#shadow knight laurence

[shroomyart404]

supersized....shadow knight laurence......

Tall boytm

I have a height chart too. like the Shadow Knights are TALL tall

(Slightly higher quality on my Patreon - $3 a month)

[pheonixdrop]

The main gang didn’t know Laurence was a changeling until after the nether because his body started eating up his love stores (actual term for changeling fat), which meant holes started forming in his hooves

God…. God real.

[whereislaurencezvahl]

Laurnyance Zvahl

[jackal-artist]

I may be depressed but I can still draw :)

[creamofdragonsoup]

APHTOBER DAY 2 : Devotion

Imagine being so devoted you annihilate an entire werewolf wedding

Prompt List by @vyladromeave (follow them fr)

[xyxofspades]

Laurence after the portal closed, probably

(Also yeah that's gene but I might change that design)

[cloudsanddust]

I’ve been obsessing over shadow knights recently so I prepose a thought.

We know Shadow Knights are glorified zombies who are practically decaying, right?

Well what if Shadow Knights could go into a sort of hibernation like state? Being reclaimed by nature?

Like a shadow knight enters the over world and is tired of the village life but also the knight life. So they opt to lie on the forest floor and enter a deep slumber as nature tries to reclaim them. Unfortunately due to them being a shadow knight nature can only reclaim so much. Everything around the knight decays while a tree covers their body, protecting them. These trees look different due to the dark magic the shadow knight is giving off. So instead of normal overworld tree, a tree from the nether sprouts in place.

Immortal knights do this because they feel it’s the closest thing to death.

Not fully fledged knights do this because they fear they might harm their loved ones.

It’s a death like sleep but the knight can be awakened if the area around them is disturbed a good bit.

Examples are: Floods, Earthquakes, Tornados, construction work/drilling in the ground, constant destruction to the tree, etc.

So imagine the mcd world slowly turning into the my street world and Laurence entered this type of slumber back during mcd. Later he is awoken by reincarnations of his friends in the modern my street world.

Just a silly thought touching on Shadow Knights decaying 🤗✨

[somych79newblog]

Shadow knights! :-)

[piancqwrites]

Company

synopsis ➸ Laurance has never seen you around the village before until he saw you walk into the latest party.

tags ➸ Laurence x reader, fluff, sfw

divider by @strangergraphics-archive + @strangergraphics

Laurence Zvhal, the second head guard of Phoenix Drop, stood at the edge of the crowded plaza with a cup of eggnog.

He stayed nearby, ensuring he could always keep an eye on Lord Aphmau. The warm glow of the Christmas lights danced around the place, casting festive shadows over the cozy decorations the Village of Phoenix Drop had meticulously put up. Lord Aphmau’s laughter rang out like a melody, mingling with the cheerful chatter of their friends.

But Laurence felt out of place.

It wasn’t the party itself. He appreciated the effort Aaron and Aphmau put into making everyone feel welcome, creating a space where their tight-knit group could come together and celebrate the holidays. It was more a feeling of being a misfit among people who seemed perfectly at home in this cheerful chaos.

Before Aaron came into the picture, Laurence's feelings for Aphmau were strong, leading to a silent competition with Garroth for her attention. But once Aaron and Aphmau's bond grew undeniable, Laurence's romantic feelings for her faded.

Instead, he redirected his devotion into a vow to protect her as her guard, a role he took immense pride in.

He looked around, watching his friends interact. Garroth and Dante were bickering playfully by the Christmas tree, while Katelyn and Nana engaged in a heated debate over the best Christmas dish.

Lord Aphmau was always the center of attention, her infectious energy drawing everyone in. Even Aaron, usually more reserved, seemed relaxed, a soft smile on his face as he leaned against the wall, observing the scene with quiet contentment.

Laurence sighed, taking a sip of his drink. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel included; his friends always made an effort to make him feel welcome. It was more the persistent sense that he was somehow different, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit. He had his quirks and his past, things that sometimes set him apart. And while everyone had their own baggage, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his was heavier, that it kept him at a slight distance.

But it wasn’t just that. He felt like something was missing.

He couldn’t pinpoint the main reason for his troubles, not really.

The calling from the Nether, the darkness that always loomed at the edges of his mind, the countless amount of drops of blood that soaked his hands, the weakening grip on his humanity—being just her guard wasn't enough.

He hated being a shadow knight.

