Here is a list of characters from the Shadowpact Empire.
To return to the main character index, click here.
Shadowpact Empire
Founded by Overlord Vondur, the Shadowpact Empire was once one of the greatest villainous threats of the otherwise compassionate and fantastical 'Third Age', and one of the reasons why things never became too boring and stagnant and why its people never became too complacent and ignorant of the threat of evil.Consisting of a massive alliance of dark gods, overlords, villains, criminals and miscellaneous 'bad-guys' and 'anti-villains', the Shadowpact Empire at the peak of its power was able to legitimately rival the likes of villainous great powers like the Old Crypta Empire as a threat to the world and all that is innocent, good and virtuous. While like many Third Age villains they have many standards and draw lines they would not cross, neither are they exactly 'noble demons'. Many prefer the freedom and fun that comes with being overlords and villains, and if it means causing trouble for peaceful folks and clashing with heroic forces (as much for the challenge/fun of it as them being in the way), then they're up for it.
The Shadowpact Empire had survived the Third Age's end at a much-reduced vestigial state, but with the return of one of their greatest rivals in the Crypta Empire during the Fourth Age, their leaders would be stirred from dormancy and back into action with new resolve, reentering the world stage in a new era of frenzied activity filled with new villainous schemes, alliance-building, outward conquests and enthusiastic mayhem that would go down in Known History as the 'Shadowpact Restoration'. Time will tell how well they will adapt to the new age and what impact they will leave when they clash once more with the heroes of modern times.
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In General
- The Alliance: According to their author, they started out as a number of dark gods, overlords, villains, criminals, miscellaneous 'bad-guys' and even quite a number of Anti-Villains, Noble Demons and Token Good Teammates, all deciding to join forces during the 'Third Age' and forming a massive villainous empire to facilitate their villainous ambitions and antagonistic desires.
- Chainsaw Good: Like many other nations and powers of Equus, the Shadowpact Empire would end up getting their own versions of the Terran Empire's Chainblade weaponry, in this case equipping many of their Dark Knights with an Evil Knockoff of the iconic Chainswords. It should be noted that far from being allies, the Shadowpact Empire just essentially copied their Chainblade weapons
without consent, which is lampshaded by Terrans themselves.Chapterknight (Iron Warrior): Now THAT is just plagiarism.
Dark Knight (Brutalstrike Brethrenhood): We consider it flattery! - Equal-Opportunity Evil: The Shadowpact Empire does not care who or what you are, only what you can offer to the greater whole of the villainous alliance and how well you can stick to your word and the Shadowpact's standards. Best exemplified by Overlord Vondur inviting Kardin and his Deergle people into the alliance, and mentored and encouraged a young Princess Eclaira, not caring in either case for their appearances nor species but what they can achieve for him, for the Shadowpact and for themselves.
- Even Evil Has Standards: While they were one of the nastier villains of the time, like many Third Age villains they have many lines they will not cross. Joining the Shadowpact requires members to adhere to a code of conduct and standards that entails this trope. Many Shadowpact members were not even particularly evil at all, being a Noble Demon, Anti-Villain, indulges in Pragmatic Villainy or were even by some standards a Token Good Teammate, and thus hold themselves to even higher standards. This is implied by Vondur to be exactly the reason why the Shadowpact was so successful and threatening as it makes everything easier - and more fun - for them in the long-run, reducing the chance of them self-destructing, being less feared and Hated by All and actually enjoy being a bad guy without having to deal with regrets.
- A Lighter Shade of Black: They were not exactly Noble Demons as a whole (though their ranks do contain many of them), but like many Third Age villains, they have many standards that comes with being a Shadowpact member and have many lines they will not cross. If Vondur is anything to go by, they generally prefer the freedom and fun that comes with being overlords and villains more than actively causing misery and suffering for their own sake. Nevermore813, one of the Codexverse writers, described them as 'in the middle of the spectrum' between true Destructive Evil and fully Constructive Evil.
