Author's Note.
This was originally written as a kind of movie script. I felt like the homm5 campaign had a lot of potential but the characters were quite flat. I've added more life to them, even though the storyline will adhere to the one of Homm5, there are new characters, new twists and better character development. I hope I've done a good job. Please, enjoy reading and as always leave a review. Tell me what you thought, what I could improve.
Chapter 1- The Promise
Deep in the caverns of hell, the sky is red bubbling over with fire and blood. Ghastly orange fumes break from the "sky" Nonetheless, the immense fire burning around the rim of this world does not bring light with its heat. The world is still very dark but not silent. The ground is black, ashy and charcoal like littered with cracks and fissures were lava flows ooze and black smoke arises. Deep inside the throne room of the demon sovereign himself, stands Kha Beleth, the King of Demons looking out a window seeing banners in the distance. He turns away to face his court. The court is elegant for something in hell. It has frescos of Kha Beleth killing and casting down demon overlords, it has black roman style columns and the throne itself is one carved out of flesh and ash. Kha Beleth himself is a daunting figure among his court. He stands over 25 feet tall, decked in armor from head to foot. . He wears a large crimson cape with a golden outline. His cape is secured to his neck and shoulders by large spiked covering. These spikes protrude outward from his neck and chest and extend 9 inches or so. The pauldrons are encrusted with large rubies and over blood red jewels. His helm is almost entirely showing only some details as the helm splits in half and reveals his eyes. His eyes gleam orange and amber while his forehead has the insignia of the upside down pentagram. His crown is made of charred coal, burning ambers and red spikes. His gauntlets are covered by black chainmail. Kneeling in front of him is Agrael. No less terrifying but much shorter. Standing at 6, 5 he is completely covered in tough, bright red shell like armor that overlaps itself. His forehead also bears the upside down pentagram, his pauldrons and elbows have spikes that stick outward a foot or so impaling anyone that could get to close. His helm reveals a hint of those reddish/orange gleaming eyes. The demon sovereign begins to speak. His voice is dark, deep and heavy.
Demon Sovereign: Agrael, I have lost my servant of chaos on Ashan and I have selected you as my new aide. You had to step on many other demons' hopes, and execute hundreds of those who stood in your way. Your massacre of the camp at Ur-Sezzan was done with much vengeance in your flame and blood on your hands. Your slaves never complain and your enemies don't live to fear you. You are more than worthy to serve on Ashan. After all those years of being one of the highest in my demonic council you have finally gotten a reward that has come with hard work and plenty of blood being spilled.
Agrael: Thank you my lord, I hope to repay your kindness with the blood that you will demand from the inferiors at our gates.
Demon Sovereign: The armies of Men, Elves and Mages do not bring fear to me.
Agrael: Nothing can bring to fear to you my lord!
Demon sovereign: They bring fear to no one, they think they can stop us, Agrael. Fools, I struck down the weak demon overlords, I cast away Urgash, I have defied fate and destiny! So glorious I am, Agrael, truly. The pathetic mortals see me as a villain, but I am a God.
Agrael: A powerful god.
Demon Sovereign: Indeed Agrael. They will try to fight us, but they will lose.
Agrael: I yearn to feed the King's head to the cerberi.
The demonic court bellows in laughter and roars.
Demon Sovereign: I know you would, and you can. But I have a grander task for you. There is a little girl growing up in the Griffin Empire, her name is Isabel. There you will watch over her, protect her, she must grow up sound and strong, and a virgin.
Agrael: A virgin? Hardly your type my lord.
Demon Sovereign: You would be surprised, Agrael.
Agrael: My Lord, I wish to remain here and fight for you.
Demon Sovereign: No.
Agrael: My lord,
Demon sovereign: No! This task is greater than you could ever imagine. It means everything, and will change everything. The King and his knights have come here, to my citadel-Ur-Hekal, to cast me down into the jaws of Urgash, I have seen it in the darkness Agrael. Where most find nothing, I can see into the future I can reach into the consciousness of mortals. Alexi will die, and so will his prime Knights. Cyrus and Alaron will flee when he needs them the most and I will retain victory once more over the mortal races.
