by Jason Jones
“That be’ith right little rodents, this is certainly no place for the faint of heart, not now.” Salah-Cam waved his swollen jointed bony finger at the rats as they ran.
His hole ridden black robes flowed with the breeze, hands paging through forbidden tomes he had gathered over many decades. The knowledges he had were stained with the blood and lives of countless souls. Some he had murdered of his own, but for most, he had mercenaries and thieves do the deeds for him. Book after book, tome after lost tome, and scrolls by the dozens, Salah-cam had collected all he needed to know to perform the darkest ritual, one that would let him exist forever like the black archmages of ancient times.
He itched his rusting runed skullcap, not that it could itch, but the habit and nervousness of being so close to finishing his mortal life's work had his insanity brimming more than was usual. The old sorcerer looked to his potions laid out around the smoking decanter filled with black liquid.
“Rejuvenating, yes. Healing of the flesh, just in case, yes. Mindsleep if the brain burns, yes, yes. And the potion of helixian dispel, should this go very, very poorly. Yes, all there.” He had reread the passages, taken stock, and made every preparation possible over the last week of incantations and rituals. Kendari was surely dead, Johnas Valhera his ally, and the trolls were not present. Salah Cam had the peace and quiet he needed to complete his last steps toward immortality.
His flesh was carved with symbols and designs of the arcane and unholy rites of infernal power and death. His skin could barely pump blood without pain. He had wished for the tomes of High Elven Magic, for any secrets they could add. The scroll of a long lost God may have helped, but he would find it soon enough and harness its powers. He was confident to begin his soon to be new life of eternity without such treasures. His chants to deep powers called from Mictalan, the lands of the dead, ran through his mind as if they were calling back. It was finished, he felt it time.
His old scrounged face looked back at himself in the mirror across the room, “Won’t be seeing you again!”
The crazy renegade wizard laughed maniacally at himself, knowing that he would be younger, stronger, and different, when the ritual was complete. Fear still held him, having also read plenty of histories he had stolen about wizards suffering terrible consequences for an improper ritual of this sort. Of course, anyone finding out what they intended to do usually resulted in them being hunted and killed for such atrocities. Most kingdoms and wizard organizations, let alone almost most every religion, did not tolerate a few hundred sacrifices for the long fermenting of blood, or invoking arcane energies of the hells and dead in order to give someone immortality. Salah-Cam had laughed to tears after reading the failed attempts of others in the stolen ledgers, mostly of what had been done to them leading up to execution. He put those thoughts aside, and lifted the decanter.
“Fiazhul, ferrosse, geth du dalthim oor em fiazhul!” The wretched wizard chanted the words of long lost and an otherworldly dead tongue. He sensed the smell of troll blood, but continued. He had ordered his trolls that remained here to stay to the swamps, no matter the reason, and not to disturb him in the crumbling tower this night. Salah-Cam, hearing nothing, assumed his senses were simply enhancing with the ritual, perhaps smelling further away than humanly possible already.
The words finished, having invoked their power eleven times over, and the wicked sorcerer lifted the decanter, heavy with swirling shadow and the blackened souls of hundreds, aged for years into a deadly dark liquid. To his lips it went. The liquid burned, yet tingled, smelling and tasting of the foulest rot and sweetest wine all at once. His eyes darted upward, seeing something in the mirror move, and then the decanter fell from his hands, the remaining half of the liquid splattering with the shattered glass all over the table.
Salah-Cam felt the burn and saw the end of a smoldering longsword under his chin, protruding from his chest. He yelled, a scream of terror the whole of the swamp could have heard. He stepped forward as the blade withdrew, feeling his heart slowing already, but not wishing to remain impaled. His left hand burned with arcane energy, then was gone at the elbow, cut off from another weapon. The pain was almost nonexistent, yet his arcane powers fizzled to the ground with the severed arm. His other arm flashed with a glow of protection, beginning to bring a spell to bear. It too, was chopped off from a hot cut of a longblade.
Another slash of steel sliced through the back of his thighs to the bone, dropping the wizard to his knees, and then the ground. He feigned more pain than he truly felt, knowing the elixir had started.
