Shad's Minecraft Diaries

This blog is meant to explore Shad's character and emotions while I also throw as many of my headcanons in here as possible. Asks will be treated as spirits in the nether until a point in Shad's journey when they evolve and have the chance to become different things (like shadow knights). This whole blog is being written like one big fanfic and I am usually very busy so please don't expect quick responses. All non canon (non canon to Shad's story in this blog) responses or interactions will be tagged as non canon.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Somewhere, I'm not sure where, but someone is probably shipping you with esmund

"Ship? Like...a boat? I rarely went anywhere on any kind of seafaring vessel. Everyone was always too worried about my...powers, acting up and leaving everyone stranded in the ocean."

He stares out at an ocean of lava, striders gliding through the thick surface.

"Though I suppose Esmund would be safest to be on a ship with, his protective barriers can counteract my destruction sometimes, and even if they failed, he could perhaps at least use his shields as platforms to get people out of the water."

Shad takes a deep breath of ashen air. "I used to love swimming. Nothing to destroy when the only thing I'm touching is water. It was the only way I could feel...well, as normal as I could."

Golden boots press into the ground as he takes a step onto the lava ocean's gravel beach. A soul follows him, listening as he speaks.

"When I was younger and didn't have a grasp on my powers at all, fishing was the only thing that I could do to get food."

He clenches his fist and digs some flint out of the gravel. "The fact that I have been banished to a world without water does not seem like a coincidence to me. The Nether is a place of destruction, and maybe they thought I would feel at home."

The flint sinks into the lava as soon as it hits the surface, not bouncing satisfyingly like it would have with water.

"Just goes to show how little they all knew me. Or maybe they did know me and this is part of the punishment."

"Esmund was good with ships. Maybe he could have figured out how to make one that could withstand lava so it could be easier to get around in this wasteland--that doesn't mean I miss him, though."

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

if you REALLY want to twist Christmas, you could probably lean into the ‘constant surveillance’ and ‘breaking and entering’ shit Santa apparently does.

this is a sound tactic, i CAN sometimes see through my shadow knights eyes. perhaps i can use this to find out how much coal each of the silly rebellion members deserves.

perhaps the night before christmas i can have some of my "elves" (loyal shadow knights) head over to their fortress and cause some mayhem, that'd be fun

[livefromthenether]

Everyone stop being so fucking jolly right now. It's offensive to people who can't celebrate because there's nothing to celebrate in my life. I mean in their lives.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Sucks to be you, we cut down a warped fungi tree and we decorated it with glowstone and chains after putting it in the middle of the fortress. Now we're planning a secret Shanta (Shad Santa) and everyone is getting super festive because we all have so much to celebrate (the revenge we are always having)

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

How do you feel about the fact that your and Esmunds future reincarnations are very close and good friends?

He sits amongst the sands, combing through souls and letting them drift back into the ground. A few spirits hover around him and chitter nonsense before he hears a strange whisper.

"Are they?" He stops pawing at the sand and folds his hands in his lap, staring up at the Nether ceiling. "I can only hope they don't make the same...mistakes, we did in our relationship."

"You know," He looks at the spirits around him. "I can bemoan The Protector's existence all I want, but I cannot deny our history. We used to be quite good friends."

"I think we were often at odds due to the nature of our powers. But he wound often use his shields to protect the things I could not help but destroy, and I am very thankful for that."

His eyes flash as he stands up and brushes himself off. "Him and Xavier both ran quite cold, and I remember on multiple adventures them both using me as a heat source in the night. Throwing their freezing limbs over me in the night and snoring up a storm." The corner of his mouth twitches before he frowns.

"I have many fond memories of him, but Esmund was the first to betray me after Irene, and I can never forgive that."

Sand crunches beneath his boots as he starts to wander off, spirits still slowly following him like leaves in a gentle breeze--a sharp contrast to the burning footsteps Shad was leaving behind.

"My anger will last for generations. My wrath will outlive elves. There is nothing that will stop me from wiping every Divine Warrior completely off the face of the universe forever. So I find it hard to believe that Esmund and I's reincarnations could ever get along."

His voice turns melancholy, with maybe even a tinge of regret. "Though, perhaps in another world--another life--we could have lived as neighbors and been good friends."

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Not sure I got the date right... Trick-or-treat or whatever. Just gimme candy, do you know how hard it was to find this stupid sheet??