- Rising Empire: Their present status in the 'Fourth Age' in what became known as the 'Shadowpact Restoration', after their leaders were reinvigorated by news that one of their greatest rivals had returned and realized they have a new reason (and in hindsight several) to live again.
- Vestigial Empire: Was formerly this by the Fourth Age, having been greatly reduced since the end of the Third Age with its leaders in a listless rut. Then they heard High Queen Sekra and the Crypta Empire - with whom they had an infamous rivalry - had returned to stake their claim for dominion of Equus once more. Cue an immediate return to activity that would see them quickly restored to much of their former glory and power.
Shadowpact Pantheon
- See their page here.
Notable Shadow Lords/Ladies
In General
Count Dracolta, the Bloody Shadow
- One-Steve Limit: Subverted. He is one of two known Dracoltas among the Shadow Lords of the Shadowpact Empire. Emphasis on known.
- The Rival: The Bloody Shadow and the Shadow of Blood do NOT get along, always constantly bickering over who's the REAL Dracolta and trying to outdo and outcompete each other.
- Those Two Guys: One of two known Dracoltas who are Shadow Lords in the Shadowpact Empire.
Count Dracolta, the Shadow of Blood
- One-Steve Limit: Subverted. He is one of two known Dracoltas among the Shadow Lords of the Shadowpact Empire. Emphasis on known.
- The Rival: The Shadow of Blood and the Bloody Shadow do NOT get along, always constantly bickering over who's the REAL Dracolta and trying to outdo and outcompete each other.
- Those Two Guys: One of two known Dracoltas who are Shadow Lords in the Shadowpact Empire.
Goru, the Storming Shadow
"Winter is coming, fools!"
First mentioned in a Drabble
, Goru, the Storming Shadow is a former Miche commander of the defunct Storm Empire who ended up joining the Shadowpact Empire after the end of the Storm King Crisis.- Commonality Connection: Actually got along well with the Yaks, thanks to his warrior tendencies meshing quite well with Yak society.
- Magic Staff: Upon joining Shadowpact, he received a staff that had the power of a wendigo in it, granting him storm powers.
Marine Sandwich, the Culinary Shadow
Character: Villainous
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Type: Eccentric Chef/Disgraced Celebrity/Vengeful Genius/Ravenous Regent/Devourer
Faction: Manehattan Culinary School (formerly), Equestria (Formerly), Sandwich Clan, Shadowpact Empire
"Revenge is a dish best served cold… as part of a banquet, with a side order of potato salad!"
Marine Sandwich, the Culinary Shadow (Her entry here
and here) was an eccentric 'Gourmet/Food Performance Artist' who had her place in a cooking contest in Ponyville taken over by another contestant. After being repeatedly ignored and humiliated by uncaring Ponies who did not believe her claims and refuse to let her participate in the contest, she snapped and tried to have her revenge by freezing the entire venue with a frosting gun, before she was stopped by Applejack (the one who accidentally took her place) and Pinkie Pie. Her career ruined and now seen by everypony in Equestria as a maniac, she found unlikely salvation in the form of Queen Eclaira, the Voracious Shadow, who took pity on her and made her her student in magic and culinary arts. During the 'Shadowpact Restoration', she would be promoted into one of Eclaira's more prominent 'Ravenous Regents' in the Fourth Age, and with her newfound power, she would become a persistent Shadowpact opponent of Equestria as she continues to pursue revenge against those whom she blamed for her ruined life, seeking nothing short of making them and the whole land into a meal to sate her ravenous hunger and yearning vengeance.- And I Must Scream: Being frozen by her icing gun and later being trapped in her belly serve as this. Parodied in the former like in the comics as the freezing is non-fatal and Lighter and Softer with the latter as apart from being trapped in her belly with their vitality drained the whole experience is relatively harmless.
- Adaptation Expansion: While receiving no background or elaboration beyond being depicted as and implied to be an eccentric, unstable reclusive food artist, her Codexverse counterpart has her character backstory elaborated.