Laurence wandered over to a nearby tree, looking at the softly falling snow. The world outside was quiet, starkly contrasting with the lively storm inside his head. It reminded him of how he often felt—a silent observer on the outside looking in.

Lost in thought, Laurence didn’t notice Aaron approaching until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Aaron smiling at him, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Hey, you alright?” Aaron asked, his voice soft enough to not draw attention from the others.

Laurence forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just needed a breather,” he replied, though he knew Aaron could see through the lie. Aaron had a way of understanding people, of seeing the things they tried to hide.

“You know, you don’t have to be ‘on’ all the time,” Aaron said, as if reading his mind. “It’s okay to just… be.”

Laurence looked at Aaron, searching for the right words. “I know. It’s just… sometimes I feel like I’m not really part of all this. Like I’m just… here.”

Aaron’s expression softened. “We all feel like that sometimes,” he said. “But you’re a part of this, Laurence. A big part. We wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Laurence glanced back at the room, at his friends laughing and joking, then back at Aaron.

“Thanks,” he murmured, feeling a small weight lift from his shoulders. It wasn’t a magic fix, but it was comforting to know that someone understood.

Any person within a mile could sense the magicks coursing through Zoey's veins. So when she came rushing in with a guard from Phoenix Drop in armor close behind, he was worried that something was wrong.

That guard, Laurence had never seen her before. His sharp blue eyes were observed as she ran directly to Lord Aphmau, urgency clear in her voice.

"The barrier has been placed, my Lord," Zoey said breathlessly.

Lord Aphmau's expression shifted from joy to concern in an instant but quickly returned to a reassuring smile. The lively chatter around them hushed as everyone turned to listen.

"Thank you, Zoey," Aphmau replied, her voice steady. "Everyone, stay calm. This is just a precaution so we can enjoy the party without any interruptions."

Laurence’s gaze remained fixed on the new guard, his curiosity piqued by her demeanor. As Zoey wrapped up her report, Laurence took a moment to appreciate the details.

The vivid, deep red bow tied high behind the guard’s hair was a striking contrast to her otherwise serious armor. He didn't miss how the wind blew kisses against her skin, highlighting the volume of her hair and the way it gracefully landed around her shoulders. It was both an elegant accessory and a subtle declaration of her individuality.

The way the bow accentuated her sharp, observant eyes added to her already compelling presence. Laurence noted how her stance remained a blend of relaxation and alertness as if she was always prepared to transition from festive enjoyment to action with a mere thought. Her ability to navigate the balance between the two worlds—celebration and duty—was impressive.

“Apologies for being late, my lord,” she said, bowing slightly. “Bandits were lurking at the border, so I made sure they were dealt with. They’re currently locked in the cell.”

Irene, even her voice sounded lovely.

Laurence’s interest was piqued further. Her competence and the calm efficiency with which she reported her duties spoke volumes. There was a quiet confidence in her presence, an air of professionalism that set her apart.

"Laurence, you're drooling." Garroth snickered. When did he make his way over here?

Tonight is just not his night for sneaky encounters.

"I was not," He scoffed as he cleaned his chin with the back of his hand, collecting no saliva. He may be a flirt, but he would never undress a lady with his eyes like that. "Why didn't you tell me we had a new guard. As your second in command, I'm hurt."

"With preparations for the party tonight, it must've slipped my mind."

"What's her name?" Laurence asked, his eyes never waved from that direction as she smiled at the villagers.

Garroth stared at him in amusement. "You are doing a very poor job at hiding your interest."

"Her name." He asked but firm this time.

Garroth, still amused, crossed his arms and looked at Laurence with a knowing grin. “Her name’s [Y/N] [L/N]. She’s been here for a few days now, but she’s been pretty focused on settling in and getting up to speed."

Laurence’s eyes flickered back to you, who was now chatting with some of the guests, her presence exuding both confidence and grace. “[Y/N],” he repeated as if trying to imprint the name alongside the image of her.

“Yes,” Garroth confirmed, still smirking. “And before you ask, she’s as capable as she is stylish. If you want to know more about her, you’ll have to get it from her directly. I hear she’s not easily impressed.”

Laurence gave Garroth a sidelong glance, a smirk playing on his lips. “Well, I suppose that makes her all the more intriguing. I’ll have to make sure I have a chance to speak with her properly. It’s not every day we get a new guard who adds such a... distinctive touch to the uniform.”