Kendari looked down at his former employer, and the mess of blood, smoke, and arms that lay about. He glared, green eyes staring down, full of hate and revenge. His clothing and armor were torn and full of claw marks, covered and smelling of green-black troll blood, and the Nadderi elf sheathed his off hand weapon. His face and forearms were scratched and scabbed over. The cursed swordsman looked around the room and at the table.
“You should be dead! How is this possible?!' Salah-Cam squirmed, helpless and bleeding from cuts and severed limbs.
Kendari looked at one of the potion vials and picked it up. “Healing of the flesh? Bet you would like this one right now.” The elf drank it, and watched as his wounds healed somewhat, scabs turning to faint scars. His body was still exhausted and stiff from fighting and travel.
“Don’t! I need those! Trolls! Help me! They will kill you, slowly I hope!” More twisting, attempting to use the table to stand with his stumps, and falling back to the floor and into his own pooling blood.
“Already dead, all of them. Yes, the ones downstairs as well. Hmmm, it says Rejuvenation? You could use some rejuvenating it looks like. Let me test it for you.” The elf drank another vial, feeling like he had rested for a week as it went down, just that fast.
“Mmmmmm. That was delicious.” He cut across the table with Shiver, breaking everything else that remained in one swing of his blade.
“Nooooo!” Salah Cam screamed as every vial and potion, some decades in the preparation, shattered and spilled to the floor.
Kendari grinned and bent over him close, “Oh yes.”
“My arcane powers will see you destroyed, over and over, until you beg for mercy Kendari! Mark my words, bastard!” He spit at the cursed assassin, twice, and tried to stand, falling again.
“I seem to be difficult to kill, Salah, and you seem to have no arms. I wouldn’t place any coin on that bet, if I were you. Tell your friends in Valhirst for me.” Kendari stood over the wizard that had betrayed him, unsmiling, unmerciful, uncaring.
“The White Spider will find out, they will hunt you down! Nowhere you go will be safe, I will make sure of it! Your days are over, elf! You may be still walking and breathing, but a corpse in waiting is all I see! You, my cursed assassin, are finished!” Salah felt the magic of the ritual doing something, he was not dying, but unable to get past his injuries, despite the fact that the pain had been dulled greatly.
“You are still here? Let me see if I can help you to your dark destination, old friend.” Kendari stepped closer.
“You have betrayed me, and my allies are now many! This night has sealed your fate, worse than your cursed face already has! You are doomed, my---”
The heated blade in his hand cut across faster than the eye could have seen, being sheathed before the head hit the floor, skullcap clattering across the stone. Kendari of Stillwood turned his back, and slowly walked away.
“Not even close.”
The Siddoran Pantheon
Yjaros, God of Gods, He who judges from the green moon, Father of all forty four heavenly bodies, Ruler of Gimmor, the Three-Eyed king of angels, the only true God, the vengeful one, God of the chosen men of Altestan, He who created His three immortal children from ordained divine power
Megos, The guardian of Carice, the white moon, father of the Caricians, Lord of magicks, moonlight, and thought, Master of Marthentine, the beacon which guides man’s soul to the Heavens, He whose hand was ta
ken by God, his father
Seirena, The first Mother, Lady of Siddora, the creator of mortal life, Mother of the Fey, Mistress of the Beymere, Mother of the Caricians and the Nochtilians, Sister of Megos, She whose eye was taken by God, her father
She that Cannot Be Named, Sister of Megos and Seirena, She who corrupted life, She that was worshipped in Shadows, the jealous one, Mother of the Gimmorians, Mistress of Curses and Voices, She that was banished for eternity by God, her father, and her name stripped from known existence
The Forty Four Immortal Children
The Nochtilians
The Eleven Firstborn, the children of Yjaros and Seirena, those that blackened the second sun, those that scorched the earth, they that inherited the Hells for their defiance of God
