Shadowscythe
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
"I'm not a soul reaper or a soul eater, you can call me a soul guide." - Shadowscythe
Dark Armor
Super Jump
Leighton Slade vaguely remembers his life in the Rogue Isles, granted it was only for the first three years of his life. He knew his mother, Jennifer, took him to Paragon and left his father behind in Cap au Diable. He really never understood it, and his mother always tired to avoid giving him an answer about why dad never came with them. He eventually gave up asking those questions until one day he had stumbled across an old hood. Wondering what it was he asked his mother. She finally gave in saying that he needed to know why dad was never around.
His father, Charles Slade was a member of the Luddites. He was never a high ranking leader, but he was apart of their treasury and relics sub-group. Any sort of artifact that could be dated back to the time of the Luddites that first appeared in the Etoile Islands he had his hands on. One such relic was a dusty old hood, that seemed have been separated from the rest of the garb. Merely playing with it he put over his head as a joke. Through a vision, the hood showed Charles it was blessed by Father Gerard Henri during the 18th-Century granting who wore it could expel demons and apparitions which had helped Father Henri in binding Bat'zul within Mount Diable. Charles eyes turned milk white, metal bands appeared gripping his forearms sprouting out scythe-like claws. Figuring he could help the purpose of the Luddites he used it as a means to protect other members from Arachnos and those who were oppressing them. His fervor for the Luddites had turned into fanaticism, after the Hellions foolishly tried to free Bat'zul from his bindings in Mount Diable. He became distant and poured all himself into protecting the Luddites. Leighton's mother couldn't take it anymore. He pleaded with her to stay, but she refused. Out of guilt and the love for his family, though it had seemed it was never there. He handed her the hood, "Please, keep it so Leighton can remember me."
Continuing to study the hood, Leighton went to the Paragon University's library to look further into his father's exploits in the Rogue Isles. Finding a few paper clipping here and there about a scythe carrying villain that appeared periodically into Paragon. It was never much, just small blurbs, nothing that could really give any good answers. The only notable reference was the villain being called Shadowscythe. Leighton wondered if he should go see his father.
He never told his mother, but he hopped a trip to Cap au Diable to try and find his father. Wandering around the Devil's Coat Tail, he asked a number of Rogue Isle residents where Luddites usually are seen. He eventually found his way to Aeon University. There were some students milling around and a small group of Luddites trying to pass out pamphlets to anyone that would pay them attention. "Greeting young man, would you care to take a pamphlet."
Leighton took the paper looking at it, "I'm willing to see how you work."
The Luddite's face lit up, "Really?" Leighton faintly nods looking at him.
Taking him over a wooded mountainous area behind Aeon University a small clearing on the other side had a old abandoned warehouse being used as living space and three large silos, it appeared they were used as water tanks, being hooked up with pipes over small patches of farmland. "I have to say you guys do pretty well without any use of advanced technology."
"Why thank you, sir," the Luddite said, "will this in tell that you will possibly join us?"
"You're moving a little too fast, what's your name," Leighton asked.
"Shaun," he said.
"Right, Shaun, can I ask a favor of you," Leighton asked.
Shaun stares oddly at Leighton, "Guess it depends on what it is."
"Could you find Charles Slade for me," he said.
"I, uh, hmm... any reason you want to see him," Shaun said.
"I have something that would be of interest of him."
"Alright, I don't think that would hurt anything."
Moving indoor they go to a back end of the warehouse where there were boxes upon boxes clothes, trinkets, weapons, anything that looked archaic. The other parts of the room were well lit and in neat order. All hanging up or a display case that could be openly used if ever needed. "Charles, Charles, there is someone from the outside that said he had something you would be interested in," Shaun said. Charles was still attending to some newly found relics, he was slow to the initial response. Slowly looking up and turning around from his counter, his eyes still milk white, he peered at the outsider. Impatiently he said, "Well what do you have that I have to take a look at?" Leighton pulls out the old hood from out of his back pocket and hands it to Charles. Charles eyes began to tear up, holding the hood in his hands. Quickly embracing the outsider, "My son, oh how I have missed you."
Charles went to find a more secluded area to speak with his son. His fervor for the Luddites seem to have faded when he saw Leighton. Wanting to catchup to all of the years he missed as his son grew up he quickly noticed his eyes. "I see that you've used it. Your eyes aren't as bright as they're supposed to be," Charles said.
