Black Spirit

Valadain and the Heart of Darkness

            The darkness within the impenetrable stone has an unholy attraction for you. Within is the concentrated power of your father, whose tainted spirit is in your hands, but the prison of the stone cannot be opened…by any save one of your father’s blood. Your own spirit is strong, shielded by the light of Malkar you do not fear the release of the spirit…in fact you demand its presence boldly – as if seeking answers to the most fundamental question.

            Who am I?

            “So you are my son,” the spirit says with deceptive calmness. There is savageness about the tone, a bitter mix of cruelty and malevolence, and an evil so pure it makes you shudder. “One of many,” it snarls.

            “I have sired litters full of evil bastards yet you seem different Valadain. You are surprised I know your name? I know more than you think! You see me as a tyrant, a sadist that produced terror and evil? But as yet you have no idea what your own master, Malkar the Black, perpetrated on the day of my death. He slew everything, my son, the children, the women – he indiscriminately butchered everything in his path until there was no more…the innocent, the infirm and the helpless…all slaughtered.

            “It was only the intervention of the Woman in White that saved you. Her calmness and rationality saved the day for you…but he saved you for a life of slavery and servitude, a life that is an abhorrence to our family and all that we stand for. Malkar has imprisoned you…now that he is a god your shackles run soul deep. But there is always hope for you…the heart of darkness is more than a symbol of power – it is reserved for the highest echelons of demonic nobility. You are of the highest stock and as such your apprenticeship must begin at once.

            “The Heartstone will call to you an army – its song is too alluring for an Abyss dweller to ignore – it stirs in them primal emotions that a human can never understand. But then you know this…deep down. For you are not entirely human. Within you is the capacity for evil…the ability to see through the lies of Malkar and realise that he is as demonic as you are! Malkar the White indeed!

            “But you need proof of my words and where better than one of similar kind. You know of Illiem Runesabre for he is etched in your mind and I can pluck your thoughts and fears from you without effort. Your brother! His life took a different path and he fears what your master did to his kin – your kin – he fears the revenge that Malkar will meter out in his pogrom against half-bloods.

            “He fears your revenge too. But I don’t think you will raise a hand to him…I sense your devotion to our kind but also an inability to betray him. There are so few of my family left yet still enough for the higher purpose to which I was committed…a purpose you now must take on board.

            “Illeum denies his upbringing as you do…yet it is a fact. You are both demon-kin, your blood is the very oldest, the vilest and the most dangerous. You will eventually come to the decision yourselves but for now embrace yourself in the cosy warmth of your god…but beware. Malkar has a streak of blackness to rival any demon – and when you have served your usefulness he will disregard you like he disregarded the lives of the hundreds he slew in cold blood.

            “Face it, Valadain, you are demonic. How will you be viewed when this secret escapes? Will the priests fawn about you in an attempt to court the favour of Malkar? I think not. Better that you make plans for your escape now…because these priests can be persistent when roused.

            “Go to the valley of my death if you are allowed. The spirits of your family still roam there to this day; their anguished screams can still be heard on the wind. Seek a small cave on the eastern ridge. Seek it if you want the truth!”