General Discussion

This is intended to serve as general creative direction. Honestly, this is as much as I'm going to work on this story alone. It is mutable! I hope you enjoy. I drafted this up a couple years ago. 

Background

Abiola’s true nature is slowly exposed as August and Nazanin work a special assignment to uncover a supposed plot between Sinseret* members and The Witch. In reality, the 12th House* is preparing to splinter from the Ziru because they’ve become aware of a powerful Shadow Caster* within the Sinseret. The 12th House has always been disconnected and mysterious, and that’s due to their innate understanding of Death (which they are ostracized for claiming to have). Their deeper connection to Death makes them privy to Supernatural disturbances, hence their knowledge of another Shadow Caster…

*The Sinseret is the group of 12 leaders that lead each House of the Ziru.

*The 12th House (Pisces) is mysterrrriouuusss.

*Shadow Casters are the evil mystics that create Shadows to extend their lives

I.1: Moonrise (link here to full summary) 

The 12th House begins racing out to other Houses for support during the inevitable split, but also to warn them. However, word quickly gets to Abiola, who makes it known that the 12th House is harboring information about a powerful Shadow Caster. He does this knowing that the news will quickly devolve into a rumor that the 12th House is withholding information about The Witch. 

I.2: "Lawful Evil"

Concern grows in the Sinseret, and Rex* uses that concern to justify sicking August and Nazanin on certain Sinseret members. Rex does this while framing The Witch by sending Shadows after August, Nazanin, and several other key Sinseret members. 

*Something's off with this guy...

I.3: "Neutral Evil"

The instability of the Ziru becomes news that travels throughout the Supernatural world, reaching The Witch. She decides to deal a crippling strike, which only benefits Abiola’s lies. But, he overextends in the process of trying to stop her, revealing himself. With the truth of his intentions laid bare, she forces Abiola into a truce that frees her from her eternal war with the Ziru. This forces Abiola to present a new enemy for the Sinseret to focus its attention. He needs them distracted so that he can continue his heretical journey. 

I.4: "Test of Faith"

While protecting some Ziru from a Shadow attack, August and Nazanin encounter the Ibahim. The Ibahim are attempting to save the Shadows. Their differing approaches to the Shadows sparks an intense battle that Meti resolves by revealing her story. The Ibahim reveal the Shadows came from someone other than The Witch. This knowledge thrusts August into a frenzy of disillusionment towards the Sinseret. Armed with this knowledge, August convinces Nazanin to help the Ibahim find this new Shadow Caster and uncover the truth causing Rex’s confusion. Nazanin’s reluctance to work with the Ibahim causes friction; she leaves to confide in Dione. 

I.5: "Why?"

Dione is disturbed by the insinuations, and she decides — against Nazanin’s wishes — to tell Rex about August’s betrayal. Disheartened, Nazanin attempts to plead with Dione that August is simply confused. Dione, being the asshole she is, follows Rex’s orders to send the Massaru* after August. Dione tasks Nazanin with finding another Shadow Hunter*, but the goody-two-shoes surprises Dione with a stern refusal. Nazanin opts to warn August instead; her defiance earns her excommunication. She automatically becomes a target for the Massaru. Before she flees, Nazanin repeats the 10th House ideology* to Dione. She points out that neither one of them knows what to believe, and that they both chose to blindly follow what they knew rather than trust the process of the truth revealing itself. Dione is left pondering her own beliefs as Nazanin is forced to run. 

*The elite gestapo of the Ziru.

*The cursed hitman of the Ziru forced to hunt Shadows until his death

*Lol I have no clue what that ideology is. Capricorns, what oath would you have to take as a police force?

I.6: "Walk Two Moons"

Before she gets to August, Nazanin learns what if feels like to be hunted by both Shadows and the Massaru. Her struggles make her more sympathetic to both the Shadows as hunted and August as hunter; she recognizes the weight of his status and responsibility. Meanwhile, August and the Ibahim plan an assault on the 8th House HQ. They realize the only way to get answers is to storm the castle. Before they can finalize a plan, a bloodied and beaten Nazanin arrives with the Massaru and a large band of Shadows right behind her. The Massaru captain, Eda, remarks that Nazanin fought with the same gall as Mr. Moon. August is enraged at the mention of his father’s name and brazenly attacks Captain Eda, demanding answers about his father’s disappearance. 

I.7: "New Moon"

August and Captain Eda throw godly levels of hands while the Ibahim protect Nazanin from the Massaru’s elite and powerful Shadows. Dairo* is coordinating their attacks until he is BFR’d by a Massaru soldier. Meti and Corvus* are forced to go all out and are eventually cornered. August attempts to get to them, but Captain Eda is too powerful to disengage. On the brink of being killed, Corvus uses his Ren Technique* to obliterate the majority of the opposing forces. Meti is horrified by Corvus’ sacrifice; her rage allows her to destroy the remaining forces. August finally deals a fatal blow to Eda, who reveals that the Massaru were sent after Mr. Moon six years after August became the Shadow Hunter. He dies, leaving August more questions than answers. 

*Dairo is the leader of the Ibahim and a tactical genius

*Corvus is the most powerful Ibahim. See this page for more character details + world-building!

*The Ren Technique is the most powerful an Ibahim practitioner has. However, it reshapes the soul and forces one into a metamorphosis, literally creating a new person...

I.8: "The Damned"

Confused, frustrated, saddened, yet with a new conviction, August and the group nurse Nazanin back to health and devise a plan. Dairo is a new deadly after his brother’s death*. With Dairo leading, the team infiltrates the 8th House HQ under the cover of darkness. They quietly dispatch some guards and make their way to Rex’s chambers. Rex is startled by them. August and Nazanin demand answers. Rex stares lifelessly, then explodes into an elite Shadow that takes the team by surprise. Other members of the 8th House oligarchy begin entering and transforming into their Shadow-selves. They attack from all sides and are barely beat back by the team; they retreat into the main atrium where confused guards begin gathering because of the commotion. The Shadows ooze into the atrium to attack everyone in sight. Chaos and confusion ensue as everyone fights for their lives. Along with the guards, the team begins dispatching the Shadows one by one. The last three Shadows retreat down a dark hall. The team and the few remaining guards ready themselves. Suddenly, three orbs of light begin emerging from the hall, and out walks Abiola. The Shadow cling to him like a cape of horrors. Everyone is shocked as he smiles insanely. “I’ve saved you all…”

*The Ibahim hide their identities as part of their religious practice. The news that Corvus and Dairo were brothers is shocking to everyone.

End Volume 1.