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The Red Stone
Chapter One
It has been two months that he has been here. In that
time, Celec Shadowstar has learned much--as Shade. Answering to no other
name but that, a variant on his surname, he has been living with a band of
nomadic warriors. Settled here for the whole of three months, the bandits
are an unruly group, but they are held in check by their leader--Corold
Saranshade.
Corold, a man haunted by a past he has yet to fully discover, has done his
best to do what seems right. After his friend Taril died at the hands of
an attacker the year before, and he was unable to stop it, he'd vowed never
to allow anyone that close to him again--ever, and to try to spread the example
of an honor system--to live by and uphold laws of the land, to help those
in need, and see justice done.
Jaren, Corold's current second in command, walks among the supplies piled
up outside the cave.
"Shade! Get over here, now!" he bellows. A hulking man, towering easily over
the tallest of the group, Jaren is not one to be easily ignored.
Shade calmly leaves his conversation with Tarah, promising to return later
to finish the conversation.
"Jaren, this had better be good! I am not going to extract dead mice from
your sleeping roll again!" warns Shade as he walks to where the big man waits.
"It's not my fault that someone put them in my roll!" he growls. "But this
is more important than that. That red stone you'd picked up from that goblin?
The one you said was imbued with some sort of 'great, untapped raw power'?"
begins the warrior.
"...yes..." concedes Shade, not liking where this seemed to be going, and
glances around, his eyes suddenly settling on a stone about the size of a
man's fist, lying off to the right.
"Well, it's glowing. And...and it's...humming to me." stammers Jaren.
"Stones don't hum, Jaren." States Shade, matter of faculty.
Suddenly, Celec feels a stabbing pain in his head, and doubles over in agony.
Jaren, who had turned away to nervously eye the stone, turns back, and realizing
what must be happening to the young mage, picks the man up and puts him over
his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and quickly carries him away from the
stone; and hopefully away from its effects.
Hearing the commotion from several of his men, Corold hurries out of his
private quarters...the smallest of the caves...and nearly stumbles over the
motionless form of Shade, his friend and co-commander Jaren standing over
him.
"Sir...it's that rock he found. It's done something to him, I'm sure of it!"
Before Corold can utter a response, Tarah cries out in fear. The two warriors,
momentarily forgetting about Shade, turn around. The red stone, now the size
of a man's head, and brightly glowing, has begun to hover in the air. Around
it, a ripple can be seen--a distortion in their view. Hearing a groan, they
turn back to the downed mage.
"...no...it can't be! Not here! Not now!" cries Shade.
"What, lad? What is it?" asks Corold.
"The end of the world as you know it. Or rather, the beginning of
the end. That must be what I was sent back for. Telezsite has mastered the
past and present, as well as space. Kiele has never been in such dire danger!"
"Um..." begins Jaren, interrupted then by Corold.
"Sent back for? Telezsite? What are you talking about, lad? You told me you've
wandered the land all your life, looking only to survive--"
"I thought I had! This stone...has somehow triggered what can only be suppressed
and hidden memories! I am not from this time. I am from the future. A future
in danger of never coming to pass. This stone is the ultimate weapon Telezsite
could have used. With his power...backed by much of the power of Lwarxiate...this
stone will...undoubtedly...cause the end of the world as it is known to me.
That ripple you see? Look at how it grows even as we speak!"
Indeed, as the two look, they see that the ripple, previously just barely
surrounding the stone itself, had expanded a few inches around the stone.
"I...am weak in power...it was drained helping to retrieve one of the Orbs,
and in retrieving my own orb...I can't deal with this! I...do not have the
power I need to withstand the power of that portal-stone!"
"What are you saying, Mage? That we--" begins Jaren.
"You are all in dire danger, my friends. Get out of here. NOW. While you
can. I...will contain what I can of the stone's powers...as long as I can.
The very existence of my future may well depend on it!"
"You are a brave man, Shade. I will get my men out of here, but then I will
return for you, as well, my friend!" Corold boldly states, turning quickly,
barking orders at nearby warriors.
"Wh...what's happening, Shade?" asks Tarah, who had just rushed over, seeing
her friend on the ground.
Shade staggers to his feet, and nearly falls back to his knees. Tarah catches
him, and holds him up. Shade looks into the face of his friend, creased with
lines of worry for him, and he realizes then that she has, for all his efforts
to prevent it, fallen in love with him. And now he would be leaving her.
