A Struggle to Find Himself (part I)

The necromancer, known as Mythkal, uttered a gutteral incantation and the ghoul growled, taking a step toward the pregnant woman. A man foolishly stepped in front of the woman to block the creature from advancing. Gasping as he began to understand what the necromancer was demanding he said, 'No, not that. We cannot do that. ' in a shocked tone. Mythkal reminded himself to be calm and patient, that this was the one he was searching for. With a slight gesture of his hand the powerful necromancer haulted the advancing undead creature in its tracks. The creature became stone still, almost frozen, lifeless. With a rasp and a weeze he spoke, 'I require your first born child if you wish to live. ' Mythkal continued, 'You will deliver him to my tower in the hills north of here upon his sixth year. Do not think about escape I have undead who would rip you limb from limb should you leave the region. ' Mythkal thought of the day he would turn these pathetic souls against their son to keep control of his simmering anger. The woman, crying at this point, looked at her husband. She grabbed his hand and gave a weak nod, having no choice in the matter. Having agreed to the demands of the necromancer they were now under his protection. Recently he had come to the village and slain many of the villagers, mostly farmers they were powerless to resist him and his minions during the battle. As silent as death the master of the dark arts departed the decimated village, leaving less than half the village alive and taking all the recently slain with him to bolster his armys strength. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- On Herlins sixth birthday he was so excited to take a trip with his father into the foothills near his village. As the tower came into view several skeletal guards surrounded the pair and escorted them to the tower. Herlin was frightened of the skeletal creatures escorting them and tried to question his father but his father did not answer. Jaw set, eyes forward the man seemed to ignore his son entirely. Once they reached the tower, the man crouched down beside his son and gave him a great big hug, whispering in his ear the love he had for him and he encouraged his son to do great things. Herlin was confused at the words his father had spoken into his ear and just as he was about to question his father the tower doors opened and Mythkal came out of the tower. He had two ghastly escorts of foul-smelling, rotting flesh with him and motioned for them to take the boy inside the tower without a word. As the beasts approached Herlin became terrified and cried out to his father for help. Screaming for his father to do something, anything to assist him. His father stood there, motionless, watching as his son was taken away forever. The necromancer had instructed the father not to say a word on penalty of death. Once the doors to the tower closed the man was allowed to leave and the skeletal guards escorted him beyond the towers undead defenses. Emotionless, they returned to their original posts once the man had gone. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Inside the tower Herlin was taken to a holding cell by the undead creatures and left there for quite some time before Mythkal came to see him. The boy was left devestated, was in tears, confused and feeling abandoned by his father. When the necromancer came to see Herlin he left the undead minions behind and spoke in harsh tones to Herlin about why he was there and what was to become of him. He stated that Herlin was to become an apprentice and learn the ways of death magic and necromancy from the necromancer himself. He said that it would test Herlins resolve and will to live and be a very trying experience. Mythkal even went as far to describe some of the early rituals involving acid burns and other unpleasant things taking pleasure in watching the reactions of the uncomfortable, pathetic human child. He again reminded himself of the greater cause and purpose for this wretched vessel of life. This horrified Herlin and he began to wimper and cry even more. Mythkal quickly nd abruptly ended this with a stern, commanding voice. He grasped Herlin by his wrist, with a biting cold grip, stronger than a giant and calm as death said that the boy would not cry ever again. And Herlin never did. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- After several years of what can only be described as torture and the systematic breaking of wills the boy was gradually conditioned through painful experiences, both physical and mental in nature. The pinnacle of this conditioning was when Mythkal turned Herlins long forgotten parents against him in the form of undead creatures. On one occasion Mythkal used Herlins mother, a recently created undead creature, to inflict crippling damage on Herlins face. He was held down while what was left of his mother, claws dripping with acid, slowly and painfully, scratched deep gashes down the left side of his face.

A Struggle to Find Himself (part II)

By now Herlin had given up thoughts of becoming a necromancer, he was convinced that Mythkal was up to something more sinister. He became very suspicious of all the tower inhabitants. Mythkal was not tutoring him as any form of apprentice that was clear. He wasn't sure what the crazied necromancer was planning, but over time, Herlin noticed what he thought were patterns in the rituals and Herlin began to see the acid for what it represented more clearly, almost as if he was developing a connection to the element. It wasn't clear why but the acid slowly began to have less impact on him. He was able to ignore the pain easier and this pleased Mythkal for some reason. Mythkal silently praised Sakuragi for the break through with the acid testing. He will make a strong vessel for my plans, Mythkal thought. I will begin the rituals for the sacrifice within a year he mused. Over time, things gradually became better for Herlin and, having passed what can only be considered a test of endurance, he found that Mythkal began to treat him better. Despite the improved conditions Herlin was still weary of Mythkal. He began learning basic spells from some of the shamans in the tower. It was a slow process with more painful encounters but Herlin came to enjoy his sessions with a particular shaman he worked with known as Bethal. The time spent working with this shaman helped Herlin become more confident in his own abilities. Mythkal promised Herlin that soon the time would come for Herlin to move past these trivial shamanistic spells and delve into true necromancy. Mythkal claimed that this was where the power over life and death truely lied. Mastery of this could lead the necromancer to prepare for the after-life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Herlin awoke to the sound of battle and a loud battle cry. Startled and confused he was unprepared when a high ranking shaman came into his room. 'We are under attack! ' he shouted. 'Mythkal is downstairs fending off the holy warriors by himself! ' and with a cry of rage he turned and ran out of the room. Herlin cautiously moved out of the room, listening to the sounds of battle. He did not move immediately towards the battle, but rather began looking for a place to hide. He could tell from the shouts that the shamans and Mythkal were losing and he wanted no part of this. He managed to make his way to the dungeons and quickly locked himself in one of the cells hiding the key under some hay. He took out a rusted blade and cut gashes in his arms and legs producing fresh blood stains on his clothing, he winced at the pain but reminded himself it was necessary. As one of the warriors approached the cell Herlin was just finishing up patting dirt all over his face and cloths. He had just taken a vial of acid out and poured it over his hands as well adding to the looks of torture. This left them bleeding and wounded. It looked convincing enough and the paladin took pitty on him, healing his minor wounds. He assured Herlin that he was safe now and there would be no more harm to come to him. On the way out of the tower Herlin did well to hide his concern for the slaughter of what he considered the closest thing to a family. Adding to the act, Herlin kicked the body of a particular shaman he loathed. The holy warrior that had rescued him from the holding cell smiled, feeling better about his choice to save the young boy. Upon seeing the body of Bethal, though, Herlin noticed his eyes began to water. When the paladin noticed this Herlin said it was all too much to take in, saying he could not believe he was free from the torture of these savages. The holy knight gave a firm nod of understanding and a pat on the sickly boys back. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- It took several days of travel to reach the city these warriors were from. Herlin made calculated observations of this company of lightwalkers. He noted their holy symbols, their armor and weapons and silently vowed to himself he would find a way to repay these knights for stealing the only opportunity to gain power Herlin had in his wretched life when they killed the necromancer and shamans. He was eager to be free of their company, feeling quite out of place with the company of men. Having never seen a city he was shocked at the size of Seringdale when it came into view. Once they were past the gates one of the warriors took Herlin to an inn nearby and gave him a small coin purse stating he was safe here and that the innkeeper would take care of him for a time until he was able to learn the ways of city life a bit more.