With that, Laurence made his way through the crowd, occasionally glancing towards her as he navigated his way. That trek ran with an instant roadblock with his fangirls flocking towards him.

It only took him a few seconds of watching his step, a few seconds of looking away to lose you completely in the crowd.

It's been two weeks.

Two weeks had passed since that bustling party, and Laurence couldn’t shake the feeling that he had missed a significant opportunity.

His initial intrigue about the new guard, [Y/N] [L/N], had only grown stronger, though he hadn't managed to have a proper conversation with her.

He’d heard snippets of her reputation through the guards and townsfolk: she was not only a capable fighter but also someone who commanded respect effortlessly. Yet, despite his curiosity and admiration, he hadn't managed to find a moment to introduce himself properly.

The winter chill had settled in Phoenix Drop, and the village was blanketed with snow, making it a picturesque winter wonderland. As he walked through the snow-covered paths, the crunch of snow beneath his boots was a constant reminder of the cold season and the grim atmosphere it brought.

Today was gate duty.

Laurence sighed as he made his way to the main gate, the crunch of snow beneath his boots echoing in the quiet morning air. Gate duty was usually uneventful, especially in the winter when fewer travelers passed through the village.

He prepared himself for a long, monotonous shift.

"Thank Irene, my prayers have been answered." A voice broke through his consciousness as he reached the gate. "I was wondering when I would stop babysitting Dale during gate duty."

Laurence stopped in his tracks, startled by the unexpected greeting. He looked up to see [Y/N] standing at the gate, her breath forming small clouds in the frosty air. She had a playful smirk, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"I don't believe that we've met."

Laurence was internally screaming with delight.

He finally, finally got the opportunity to talk to her. He cleared his throat, hoping his excitement wasn’t too obvious. "Laurence Zvhal, second head guard," he said, extending his hand.

Y/N] took his hand, her grip firm and confident. "I've heard a lot about you."

Laurence, ever the charmer, lifted her hand gently and kissed the back of it. "The pleasure is all mine," he said, winking playfully.

"[Y/N] [L/N], but I am starting to think, you already knew that." She raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Is that your usual greeting for all the new guards?"

"Only to you, my dove," Laurence replied smoothly, releasing her hand. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."

[Y/N] laughed, the sound brightening the chilly morning air. "Well, I’m glad to be here. And it’s nice to have some company for gate duty. I was getting tired of dealing with Dale being drunk while working."

Laurence chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Yeah, Dale can be a bit much sometimes. But it’s good to have someone reliable around... especially one so beautiful."

They settled into their posts, the morning light casting long shadows on the snow-covered ground.

The air was crisp, and their breath formed small clouds as they talked.

"So, how are you finding Phoenix Drop?" Laurence asked, genuinely curious.

"It's been great so far," [Y/N] replied, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Everyone's been welcoming, and the village has a certain charm to it."

Laurence nodded, appreciating her positive outlook. "Yeah, it does have a unique charm. I guess that’s what makes this place special."

[Y/N] smiled, her eyes reflecting the winter light. "It really does. Though, I have to admit, I’m still adjusting to the cold. It's a far cry from the warmer climates I’m used to."

"Ah, yes, the cold can be quite harsh," Laurence said, glancing at the snow-covered landscape. "But it's worth it to see the stranglehold of winter to be broken by spring."

"You seem to have a poetic side," She commented with a teasing smile. "Do you always speak like this, or is it reserved for special occasions?"

Laurence grinned, leaning slightly closer as if sharing a secret. "Only when I’m trying to impress someone."

[Y/N] raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Is that so? And here I thought you were just being charming for the sake of it."

"Charming is my middle name," Laurence quipped. "It’s not every day I get to work alongside someone as intriguing as you."

"Yeah, yeah, Cassanova."

Their conversation flowed naturally, with [Y/N] sharing anecdotes from her past assignments and Laurence responding with his own stories from Phoenix Drop.

As they talked, Laurence felt the ease between them grow, the initial awkwardness melting away in the warmth of their shared laughter and exchange.

At the party, he had only caught fleeting moments of her voice amidst the crowd—like tantalizing hints of a melody he was desperate to hear in its entirety. Those snippets had been alluring, and captivating, and left him craving more.

But now, with [Y/N] speaking directly to him, it was as if he had been granted access to a symphony he had only heard in fragments.