- A Pissed Off Sheet Ghost ( @livefromthenether )

"Is that really the best you could do? A sheet thrown over your head? Do you have no respect for this holiday?"

Shad is--predictably--wearing a Grim Reaper costume. He tosses a few golden carrots into whatever container is being presented to him.

"You could have been something fun like a demon, or a cat." He gestures to the sheet, resisting the urge to set it on fire. "But nooooo."

"Now get out of here, before I give you a permanent costume to worry about." And he slams the gate in the Sheet Ghost's face.

[livefromthenether]

Obviously that's the best I could do, I'm in the NETHER??? It's not like I can send a letter to my sister asking for a costume!

And ugh, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT! Being a cat is way overrated. Not to mention, permanent costume? I'M ALREADY WEARING IT JACKASS, THE ARMOR UNDER THE SHEET?

I— wait. Did you... actually give me something? ...HHOLY CRAP!! @meiiwii !!!! IT... WORKED??????

H...happy Halloween...???

[meiiwii]

YAAA WITNESS THE POWER OF HOPE, FESTIVITY, AND WHIMSY !!! YOU CAN CONQUER ANYTHING WITH ITTTT, BEING IN THE NETHER CAN NEVER HOLD YOU BACK !!!!!!

[livefromthenether]

...stop that. Don't do that on my post. I can't handle that kind of energy right now. I'm gonna go eat my feelings with these carrots.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

The nether was intended to be a prison where I would wither up and die alone. The fact that I still stand and with an army at that is a testament to how little the nether can hold you back if you truly just believe in yourself.

Now that I have realized I can bring holiday cheer to the nether as well (I'll find a way to twist it to spite Irene), I have to start making plans for Thanksgiving.

How do I make sure Esmund knows he isn't invited if I can't send letters and also the fact that he has been dead for who knows how long?

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Not sure I got the date right... Trick-or-treat or whatever. Just gimme candy, do you know how hard it was to find this stupid sheet??

- A Pissed Off Sheet Ghost ( @livefromthenether )

"Is that really the best you could do? A sheet thrown over your head? Do you have no respect for this holiday?"

Shad is--predictably--wearing a Grim Reaper costume. He tosses a few golden carrots into whatever container is being presented to him.

"You could have been something fun like a demon, or a cat." He gestures to the sheet, resisting the urge to set it on fire. "But nooooo."

"Now get out of here, before I give you a permanent costume to worry about." And he slams the gate in the Sheet Ghost's face.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

The sins of your past lives will haunt you forever.

You will join us one day.

"The sins of others are what truly haunt me till this very day.

Esmund.

Enki.

Irene.

Not a single one who has not wronged me. They still call themselves Divine while knowing very well that they have sinned more than everyone in Ru'aun combined.

No one should ever have the power we have, for the price is much too great.

And don't worry about me corrupting your sands anytime soon, I have very important plans that will keep me going for far longer than you would think."

Not a day goes by where I am not consumed by what we have done. What I am doing now, in the name of vengeance for my little girl. I keep telling myself it will be worth it one day, that one day the pit in my stomach will go away and I can move on.

I have to lie or be consumed, and I have not gotten far enough to allow myself to be dragged down now, when I am so close to finishing this project.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

you are not from here,and yet so familiar.

Tell us,are you from outside? If so,how is it?

It's been so long since we've seen the sun.

While scouring fossils and detailing the scale a creature would have to be to leave such large bones, a spirit lies in wait until his boots land close enough for the spirit to tear itself from the sand.

"You are not from here, and yet so familiar.

Tell us, are you from outside? If so, how is it?

It's been so long since we've seen the sun."

Shad wrestles with the spirit for a while before shoving it back down into the sand. Moments later while hes still recovering from the fright it pokes its head back out of the shifting ground, head tilted and waiting for an answer.

"You!" His chest heaves, the spirits haven't rattled him so much since the first time they started appearing to him. "Fine. Yes, I am from the Overworld, and last I saw it was embroiled in war." He pauses, and clutches his chest as if he was in pain.

"I haven't seen the sun in a while either." His head tilts down and his hair covers his eyes. "I don't think I could even bare to see it, I don't think... I could bare to see the Overworld ever again. Watching life go on without...without her..." He takes a deep breath and stares down at the soul.

