An Acolyte's Beginning

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

The armored male figure walked slowly along the trail to the Exigo Expedition camp. As a newcomer, he knew not of where the trail lead, only that it was well-traversed by heavy boots; likely a type of militia staging ground.

Valion looked amongst the area with his single ice-blue eye. To his left; guardsmen, and plenty of them. To his right; a lone camper, armored as well, but accompanied by a rather recently deceased corpse.

"Intriguing.." thought Valion.

He stepped closer to the single man and his campfire. Immediately, he was besieged by a look of scorn from the stranger.

"My campfire is my own," the peculiar man said with an annoyed tone. ".. seek shelter elsewhere."

Well aware his presence was undesired, Valion did not reply. He instead shot a glance to the rather ripe corpse baking in the evening sunlight next to him.

"As you desire," Valion said quickly, not wishing to antagonize a violent scene. ".. I am merely here to collect the dead. I shall disturb you no further."

Valion leaned down and gently lifted the corpse into his arms. He brought his single eye back to the armored stranger, but the man uttered not a single word. With a slight nod and a respectful smile, Valion left the man in peace as he brought the corpse into the Sharahan Hills.

Dusk was well on its way, and with twilight approaching, Valion was left no choice but to seek refuge near an abandoned campfire site. The corpse was lain next to the ashes as the new arrival situated his shield and morningstar nearby, in case of a nocturnal goblin ambush. Valion watched as last remains of the sun disappeared over the horizon, ushering in the velvety-black drape of night.

As the night came, sounds of territorial creatures, goblin and otherwise, could be heard in the distance as they quarreled amongst each other. In his age, Valion did not have the acute sense of hearing as he did in his youth. The feral yelps and cries of the creatures of the hills seemed to reverberate endlessly to him; he seemed unable to judge their distance. Looking back to the corpse, he thought of a plan.

Procuring a small, uncut black onyx gem from his inventory, Valion quickly made way to the corpse and placed the gem into the deceased's mouth. Valion fell to his knees into a submissive form, and prayed in a monotonous, chanting tone..

"Lord of Bones, I beseech thee.. your embrace is for all and is patient but sure.. the living shall know and fear you.. so sayeth your mortal herald.."

Again and again, he chanted. As he uttered the incantations to his deity, Valion soon felt something. Whether it was the numbing of his extremities or the cobweb-like feeling across his skin, Valion knew the Lord of Bones was watching him. As he concentrated, Valion looked down to the corpse; what once was a humanoid of animal-like face and clawed hands was naught but fully decayed flesh with a tinge, a spark of reanimation.


First to move was the corpse's tail..

Then the fingers..

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

Valion watched from above the Mossclaw encampment as the Dwarf below attacked the vile beasts. He was rugged, boastful; typical of a Dwarf, as far as Valion could tell. With axe and shield in hand, the fearless Dwarven fighter charged into the Mossclaw headquarters, stirring up hell in the depths of the fiend's homes.

Valion watched the unfolding battle with sheer delight from the shadows above. Gnoll archers pulled back their drawstrings and aimed at the Dwarf - subtle goblins crept along the shadows - even a behemoth ogre, laying in wait with a monstrous-sized club..

.. Valion's anticipation was palpable.


Fortune seemed fickle for the Dwarf that day, for the assault ended quite swiftly. The Dwarf tore two goblin attackers and the ogre asunder before he stopped dead in his tracks. A horrible wheezing sound emanated from the Dwarf, a sound that resonated throughout the entire Mossclaw encampment. Valion's eyes widened in pure ecstasy as he gazed upon the Dwarf attempting to pull the fatal arrow out from his throat. With the projectile removed, the wheezing sound was exacerbated; the Dwarf's death throes reminded Valion of a swine having it's throat cut. To Valion, it was sweet, sweet music..

The gnoll archers rallied and hailed each other in success and triumph; the beasts danced around the Dwarf mockingly as the last specks of life faded from the Dwarf's eyes. Valion slowly made his way down the nearby hill, savoring the cacophany of wretching celebratory noises of the monsters relishing their kill. Valion unclasped his wicked darksteel morningstar from his side, knowing full well that the beasts would be distracted in their moment of pride...


.. and in that moment, he struck. His blunt instrument of suffering connected to the gnoll's heads quickly and with ease. With no remaining reinforcements, the Mossclaw encampment was devoid of any remaining lifeforms - Valion exluded. With the area safe, Valion made his way over to the dying Dwarf, placing his weapon and shield on the ground next to the figure as he watched the Dwarf begin to twitch.

With dusk approaching, Valion smiled to the skies as opportunity reared its beautiful head. He kneeled, placing both hands on the Dwarf, still not completely dead, and bowed his head.

"Master, Lord of Bones, I beseech thee.. I commit to thee, Lord of the Dead, an offering of mortal life-force for thy's devourance and enjoyment.. "

As Valion chanted, his right gauntlet slid behind him during his devout concentration and moved towards a small scabbard alongside his belt. His gauntlet returned, slowly, with a sharp dagger in hand, which moved to the Dwarf's neck as the chanting finished.

"Master, Reaper of All Life, may you find this pittance pleasing.. Your hand is everywhere; there is no door you cannot pass, nor guardian who can withstand you..."



"... So it is done."