"Tarah...I...I...you don't know me. Not the real me. I...I'm sorry. I don't
have time to explain. Just...remember what I taught you about your magic!
Now go...get out of here while you still can, with Corold and Jaren! You
must hurry! And I...I must concentrate and try to contain..."
"No! I am not leaving you! I...I will help you!"
Before Shade can respond, the stone begins to emit a high-pitched humming,
nearly rendering his mind useless. He can barely imagine what it must be
doing to those without the protective body-shield a user of magic keeps in
place. He sees that Tarah has hers up, as well.
The other warriors, already hurrying out of camp without question, move faster,
moving easily out of range of the stone's effect.
"I'm not 'Shade'." he says suddenly.
"What?" asks Tarah.
"My memory was affected, as well as a need pressed on me to not give my true
name before, in case someone came looking for me."
"Oh?"
"I am from the future...a future. I am Celec Shadowstar. I'm sorry I wasn't
able to tell you sooner."
"I'm sure you had your reasons. We all have our secrets. " Looking away,
she adds quietly "unfortunately, not all of us can share them right now."
"Well, Tarah...looks like it's you and me. We have to stop this stone..."
"I know...Celec. And we'll do it. You'll see!"
"I..." with grim resignation, Celec finishes "...I wish I had your confidence."
Chapter Two
Several days later, the two
are huddled in a nearby cave, which due to some minerals within the rock
blocks much of the stone's energy from reaching them.
"Celec...Shade...whoever
you are...what can we do about that stone? What is IT doing? Why--"
"I know not what we can do
about the stone. It is some sort of time/space device, and if its energies
expand enough, it will transfer the entire world into the Netherrealms, here
in the past; thus Telezsite has won--in the future. The energy we see radiating
from it is tapping into Kiele's own energies, combining with them, in order
to power the transfer of the world into the Dark Dimension. Once it is there,
the minions of Telezsite will overrun the planet!"
"Surely it can be stopped...!
Something that small can't have enough energy..."
Suddenly, the ground seems
to drop then rise back up, dropping both to their knees.
"Tarah! get out of here...I'm
going to try something!"
"But..."
"Just do it!"
Barely able to cast more
than a glance to see that Tarah has scrambled through the exit hole, Celec
casts a weak spell of Teleportation, taking him to the outskirts of the Stone's
influence.
After their time spent hiding
in the cave, the Stone has changed appearances once more. No longer simply
a red stone with a magic field around it, the stone is but an anchor for
now-monstrous energies coursing through the valley. Everything within the
field glows red, in a very unholy light.
Looking about him, Celec
sees the ruin brought upon the once-beautiful land. Even as he watches, the
stone's energy field expands several feet, engulfing him in its grip.
In a sudden burst of sound
and pain, Celec is bombarded with images from his past, visions of what may
yet come, and of Telezsite himself
"WHAT DOES A MORTAL WANT
OF THE DRAGON?!?"
With a rumble like thunder,
the Dragon's voice booms throughout the cavern, shaking him. Speaking up
quickly, Celec responds:
"We seek the Orb of Power
that you guard. Kiele is in danger. Six of us have been sent to gather the
six Orbs!"
"AND THIS CONCERNS ME HOW?
I AM ALL-POWERFUL. YOUR MOST ANCIENT CITIES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR BUT A BLINK
OF AN EYE TO ME IN MY LIFETIME. WHAT MATTERS IT TO ME IF THERE IS A NEW 'RULER'
OF YOUR WORLD?"
"This 'ruler' will destroy
you. If the world is shifted to the netherrealms, there he will have the
power to completely destroy you."
"WHY WOULD YOU HELP ME?"
"Necessity. Morals. Values.
Honor. Does it matter? Kiele must be saved!"
"VERY WELL. I SHALL GRANT
TO YOU GUARDIANSHIP OF THE ORB. IN EXCHANGE, YOU WILL LEAVE IMMEDIATELY,
AND FEND FOR YOURSELF!"
Sighing, Celec concedes.
"Thank you."
"NOW LEAVE!"
Farther back, Celec views
a time that has changed his life forever.
You are all here for
a reason. You must find the six Orbs of Power, and retrieve them. For only
the power of the Orbs combined shall be enough to prevent the transfer of
Kiele into the netherrealms!
"What power do we have? These
Orbs, by legend, are guarded by powerful beings, preventing them from falling
into mortal hands again!" asks the knight, Krel Siar.
