Chapter 4:
Obtaining the power to summon my first demon turned out not being too hard after all, though I was still too blind at that time to acknowledge it the way it would have deserved.
A single shadow bolt had been enough to beat it into submission..., to defeat it. And it didn't stop just there, Maximillion had been quite impressed by the strength of the spell I had performed, especially when keeping in mind how is first evaluation of me went rather ... carefully. But in the end he was angrier about me conducting such a strong spell inside the church for I could have damaged the wall severely, which would have inevitably lead to a collapse of the whole structure.
After he had finally finished his rant he continued talking to me for a while because it was clearly obvious how I couldn't control the power level of them things I conjured up, which he was on the spot right about at that time.
Yet, more impressively, I had already breached a level of strength where Maximillion found himself unable to teach me anything further. So he was quick about introducing me to the basics of curses, but that was all he shared with me and frankly it wasn't too difficult for me either.
All this time my new pet minion, the imp was jumping around next to me. This little creature was truly astonishing in my eyes. Despite its weak body, yes even the magic it was able to conduct was of no real threat to any opponent - it was able to store enormous amounts of energy and I could feel how they were traversing over to me.
The only really, really annoying thing was the fact that this little creature just couldn't shut up. It talked and talked and talked the whole damn time it was at my side and although most of it was in Eredrun it never eased up. The only good thing about it was that soon after becoming his new master I noticed how the words the imp spoke in that language didn't hurt my ears anymore.
As a sort of farewell gift, Maximillion handed me a letter for Kaal Soulreaper and told me everything I needed to know to get to him, that if I would follow the road out of Deathknell and turn right at the road crossing I would eventually get to the town of Brill. As I heard the name I swallowed hard and got a raised eyebrow in return as he noticed my reaction. In Brill somebody would tell me how to get to the Undercity though it shouldn't be too difficult he assured me. He also told me that when I talked to Kaal he would definitely teach me many new things and most importantly, supply me with a new robe and other clothing. Something more suitable for an aspiring warlock...
Little did I know how at that moment somebody was already lurking about in the shadows close by, only waiting for me to finally leave the building...
As Maximillion granted me his final farewell, I turned around without too much delay or hesitation and left them in pursuit of my new found future. Outside I turned to the left and wanted to head for Brill immediately. I might as well make the best of my situation I thought and I had waited for so long to be able to see this town again without having to fear for my life.
But beforehand I turned to the grave where I threw Samuel into. I looked down into the open pit and to my astonishment there wasn't anything in there anymore. Hectically I looked around, trying to figure out where the dead body could have disappeared to, but not able to see anything I only started to back off from the grave as quickly as possible. I feared somebody would blame me that Marla's husband had gone missing yet again.
I wasn't even able to take two steps towards the ridge of spears before somebody grabbed my shoulder from the left side, forcefully turning around.
Not sure what would happen I faced the stranger whilst my imp continued jumping around furiously next to me.
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" Pipfip squeaked without intermission.
"Rest assured, I mean you no harm, Hector." His voice was surprisingly calm and it didn't seem as if he wanted to attack me at all. I just couldn't imagine him lying at me. He wore a long coat with a hood covering most of his head. You couldn't even see his face underneath it. For his appearance I trusted him far too easily judging it now. He maybe even used a spell on me at that time, but I can't tell for sure..., too much time had passed since then. "I couldn't prevent from overhearing your conversations in the church with Sarvis and Dueston." What had this guy been trying to tell me, I wondered? "I know a couple people who suffered just the way like you did and I believe you. I believe that you were a cleric in your former life..."
At first I wanted to say something, but I simply was unable to speak at that moment.
"Go to the Undercity and search for the Forgotten Shadow. If you find them, tell them Illius has sent you and give them this." He took a role of parchment from his pockets and handed it to me. "Do NOT open it however! Otherwise they will not talk to you. Your curiosity would be your downfall and they will think you are an impostor. And we all fear the spies of the Nathrezim, as they are everywhere."
He immediately let go of my shoulder, whilst I just kept on looking at him in my bewilderment. Truthfully speaking I understood only about half the things he was talking about.
"I know the Forgotten Shadow will be just right for you, Hector. Now go and find your future..."
Insanity was a trait in these areas I could only figure for myself as the hooded person walked away towards the crypt up on the hill were I initially descended from. I had no idea who this man had been... And he disappeared as fast as he had appeared. At least I had a name... He called himself Illius, but still... I didn't know what to think of all this, yet I made up mind rather swiftly that I'd give it a try. But first in line and above all, I wanted to go to Brill. I was growing desperate to get moving.
