Arcane Befoulings Afoot

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

"Ugh.. by the Hells.. so damned heavy!"

The voice of the old man rang throughout the cavern multiple times, echoing off walls, reverberating back and forth. Perhaps if had more light at his disposal, his task would be much easier.. However, the only accompanying light before the old fellow was merely a ring worn on his right hand of the deepest emerald, casting an eerie green glow on the cavern walls around him.

If the old man could be seen, one would witness a rather interesting perspective; an elderly man, dressed in scholarly robes, hoisting what would look to be a corpse in a 'fireman-carry' position, albeit with utmost difficulty.

"Hmph.", snorted the old man, dropping the cadaver to the ground. His frustration with his inability to carry such a heavy vessel was palpable.

"If you cannot be carried," said the old man, pulling back the sleeves on his robes, readying himself. ".. I shall command you to walk."

The elderly fellow reached into a beltpouch, producing a strange, gem-like object. The surface was dark, yet reflected the green light of the old man's ring. He bent down, and shoved the gem into the cadaver's mouth with great force.

The man stood back up, a great passion enveloping his gaze. He looked down to the corpse. Again, he proclaimed, "You.. shall.. WALK!!" The man's voice again rang throughout the cavern, reverberating almost endlessly against the dank cave. The old man followed his words with rather strange, esoteric hand gestures; his normal, friendly demeanor was quite absent and replaced with a dark, foul desire.

Below, the man's power was starting to reveal itself. The cadaver shifted ever-so-slightly. The old man proclaimed again, louder, demanding a specific effect. "Rise, servant! I command thee! You.. shall... WALK!"

Immediately following the old man's decree, the gem-like object forcefully located in the cadaver's throat decayed to pieces. The cadaver's eyelids opened, slowly.. followed by an unholy moan. It hungered.

A combined look of excitement, and lust for power over nature overcame the old man's face, seeing his desires materialize. The old man responded to the creature's abomination of a groan. ""Yes... rise, servant.. Rise! You are MINE!"

Slowly, the creature obeyed. What was once a man now stood before the wizard; a decaying, empty insatiable husk...

Satisfied with his creation, the old man moved closer to the undead abomination, running his fingers across its' head in a somewhat lovingly manner.

"Soon, there shall come a day so dark.. the peoples of the Valley will pray for death.." The old man's hand stopped along the back of the undead's head, resting dominantly. ".. and on that day," The old man moved his hand back to his body, severing the negative energy connection to his creation, utterly destroying the cadaver.


".. Their prayers will be answered."

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

The ancient charred, rotting creature of the temple held out the amulet before him. It said nothing; merely presenting the object and looking into the old mage with an expressionless, dead stare.

The old man outstretched his own arm, grasping the opposite end of the object. "I give him my life," the old man stared into the gaze of the ancient creature. ".. To deliver His death." The creature's grasp on the amulet went limp, dropping into the hand of the elderly man.

The mage looked down to the object, inspecting the artifact handed to him. Several linked painful loops of bloodied barbed wire served as a chain, with an attachment of a full-size dark metal coin which reflected no light. One side was darkness eternal; the other displaying an intricate ivory carving of a skull surrounded by the dark background.

The old man adorned it around his neck, the prongs of the sadistic-looking chain poking holes into his skin. While he expected pain, instead, he found energy. The years which had so subtly pushed him to the precipice of old age seemed to melt away..

A grin overcame the old man's face as he made his way down to the exit of the evil temple. In the ecstasy of his newfound vigor, he muttered to himself upon his exit..

"Very soon..."