Once, long ago, before history was written and humans were civil, before the alliance and before the horde, when wars were but petty squabbles between enemy houses that thirsted for power. A time when Evil was Great, and Heroes were few....
It was during this time that a severely disadvantaged house, the House of Storm, decided it needs a powerful force to lead it to victory. The house of Storm searched out a rumoured camp of Elvin mages who had been banished from Elvin contact for there sins against nature. They hoped that they could persuade the elves to give them power beyond power, enough strength to rule the World. The House of Storm sent an expedition into a forest that had been tainted by evil black arts, its trees moaned in pain, the grass cowered against the ground, vines killed small animals, and a horrible putrid stench permeated everything. It was here the expedition found a camp of Elves, terribly disfigured, hideous creations of evil. The first man to enter into the perimeter of the camp was hit with a bolt of light; it thrashed his flesh and tore into his soul wrenching it from his body. His corpse arose and his soul screamed as it was devoured by its own body, his corpse stood now, poised to strike at his former companions.
One of the disfigured elves stepped forward, "What business do you have with us?" One of the terrified men stepped forward, shaking with fear he answered, "We… We have a proposition... for you're... you're... uh… for your camp..."
"Then step forward into the confines of our sanctuary human." As the elf spoke there former friend dropped to the ground and was devoured by vines that erupted from the ground. The expedition followed closely behind the elf into a bloated tree dripping with ooze and wailing in pain. Inside the tree there were reagents of many kinds, terrible smells were everywhere, corpses of small animals hung on the walls, creatures in cages that were like nothing they had ever seen, everything in the bloated tree was terrifying.
The elf sat on a chair made out of vines and dead branches, "What do you want humans, I have little patience and less time." This time the same man stepped forward a bit more calm, "We come on behalf of The House of Storm, we require a powerful magic to help us defeat our foes. We are willing to reward your cooperation greatly."
The elf leaned back and pondered the situation, "Human, we will create something that will help you win your war. We will have to bind this magic to one of your souls; it is recommended the most honourable warrior of you takes this burden, for without a calm mind and a pure soul the power of this magic will corrupt you."
A man clad in ring mail armour stepped forward, "Elf, I am Deerg Storm the greatest warrior of these people, I am heir to The House of Storm, and I have won countless battles… I can bear the burden of this magic for my people." The elf stood, "That is indeed… noble of you. Follow me to the casting circle."
The expedition followed out into the center of the camp, a flash of light blinded everyone and when there vision cleared a circle of stone was on the ground, "Deerg, stand in the center of the circle." Deerg obeyed and walked into the center of the circle.
Several other disfigured elves made there way out of the shadows and to the circle; they stood around it and began to speak eerie words. The winds began to swirl, trees began to sway and screaming in terror, the forest felt this magic before and feared it, the plants died for miles around the circle, animals decayed to dust in seconds… A red column of light shot down from above and crashed onto Deerg. The light dissipated, the forest quieted, the wind calmed... It was over...
Deerg lay on the ground, smoke rising from his body, his metal now a pool of molten metal, his sword lay to the side glowing an eerie red. One of the men from the expedition stepped up to Deerg trying to lift him to his feet… An elf stood behind the men startling them when he spoke, "It is done, he has achieved untold power. Now give us our payment and leave." One of them men handed him a large sack, it held many precious jewels, magic talismans, and other such items. The group of men took a moment to collect them selves, Deerg already was able to stand on his own, they bid the elves farewell and headed back to Storm Keep.
A few weeks later they were about to reach the summit of a hill looking over there Keep and its surrounding lands, what they say was total devastation. They ran as fast as they could to the keep, they moved rubble, the scoured the surrounding land, the looked for any trace of there people, but all they found were corpses and rubble… Nothing was left of The House of Storm. The expedition set up a small camp in the ruins of there keep, the men sat around a fire going over what to do, coming up with plans for revenge. Deerg sat away from the rest of the men, he was going over how he lost his family, he lost his lands, his friends, everyone he had ever known was gone. It is this moment that Deerg snapped, his rage bottled up, himself control was lost, and the magic he had been given had corrupted him. He no longer felt the need to be just, or to think out his actions, he no longer had a conscience of morals… He was a creature of vengeance and he would destroy his enemies.
Deerg sifted through the rubble finding whatever armour he could, he grabbed his sword and left for the nearest other house, House of the Eagle. Deerg travelled 2 days and 3 nights to reach there massive keep. Many tents were setup through out there land hosting a massive army. It looked as if House of the Eagle has help defeating his people. A celebration was clearly going on in commemoration of there victory.
