Intrusion

An assault on the mind of a priest

There is an eerie silence in the mind of Valadain, priest of Malkar, after he puts on the ring of the Sharyr. This silence does not last, the thoughts of the dragons are replaced by a voice of crystal clarity…sinister, taunting, deadly…

“So you have listened to the Glaennyn,” Malador says telepathically. “Now you will listen to me, priest. The greatest living souls in history…or so you would think. I suppose you know now of my calling…and my master. But there is still time for you, Valadain, still time for your salvation; still the hours are in your favour. A priest turned is viewed favourably in the eyes of Azael…such favour and power that your god could only dream of. There is still time, young Valadain, there is still time for you to denounce your god and take up the mantel of our cause. Turn to Azael and power unlimited will be yours.

“But I sense your rejection…but you do not possess the full facts, Valadain, the full extent of the betrayal against you.

“An entertaining fight the other day. No doubt your companions are revelling in my misfortune…yet I achieved everything I intended that day and discovered more than I bargained for. Know your enemy my master says and I certainly know mine. Vance Dexton’s blood revealed much…revealed his monumental betrayal. Are you aware of his poison in your blood? Are you aware of the insidious control he holds over every member of your little group? Are you aware of his duplicity?

“It is clear to me that you are not. Vance Dexton has secreted a slow acting drug into your bloodstream (and that of your friends) a drug so sophisticated and sorcerous that it remains passive within until he activates it with elemental sorcery. The drug allows him to totally control your actions to the point of suicide…and you are not the only person he has drugged. The list involves kings and sorcerers and other priests. The Kasadai has his own agenda…a dark agenda that will consume everyone you care for and every friend you have ever trusted. He has designs on your god, priest, designs to control an entire religion!

“There comes a point of revelation, an epiphany that wakens a mind to what is happening. You are at that point, Valadain, and should you trust this man he will have your soul. He has killed more in his long life than any god…he is the moral assassin, trained and deployed by the universe to correct the anomalies of Time itself. He is not to be trusted.

“I have studied his blood. My laboratories are in the lower planes; the plane of Poison, the plane of Darkness. I have concocted an antidote to his vile drug…and a poison designed specifically to slay him. Custom built, infallible, ingenious and devastating. It cannot fail. I have deposited it liberally so that even the slightest touch will create a chain reaction within that will slay him forever.

“I offer you an escape route…a new life. When Cedron (an arch priest of Chaos) turned his back on his religion he became the greatest sorcerer in history and subsequently slew the gods he had worshipped. You are at that crossroads, Valadain. You are the true master of your own destiny…if only you had the courage to cross the line.

“Azael is coming…as is the horde of Chaos. If you stand in its path you will be swept away with the tide of humanity. Yet there is hope for you, there is a way that you can see but you dare not reach for. The Way of the Glaennyn is the hope for all mankind; the gods themselves push you along the route they are being misled. The true power of dragons is gone, along with the great dragon lords that died at the hand of Cedron.

“What remains is a shadow and a spirit. The gods would not suffer them to live…they would not tolerate their existence in the new universe. Only Promethius and the Unmaker were older…we have seen where these creatures have ended up. The Glaennyn are spiritual, their power is spent. Give up your cause and turn to Azael…the true emerging power in the universe. Turn to the Way of Darkness and become his second disciple.

“Why should you turn against your god?

“Because Vance Dxeton – the man who kissed the altar of Malkar – means to slay the god. Mark my words, Valadain, there is treachery all around you…the only truth is that of Malador…that of Azael. When a priest turns it creates a ripple in the fabric of the universe…you will cause a flood.

“Go in peace…go in good fortune...”