Agrael: My Lord, they have the citadel surrounded. How will I journey to Ashan?
Demon sovereign: A meticulous task like that is below someone like I. Figure it out yourself, in fact, think of it as the initiation as my right hand man.
Agrael: But what if I fail, I would not want your will disrupted my lord.
Demon sovereign: I would not have picked you, if I would have foreseen your failure. Never question my judgement again.
Agrael: Of course my lord.
In the dead of night, wind rustles quietly through the branches of the great pine trees of the forest. In the distance a stone walled city. Snow flakes sparsely descend to the ground from the night sky. The glow of silver moonlight reveals the numerous torn banners and destroyed peasant huts in the plain outside the city. Agrael walks toward this city. He unrolls a scroll and whispers to himself,
Agrael: Hmmm, Southwind. What a stupid name for a city….
Incinerating the scroll in his hand he walks closer to the city.
Agrael: Blasted cold! I'd kill that cur of a child for making me travel this long and cold road if my master would permit. Ah, but he needs the little wench.
Agrael draws his staff. The staff is nearly as long as he is. It is scarlet coloured. Near the top of the staff is the engraved visage of a screaming skull, at the very top is a little flicker of dark fire. It is two pronged. Throughout the horrible staff there are spikes protruding out at certain sections. With one tap on the ground he is within town walls. He appears right in front of a guard, whom he spears through the chest. The guard looks up at the towering Agrael. His eyes reveal and expression of surprise and pain. Agrael slowly ejects his staff from the guard making sizzling sounds as the guard is burned from the inside. Blood seeps from the mouth and nose of the guard. Agrael yanks out the staff, leaving the guard dead on the ground. He nonchalantly kicks him aside and moves forward alongside the wall.
Agrael: Where is she then?
Agrael's gleaming amber eyes fixate on the tavern across from him. Another tap of the staff and he turns into a shade. His figure is transparent, but black shadows sliver and crawl around his body. Another tap and he's inside a tavern. The tavern is rambunctious. People dance and drink and laugh as music plays by instruments or minstrels. Drunk men hit their flagons to together spilling much of the liquid and drink. Mercenaries discuss contracts with potential clients and some have passed out on the floor. Agrael's shade takes a seat right beside two older, tipsy men. The two men are men with many flagons at their side, some standing up, other tipped over, their skin on their faces is dried up, and they have no facial hair or much hair on their head. Their voices are raspy and they are quiet drunk.
Drunkard 1: Oh, when did it get so cold in here?
Drunkard 2: You just feel that too? Oh, well look at that. There she is again by the fireplace. Stupid little brat.
Camera shows a cute little girl, hair and clothes ragged. Her nails are chipped and her hands littered with cuts. She is fast asleep. Her cheeks are rosy and her skin is white as snow. She is about 6 years old.
Drunkard1: She gets free drinks and we don't! That ain't fair.
Drunakrd2: Aye, but the tavern keeper won't let her stay here forever. The begging is driving all the customers.
Drunkard1: It's not just that. She's a bad omen I tell you.
The first drunkard tells his friend to lean in closer so he can deliver the whisper
Drunkard1: Her, mother, she got raped at knife point. She didn't want the child, but the city priest enforced the law. Mother was sneaky though, met up with someone who would do the process for her for 2000 gold. Of course it was actually a member of town guard. She was arrested and the poor wench gave birth in prison.
Drunkard2: Didn't she have a family?
Drunkard1: Aye. The husband disowned her, refusing to have a criminal as a wife. And his 2 sons, they weren't ready to share part of their home, their name with a half-sister born of criminal's consummation.
Drunkard2: Now that's dark tale. I'd wager she needs the hard liquor more than we do!
The two bellow with laughter and knock their flagons together
Drunkard1: I ain't a superstitious man, but anything that comes out of a raped women is something pure evil.
Drunkard2: Liars and murderers they all are. They may a place with Elrath, but they've got no place here.
Drunkard1: You're right. Let's get out of here. Bartender! Your ale is good, but the little wench needs to go!
