new sudden goods were being sent by. A few were unimpressed, a few were in awe, but all of them were certain to spread the news; before long, Illem had a thriving village to look after, to care and provide for. Almost as if they were kin to him...Even if they didn't feel such towards him in turn. But Illem was still a kind ruler, who treated his 'subjects' as if they were his children--and they began to adore him, in turn.<br /><br />Years pass...So many years. As Illem grew older, he wouldn't have noticed, but his mind was slipping. Every time a golem would do his bidding, it felt almost as if every time he slipped a bit of his own magic inside the stone, the stone in turn gave something...Unwanted, back to him.<br /><br />He began to change, his ideals slipping first, then morality...By time whatever subjects he had at that moment began to assume the power had gone to his head, he was far, far from who he was a decade earlier. Even growing slightly hostile, which was the turning point of his good reputation. His subjects began to leave, and seeing as he was too wrapped up in his sudden frequent mood swings to care, he let them go peacefully. Alone, in his stone kingdom.<br /><br />He eventually cut off trade from the other Kingdoms, beginning to feel hostile, as if they weren't his allies. Constantly agitated, for no real reason, he cut ties with his fellow rulers, leading Griffonstone to send a patrol some time later, to check on the earth pony.<br /><br />What they found was a king, but not Illem. Seemingly consumed by some hatred that had mysteriously surfaced, intense enough to cause the king to order his golems to attack the griffons...<br /><br />Word of his betrayal reached the Griffonstone king, who became enraged at the news. To him, Illem had declared war--and the proud griffons would not let this go unpunished.<br /><br />Illem eventually found himself attacking ruthlessly against his 'invaders', with no tactics or strategy, but with extreme savagery. Unleashing his full magic prowess, attacking with various golems, who one by one fell to Griffonstone's superior army and discipline. Illem found himself in a bad spot, seeing as the griffons targeted his food sources. Capturing his agriculture fields, his water supplies, one by one, left him vulnerable. Until finally, they were storming his castle...<br /><br />When the griffons burst into the throne room, to slay the enemy king...They were confused, to say the least, at the sight. A stone figure, hunched on the throne, eyes staring blankly at the floor...It was indeed their target. But it seemed he was already dead. Not even a breath or heartbeat to disprove the idea, they decided that they would leave him there, and went back to Griffonstone, to bask in their victory. <br /><br />But the king wasn't dead...The stone magic had consumed him, through and through, body and soul, yes, but he was far from dead. Only in a sort of 'hibernating' state, he was trying desperately to preserve himself, almost selfishly. <br /><br />...Hundreds of years pass...<br /><br />His kingdom, withered away by erosion...His castle, looking little more than stone rubble...His golems, wandering around fruitlessly for their long since fallen griffon enemies...The being once known as King Illem, is still there to this day. Waiting, in silence. In a locked state of being, neither alive nor quite dead. <br /><br />But if one thing were certain, it would be that Illem had lost his humanity, in all these years of boiling in his bitterness. <br /><br />Awaiting the next who would disturb his stone prison.