Character Influence Web - Lord Tirek (Harmoniaverse)

The main antagonist of the Harmoniaverse, and its story, "The Light of Harmonys Hope". Now before anyone goes, and possibly complains "Oh! But Grogar is supposed to be the big bad! He's so much better than Tirek! This is just a sucky OC of the real Tirek!", which I know noone will actually say because you're all grownups, and respect people's choices with the freedom of sharing your disagreements, as long as they stay simple disagreements, let me assure you that I WANTED to make Grogar the main villain of this story. For him to basically be the Malefor of this series, if you will.

Then "The Ending of the End" came around, and it ruined my interest in him as a main antagonist (except for when MelSpyRose does it for her story, because she actually gave him character, a backstory, motives, and ambitions before Season 9 even came out).

So I gave the spotlight to a villain who I feel was underrated even more than Sombra, despite still having some of the traits I enjoy: that one being Lord Tirek. After his entertaining performance in "Twilight's Kingdom", which made him the biggest threat the series offered who left the biggest mark in the show, he grew as my favorite MLP villain. Even before then, I watched the original G1 series, or rather its pilot episode "Rescue at Midnight Castle". And even though G4 can be dark at times, G1 pushed the boundaries many times - especially when it came to Tirac, which was his original name. A centaur who acts more like a demon sorcerer in Dungeons and Dragons, with a nightmarish castle, beastly guards, and the power to turn ponies into dragon-devils is not something you'd expect to see in a show marketed for little girls. But they did, and probably gave kids nightmares for a while. Even my friend, Sir-Writesalot was inspired by Tirac to make his own badass version of the villain.

And now, I finally have an official, series-lasting depiction of the big bad who has been consistently keeping to his darker roots in every story I write. But in "The Light of Harmonys Hope", and its prequel "The Price of Freedom", it will be a lasting, and important element to his character........who, spoiler warning, is the reincarnation of his world's Tirac, Master of Midnight Castle, whose souls bonded to the essence of the Dark Master, Apophis, which in turn made him the embodiment of Darkness until his fall in the first generation. As the story progresses, Tirek will regain memories of his past life, and the powers he once wielded. Even calling upon both his past life AND Apophis himself for wisdom and guidance. Working together for a common purpose.

To claim all the power of this world, and rule in Eternal Darkness as THE Elder God of All.

And I had quite a few inspirational sources to help me cook up this baddy. Some even more recent than others. But here, I have a list of villains who gave inspiration, and what their common traits are that make him what he is.

Like so:

• Tirek G4 - It's obvious that G4 Tirek would be an inspiration because Lord TIrek IS him. Let's just say the day he was imprisoned in Tartarus was the day he lost the dark powers of his past incarnation, and his memory of that part of him. Thus he became the magic-hungry harbinger of doom we see in "Twilight's Kingdom". But that's where things take a change, since the Rainbow Power, and the pain of its Light actually awakened a part of his memory, along with a few minor powers of his. This is how he contacted Cozy Glow, and used her to gather him the items he required for his return, like his Uru Armor. Now, he is of a keener mind, and more devious intellect than his G4 counterpart, with more powers at his disposal than he was limited to before. And the heroes will learn that the hard way soon when they face him again.

• Tirac: In this story, Tirac is both the name of the centaur's dark stain on their history, and also Tirek's previous incarnation. In other words, like the many Avatars who came before Aang, Tirac is the past life of Lord Tirek. One who also had a 'Rainbow of Darkness' that was the source of his powers. But it was like a power source to him, that enhanced his already formidable powers over the Darkness. Though there was a time he was not always evil: in fact, he was once a noble centaur warrior.......until Apophis reconstituted himself in a weaker version of his dragonic form, and threatened Equestria. Tirac, and other heroic forces faced him, but the former was the only one who brought him low. However, just before he could deal the finishing blow, Apophis whispered sweet nothings in his ear, promising him godhood, supreme lordship, and immortality supported by endless power. All he had to do was absorb Apophis' essence into his own soul, and in doing so allow him to endure in Tirac - a bargain the centaur, who was already an ambitious figure, secretly agreed to. Thus, when he killed the body, the soul of Apophis lived by fusing with Tiracs, and in doing so making HIM the new incarnation of the Dark One. All the knowledge, wisdom, secrets, and ambitions of the primordial serpent were now Tiracs, and he became the greatest threat the world ever knew. One whose influence would return to threaten the fourth generation in the form of his descendant. It's only a matter of time until Lord Tirek reclaims his past life's original power. His time will come.