Most of the tavern roars in agreement. The little child awakes. Most of the tavern screams at her telling her to get out. She appears confused and begins to cry. The bartender walks over to the girl and pulls her by the ear. The little girl struggles with the bartender's arm but is easily overpowered. He opens the tavern door and throws her out into the cold. The tavern cheers in happiness.
Drunkard 3: Who needs the brat anyways! Hurrayy!
Tavern: Hurray!
The screen pans over to Agrael's shade, his breathing becomes heavier and the shadows around his body begin to turn into flames and burn more intensely. He stands up and taps his staff once. He becomes visible. The first drunkard rubs his eyes to make sure he's not seeing things. First there is absolute shock. Then violence. Agrael uses his staff and from it expels streams of molten fire. The drunkards in the tavern scream as the burn alive. Agrael jumps from one side to the other stabbing and cutting the tavern goers in half. The building is alive with fire. Agrael grabs one man and carbonizes him, another attacks him with a fork. Agrael grabs the fork and cuts the head of the man who tried to assail him. Men passed out on the floor wake up to be covered in flames, others try pouring drinks on themselves to stop the spread of fire. Other hide in the furnace that was once a tavern. Both attempts are futile as Agrael finds them and spears them to death, seamlessly dragging flesh and bones and skin with every strike of the horrible staff. A mercenary attempts to attack Agrael. The mercenary swings the one handed axe quickly, Agrael's superior reflexes spirals and ducks and sidesteps the mercenary's axe, hunting for just one cut at him. Agrael tires of this game and grabs the axe arm. He squeezes so hard that the veins in the arm begin to pop and slowly bone begins to crack under the skin. The mercenary screams. Agrael silences him by taking the axe and splitting the mercenary in half, slowly and sadistically making the man into two pieces. One drunkard tries desperately to open the burning door until Agrael spears him through the chest. The second drunkard wanders around the maze of fire. His friends are covered in flames, others by blood. The drunkard bumps into the imposing Agrael.
Drunkard2: Please, please don't hurt me.
Agrael: What do you know about little Isabel?
Drunkard2: Who's Isabel?
Agrael grabs him by the throat and beings to squeeze so hard that bone begin to crack.
Agrael: The little girl!
Drunkard2: She doesn't have a name yet! No one gave her a name!
Agrael: My lord must have foreseen here naming, what astonishing power he has…
Drunkard2: Who is your lord anyways?
Agrael: You'll be meeting him. And so will all these men at this damned tavern tonight are I'm through.
Drunkard2: NO! Please!
Agrael uses both hands and snaps the spine in the drunkard's neck. Agrael leaps behind the counter and rummages through the items. He holds 2 bottles of ale and pulls a ham of a plate.
From the inferno that was the tavern, the little girl stands shivering in an alleyway. A blanket descends down on the little girl. She turns around to see no one. She looks forward to find a bundle of sticks a small fire and a plate with ham and a bottle of whiskey. Without thinking too much she digs in. Agrael's shade looks on from the shadows hearing the noises of a starving child devouring and drinking. The well feed little girl is now sleeping over the shoulder of Agrael. Agrael stops in front of a house, the name on the door says "Beatrice Thorncrown"
Agrael: Sounds good enough.
Agrael teleports inside the house with the little girl. He places the girl on the floor and turns himself into a shade. The house is long as there is one long living room. It's a wooden house, with a long table in the middle. Tables and chairs are numerous as well as the banners of the Griffin and the Greyhound. Agrael roars as loud as he can. The girl wakes up immediately in a state of confusion. Loud footsteps are heard coming down the stairs. A young woman, still in her grey sleeping garments, with a candle stick and dagger appears in the living room.
Beatrice: How did you get in here?
The little girl speaks for the very first time, her voice is quiet, soft and angelic in tone.
Little Girl: I don't know.
Beatrice: You don't know? She puts down her dagger
Beatrice: Where are your mummy and daddy?
Little Girl: I don't know. I don't have one.
Beatrice: Who are you?
Little Girl : I don't have a good name. People at the tavern call me brat, little wench, filth.