Each of you shall seek
out a different orb, that closely ties in with your very nature. By fate,
you shall then be able to retrieve the orbs...
The scene again shifts, and
Celec views a time long past, or far future, considering his present condition.
To his surprise, it is not of his own memory...but of legendary
proportions.
The staff, glowing brightly,
raises into the air at his mental command. Unfortunately, there is no alternative
to what he must now do. Magical powers had left the land for many years.
Then it was leaked back to the land. He was granted his own power by the
god Kiel'Tioma himself, passed from his mentor Majicc.
Beginning to spin, the staff's
energies flare out. Quickly casting a spell of teleportation, Celec disappears
into the future, his spell intercepted by a powerful mage requiring his presence,
as the magic in Kiele is again wiped out by the Elemental Staff of the
Shadowstars.
YOU ARE A VERY IMPORTANT
PERSON, YOUNG SHADOWSTAR! NEVER DID I DREAM THAT LARCTUEN WOULD ACTUALLY
SEND YOU BACK TO DO BATTLE WITH ME! SURELY YOU DO NOT PLAN ON THWARTING
MY PLANS!
His mind his own once more,
Celec hears the voice, and realizes with horror that it is Telezsite, speaking
through the Stone.
HOW EASY IT WAS TO SEE
THAT THE STONE WOULD FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THAT GOBLIN, AND THEN FOR IT
TO CATCH YOUR ATTENTION. YOU HAVE DOOMED THE WORLD, CELEC SHADOWSTAR. FOR
IT WAS YOUR TOUCH THAT ACTIVATED MY STONE. IT WAS YOUR SUPPRESSED POWERS
THAT THE STONE DREW ON IN ORDER TO TAP INTO KIELE ITSELF. NOW, THE STONE
WILL DESTROY YOU!
"NO!" yells Celec, beginning
to back away from the stone's influence.
PUNY MORTAL! I AM A
GOD NOW! I WILL RULE KIELE, FROM THE NETHERREALMS! YOU ARE
POWERLESS TO STOP ME!
Summoning what little magical
ability remains in him, Celec pours all his energy into a single spell...and
suddenly he is in daylight, back at the cave, Tarah hurrying to him.
"...Tarah...the
stone...Telezsite...I've been manipulated! We...must get as far away from
here as we can. This land is lost to us. If the stone is to be stopped...if
it CAN be stopped...we both will need...to be at full strength..."
At that, Celec collapses
into unconsciousness, leaving Tarah to frantically search for a way out.
Remembering the horse they had kept, she hurriedly gets Celec up onto the
horse, then mounting it herself, sets out in the opposite direction of the
stone.
I hope he knows what to
do. Because I sure don't...
Chapter Three
A week later, the two find
themselves approaching a run-down shack on the outskirts of a town, and dazedly,
they walk up to it.
"Too bad we lost the horse...we
might have traded it for a few nights' stay somewhere." mutters Celec.
"Don't worry...we'll find
a way..." Begins Tarah.
Suddenly, the door flies
open, and there stands a man in tattered clothing, obviously once a very
fit, very well-to-do person.
"Ah...visitors! It's
been ages since anyone has visited Dargen Sirek at his home!" the
man booms in a cheerful voice.
Walking out the door, barely
noticing as the door bangs shut and falls to the ground "I'll fix that
later", he hurries down to the two, eager to show them his hospitality.
"Where exactly are we?" asks
Celec, tentatively.
"Why, you are at the edge
of Ktor'isha, at the home of the greatest trainer in the land!"
"We have arr--"
"Won't you both come in?
I was just sitting down to dinner, but I'm sure that I can scrounge up food
for two more."
Barely giving either of them
a chance to answer, he quickly takes hold of their traveling packs, tossing
them over his shoulder, and herds them into his house.
Whispering softly, Tarah
comments to Celec "Friendly, isn't he?"
With a wry smile, Celec agrees.
"At least we'll get a meal before we leave."
The house, though run-down
on its exterior, is still well-kept inside. They walk through the front
door-frame (Celec nudges the door itself, still lying on the ground, shrugging).
