History Characters / CodexEquusTheShadowedOnes

* EvilCounterpart: To Moon Ray Vaughoof. Both are antlered, [[AnimalisticAbomination eldritch deities]] who embody aspects of Cycles, except Moon Ray embodies postive, constructive cycles that help people learn and grow, while Ragnarøkkr embodies stagnant, unnecessary, and destructive cycles that only benefit himself. Both of them each had two wives, except Moon Ray loved his wives and divorced his first wife because she was emotionally abusive and cheated on him for his supposed failings. Ragnarøkkr was [[DomesticAbuse monstrously abusive to his own wives]] (and was implied to have given his first to Surtr as a SexSlave for displeasing him). Moon Ray is [[CelibateHero asexual]] yet is a [[GoodParents loving father]] to his children, while Ragnarøkkr conceived the [[{{Seers}} Norns]] via [[ChildByRape rape]] and [[AbusiveParents treated them like disposable pawns]]. Moon Ray is a LivingLegend while no one knew of Ragnarøkkr at all until certain events (and High King Kaldr's planning) forced him to reveal himself. Moon Ray is a HumbleHero, while Ragnarøkkr is a narcissistic, controlling sociopath. Finally, Ragnarøkkr is an ancient god who [[spoiler:died at the hooves of the same people he tortured and manipulated]], while Moon Ray is a ([[YoungerThanTheyLook chronologically]]) young Death god who comes to "life" during one of his cycles post-EldritchTransformation. The contrast becomes further obvious when Moon Ray fulfills his destiny as Ragnarøkkr's potential RedeemingReplacement, becoming King of the Shadowed Ones' former tenth realm (which was transformed into a TruceZone where all people are welcomed to seek shelter) and working as the Grand Primevals' agent in creating and maintaining healthy, constructive cycles.

* ForWantOfANail: A 'Tales of Equestria' story revealed that [[spoiler:had he actually chosen to rise above his wicked, self-destructive behavior and devote himself to 'constructive evil', he could have become similar to the Void Sovereign pre-Fall, destroying places that became utterly corrupt and dooming genuinely wicked people who listened to his temptations of twisting fate to their own designs. He also would have become a loving father and husband, and one of many forces who opposed [[DestroyerDeity Surtr]]. Unfortuantely, as Ourophion pointed out, he instead chose to waste his potential by feeding his own sadism for Ages, eventually leading to his defeat and death]].

* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:Ourophion's [[ForWantOfANail potential futures]] showed that he would've become a loving husband to his two wives, especially Kunnusta, had he not chosen to be the arrogant, vicious, and sadistic monster he was in 'Final Ragnarok']].

* OneManArmy: Each of them is so powerful that even heavily weakened from the Loom of Fates' destruction, they're each capable of fighting multiple powerful gods at once, with the stronger ones able to hold an upper hand on them. [[spoiler:Fegr&eth takes it a step further by having two: shedding his disguise to reveal himself as a Child of the Void and then his monstrous chimera form.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler:It's unclear whether or not Fegr&eth is his real name or merely a facade, as well as if Fegr&eth was always a member of the Shadowed Ones or if he replaced/possessed the original without the others noticing.]]

** It gets to a truly monstrous threshold when it was discovered during and after 'Final Ragnarok' that [[spoiler:he had even [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil force himself on]] [[BadBoss his subjects]]/[[SexSlave captives]] and [[BreedingSlave bred his captives like cattle]], just so [[PeopleFarm he can have MORE gods and demigods to feed his hunger]] (or [[{{Sadist}} toy with THEN eat]]) between Cycles]]. [[EvenEvilHasStandards No wonder his own people thought he was nuts]].

* PeopleFarm: He bred his captives [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil or have his way]] [[SexSlave with]] [[BreedingSlave them]] and [[BadBoss his subjects]] partly so [[ChildEater he can have more gods and demigods]] to [[GodEating eat]] ([[ColdBloodedTorture After toying with them]]) between Cycles. The only other reasons are for [[ForTheEvulz his own pleasure]] and [[{{Sadist}} sadism]]. [[EveryoneHasStandards Everyone was a bit horrified when they found out]], among other things.

* VillainousIncest: He [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil forces himself]] on [[ChildByRape his children and grandchildren]] he has from having his way with his [[SexSlave captives]] and [[BadBoss subjects]], and for what purposes? Why, so he can [[BreedingSlave farm their descendants]] and [[PeopleFarm have more gods and demigods]] to [[{{Sadist}} play with]] and [[GodEating EAT]] between Cycles! [[EveryoneHasStandards Nearly everyone in-universe was horrified when they found out]].

