Post by Trailfoot on Apr 1, 2006 2:39:12 GMT -5
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK OF CELEIS:
On the Demon War and the Birth of the Sorceress
THE SORCEROR-KING AND THE DEMON WAR
It came to pass in the last years of the Horde War that a Sorceror-King rose over the humans of the eastern Core. A great commander in battle, the King Alris led the forces of humanity against the children of Gruumsh. The Horde was pushed back into the tainted swamp, and peace came to Anthros.
With the Horde broken and warring among its tribes, King Alris turned his attention to unifying the Core. However, the kings and dukes of humanity would not give over easily, and Alris found himself thrust into another war.
When communing with the spirits for advice, Alris found himself confronted with a being of surpassing beauty and light. This being offered to serve Alris as an advisor, and to grant the Sorceror-King an army of such surpassing power and fearsomness that no enemy could stand against him.
It was thus that the Baatzu first walked Anthros.
With his fiendish army, Alris was indeed unstoppable, and within years he had defeated all the kings in the Core. However, on the day of the surrender of Alris's last enemy, the day the Sorceror-King was to crown himself Emperor, his advisor, clad in light, showed his true self. This advisor was Lucifrous, Lord of the Nine Hells, Prince of Darkness. Lucifrous murdered Alris, then sent forth his minions, led by Count Asmodeus Lord of the Ninth, to take Alris's empire for himself.
The demons rampaged through the Core, killing who they pleased, enslaving the survivors. The humans, fractured by the death of the Sorceror-King, were unable to stand against them, and their armies collapsed against the demonic assault.
It was then, when the day seemed bleakest, that an old woman appeared at the door of Darius, who had once served as Alris's champion. She held in one hand a shimmering Orb, the same legendary Orb used by the Potter to craft the world. In the other hand, the crone held a sword, wrapped in cloth so that no part of it touched her.
"Take the Orb, for it shall protect you from the fell power of the Prince of Darkness. Take the sword, for against evil will it ever strike true. Go forth, and slay the Lord of the Hells, and deliver the Core from his power."
Darius unwrapped the sword, and holy light filled his home. That very day, Darius set forth, and he found that the demons did not bar his path. When Darius arrived at Lucifrous's stronghold, he found that many of the Prince of Darkness's guards had abandoned their lord. Those who remained were rendered powerless to harm Darius by the Orb of Anthros, defenseless by his holy sword. Darius found Lucifrous alone in his royal chamber, and when the champion of humanity arrived, the Prince of Darkness spoke.
"The time of my fall arrives, a time foretold on the day that the first hint of jealousy from the Eldest of Red touched the Will, giving rise to the Nine Hells and their Lords. Yet before I die, three dooms to I speak.
"The first doom I speak upon my slayer, who comes bearing the Orb with which the mountains were raised. The immortality due the Scion of Righteousness shall be denied you, though the duties shall not. Know now that you shall train one who will be granted the reward you here earn.
"The second doom I speak upon the one who granted my slayer the tools of my demise. Your lover shall return, your goal be achieved, yet your eternal life shall be taken by the tools of your victory, before the fruits be tasted.
"The thrid doom I speak upon my betrayer. The power you desire shall be yours. The Hells and the Abyss shall fall before you. Yet you shall be but a servant, and you shall serve the one who once served you. You shall serve that which you fear most, for you shall serve Hope."
Then Darius fought Lucifrous, and the Prince of Darkness was slain. The death of Lucifrous threw his demon legions back to the Hells, and humanity was saved, though Alris's empire was broken.
On the Demon War and the Birth of the Sorceress
THE SORCEROR-KING AND THE DEMON WAR
It came to pass in the last years of the Horde War that a Sorceror-King rose over the humans of the eastern Core. A great commander in battle, the King Alris led the forces of humanity against the children of Gruumsh. The Horde was pushed back into the tainted swamp, and peace came to Anthros.
With the Horde broken and warring among its tribes, King Alris turned his attention to unifying the Core. However, the kings and dukes of humanity would not give over easily, and Alris found himself thrust into another war.
When communing with the spirits for advice, Alris found himself confronted with a being of surpassing beauty and light. This being offered to serve Alris as an advisor, and to grant the Sorceror-King an army of such surpassing power and fearsomness that no enemy could stand against him.
It was thus that the Baatzu first walked Anthros.
With his fiendish army, Alris was indeed unstoppable, and within years he had defeated all the kings in the Core. However, on the day of the surrender of Alris's last enemy, the day the Sorceror-King was to crown himself Emperor, his advisor, clad in light, showed his true self. This advisor was Lucifrous, Lord of the Nine Hells, Prince of Darkness. Lucifrous murdered Alris, then sent forth his minions, led by Count Asmodeus Lord of the Ninth, to take Alris's empire for himself.
The demons rampaged through the Core, killing who they pleased, enslaving the survivors. The humans, fractured by the death of the Sorceror-King, were unable to stand against them, and their armies collapsed against the demonic assault.
It was then, when the day seemed bleakest, that an old woman appeared at the door of Darius, who had once served as Alris's champion. She held in one hand a shimmering Orb, the same legendary Orb used by the Potter to craft the world. In the other hand, the crone held a sword, wrapped in cloth so that no part of it touched her.
"Take the Orb, for it shall protect you from the fell power of the Prince of Darkness. Take the sword, for against evil will it ever strike true. Go forth, and slay the Lord of the Hells, and deliver the Core from his power."
Darius unwrapped the sword, and holy light filled his home. That very day, Darius set forth, and he found that the demons did not bar his path. When Darius arrived at Lucifrous's stronghold, he found that many of the Prince of Darkness's guards had abandoned their lord. Those who remained were rendered powerless to harm Darius by the Orb of Anthros, defenseless by his holy sword. Darius found Lucifrous alone in his royal chamber, and when the champion of humanity arrived, the Prince of Darkness spoke.
"The time of my fall arrives, a time foretold on the day that the first hint of jealousy from the Eldest of Red touched the Will, giving rise to the Nine Hells and their Lords. Yet before I die, three dooms to I speak.
"The first doom I speak upon my slayer, who comes bearing the Orb with which the mountains were raised. The immortality due the Scion of Righteousness shall be denied you, though the duties shall not. Know now that you shall train one who will be granted the reward you here earn.
"The second doom I speak upon the one who granted my slayer the tools of my demise. Your lover shall return, your goal be achieved, yet your eternal life shall be taken by the tools of your victory, before the fruits be tasted.
"The thrid doom I speak upon my betrayer. The power you desire shall be yours. The Hells and the Abyss shall fall before you. Yet you shall be but a servant, and you shall serve the one who once served you. You shall serve that which you fear most, for you shall serve Hope."
Then Darius fought Lucifrous, and the Prince of Darkness was slain. The death of Lucifrous threw his demon legions back to the Hells, and humanity was saved, though Alris's empire was broken.