"I don't know why you'd say I seem familiar, but I've only been here for maybe a few months. Unless you mean that you've seen me wandering around here already in which case that would be obvious." He stomps his foot and the sand around him shifts, bending to the will of his destructive powers.

"Leave me before I make you."

The spirit stares for a moment before sinking beneath the waves of sand.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Tip if you don't know. You can get stuff from the piglins with gold. They're even kinda nice if you got gold on. Just... don't mine any gold up if they're around. Even with gold on...

Sometimes a soul would pull itself from the sand after Shad has had a rough day. This time, a soul had whispered about the pig men that Shad had kept getting into altercations with the past few... days? Is it still considered a day if there's no sun?

"Tip if you don't know. You can get stuff from the piglins with gold. They're even kinda nice if you got gold on. Just... don't mine any gold up if they're around. Even with gold on..."

Shad considered this, staring at the creatures from afar. "So they're more intelligent than I thought. I had studied their dynamics before but didn't think of trying to 'blend in' in any way. This will be useful information going forward, I give you my thanks."

He crosses his arms and thinks to himself. 'So they're called piglins? Perhaps the souls are the ones that are more intelligent than I thought. I'm sure they'll be very useful to me."

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

you seem nice. are you nice?

He seems to be more ready for this question. Another spectral form emerges from the sand to whisper a question to him.

"You seem nice. Are you nice?"

Shad jolts around to look at the specter and considers the question. "...That depends on what you consider me being nice. My powers destroy the land around me, can I still be nice if flowers wilt when I walk past? I try to be...kind, when I can afford it, but it often seems to be unwanted because of who I am." He turns his back. "Xavier told me I was nice once. I don't try very hard with much anyone else anymore."

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

*approaches tentatively* how...how are you doing shad?

A spectral blue hand tentatively emerges from the bubbling surface of the wailing sand. It reaches out and grasps at Shad's ankle. He's surprised, and struggles to try and shake it off before it speaks to him in the clearest voice he's heard from one of the souls yet.

"How...how are you doing Shad?"

He's able to shake the hand off before he responds.

"What?" He scoffs in bewilderment, but his eyes shine in delight at the new discovery. "Terribly... but I must admit the new discoveries in this Divineless hellscape make it not so bad. Not having Esmund screeching in my ear all the time is a bonus as well." He crouches down to get a better look at the spirit before it descends back into the sand.

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

The Nether is much more fascinating than the ancient texts have made it out to be. First of all, there are multiple biomes where the texts had previously said there was only one continuous firery landscape. I have counted at least 5, and since I have been the one to discover them I have seen fit to give them all names.

I arrived in a Crimson Forest. A place full of mushroom like red trees and inhabited by large and violent boar like creatures I have made an effort so far to stay away from.

The Nether Wastes are the closest to what the old texts used to describe the Nether as. Long swaths of netherack with groups of fire and lava.

Warped Forests are much like the Crimson Forests where there are large mushroom trees, though these ones are blue, and have a lot of those blue and orange mushrooms the boars don't seem to like the smell of. Instead of being inhabited by the boars though, I have seen a surprising amount of endermen, though I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised to see them since I have heard they can easily slip through realm barriers, an ability I greatly envy.

Bassalt Deltas are never worth trying to study, as they are hellish to get through with all the ups and downs, especially with the sneakily hidden lava pits just waiting for you to fall into.

The worst, in my humble opinion, are the Soulsand Valleys. There were always myths and legends of what happened to souls when a body died. Now I know that some of those myths are true. Trying to traverse a Soulsand valley is like being sucked back into memories you are trying very hard not to remember. I swear some of these spirits trapped in the sand are trying to communicate with me. It's probably been so long since they've seen a living person, but I don't like the way they reach their spectral hands out of the sand to grab at my feet and try and ask me questions.

(Asks will be given to Shad by tiers of different creatures, starting with the souls trapped in soulsand!)

[shadsminecraftdiaries]

Irene used to always write in this little journal she'd keep tucked into her belt. I always thought it was stupid. "Why write down every little thing that happens when you could be looking up and be present in the moment now?" I would ask. And she'd just shake her head and laugh. Now I think I get it. I wish I had something to remind me of all the good times, especially now when the wounds are still fresh. I won't make the same mistake again. I doubt I'll have anything good to write about now that I'm trapped in this hellish place, but it'll sure keep me from losing my mind.