"I, uh, well..." Leighton hesitated.
Charles laughs, "I'm not here the scold on using the hood, however as you can tell my eyes are no longer their true color. Honestly I'm more curious as to why you came to visit me. I know you didn't come here to become a Luddite, you're a lot like your mother in that aspect."
"Shadowscythe," Leighton said.
"Ah, so you've heard the name, and couldn't find a lot information on him. If you're assuming what I think you're assuming, yes, I was Shadowscythe," Charles said.
"Were," Leighton asked quizzically.
"You don't retain the powers if you don't have the hood in your possession, however the white eyes mark those that have wield the hood. I'm only guessing you're here to make sure you have my blessing in continuing the name," Charles pauses, "as a hero?"
"Yes, sir," he said.
"Alright, some things that you need to know about this hood, it has a connection to the Angel of Death. However you cannot kill people with it," Charles pauses rummaging through papers trying to remember all of the details about being Shadowscythe, "you can exorcise ghosts and banish demons with relative ease, unless of course you come along a summoner or a greater demon like Bat'zul," he looks into his son's eyes, "You best be going, send Jennifer my love. Your mother will have a fit that you came to visit me, but I'm sure she knows already."
Leighton smiled at his father as he left. Charles could only watch his son leave, he wanted to leave, but he had already given himself to the Luddites.
Leighton quickly learned that just sending the lost back to the afterlife wasn't going to be enough to turn himself into a legitimate hero. Scouring through text books from Paragon University's and Pandora's Box's library he immersed himself into the depths of the magical and demonic underworld of Paragon and the rest of the world. The Banished Pantheon, Circle of Thorns, The Mu, Tsoo, all sorts of religious known demons were the extensive studies he would partake while also trying to keep his school grades up.
The many sleepless nights would eventually pay off. The knowledge he gained from things that go bump in the night only made his resolve greater. He was able to more quickly deal and dispatch with the onslaught of demons, ghosts, undead, and magical beings that were there to cause chaos to the balance of the living and dead. The silence of the night calms and relaxes him, knowing that he's the one that pushes back the boogieman that creep into the closets of the city.
Gerasenes - The man once known as Lucian Sinardi is Gerasenes. Shadowscythe's first encounter with him was merely an accident. Seeing ghosts weren't unsual, but a large concentration of ghosts housed in one body made him look further into the phenomenon. It was only a matter of time they would run into each other again. He went to exorcise an apartment complex in Steel Canyon. There shouldn't be anyone there other than the ghosts, again he saw the strange phenomenon running to it and confronting the thing. "Who are you," Leighton asked. "I am Gerasenes, for I am many," the entity said in return. A ghostly blue-white flame sparked from his eyes and fists. Orbs appear around Gerasenes and launching themselves at Shadowscythe. Dodging as best as he could he tried to get in close, triggering his nether armor he disappeared from sight and quickly slashed Gerasenes across the chest, reappearing. The slash quickly closed, however some of the souls he had taken had been released. Wash, rinse and repeat. However the battled lasted to nearly daylight. Noticing daybreak and weakening power Gerasenes retreated leaving their battle unfinished.
Corpse - One of Shadowscythe's toughest foes. Once Samantha Tobiner, this undead beauty is now known as Corpse. She was well on her way in sacking a Sak's Fifth Avenue store when Shadowscythe came upon her. Leighton was extremely confused by this particular event, he had never seen a zombie walk on heels and have demons carry mounds of stolen clothes from a high end store. Corpse eyed him saying, "You're pretty cute, but I don't think you're here to help me. Whelps get him." They say in unison, "Yes, Ms. Corpse." Her minions weren't the brightest of demons making them easy to separate so he could banish them in one-on-one situations. Returning them back to their place Corpse merely scoffed, "Poo, you can never find any good help these days. Guess I'll have to take matter in my own hands." An ethereal whip appeared in her hand, flames spitting from its end. She flung it towards Leighton. "Oh, crap," he said. It landed around his neck, she pulled the slack and began to choke him. "Not good," he said trying to wedge a finger between the whip. Police siren's wail had come noticeable, she let go of him. "Toodles, love," she said as she cracked her whip and created a portal exiting the scene.
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