#rho urusov

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Bit of an intimidating figure, isn't he? Sticks out like a sore thumb. I heard he's got that northern god's powers or something. What? Nah, that's a rumour. He's just a powerful mage, that's all. You know how mages like lying. If he's a mage, why's he in that sentinel paladin armour shit? Shut up, he'll hear you!

[majestyrising]

I just bought a whole bunch of pixels by Crystalblackpaws & Anza! I’m obsessed so I have to share and I shall also share the shop in the reblog. The dragons in order: Bragi, Bec, Sif. Rho, Azizi. Altair, Min-seok, Joji.

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I MEAN

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OC-tober day 9: Future. I wanted to save Rho for a different prompt but I was inspired when I realised this is where Rho's story ends up.

This is Rho's end point and one of his worst nightmares: outliving his friends and family to fully mantle the god who saved him as a child. Centuries go by and he abandons his name and joins with his ancestor to become one of the twin gods: Thanatos, the God of Death.

Depicted with and without the phantom of the Justicar looming over him.

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Rho, this time with his near-final design with my original species, the tsarveid! His brown hair has been bleached white over the years by using his god-given ice powers. Fun fact: unlike most tsarveid, Rho doesn't drop his antlers. If he did, they probably wouldn't grow back.

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first pass at rho's 1102932090 redesign

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❄️

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pre-redesign rho, lookin nice and crisp

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More art of best boy Rho!

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who needs legs? look they’re just really hard to drAW OKAY

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behold: a man

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something something mucha reference very pog

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OC-tober day 3: Old OC! Had to go with the oldest OC I have, Nightshade, real name Avery Adler.

He's a 9 year old OC so as you'd expect he has changed quite a bit over time- mind you, less than some others! He's an ancient blood mage who was exiled from his old home for his hubris and lack of morals. In an attempt to 'prove' himself, he spent centuries wandering from country to country, invading communities and destroying them. Through this he would eventually create the Thanatos Syndicate.

More of his story under the cut!

He didn't create the Syndicate alone, however. He allowed Koschei Urusov to be the face of it whilst plotting behind his back. Eventually he would attempt a coup. This time, though, he'd been discovered.

Koschei's brother, Mischa, had long suspected him of not being as loyal as he appeared to be. The coup did not arrive with the force Nightshade has expected; he also did not expect Koschei's firstborn son, Rho, to react so violently. Upon seeing his friends and family in real danger, Rho's divine gifted power fully manifested.

This protected them- in so far that it completely destroyed the glacier they had made their base. Nightshade was violently attacked by Koschei, bound, gagged, and magically sealed.

For the next few years he would be kept as a prisoner, not allowed to leave the Syndicate's new base, a cathedral deep in the Cradle. Eventually however Koschei would relent and allow Nightshade out on a mission- infiltrate the nearby cult town of Haven.

Here he would end up falling in love with Melanie Sawyer. With the call for power inside him finally not the most important thing in his life, he would settle with her as a liason between Haven and the Syndicate. The two would even have a son, Crow. For a time, Nightshade was tentatively happy. This, perhaps, was what his life had been missing.

Unfortunately, Malachai Sawyer would eventually return to reclaim Haven as his birthright, displacing Melanie and Nightshade. To their horror Crow would defect, joining Malachai's side and abandoning his parents.

Nightshade now helps Melanie with the few survivours of Malachai's reclamation, seething at the loss of his temporarily peaceful life and the betrayal of his son. Maybe Crow's choice is the moral debt of what he's done over the centuries of his life, the proof that he can never truly be happy.

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mr nero! he's a sad boy, only survivour of the hidden 'treasure' beneath his home waking up and sending everyone into an endless medical coma. he's also a urusov, just like rho!

[majestyrising]

I’m nearly done with the bios of my active lair factions so let’s start sharing some of ‘em! Hark the Wraith King commeth, it’s my main boy Rho! Feel free to peruse the bit of the bio I had to cut out with his important relationships and his art pieces~

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Metamorphosis: Epilogue

⚔ Part 1. ⚔ Part 2. ⚔ Epilogue. ⚔

Notes: Far to the south-east of Pulpa Artifex’s hidden sanctuary, the Thanatos Syndicate gets bad news. No warnings needed.

Pings:  @vicegrips-fr​ @mask-fr​ @kattafr​ @slighteyewing​ @deadland-disciple

It’s a balmy day. Rho’s monochrome room is bathed in sickly pink light. A crystal chandelier hangs above, unilluminated.

He’s sat reading through yesterday’s reports, each more concerning than the next. When there’s a knock at his already open door, he stifles a sigh and gets up.

(Come in, Shara.)

Shara is well known for his jubilant enthusiasm in the face of just about anything, so the fact that his eyes are on the ground and a slight frown sits squarely on his face isn’t a good sign.

He didn’t have much hope in the first place, but that tells him all he needs to know.

(You did not find anything, I take it.)

Shara’s brow furrows into a deeper frown, his head sinking further down as if in shame.

“No, your majesty,” he admits, “I looked far and wide but I found nothing. The villages are, as we established, empty. But, uh, Becquerel is nowhere to be found.”

Rho rubs a hand over his face, shoulders sinking at the news.

(I see.)

“I shall go back out,” Shara says, sucking in a breath and standing up straight, “I will keep looking for as long as you command.”

Rho drops his hand from his face and gives Shara a genuine, if weary, smile. He shakes his head and flicks his hand in dismissal.

(Not yet. Get some rest first then return to me tomorrow. I will plan where you should search next. I may send others with you.)

For a moment he wonders if Shara will protest, but after a few moments he nods- perhaps he realised he’s covered in desert sands and a heavy layer of sweat from tracking their missing comrade.

As Shara leaves, Rho pauses for a moment. It’s a sixth sense at this point, for he can sense the liquid shadow that waits just beyond the door.

(Do you wish to investigate yourself, Gabe?)

Gabriel slips around the corner and lets his magic fall away, standing before Rho with his arms folded in front of his chest. He looks down at him with his trademark serious expression.

“I will if you send me,” he says, his tone neutral, “I was going to say I’m surprised you’re using so many resources trying to find her.”

Rho’s brow furrows ever so slightly, linking his fingers together behind his back.

(Is that a hint of protectiveness I hear? It has been a long time since she arrived here.)

Gabriel huffs, looking off to the side as his tail slowly moves behind him.

“No,” he says, “There’s a bunch of others who got here in weird ways.”

He looks past Rho at where all the reports lie, two neat piles of looked through and to be looked through. An inkwell and quill sit nearby, both used, and Gabriel knows Rho isn’t meant to write with the nerve damage to his hands.

“No,” Gabriel repeats, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t, just that I’m surprised.”

Rho looks behind him to where Gabriel is looking and lets out a very quiet sigh.

(I know she can be a handful, but I value her skills and her company.)

He tries again to fight back the frown on his face but it wins out, settling over him like a chill.

(More than that, I value her life.)

Gabriel nods at that, unfolding his arms and taking a step closer, clasping Rho on the shoulder for a moment before he lets go and turns around to leave.

“I know,” he says, simply, “We’ll keep looking, boss.”

At that Rho can only nod, watching as Gabriel leaves, shutting the door behind him.

(Let us hope it is not too late.)