As they enter, Celec is astonished. Rather than the dirty, rotting boards
he'd expected, the walls are clean, almost shiny, with elaborate paintings
hanging on them. As they get through the first hall, he counts off about
six doors; one every several feet. Closets. He assumes. At the end
of the hallway, they turn to the right, and find themselves standing in the
kitchen. In the center of the kitchen is a small wooden table, carved with
intricate drawings of plants and animals, and even people. The legs curve
softly to the floor, carved so beautifully as if to make the table appear
to be floating. Next to this table sits a chair, just as intricately carved
and assembled. Still marveling over the beauty of this craftsmanship, Celec
sees the walls--all carved with designs, and on the wall farthest from him,
hangs a lantern, a bow 'n arrow, and an old leather sheath--with an even
holder handle sticking out of it.
"So...what are your names,
mian driaches, my friends?"
"I am Tarah..." she says
softly.
"And I am Celec
Shadowstar--"
"Shadowstar?!?" Dargen
questions. "Not THE Shadowstar...?"
"W-what?" inquires Celec,
trying to find his tongue.
"I know you...your family,
anyway. 'Twas not that many years ago...perhaps twenty or so now...I was
an apprentice to the man who was known only as Shadowstar."
Beckoning they come sit by
him, Tarah and Celec walk over and sit near him, like children around an
adult at story-time.
Reminiscing, Dargen begins
his tale.
"I was but a young man
then--about 15 or 16, trying to find my place in the order of things. I'd
decided on a Craft--I wanted to be a swordsman. Inquiring about many nearby
towns and villages, I finally found a man who would train me for the meager
fee I could pay. Agreeing to train me at no cost, provided I live with him
and help him to keep his house in order, we soon became friends, even as
we assumed the role of mentor and apprentice. Having no sword of my own,
we practiced with long hollow rods, fashioned from a plant that had been
imported to this man the year before. We'd practice for hours...he showing
me first the basics, until I got those right, then to more advanced
swordsmanship. After several hours' practice, we would retire to the house,
where I would spend several hours cleaning and repairing, or whatever else
needed doing. This was how our days went--in and out, week after week, with
little break in routine.
Finally, one morning, I heard
a commotion outside my room. It sounded eerily familiar; the cracking of
rod on rod, and I decided to investigate. Opening my door quietly, I saw
my mentor locked in battle with a woman. A woman! Not knowing what
to do, I rushed out, grabbing up my rod as I did, and stepped into the melee.
Unfortunately, brash as I was, I still was not nearly as far along in my
training as I should have been. Within moments, I felt a rod on the back
of my knees, and I saw the ceiling. Before I could comprehend what had happened,
a rod was aimed at my throat.
Hearing a stern voice, I
shifted my eyes to where Shadowstar stood.
You realize you would
be dead now, were this actual combat?
I could only stare in shock...for
Shadowstar was just standing there, arms folded across his chest, as the
woman removed the rod from my vicinity.
I'd like you to meet my
wife. Sherrahn.
Still staring in openmouthed
shock, I slowly sat up.
P-pleased to meet
you...
Weeks went by. I soon learned
that Sherrahn had been on a journey to her past. She was of the Shecenicans,
and was called home to deal with some sort of problem. I never learned what
it was, as it wasn't my place to ask. My training advanced, and within several
years, I had almost equaled my teacher. It was at this time that I considered
setting out on my own once more. But before I could, the house was attacked.
I suppose it was goblins--I never learned their identity. Shadowstar and
I managed to fight them off, but the house was destroyed in the process.
Several days later, after retrieving and salvaging anything that could be
saved, they had decided to move on; to find some other land to live out their
lives in peace. As my mentor, Shadowstar advised me to stay, and find someone
else. As my friend, he asked me to join them; that he could hire me as a
bodyguard for his wife, for she was with child; and he would be perhaps unable
to be within easy distance at all times...he wanted someone to be available
nearby at all times. I decided to go with them, at least for a while. Life
resumed fairly normally, yet not. Eventually, the child was born to them...a
daughter. Naming her Myndi, after the goddess Myndia, I soon found myself
growing attached to the girl."
Inhaling deeply, looking
at his two companions, Gargen rests a moment, remembering, and allowing his
tale to sink in.
"I remained with them for
five more years, as the child's guardian. Myndi Shadowstar was a healthy,
strong-willed child. But she never looked the way of the warrioress; no,
she was always fascinated by the powers of the magi. Though I remained with
them only five years, I maintained contact. However, as I learned from Myndi
herself, through a tearstained letter several years later, both her parents
had been killed in a horrible earthquake that shattered the land. She claimed
someone caused the quake, and she, a child of but eight years, swore to me
she would find those responsible, and see justice done, however it may be."
