| “ | Our ancestors, and others, have told us that we are "prey of the world". Too weak. Too young. Too slow. That will change, as everything would. For I have been doing nothing but changing, nothing but progression. Recession to you. | „ |
| ~ Rukud, Shield Recession |
Summary[]
Rukud, Shield Recession is a character from Kadarjahan, Storiverse
Rukud, Shield Recession, formerly Rakhd, is an Arasah Chief, King of Gorgan, and the leader of Shafra Organization.
Backstory[]
Rakhd was born on the 15th day of the first month in the year 1074 in Shan Valleys, located in the northernmost parts of the Yarmada peninsula within the Abhost realm. He came from a long line of leaders, as he was the 31st generation descendant of Saskama, the founder and previous leader of the Saskama tribe. At the time of Rakhd's birth, his uncle was the current tribe leader, having been reigning since the 14th day of the third month in the year 1072. Unfortunately, Rakhd's father had passed away just days before his birth when he was only six years old. He grew up in his uncle's household with his surviving family members.
When Rakhd became an adult, he passed a Navjote ceremony. However, just three months later, a small raiding force from Kanduhana attacked Shan Valleys, causing the massacre of hundreds of Arasahs from the region. Many tribes joined forces in a quick alliance to defend themselves, but they were ultimately eliminated, including almost the entirety of the Saskama tribe, with only a few dozen survivors remaining. The Arasahs could not understand how they had been so easily defeated, as even their Chiefs, who had the ability to heal themselves after complete destruction of their bodies, were unable to survive the Kanduhan soldiers' attacks. This traumatic event had a long-lasting effect on the psyche of the survivors.
Following the elimination of all his tribe members, Rakhd took on the mantle of leadership of his tribe, as well as the survivors from other tribes. He swore to seek revenge on Kanduhana for the atrocities they had committed. He spent many days of his life trying to improve his Hava abilities, which eventually allowed him to find a way to extend his lifespan sixfold. He took on the name Rukud on the 16th day of the third month in the year 1075, granting him plenty of time to plan and eventually take revenge against Kanduhana.
Rukud led the survivors northwards, away from Kanduhana, to allow them to recover their numbers quickly over the course of two years. This increased the total number of Arasahs in his tribe to over 9000, the highest number it had ever been. To Rukud's surprise, several of his tribe members also ascended to Chiefs, which was previously unheard of. These developments prompted Rukud to establish an organization named Shafra in the year 1076. He subsequently invaded Ampay, a city in northern Yarmada peninsula under Kanduhan control, with a population made up of Keshmans and Arasahs who resented Kanduhans.
The invasion and occupation of Ampay would prompt the Shafra-Kanduhana war, which was responded by many Prowlers being located there. Shafra, along with local volunteers, were able to hold their ground, mostly launching guerilla war against foreign Kanduhan troops who did not know the region as well as the locals.
The war continued in a draw for several years, but in year 1080, Ravan, the High Ambition was sent there to crush Shafra, under direct command by Shah Dozakh. Ravan, shortly after his arrival, started a campaign of mass-scale killings on the population of Ampay, causing Shafra to reveal themselves. This would result in a direct battle between Rukud and Ravan, which lasted several months and almost ended in Ravan's defeat and death at the hands of Rukud, only to be interrupted by a duplication of Hazar Mazdabarzan, who arrived to save severely-injured Ravan, so Rukud thought.
Rukud was not going to allow this, he charged and launched one of his most powerful attack against the duplication, which was easily, extremely easily, blocked. "This did not even look like a block, but rather she was completely unaffected", Rukud thought. This event somewhat broke Rukud's will, and realized how delusional his ambitions were, how untouchable it would be for him to take revenge from Kanduhana. Rukud would unwillingly continue the occupation, urged by other Chiefs, with devastation for both Shafra and the local population. Fallowing the deaths of all the chiefs at the hands of Kanduhan soldiers, Shafra eventually lifted the occupation and fled the region, ending 7-year-long war.
Rukud wanted to get as far away from Kanduhana as possible, many members of Shafra also came to realization that he did 7 years ago, when he was completely powerless against a weak duplication of Hazar, as if she was an immovable object. Over the course of next several weeks, Shafra would slowly migrate eastwards from the great ocean, and eventually locate one of the Obelisks there, which would move them to an island.