- She was born in Manehattan, the daughter of a minor Earthpony member of the infamously eccentric/insane Sandwich clan and a Pegasus cook, was bullied in her youth for her heritage, is the older sister of famous party pony Cheese Sandwich and was a prodigy chef.
- What happened to her after the incident in Ponyville was also expanded, where it is revealed her life and career was ruined as a result of her psychotic break in Ponyville and condemnation/mockery from the rest of Equestria, which eventually drove her into the hooves of Queen Eclaira of the Shadowpact Pantheon/Empire and was empowered into one of her Ravenous Regent.
- Adaptational Villainy: While Marine Sandwich merely wanted to freeze the venue in a somewhat justified desire for payback for what happened in Ponyville, as the Culinary Shadow, Marine Sandwich now seeks nothing short of making a meal of Ponyville and all of Equestria out of both hunger and revenge for her humiliation and ruination.
- Apocalypse How: Level 0 Regional Devastation. Her current goal is devouring Equestria out of both ravenous hunger and obsessive vengeance. She briefly inflict this on Ponyville by eating the whole town and swallowing all its inhabitants before the settlement was freed and restored to normal in a World-Healing Wave.
- The Apprentice: After being recruited into the Shadowpact Empire, she became a student to Eclaira and her scions, in both magic and cooking.
- Ascended Fangirl: She was a massive fan of Eclaira's from her career as a famous chief and restaurant entrepreneur, leading to her accepting Eclaira's offer without hesitation.
- Big Eater: After becoming a Ravenous Regent, she has now become this, with enough power and hunger to quite literally swallow whole towns and armies. If she has her way with her ultimate revenge for her ruination and humiliation, she plans to quite literally eat all of Equestria, like her queen Eclaira does to lands and kingdoms on a regular basis out of gluttony and vanity.
- Black-Hole Belly: As a Ravenous Regent, she developed this as one of her standard powers. This enables her to eat whole armies and even cities.
- Caged Inside a Monster: Out of both hunger and revenge, Marine Sandwich now desires as the Culinary Shadow nothing short of doing this to all of Equestria, seeking to devour and trap the whole country and everyone in it inside her now endless innards where she could feed on their vitality forever. She briefly managed to do this to Ponyville before the town was rescued from her belly thanks to the efforts of the Young Six.
- Canon Immigrant: Marine Sandwich is the antagonist of the first issue of IDW's My Little Pony: Friends Forever comic series.
- Disproportionate Retribution: While what happened to her was unfortunate and undeserved, freezing a whole contest venue over it with an icing gun is grossly disproportionate. Likewise is her plan as the Culinary Shadow to eat Equestria and trap the whole nation in her belly and feeding upon their vitality forever over her public humiliation and ruination rather excessive. Partly understandable (if not justified) in that she is eccentric and unstable and thus not entirely in her right mind. Applejack/Veritas, who was and feels partly responsible for what happened to her and did try to make amends, would call her out for this and fight against her.
- Eating Solves Everything: After becoming a Ravenous Regent, the powers that comes with it allows eating to become a legitimate solution for many problems.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Even at her mad and vindictive worst, she can't bring herself to harm children, which was enforced by strict rules laid down by her superior Eclaira and the Shadowpact forbidding such a thing. This led to her defeat during her first foray into Equestria as a Ravenous Regent as after devouring Ponyville, the Young Six, whom she had swallowed but otherwise left alone, thinking they are no threat, would rally and find the Elements of Harmony which somehow followed them down her gullet, and used it to free and restore the town from her belly while weakening her long enough for Applejack, Pinkie Pie and their allies to defeat her.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Marine Sandwich loved her parents even at her most eccentric and mad moments, and during her time in jail after her life and career was completely ruined their weekly visits were the only time she felt happy in an otherwise miserable time. It helps that her parents are completely supportive of her and believes her to be the victim of it all, to the point that they don't blame her for becoming a Ravenous Regent and ultimately moved to the Shadowpact Empire to be with her. She also missed her younger brother Cheese Sandwich who ran away when she was young and was immensely relieved when she finally found him. She even allowed him to visit their parents in the Shadowpact Empire despite her outrage at him marrying one of her arch-enemies and joining heroic forces in opposing her, pausing her conflict with Pinkie Pie/Thalia whenever that happens.