Shukuru, The Lord of the Underworld, The King of Angels and firstborn of Yjaros, the dark prince, the Fire of God, Lord of demons and the Nochtilians, Ruler of Infiernum, the eighth Hell
Cancuru, Keeper of the endless chasm, Lord of the Abyss, King of madness and immortal exile, He who lost his sanity with banishment from God, Ruler of immortal imprisonment and the eternal screams of the damned
Mowg, Lord of the dead, guardian of Mictalan, King of the wandering lands of the afterlife, He who walks no more, the Judge and Herald of souls
Forcas, The lost one, the unforgiveable, He who pleads with God, the demon of regret, He who writes the names in the flesh, the dark lord of Lake Holavis, the seventh Hell
Zafiel, Lord of the endless maze of judgement, the holder of resentments, the flog of the damned, the whip and the hatred of God, Ruler of Nirakas, the first Hell
Yomyae, The Mother of deceit, the first daughter, the deceiver, the tortures of endless pains, the sister of chains and blood, Ruler of Khupashe, city of the flayed, the fifth Hell
Vasariah, She that floats on the mountain of skulls, the wandering second daughter of God, the damned that hunts the damned, the witch of splendors and sacrifice, the demoness of recorded deeds and sins, the taker and eater of heads and souls, She that is unwelcomed
Ussiel, Lord of bloodshed, the warlord of internal fire and pain, General of demons, He who warred upon God and the green moon, King of the frozen dead, Ruler of Jahanin, the sixth Hell
Typhon, The Lord of murder, demon of hatred and wrath, He who murders in the night, He who leaves the victims upon the rock of judgement, Ruler of Mount Adiyu, the second Hell
Theronus, The Preacher of the Unholy, the voice against God and his angels, King of the seas of mistruth, Chancellor of the damned, Lord of the drowning burned, Ruler of The Sea of Usheole, the third Hell
Sarrael, Guardian of the Nochtilians, Lord of Purgatory and flame, the betrayer of God, He who kills for glory, He who kills for lust, the teacher of the damned in the burning blood desert, Ruler of Abbitos, the fourth Hell
The Gimmorians
The Twenty Six born of Yjaros and She That Cannot Be Named, divided thirteen and thirteen, rulers and judges of all life, guardians of Gimmor, those that wait for the return of God
The Thirteen Holy Judges
Rumac, He who decides upon deaths, the eldest Gimmorian, the one who guards Gimmor for God, the holder of the sword of God and the skeletal crown
Pirasiel, The hand of truth, the patriarch of justice, He who fashioned the crown from the hand of Megos for God
Orius, The Gimmorian Lord of piety of loyalty, He who judges the weight of honor, He who holds the truths meant for the ears of God
Moleretes, Ruler of motion of the Immortal Realms, monitor of time and stars, seer of shadows and the eclipse, He who presides over the months and years
Liliandre, She who watches over the unborn, patron of childbirth, protector of mothers, guardian of the sacred pact, summoner of fate upon the newborn child
Arabashiel, Guardian of the cursed, She who held secrets from God, the two faced angel of whispers and retributions, keeper of mortal deeds and accursed places before God, She that betrayed Mowg and the dark Mother, exiled and lost
Varrivis, Ruler of winter and the times of death and rebirth, She who watches for fate and intervenes, Queen of seasons and homage, keeper of tithes to God
Iuvarte, Keeper of the great halls of the green moon, Guardian of Gimmorian virtue, singer to Altestan, blessed of God and the heavens, He that sings for angels
Gourses, The Sword of God, the right hand of Yjaros and the sacred flame, General of the righteous armies of the green moon, He who wanders the realms in search of God, He who sings of God to all
Estaretes, The Duke of air, the senses, laughter, and false prophets, He who finds pleasure in the wind and humor in man, the annoyance of Yjaros, the judge of weakness in men
Pahadra, She that called the dragons to slaughter, she who handed the blades for the hunt, the ruler of savage beasts, Mistress of the kill, declarer of deeds that are deserving of Gods glory, the huntress and patron of great creatures
