Necromancer

1. The start or the end?

While back in Kryta, Dedraime has already shown his unhealthy interest in His Majesty Palawa Joko, the Great Lich and the Last Primeval King of Elona. How could he not? There was something in Him that screamed right to Dedraime's soul, drowning out any other interests ever since he has first heard that name. He was going through all the books even mentioning Him, fascinated beyond any compare. Joko was one powerful necromancer, able to keep whole Elona in his grasp and he wanted to know how. Sylvari was ambitious, cruel and intelligent, he could be a great adept of Joko's ways!
So when the news of the first refugees escaping Elona came to his ears, confirming that reign of Joko was doing pretty well, he knew he couldn't miss a chance like that, he had to go to Elona! But his 'condition' sure wasn't facilitation when it came to planning.
And this condition was called Anari.
Being a powerful and merciless necromancer, Dedraime had a vulnerability he would have gladly swapped for anything else - he wasn't the only owner of this body. In fact, he wasn't the original one either. But the one who was, Anari, seemed not to be aware of his existence at all.
Maybe because he was a defenseless coward whom intelligence level was about human's two-years-old child? That was at least what Dedraime was told by his friend, Lunaen, about that guy. 'Split personality' was what he has called it, naming him, Dedraime, an illness of a kind. But he was there and he felt like a normal being does so he had just as much rights to own this body as Anari because it wasn't like he has asked to be there? But there appeared not to be any way to get rid of Anari, despite both necromancer's and his friend's searches.
And since there was no pattern of who is currently in control, if Dedraime is lucky, he will be the one present during his trip to Elona. But if he is not, it's hard imagining he would even get there at all.
Luckily there was also another friend of his, Christopher. Despite the grudge necromancer held against the human race, this one particular man had found a soft spot in his heart. Was it the charm or his fearlessness, he couldn't tell now, but he sure was useful and a nice company to that. So Dedraime was glad he didn't kill him when he first got a chance. And since it seemed like Anari has not feared him at al and the man knew about his condition as well, he was a perfect candidate to travel to the desert with.
It was only a shame he wasn't there to witness it.
When this body first arrived to Elona, it was Anari who got to experience the change in climate and culture first. He was the one to get the first tastes of Elonian food and the company of Christopher and his brother, Charon, that apparently has joined their travel as well.
And when Dedraime got to wake up, it was actually this brother that was pulling him through the half-covered in violet crystals city. He couldn't recognise this place so he assumed this could be actually Elona. But the air was different than what he imagined it would be. Dark clouds were covering the sky, twisting like a tornado and loud sound of wind was rumbling in his ears. It was always those messed up situation that necromancer was waking up to so he wasn't that surprised he did now. But why was it Charon that was leading him somewhere?
Charon... their first meeting wasn't so pleasant for the redhaired one. The scar Dedraime has left on man's chest... If it was an inch deeper, he'd have reached the heart. But as he didn't want to upset Christopher, he let this one live. And it looked like it was a good decision when warrior tried to lead him out of epicenter of all this, whatever it was.
Dedraime didn't get to ask questions though. With a loud crack a few pieces of a nearby building broke off and flew in their direction. His companion also seemed to notice that and pulled him closer in his embrace to shield him from falling stones and further away from collapsing wall...
But nothing hit either of them in next few seconds. There was no sound of rocks falling nearby either. Human looked up only to find a big hand formed out of necrotic energy that caught all the rubble. He looked around for their saviour but seeing the streets empty, he finally realised and slowly turned his gaze towards the one in his arms.
"Well hello", said sylvari, smirking as a glimpse of fear has appeared in warrior's eye. Watching as man has froze in place, Dedraime tilted his head a bit to the side. "Do you ever plan on moving or have you turned into a statue?"
Charon took a step back, releasing sylvari from his arms. He was still surprised, just one second and this scared, pitiful sylvari turned into a walking horror. If the situation was different, he would probably just leave but now it would be better if they left together since Dedraime probably had no clue what is happening.
"Right, we should move, it's not safe here", he agreed turning into the direction they were going at first. As they fled towards the exit from the city, they have dodged a few encounters with Branded thanks to luck and necrotic tricks of sylvari who was more interested in lack of people and corpses in the city than weird creatures.
Finally, they have reached the gate where two Cavaliers hurried them to run away from the city. And they did, slowlyleaving brandstorm and dangers behind.
"So... what is going on?", sylvari asked, turning back in place to look towards the city they left behind. With all the sand and palm trees it was obvious they were in Elona now so he didn't bother to ask about that.
Warrior stopped, finally letting himself a longer breath.
"It's... brandstorm. I think. It's not unusual for them to appear in Elona, from what I've heard but... Amnoon? It's the main city. It doesn't look too casual either. The storm. More like something I've heard Shatterer doing but it's already dead."
"A brandstorm..."
So this was how his adventures here start, huh?
"And where is your brother?", sylvari asked, knowing Charon isn't much of conversationalist and he will just get bored here after a while.
"We... had to split up", said warrior, visibly not happy about that fact. "I just hope he's okay", Charon murmured, raising his hand to scratch the back of his neck, turning his worried look towards branded clouds in the distance.
"Why wouldn't he?", Dedraime shrugged, sounding not worried about the fact at all. He believed Chris capable of surviving on his own. Especially with these magical abilities he has finally revealed to him. "We should seek shelter for ourselves. If all the stories about wild creatures roaming desert are true, that is? And the cold nights?", he looked at Charon for confirmation but the guy seemed not to listen. Sylvari rolled his eyes, slightly irritated already. So useful.
It was going dark quickly and as Dedraime decided where to go on his own, they have moved off the road towards the tall rocky walls, seeking shelter from wind and cold there.