Ophanelu Zerislov the Mistress of the Miyama Ryu, Anathema to the Empire

Role

Chapter 9

Ophanelu Liax was born in Belator near around twenty years ago. Her father, a
merchant who sold his goods exclusively to the Empire, raised his only child
to know all Imperial Laws and Codes. Her mother was a quiet, subdued woman
who supported her husband and daughter with only slight smiles and nods. She
was raised the fire-haired daughter of Belator, and left to play and learn of
her own accord and standards.

Obviously, Imperial citizenship was something that Ophanelu (Ophie, as her
peers called her), desired greatly. Each pledge, promise, or word spoken out
of the child's mouth was only made to take her steps closer to the Imperial
Palace.

At rank twelve, after holding herself as a scout for the taking of the
Imperial Codex from the Village of Savages, Ophanelu was given the BloodOath
by a Shadow Sect Recruiter, and Elite Shadow.

Afterwards, she took into training to master her defenses and some skills to
better serve the Empire, and then took to gaining power within her guild. And
so, at eighteen ranks, the same Imperial Shadow promoted her into citizenship
due to her scouting abilities and her donations of over a hundred golden
coins to the coffers of the Sect.

As for her own part, Ophanelu strives towards the politeness of her mother,
with the Imperial devotion of her father.

Role

Chapter 8

Progressing through the Imperial Ranks has left Ophanelu feeling more proud
than compliments from outside of the Empire ever could. At rank thirty five,
Ophie was given the title Shadow of the Subjugator for her continual service,
however the title was kept only until she'd gained another rank. Suitable,
however, in her mind, that she would only have to keep proving herself over
and over to gain the fame that only the Immortal lords of Empire could give
her.

Now she awaits word from the Shadow Lord about attaining Elite status within
the Empire with flighty nerves and as much patience as possible. In her own
mind, though, Elite status only brings her closer to the goal that all
Shadows hold - becoming the Shadow Lord.

Few allegiances have been made within the Empire, as most outside of the Sect
forsake assistance in retrievals and trials. Most friendships that most would
see continue only for Imperial pride and nothing else, and those that she has
befriended (outside of the Sect, of course) would be turned on the second an
opportunity arises.

For now, she works on her donations and skills, maintaining the Codex when
ever it's taken by those that have no right to it, and defending all of the
Empress' items of power so that they retain their rightful place within the
Throne.

Role

Chapter 7

Ophanelu has been keeping track of the Shadow Lord's continual
search for a wife. While she's managed to learn only a few names
from the Herald that is handling his missives, Ophie struggles
between desire and duty. Desire, on one side, to be the wife of the
most powerful Shadow of the Empire. Duty, however, to retain her
memories that if change arose his name and body would be laid at
her feet in worship when she took his title. For now, she restrains
from entering missive to this marital contest, only for the point of
seeing his open search as a rather odd manner for such a valued
member of the Shadow Sect.

As she sees it, her only contest would be the Imperial Blade that's
managed to donate above and beyond expectations at such a young
age. Expectations of course that she'd managed to earn any of the coin
that she donated on her own. Pitiful, in Ophanelu's eyes that a Blade
would be judged on the donations of a Herald... though not all together
unpleasing.

While starting a missive to send to the Herald and to the Shadow
Lord, it started to read something like this:

The only choice would be a Shadow, keeping duty and pleasure
within the same Sect.

But, with that bit of scribble, it became clear enough that's just what
the contest for his heart would come down to: Sect. A married Shadow,
however, means little if their wife were to not carry an Imperial title. So,
the parchment was tossed into the fire place of the Eternal Star. Why
carry Sect business, even romantic business, outside of the Sect Halls?

Role

Chapter 6

Reaching her donations goal of a thousand gold, Ophanelu now steps up to
another task set for herself. Gaining forty titles is a short goal, but a
goal none the less. Also, gaining more proficency in the way of assassination
is always a goal on the woman's mind, as it is with all of her guild.
However, assassination proves more difficult as the ranks of Therans within
striking distance faulters and lessens as of late.

Recently, the favor of the Immortals of Empire was attempted, but the
assassination of Zoder, a Black Servant, was missed. Pitiful Black, didn't
even stick around for the fight. Of course, this accusations were inane and
unanswered, having not a single witness to vouch for him.

