Ichitoko
- ███----⇢ WARNING: Ichitoko likes to amuse herself at your expense. EG. Strange questions, scenarios and or requests. Enter at own risk.
███----⇢ SOMETHING PLEASANT: Checkmate's artist, Fayren Pickpocket, visited us! ISN'T THAT EXCITING (I am totally wriggling in my chair and proud of it). Found here .
Welcome to Checkmate! Please enter and stick around. Knowledge of Chess is not required.
In a land long ago,
- Paradise was an award granted to monarchs who reigned with a fair and firm hand.
So long as he ruled with integrity, the gates to Paradise would always be open. And in return, history had never once witnessed the death of a king. For beyond the gates of Paradise no one was sure whether death existed there. As each aged King climbed the steps towards the golden gates, his gait would seem to become lighter with each step. His graying hair would once again become silky and reattain its color. He joints would mend themselves and he would stand straighter. The wrinkles would disappear from his skin and his eyes would lose their milky gaze to become noble once more. For this, it became a great celebration for all in the kingdom to see off yet another beloved king and watch him regain his vigor.
And when the king reached the last step, the gates would slowly creak open just enough for his body to slip through. With one last wave, the old monarch would step inside. In that instance, one could catch a glimpse of Paradise. Indescribably beautiful, some would say. The image never stuck, but the feeling of complete bliss still lingered, others would whisper. And so beneath the kingdom's feat, a disquiet gently stirred. Though none would ever realize, any who once felt the touch of Paradise would subconsciously envy the royalty whose sole privilege was the Ascension.
When the most recent king ended his reign, upon reaching the top step the gates made not a sound. In confusion, his hand touch the gates and was repelled. As the crowd below began to murmur, a great crack was heard. The gates turned an ashy gray. The king fell to his knees clutching his chest before he fell over completely. And to his family who were closer than the rest of the crowd, his chest did not rise.
The king had been denied entrance into Paradise and perished before its towering shadow.
He was survived by two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, the Crown Prince, declared that the gates to Paradise had somehow been sealed, though they knew not why. He proposed they ascend the steps to force the gates open. The younger prince insisted they wait for the gates to return to their former state and force them to take their father. It was not their place to exert their will upon those who resided beyond Paradise. He asserted that their patience would be rewarded and that perhaps the gates would open for all.
The eldest daughter sided with the young prince while the youngest princess followed after the Crown Prince. The remains of the royal family fell into discord and the Queen passed away mere weeks after her husband's death from heartbreak. Relations between the siblings deteriorated. Upon discovering that the newly appointed King was amassing an army to storm the Gates of Paradise, the young Prince and eldest Princess split from their brother and took with them the half of the kingdom who agreed that waiting was the best course of action. Those who remained behind shared their new King's views and took up arms.
As they marched towards the gates, the new King was barred from the steps by another army. With his brother at the head, the young Prince declared, "I cannot allow you to pass!" The King disregarded his young brother's words and urged his army onwards. Both armies met with a violent clash and before casualties became too great, both leaders halted the battle. The eldest Princess had stepped between the two and declared that neither would be allowed to step on the land surrounded the gates if they continued to desecrate the sacred land with blood. And with a mysterious power, she cast them out.
The brothers took the remains of their army and moved to occupy the space near the gates. The eldest brother and youngest princess took to the south to the sea and named his kingdom Noir. The younger brother headed north into mountains alone and named his kingdom Blanc. The eldest daughter guarded the gates. Noir would send out its people to probe the borders of the Gates of Paradise for holes while Blanc would patrol the borders to prevent Noir from doing so. Soldiers from each kingdom would be captured back and forth. And thus began the dance of chess.
The game would be played until either kingdom could topple the other, and utter,
To the left is a 
To the left is a 
Piece is the silhouette to your far left. It will only display one rank at any time.
In addition, if you would like a different view of your piece for sig purposes or otherwise. To the right is a portrait view tag. Only available upon request and costs 
To the left is the homunculus tag. Homunculi are battle companions or just plain 'ol eye candy.