Celec, beginning to wonder
at something, sits silently, half of him paying close attention, the other
half of him realizing the implications of what he is hearing. Tarah, however,
is alert, and curious, hearing so much about a man sharing the name of her
friend, who claims to be from the future.
"That was twelve years ago.
I have rarely heard from Myndi, though I've tried to maintain contact. In
the time between, I have taken on several apprentices. All are beyond me
now, and I am alone. Though I am not terribly old, I am older than I should
be--in my heart. You two are the first visitors I've had in weeks."
"So...you..." Celec begins.
"You knew...this...From what I learned from my teachings, you knew...that
was the man who started...the...he's the first of the Shadowstars..."
"I'm not sure I know what
you mean, but the first of the Shadowstars is Myndi. Shadowstar himself...that,
from what he told me, was a name he'd taken, due to something in his past.
Myndi, his daughter, is truly the first Shadowstar."
Celec is shocked into silence,
and just sits, thinking, noting the irony of it all. Here he is, sent back
to his past...he, the "last" of the Shadowstars...and he may well be able
to meet the first of his line. As he thinks, he becomes acutely aware of
a feeling of light headedness, and embraces it, unknowingly as he falls to
the floor, unconscious.
Interlude
The mists swirl, heavy and
dense, around the land. There is little of importance here, for "here" is
"no-where" and "everywhere" at once. The land is dark and gloomy, with little
light. In a vain parody of Kiele's own sun, a glowing orb does rest in the
sky's horizon. This orb glows with an unholy, unearthly light. lit by the
souls of all who have befallen the evil Lwarxiate for all time since Kiele
was created millenia ago. One touched by the light of this sun is instantly
bombarded by the minds and shrieks and torment of the souls of all those
damned to existence for all eternity here. For one pure of heart and sould
to enter here-- would ensure that they don't leave that way.
TELESZITE! WHAT TO YOU
TRY TO DO?!?
I SEEK ONLY TO SEE THAT
IN THE FUTURE, WHEN YOUR PLAN IS SET INTO MOTION, THAT YOU ARE READY TO TAKE
OVER THIS WORLD. EVEN NOW, MY RED STONE DRAWS OUT THE ANCIENT ENERGIES
OF KIELE. SOON, MY LEIGE, THEY WILL ENCOMPASS THE PLANET, LEAVING THE COUNTRYSIDE
AROUND GROUND CENTER OF A TORN, RAVAGED WASTELAND, AND WILL BE A HOMING
GROUND FOR YOUR MINIONS OF DARKNESS. THIS WILL LEAD THE WORLD INTO AN ERA
OF DARKNESS, IN WHICH YOUR INFLUENCE WILL PROVE MIGHTIER THAN THAT OF YOUR
BROTHER, KIEL'TIOMA. YOU SHALL BE MASTER OF ALL THAT WAS, AND EVER WILL BE!
AND WHAT OF THE MAGE,
CELEC SHADOWSTAR? I FEAR HIM. HE IS OBVIOUSLY AN AGENT OF GOOD, SENT BACK
TO THWART YOU IN YOUR GOALS...IN MY GOALS. KIEL'TIOMA ALWAYS HAS A
PLAN, AND WE WOULD DO WELL TO BE WEARY OF HIS AGENTS!
KIEL'TIOMA IS GONE, IN
MY TIME. SO ARE YOU--FOR THE PRESENT. BUT YOU NEARLY HAD THE WORLD IN YOUR
GRASP, AND IN TAKING IT BACK FROM YOUR CONTROL, KIEL'TIOMA AND THE
OTHERS LEFT THE WORLD, TO SEE THAT YOU DO NOT GET THAT CLOSE EVER
AGAIN. YOU LEFT ME, YOUR AGENT, TO SET A LONG-LAID PLAN INTO MOTION,
ACTIVATING A PORTAL THAT WOULD CONSUME THE WORLD'S ENERGIES, LEAVING IT IN
THE NETHERREALMS...!
AS FAR AS OUR PERCEPTION
OF TIME, THIS WILL OCCUR IN ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS. DUE TO THE PLANET'S
SIZE, AS WELL AS THE FORCES WORKING AGAINST IT, IT COULD NOT SIMPLY BE SHIFTED
INTO THE NETHERREALMS IN MY PRESENT. NO, IT BY THEN WAS IMBUED WITH FAR TOO
MUCH MAGIC TO HAVE THAT OCCUR. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU FIRST TOLD ME OF YOUR PLANS,
YOU GAVE ME TWO POWERFUL WEAPONS TO USE TO ASSIST THE 'TRANSFER'. ONE OF
THEM WAS THIS RED STONE.