Demoted for allowing Ophanelo to retreive the Codex from the Fortress of
Light completely on her own, the Black is extremely bitter for being
repremanded for having no dedication to the Empire and whining about a
Paladin stealling his minions. This will play a key role in clearing her of
all other Imperials that would look down upon her for 'attempting his life',
if it's even admitted to.

When anyone asks, it always relates back to the story of how Zoder failed in
retreval against both the Fortress, when he was demoted, and then once more
against the village when he refused to help even as Ophanelu was being
continually opposed by a worthless (but no less delaying) thief. When she
asked for assistance in untying herself so that she could continue to get the
Codex back, Zoder ignored it completely and instead whined about his
demotion.

Clearly, the Black's own uselessness will reflect on his story, and the only
ones that will hear the truth from Ophanelu's mouth are the Shadow Lord and
the Empress, though both will be told the same:

The Servant failed the Immortal Lords, who gave me blessings of the promise
of amusement where the Black to be killed. There were no witnesses, no clear
modivation, and the Black's modivation for telling such a story will only be
backed by his grudge that the Shadow got things done when the Black failed.

Role

Chapter 5

Ophanelu Zerislov, seems to have a nice ring to it. And on this day, in the
most appropriate month of Long Shadows, she has wed to her one allegiance,
and the man who she looked up to since her youth, Zridv. As it stands, there
is little in the way for competition once her aging husband passes away. For
the time, Ophanelu is quite happy, feeling that much has gone well and
complete in her life, and that her parents would be proud. And so, for a
time, she does not think of such obvious truths. Such things are best left
under the surface in the sect of Shadows, and soon too, her time will come.

And so another oath has been taking, furthering the goals of the empire, and
sealing the bond between the Shadow Lord, and the newly initiated Elite
Shadow.

The minister overseeing the marriage was later assassinated, rumor has it for
speaking with a loose tongue in regards to the Empress. Likely, more of the
work of the Shadow.

Role

Chapter 4

Ophanelu's first night as the wife of the Shadow Lord yielded few
opportunities. A son would certainly be preferable to a woman who broke her
wooden dolls and played swords with any of the young boys in Belator that
were brave enough to face her.

Of course, a smile worthy night. The Shadow Lord and his wife turned in early
after the reception was interrupted by Nexans and Scions who hoped to catch
the party's guests off guard. After many men were sent running by the
ever-battle-ready groom, the Lord's young wife was hit over the head by a
lawless dog of a thief, who managed to keep her out long enough to steal her
things and nothing else. So, when she woke, retaliation under Imperial Law
inside Hamsah Mu'tazz left the thief with barely a string of his life to
cling to.

The coward then fled to the Fortress of Light for protection, and used magic
to escape when the Maran Tara'bal proved (as always) too weak to stop the
onslaught of the mistress of the Shadow. Time will toll for such a coward,
and quickly for a thief with no Oath.

Night came inside the Shadow Sect when the Lord of Shadows was held in
peaceful slumber when Ophanelu awoke. She dressed and replaced her usual
weapons with a glass of wine and a pair of thin gloves.

"No place for loose tongues, my Lord," she whispered softly to her husband
before slinking out into the darkened Imperial Lands.

The minister's house wasn't hard to find by all means. The lax and loose
manners of the guards due to all the provisions at the reception left them
easily swayed by the new bride.

Quick work of sleeping marks, and her duty, reason, and ego were satisfied.
The holy man who spoke of using the Empress' power when she wasn't about was
left laying on his back, but face down in his pillow. Not a scar or cut was
on him, except for the bloody purple bruises of broken bones and internal
bleeding around his neck like a noose.

Ophanelu returned to her Lord's bed untouched by the death, and she slept
peacefully in the arms of her lover as only a Shadow could.

Role

Chapter 3

For her first night in an empty bed since marriage, Ophanelu didn't sleep. If
the guards near the sleeping quarters of the Shadow Sect were not already
aware of the Lord's passing, then more than one would have ran to the help of
his mistress's screams. However, as word passes quickly in such a place as
Imperial lands, Ophanelu was left blissfully undisturbed.