Deerg walked into the camp; he was confronted by two guards, "What business do you have in these lands." The one guard asked… Deerg drew his sword and answered, "Vengeance…" Deerg struck the guard to the left and cut him in half, the guard to the right prepared to parry Deergs attack with his great sword but when the strike came Deergs sword broke through and tore the guards his stomach wide open. After Deerg had killed both the guards he noticed he felt a bit more powerful, that he has drained them of there life… their very soul…
A group of warrior nearby hard the screams from the dieing guards and rushed to see what had happened, they prepared for a fight. They charged at Deerg slashing and thrusting at him but only meeting his sword. Deerg released the rage within him self, he stabbed one of the men, beheaded the other, he spun down to a sitting position parting two of the men from there legs. The last man was frozen with fear, never had he seen anyone like that, with his last breath he screamed, "TO ARMS!" Deerg jumped to his feet and cut the man in half down the middle.
A large number of warriors and archers assemble around Deerg, they see the corpses of there fallen comrades and begin to yell and taunt Deerg. Arrows start flying and bouncing off of his skin, what arrows do stick don't faze him in the least.
Deerg Whispers, "I am all powerful…" He gets louder, "I am invincible…" He yells, "And I will kill you all!"
His soul collapses entirely under the weight of the magic, he has direct control of the powers within him now, he can channel it, and he can use it. The magic pushes him to kill, it tells him he is meant to rule this world; that he is the sole heir to everything and that destroying this town is but the first step in his ascension to god hood…
He points toward one of the men, the man turns pale… he screams in pain and crumples into a pile on the ground. Deerg looks at another warrior, the armour he is wearing starts to melt, burning him to death. The small army that had gathered charged Deerg, they tried to hurt him but he was not being hit. Deerg slammed his sword into the ground, a crack tore out from his sword and pillars of stone impaled many men. He then spun in a circle beheading ten men at least. Deerg pointed his sword and a beam of light shot from it blasting through the group of men, "I grow tired of this…" as Deerg spoke a blast of energy emanated from his body, the blast tore at the flesh of the men around him, leaving mindless skeletons with but hanging chunks of flesh and dangling armour, "Wreak havoc!" Deerg yelled. The skeletons began destroying buildings and attacking the people of the House of The Eagle.
Deerg left behind his group of undead warriors and headed into the town proper, as he went he killed guard after guard, civilian after civilian. He walked straight to the gate of the keep, there the elite guards stood, protecting the entrance to Elans Keep. Deerg motioned an arc in front of him with his sword and a blade of red magic slammed against the guards and the door. The guards bones shattered and the door broke to pieces. Deerg raised his sword into the air and the shattered bones tore out of there fallen bodies, they swirled around his weapon, "Take form fallen warriors, rise to fight for your new master" the bones slammed together, the mass of bones then crashed into one of the corpses devouring it, tendrils of flesh and bone reached out and grabbed onto the other elite guards corpses, each corpse was devoured, there armour and flesh was melted together, it took shape into a skeletal beast. The beast had man arms and heads, it was a mass of bone and flesh, it dripped bloods and pieces of flesh fell to the ground, "Let no one in." Deerg said as he passed the beast. The monstrous skeleton creation began patrolling the entrance devouring anything living it saw, adding to it self, becoming stronger and bigger.
Deerg walked through the Keep, killing anyone he saw. He walked up many fights of stairs; he finally came to two massive doors with a large group of the best warriors in the House of the Eagle. Each of the warrior's weapons was magical, they all glowed in some colour, and they lit the hall in an array of colours. Deerg went into a battle stance, the red glow on his sword erupted into a torrent of red flame. He ran into the group of warriors, as he fought them he noticed these extremely powerful weapons they wield were nothing more then a slight sting to him... He killed one warrior after another, shattering there weapons and bodies. One after another fell till there was none. He kicked down the massive door and entered Elim Lord of the Eagles grand hall, "Elim, you attacked and destroyed my people, why?" Elim was sitting in a throne at the opposite end of the hall, He stood, "We owe you know answer beast, you were weak so we took your land. Your lord was one of dark arts as well, he would have unleashed terrible evil had we let him and his people live. It is regrettable that you survived…"
Deerg smiled, "You have no idea what has been released cause of your actions, we would have conquered you and we would have shown mercy, we wouldn't have slaughtered you or all your people… Now it's too late, it's all over for you and your house."
"I'm not a fool Deerg, you father would have struck me down, he was evil. Your entire house was evil, you did whatever you could to win, you made pacts with dark magic to try and defeat your enemies, and you wanted to rule the entire world."
"Now I will rule the entire world, now I will. Prepare to die…"
The keep began to shake, the ceiling crumbled in and collapsed, the walls buckled under stress, the keep was about to fall in on it self, "What have you become?" Elim asked… The voice inside Deerg spoke to him, "you are the Great destroyer…" Deerg looked Elim square in his eyes, "I am the great destroyer and I will destroy everything!" As he spoke the keep gave way and rubble poured down upon Elim and Deerg, the surrounding lands cracked and rolled as the town was swallowed up by the earth. Fire erupted from the ground and covered the ruins; Deerg concentrated and was teleported outside the confines of the keep. He watched as what was left of the House of the Eagle was covered in molten rock.
