balance-is-for-fools

[balance-is-for-fools]

imithea​:

“That is. And you are?” Her voice came from behind the stranger who had been caught lurking. Diana did not know whether he noticed her presence or not but that was something to soon be found out.

Her voice did not catch him by surprise, his training and the magic within kept him well aware of his surroundings. He turned his head to his shoulder, glancing behind him as best as he could.

“I am Zed.” He would state plainly, “I am a traveler, sight seeing and such.”

It was truth as much as it was a lie. While he would love nothing more than a vacation, his travels were for business, not pleasure.

[balance-is-for-fools]

ofshadowreaping​:

It was already late.  Starlight hung vibrantly in a sky near void of moonlight.  Just a sliver creeping beyond the shadow overtaking it.  Kayn had walked a fair distance back to the Order’s territory.  Stone steps steep up the mountain the Temple rested atop, collecting of old, withered vines and remnants of what life tried to survive the taint of shadow magic.  His gaze ever forward with Rhaast concealed on his back.  Remnants of the Darkin’s taint no more than a strange scar consuming his hand and up his left arm.

As the man reached the top, another mark would become obvious.  A print on his cheek now slightly bruised.  Not from a fight, but –

I’ve counted into the hundreds.. Rhaast whispered into the back of his mind.

“Quiet, Rhaast.”  Kayn remarked with a rumble of annoyance.

The truth hurts, doesn’t it?  I could end your misery.  The women would never resist one such as me..

“I’m not trying to kill them.”

You should be.  It’s part of the fun..

An absent hand lifted to rest against the bruise.  Golden hues gleaming with mild frustration at how poorly that encounter had gone.  Can’t blame a guy for wanting to have fun.

“I don’t relish in slaughtering innocent people.”

You hold yourself back.  Imagine what I– we – could accomplish!  They would fear us.  Does that not appeal to you?

“What appeals to me is you shutting up.”

The constant droning from Rhaast became tiresome swiftly.  An endless barrage of remarks to insult, attack, or tempt the young Shadow Assassin into submitting to the Darkin.  But Kayn wasn’t going to give in that easily.  He had spent a great deal of time learning to deal with the Darkin.  It had made him stronger.  His will more unbreakable.

“Where is Master Zed?”  Kayn questioned an acolyte.  The response was short, and Kayn’s presence there soon gone in search of the Shadow Master.

Another clear sky during the night time. Zed had always found himself staring at stars, something about the bright white light that shown through the endless expanse relaxed him and this night was no different as he stood on the tiles on the roof of the temple, looking up and taking in the fresh air.

His faux meditation was interrupted, overhearing his name from down below, peeking over the edge to see his pupil had returned to the temple.

Hm...

Using the shadows, he would teleport down to Kayn, appearing just behind him.

“Greetings, Apprentice. Aren’t you back at a reasonable hour?” He would jest.

[balance-is-for-fools]

multiiiplicity​:

ZED WAS GRANTED A CONTEMPLATING HUM. Was he in denial, trying to further distance himself from the teachings? The man was not a foolish one… so Shen had assumed it to be an action of desperation.

“The Kinkou were simply not M E A N T for this.” A single blink was granted Zed as both his hands joined behind his lower back, one clasping at the wrist of the other. “I do not view myself as some victim but a man who decided to struggle not against fate.”

HIS HEAD COCKED ASIDE, A GESTURE JUST BARELY NOTICEABLE.

“Do you wish for me to join by your side, Zed?”

Zed’s head cocked as well, a little more than Shen’s, his statement taking him by surprise. He was shocked to hear such an arrangement of words. Would he really join the Order of Shadow? No, it had to be some sort of game he was playing at.

“And you would give up being the Eye of the Twilight?” He pondered on that for a moment before he continued, “Who would be your successor? You could not possibly want to join.”

The Master of Shadow scoffs.

“You already had your chance, Shen. Our paths are set.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

powpowder​:

balance-is-for-fools​.

“If the sun had kissed any part of your body perhaps you would not be this way.”

    ❝ ― I’m gonna FUCK you up, boy! QUIT tryin’ to insult me!! ❞

I suppose it was...

“It would be wise to calm yourself and to heed my observations. Take it as a bystander’s concern, nothing more.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

feathercall​:

@balance-is-for-fools​ said:  (Give Meme) A dead bird   (  give her things.  )

This feels like it’s supposed to be a threat, or something. Still, Xayah hates turning down good feathers and bones. Why let them go to waste? Besides. She gets threats all the time, she’s not worried.

      ❝ how polite. ❞ She hooks the small carcass onto a rope underneath her cloak, where a number of tiny bird skulls are tied in a neat line. She can clean it off later. ❝ —can never have too many of these. ❞

It isn’t a gift...

A masked sneer would contort his features. This wasn’t at all how she was supposed to react.

“You Vastaya are ridiculous.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

“If the sun had kissed any part of your body perhaps you would not be this way.”

@powpowder liked for a starter

“I see that you and the sun are not very well acquainted.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

@imithea liked for a starter

“So this is Mount Targon?” he asked, staring up towards the heavens, squinting to view the peak of the behemoth of rock ahead him.

[balance-is-for-fools]

multiiiplicity​:

THE EYE REMAINED SILENT BUT FOR A SHORT PAUSE. It was impossible to tell just what expression he wore under his mask and his voice wasn’t one to indicate much either. Static white eyes remained locked in their skull, adding to the uncertainty.

“You may fail to see this, Z E D , however both you and your Order play a part in maintaining the balance. It I S your duty in this world.”

“Then you and I see your father’s teachings vastly different.” 

A fist clenched, white knuckling under his glove. Shen had a point. He always had points, but that didn’t make them any less annoying blind to the truth of the world.

“The Kinkou were weak and too afraid to do what needed to be done, lost in their archaic tradition. I am disappointed to see you have fallen victim to its cycle.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

@multiiiplicity liked for a starter

“I have slayed Noxians for Ionian safety, you have slayed many demons for unseen balance... Which of our efforts tips the scales more?”

[balance-is-for-fools]

@powpowder liked for a starter

“I see that you and the sun are not very well acquainted.”

[balance-is-for-fools]

Like this for a starter?

[balance-is-for-fools]

What would be visible to the pupil of shadows were the several men standing about their small campsite. Three of which were lounging around the pit fire they had made in the center of the encampment. One  of them was sitting on a log, an imposing large man sharpening a stick with a dagger, another laying on a bedroll, a more slender fighter with a polearm by his side, and the last was standing, humming and tuning an acoustic instrument, another slender bodied invader. The other Noxians were split up, two and two, North and South, on either side of the site, keeping posted about a dozen yards from their tents. The pair to the North were weathered looking veterans, serious sentries and formidable foes while the couple to the South looked far younger and less experienced, barely men yet, if they even were.

What would be the plan of attack?

balance-is-for-fools​:

“Off of the southwestern coast.” he replied quickly, “They have been creeping out slowly from their camps like vermin that act like predators, preying on the weak. Seek them out and show no mercy.”

The master of shadows punctuated that last remark with a display, clenching his fist and unsheathing his blade, quickly jabbing it through a hastily materialized shadow that dissipated just as fast. Then he turned away from his pupil, getting down to his knees in preparation for meditation.

“Go at once. And do not return empty handed.”

He will return… I have faith in the boy… Hnh….

“Of course not, Master.” He would neither show mercy, nor return without some sort of prize as proof of his efforts. Ren vanished into the shadows, traveling vast distances in mere hours. Of course, reaching the south-western coast was one thing. Now it was a matter of hunting down his pray for sunrise. Ren COULD operate in the day, but the cover of dusk made it so much easier to stalk and torment these fools before bringing them down.

It took about two hours to find the Noxian swine, and from there it was just a matter of watching and waiting. He still had about five hours left before the moon started to set… Plenty of time to observe their watch patterns, scope out defenses, and then start picking these fools off one-by-one.

[balance-is-for-fools]

@talesofruneterra​:

As Zed spoke, Ren felt a tinge of anger flicker through him. It wasn’t necessarily about his master’s criticisms… The truth was that Ren was the sort who preferred to let his targets know something was amiss; he enjoyed toying with his prey and watching the fear overtake them. As such, Ren didn’t typically mask his presence as well as other students, and it had become something of a habit.

No, the anger came from the mention of Kayn. It was well-known that Kayn was Zed’s star pupil, entrusted with wielding that accursed scythe… Some members of the order were dismissive of it, but Ren always grew annoyed when the name left his master’s lips. Is he only choosing me for this mission because Kayn can’t be asked to do it? And such a simple task, too…

Regardless, Ren bowed his head, keeping the anger from entering his voice. “Of course, Master. It will be done.” Others might have rushed off there and then, but Ren had learned the value of gathering information before hunting his targets. “Where were they last scene?”

“Off of the southwestern coast.” he replied quickly, “They have been creeping out slowly from their camps like vermin that act like predators, preying on the weak. Seek them out and show no mercy.”

The master of shadows punctuated that last remark with a display, clenching his fist and unsheathing his blade, quickly jabbing it through a hastily materialized shadow that dissipated just as fast. Then he turned away from his pupil, getting down to his knees in preparation for meditation.

“Go at once. And do not return empty handed.”

He will return... I have faith in the boy... Hnh....

[balance-is-for-fools]

"You're part of that shadow order from Ionia right? What's your thought about my involvement in that invasion? Has your order an opinion?"

"I am its master." He corrected firstly in a stern voice that demanded respect. Then he looked over the other curiously, not sure who he was. He had involvement in the invasion? He knew of Zed and his Order of Shadows?

He has admitted to nothing... He is frail, feeble, weak...

"Who are you?"

( @zauns-doctor )

[balance-is-for-fools]

The Master stood in what little light would shine through in this part of the temple, soaking in the rays of moonlight, eyes closed and breathing in time. Unorthodox but he was meditating standing up. 

Yes... The night is soothing...

His eyes widened, now sensing a presence, taking a moment to assess who was trespassing, if they were a trespasser. Thankfully it was one of his brighter pupils, Ren.

“I have. You maintained your stealth well, my student, however, you sneak as though I am not trained in the Art. Emerge without the games or make sure I do not sense you or I will let you know when I see you coming.” His words were cold and callous. They rung out with disappointment, a glimmer of hope shone through, slight yet visible.

He is not weak... Vulnerable though...

Zed shook his head out of frustration, bringing his finger tips to his scalp applying pressure to ignore the thoughts and voice within. It took him a moment to recuperate before he continued on.

“There are a band of rogues, Noxians,” he clarified with great disdain, “I need you to take care of for me. They have been raiding smaller villages along the coastlines. Kayn is elsewhere and I have other matters to tend to. I trust you can handle this?”

Ren stalked through the darkness, moving unseen and unheard in the absence of light. He knew that any normal mortal would have no hope of detecting his presence, but the man standing in the chamber before him was doubtless aware of every move. Finally, Ren emerged from the shadows, wearing them like a shroud across his flesh. “Master Zed… You called?”

@balance-is-for-fools

[balance-is-for-fools]

How does Zed's shadow powers work?

This is a topic I think about often. I don't want to make Zed OP but it's also hard to think about whether or not he's actually powerful. It doesn't give him added strength, aside from numbers, but he does have extra elusiveness. The Zed comic did give more insight to how it might work, as well as Legends of Runeterra cards that show other Order of Shadows disciples using the Shadow Art (it's magic but i like that term).

So in game the shadow is still and you have to worry about positioning. Obviously in-game terms it would be very hard to figure out how to use a clone that could also attack and mimic what you do or position itself to flank. That's major AI skills we are talking but we do know that they can at least harm you.

In the comics we see him attacking with multiple shadows to overwhelm his opponent. Sort of like how Naruto would use his Shadow Clone Jutsu, I assume it's mostly the same for Zed. Misdirection and a beatdown. ( It would be cool to combine some Shikamaru type techniques with greater mastery but THAT is for sure OP)

So it's basically pummel pummel switch places boom bow slam krakow switch slap switch kick and repeat until they are dead.

Going into more headcanon territory; I think the Shadows speak to him. I speculated that since it was a dark technique/forbidden magic there was a reason why other than it granted you power that you desired. I think that anyone can read the basics and learn how to fight better/more elusive and unpredictable but to unlock the full potential you would have to give yourself to the shadows. Kusho gave himself to the shadows and used Zed as a host. Where the comics kept Kusho alive as a Patron I was on board with only a little bit but that he misunderstood the powers he held was unbelievable. Honestly the comic should just be retconned with something else but you don't become a master of a ninja order without knowing the potential of something dangerous or even if you wanted to become this Patron of Shadows you should at least be competent in your powers and not overconfident enough to chug the dark ichor and immediately think you have all the power. If that were the case, why didn't you do that already? Where does the ichor come from? There are a lot of questions that I have but I do believe that the more someone is defeated by the Shadows the stronger it becomes. Kind of like a reverse Saiyan, just always leveling up, but the XP/skill points earned is dependent on the opponent, which is why Zed wouldn’t bother with weaker foes and opts in for a challenge to show a display of power.

This is fairly disjointed and unorganized. I’ve been meaning to do like a “Move List” break down for his abilities but that comes with work and focus and I suffer from juggling muses syndrome so I will get to that when I can.

[balance-is-for-fools]

@regina-tenebris​:

{ ⟡ } — The politeness is ever appreciated among her domains, especially when it comes to her adored Rosariums, & therefore the last word would provoke a little drowned laugh, as with a single & elegant swirl of her wrist, a couple of branches would form a little table. Curious how a little teapot & teacups seemed to appear & nest above a bed of blossoms.

🙶Tea shall be served, my Dear. I hope you like my tonight’s selections, I’m quite fond of floral flavors🙷 She would comment as serving it for them. A fragrance that would remind of lavender & roses danced in the little fumes of the liquid as the Pale Lady offered him the porcelain cup.🙶Tell me then… what has provoked such willpower to travel this far upon those lands?🙷

Zed was surprised to notice the magical prowess of this one, though he was accustomed to many magical phenomena in his homeland, it was something that caught him a little off-guard but that faded quickly once he accepted the tea. 

“I have learned not to reveal ones hand before it is needed.” He paused to take a drink. Taking the first sip reminded him of home for a moment, the flavors dancing on his tongue and the heat soothing his throat when he swallowed. A breath taken in slowly and released signified his now relaxed posture. A mistake perhaps? “But I can reveal that I am here to collect information.”