Prologue
It was time. The robed and hooded figure stood at his chambers in Deaddrift Castle on Mordus Mountain, looking at the stars as they pulled themselves towards the moon, aligning themselves so that a phenomenon will occur for only once every 100 years. Deaddrift Castle was supposed to be deserted and abandoned. People that know of the place spoke ill of it. People say that the castle was haunted by a ghost that only wants to quench its blood lust by killing people that stays there for a night. Others say that the castle itself was cursed by a powerful demon. Nonetheless, people will agree that only one man could have given the notorious reputation that the castle has now, it was the Traitorous Lord, Lord Tergain.
Deaddrift Castle, or Mordus Mountain to be precise, was located in the Western Lands of Rogus, where the tribal Orcs and their clans live in their plain of Galthor. Although it is habitable for different races, none of them have dared to set foot on the mountain. But only the Brotherhood of the Dark, a cult that worshiped the use of Dark Magic, would only have the nerve to use the castle as their base of operations for their rituals and teachings.
Although the figure was hooded, the moon light shone brightly upon the figures face. He was a youth in his early 20s; he had green eyes and raven hair and had a sharp nose that made him look handsome. The youth turned towards his chambers and walked towards his messy desk that was stacked with different tomes and scrolls about the Dark Arts and Dark Magic. As he was about to pick up a tome to read, a knock on his door interrupted him. The door creaked open and another robed and hooded figure stood in the doorway.
“It is time, Thalos.” The figure said in a low, deep voice. “Report to the Gathering Hall immediately, the ritual is about to begin.”
Thalos looked at the figure and simply nodded. Without waiting Thalos to finish the nod, the figure turned and continued down the corridor to give out the instructions that was given by the Master. Although he was in the Brotherhood for nearly 2 years, he already knew about the Brotherhood long before he had joined it. Thalos was once a bright pupil of the Academy of Magic. He had known about the Brotherhood of the Dark and Dark Magic through the Great Archives in the Academy. After reading a few tomes and scrolls, he started to research more about the Brotherhood and the Dark Arts, this lead him to be power hungry and made him obsessed with Dark Magic. In the end, the Academy knew about his obsession with the Dark Arts and they banished him from the Academy, warning him to never set foot upon the Academy ever again, otherwise there will be severe consequences. After leaving the Academy, he had traveled to Mordus Mountain, as through countless hours of research he was certain that the Brotherhood was there, and he was right. The Master of the Brotherhood, seeing Thalos‘s obsession and passion with the Dark Arts, recruited him into the Brotherhood, making him a Brother.
Thalos went out of his chambers and took a spiral stair down to the hall of Deaddrift Castle. The hall was massive and huge. Rowed on both side of the hall, five pillars stood mighty and tall, holding the roof of the hall in place. On each side of the wall, suits of armor were decorated through the whole length of the hall. Numerous weapon racks t were filled with elegant weaponry of different kinds. On the far end of the hall, a throne was set on top of a flight of stairs. The throne was once glisten with gold and waxed wood. Now the glisten is gone, only the nearly rotten wood and dirtied gold are whats left of the throne. In the center of the hall, a ritual circle was drawn with salt. The circles edge was written with enchantments and on the center of the circle a huge star was drawn unto. The five points of the stars each touched the edge of the enchantment and candles were placed on top of each point. Thalos stood beside a pillar that was located near the ritual circle and waited for his Brothers to arrive.
As all of the Brothers, all robed and hooded, walked silently into the hall and stood in their positions. Another robed figure, tall in stature, stood on the stairs that was near the throne and scanned the hall before drawing back his hood. As he did so, the Brothers knelt down before the figure and never looked up. The figure was old and slender, he had a hawked nose and bony fingers and he also had a staff on his right hand in which he relies to put his weight on because of his frail body. Thalos, though not looking up, knew that the figure was the Master.
“Brethren!” The Master boomed. ”Tonight will be the night where the Brotherhood will seize control of Rogus. Tonight will be the night that the Brotherhood will be written down in the Tome of the Past! To be the new rulers of the whole of Rogus!” As he finished saying this, Thalos and the Brothers knelt quietly.
“Tonight we will summon forth a demon.”The Master continued. “And we will control it. Years of careful planning and research had led us to this day. Do not falter for we will be achieving the impossible tonight! May the Darkness consume us…”
“And guide us all!” Thalos and the Brother finished has they recited their Brotherhoods motto.
