The Tyrant Lord of Nightmares walks the earth free.
The Harbinger of the Inferno.
The Destroyer of Dreams.
The Dread Hierarch of Nightmares.
Thy name feared, spoken to bring the depths of the Darkfire Hells.
Vulmek.
Their very presence poisons the land with the echoes of fear and terror that encroach upon the hopes of our realms. A bloody swath has been carved throughout the land, mercilessly killing and corrupting all in their wake.
Misguided fools worship the Dark God and plead for sanctuary, only for their souls to fall into hollow darkness.
The Great Cities of Klatez in the isles of the Gulf of Endemes were scarred by the Nightmare’s sky, the Kingdom of Ra’Uran disappeared to the dark mists of dusk, the Mage City of Wez-Nijanti—my home—burned to ashes in hellfire, the Duke of Geurwich chose the vampiric grip of sanguine shadows to lead legions of blood fallen in the Nightmare’s name. Too many more atrocities to count.
It is this devastation that I shall kill all in my path to end their influence.
I have been given purpose—nay, a charge to avenge the death of my loved ones.
A charge, given by the Arch-Angel of Dreams from Heaven’s Silver Sky.
The Dreamweaver Izktaai descended from the holy heavens by the prayer’s call for salvation. The great Arch-Angel brought us together as the Akhadraz to defeat the Tyrant Lord of Nightmares. We, the most powerful and wise across the lands, band as one and as taught by heaven’s magi-warrior. Our knowledge, our power, our training by the Dreamweaver unlocked our potential.
Yet such an unholy evil the Nightmare not only disturbed heaven but also the celestial Grovekeeper of Quiescentia, Tzosglade the Star Tide and its oceanic Spirit Realm. By Tzosglade’s will of nature did the druids from the sacred Lost Forests join us and share their knowledge of purgation to destroy the corruption of the Tyrant Lord of Nightmares. Together, of holy sky and sacred earth, will we banish the unholy hellfire that rises forth and ravages our world.
Yet…
I do not trust them.
Such beings can’t move freely between the planes since the end of the ancient cataclysm named the Tides of Chaos. Often powerful magicks are exercised over the ages and grand sacrifices are made for such powerful demi-ethereal beings to enter the mortal plane.
How many were made for the two beings, I must ask…
… and will it be worth it?
They are the hammer to bring back balance to this world but many more questions plague my mind. Why do they claim to care about our salvation when they ignored the prayers against mass plagues and famine? They saw us mortals as a side effect, worth only so much as a glance. Why do they see fit to recruit us instead of stealing our souls to be reforged into their armies for the Immortal Conflict as it was before? When did the ancient disdain between Heaven’s Silver Sky and the Tourmaline Trance of Quiescentia cease as it was? Why do they dare to claim themselves as our masters when the truth of their existence would tear their religions asunder?
The knowledge would see my soul obliterated.
For the purposes of worldly sanctuary, we must stand united.
And so I must accept them.
For now.
“Is something the matter,” Izktaai spoke with a supernal voice as she hovered over with six ghostly wings, gazing with a myriad of silver eyes, “Mauliphas Val?”
Mauliphas watched the sky that burned with webs of fire as a dark sun radiated over the sandy desert. “Nothing, Dreamweaver.”
“Please, call me Izktaai.” She gestured with her silver gauntlets.
“Hm.” Mauliphas crossed his arms as his amber and crimson robes melded together. “How long until we cross the Tyrant of Terror?”
“Three days until we enter the domain of Nahekraal.” Izktaai’s shadowed visage raised towards the sky. “Though the Tyrant of Terror is but a high patron of the Nightmare, we should not underestimate the shadow they cast as they stand as an almighty ruler.”
“I know full well the horror a Tyrant can unleash, their power is legendary even compared to a Tyrant Lord as the lesser great evils. Yet I wonder, what could have brought such beings onto our plane?” Mauliphas raised his gnarled staff. “Despite the unification and sacrifices of heretics, cultists, and warlocks oft not bringing many powerful.”
