-------------------
Chapter 5 Call of the Familiar
------------------- barracks. apprentice
Commotion whipped through Paineel. It spread like wildfire, eventually winding up in the necromancer apprentice barracks.
"What's with all the noise!! Can't a girl get some sleep around here!?!"
"Meya! You have to see this. Its! Its"
"What! What!"
"Just come see!"
Meya threw on her robe and dashed after her friend. Approaching the city center, they stopped. On starred in awe of what lay on the ground. Leading from the mirror gate towards the Council Chamber, was burn marks inside large splashes of blood.
"By Cazic! What could have made these marks?"
"I don't know but lets go on over to the crowd."
They followed the trail and did their best to get inside the circle of people outside the Council Chambers.
"Hey what happened!" Meya shouted into the crowd.
"Raziel has completed the first Test of Passing." came a voice, just inside the Chamber doors. "He has finally tapped the first power of a Hell Knight" said the figure moving into view. It was Asyhur.
The crowd quieted down. It was an eerie silence. The crowd knew what this entailed, one of their own was now of those who are only whispered in shadows. One that even, the make the soulless undead quake.
-------------
Raziel's body radiated with energy. So much energy that the ground he stepped on was charred. In his hands, the heads of 6 paladins, bled. He made his way up the winding steps leading to the Council. The Skeleton guards snapped to attention at his approaching footsteps, ready to attack, but they shied away when he came into view. Energy crackled around him and the doors to the Council flew open. He entered and casually threw the heads at the feet of the Council.
"Ah Raziel. You have done well. You have exceeded our wildest expectations. You have unlocked your true calling and have completed the First Test of Passing."
Raziel laughed.
"You find this funny?"
"First? Last. It is of no concern to me. I have tasted the soul of the fallen and I want more! Every fiber of my being is exploding with power!"
As if his strength needed proof, the skeleton guards inside the chambers, detonated,spraying bone dust across the room.
"You will have more, you can fill your need to your hearts content. If you complete the last Test of Passing. If you can become a Hell Knight."
"Then what will you have me do?"
"Not yet Raziel. In tomorrow's moonlight, you will take the final test. As for now, go to your quarters and learn to control your new found powers"
Raziel begrudgingly complied and exited the chambers. His power still radiating brightly
"At least he still follow his orders. You were right Malik, his strength is terrifying. I haven't felt power radiate from someone like that, since you went through the Test of Passing"
"I am certain he shall acquire a strong familiar in tomorrows test, lets hope he can acquire some control as well."
-------------------------
The day went by slowly. But finally night fell and the moons rose high in the sky.
"Meya!! hurry up we have to get ready!..Meya?...Meya what's wrong?"
"I'm...scared... for him"
"..."
"Who knows what he will see..what he will encounter.....What if he doesn't come back?"
"Meya. You know Raziel is strong. He will make it. You heard Lord Ashyur talking today. "
"I know..but still.."
"Ahhh... so big tough Meya has a crush?"
"I do not!....well....maybe"
"I knew it. That is just even more reason to believe that he will make it.
"Your right"
"Now lets go before we are late. I want to get a good view! Just because you have seen it before, doesnt mean you should ruin it for me."
"Is that all you think about? No wonder you're so far behind"
----------------------------------------------
*
Columns of the citizens of Paineel poured out from underneath the rock. They began to fill the training area. All were sing a dark chant. It reverberated through the area. It filled the air with energy. The crowd began to separate as three figures appeared. Two were in deep black shrouds; the other wore light Blue everyday clothing. They reached the center and the chanting grew louder.
The shrouded figures removed their hoods. The figures were Malik and Ashyur.
"Raziel. You have succeeded in learning all that I could teach you. You have finally tapped one of our defining abilities. Now it is time for you to tap the other." spoke Malik
"To complete your training, you must walk the Hellfire's of our Lord's realm. The Dark Plane of Fear. What you will find, no one can say. What will happen, no one can know. Do you accept this test?"
"I do."
"Then so mote it be."
Two other figures stepped up from the crowd. They moved up to Raziel and ripped his robes off.
Ashyur glowed briefly as mana flowed through him. He held out a small stone. He began to chant with the crowd. The stone glowed brighter and brighter until it shattered. Then a crimson gate stood in the training grounds. Inside the gate flames swirled and crackled. Raziel stepped up to the gate and passed through.
The crowd fell silent. *
------------------------------------------------
There was nothing. Everything was blank after he stepped through the gate. Then pain.. white hot pain. The flames licked at his naked skin. Ignoring the pain, Raziel waded through the flames, heading towards a dark tunnel.