They observe island which seems to be unhabited, not by any other species, by any life in general. No trees, no plants, nothing. This was extremely unusual. Rukud was terrified of the idea of Kanduhana chasing them, and rest of Shafra also knew they were done if that happened. The interaction with Hazar broke him, he did not want revenge, he merely wanted to survive, along with his fallowers. Shafra decided to briefly settle in this unhabited island for sometime before restarting their journey to the east.
While most rest Shafra was asleep, Rukud took the mission of a guardian, as if there was anything else here, he thought. But, strangely, he was sleepy as well. This was unusual as he really shouldn't be at this time. He too would eventually fall asleep, while being suspicious. When he finally slept, he saw what looked like an extremely realistic dream but was able to quickly grasp that this was no dream at all, but couldn't exactly tell what was happening.
"Rukud, you, one of the weak Arasah people, o prophet mine.", He heard from within.
"Prophet? Who's there?", yelled Rukud, but not actually yelling
"You're on me now, my island. I Kurukafa. Welcome, o guest mine.", replied, Kurukafa
"Kurukafa? Strange name. What's the meaning of this? I knew something was up with this island the moment I stepped on it, no life and seemed like it never had any, that should be impossible. So that's you?", asked Rukud
"Coincidence. This island, my island, could not be sensed by anyone else, hence no life, or nothing on it, except you, o prophet mine.", replied Kurukafa
"You're calling me a prophet? What does it-", attempted to reply Rukud, suddenly stopped
"No need to explain. You will never understand this with your current from. Did you know Kanduhan people who terrified you beyond recovery have their own religion? They're worshippers of it, gives them great power, but bounds them to it. Do the same, o prophet mine, be bound to me.", said Kurukafa, talking about Kanduhabanda.
"A religion with great power? If you bound and worship you, will you give me power to take reveng-", asked Rukud, interrupted
"I will give you power, what you do with that power is up to you. But, I'd recommend not go anywhere near Kanduhans, you could deal with the weaker ones, but not any much more than that. It seems, their religion is stronger than mine. Understand? Take my offering, o prophet mine, and spread good news to all your people.", replied Kurukafa
This reply was disappointing for Rukud. For a second he thought he came into contact with something that could give him great power, allowing him to safely take his revenge. But it seemed not possible for him, after this, Rukud replied "I'd accept this, but what is the benefit for you in giving me power? what is your purpos-", while interrupted.
"I told you, you will never understand this in this form. Now, take my offering, o prophet mine, take your improved form.", said Kurukafa
"I accept, o god mine, let us be what we must, then", said Rukud, clearly accepting Kurukafa as his God,
"Well done, o prophet mine. You shall now in fact a Prophet, o prophet mine. Your new form shall be a shield, shield from recession. You're now Rukud, Shield Recession", replied Kurukafa, giving Rukud his new form.
Rukud wake up with a surge of energy, feeling much better than ever before, instantly ascending to a High Chief. Rukud spent the next several days spreading good news among his fallowers, converting them to the religion, not much convincing was necessary as they all grew in power upon accepting. They restarted their journey and eventually reached Tumu, a a region in easternmost part of Mantost made up of several cities. Rukud and his thousand fallowers would settle in the surrounding regions of this small settlement, and Shafra immediately began prozeltyzing operations here.
The arrival of new Arasah and their religion was not welcomed by local Arasah tribes and organizations of Tumu, who were already in conflict with one another. Rukud believed a war of unification was necessary for peace and stability. Over the course of next several years, Shafra would either make alliances or crush all opposition, eliminate other organizations, and unify all the Arasahs of Tumu under its command. Other Arasahs never stood a chance, as Shafra and its new allies were more powerful due to Kurukafa. This was for the greater good.
