The world is a dark place, full of nothing but man's hatred of other men. My existence was born out of spite, a brutal rape by a Tyrant Bloodline of Almrind, he was once a great person, with much future ahead of him, not that he didn't achieve that future...I found him one day and removed all his memories, all of them.

However we will move past that for now: This is my Story: Valde Grymuster; Dark Wizard of all the worlds. My rise to power starts on the day that a pathetic King fails to protect his own Daughter... the day he fails to pay me properly for my duties saving her; I was 10 at the time...

The market place is full on this day, one of the last of the Harvest: I have been sent with scroll in hand to the centre of the Market place to offer Princess Muldriff and her entourage my master's services on the long hard press through Orc territory. I am Acknowledged as I approach. "My I help you young man?" the incompetent Guard asks I approach (although at such an Impressionable Age you could actually admire such of these brutish kind) I pull out the scroll which I had preread as to proclaim it "The Wizard Thormael offers his services to the Royal Family through the Evil warlord Territories" to all of our surprise the Princess herself answers from the back of her Carriage "Tell your master that we would be honoured for him to join us..." she quickly scrawls a note and hands it to the apparent leader of her Guard who in turn passes it to me. I nod my head which for me has always been the equivalent of a bow and step away; as soon as I leave the market place I undo the ribbon which binds the note to my master and read it;

Dear Thormael the Wise.

I thank you for offering your services and look forward to seeing you later in the 'morrow; father will be happy to see you.

Princess Elizabeth Muldriff.

I scoff at this; It had been my own personal Idea to escort the Princess; hoping as reward to gain access to the great Libraries that reside in Gaud; Old knowledge from Kingdoms long past presides there; magics beyond the most Wild Imagination. I role the paper back to original scrolled form and make sure to tie the ribbon back round into the revoltingly pretty bow.

* * *

I return back to my master's home; my home for the last 5 years of my life. I slept beneath the stairs in the main room which lead up to Thormael's Room; full with its overpowering perfumes that sometimes flowed out from under his door when he had managed to pick up some more of his loose women; he was pitiful old fool who was more concerned with pleasures and powers of your everyday Noble... he lived a fine life and always had everything he ever wanted.

"What took you so long boy?" he snapped from his alchemist station. "I require sustenance!" he yells slamming his hand on the table; knocking over an uncapped vial which spills its contents onto the floor...or at least it would if I hadn't just cast Prestidigitation to keep it just off the ground. "Your meal will come soon mi'Lord..." I say hiding my anger... he was never good at reading me; yet I viewed him as plain as sight itself.

"...also her Highness Princess Muldriff has instructed me to bring this to you." passing the letter to the old fool, who snatches it away from me with the slightest hint of contempt...which is more than enough for me to feel. He thinks it is but a whisper on the wind but I hear it as the most thunderous of stormy nights... "Very well.... Valde; pack your things we are headed to Gaud with Her Highness tomorrow"

Somehow I knew at the time that this would be a turning point in my life...