/I bet it hurts a lot don't it?/
And what of it?
/I bet you are cursing your feeble mortality/
I think nothing of my mortality. I exceed it.
/HAH. Sure you mortals try to raise your stamina, push your bodies to new levels. But you can only so go so far. Your bodies are weak, pathetic. Can't you smell your flesh burning and crisping? Isn't it wonderful?/
You talk too much. Flesh can be destroyed but it can be easily repaired. Unlike you. Once you are destroyed, you stay destroyed. I can return.
/A small price for omnipotence and eternal life. Something you can never attain/
And you can never be leave this plane as long as you are 'omnipotent', you are a fool.
/....../
So let us join, and we can attain what we both seek.
/I will never join the likes of a mortal. /
The flames died out. And a form appeared in the distance. It was made of pure energy. It circled around and then charged toward Raziel.
/Prepare to embrace your Mortality!/
It was only a breath away.
"Seronadon!"
The form shrieked in pain
/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!HOW can it be! What mortal can speak a simple word to cause me so much pain! Can you be?/
The form charged again and struck Raziel. It was Raziel's turn for pain, every part of him burned. He felt his body dissolving away bit by bit. Everything went black.
"Rise Raziel and kneel before me" said a voice
" I ...kneel before..... no man"
"Kneel before your Lord!" boomed the voice
Raziel looked up. It was he. Cazic-Thule. The God of Fear towered over Raziel.
"I kneel before no one! Not even you!"
The god laughed "Defiance, strength. You shall serve me well. Your power will spread my name, put fear into the hearts of men as only the shadows know. You have been bonded with one of my denizens. You are no longer the mortal you once were"
"I am destroyed.."
"You are reborn! You are neither god nor mortal. You are fear incarnate. Do you know what you are?"
"I am a Knight of Hell"
" Yes. Now go forth my, Dark Reaver, my Angel of Death"
--------------------------------------
The skies above Odus went dark. And great bolts of lightning spilled from the heavens. One bolt crashed into the center of the Paineel training grounds. And a great fire leapt about. And in the center of the flames, stood a figure. A figure clad in jet-black armor, wielding a blade that shimmered with power. And on the figure's shoulder stood a Raven. The raven cawed. The populace that occupied the grounds kneeled before the figure.
-----------------------
End Chapter 5
----------------------
Chapter 5 Call of the Familiar
------------------- barracks. apprentice
Commotion whipped through Paineel. It spread like wildfire, eventually winding up in the necromancer apprentice barracks.
"What's with all the noise!! Can't a girl get some sleep around here!?!"
"Meya! You have to see this. Its! Its"
"What! What!"
"Just come see!"
Meya threw on her robe and dashed after her friend. Approaching the city center, they stopped. On starred in awe of what lay on the ground. Leading from the mirror gate towards the Council Chamber, was burn marks inside large splashes of blood.
"By Cazic! What could have made these marks?"
"I don't know but lets go on over to the crowd."
They followed the trail and did their best to get inside the circle of people outside the Council Chambers.
"Hey what happened!" Meya shouted into the crowd.
"Raziel has completed the first Test of Passing." came a voice, just inside the Chamber doors. "He has finally tapped the first power of a Hell Knight" said the figure moving into view. It was Asyhur.
The crowd quieted down. It was an eerie silence. The crowd knew what this entailed, one of their own was now of those who are only whispered in shadows. One that even, the make the soulless undead quake.
-------------
Raziel's body radiated with energy. So much energy that the ground he stepped on was charred. In his hands, the heads of 6 paladins, bled. He made his way up the winding steps leading to the Council. The Skeleton guards snapped to attention at his approaching footsteps, ready to attack, but they shied away when he came into view. Energy crackled around him and the doors to the Council flew open. He entered and casually threw the heads at the feet of the Council.
"Ah Raziel. You have done well. You have exceeded our wildest expectations. You have unlocked your true calling and have completed the First Test of Passing."
Raziel laughed.
"You find this funny?"
"First? Last. It is of no concern to me. I have tasted the soul of the fallen and I want more! Every fiber of my being is exploding with power!"
As if his strength needed proof, the skeleton guards inside the chambers, detonated,spraying bone dust across the room.
"You will have more, you can fill your need to your hearts content. If you complete the last Test of Passing. If you can become a Hell Knight."
"Then what will you have me do?"
"Not yet Raziel. In tomorrow's moonlight, you will take the final test. As for now, go to your quarters and learn to control your new found powers"
Raziel begrudgingly complied and exited the chambers. His power still radiating brightly
"At least he still follow his orders. You were right Malik, his strength is terrifying. I haven't felt power radiate from someone like that, since you went through the Test of Passing"
"I am certain he shall acquire a strong familiar in tomorrows test, lets hope he can acquire some control as well."