“Beyond the living energy of flesh and blood and the essence of the soul, overwhelming power can cast those from one plane to another. As you know, from spatial deliverance.” From Izktaai’s palm came a small circle traced by energy. “A portal is only as powerful as its roots.”
From the portal in her palm came a glowing metal dove with three heads.
The dove cooed as it fluttered onto Mauliphas’ shoulder. Mauliphas shooed it away with his hand and the dove landed on Izktaai’s hood.
“I need not an avian to soil my blood robes.” Mauliphas swept his shoulder. “I forged it with my life.”
Izktaai chuckled. “It is only a trained dove from heaven’s aviaries.” Izktaai gently brushed its head with one finger.
“Light chicken or not, I do not want dirty animals on me.” Mauliphas cleared his throat. “For such power to bring the Dark Lord of Nightmares to our plane must have been a shadowy plot of many elites and countless lessers…”
“It is possible.” Izktaai said as the dove flew off. “Or it could be the power of one.”
Impossible, not even I nor the arch-wizards dream of this despite our wondrous might.
“It could even be a sinister shift.” Izktaai said. “The powers that vie in the circles of hell could have seen Vulmek banished to the mortal realms.”
What, that couldn’t be the case… could it?
“A quarrel between the dark tyrant lords?”
“It is possible.” Izktaai’s mood darkened. “Or the unthinkable, a new one rises.”
A dark chill ran up Mauliphas’ body, his stoic demeanor ever so slightly shivered.
There are rumors of a new deity, but I haven’t played attention to hearsay. The celestial planes remain obscure realms…
“Only time will tell.” Izktaai peered into Mauliphas’ eyes. “For now, we must focus on the present.”
“It is important to ponder the causes now to best prepare for them, is it not?” Mauliphas stared into the shaded face of the angel and four silver glowing eyes while ignoring the many on her body. “The unholy enters the realm as the holy moves against them along aside the sacred.” Mauliphas leaned in. “Tell me, Izktaai, what brought you into the mortal realm? It could serve against them.”
Izktaai held her voice for a split second, enough for Mauliphas to distrust her.
“As I whispered my warnings from heaven, the devout deemed to summon me. The Pope of Lum-Sapi-Cele and the Cardinals combined their powers of light to manifest my being from the many faithful.” Izktaai said.
“From the many faithful?”
“The masses of souls and their prayers pierced the veil that separates us.” Izktaai raised her hand. “I wish they would not sacrifice themselves so.”
“Hm?”
“To be so reckless with such feeble fragility.” Energy drained from Izktaai’s eyes like tears. “Though we all love thou’s venerations by the kindling flames from your souls, why do such trifling vessels such as yours oft wish to partake in conflict and beyond instead of using your souls for better?” Izktaai shook her head. “Surely such a fleeting existence and frailty warrants the survival of the self? To live with what little they have with what love we can give?” Izktaai looked to Mauliphas. “Please excuse me, when one lives for as long as we have with hearts of the light, one becomes curious at the meaningless acts and incessant squabbles between mortals.”
And this is how they see us, casting their gaze below our wishes, dreams, and sacrifices.
“Understand that we have ambitions and such ambitions may involve the sanctuary of others at the cost of themselves.” Mauliphas subtly bit his cheek. “Yet they certainly did waste their talents, did they?”
We mortals change unlike the celestials, and we will be their downfall.
“And ambitions of destruction as equal to ambitions for sanctuary.” Izktaai nodded. “For their sacrifices: it was indeed a waste, I yet only manifest as a spectre from between the planes and like a candle they were extinguished. At least, there are still many of you all.”
I will direct all away from the dark light of the celestials.
“It is enough for you to marshal us as the Akhadraz to banish the Lord of Nightmares.” Mauliphas peered at the archangel. “We welcome your knowledge and skill.”
And we shall use them.
I shall use them.
I will avenge my loved ones.
Zelastar 