And thinking of my life before, I would even say I had the obligation to go to Brill.
When I finally left Deathknell on the road leading to the south, everything was constantly only going downhill, speeding things up quite a bit.
As I passed the small camp of Samuel Fipps once again I heard something that sounded suspiciously like "Maaarlaaa", but I decided not to give in to my curiosity and instead of turning around and having a look, I just walked on.
It wasn't before long that I reached the road crossing, although I was eager to go to Brill, I didn't want to rush it. There was something about this feeling, this anticipation that I wanted to enjoy to its fullest. At the crossing itself several signs pointed off into the different directions. I guessed they were still there from a time long ago, before the Scourge had brought chaos to these lands. Only the inscription on the sign pointing up to Deathknell was missing, there was only an empty arrow left that pointed up the hill into the woods. The signpost also pointed out that to the west was a farm, though I can't recall the name of it.
To the north the road led to the Mills of the Agamand family I still knew that much. It immediately let remember that farm, it had been huge. The family of the Agamands was rather rich for this area due to their prosperous mills. I believe they were once heavily tied in with the economy of Andorhal.
And finally the road leading to the east, it would eventually bring me to Brill, just as the signpost stated.
These parts of the woods seemed rather quiet to me, though they were hardly any different to the rest, just about as dark as it still is typical for Tirisfal now. But there also seemed to be hardly any animals. Even in the woods around Deathknell there were at least some oversized bats and small wolves.
At first I thought about taking the road to the north, for the sake of the old times, but in the end I made up my mind that I should go to Brill first. Sooner or later I would find the time to go to those mills one more time.
The road was long and my surroundings offered little for eyes weary of trees and shade, the imp walking and jumping by my side constantly complaining not making it any easier for me either. He asked me a couple of times why he had to walk by my side with his short legs and why he was there in the first place because we were not fighting against anything. What a truly annoying little demon to have.
The road then made another turn slightly to our left, which should have been somewhat north if I try to remember and from that point on it stayed rather even and without any remarkable turnings or crossings any more.
In the distance I could see a wooden bridge that led over a slope in the countryside.
As me and my demon approached it, we heard a heavy stomping coming from the woods next to us. I turned round trying to make out where this was coming from exactly. And I found out far too quickly for my liking...
An abomination was making its way right towards us. I couldn't believe it! Why was such a strong minion of the Scourge within these woods? And damn that Maximillion that he didn't even try to warn me!
The giant lump of undead flesh came closer quickly. I on the other hand was paralyzed for a moment, a moment far too long. Until I had managed to focus again that thing already stood in front of me his arms close enough to smash into tiny little pieces.
But... nothing happened.
The giant patchwork golem grunted once or twice.
"Gordo picky picky Gloom Weed. Gordo good!" The Abomination told me and turned to the side, heading further west as it left me standing where I was.
What an irritating experience, though hardly any danger. From that I concluded for myself that the Forsaken had their own abominations on their side now.
We crossed the bridge fast and I even considered picking the imp up for the journey, as I feared the flames covering the body of the puny demon could set it on fire. At that time I still didn't know that demon flames are cold as long as the creature is calm.
Continuing our way soon a mounted deathguard came towards me.
"Greetings warlock." He spoke and I returned his salute whilst stepping to the side so he could pass easily. His horse was as dead as he was. I had never seen such a creature before. Probably he was patrolling this part of the road. I was a bit baffled on why he knew me as warlock so easily at that time and I did not realize any time soon that the demon was dead giveaway for probably anybody...
Traveling onwards we quickly reached the outer parts of the town I had been searching for so long.
Somehow it felt strange to walk through Brill again. The last time I could remember walking these streets, I was almost killed by an assassin of the Forsaken. But looking at it now more importantly that was the moment the shadows claimed its part of my soul.
I still know where the place is even now, but back then I came to the point that it would be better not to go there ever again. I wanted to leave that part of my personal history behind me for good.
Continuing my way I passed the huge graveyard of Brill.
Somebody on the other side of the fence was wildly shouting around.
"THAT IDIOT! Gordo is such a useless lump of flesh." The voice was furious, "He only picks Gloom Weed - I need DOOM Weed. Go get me some apprentice - NOW! To the north!"