Deerg headed off for the next nearest house, House of the Lion. He went there and destroyed there keep and there lands, he headed off to the lands of House of the Tides, they to fell beneath his power. He reached the last of the major houses that had helped in the attack against his lands, House of the Hyena. This house like the others was destroyed and its ruins covered in molten rock, wiping them from history.
Deerg was satisfied with this, he turned to head back his shattered home, but that voice in his head stopped him. It told him to go and take the world, to rule it. The voice within him commanded he do so, it was his destiny, he was the great destroyer and he was to cleanse this world. Deerg asked quietly, "How should I do this?" The voice told him to kill the Guardian of this world, which without his magic the measly life on this planet will not survive the coming trials.
Deerg felt his mind turn him toward the east, where he saw mountains in the distance. "There." the voice inside him said, "You will find the guardian upon the mountains peak, now go." Deerg obeyed the voice and set off for what we now know as the Alterac Mountains.
After two months of solid travel, without rest or food, he reached the base of the Alterac Mountains. The voice directed his vision to one of the peaks, "He is there, at the summit, kill him and we will have won." Deerg started trudging up the mountains side, no beast he met along the way gave him any challenge, anything that moved he killed, and he left a trail of death behind him. Every step he took the mountain shook slightly, the grand mountain felt the evil within him, the taint of the unholy… Boulders fell and trees collapsed, Deergs path up the mountain was like a deep cut along its existence causing pain and spreading death, whatever came across his dark path would die and arise as a mindless warrior to be commanded by Deerg.
After two weeks of climbing he reached the summit, the snow was avoiding this flat surface, it was comfortable and a small tree grew near a little home. Deerg raised his sword and the home exploded into little pieces that scattered across the ground, "Come out guardian, it is time for you to die!"
Before him an old man appeared holding a tangled staff, "Why have you destroyed my home?"
"I have come to kill you Guardian; I have been commanded to cleanse you from this world."
"I smell the taint of Evil on you… I can feel the demonic touch that has embraced you; you are no longer human… You are a tool of the demons." The guardian said in a powerful voice.
"Perhaps I have Guardian, regardless I have been told to kill you and I will."
Deerg raised his sword and a burst of fire engulfed the Guardian, Suddenly Deerg felt a pain on the back of his head, he stumbled forward and turned to see the Guardian standing behind him, "You are no match for me you Demon Pawn."
The guardian waved his staff and the tree that stood near where his house once did tore it self from the ground, it formed eyes and a mouth, and it wailed feeling the pain of the mountain. The tree rushed at Deerg knocking him to the ground, it clawed at him. "Look at the pain your mere presence causes to the land, you are a festering wound of this world, and you can not be allowed to spread your evil."
"But I will spread my evil! I can do nothing less, I am The Great Destroyer! Everything will fall before me!" He tore the enraged Ent in two with his sword; it fell over unable to move any longer. Deerg charged at the guardian, he struck at him… The guardian parried his attack with his ancient staff. An explosion came from behind Deerg and he was knocked to the ground again, his sword falling from his grip. The guardian picked up the sword, "This weapon is a device of the demons, and no mortal will ever possess this power again!" The red on the sword waned and flickered, a green light forced its way up the blade encompassing the power and holding it its true power at bay.
Deerg arose from the ground, he had an aura of flames around him; he seemed to be burning from within, "I don't need any weapon to destroy you… I have all the power I need to destroy you." As Deerg spoke his voice fade in an out between his own and some demonic creatures. Deerg began throwing balls of Demons Flame at the guardian and as old as the guardian looked he evaded every one, when the balls of fire hit ground the exploded in a massive burst of energy.
Deerg pointed at the Guardian and a ray of demonic magic shot out of his hand, the guardian dodged it and Deerg followed him with the beam tearing this peak apart. The Guardian disappeared all of a sudden and onto a rock behind Deerg, he raised his arms into the air and hundreds of lightning bolts crashed onto Deerg. As the smoke cleared Deerg could be seen emanated a much stronger red flame, his skin began melting away as they fought.
The Guardian dropped down from the rock he was on and sprinted toward Deerg, he crashed his staff against the side of his head; an explosion of demonic energies pushed the staff away and through the Guardian back. The open wound left by the staff began burning away to the muscle and bone under Deergs skin, his flesh fell to the ground and burned away. Deerg laughed in a Demonic voice, "There is nothing you can do to stop me Guardian! This world will be ours!"