* EvilCounterpart: To the Redeeming Six, aka the Counci of Redemption. The Shadowed Ones are cruel, sadistic, and evil primordial deities who perpetuate destructive cycles to both sustain and amuse themselves with the suffering of others. The Redeeming Six are flawed yet good people who seek to break cycles and help people grow meaningfully because [[ASharedSuffering they all know what it's like to be stuck in a toxic cycle themselves]]. The Shadowed Ones, while very powerful and ancient, grew quite complacent after spending millions of years manipulating a cycle that provided easy victories for them, causing their downfall. The Redeeming Six acknowledges their own flaws and continuously work to control them no matter how hard or painful it is, allowing all of them to become stronger and wiser. And while the Shadowed Ones embody concepts that mostly relate to doom, death, and destruction, the Redeeming Six embody concepts relating to ''all'' aspects of positive, healthy cycles, such as death, growth, life, redemption, etc. The contrast is further emphasized when the Redeeming Six settle into the Shadowed Ones' tenth realm many years after "Final Ragnarok" and become its primary pantheon, effectively replacing the Shadowed Ones in both memory and presence.

* EvilCounterpart: To the Redeeming Six, aka the Counci of Redemption. The Shadowed Ones are cruel, sadistic, and evil primordial deities of darkness who perpetuate destructive cycles -- both to sustain themselves, and to amuse themselves with the suffering of others. The Redeeming Six are flawed yet ultimately good people who seek to break cycles and help people grow meaningfully because [[ASharedSuffering they all know what it's like to be stuck in a toxic cycle themselves]]. The Shadowed Ones, while very powerful and ancient themselves, have grown quite complacent after spending millions of years manipulating a cycle that provided easy victories for them, which later caused their downfall. The Redeeming Six acknowledges their own flaws and continuously work to control them no matter how hard or painful it is for them, allowing all of them them to become stronger and wiser. And while the Shadowed Ones embody concepts that mostly relate to doom, death, and destruction, the Redeeming Six embody concepts relating to ''all'' aspects of positive, healthy cycles, such as death, growth, life, redemption, etc. The contrast is further emphasized when the Redeeming Six settle into the Shadowed Ones' tenth realm many years after "Final Ragnarok" and become its primary pantheon, effectively replacing the Shadowed Ones in both memory and presence.

* EvilCounterpart: To Moon Ray Vaughoof. Both are antlered, [[EldritchAbomination eldritch deities]] who embody certain aspects of Cycles, except Moon Ray embodies postive, constructive cycles that help/force people to learn and grow, while Ragnarøkkr embodies stagnant, unnecessary, and destructive cycles that only benefit himself. Both of them each had two wives, except Moon Ray loved his wives (and divorced his first after learning of her unsavory behaviors) while Ragnarøkkr was [[DomesticAbuse monstrously abusive to his own wives]] (and was implied to have given his first to Surtr as a SexSlave for displeasing him). Moon Ray is asexual yet is a [[GoodParents loving father]] to his adoptive children, while Ragnarøkkr conceived the [[{{Seers}} Norns]] via [[ChildByRape rape]]. Moon Ray is a LivingLegend while no one knew of Ragnarøkkr at all until certain events (and High King Kaldr's planning) forced him to reveal himself. Moon Ray is a HumbleHero, while Ragnarøkkr is a narcissistic and controlling sociopath. Finally, Ragnarøkkr is an ancient deity who [[spoiler:died at the hooves of the same people he tortured and manipulated]], while Moon Ray is a ([[YoungerThanTheyLook chronologically]]) young Death god who comes to 'life' during one of his cycles post-EldritchTransformation. The contrast is made more even obvious when [[spoiler:Ourophion, [[TheOldGods the Time Primeval]], names Moon Ray as TheChosenOne who will be a RedeemingReplacement for Ragnarøkkr, creating and maintaining healthy, constructive cycles that push people to learn and grow]].

* ViciousCycle: Exploited. The Shadowed Ones have influenced and perpetuated "Cycles" for their own evil and sadistic ends, both for sustenance and to get their kicks from watching their victims suffer. They would also doom people to horrible fates if they tried deviating from their intended outcomes even slightly. Thus, they were responsible for setting up the "Ragnarok Cycle" in its present form. However, it's noted that several Cycles have existed for a very long time even without the Shadowed Ones' influence, such as the racial Changeling-Dragon feud and the conflicts that ruined the Alicorn Civilization and the Imperium of Ponykind. Thankfully, their behavior would bite them in the collective rear when both divines and mortals would catch on and start acting in ways they haven't foreseen.

* TheManInFrontOfTheMan: [[spoiler:It's implied his role in the Shadowed Ones' actions were just another example of him manipulating people and events from behind the strings as he's done since before recorded history. After his 'art musuem' is discovered, showcasing everything he's ''actually'' been responsible for, people begin to wonder if he might not have been the most dangerous of the Shadowed Ones, even if he wasn't the most powerful.]]

* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler:When finally defeated and [[OhCrap about to be taken to the Grand Primevals for punishment]], both Vig and his sister [[VillainsWantMercy pathetically begged for mercy]] that they never shown their victims]]. Considering what he is supposed to be, it's honestly pathetic.]]