A robed figure came running through the gate and turned to the right immediately afterwards. He then took the short cut to the northern coast passing through between the fence and the town hall. That poor bastard had to do the things that giant lump of rotting flesh messed up.
My last faint memories grabbing a hold of my mind I blindly walked onwards trying to remember where I had lived with my father in that town. Yet apparently it seemed that some of the houses had been destroyed during the time the Scourge was here, so I believe our house was also taken down.
There was another Forsaken on a skeletal horse in front of the town hall. I approached him carefully, hoping he would be able to provide the information I was seeking.
"Good day, may I...?" I wanted to ask just a simple question.
"Speak only when spoken to!" He shouts at me. "Kill some of the Scarlet Crusade, bring me proof of your deeds and afterwards we can talk!" I swallowed hard not sure what to make of it.
I walked away from him backwards not saying one further word as I kept my eyes on him.
On the other side of the road I found a stable. Drawing closer to it I found it full of those undead horses I had seen before. Another deathguard was also standing there looking after the undead animals. Some of them even had a pair of horns on their skulls..., those few emitting a faint glow from their body. It made me wonder whether they were magical maybe. Majestic creatures, I had to admit, I liked them more than living horses from the first moment on I saw them and I still do, though nothing matches my dreadsteed.
My imp continued to complain the whole time why I didn't have one of those. He said that it was a shame that he was stuck in this realm with probably the poorest warlock ever to exist.
"Do you want one? The horned ones 40 pieces of gold, the smaller ones only nine pieces." The guy trying to sell his mounts smiled at me in a friendly yet disturbing fashion. I shook my head in response and turned down his offer due to a lack of gold and riding skill on my part.
But there was no point in dwelling on it, so I asked the guard which way I had to go to get to the Undercity from there. It took a moment until the Forsaken answered me and I already mentally prepared to back off again if he asked me to kill something beforehand.
To my surprise he told me directly without any further 'go kill this' tasks.
'Follow the road to the south from there you should already see the city gates, go through the courtyard and inside the building directly to the south of you. Inside the crypt you will find elevators down to the Undercity', those were about his exact words. Not too detailed, but they would make do.
I thanked him and said my brief farewell.
If I had had enough gold that day, I would probably have bought one of those steeds. I envied everyone who had one of these for a far too long time. It made me smile at myself as I had these thoughts running through the back of my mind, as the imp next to me continued his squealing about how cruel destiny had been to him during the last few days.
At that time I still listened to most of the things he said, although it took me a lot of nerves to cope with this ever-complaining little being.
Ignoring my own craving to answer one of his little rants I silently followed the road around the small hill.
I hadn't realized until that very moment that the Undercity had to be inside the ruins of the capital city of Lordaeron. A large blue banner was hanging from the walls outside the ruins. It showed two white arrows crossing, one horizontal the other one vertical. A third, yet broken arrow rested diagonally underneath the other two and on the crossing of the three there was a shattered white mask, about half of it was missing. The face was clearly held female, somehow elven-like. The look on it grim and she was shedding a single tear of blood. Underneath all of this there was a shield with the picture of a raven.
What a fearsome and likewise disturbing symbol to have on his banner.
I entered the courtyard through the giant stone gate of Lordaeron, a sad place I unfortunately only knew too well from my dreams of old.
The once so proud statue in midst of it by then lay shattered into ruins.
The imp next to me squealed once again, that time it sounded like laughter, "Stupid humaaaans."
I walked along and passed the bell tower. I knew those corridors...
Next came the throne room, in the back of it two more doors. In the past they had been closed for most of the time, but by then they were standing wide open. As I walked up towards the right one I noticed it, the stain of blood still on the floor. All this had happened so many years ago and yet these drops of blood won't perish even until today.
Once I was able to take my eyes of this piece of materialized ruin and I had made my way through the doors behind the throne, I entered a crypt. There was nothing too unusual about that, yet I heard grunting noises coming from everywhere around me.
The light in there was too gloomy so I noticed the three smaller hallways only after several minutes of staring into the nothingness and the fire of the imp hardly emitted any light. So he had been no help either. He probably enjoyed seeing me squirm around like that. Slowly I started to wonder if one could really call the things covering the body of the imp flames at all...
I looked around the corner leading into one of these corridors. For a moment I stood there paralyzed as I saw two more abominations, both of them emitting a strong green glow. They both turned their heads and looked at me and behind them a door opened up leading into a circular room.