• Tirek, The Supreme Lord of Darkness: This guy here, who as i said belongs to Sir-Writesalot from his original series, is what Tirac himself became after he allowed Apophis to merge with him. A god among mortals who corrupted all whom he surveyed, and created an empire of Darkness that lasted for centuries. And the key to his success was his "Rainbow of Darkness", which was not only the antithesis of the Elements of Harmony, but is another name for a gemstone he crafted to house the Darkness, itself, and his own lifeforce. Very similar to The One Ring, but its own power known as The Dark Heart. Similar to the Krystals of Power forged by the Sacred Dragons (the relative species to the dragons of the dragonlands), it was his greatest source of power. And he used it to create the original Tiracians, who served as his armies to dominate the world. But then a great battle took place, and he lost the Heart to his enemies. The process injured, and broke his hold over the land, as expected, but he survived due to Apophis' power, and the fact The Dark Heart survived. He spent centuries trying to get it back, but he was too weak to do it. That was when the REAL Grogar, the Bahamut of Darkness, deceived him into becoming a vessel for him to create a physical body, and wipe out the first generation whose civilizations had grown too powerful, ambitious, and dangerous: thus requiring him to destroy them so that a new generation could be reborn. It would not be until Grogar's own death in the Fourth Generation Tiracs soul would be freed, and given a chance to be reborn. King Vorak, and Queen Haydon had the misfortune of birthing the new incarnation of the Dark God. One who would learn of his dark heritage, who he is, the power he wields, that he ONCE wielded, and that he can reclaim so that he may continue his past life's legacy, and the legacy of evil. Lord Tirek is Inevitable.

• The Lord of Darkness/Sauron: Though he has yet to reach their status, Lord Tirek has quite a bit in common with these two - especially since Sombra acts less like Sauron than he originally did, if he ever did in the first place. They are Dark Lords who embody the evils of Darkness itself. They rule over a growing mass of corrupted legions who serve them loyally, and faithfully, with those of higher calibur becoming lieutenants to Tirek. And like Sauron, Lord Tirek has a faction of servants who are supernatural elites that answer only to him, in the form of the Balrogs. And like Sauron, his lifeforce is tied to objects of power: the primary being The Heart of Darkness. The only thing which can truly destroy him is the combined power of Harmony, and Light. They can hurt him separately, but only together can they have any hope of ending his reign - though only with his Heart's destruction can his ultimate defeat be assured. Even then, he may still exist in some shape, or form no matter how diminished he ends up being (his spirit, I mean). For Darkness is a part of all things, and can never be destroyed. There can be no Light without it. And Tirek IS the Darkness.

• Slade Wilson/Deathstroke(Teen Titans): A theme you'll begin noticing is how Tirek is a master planner, and a manipulative schemer. Well, that's also where Slade comes in for inspiration. Because both think like clockwork, and always seem ahead of the game. And both have made archenemies of their respective main protagonists. Both also have an unhealthy obsession of making those they see as worthy to be their apprentices. For Slade, it was Robin - for Lord Tirek, it will be Dusk Shine, because of the potential for power he sees in him. Both are treacherous, and abusive to those who defy them in any way. They will even emotionally abuse them in order to get what they want. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that's how he made the new host of Nightmare Moon, Nocturnus, loyal to him. Also, both are powerful enough to match the heroes in one on one fights when at the height of their strength: until the heroes work together and find a way to get the better of him. But both learn from their mistakes, and never repeat them. Everything they've experienced in the past in the harmoniaverse, is nothing compared to what Lord Tirek intends to do to them all.

• All For One: It's a funny coincidence that AFO is an inspiration, considering Tirek and he share the same abilities: stealing the powers of others. However, G4 Tirek only seemed capable of converting others magic into raw energy to enhance his own magic. He couldn't actually replicate their abilities and use them like All For One does when he steals quirks. But that is beginning to change as Tirek trains with his power. Now, like AFO, he will be able to combine the abilities of any magical being whose magic he absorbs, and uses them in deadly, offensive attacks. All For One is also another master planner who has ambitions, but they mainly stem from grooming a successor to carry on his legacy. Lord Tirek.........has that, too, but he intends to make Dusk his heir through forced means. What the two REALLY have in common is how they both are symbols of terror. When word of his power, and all his actions occur, Tirek becomes a beacon of evil who lords over the forces of evil once he regains his full powers. And like All For One, he does NOT share power with anyone. All that he does, he does for himself. All shall become One with him as he reigns eternally.

• Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious: Do I even need to go into it? Palpatine is by far the most elaborate, cunning, and manipulative villains in cinema history. Through many decades of conspiracy and planning, he orchestrated the construction of his own Galactic Empire, and ended the era of the Sith's great enemy, the Jedi. And he used two opposing forces, The Republic and The Separatist Alliance, as the means of crafting his plans into fruition. And in the end, he became supreme Emperor of the galaxy, and the most feared being noone has ever known. Lord Tirek takes after Sidious in this regard. Throughout the story, through careful, and steady planning as Dusk Shine's coronation approaches, the centaur gathers faithful allies to his cause, convinces other villains to help him in a coupe' against the fake Grogar, while devising a means of putting the REAL Grogar on a leash he alone can control, builds an entire army of hybrid monsters born of living Darkness, and turns pony society against itself as his power reaches its peak by the time the ceremony is ready. His coup' succeeds, his army is readied, his allies are now his to command after some 'careful persuasion' (as in he wrecks their shit to get them in line not long after they recover the bell, because they didn't want to work for him anymore than the fake Grogar), and he has reforged the shattered Heart of Darkness.....which I should have actually said before. But THAT'S how Tirac lost his original strength, and dispersed like Sauron did after Isildur cut the One Ring from his hand. Refueled on the souls of enslaved ponies, and minotaurs, The Rainbow of Darkness held within the Heart, and Tirek, in turn, restores the one, true Dark Lord to full power. And with this power, he launches an assault on the land which sees his enemies all captured, and drained of their power thanks to Grogar's Bell, named Belial's Maw (who he tricked the other villains into not using by saying the power it stored was too difficult to control, when he was physically capable of harnessing chaos and alicorn magic, and by now he knows how to control other's magic). By all accounts, everything has transpired according to Tirek's design. And with the power of the most powerful beings in Equestria transferred from the Bell into him, he obtains the godhood he desires. Once more, the Djinn will rule creation.......and Tirek shall have peace.

• Skullmaster: Ironically, the full inspiration for this depiction of Tirek. Skullmaster actually takes after most of the villains on this list (Tirac, The Lord of Darkness, Sauron, Darth Sidious, though he's got some in common with Slade, and AFO with some minor exclusions) in the best, and worst ways possible. He is an ancient, 5000 year old sorcerer who is a skillful, and cunning planner, strategist, manipulator, and bloodthirsty warrior who is a competent, and serious threat. And like him, Tirek was also responsible for the destruction of an entire civilization, though he used his servant Dismay to do it, while Skullmaster had his own way that coincides with Tirac of the First Generation: using The Crystal of Souls, and The Heart of Darkness respectively, both ultimately tricked the rulers of the kingdoms they dwelt in into surrendering their souls to the evil artifacts to give them their power on false promises of salvation from catastrophe. But instead of keeping their word, both destroy the old civilizations, kill their respective rulers, and then use their Objects of Power to rule the world for many long years, while corrupting others in their thralls. In the end, though, both are defeated by a champion of the free peoples, and their reign of evil is ended. Though Tirac's defeat cost him his vitality, his power, and then his life.

• Lord Tirek merely picks up the shattered pieces of Tirac's legacy as he used Cozy Glow to regain enough strength, and supply him with tomes of magic, both light and dark, to broaden his own abilities. And like Skullmaster, he tricks our hero into freeing him from his underground prison by threatening the life of his friend. Once free, both set forth to rebuild their lost Objects of power (Crystal of Souls and Heart of Darkness), and make alliances as well as corrupt innocent souls to accomplish the goal. By the end of the series, when the final conflict begins, both succeed in restoring their power sources, after tricking the heroes into wasting the power of a weapon that could have destroyed them both, and revitalize them with new souls. And during his takeover, he wages war on Equestria, beats our heroes, and prepares for a moment in time when he can harness the power of The Elements of Harmony aka The Krystals of Power, in conjunction with The Heart of Darkness and Belial's Maw aka Bewitching Bell, to empower him into an Elder God, both Bahamut and Djinn, who wields the full power of the Darkness to become the supreme power of the universe. All he needs to do is acquire the Cronus Sphere, and destroy the Sacred Tree of Light, Lignum Harmonia, to ensure the Age of Darkness endures. Once he accomplishes this, and obtains power over Space, Reality, Power, The Soul, The Mind, and with the Cronus Sphere, Time itself, all that ever was and ever will be shall bow to the ultimate power in the universe: Tirathos!!!

And that pretty much sums it up. Hope you all enjoyed this, as it IS canon to the story, and I hope you look forward to tomorrow, and when I release the Character Influence Web for Dusk Shine. I think you might hind his inspiration interesting, as well. Either way, thank you all, and have a good night or day.
All characters, and art belong to their respective owners, including myself, MelSpyRose and Drawing-Heart.