Sylum Clan

Nothing is True. Everything is Connected.
Sylum Clan
Character Introduction / Shogun Clan0

Sylum Inspiration: Shao Jun

Shogun Hunter: Shao Jun

Jun was born into imperial captivity and was raised to become a concubine in the Forbidden City during China’s Ming dynasty, under the lackluster rule of Emperor Zhengde.

At first she was one of the lower ranking concubines who hoped to become Empress, a wife of the Emperor. To this effect, Jun was taught the traditional arts displayed by the ladies of the imperial court, such as embroidery, singing and reading, but showed exceptional talent for dance and music early on.

As a child, Jun witnessed Liu Jin’s execution and torture with the Ling Chi technique (“slow slicing”, or death by a thousand cuts), a punishment for betraying the Emperor, which she would never forget.

Zhengde, known for his juvenile nature and lack of interest in the urgent matters that concerned his country, regarded Jun highly among his concubines after she had reached her teenage years, for her agility and cat-like discretion fascinated him. Living a decade of her life under Zhengde, he often used her as his spy or thief and to stage jokes against eunuchs and ministers.

By the age of thirteen, Shao Jun had risen to the rank of Imperial Concubine through her talents and Zhengde’s affection. Along with her best friend Zhang, she was poised to become Imperial Consort or even Empress. Jun always won her friendly competition with Zhang using her cat-like grace and talents against her foot-bound and breast-bound friend. Even then, Jun had never visited her Emperor’s bed who preferred the intimate company of prostitutes and other ladies he invited in.

When Zhengde fancied himself as a warlord and went to fight the Mongols in the north, Shao Jun was one of the concubines he took with him. Jun traveled with him to his expeditions in various places and met many foreigners; to serve mostly as his spy, and finally, for his personal leisure.

However, after Zhengde’s death in April 1521, when Shao Jun was sixteen, the royal ministers fell into disarray and bickered over who should succeed the heir-less Zhengde; Jun realized that her opportunities to becoming an Imperial Consort would be lost, unless the new ruler took a liking to her. She used her spying talents to find a way to maintain her Imperial Concubine priveleges, and uncovered a secret war between the Tigers which were working for the Templar Order and a Brotherhood of Assassins. Soon, Jun fathomed that the Tigers were plotting to control China by using their power to place their puppet on the throne. She saw a chance for freedom in the Assassins and since the Tigers already controlled the most influential people in the court, she decided to contact the Assassin Order through Wang Yangming and joined them. Shao Jun was rescued along with several other concubines after the Assassins broke into the royal palace.

Years after her rescue, Jun and her Mentor decided to save the remaining concubines whom she had grown up with. After breaking into the Imperial Palace, Jun discovered that most of her friends had been tortured and killed through the use of Ling Chi, by order of Zhengde’s cousin and successor, Jiajing. Jun and her Mentor then fled the palace.

Before leaving, Shao Jun took the incredible risk of infiltrating the Forbidden City to free her friend Zhang. Although she knew the place by heart, the eunuch guards would have slaughtered her if she’d been caught. Fortunately, the level of security was lower than usual for Jiajing was often away in his own private palaces. Jun found Zhang and was astonished to hear that she wanted to stay, even if the Emperor was a brutal man. Zhang was lucky enough to please him and was now the Imperial Consort. She told her old friend to leave in peace.

Jiajing sought to detain and execute any opposition or possible threats against his rule. Shao Jun could only flee for her life.

Isolated, Shao Jun decided to leave the country in order to seek the help of Italian Mentor Ezio Auditore. She came up on the Villa outside Rome, where she was confronted by two men, demanding to know why she was there. She explained her story, and how the few Assassins that were in China were now destroyed. She sought training to seek revenge against those that were hurting her people.

She later discovered the companion was Nicolaus Meridius, a fellow Assassin. She stayed at the Villa for a few weeks, recouping from her journey. Ezio came to her to tell her she could travel with him, he knew a place to go. She was smart enough to let Ezio and Nico have their farewells without her presence.

Ezio and her traveled to Masyaf.

The arrived in the middle of the battle. Determined to show her skill, Ezio pushed her to the side told her to stay and strode into the middle of it. She knew then – he was the one that could train her.

She ended up Trained at Masyaf, holding her own against men who felt that a woman couldn’t do the job. It was Tamara that encouraged her, and Dastan laughed as she held her own against the ‘bigger’ men.

Before she left to go back to China she requested Ezio Turn her.

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Sylum Charities0

Sylum Charity: Alliance for Period Supplies

1 in 4 Women Have Struggled to Purchase Period Products in the Past Year Due to Lack of Income.

Alliance for Period Supplies is a national organization working to ensure that individuals in need have access to essential period products required to participate fully in daily life. With your support, and that of our founding sponsor U by Kotex, we are improving lives.

Period Poverty isn’t something many people talk about.  There are a lot of charities that help supply products to those who need it.   This is only one of them.