I took all my courage and walked towards them. A small space was left in between those two giant ripped open bellies. The stench was overwhelming, even for my rotten senses. I hurried into the room behind them before the door closed again and in there I relaxed for a moment. A bump went through the floor and the whole thing started moving downwards all of a sudden. That thing was astonishingly fast too. It only slowed down as we had almost reached the bottom. This elevator shaft had really been deep. I could only imagine how far of a way I had travelled down. A door opened in my back and I hurried to get out so that I would not be taken back up to the surface again.
Following the turning gangway ahead of me I ended up in a large circular room.
That place was overwhelming the first time I saw it.
On the level I was at that moment I could see small shops all around the room. Two large staircases offered a way down to the center of this hall. In the middle of the room there was a thing that looked a bit like an obelisk, but in its middle part there were also small windows with Forsaken behind them.
I stepped to the edge of the floor on this level and looked down. The staircases led to the bottom level, a moat filled with a viscous looking green fluid surrounded the floor of the great hall. Four bridges crossing it were probably leading to further areas.
From a pipe far to my right the green fluid slowly flowed into the moat down at the bottom of the room.
It was hard to comprehend that something this spacious was located underneath the former capital city where my father used work and died.
And it was a busy area indeed. I heard voices coming from all around me. Forsaken were talking and trading everywhere, it was just like a market place only... more.
I turned to my left and followed the upper ring towards the staircase leading downwards. I knew I would have to ask someone where I had to go to get to this Kaal Soulreaper guy or how to get to the... how did he call it - Forgotten Shadow. I was hardly able to keep track of any of the two names at that time.
Although I hated doing things like this, talking and asking things of random strangers I found in my former life, I wouldn't get over with this if I didn't get myself together. So I just walked up to the next best people and asked them, somebody would help me eventually I figured...
I decided to find out more about the Forgotten Shadow first. After all I had all the time in this world now. It was not like could die or something like that...
I talked briefly to about four or five people, every conversation ending approximately the same way, except for one with a guy who persistently wanted to sell me mushrooms instead of answering my question no matter what I said or did.
The innkeeper was the first one capable to actually help me out. He also didn't know where exactly I had to go, but he told me that the war quarters were the home of the cult in Undercity. He also briefly described to me how I would get there fastest. I thanked him, promised I'd return on a drink or something and took off towards the stairs down to the bottom level of the hall.
I crossed the green fluid over the bridge to my right.
After that I ended up in another rather big hallway. It followed a bent course, made me guess it also was a giant circle around the inner hall. This city seems to be built fairly symmetrically... I turned right the opportunity I had, just as the Forsaken had told me. Only a few meters later a smaller hallway turned off to the left from my point of view.
Following this one led me to another even bigger hallway. I quickly came to the conclusion how it had been yet another circle around the city. In the midst of it there was a wide moat again filled with that green slime. The ceiling in this part of the city was even higher than in the middle hall. After a while I saw how several abominations were patrolling these lower areas.
The innkeeper told me, that if I turned left there, I should be directly in the war quarters.
All around these two circular hallways were pennants like the one on the outer wall. The look in the eye of that female face let the blood in your veins freeze. I tried not to look at it anymore if I did not need to, yet the eye of it seemed to follow me everywhere I went. Something about that emblem was just terrifying for me. My imp on the other hand jumped besides me squealing out loudly, I think that little creature was laughing at me the whole time.
I followed the path on this side of the moat to my left and entered the quarter through a smaller doorway. The first thing I saw was a blacksmith. By then I knew I was right where I wanted to be.
Two bridges were leading over the trench to the other side. On this side there were merchants and trainers for warriors, on the other side there was a rather large building, I can't really describe it if I'm honest. The architecture was war worse than simply strange and besides that was the first of the two or three times in my undead life that I went into the war quarters. I simply didn't care.
In front of the building I saw a group of Forsaken forming a circle. Two of them standing in the middle were fighting weaker minions of the Scourge. All of the viewers were cheering and shouting wildly.
I crossed the bridge and entered the building I got a glimpse of them picking apart a couple of weaker minions of the Scourge.
On the inside of said strange building I found myself in midst of clerics all giving me strange looks, wondering why a warlock would come to these areas in the first place. They told me I should rather go to the Temple of the Damned in the mage quarters, making clear I was not wanted here. They just wanted to get rid of me.
And what a strange feeling that was for me too... Not too long before I aspired to become one of them, now they already wanted to disown me.