Rukud also had four sons while this was happening, raising them and was very impressed with their growth. Before they even reached the age of 3 months, they were able to nearly match him in power. By year 1093, Pacification of the eastern Mantost would eventually led to the creation of a state named Kingdom of Gurgan in the region, named after Gurgan, largest city of Tumu. The state would, over the course of a few decades, conquer this eastern portions of the realm, eliminating other Arasah states and organizations. Shortly after this, Rukud once again met with Kurukafa in his dream
"Kurukafa, my God. I frimly believe I can understand it with my current from, answer my plea, answer my questions", prayed Rukud
"Greetings. I salute your confidence, and am willing to answer whatever question you might have, o prophet mine.", said Kurukafa
"What are you? What's the meaning of this, and what's it about the religion of Kanduhans? Do you know them", asked Rukud
Kurukafa replied what sounded like information that Rukud could not comprehend.
"You understand now? You will never understand what I am, not now.", replied Kurukafa, and spoke again "Regarding Kanduhans. There was many similar to me, but there was one. Wicked one. Similar to me"
"I can't believe I still don't understand, however, there was more of you- or those like you? Similar?", asked Rukud
"Yes. Similar to me, but wicked. We attempted to save it from its own wickedness, and save everything from it. We destroyed it, but it was not gone completely. a small weakened part of it would change itself, flee, and survive among you for thousands of years, before Catastrophe.", responded Kurukafa
"So what happened after that? Do Kanduhans worship that small weakened part now? Is that what gives them enormous power", asked Rukud
"No. I don't know how, but the part appears to have died to something. Something that became even more wicked. Something that gained its powers. That thing would meet two other people, make an alliance, which would gave rise to the Kanduhans.", replied Kurukafa. Further questions from Rukud always sounded like he could not understand, and he eventually wake up. He was pleased with the information regarding Kanduhans, and more reason to stay away from them as much as possible. "This is not my war", he thought, "The ones that attacked me and my are probably already dead by now, no need to swore revenge against all of Kanduhana", saying these to himself to comfort himself from the dread he was feeling, feeling of being so small and irrelevant.
Kingdom of Gurgan eventually come into contact with numerous Vaspan-led organizations and states in western Mantost. Although initial contact was largely friendly, eventually a small conflict broke out between alliance of several small Vaspan states and Gorgan, which, despite Rukud himself also being involved, resulted in a catastrophic defeat as well as large cessions for Gorgan.
"This is unacceptable", Rukud thought, "Compared to what I faced years ago, a mere fraction of an immovable object, these Vaspans should be nothing. Yet, with years of work and effort, a State under my command, my soldiers, myself, cannot compete? Unacceptable." Arasahs were always the weakest of all species in Jahan; too weak; short-lived, not smart, a prey for this world. But this was going to change, as everything would, for all of his life Rukud was changing how Arasahs operated, he already accomplished more than any other Arasah ever did. Rukud believed the only way to make Gurgan more powerful was to worship Kurukafa better. He developed a method of worship to increase the power gained from it, allowing them to have potential to grow stronger, live longer, and possibly ascend into Chiefs like he was. But this method would render him nearly immobile, incapable of doing almost anything. Rukud still went with it, and, in year 1125, he appointed three of his sons as regents, co-rulers, while he sacrifice himself for what he believed was the greater good.
This worked, Arasahs were far more powerful than before, and were able to keep up with Vaspans states. Gurgan was safe, it was not going to be defeated. Rukud was fine with this, his sacrifice had worked. Over the course of next centuries, Rukud would evolve into being the patron deity for Gurgan, a God who allowed this to be possible, made weak strong, made young old, made slow quick.