The Master looked at the Brothers and signaled for the ritual to begin. Five hooded figure walked out of the crowd, each holding a scepter and stood on the five points of the stars with their scepters raised. At the same time, the Brothers chanted in unison.
“Del’tar mak’tiel, por’thus lunak’te. Del’tar mak’tiel, mel’vite por’thak.”
As they continued to chant, dark energies flowed from the scepters and unto the ritual circle, making it glow with dark energies. Even while chanting, Thalos could feel the atmosphere around the hall change from quietness and calm into a surge of fear and awe.
“Del’tar mak’tiel,marth’iel for’num. Del’tar mak’tiel, thi’ela mann’aiel.”
As the ritual circle glowed with energy, the hall shook as if it was about to fall apart. But it did not disrupt the Brothers chanting and their concentration.
“Del’tar mak’tiel, rola’s the’rum. Del’tar mak’tiel,morb’us neth’iel!”
As they finished their last chanting,the hall shook violently and the ritual circle let out a great flash of light that blinded everyone in the hall for a moment. As their vision cleared, the Brothers watched in fear as they saw a towering monster standing in the ritual circle. Although it was dark, Thalos could see what the monster was like. It was huge in size, nearly the height of ten men or more. It had three horns on its forehead and had a spiked tail. Its legs were made of goat’s hooves while its hands were of claw. On its back, a pair of huge leathery bat wings spread out and flapped. The figure carried a sword on one of its hands and had a long narrow faced that looked like a goat or a dog. It wore a huge black armor that covered its shoulder and its body. Thalos was not only scared by the sheer size of the monstrosity, but also because of the aura that it was emanating, an aura of fear and despair.
“At last,” The figure boomed in a loud and daemonic voice. “I am free! After a millennium in that insipid plain of Chaos I am finally free!”
Not missing a chance to seize power, the Master pushed aside the crowd and stood defiantly in front of the demon. He raised his staff and shouted at the demon. “Demon, heed my commands and obey me!”
The demon, seeing that someone was referring to him, looked at the Master with curiosity.
“It is I who has set you free,” The Master continued. “So you shall heed my every command!”
The demon stood frozen for a moment, and then he laughed.
“Pitiful human,” The demon boomed, “Do you really think that freeing me will let you command me as you will?” I am Del’kar the Destroyer! And I do not take orders from puny mortals like you! The only gift I would give you is a quick and painless death!”
As he said this he raised his hands and dark energies burst through his claw-like finger tips, the energies shot towards the Master and he was blown to pieces, only leaving a crimson smoke where he stood. As from that moment, the Brotherhood started to panic; even Thalos too was in fear. Del’kar looked around the hall and waved his hand,the demon closed all the doors shut, leaving the Brotherhood no chance to escape their deaths. As he did so, the demon sent energies to the suits of armor and weapons that were in display, making them come to life and hacking and slashing the nearest Brother they could find. Thalos, seeing that his Brothers were being slaughtered, ran towards the throne and hid behind it. But it still wasn’t enough to cover the screams of agony and pain that was echoing throughout the hall. Thalos covered his ears and huddled behind the throne, and soon everything was silent.
Thalos tried to look around the corner of the throne to see whether the demon had left and if he was safe, but as hard as he tried the only thing he could hear was the fast pounding of his heart. He slowly climbed out of his hiding place and stood on the stairs of the throne, looking down at his massacred Brothers. But he felt something was behind him, and he turned. A huge clawed hand swept him up. He struggle to get out but the grip of the demon was much too strong. He was then meet with a pair of yellowish eyes and was instantly filled with fear and terror.
“So,” The demon began, “You cowered behind your hiding spot while I slaughtered your "Brothers" like sheep. I wonder... why should I keep you alive?”
Thalos cried and shuddered as he knew he was going to die by the hands of this monstrosity.
“I could be useful to you,” Thalos begged, “I would do anything.”
The demon looked at Thalos like he was looking at an enjoyable meal, he then gave a wide grin.
“Oh, I think you will be useful to me after all…” The demon said,this made Thalos relaxed for a while. But the next words made Thalos’s soul filled with terror and despair. “I think I will just use your body as my vessel instead!”
Thalos tried to scream but it was already too late, as his screams weren’t heard by anyone else anymore.