Deerg through the guardian against the rock he was not moments ago standing on, Deerg summoned forth a gigantic column of flame that engulfed the Guardian. Within the flame the guardian stood and with a wave of his staff dispelled the fire. The guardian sent a wave of energy at Deerg, throwing him back. Again the Guardian called upon nature to aid him in his fight, vines and roots held down Deerg, spires of rock tore through him, breaking his bones and tearing at what flesh and muscle he had left. Deergs demonic aura flared and broke the thousands of vines holding him down, shattering the pillars impaling his inhuman body, whatever flesh was left burned away, his muscles retreated into the inside of his chest forming a sphere, the demonic flame engulfed this sphere of muscle, the demonic aura subsided for a moment as it condensed its power. The ball of muscle turned to a black sphere, it burned with demonic flames, Deergs bones began to glow a red colour, and large flaming wings erupted from his back.
Deerg spoke in a demonic echoing voice, "Guardian… You have no chance for victory… Your world belongs to the Demons now, and there is nothing you can do… I am the bearer of this destruction, prepare for death."
Tendril of demonic energy shot from the bark sphere within the center of Deerg, they lashed at the guardian tearing at his flesh. Deerg raised his arms and a rain of fire came down from above smashing against the guardian, then with a mighty push of his flaming wings he went into the air, he hovered above the guardian laying on the ground, "This world is doomed." Deerg waved his arms, he summoned forth great demonic energies, he swirled the energies around his hands and then with a thrust of his arm sent a beam of pure evil at the Guardian, it smashed into the guardian, the ground cracked and gave way under the force, tendrils of death shot from the beam hitting all around, killing any life near the beam. The ground gave way and a crater began to form as the dark energies continued to pound into the guardian.
A faint glow came from within the dark beam, it grew brighter till the base of the beam was glowing with bright white light, and the guardian prepared his staff for what he must do next. He let the shield of light fall around him and as the beam came back toward him he released a great burst of magic that blew the ground away around him. The beam of evil arched back and slammed into Deerg knocking him from the air.
The Guardian summoned forth a burst of molten rock, it encased the legs and arms of Deerg, The guardian picked up the glowing sword, "Demon, I have turned the souls within your weapon against you, the very power you drew from them will be your undoing, it hungers for your destruction, and so shall it feed." Deerg wrestled and arm free, but with a wave of his staff the lava encased it again, molten metal of the most powerful kind poured over Deergs arms barely holding him down. The metal began to crack under Deergs strength. He continued trying to wrench him self free, but he was unable.
"You have killed thousands; you have tried to kill me, tainted much land with evil, released horrible abominations across this world, and caused much pain. For this you will be utterly removed from this world Deerg, your demonic soul to be shattered with the very weapon you stole so many souls with. The rebelling souls within this sword will tear your very power to pieces, you will no longer exist, and your power will be removed from existence never to hurt anyone again."
The guardian jammed his staff into the ground next to him, it began to glow blue, empowering the metal and stone imprisoning Deerg to continue holding him down. The guardian lifted the sword above Deergs chest, above the demonic sphere that replaced his heart, he drove the sword into the black heart of Deerg, evil energies rushed to escape the confines of the sphere, the sword erupted in green light, tendrils of energy wrapping around the escaping energies pulling them into the sword. Deergs soul rose from the sphere, it was distorted no longer human in appearance, it was pure demon, "Guardian, this is not over…" The green tendrils wrapped around the tainted soul, it tried to escape and as it was pulled in it screamed out of fear, the souls within the sword had absorbed the tainted soul. The ground swallowed the remains which still held much power that could be used for weapons or magic, it buried them deep within the ground beneath the Alterac Mountains. The sword began pulsing green as the souls inside tore apart the tainted soul, and they ripped Deerg to shreds totally obliterating every last trace of Deerg and the demonic magic he wielded.
"Now you are to be released, go to the after world in peace, you have your revenge." The guardian jammed the sword into a nearby rock, he lifted his staff and began chanting in forgotten tongue, the sword began to shake, the guardian pointed his staff at the sword and it shattered, the sword fell into millions of pieces, the souls within poured out and disappeared into the sky. It was over and the world had survived, the guardian said a small prayer for the souls that just entered the afterlife, he swirled his staff and disappeared.
The guardian appeared in the center of the Elvin camp that empowered Deerg, The guardian laid the forest to waste, it collapsed around them, the Elves emerged and went to strike the guardian but where teleported away, the guardian removed any trace of the Elvin camp, and with his magic laid the seeds of life in this now tainted landscape. The Elves are now deep under the Alterac Mountains, and they are forced to protect the corpse of Deerg from grave robbers for all eternity. The guardian returned to the Alterac Mountains to rebuild his home and live out his days as The Guardian.
Overtime many of the beasts that were created bread or spawned into more creatures. The people who still lived learned to fight these beasts and life went on. The demonic touch left behind by Deerg eventually faded away and the tainted areas began to grow life once again, the lands where the Houses once stood have been covered by trees and grass over the years. The world, for now, was safe.
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