As the festival was set into motion, a lone ninja stood by the outskirts of the city, scanning the balconies and roofs for any signs of people. Dressed completely in black and slinking about the trees and brush, he determined that all was in order for the plan after spending hours wandering the city. Looping around once more to be sure he hadn't been detected, the ninja quickly doubled back past the caravans of farmers making their way to the city.
As he passed the caravan, he saw a man in a straw hat seated beside a farmer. Perfect. The last piece of the trap had been set. It was time to report back to the Order.
"Master... it is time," said a lone ninja as he knelt before a throne shrouded in nothing but pitch darkness. It had only been a few minutes since his arrival to the temple, but the master demanded his appearance, eager to hear of the results of months of planning.
"Mmmm I see," replied the shadows in an unwavering rumble, "So all the chess pieces are in play. The trap is set. All that's left is to have one of them trigger it..."
The ninja before the throne nodded in agreement before glancing up past his mask with a questioning look. A chill went up his spine as two blood red eyes shot down at him, void of any emotion.
"Prepare the clan. Tonight we assassinate the great elder as he watches the theatrical performance of the legend of spirits," said the master of shadows, "Without him, the Ionians will fall into disarray for a time. That is when I strike the heart of the Kinkou Order...Shen."
"But what of the no violence law," said the ninja hesitantly, "Surely we know that month's of planning have been put into this, but the festival. The Ionian guard will know it is-"
"And you question my judgement?!" hissed Zed as he stood up, his shadow now stretching out and casting itself over the ninja, "Stay your tongue. Another act or word out of line and you will be executed. Now begone and prep the clan. We have an elder to kill."
And with that, Zed faded into the throne, leaving the ninja seemingly bound to the floor in a cold sweat as he shakily stood up and made his way to prepare the clan. Above them the moon shone blood red.
"What a beautiful melody," whistled the farmer in appreciation as the man beside him put away his instrument. The caravan had arrived to the city and it was time the straw hatted man part ways with the caravan, "Say, where'd you learn how to play like that?"
"I had a very kind and admirable brother who had taught me since young," the man replied as he hopped off of the seat and onto the ground, his gaze averting to the gates which were wide open for anyone.
"I appreciate your help old man. You have my gratitude," he said once more with a glance back and a smile
"Aw it was nothing," grinned the farmer as he nodded his head, "A fellow like you, heck, I'd give you a lift any time. It was my pleasure, but hey I never got a name from you. Do you mind telling me so I could give ya a proper goodbye?"
"Yasuo," he replied solemnly as his smile dissipated to which it was replaced by a grim expression, "Is who I'm looking for."
The farmed blinked before grinning even more and laughing, "Man oh man you're a mercenary!"
He laughed, oblivious to the fact that he hadn't gotten the man's name at all, but instead a subject change.
"Well best of luck hunting that traitor, Yasuo," the farm said as he spat on the ground, "What a cold blooded killer. First his teacher then his brother? Makes you think what's wrong with this world don't it?"
"Agreed," smiled the man as he waved off the farmer, his teeth gritting the whole time. As he watched the farmer go, Yasuo sighed before pushing back his cloak to reveal a sheathed sword by his hip.
"Man," breathed Yasuo as he stretched his neck an turned back into the city, "The killer's in there... huh."
"So Yasuo has entered the vicinity," mumbled Shen as he stood at the entrance to the theater with Kennen, "Is there anyone else here who shall seek unbalance?"
"No one else in particular," said Kennen as he paced back and forth, "But Lee Sin and Karma are positioned with the elders as requested. Ahri is also in the area, but was last seen in the... er... other district."
"No surprise of Ahri to be there," murmured Shen as he still felt a sense of uneasiness even with the added protection of the duchess and the blind monk, "Double the patrols and request the attendance of Wukong and Master Yi. The balance of Ionia is about to tip and I wish all the reinforcements we can get."
"Yes yes, right away," replied Kennen before he shot off, literally as a bolt of lightning. Shen sighed as he watched him go, unsure of what to make of the situation. Ionia had never been safer since his reestablishment of the Kinkou Order. The fateful day where his father had been brutally murdered... All of that was in the past and the order has since recovered to the point where it now holds strong amongst the other clans... yet... Why.
Why did he feels so uneasy about the balance of Ionia. Staring up at the blood moon, Shen closed his eyes in thought.
"Fist of Shadow, I strongly recommend we take the back road to the theater," said a member of the Kinkou as he and another guard followed Akali down the semi-packed streets of the city, "Surely we'll get there faster."
"Oh please," said Akali with a glare back at the two, "I'm sure the people won't mind if I walk among them for a time and I'm sure we'll make it on time."
She gave a huff to signal the end of any conversation between the three before marching haughtily into the main streets.
"She sure is stubborn," sighed the lead guard as he turned to his partner as the two stopped at the edge of the crowd, trying to locate the Fist of Shadow, "But I simply cannot find myself to argue with her... I do not know why."
"She has a way with men that's for sure," laughed the other ninja as he finally spoke, "Rough and demanding. Just one of many ways to deal with us men, but she's definitely a looker that one."
"Hey!" barked the other ninja, "This is the Fist of Shadow we're talking about. We've no time to dawdle into affairs and romances. Our orders are to protect the people and maintain the balance, despite everything."
"Mhmmm. Relax a little brother, tonight is the night of the festival! Nothing can go wrong so long as the people are appeased and happy! And besides don't think I didn't catch you looking down at that the ever so elegant curves of the Fist of Shadow."
"Your brother is right," came a third voice which made the first two jump and turn to stare back into the alley, which was now strangely dark, "Why don't you both... take a break."
Suddenly two shurikens flashed out of the darkness to which one ninja deflected it, but the first one was impaled in the chest.
"Aghk!" he spat as blood coughed up and out of his mouth, his clothes turning a blood red as he collapsed forward, his body unmoving once it hit the ground.
"My my... to deflect one of my shurikens is quite the feat," came the voice again as the darkness manifested itself into the shape of Zed, "You show potential... and you obviously have not committed yourself to the Kinkou quite like him. What do you say bout joining the Order of Shadows?"
"Wha... what!?" replied the ninja as his gaze flicked back and forth from his friend's body to the shadow speaking to him, "I... I don't know.."
Shrugging at his answer, Zed decided it best not to delay any longer for his patience was wearing thing. Taking another shuriken he hurled it at the man before dissipating the shadow and returning to his original body, not wanting to stay any longer for the kill was guarenteed. Beside him stood several members of his Order, all of which were slowly clearing out the perimeter of guards surrounding the city with their shadows as well.
One by one they all opened their eyes and confirmed their kills to Zed before moving out into position.
Zed nodded in approval as he relayed his final orders before staring up at the blood moon.
"Tonight the city shall be bathed in red, Elder. Ionia shall fall under a shadow in which no light shall penetrate with me as its leader. Chaos shall be quenched quickly and swiftly under my order. Understand that this is for the best."
Something I probably should have said much earlier, but the events of this take place years after the recovery of the Kinkou Order in which everyone is older now. So Akali who was about 16 (i think) when she entered the League or when the events of the fall of the kinkou order happened, is probably around her early 20's now. So yes I can go ahead and do explicit descriptions without having any trouble.