Alliance for Period Supplies

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Character Introduction / Sylum Clan0

Sylum Inspiration: Aveline de Grandpré

Sylum Hunter: Aveline de Grandpré

 

Aveline was born in New Orleans on 20 June 1747 to Philippe de Grandpré and his African placée bride, Jeanne. Granted freedom along with her mother at birth, Aveline grew up in a caring and considerate environment, protected by her father’s wealth and influence within the city. However, when her father’s business began to suffer, he married Madeleine de L’Isle, the daughter of one of his investors, in 1752.

(Dilios Note: Rumor has it that her grandmother is Annemarie, famed Pirate who sailed with Captain Jack Sparrow)

While this act put a strain on the relationship between her parents, both Aveline and her mother Jeanne were permitted to stay at the de Grandpré mansion, with Madeleine becoming responsible for the young girl’s education.

Aveline’s carefree life as a youth was cut short two years later, when Jeanne inexplicably vanished, leaving a void in the girl’s life. Despite the fact that Madeleine quickly adopted the role of doting stepmother, Aveline continued to be troubled by the loss of her mother. As a result, she frequently had nightmares about the events surrounding Jeanne’s disappearance.

Simultaneously, Aveline’s feelings and observations regarding the prevailing contrasts present within her city eventually spurred her into action. In 1759, she attempted to free a slave, but was caught in the act and set upon by sailors employed by the slave’s owner. Thanks to an intervention from Nicolaus Meridius, Aveline and the slave managed to escape unharmed. Deciding her commitment to freedom and justice was beyond compare, Nicolaus took Aveline under his wing.

Following a few months of intense training, Aveline would act as Nicolaus agent in New Orleans, using her skills to help people in need and rid Louisiana of the Templars.

Her first assignment under Nico, was to locate and find Shay Patrick Cormac, who had come to New Orleans specific to have a safe haven for Templars. They discovered that Shay was working with Governor d’Abbadie, who was determined to keep the city and providence under French Templar control.

Between the two of them, they removed the Templar influence.

She discovered his nature when, she found him with Warrick. Upset at first, at hypocrisy she was seeing, she confronted him, only to find herself faced with the Vampire. He explained who he was, and that the man she saw was Warrick, his Mate.

Seeing great potential in her, Nicolaus knew that she would need further training. In 1769 he sent her to Masyaf, along with a letter and trinket for Dastan and Altaïr.

Aveline proved her skills by taking on novices being trained. Altaïr taking Nicolaus word, set out to train her.

She learned much in Masyaf, became fast friends with Tamara.

It was her work, that established a network of woman assassins.

Aveline returned to New Orleans in 1775, and discovered Nicolaus was in New York. She traveled up to the city, to find him.

It was here she met Connor Kenway, and worked with him in dealing with Templars roaming the Eastern Seaboard.

She found Nicolaus in 1776, commanding troops. Impressed by his skills as an Assassin, a General, and the fact he had a black Mate, she requested he Turn her.

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Guest Posts1

Guest Posts: Call Out

 

I’m sending out another notice asking if anyone wants to do some Guest Posts.

It’s been a rough few months, and would be helpful if had a handful of posts that I can use from others.

Afternoon Fic1

Afternoon Fic: All The Right Places by Bj Jones

So here’s the thing, with the adjustment of working from home these past few weeks (and likely continued working from home), being able to focus on writing has been difficult. I’ve been able to write small snippets, but open any of the big Sylum stories I was working on, it was pretty hopeless.

I’ve been on Star Wars kick of late, and a few bunnies began to make themselves known, so I’ve been going with the flow of it, ’cause hey it’s something. And storyline for Jedi Chronicles for Sylum has actually been formulating, which is good! And though Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan is my first loves, mainly because it was them that introduced me (a long time ago in a galaxy far far away) to slash fanfiction.

But my true love in Star Wars is Obi-Wan/Cody – if you have no idea who Cody is, he’s the Commander of the 212th Attack Battalion, which was General Kenobi’s unit in the Clone Wars. You see a lot of their connections in the Clone Wars Series. He is one of the only Clones named and shown in Revenge of the Sith (see above picture).

Somehow in the middle of binge watching, Speed suddenly intrigued by said pairing demanded I write a smut story. It was enough of a push to actual get something written, that wasn’t a few paragraphs. Which also inspired other bunnies, and for the first time in a while I feel like writing again.

So here it is. Gift for Speed, who has put up with me stealing the kitchen table for work.

Read more“Afternoon Fic: All The Right Places by Bj Jones”

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Character Introduction / Medjai Clan0

Sylum Inspiration: Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Medjai Hunter: Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Altaïr was born to Assassin parents: a Christian mother, and a Muslim father, Umar.

