Chapter 3: The Plot Thickens

Located in the northernmost point of Extraho Alveus was the Palace of the Kings, a large spire that was said to touch the heavens while below the clouds a compounded castle made of Mithril and Obsidian stone surrounded the center. This was a place of immense beauty, a testament that the Gods were on the side of the Elders, and a sign that the Elder Empire held the most powerful force on the continent. As we now venture in we find the Emperors son, Lord Rak Deagon Dragonbane the firstborn son of four children, he was sitting among his younger brothers at the War Room Table deciding what to do with the new Chasm that now split the continent in two.

"General Norrick, why have our warriors not yet crossed into the border forest the Humani have cowered behind for so long?" Lord Dragonbane demanded as his brothers fought over war strategy beside him. "Lord Dragonbane, we are working on a way to cross it, our War Machines only have so much power, why not celebrate over our victory over those hairless apes?" General Norrick retorted with a grim smile, knowing that the wrath of the Emperors son had far preceded his reputation. Lord Dragonbane smiled as he looked back at his brothers, they seem to have reached an agreement about the war effort and were itching to tell, he sighed as he stood up. Lord Dragonbane stood almost seven foot tall, he was built like a warrior, but dressed like a diplomat, and he bowed to General Norrick before turning to his brothers. As he did so the three younger, more fragile brothers bowed before sitting back down. "General Norrick, listen to what my brothers have to say, I must attend to some more urgent matters in The Spire… oh, I have also heard that the Humani Commander…the one they call Nottestad…eluded your assassins…this is quite a disturbing matter…do not fail me again, you know very well what happened to the last five Generals that have failed to bring me his head…do not make me wait." Lord Dragonbane said as he walked out of the room, once outside he had a smirk on his face as he looked at his watch, it was engraved with an Elder warrior riding a Dragon, he sighed as he put the watch away and stepped outside to the balcony.

Outside the air was crisp with the aroma of deceit…Lord Dragonbane's father, the Emperor, was creeping on Deaths doorstep. Since the New Age began the Emperor has given his son more chances to step up and lead, each task increasingly difficult, and each task solidified his hold on his fathers neck…Lord Dragonbane despised his father for bringing the Humani into this clean land, he was just a boy when his father brought in the Humani. They revolted and fought against the rules his father gave to them, and all he did was forgive them and try to forge a bond, but that all changed when Dragonbane reached his coming of age. He hatched a plan to begin a war, and all it took…was an unlucky Humani servant girl to watch as he threw his mother from the top of The Spire. After blaming the girl Lord Dragonbane had her executed and demanded war to wipe the Humani scum from this land that was rightfully his. Soon Lord Dragon bane's thoughts were interrupted as the stairs finally locked onto the balcony, as he stepped up and began to walk he noticed how high he was from the ground and smirked as he began to think again. "Soon…Soon this Empire will be mine…and the Humani kingdom and its FOOLISH alliance with the elves will mean nothing as I grind them with the heel of my boot, but first." He smirked as the steps finally stopped at the entrance to The Spire. He stepped in as his most trusted advisors took their place beside him as he opened the palace door.

Inside the Emperor sat at his throne, he was weeping as he did most of the day, he was once a Guardian of the Gods, he used to hear them speak. All that was left however…was a pitiful excuse of an Elder, Lord Dragonbane stepped forward as his advisors shut the door and locked it. "My dear father, what is wrong…why do you weep so?" he asked as he knelt at his fathers feet. The Emperor looked up as he laid a hand on his sons shoulder, "My son…I am weeping for you…the Gods…they have finally spoken to me once more…you may believe me a fool, but it is true…the Gods speak to me once more…and they have told me…" he began as he stood, the Elder was at least eight and a half feet tall, built like a monster, and he wielded an axe forged by the very Gods he used to protect. "They have told me what a monster you have become…DRAW YOUR WEAPON BOY!" He ordered as he took off his adorning robe to reveal his muscled frame encased in ancient Dragon Bone Armor.

"So…how long have you known father?" Dragonbane asked as he to stood up and drew a sword, short in length almost a dagger, but it packed quite a surprise. Dragonbane smirked as he waited for his father to strike.

The Emperor wasted no time as he lashed out and slashed across the chest of his son, and as the diplomatic robe fell away he saw what his son had become… On Dragon bane's chest were ritualistic scars and markings, his arms were decorated with incisions and tattoos of ancient Blood Magic, and his neck was branded with the symbol of the Death God Aros. The emperor shuddered and dropped his blade as he stepped back shaking his head "…It can't be…you…you have given yourself…you have become a Death Walker…a Necromancer…" The Emperor growled as he launched himself at his son again, as he grasped him, he began to beat him with the full intention of killing him, but as blood was spilt, Lord Dragonbane made his move. Drawing a magician's circle in his hand with blood he reached back and grasped his father's armored shoulder, and as he did the bone armor cracked and soon gave way. Lord Dragonbane lifted his father off of him with ease as he shoved him to the balcony, as his father stumbled Dragonbane picked up his short sword and cut across his own shoulder. His father the Emperor roared with pain as the doors of the palace began to quake as guards tried to break in. The Emperor knew his fate was sealed, he let go of his shoulder to reveal that it had begun to rot away, he beckoned Dragonbane over as he fell to a knee.

Lord Dragonbane laughed hysterically as he looked to the door and his advisors, his signaled for them to open it. As they nodded and unlocked the door, he yelled and lunged at his father…As the guards poured in the deed was done…Lord Dragonbane had stabbed his father, as he stood up with his dying rotting father at the end of his sword the Emperor spat blood upon the ground and leaned in…"You…are not…my first…son" he said as he grabbed his son's arm and he used his last bit of energy to hurl himself off the balcony. On his way down his body began to decompose and crumble…all the while a maniacal laughter echoed through the halls.

As the armor hit the ground Lord Dragonbane had already ascended the throne. He laughed as the guards kneeled and as he sat back he felt a small tug at his own heart. He looked up to the ceiling as he felt a presence watching him, he smiled as he spoke "So…you are my brother…I will be waiting…Hunter…"

Hunter awoke from his vision with the old man grasping at his shoulder. "So…I see you have met your brother…Dragonbane."