The way she spoke, the melody of her words, and the passion behind them had an almost intoxicating effect on him. Each syllable seemed to lift him higher, wrapping him in a euphoric haze that dulled the edge of his usual burdens.

Her voice was a sweet nectar, and he was helplessly addicted.

He would find himself lost in the cadence of her speech, hanging on to every inflection and nuance. It was so easy to let the world outside fade away, to let the cold, the shadows, and the relentless calling from the Nether slip from his mind.

The dark thoughts and heavy memories that usually plagued him seemed to dissolve in the warmth of her presence. The suffocating weight of the countless drops of blood on his hands, the creeping darkness that threatened his sanity, and the ever-present struggle to retain his humanity all receded into the background.

In their place, there was only the enchantment of her voice, drawing him into a realm where his worries felt distant and irrelevant.

"So, what’s been the most challenging part of your new role?" Laurence asked, desperately trying for her to keep talking.

[Y/N] considered the question for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "Everyone has their own way of doing things. I’m still figuring out how best to fit in while staying true to my own style."

Laurence nodded, understanding. "It can be tough finding that balance. But from what I’ve seen, you’re doing great. Your reputation precedes you."

[Y/N] smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment. "Thanks. That means a lot. And speaking of reputation, I’ve heard quite a few things about you too."

Laurence’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Oh? And what have you heard?"

"That you’re not only a skilled guard but also quite the sweet talker," [Y/N] said with a playful glint in her eye. "And that you have a knack for making even the dullest tasks seem interesting."

Laurence laughed, a genuine, hearty sound. "Well, I try my best. And I suppose I’m just lucky to have such good company today."

[gumbootillustrations]

laurance's ref sheet!! it only took me a month and two different versions to finish lol

but yeah. backstory, lore, closeups, etc under the cut :3

laurance is the adopted son of hayden zvahl, a blacksmith, and joh zvahl, a jeweller, and grew up in meteli alongside his adoptive sister cadenza. cad's the reason why his hair is bright red when aph meets him en route to scaleswind - he's been dyeing it this colour since he was young so that he and cadenza could match and look more like siblings. as such, much of his colour scheme is based around soft reds and oranges, with some golds thrown in. additionally, his earrings (although u can't really see them here) were made by joh, alongside most of his other jewellery, before joh passed away a couple of years prior to aph showing up outside of phoenix drop. his armour is also a lot lighter than garroth and katelyn's due to his fighting style prioritising speed and mobility over strength and endurance - that, and the fact that he works around water a lot and can't let metal weigh him down too much.

after ungrth drags him out of the nether, laurance's colour scheme undergoes a major change - instead of being based around reds and golds, it shifts to be focused around greens and browns. laurance also dyes his hair back to its natural colour (brown), and due to the trauma of being forced through the realm barrier (and having his eyes cut out multiple times by gene), his eyes fade to a pale, milky green. there are other physical changes that come with being turned as well - his nails turn into talons, his ears become pointed, and, due to his now-undead nature, his heart stops beating. he also loses the need to breathe, although he keeps doing so to keep up the facade of being human (he really doesn't want to acknowledge the fact that he's undead now). however, around the start of season three (right before the main cast makes the trip to tu'la), he decides to dye his hair red again and return to the reds and golds that he loves (something something "reclaiming his fire" something something). it also doesn't help that his hair has started growing in a bright copper ever since they returned from o'khasis and xavier's relic had gone missing. surely these events can't be connected

not too many comments about laurance's out-of-armour/casual/tu'la arc outfit. his eyesight's dogshit now (due to the aforementioned events surrounding his turning n escape from the nether) so he technically needs glasses, but he never wears them unless someone (usually garroth) tells him to.

with laurance's shadow knight form, i rlly wanted to showcase how unnatural it is to him. it's big, and bulky, and covered in spikes n shit - it's entirely antithetical to laurance and his fighting style. personally, i think that a shadow knight's armour adapts to their fighting style and personality over time, but because laurance like. never uses this form it doesn't get the chance to adapt to him, although i added in a doodle of what his form might've evolved to look like had he used it more often.