Beatrice: You don't deserve those names.
Little Girl: Beatrice, I don't want to be mean, but it's cold outside. Can I stay with you?
Beatrice feeling so much pity kneels down and hugs Isabel.
Beatrice: Of course you can stay with me. From now on, I think I'll call you, Isabel.
Agrael's gleaming amber eyes illuminate with the realization
Little Girl: I like that name, Beatrice. Thank you.
Beatrice picks up little Isabel and walks away,
Beatrice: Oh Isabel, an angel must have brought you to me.
Agrael stands there now visible.
Agrael: An angel! Ha! I'd rather be excrement than be one of those nasty birds. Pig headed mortal.
The scene changes again to Isabel, very happy and healthy playing with Beatrice in the apple orchard. She is gorgeous, fattened, rosy cheeked little girl wearing a small pearl white dress.
Little Isabel: Lift me higher Beatrice! Higher!
Lifts her higher, drops and catches her. Isabel starts to laugh.
Agrael: Hardly entertaining….
Scene reverts to when Isabel is a bit older and sick sleeping in her bed. Her forehead is very red. Agrael looks over Isabel.
Agrael: I can only do this once so I better get this right.
Puts his hand on Isabel's forehead and his hand turns black but it looks as if Isabel's health has improved.
Agrael: (looking at his hand with disgust) what do I do with this?
Isabel`s dog enters and starts barking uncontrollably at him.
Agrael: Here you asked for it.
Agrael extends his hand and diseases the dog becoming very quiet.
Agrael: You`re going to be fine, doesn`t your kind have 9 lives? Or is that lizards?
After Agrael is walking invisibly with Isabel and Beatrice. The streets are packed with knights on horseback, some footmen, citizens, noble men and peasants. There are distant conversations in the packed streets.
"Did you hear about the tavern being burnt down, I bet the city priest did it. Always said that place was a den of demons!"
"How about that guard? I know it's been a year, but his death was so sudden. Good man, missed his son ride for the first time."
"That little girl? What happened to her?"
"I don't know some say she got caught in the blaze."
Suddenly the 3 stop by a homeless man, he is deathly thin and dirty with scars littering his face and body, the only thing keeping him clothed is a blanket.
Poor man: A gold? A gold piece? Oh please something. I can't live a night longer.
Isabel: Beatrice can we help him?
Beatrice: Of course we can.
Beatrice pulls a small pouch of coins and hands it to Isabel. Isabel hands it to the poor man.
Poor man: Your heart is made of nothing but gold sweet girl.
Isabel runs back to Beatrice with a smile on her face and a skip in her step.
Agrael: That was unnecessary. But it was selfless.
She is now around 11 years old, in school. Agrael sees some classmates bullying Isabel.
Isabel: Leave me alone!
Douglas: Why, no cares what you think.
Agrael looks angrily at the boy. The next day, the boy is dead silent. Isabel notices.
Isabel: What's wrong Douglas?
Douglas: (bursts in tears) my house burnt down!
Agrael chuckles quietly at his dirty work
Isabel hugs him. The whole class takes notice try to comfort the crying boy.
Agrael: (to himself) He got what he deserved.
Isabel around 15 years now prays at her bedside. Rain smacks against the window and thunder rumbles in the stormy night. A lightning flash reveals the towering figure of Agrael standing near her. In a split second darkness returns to the room and the figure is gone. Isabel nonetheless freaks out and gallops out her room exclaiming…
Isabel: Beatrice! Beatrice! I saw a bad man! A bad man!
Then proceeds to run out of her room.
Agrael reappearing from the dark ponders
Agrael: I'm not a bad man? Am I?
Agrael sits in the long living room, at the long table, with banners of the Greyhound and the Griffin his staff laying down on the table and him hunched over the chair. He is left in complete darkness save for the one candle still flickering that he lighted for himself. He monologues..
