Shredder

Shredder- Prisoner - The Ambitious Traitor

Theme Song

Mate: Formerly Eve.

Quirk: Odd, high-pitched laugh.

Shredder is aggressive, cunning, and ruthless. A Ridgeback with a hunger for power and wealth, Shredder is silver-tongued and makes for an excellent leader. He has a natural way of luring in dragons with honeyed tones and fake promises. Don't be fooled- Shredder has no desire or need to fulfill his end of the bargain. His true nature is a self-centered megalomaniac- but his skills in gaining allies combined with his ambition make him a true threat to others.

As a hatchling, Shredder was the youngest of his five brothers, all sons of the leader of a violent and brutal Clan, where only the strong survived . Bullied and battered, Shredder developed a chip on his shoulder from an early age. As they grew older, it became apparent that when their father died, someone had to take over. Their father held trials of strength, cleverness, wisdom, and many more tests to determine his choice of heir. Shredder was one of the most successful, passing most of the tests easily. But his father recognized a savage nature in Shredder's heart, and feeling that his age would be a hindrance, passed on Shredder and named a different brother his heir- Ripper, the second oldest.

Shredder was livid. His age was the reason he could not be leader? He took it as an insult. But Shredder knew that in order to secure his future, he had to play the game. Shredder used his skills in deception to lure his other brothers in an alliance. He proposed they kill their father's chosen heir- that way, they increase their chances of being selected. His brothers- Slicer, Bleeder, and Cutter- all agreed. In a few nights time, they waited to ambush Ripper.

The following fight was horrifying. Shredder watched as Ripper was torn apart, though the former heir managed to drag Cutter down with him. But when the bodies were discovered, Shredder knew his plan- he blamed it all on Bleeder. Slicer knew better than to object, and with one fell swoop, Shredder had managed to get two brothers killed and one locked up. But his father had a suspicion that Shredder was up to something, and decided to give Bleeder a trial to find out the truth. Getting a feeling of anxiety, Shredder decided that his plan wasn't meant to be- he fled his Clan that night. But he wouldn't abandon his dream- he WOULD be a leader. One day.

Later on, he met another Shadow Ridgeback- a female named Eve- after defending her from some Serthis warriors. Shredder admired her sleek and lithe form. Being flirtatious and smooth, the two became quick friends and began traveling together. The two shared much in common- they both had dreams they wished to achieve- Shredder as a leader, and Eve as a warrior. Eventually, they became mates, and Shredder proposed an idea- rather than join a Clan or make a Clan, they could take over a Clan that was already made. Eve agreed and the plan was set.

The two eventually joined up with a Tundra named Hallow. Shredder couldn't believe his luck- the fool was kind, caring, and WEAK. He was the perfect target. Shredder and Eve joined Hallow, and for years, Shredder played his role perfectly- he was an honest advisor, a strong warrior, a glorious general. His influence in the Clan spread like wildfire. One day, after gathering many followers including some of Hallow's own children, Shredder decided to make his move. Eve attempted to reason with him, saying it wasn't necessary. Shredder was stunned by this change, but thought little of it. Promising Eve he would not revolt, Shredder moved forward with his plan. She'd forgive him after he took over, anyway.

But Shredder came to realize that Hallow had many supporters in his ranks, and he was not nearly as much of a fool as Shredder had thought. The two got into a vicious battle, and Shredder was shocked when the Tundra defeated him. Battered and broken, Shredder stood before Hallow, ready to meet his brothers again in death. But Hallow was merciful- he simply banished Shredder from the Clan. Laughing as he made his retreat, Shredder vowed that he would have revenge- and that he'd take back the Clan and kill Hallow easily.

Shredder eventually returned with a band of rogue dragons, who all had their own desires one way or the other- and Shredder claimed that he would deliver their dreams to them, in return for their help with one task- destroying the Azeryx Clan. Shredder's words were empty lies, but once his secret plan was activated, all of those promises would be meaningless. When Shredder was in the Clan, he remembered Aka telling tales of his deceased comrade, Brimstone. Shredder formulated a plan that was diabolical- he planned to resurrect Brimstone as a monstrous entity that would wipe out the Azeryx Clan. He called this plan Project: Bringer.

During the time before Project: Bringer was prepared, Shredder's forces were constantly duking out against Azeryx's during patrols and hunting trips. In addition, Shredder was slowly training a new son, as Eve and Azeryx had prevented him from taking Zeryx and raising him under his own wing. Finding a lost Ridgeback in the Hewn City, Shredder took in a new son named Xyzer. Shredder planned to train Xyzer for one purpose only- to destroy Zeryx and the Azeryx Clan.

Shredder's plans eventually reached their climax. Shredder kickstarted the Bringer War, finally aiming for the revenge he wanted on his former Clan. However, due to some destabilization on the inside, Shredder angrily found that not everything had been going to plan. After being delivered a slight defeat from his former mate, Eve, with Spanner and Viper failing to kill targeted Imperials, Shredder took his plan into his own hands. Killing one of his Imperial mercenaries, he used the Imperial along with others to bring forth an Emperor, using Brimstone, Aka's brother renamed as Bringer, to bring death to the Clan. But he didn't account for a betrayal from the inside- Rotte, Shredder's scheming Fae ally, planned to stab Shredder in the back from the start, binding his mind with Bringer's to control the beast for his own desires. Luckily, the Azeryx Clan was able to overcome Rotte, Bringer, and Shredder, defeating them all and winning the war.

Shredder was captured and has been locked up for his crimes. He has become a shadow of his former self- his arrogant sense of confidence has vanished, his sleek scales have grown dull, and he is more bitter than anything else. He is no longer a powerful leader- he is just another prisoner. He refuses to talk to Zeryx, Xyzer, or Eve. But one thing he has confirmed- that something was going to happen soon, and that he wouldn't be locked up forever.

"His lust and ambition for power, combined with his madness and daring, all make for a dragon who's dangerously good at getting what he wants. A powerful rival indeed." -Hallow.

"I never knew my father. I just knew I wasn't like him." -Zeryx

"My old clan, mate, and son are dead to me. It's time to make them dead to the rest of the world." -Shredder