For the time being I just decided to ignore them and asked blindly into the room whether somebody knew anything about the Forgotten Shadow just before somebody could start pushing me out of the door again by force.
In a single moment everyone was quiet, there were about eight people inside together with me and none of them spoke another word, they didn't even move. I wouldn't have expected that a warlock asking this would be this shocking.
One of them stepped forth after a while. "How do you know of the Forgotten Shadow?" He asked me unbelieving what I had just wanted to know.
I told him what I had known to be the truth..., that a man named Illius had sent me here. Although the moment I finished my sentence laughter broke out amongst most of them, others only smirked. I took out the role of parchment from my pocket and handed it to the Forsaken who had asked me how I knew of the cult.
He immediately read through the whole thing and with every word he opened his empty eye sockets further and further, the glow from them becoming stronger and stronger.
"Call me Garner, come with me... and make it quick!" He stepped forward and pushed me outside again. "So I see, you were telling the truth after all..." He led me behind the building without another stop... "You don't seem to know that Illius is our leader. But besides that, I'm astonished that a warlock wants to join us... yet again these words of Illius state that you wanted to become a priest during the time you were alive. Is that correct?" I nodded as I guessed that was a rhetorical question.
"I don't know why he sent you here, if I'm honest, the center of the cult is in Deathknell after all." Now that was something surprising to hear. "This is more of an outpost, but well, I guess it doesn't matter. Do you know anything about the Cult of the Forgotten Shadow already, do you?"
"No, not really if I'm completely honest..." I looked down to the floor for a short moment, falling back into old habits.
"I will make it brief for you as a starter. There are three virtues we follow and respect in this cult above everything else: Respect, tenacity and power. Every one of the Forgotten Shadow always seeks to become stronger and develop their personal power, therefore respect towards other is necessary or you will eventually bluntly come to challenge a foe that is too strong for you. You can view it is a measure of self-protection. Also you have to be tenacious to reach your goal whilst every Forsaken around you will probably want to do exactly the same thing. And power is the last virtue - the most important one as many of us say. A Forsaken not longing to become stronger is not more worth than a ghoul of the Scourge. So you truthfully said you wanted to be a cleric in your former life?"
"Yes, that is true." I responded briefly whilst already growing annoyed from him asking as second time, the imp by my side also squealing in agony.
"Then you shall find many who are just like you within the cult." He looked around as if he was on the watch for something.
"I'm sorry to end this conversation so quickly, but I have important things to address to right now... You are welcome as a member of the cult, be sure that you always strive for more power and never be disrespectful towards other members of the cult. Farewell to you for now, new initiate." He then quickly disappeared inside the building again.
That was strange a strange experience for a start. He was in quite the hurry explaining this to me. He even welcomed me to the cult on the spot in an instance. This didn't really answer any of my questions about the cult itself, but I had to live with it, at least for the moment. Again I also had much to tend to so I made up my mind to go and find out more about them later on.
If I try to think about what I've found out since that day now, well it isn't too much all in all.
I quickly became a high ranked member of course, but I turned to follow my own goals soon enough. Although I have to admit I still follow the virtues themselves, yet respect is something you have to earn from me. But the rest? Let's put it like this: it's worth it. Transcending death...; that is something to pursue throughout your life. Their belief about this divine humanism is also somewhat appealing to me. It basically says that you by yourself can shape the universe around you.
Being able to become a god... yes...
This cult offered me salvation at that time. I longed for freedom and for that I had to become stronger. I wanted to walk my own path, without being dependent on someone else again. The things they teach offered anything my weak heart was seeking for. It showed me that my soul was just too frail in my former life.
And don't get me wrong..., I'm not glad about the curse of undeath, but I accepted it. After all it offered me a second chance. And I was clearly stronger than before. The magic I was able to control already at that point was astonishing. The shadows offered me their aid and I finally embraced them.
If I look back at my former life, at my former self, I start to wonder why I rejected this power in the first place. I would even go so far to say that I would probably have never died in the first place, if I had given in earlier.
But well, it was too late to be thinking about that now and mourning my death wouldn't bring me any further.
It was the cult and Kaal Soulreaper that gave me a new perspective on my existence.
I left my former self behind for good and I didn't ever want to have to look back again. Everybody I met after my death was only looking forward. Therefore I tried to leave my old self behind as good as I could, make my memories about it as volatile as possible...
And I guess my imp approved of that too.