- Freeze Ray: Technically it's just a gun that shoots icing, but the effects are still the same, and it's most likely enchanted given all it does is cause Harmless Freezing.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: From a wronged eccentric food artist to a food-themed Evil Overlord and Super Villain who could challenge Semi-Divine heroes and eat whole cities.
- Gadgeteer Genius: She managed to jury-rig an ordinary icing machine into a 'Fondant Freezer' weapon which could trap her victims in enchanted fondant alive forever, and it is revealed that she had in the course of her culinary achievements customized and even invented entirely new cooking tools and machines for her masterpieces. Many of her inventions would be weaponized and used by her minions after she became a Ravenous Regent of Queen Eclaira, including the Fondant Freezer.
- Horror Hunger: Becoming a Ravenous Regent in the newly-reformed Shadowpact Empire comes with a ravenous hunger which she is compelled to sate, to the point of eating people. Combined with her desires for revenge, Marine Sandwich now seeks nothing short of eating all of Equestria.
- I Am a Humanitarian: Now as a Ravenous Regent, Marine Sandwich now has no issues with devouring other living beings like herself in her ravenous hunger. Though given the Third Age origins of her master and the empire, it's not as bad as it sounds, merely consisting of her swallowing and trapping people in her belly where she would feed upon their vitality.
- In the Blood: It had been suggested in-universe that she might have inherited certain genes and traits from the Sandwich clan on her father's side which may be responsible for her own eccentricates and bouts of pique. When she became a Ravenous Regent, her own eccentric father was completely not surprised at all, as on top of what she went through eccentricity and madness runs in the family.Peanut-Butter Sandwich: Well, what can I say? She’s definitely a Sandwich. It’ll be weirder if she doesn’t end up doing something that crazy after all she went through.
- I Am a Humanitarian: Becoming a Ravenous Regent of Queen Eclaira resulted in Marine Sandwich, like Queen Eclaira, losing any reservations about eating people and doing so in gusto (though not in a particularly monstrous and horrific manner due to the Third Age origins of Eclaira and the Shadowpact). She plan to quite literally make a meal out of Equestria and all Equestrians in revenge for her mistreatment, leaving them to fester in her belly where she would drain their vitality forever to feed her now ravenous hunger.
- It's Personal: With Applejack/Veritas and Pinkie Pie/Thalia over the cooking contest incident in Ponyville to the point of becoming one of their mutual Arch-Enemy, and also with Cheese Sandwich, Pinkie's husband, who is revealed to be her younger brother.
- Life Drinker: As a Ravenous Regent, Marine Sandwich gained the ability to drain the vitality of those she devoured and trapped in her belly to increase her power and rejuvenate her health.
- Mad Artist: Marine Sandwich is described as 'eccentric' and is depicted as somewhat unstable, traits which were magnified by her promotion into a Ravenous Regent. It may be In the Blood, since she is a member of the Sandwich clan, which is infamous for having many eccentricates and madness running in their families, producing mad Ponies like Soup Sandwich (the first mayor of Ponyville), her younger brother Cheese Sandwich (who is a party-pony surpassing even Pinkie Pie in talent and wackiness).
- Meaningless Villain Victory: She actually succeeded in making a meal out of Ponyville, eating the town and swallowing its inhabitants, but thanks to the actions of the Young Six using the Elements of Harmony, the whole place was rescued from her belly and restored to normal.
- Mistaken For Imposter: Nobody believed her when she claimed to be the real Marine Sandwich after Applejack took her place.
- Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: Having been bullied in her youth, her career and reputation ruined by slander and the rest of Equestria ostrasizing her as a madmare for a psychotic episode induced by an unfortunate, unwarranted and undeserved series of misfortunes, misunderstandings and mistreatment, Marine Sandwich certainly felt this way regarding what happened to her, leading to her ultimately defecting to the Shadowpact Empire and pledging allegiance to Queen Eclaira, the only one other than her parents who appreciated her genuine talents and never screwed her over, and trying to screw over Equestria in revenge.
- Power-Up Food: Even among the Ravenous Regents, she came to specialize in this thanks to being already a prodigy chef, whose skills are enhanced even further by the various Feasting/Gluttony-spells she learnt under Queen Eclaira's and her fellow Ravenous Regents' tuitions.
- Related in the Adaptation: She is the older sister of Cheese Sandwich, the greatest party pony of Equestria who would ultimately marry Pinkie Pie (ironically one of Marine Sandwich's Arch-Enemy).
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After being locked out of a contest, repeatedly humiliated trying to prove her identity, and having her career and reputation ruined after snapping and trying to freeze the contest venue in her psychotic lapse, Marine Sandwich now wants nothing short making a gourmet out of Equestria and everypony who she blamed for ruining her life and finally 'show them all' she is the greatest 'Food Performance Artist' there is from Equestria.
- Start of Darkness: She was bullied in her youth, disregarded and humiliated for her half-breed heritage and relation to a clan infamous for madness and eccentricates, and while finding achievement as a renown chef and 'gourmet artist', she still turned out to be a somewhat unstable and eccentric Mad Artist. A series of misunderstandings in a fateful contest in Ponyville led to her snapping and trying to freeze the contest venue in revenge for not being allowed to compete and being humiliated repeatedly trying to prove she is an actual contestant. Her reputation and career ruined, Marine Sandwich is left with nothing but a desire for revenge, becoming a Super Villain and Evil Overlord after a sympathetic Queen Eclaira took her in and raised her into one of her Ravenous Regents.
- Took a Level in Badass: Thanks to becoming Queen Eclaira's personal student in magic and culinary arts, and later becoming one of her 'Ravenous Regents' during the 'Shadowpact Restoration', Marine Sandwich went from a mere eccentric food artist gone off her rocker to one of the most persistent enemies of the Shadowpact in Equestria's and in Applejack/Veritas' and Pinkie Pie/Thalia's respective Rogues Gallery.
- Tragic Villain: Downplayed, as while what happened to her was unwarranted and undeserved, some of it was due to her disproportionate overreaction (like freezing a whole competition venue with an icing gun), and thus the ruination of her career and reputation were partly self-inflicted.
- Undying Loyalty: For taking her in, training her in culinary and magical arts, and ultimately promoting her into a Ravenous Regent, Marine Sandwich is unquestionably loyal to Queen Eclaira out of gratitude for giving her back a job and reputation in her restaurants and later the Shadowpact Empire after having her life and career ruined in Equestria.
- Villainous Glutton: Following her promotion into a Ravenous Regents, she developed the same ravenous hunger as other Ravenous Regents and their queen Eclaira and would indulge in eating food and even people with gusto.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: The Culinary Shadow is the Codexverse's answer to what happened to Marine Sandwich after the events in Ponyville: she became an Evil Overlord and Super Villain working with/for Queen Eclaira and the rest of the Shadowpact Empire.
Opscuro, the Shadowed One
- One-Steve Limit: Subverted. His title is the same as that of the Shadowed Ones pantheon composed of Evil/Fallen 'Children of Erebus' manipulating the 'Ragnarok Cycle', causing much confusion about what/who he is to his incredible frustration.
- Our Demons Are Different: He is a 'Shadow Demon' who happens to be a Shadow Lord in the Shadowpact Empire.
- Red Baron: the 'Shadowed One'. Played for Laughs as he discovers how many are confusing or associating him with the 'Children of Erebus' composing the 'Shadowed Ones' pantheon manipulating the Ragnarok Cycle, much to his frustration.