Agrael: Here I am, thrust into a new world. So many examples of kindness and compassion. Where I came from nothing but brutality and cruelty was commonplace. Nothing but fear and fire. Now, I feel so free. I can see the empathy these mortals have for each other. It should feel unnatural to me but it doesn't. Oh how I was blind. Blind to the suffering that I incurred on others and to myself. I gave away my soul for power. If my mother and brothers could see me now…what have I done to honor them? What have I done to myself? I killed those tavern drunks after they hassled the poor girl out, why? I feed her that night with ale and ham, why? I found her a home, why? I cured her sickness, why? Because Kha Beleth commanded me to care for her? But I don't care for her. Now I, I care about her. How could this little girl, Isabel, have found a way through my black heart?
He hears some gears in the lock of the door loosen. Agrael stands up and taps his staff becoming a shade. The door swings wide open 5 thieves walk in. The thieves are covered in armour.
Thieve 1: All right were going to take all the wood, food and silk that they have. Do it quietly. If anyone wakes up, kill them. We don't want witnesses.
The thieves spread out through the home rummaging through the drawers and wardrobes. They begin to pull out all sorts of clothing. Another thief takes a handful of cups and plates. Footsteps coming down the staircase are heard.
Isabel: Beatrice is that you!
Thieve 2: Get her!
Thief grabs Isabel
Isabel: Beatrice!
Thieve 1: Shut Up!
Pulls out dagger.
Agrael: NO! YOU PUT HER DOWN NOWW!
Agrael grabs Isabel away with one arm and puts her down. He then takes thief's arm and twist full 360 degrees backwards instantaneously snapping all the bones in the arm in shoulder. The thief bellows.
Beatrice walks into the carnage
Beatrice: Ahhhhhhhhh!
Thieve 3 grabs her. Agrael grabs his spear and shoots a fire ball at the thief. Another thief attacks Agrael and he punches the thief away leaving fireball in the trail. The final thief attacks with a dagger, Agrael swings around him and forces his staff right through the back of the thief. The thief's life leaves through the whites of his eyes. Agrael arks his staff up and the thief's body slides down as his flesh, blood, clothing and skin is torn and twisted by the numerous spikes on Agrael's staff. Agrael lets the body slide off until he is confronted by the last thief.
Thieve 2: What the hell are you?
Agrael: You're not in a position to ask questions!
Agrael grabs him by the throat and engulfs him into flames. The man jumps sporadically until he crumbles into ashes.
Isabel runs to Agrael and hugs him. Agrael is at first surprised, but then hugs her back.
Isabel: Are you my Guardian Angel?
Agrael: I don't know what I am.
Isabel: Is Beatrice okay?
Agrael peers over at Beatrice who faints as soon as their eyes make connection
Agrael: Yes, she's fine.
Isabel: Thank you, thank thank you! I'll tell Beatrice to make you a meal.
Agrael: No! No, I will be fine. You go off to sleep now.
When Isabel is 15 she is the crowds that surround the parade that the young King Nicolai. In the streets banners of the Greyhound and the Griffin hang form balconies. Knights on horseback lead the parade as people sing, a cheer and blow kisses to the young King, his uncle and commander Godric, and the Archbishop of the Empire- Randall. The young king sits on the largest steed, a great black stallion adorned with golden armor and draped over with a blue and gold sash. The King himself is 19, his crown encircles his head and is compacted with rubies, sapphires and other precious gem stones. His cape is white, outlined with gold and bearing the sigil of the Griffin. His hair is short and golden, his skin is tanned. He's well built, not thin, but no fat yet muscular for his age. He is naturally tall and is looks even more imposing on his horse. Yet, his warm smile and handsomeness show a soft-hearted, soft-spoken character instead. He wears steel armor. Isabel, now quite a pretty young lady catches the King's eye. He blows her a kiss, Isabel gives him a shy smile. Agrael lurking invisibly among the ground, looks at the procession. He raises his staff, which is also transparent and has shades of black shivering and slithering around it, and the fire flickering at the top begins to pulsate.
Agrael: (to himself) one shot at the King, would solve so many problems.
The King appears at Agrael's section of the crowd. The people throw roses as the Archbishop blesses them. Agrael wavers his staff to the King, Commander and Archbishop, until 10 archangels in radiant shining armor and massive holy spears and swords hover by. He lowers his staff.