I BATTLED MY HALF-BROTHER,
AREVAR, IN ORDER TO DRAW UPON HIS POWER AND ACTIVATE THE PORTAL, WHICH
IS THE KEY TO THE WORLD'S PLIGHT. ONCE ACTIVATED, IT NEED ONLY REMAIN IN
THE TIME PERIOD. SO, I PUT IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA OF DARKNESS,
OFF THE COAST OF LAREDIA, WHERE NO MORTAL COULD RETRIEVE IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE OTHER
GODS LEFT, LARCTUEN WAS LEFT BEHIND, AS NEUTRAL GUARDIAN OF KIELE. HOWEVER,
SHE HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED. SHE RECRUITED SIX "QUESTIORS" TO SEARCH OUT AND
RETRIEVE THE SIX ORBS OF POWER. CELEC SHADOWSTAR, DECENDENT OF THE
MAN WHO HELPED TO THWART YOUR PLANS ALONG WITH KIEL'TIOMA, RETRIEVED HIS
ORB, AND SENT IT TO NIRE WITH HIS COMPANION. ONCE THAT ORB WAS SAFELY
ON ITS WAY, LARCTUEN CAME TO CELEC, AND IMBUED HIM WITH EXTENSIVE MAGICAL
POWERS, THAT HE HAS YET TO UNDERSTAND AND CONTROL. SHE THEN SENT HIM BACK
TO THIS ERA, WHERE HE EVEN NOW BEGINS TO LEARN THE TRUTH OF OUR MISSION,
AND WILL TRY TO STOP US.
SO...THAT MEANS THAT WE
SIMPLY STOP HIM, AND OUR SUCCESS IS GUARANTEED IN THE 'FUTURE'?
VIRTUALLY...
KIELE WILL BE MINE,
THEN! I'LL NOT LET A PUNY MORTAL STAND IN MY WAY. I HAVE FOUGHT GODS
AND EMERGED VICTORIOUS! YOU, TELEZSITE, WILL REMAIN HERE, TO SEE THAT THIS
'PLAN' GOES THROUGH. I, MEANWHILE, SHALL TRAVEL TO Y0UR PRESENT, WHERE I
WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT MY INFLUENCE SWEEPS THROUGH THE LAND, PREPARING
THE WAY FOR MY ASCENSION TO POWER!
YOU WILL SEND MY THREE
WARRIORS OF EVIL TO DEAL WITH THE MAGE.
BUT...
DO IT!!!
YES, MY LEIGE...
The mists close in, swallowing
all in darkness. Even as the two celestial entities prepare to destroy the
young mage, a heavy darkness sets over the land. As the essense from the
realm's 'sun' begins to fade for the unholy period that is night in this
wretched realm, a light flares brightly for a moment, and the realm once
again unites with its eight counterparts, and the Netherrealms are
one once more...
Interlude II
The ground shudders, and
steam billows forth. The red stone, at work these several weeks, is finally
slowed, as it is given a new task. Glowing dim as an ember, then flaring
brightly, it summons into being three forms, forms that had not been seen
in a millenia, but feared none the less. As the god Lwarxiate demanded, his
three Warriors of Evil have been brought back.
Flaer. A master swordsman
of hellish proportions. This minion has yet to be bested in combat by sword,
and is feared by all. Seemingly engulfed at all times in flame, Flaer weilds
a sword of Darkflame, and a shield of fire.
Trogal. A brute by
nature, this entity is of an ancient cyclopean race, standing nearly fifteen
feet in height, with a tough hide that the sharpest arrows fail to penetrate.
Feared by many of the land-locked kingdoms, this giant walks once more.
Deume. As his name
suggests, this entity is the doom, and bane, of all that is holy.
A powerful sorcerous being, Deume has bested the mightiest wizards to walk
the mortal realms, and is a being of wondrous wizardric skills. Once set
on a course of action, nothing shall deter him.
Now, all three have a mission.
They are to bing much death and destruction to the realm, as well as destroy
the mage Celec Shadowstar.
T o B e C o n t i n u e d . . .
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