Prince-Admiral Ocean Trench, the Shadow of the Tide
"In the shadows of the waves my people have hid, but now, you shall be swept away by those shadows!"
First mentioned in a Drabble
, Prince-Admiral Ocean Trench is the leader of the Abyssal Reef, a Principality that formed after the end of the Third Age and the decimation of the Oceanaiad’s previous domain. He and his realm would join the Shadowpact Empire during the 'Shadowpact Restoration' and provide it with powerful naval forces.- The Beast Master: Tamed a kraken to fight for him.
Zenith, the Nightmarish Shadow
Notable Shadowpact Minions
In General
Vacío, the Shadow Blade
Character: Villainous
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Type: Embodiment, Noble Demon, Divine Champion, Commander
Faction: Shadowpact Empire
"I have but one desire, to grow stronger, and further test my limits!"
Vacío, the Shadow Blade (His entry here
) is a champion of the Shadowpact Pantheon, and is a feared, well-known and unusual one among the ranks of the Shadowpact Empire's minions, subjects and allies. Formerly a member of the infamous Dark Matter Clan, like Vol the Hungry Hero, he was so influenced by the magical feedback from the overall higher standards of morality and compassion of the Third Age, more specifically those from 'Noble Demons' he transformed into a new Blank Slate being who was found, raised and trained by a wandering Black Knight, in the process becoming one himself.
Bound by a strict honour code of chivalry while driven by a desire to challenge and be challenged in battle and in doing so become stronger, Vacío's biggest desire in his life is and remains to seek out heroes and champions among the forces of goodness to fight, seeing they could best provide the challenges he seeks. To that end, he would serve under the employ of various tyrants and overlords, yet also act as a 'Stealth Mentor' to various heroes and champions who he saw has potential, despite their defeats by him at first.
Eventually, his skills and strength attracted the attention of Overlord Vondur, who offered him a place in the Shadowpact Empire, becoming one of his 'Dragons' and the leader of his own unit of minions, his elite Shadow Guards. There, he would remain for the rest of the Third Age, and with the return of the Shadowpact Empire in the Fourth Age, he would return along with them to face the heroes and champions of the new era, seeking strength and be tested by strength of others.
- Blood Knight: He combats heroes and rents his services to satisfy his desire for battle.
Zil, the Shadow Dancer
Character: Villainous
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Type: Corrupted Thestral, Nightmare Blade, Assassin, Champion
Faction: Shadowpact Empire
"I am a sword in the shadows!"
Zil, the Shadow Dancer (Her entry here
) is a Luna Witnesses fanatic and master assassin.- Casting a Shadow: One of the reasons she's so effective as an assassin is her ability to move through the shadows.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: She's gone from a starving orphan, to a master assassin of the Shadowpact empire.
- Master Poisoner: As expected of an assassin, she carries various poisons for assassination.
Notable Shadowpact Dominions/Factions
Black Isle
Royaumort
- The Horde: With so many Undead minions they could summon, the Undead forces of Royaumort contributes significantly to the Shadowpact Empire's military doctrine of utilizing superior numbers effectively to overwhelm their foes. Every dead soldier from the enemy side is merely one more corpse for them to reanimate to bolster their ranks.
- The Magocracy: Both Undead divine co-sovereigns of Royaumort and many of their inner circle are powerful magic users. Blanche Amour, the Queen of Bone is a powerful Lich, for example. Justified given the wondrously magical nature of the Third Age.
- Mundane Utility: One of the reasons why their living subjects eventually come around to having Undead ruling over them was discovering the economic utility of Skeletons, Revenants and other Undead minions they could summon and command. There is a blood tithe and a post-mortem bone tax to live with, but other than those it all works out pretty well.
- The Necrocracy: Is one ruled by Vampires and Liches, but has both Undead and living subjects.
- The Undead: A whole kingdom of Undead (and living) subjects.
Troggre Tribes