Agrael: (to himself) Nasty, birds.
The scene changes to Nicolai and Isabel on the balcony of a palace that overlooks a lake. Isabel is now a beautiful young woman. She has sparkling hazel brown eyes, long jet black hair and vanilla white skin. She has a pleasant smile and flawless complexion, no boil, no scars of any kind. She is neither too fat nor thin, she is perfect. She is now 19 and in a beautiful gold and blue dress. Her lover, Nicolai is taller, barrel chested, strong armed and handsome. His hair is flowing and golden. He wears a King's robe, it's a combination of scarlet and gold, lined by white. His cape is also white and blue with the symbol of his empire, the Griffin, on it. For a man who stands at 6, 2 and well built, his voice is actually quite mellow and soft. It is night time and the moon and stars shine brightly for them, their light shines off the calming waves of the lake below. They converse.
Nicolai: Did you enjoy the banquet my darling?
Isabel: It was delicious my love. Ah, look at the night sky, love. Isn't it beautiful?
Nicolai: There's a certain kind of tranquility that can be found only in the night.
Isabel: And romance.
Nicolai: That too, Isabel.
Brief pause.
Isabel: It's been a week and 10 years since your father passed. It's been 7 years since your mother too. Do you miss them my love?
Nicolai: Mother? Father? Of course. I may be a King, but I am still a man. I have no shame in admitting my grief towards their loss. The tournaments held in their honor only remind of the hole they've left behind.
The camera momentarily shifts to Agrael in his shade form.
Agrael: What a baby.
Nicolai: Still, I remember their faces and when I think of them for too long I begin to weep terribly. A sign of weakness for a man, for a King.
Isabel: I'm sorry I asked my King.
Nicolai: Isabel, don't call me that. I'm not your King. I am your dearest.
Isabel: But at least you have Godric, and the Archbishop and cousin Freyda.
Nicolai: Yes, Isabel. I should be thankful for them. I'm sorry we couldn't find your parents Isabel.
Isabel: I don't need them, I have Beatrice and I have you.
Nicolai: And I have you. Isabel, I, I am so caught up in my duties it makes it very hard for me to see you.
Isabel: You are a King, I would expect nothing less. I admire how you make time for me.
Nicolai: But it is not enough, Isabel. I am stuck in court for many hours of the day, stuck ordering mines to be built, knighthoods, bickering barons, but when I leave all that to see you my world is lifted and becomes brighter.
The camera pans back over to Agrael
Agrael: A poet this one.
Nicolai: I see your smile, and the burdens on my shoulders disappear. It's true that I have lost my father and my mother, it's true I have no siblings. It's true that I have uncle Godric, Freyda and Randall the Archbishop but what I have in you is something beyond compare. Yes I am a King, yes I lead the most powerful realm on Ashan, my words become laws, my wars become the nation's wars, but the happiness I get out of that is not the same happiness I receive from you. Isabel, you become such a part of me that if you were to be taken away I would be incomplete. You matter too much to me, too simple to be a just a fiancée. You're my star, my love and my light.
Back over to Agrael
Agrael: Please throw me in the lake.
Nicolai takes Isabel's hands and kneels before her.
Nicolai: Isabel, will you be my Queen?
Back to Agrael, grasping his staff tightly and the shadows surrounding him beginning to shiver and slither even faster.
Isabel: My love, you've done so much for me, you've taken care of me, and you've loved and looked after me.
Agrael curls his free right hand into a fist, flames begin to flicker around his armor, and fire begins to pulsate in the staff.
Isabel: I have done nothing to honor you back, I cannot materialize my love for you in the way of titles and lands.
Nicolai: Honor me like this Isabel.
Isabel: But the dowry, I don't have the money.
Nicolai: I am a King, Isabel, I have all the riches except for one and that's you.
Isabel: I will never match your devotion, but I will be your Queen.
Nicolai springs up from the ground and the 2 share a kiss. Agrael however is engrossed the shadow and fire swarming his body, he is possessed by jealousy. He raises his staff and disappears.