Crocell, He who is silent unto the dead, the executioner of Gods Will, the one who must strike the impurity from the unclean, King of the last judgement, He who brings fear from the words of God
Babulam, The patron angel of laws and rulership, the Lord of kings and monarchies, He who watches the blood that passes from men, the angel of generations, King of the crown and scepter
The Thirteen Throne Angels
Qursaan, She that dictates the laws of God to the unworthy, the Arbitrator of Gimmor, the Mistress of the Holy Words
Naphilimi, Queen of the sacred touch, She that knows truth and lie with a gentle hand, Lady of free will among mortals, She that speaks without effort, the sympathizer of mortals
Murmar, The Spear of God, He that forgives with steel, the General of Gimmor, the one sent for claiming of the blood upon the earthen soils, He that takes the tributes offered to Yjaros
Mulcibre, He that has built the Holy Land, the Architect of Gimmor, carver of thrones and stone, master of steel and flames in the night
Kasdae, Master of wishes and dreams, He that twists fate and manipulates immortals and mortals alike, the passionate nightmare, He who spins webs and words with sorcery
Jaffiq, Queen of lusts and carnal desire, She that tempted angels, She that was chained and prized by God, the Queen of desire and breaker of piety in men, She that burned the cities of the impure and unworthy
Ahrmaal, Prince of the hidden city, the conspirator, husband to the dark sister of the fey Naddera-xin, fairy king of the goblyns, Lord of the Arimogant, the Gimmorian city of souls and dark deeds, He who watches for Yjaros from below
Imalius, the King of Tears, the Ruler of sadness, loss, regret, and pain, He that felt the scorn of mortal love, and has tragedy burned into his flesh by God, Lord of neverending memory
Shashiel, The angel of rest, meditation, sleep, and mortality, He who sleeps the seasons, Lord of the living dreams, King of stars and slumber, He who seeks peace with God
Hutriel, The Keeper of flocks, Guardian of the gathered, He who watches the pack, the flock, and the city, King of manners and rights, the Shepard of Gimmor, Lord of the beasts and traditions
Mychielis, The Blade of Gimmorian Law, He that smites angels and devils, Watcher of passage through the realms divine, He who speaks the wrongs of others, the enforcer of Yjaros
Gebrilune, She that guards the temples, the Lady of Holy Ground, the Queen of consecrations, She who walks behind God and blesses the steps, the protector of prophets and blessed children
Raviel, He who has sung for God, the creator of ingenuity, Patron angel of the creative mind and harmonious heart, the King of melodies and hymns to the One True God
The Caricians
Seven secretly born of Megos and Seirena in forbidden love, and thus cursed and exiled by Yjaros to dwell beyond the white moon, in the shadow of God
Solumet, Lord of the sun, the King of the sky, eldest of the Caricians, He who fought Shukuru and Cancuru upon the fires of Hell, Lord of Teotopa, the fifth Heaven, exiled and lost
Siril, Lord of the forest
s, the arts, song, celebration, Father of the fey and elves, Lord of dreams and stars, Lord of Elysia, the second Heaven
Vundren, The mountain lord, the pious and devoted father of the dwarves and crafts, the silent watcher of deeds, King of Mount Maonell, the fourth Heaven
Haddius, Lord of seas, oceans, rivers, and of the storms, King of raging winds and quiet rains, Lord of the first Heaven, Oasis, where pure souls find eternal shelter, exiled and lost
Vasentanessa, The Lady of serpents, of pleasures and love, the Queen of oaths and peace, Mistress of the unseen, Mother of bliss, protector of women and childbirth, Ruler of Paradine, the third heaven
Annar, The strength of Carice, the fist of justice, Lord of mortal might, protector of the Caricians, He who gave his immortal soul for his brother Alden, ruler of the sixth Heaven, Castle Gihrasa, exiled and lost
Alden, The Lord of mercy and mankind, the Father of purity and innocence, He who gave his body to be desecrated by the Nochtilians, He who sacrificed himself for angels and men and rose once more, the Lord of the feathered cross of Agara, He whose wings were torn by the wicked children of Yjaros, the Ruler of the Gardens of Fanrabon, the seventh Heaven