A scream echoed through the halls of Shadow as soon as the latch clicked over
on the door to the bed of the Shadow Lord and his new wife. What followed
after only lasted a few minutes, but the myriad of crashes, bands, and
weeping resonated like the sound of a church bell. The Shadow Lord had
fallen, and his young wife allowed her discipline to fault for nearly a
quarter of an hour of temper and violence while locked in her quarters.

When the door reopened near dawn, nothing wooden in the room was left un
splintered, and the lady Zerislov herself was pale and shivering, but once
more ready for service.

A little after dawn, the Lady could be seen pacing up and down the avenue of
Conquest with her sword in hand, her breath fogging roughly into the cold
air, her face stained with loss. As the sun rose, she took back to her
shadows and her duties.

However, life continues for the young widow, who if asked can hardly mutter
her husband's name. Appearing on her finger, opposite her wedding ring, the
fallen Lord's signet ring is proudly worn, though packed with strips of
cotton to keep it secure on her smaller fingers.

With the loss of her husband comes other duties. One hundred gold given to
the Empress as a birthday gift before any of the other Sect, without any help
from the other Shadows. Now, Ophanelu awaits her chance to prove her worth
from under the previous Shadow Lord's shadow, as it were, to take her
destined place on the council and fill his empty throne.

Role

Chapter 2

Ophanelu's rise to the seat of Shadow Lord has been as taxing on her patience
as one can bring an assassin to. With no other in line, the endless waiting
and duties only manage to strength her focus and reinforce how badly the
position is craved. The Empress, however, seems perfectly suited to watch the
aging widow grow stronger and more impassioned for the title.

The blood of Dwarves was given as a first task for the elite Shadow,
sating... for the moment... the thirst of the Immortal Lords. Given over
freely to the reckless demise of the stone loving race, Ophanelu missed the
Shadow Sect for stories of death and glory that lead to any Dwarven deaths.
Of course, as an Elite Shadow, Ophanelu seeks to write a few (if not
hundreds) of these battle tales herself.

As another, though probably not last, task, the Empress asked that a song be
written to glorify her beauty. Taken back by the request at first, Ophanelu
spent quite a few nights toiling over parchment. After the only solid result
was a number of broken quills, Ophanelu turned to her past.

Stepping through the doors of her father's house, there was little time for
socializing or catching up, as the woman had only one task in mind. Her
mother, however, being soft of voice but blessed with great verve managed to
pen a song in a short matter of time. Ophanelu, as well, managed a lesser
work (more a battle hymn than an ode) and plans to present both to the
Empress to, hopefully, sate her tasks.

Role

Chapter 1

Shadow Lord. Even the slow spiral of her time passing before her and failing
health can't steal any of the achievement or glory that rushes in and out of
Ophanelu's soul. Congratulations seeped from the reaches of the Empire, as
well as divine voices so clearly pleasing her ears. Now, though, the Shadow
Sect faults between low numbers and weakness, and Ophanelu's tasks to please
her own station are quite settled in her own mind.

Recruitment at the forefront, she hopes to build the Shadow Sect's Oaths on
inspiration and courage, teaching them enough to be fearless when giving an
order. Short of engaging Theran assassins and thieves to show them the power
and prospect of joining the Empire's cause, Ophanelu now keeps her eyes and
ears open for those of worth and substance to groom for the Blood Oath.

Also, retaining an in depth familiarity with the current Shadows is of
priority. Having given most of them the Oath herself, she seeks those who
will raise up from their current titles to seek the title of Elite at her
side. A roster started for her own memory that she keeps within her pack will
help her keep track of all of the Shadows that she's in charge of, as well as
their duties, goals, and donations.

Contemplating donations, Ophanelu is almost decided as to a missive to the
Shadow Sect to speak of their tithes for the Imperial cause. Each Shadow, if
she decides this path be a solid step, will be required to maintain donations
that equal four times the digit of their guild title. An extremely low,
disgusting goal, considering that would leave Ophanelu's donations at a
requirement of only one hundred and eighty gold, but a step in the direction
of retaining her Shadow's pledge to actually be working towards something
aside personal gain, as seems to be the favor of quite a few of them.

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