uhh shadow knight lore stuff. shad is a psychopomp - at least, the fragment of his soul/essence/whatever that didn't get totally fucked up by the void is. however, the shadow lord (aka the fragment of shads soul/essence/whatever that did) tends to snatch souls that either a) die in the nether (like laurance n sasha) or b) are deemed to be useful to his cause of destroying irene (like gene and vylad) to make into shadow knights. different things play into how powerful a shadow knight is - gene, being part-mer'ai, being a descendant of kul'zak, and having memory manipulation magicks, is pretty powerful already, but when he's made into a death knell (aka a general in the shadow lord's army) his power can pretty much rival a relic wielder. laurance mayyyybe could've become a death knell if he wanted to, but unfortunately he has a stupid strong sense of justice so uh. yeah.

all shadow knights do get a boon from the shadow lord - it usually reflects their personality, their soul, or their past, and it always centres around blood, fire, or shadows (or a mix of some or all of these - for example, zenix's boon is that his blood essentially acts like napalm). laurance's reflects his childhood in meteli, a town built in a saltmarsh/estuary - his blood is stupid acidic (like acidic enough to melt through flesh, bone, and metal if he's not careful). however, for a long time, he assumes that his boon is being able to alter the temperature of metal (as sasha has told him that all shadow knight's blood is poisonous on some level - he just doesn't know that his blood is particularly poisonous) until vylad tells him that it probably isn't metal related.

uhh more lore stuff - this time regarding xavier, his relic, and plot stuff.

zane absorbs xavier's relic (sort of unwillingly?? like he wants power, and he wants to try and push back against his father's influence, but if he's being honest he would've preferred to take on esmund's relic (which is missing. weird.) but beggars can't be choosers so eh it's whatever), but because not everyone can wield a relic and not every relic can be wielded by every relic-wielder it sort of starts to eat away at his soul and fuck him up. this leads to the climactic battle of s1 in irene's cathedral dimension, which ends when garroth (who gets possessed by esmund's relic) kills zane by ripping xavier's relic out of him. when they get back to the overworld and realise what exactly that weird fuckoff hunk of metal that garroth yanked out of zane's chest is, they decide to give it to garroth for safe keeping - only for the relic to go missing when the main cast breaks into an occupied o'khasis to rescue zianna, although they don't realise it until they return home to phoenix drop. it's around this time that laurance travels to new meteli to catch up with cadenza and get her to dye his hair orange again, only for cadenza to discover that his hair is growing in a bright copper. they... sort of brush this off as a weird shadow knight biology thing until laurance gets into a fistfight with gene and transforms for the first time. it's a bit of a mess but hey we got there in the end.

but yeah i decided to tweak his design a lil bit from my lineup of the second war of the magi's divine warriors because i wasn't suuper happy w how his chestplate turned out n i wanted to tutu w it a bit.

anyway. laurance's ref sheet is fucking finally done. the next ref sheet will probs be either katelyns or an updated ref sheet for garroth since ive tinkered w his protector form a Lot and i probs need to add in a cold weather outfit (laurance doesnt need one bc shadow knights r weird n basically space heaters anyway) and his juror form.

as always, let me know if u have any questions!! :D

[fresh-honey-alma]

[pheonixdrop]

Laurence makes up a bullshit reason to make Gene calm down because he NEEDS structure. Needs to have a purpose. Needs to have reasons. Needs to be told to know what to do anymore. He isn’t a good weapon anymore- but his magic is useful. So he has to stay alive until they can take that away. That makes sense. That’s why Laurence is keeping him alive.

(The whole thing kind of pisses Laurence off. Sure, Laurence wanted Gene dead, but the idea of revenge isn’t appealing anymore. The Gene he wanted to kill was the one who would rather die than ever surrender to the rebels- not this version that begs and pleads for execution.)

SO REAL…. God he would be so uncomfortable

[mangotelevision]

minecraft diaries x warrior cats

[radishly]

them: have you ever considered that every character you relate to has some sort of anger problem? that they blow up at the slightest inconvenience? you have inherited your mother's anger, even though you swore you wouldn't, and you don't even realize it. the only way you even express it is through these characters.

ME: woMP WOMP, I'M SO LAURANCE CODED!!!!

[cinnamontoastcroonch]

he’s pissed & needs to be kissed.

once i saw somebody on a diff platform say that the sk’s hair floats slightly when transformed & i really liked that idea so i tried to emulate it

whoever is on the other end of his lil dagger is in for it

[dilftesbiggestfan]

mcd gene should be grateful he has dilfte who’s too kind.. mys Dante would NOT let gene treat him like the way gene treated dilfte 💀