-------------------------
The day went by slowly. But finally night fell and the moons rose high in the sky.
"Meya!! hurry up we have to get ready!..Meya?...Meya what's wrong?"
"I'm...scared... for him"
"..."
"Who knows what he will see..what he will encounter.....What if he doesn't come back?"
"Meya. You know Raziel is strong. He will make it. You heard Lord Ashyur talking today. "
"I know..but still.."
"Ahhh... so big tough Meya has a crush?"
"I do not!....well....maybe"
"I knew it. That is just even more reason to believe that he will make it.
"Your right"
"Now lets go before we are late. I want to get a good view! Just because you have seen it before, doesnt mean you should ruin it for me."
"Is that all you think about? No wonder you're so far behind"
----------------------------------------------
*
Columns of the citizens of Paineel poured out from underneath the rock. They began to fill the training area. All were sing a dark chant. It reverberated through the area. It filled the air with energy. The crowd began to separate as three figures appeared. Two were in deep black shrouds; the other wore light Blue everyday clothing. They reached the center and the chanting grew louder.
The shrouded figures removed their hoods. The figures were Malik and Ashyur.
"Raziel. You have succeeded in learning all that I could teach you. You have finally tapped one of our defining abilities. Now it is time for you to tap the other." spoke Malik
"To complete your training, you must walk the Hellfire's of our Lord's realm. The Dark Plane of Fear. What you will find, no one can say. What will happen, no one can know. Do you accept this test?"
"I do."
"Then so mote it be."
Two other figures stepped up from the crowd. They moved up to Raziel and ripped his robes off.
Ashyur glowed briefly as mana flowed through him. He held out a small stone. He began to chant with the crowd. The stone glowed brighter and brighter until it shattered. Then a crimson gate stood in the training grounds. Inside the gate flames swirled and crackled. Raziel stepped up to the gate and passed through.
The crowd fell silent. *
------------------------------------------------
There was nothing. Everything was blank after he stepped through the gate. Then pain.. white hot pain. The flames licked at his naked skin. Ignoring the pain, Raziel waded through the flames, heading towards a dark tunnel.
/I bet it hurts a lot don't it?/
And what of it?
/I bet you are cursing your feeble mortality/
I think nothing of my mortality. I exceed it.
/HAH. Sure you mortals try to raise your stamina, push your bodies to new levels. But you can only so go so far. Your bodies are weak, pathetic. Can't you smell your flesh burning and crisping? Isn't it wonderful?/
You talk too much. Flesh can be destroyed but it can be easily repaired. Unlike you. Once you are destroyed, you stay destroyed. I can return.
/A small price for omnipotence and eternal life. Something you can never attain/
And you can never be leave this plane as long as you are 'omnipotent', you are a fool.
/....../
So let us join, and we can attain what we both seek.
/I will never join the likes of a mortal. /
The flames died out. And a form appeared in the distance. It was made of pure energy. It circled around and then charged toward Raziel.
/Prepare to embrace your Mortality!/
It was only a breath away.
"Seronadon!"
The form shrieked in pain
/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!HOW can it be! What mortal can speak a simple word to cause me so much pain! Can you be?/
The form charged again and struck Raziel. It was Raziel's turn for pain, every part of him burned. He felt his body dissolving away bit by bit. Everything went black.
"Rise Raziel and kneel before me" said a voice
" I ...kneel before..... no man"
"Kneel before your Lord!" boomed the voice
Raziel looked up. It was he. Cazic-Thule. The God of Fear towered over Raziel.
"I kneel before no one! Not even you!"
The god laughed "Defiance, strength. You shall serve me well. Your power will spread my name, put fear into the hearts of men as only the shadows know. You have been bonded with one of my denizens. You are no longer the mortal you once were"
"I am destroyed.."
"You are reborn! You are neither god nor mortal. You are fear incarnate. Do you know what you are?"
"I am a Knight of Hell"
" Yes. Now go forth my, Dark Reaver, my Angel of Death"
--------------------------------------
The skies above Odus went dark. And great bolts of lightning spilled from the heavens. One bolt crashed into the center of the Paineel training grounds. And a great fire leapt about. And in the center of the flames, stood a figure. A figure clad in jet-black armor, wielding a blade that shimmered with power. And on the figure's shoulder stood a Raven. The raven cawed. The populace that occupied the grounds kneeled before the figure.
-----------------------
End Chapter 5
----------------------