Lord of Terror : Part One
Written by Francois Linde

Diablo, Diablo 2, some characters, locations etc. belongs to Blizzard software.


He could see the bright red flames licking at the night sky above Tristram in the distance. The glow reflected in his dark brown eyes, and he gritted his teeth as he recalled the events of the last few days. Shakuras turned his back on the burning city, and started his lonely journey through the woods.

He heard footsteps behind him. He turned and drew his sword, as silently as he could. The blade was still wet with the Mad King's blood. Shakuras closed his eyes at the memory of having to slay his king. He had no other choice, he reminded himself. King Leoric was no longer in control of his actions when he was slain.

They say that the once noble king had gone mad, when his son, Prince Albrecht had gone missing. Leoric went on a murderous rampage once he was given the news of his son's disappearance. Everyone was a suspected kidnapper, and all suspects were tortured and eventually murdered.
When Leoric's knights eventually questioned his methods, the king himself took up his sword and killed several of them, before they had the chance to disarm him.

Shakuras had been one of the king's most noble knights, and had been training to become a Paladin - one of the holy knights of the Zakarum. He had been the youngest apprentice ever accepted at the Temple of light, but he had a lot of potential. Now he was forced to abandon it all - for he was the one who had killed the king. He was a disgrace to the knighthood, and the Zakarum, for one should never take up arms against one's own king - even in self defence. He had sworn an oath to protect his king, and he himself was the murderer.

A twig snapped to his right. Shakuras' head snapped in the direction of the sound instinctively. He could make out the faint outlines of a man, crouching in the darkness, ready to spring a trap. " Face me, coward, " Shakuras bellowed at the hidden would-be attacker. " And meet thy doom, " he continued.

The dark figure lept out of the shadows, and bowled Shakuras over. The young knight rolled with the impact, and flipped his attacker onto his back. He got up, and faced his enemy, sword glinting in the moonlight. Shakuras studied his attacker's face carefully. He had handsome features, with blue eyes and blond hair. The man was not unfamiliar to him, for he was a knight, like Shakuras had been only days before. The man's name was Andrometh. Andrometh seemed to have a madness in his eyes, the same madness Shakuras had seen in the king's eyes.

" Andrometh, listen to me, " Shakuras pleaded, " I had no choice but to kill the king - he was not himself anymore. " Andrometh grunted and swung his mace at Shakuras, who sidestepped the blow. " I don't want to fight you! " Andrometh smiled evilly at Shakuras. " Well then don't fight me, and I'll kill you all the more easily. " With that, he swung his weapon at the young man again. Shakuras felt the tremendous force of the blow as he blocked it with his sword. " You killed my king, Traitor! " Andrometh bellowed, and rushed at his opponent. Shakuras had no other choice. He could not keep on simply defending himself much longer. He ducked Andrometh's mace, and slashed his sword across the possesed man's back. Andrometh's face twisted in agony, as he felt the cold steel slash his back right to the bone of his spine. He spluttered, dropped to his knees, and half-turned to Shakuras. His eyes flashed bitter hatred at his one time friend and ally, before they took on a lifeless glaze and he fell to the groud, dead.

--- To be continued ---