While Maud died in childbirth, Umar was executed by the Saracens during the First siege of Masyaf in 1176, in retribution for him killing a Saracen nobleman. Altaïr frantically called out to his father before the execution, but was prevented from seeing his father’s death by Ahmad Sofian, the Assassin who had revealed Umar’s name to the Saracens under torture. Crushed by guilt over Umar’s death, he infiltrated Altaïr ‘s quarters some time later, apologized to Altaïr for his weakness, and committed suicide with a dagger.

Altaïr ran to Al Mualim’s quarters with haste, informing him of what had occurred. Al Mualim told Altaïr not to disclose anything about the incident to anyone – not even to Ahmad’s son Abbas, who would be shamed by the truth of his father’s death. Altaïr considered Al Mualim as more of a father figure than his own biological father, though he was aware that Al Mualim’s love was “weak and dishonest,” and agreed to do as the Mentor commanded. Altaïr and Abbas joined the Order as novices soon after, grew up together and became good friends, always at each other’s side.

One day, after noticing Abbas’ continued grief over his father’s death, Altaïr told him the truth in an effort to console him. Upon hearing it, Abbas turned over in his bed, not saying a word. The following day, the two didn’t speak to each other until Abbas asked their combat instructor Labib if they could fight with real swords, instead of the wooden practice ones. It was then that Abbas revealed his hatred of Altaïr, believing he lied about Ahmad, before attacking him in a rage.

As the two grappled, Abbas held his knife to Altaïr’s throat and yelled that Altaïr had lied about Abbas’ father to shame him. The commotion caught the attention of the other Assassins, the villagers and Al Mualim himself. Trying to quell Abbas’ anger, Altaïr falsely admitted that he had lied, and the two were taken to Masyaf’s dungeon. There they spent a month in confinement before resuming their training. With his crimes deemed more severe, Abbas was forced by Al Mualim to spend an extra year in training, whilst Altaïr graduated to the rank of Assassin.

By the following year, the Holy Land was in the midst of war. In early 1191, Altaïr and his comrades Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf were tasked with retrieving an artifact from the Templars in the Jerusalem Vault beneath the remains of Solomon’s Temple. While progressing through the catacombs, Altaïr broke the first tenet of the Assassin’s Creed by killing an innocent man in their path. Malik admonished Altaïr for his recklessness, but Altaïr arrogantly dismissed him.

Upon seeing the archenemy of his Order, Robert de Sable, Altaïr broke the second tenet of the Creed by confronting his enemy directly. Attempting to openly slay the Grand Master, Altaïr was easily thwarted and thrown from the temple, leaving Malik and Kadar alone with the Templars. Altaïr escaped from the temple and returned to Masyaf to report his failure to the Order.

Once the attack was over, the matter of Altaïr ‘s actions in Solomon’s Temple was addressed once again. It was decreed that in breaking all three tenets of the Creed—as his actions brought the Templars to Masyaf and endangered the Brotherhood Altaïr was marked as a traitor to the Assassins. After declaring his judgement to the entire Order, Al Mualim stabbed Altaïr in the stomach with a dagger.

Altaïr awoke from his “sleep of the dead” and questioned Al Mualim about his survival, with the Mentor answering that Altaïr had only seen what he had wanted him to see. He then stripped Altaïr of his rank and possessions before offering him a chance at redemption, tasking him with hunting down the traitor within Masyaf who had allowed the Templars entrance. Once Altaïr successfully completed the mission, he returned to Al Mualim and was rewarded with the restoration of his Hidden Blade and sword. An official member of the Order once again, Altaïr was offered a trade: assassinate nine men from the ranks of both Saracens and Crusaders, taking their lives in exchange for his own.

Altaïr was able to assassinate the first eight and discovered that his last target was Robert himself. He made his way back to Jerusalem where he met Robert. However, as he removed the helmet of the Templar, he found out that he had not faced Robert but a girl. He allowed her to live and she told him that Robert had made his way to Arsuf. Altaïr followed and finally killed Robert, who revealed that Al Mualim was actually a Templar. Altaïr returned to Masyaf, where Al Mualim confirmed what Robert had said. Altaïr , aided by a number of other Assassins, fought his way to Al Mualim, who had used to the artifact from Solomon’s Temple to enslave the people of Masyaf. Altaïr and his mentor battled each other and Altaïr finally killed him, taking his place as mentor.

(Dilios Note: The artifact is a well kept secret I’ve heard it called ‘the apple’ from time to time but I have not seen it or can I verify it’s existence)

It was at this time Dastan arrived back at Masyaf wondering what had happened. Altaïr told him of Al Mualim’s betrayal. Dastan settled back into Masyaf, and with Altaïr ‘s help rebuilt the Assassin Order.

He set out to find Maria Thorpe ,the woman who had disguised herself as Robert de Sable, and bring her back with him. When returning to Masyaf he married her and in time she bore him a son Darim. A few years later she became pregnant with Sef. It was during her pregnancy that she lashed out at Altaïr . He missed his footing and fell off one of the towers, landing several feet below.

Dastan knew the Assassin Order needed Altaïr, and Turned him.

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