"You will do as I command?" Iram's voice boomed in the small chamber, surrounding them completely in granite, deep underground. Kaga's eyes were lifeless as she collapsed from her bindings, her breathing slow and shallow. "Yes," she whispered, her eyes fixated upon the ground. Days of unimaginable pain, games he called it, having taken its toll. She was ripped apart and put back together, only to be shredded once again. He whispered to her of many horrors he would do to her homeland, the Glimmering Jade Wood. The atrocities he had committed, and how he would destroy everything she knew and loved. Every day, unending. Only now, for some reason, he has stopped. "You will join the Empire, and dedicate yourself to its service?" the words hardly registered in her mind, a low whine filling her being, "Yes." Kaga did not respond as Iram approached her battered form, his hand forming into a claw. "Then, be still." Kaga did not move as he plunged it down into her spine, killing her instantly. She dropped heavily to the ground, cold.
Zarkonan approached from behind Iram as he started to prepare a spell. "You needed my assistance?" he inquired as Iram met his gaze. "She is too strong for me to resurrect by myself, and I want this particular resurrection to be special, as I do not possess the same knowledge as you." He looked back down at Kaga's corpse as the spell, completely black, began to travel from Iram's hand to his whole body. "I want her to be left with nothing of her old emotions, save for her anger, resentment, and cruelty." Zarkonan nodded, a gleam in his eye as he started to cast his own Necromantic spell. "Her loyalty to the Empire will be ensured. Her words of consent echoed into the world, and by binding her to me through Necromancy, her fate will be sealed." Iram chuckled, his spell nearly ready. "Of course, I know that by bringing you to help me, she will be bound to you as well. I trust you will not abuse my soldier?" Zarkonan laughed in response, and he walked beside Iram, his gaze focused upon Kaga. "When have I ever betrayed your trust?" Iram's eyes extinguished, and the spell discharged from his body, creeping towards Kaga. Zarkonan in turn waved his hand, and a blue light descended upon Kaga, entering her chest.
Both spells found their target, and for a moment, everything was still. Then, Kaga's eyes, milky and dead, changed into a dark red, and she gasped. Her pale skin darkened, corrupting her once lustrous half-fae complexion as veins appeared visible under the surface, trailing all over her body. She got up off the cold stone, and stood, meeting Iram's gaze. Iram smiled slightly as Kaga's eyes burned brightly, the fire of hatred lurking just beneath. Kneel before us, Iram commanded in her head, and she was compelled to obey. She was flooded with the thoughts and feelings of her masters; their satisfaction, their pride, and their resolve. "What is your will, Scourgelord?" her voice was cold and tense, as she acclimatized to her new state of being. "Before we address that, you must first be tested," Iram turned around, facing the door entering the bloody chamber. "Bring in the prisoner," his voice was still echoing as the two Korbloxians Morgrim and Malig dragged the beaten form of Arlo before them.
He looked up at Kaga as he saw her for the first time in days. "By the Windwalker, what happened to you, my friend?" he whispered, his voice hoarse from the abuse he sustained. Kaga looked down at him, and to her surprise, she felt nothing. "Your test, is to kill this human, then raise him as your servant," Kaga returned her attention to Iram as she recognized the order. Arlo's head swung around to look at Iram, before returning his attention to Kaga. "You are better than this! You are Archivist of the Astral Isles, protege student who loves adventure and knowledge!" She knelt before Arlo as his eyes were wide, and leaned in to his ear. After a moment of hesitation, she smiled. "No, I am not." She laid a hand on his chest and tuned to blood. She ripped her hand away, all of Arlo's blood followed as it forced itself out of his body. Arlo dried up into a withered husk, and collapsed upon the floor soundlessly. She waved her hand and the ball of blood entered her own body, and the cuts and wounds from her prior torture melted away as she used the blood to heal her.
Zarkonan started nodding as Kaga then tuned her mana to death, and once again brought down her hand to touch Arlo's body. Upon contact, Arlo's body began writhe, the skin and muscle evaporating from his body. His bones grew in size as he stood upon solid feet, before towering above her and the Korbloxians, his head nearly brushing the ceiling. Iram laughed as he watched, "So, he was powerful enough to become an undead Juggernaut? Impressive." Iram spread out his arms, his mouth opening wide as his eyes burned brightly. "In accordance to tradition of the Empire, you two will now be renamed. Kneel, and receive your new identities." Kaga lowered herself, and mentally commanded the undead Arlo to do the same, his knee heavily impacting the floor. Iram pointed at Kaga, and she closed in her eyes. "You were once the Archivist Kaga of the Astral Isles. As one of the Empire's devoted servants, I name you Mephisto." She concentrated upon her new name, holding it in her mind like a weapon. Iram's gaze shifted to the massive undead, "You were once Arlo, Wayfinder of Kaga in service of the Astral Isles. As one of the Empire's devoted servants, I name you Gargoth."
"Rise," Iram commanded, and Mephisto responded, standing up as she mentally ordered Gargoth to do the same. "You have passed your test, and now I will give you your assignment. Follow me." Iram and Zarkonan lead the two new Korbloxians out of the torture chamber, leading them down a long tunnel, before emerging into a huge hall. Massive columns lined walls with dragon skulls adorning their bases, chandeliers of skulls lighting the entire space in an eerie blue light. At far end of the room, a massive throne sat upon a pile of skulls, skeletal wings extending from its base as if it were about to take flight. Iram lead them to the throne before seating himself upon it, Zarkonan using magic to take flight as he hovered above it. Mephisto and Gargoth stood beneath the throne, waiting for their orders.
"We are no longer in the Frozen Wastes, rather, we are in a safe house on the border of the Kingdom of Redcliff and Darkage's Forest." He gestured around at the space as Korbloxians milled around them, performing various jobs. "You will operate from here, and terrorize our enemies while Zarkonan and I rebuild our legacy." Mephisto's thoughts were racing as her master continued, "You will be the pseudo-faction, the Cult of Undeath, which you will lead. I will give you mental commands should you require them. For now, your job is simple." Mephisto could sense Iram's blood lust; his hatred for the living in her master's thoughts as he smiled. "Recruit followers, and bring death and misery to the Empire's enemies, heralding in a new age of strife." He waved his hand, and Mephisto felt the dismissal. Mentally commanding Gargoth, she spun on her heel and left to carry out her orders, eyes burning bright as she knew what she would do first. She recalled a feeling during her torture, and knew old man Cazin, her former teacher, had reached out to her. She smiled, her eyes glazing over as she considered what she will do to break him.
Iram watched her leave, and Zarkonan lowered himself to his side. They looked at each other, knowing their thoughts were the same. Iram directed his focus to the hall, and lifted a bony fist. "For the Empire!" The Korbloxians in the grand room echoed him, roaring fiercely as Mephisto went to perform the Scourgelord's bidding.
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Far away, in the furthest reaches of the Frozen Wastes...
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Snow and ash fell atop a grand structure sitting upon the tallest mountain on the continent, settling upon the ruins of the once great capital of Korblox's Empire. The massive gates that once kept the heart of the mighty fortress lay open, the courtyard having fallen into disrepair, with bones of ancient Korbloxians and Knights of the past strewn about from its last great invasion. High above the courtyard, in a tower that remained mysteriously untouched by the mists of time, was a room that was disconnected from the rest of the fortress. No light had pierced the darkness within for many decades, until suddenly, two massive eyes opened themselves slowly, filling the space in white, supernatural light.
Finally.
The entire tower shook, the voice booming beyond the confines of the once mighty stronghold of the Empire.
Let us begin.