Powers and Abilities[]
Tier: Low 6-B | At least Low 6-B | 10-C. At least Low 6-B with Summons
Key: Rukud | Pre-Sacrifice | Post-Sacrifice
Name: Rukud, Shield Recession, shortly Rukud, formerly Rakhd
Origin: Kadarjahan (Storiverse)
Gender: Male
Age: At most 13 years old | At most 51 years old | Over 500 years old
Classification: Arasah, Havaner, King of Gurgan | All prior, Prophet of Kurukafa
Powers and Abilities:
Havaner Physiology, Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Longevity (Arasah have lifespan of only 10 years, Rukud can life up to 60), Genius Intelligence, Master Combatant, Enhanced Senses, Extrasensory Perception, Non-Physical Interaction, Analytical Prediction, Information Analysis, Accelerated Development, and Power Mimicry (Has these abilities on a comparable or greater extent to Ravan, the High Ambition as he fought him), Ice Manipulation, Absolute Zero and Danmaku (Can launch rapid energy blasts, as well as ice attacks)
All previous on a greater degree plus Immortality (Types 1, 3, 4, & 8; Arasah Chiefs will not age and can regenerate after complete physical destruction. As a prophet Rukud will also be resurrected by Kurukafa if he dies), Regeneration (Low-Godly)
All prior plus Summoning (Can summon his sons)
Resistance to Analytical Prediction, Information Analysis, and Power Mimicry (Resists Ravan, the High Ambition), Regeneration Negation (Low-Godly; unaffected by Silec's negation. Silec's negation is comparable of Blade Canon users on the level of Marauders), Electricity Manipulation (Fought agaist Kanduhans many times and can resist their Blade Canon-based Electricity), Acid Manipulation and Deconstruction (Fought agaist Kanduhans many times and can resist their Blade Canon-based Acid), Corrosion Inducement (Fought agaist Kanduhans many times and can resist their Blade Canon-based Corrosion), Poison Manipulation, Corruption (Type 1), Statistics Reduction, and Body Puppetry (Fought agaist Kanduhans many times and can resist their Blade Canon-based Poison, which can also corrupt and weaken their targets and allow them to control their bodies)
Attack Potency: Small Country level (Fought Boil Mode-enhanced Ravan, the High Ambition, matched and nearly killed him) | At least Small Country level (Far stronger than before) | Below Average Human level (Can hardly move his body). At least Small Country level with Summons (Can summon his four sons, who are comparable to Pre-Sacrifice Rukud)
Speed: At least Supersonic movement speed with at least Massively FTL+, likely far higher combat & reaction speed (Comparable to Boil Mode-enhanced Ravan Razdhad) | At least Supersonic movement speed with at least Massively FTL+, likely far higher combat & reaction speed (Faster than before), Below Average Human (Can walk, but very slowly) with at least Massively FTL+, likely far higher combat & reaction speed (Could summon one of his sons to block an attack from another in a sparring contest, his sons are as fast as Pre-Sacrifice Rukud. Can observe sparring contests between his sons and those comparable to them)
Lifting Strength: At least Class K, likely far higher (Comparable to Ravan, the High Ambition) | At least Class K, likely far higher (Stronger than before) | Unknown
Striking Strength: Small Country level (Could harm Ravan Razdhad) | At least Small Country level (Stronger than before) Below Average Class (Can barely move his arms). Small Country level with Summons
Durability: Small Country level (Tanked attacks from Ravan Razdhad) | At least Small Country level | At least Small Country level (His body is still as durable as it was before)
Stamina: Infinite
Range: Extended Melee Range. Varies, up to Several Kilometers with energy blasts | Below Standard Melee Range, Several Meters with Summons (Can summon his sons around several meters of himself)
Standard Equipment: None
Intelligence: Extraordinary Genius. Rukud is an extremely talented Arasah, his intelligence and prowess should not be any less than Ravan, the High Ambition as he fought and nearly killed him
Standard Tactics:
Pre-Sacrifice Rukud will initially go for ranged energy blasts and ice attacks, which can home into the targets, while keeping himself away from his target
Post-Sacrifice Rukud is incapable of doing anything offensive other than summoning his sons
Weaknesses:
Notable Attacks/Techniques[]
- Hava Command: Rukud has command over Hava, which by itself grants set of innate abilities. All of his other abilities are also based on this
- Prowess: Rukud's prowess is comparable to that of Ravan, the High Ambition
- Sight: Rukud's sight is comparable to that of Ravan, the High Ambition
- Ice: Rukud is able to generate and control ice, usually launched rapid ice attacks which can go down to absolute zero, freezing whatever they touch, including Essences, interrupting their influence
- Chief: Pre-Sacrifice and Post-Sacrifice only. Rukud is an Arasah Chief, granting him eternal life and ability to heal from complete physical destruction
- Prophethood: Pre-Sacrifice and Post-Sacrifice only, Rukud is a prophet of Kurukafa and will be resurrected if he dies
- Summoning: Post-Sacrifice only, can summon his sons
Others[]
Notable Victories:
Notable Losses:
Inconclusive Matches: