Good vs Evil

[overbringer]

I'm going to basically just copy/paste Avshar's setting, and then update this post as people offer suggestions.

In a distant land, two kingdoms warred: Videssos and Makuran. They were very different lands, but both honorable and civilized nations. About a generation ago, however, Makuran was invaded and conquered by the barbarian nomad hordes known as Yezd. Makuran now struggles under their new overlords, who have their sights set on Videssos. The most feared general of Yezd is the Wizard-Prince Avshar, who has led Yezd's armies in victory after victory, first against Makuran, and now against Videssos in stinging raids.

The last few months have been quiet, however. Avshar has not been seen along the borders. Rather, he has been seen in Videssos's capital itself, acting as an emissary for prisoner exchanges, arguments over who owns towns on the border, and other such business. He has so far minded his manners enough that he has not forfeited diplomatic immunity, but the Videssian officers and troops are just waiting for an excuse, especially since Avshar saw fit to bring his retinue of "aids", as unsavory a lot as ever there were who are causing no end of complaints amongst the citizens.

With open war on the horizon and an ambassador who's very presence is an open insult, tensions are at the breaking point. The only question is who will snap first.

Comments

[unmasked_nihilism]

Ulquiorra Schiffer is Avshar's right hand and the guy who generally keeps things running in his master's absence. His origins are shrouded in mystery but what is known is that he isn't human, and isn't quite a demon either. The story goes that somewhere, in some deep pit of the Abyss or relevant netherworld, is a vast desert of endless night populated by lost and damned souls that have fallen into despair. At the center of this realm is a bottomless pit where not even a shred of light reaches. Since the beginning of time, spirits have sank into this pit never to be seen again and nothing has ever come out until, one day, for entirely unknown reasons... something did.

Ulquiorra is an odd creature. He doesn't seem to have any reason or motivation for serving Avshar aside from the fact that he has no reason not to. An "Avatar of Despair", Ulquiorra's outlook is one of total nihilism. He sees no point in anything and considers life itself to be a transparent and fleeting and hope to be nothing more than an illusion

As Avshar's second in command, he oversees the activities of his armies and other lieutenants and keeps them in line when he needs to, however, he tends to be rather hands off in his methods. He's content to allow them to pursue their own goals as long as they don't conflict with or cause problems with Avshar's overall plans. If they do, he's quick to step in and dole out whatever punishments are necessary quickly, efficiently and without mercy.

He'll rarely take to the field himself but when he does his power can best be described as overwhelming, as befitting an "Avatar of Despair" such as himself. There seems to be no end to the speed and strength he can call upon and he seems to shrug off both physical and magical attacks. He even treats combat casually, hardly ever drawing his sword or even using both hands and will occasionally comment on the futility of his opponent's actions. That said, he is not invincible and can be defeated... doing so will just prove to be exceedingly difficult.

[mad_poet]

Despite being Avshar's left hand, Alhazred probably knows to take orders from Ulquiorra as if he was Avshar in the event that the latter's missing. He'll largely be okay with this, but will probably find Ulquiorra a little offputting. He likes despair and futility as much as the next guy does, but it gets to be a little depressing sometimes. Al's a demon that loves life and all.

Overall they probably share strategies and execute them as necessary. It might be a difficult relationship since the two probably reserve a level of respect only for Avshar. But a working one nevertheless.

[unmasked_nihilism]

Makes sense. At the very least Ulquiorra will probably consider Alhazred to be above the status of cannon fodder or pawn that he's likely going to see the more crazed minions as. I wouldn't say they'd be chums or anything, but they'll probably have a relatively cordial working relationship.

[1000yearsstoned]

Discord will certainly think that Ulquiorra is intersting... at least for a little while. His nihilism and no-nonsense attitude will quickly bore the chaos spirit. It's hard to have fun when you're destroying the world when someone else is talking about how everything is pointless.

These two are so different in how they deal with things, I honestly have no idea what their relationship will be like apart from Discord messing with him, and probably getting fed up with him eventually.

[unmasked_nihilism]

Yeah, Ulquiorra probably isn't going to have a very high opinion of Discord. He's that particular combination of foolish and wasteful but also too unpredictable and cunning to effectively manipulate. He'll probably do his best to just ignore him whenever possible, really.

However, I do look forward to seeing how Discord will try to mess with him. Teleport a sombrero or a Hawaiian shirt onto him sometime.

[1000yearsstoned]

It'll be a game of seeing who can properly manipulate who.

Oh, he will. If there's something he doesn't like, it's boring people.