Dark Athel

Not all stories have a happy ending, and sometimes even the most hopeful can turn dark. So it could have been with Athel, a hero of Light. Certainly, Athel’s early years with the Sacred Order suggested that a life of unquestioning faith might not be her fate. As an initiate, her honest nature was matched by a headstrong streak. She showed particular disregard when it came to delving into matters her superiors considered off-limits. The Arbiter visited her to encourage her to further discoveries, but what if a darker apparition had claimed Athel’s attention? What if, prompted instead by a spirit of shadow masquerading as light, she discovered something foul in the caverns beneath the Eternal Citadel, something that turned her away from the righteous path she has otherwise walked? Breaking into the wrong sealed chamber, she would have found a scene of horror – bodies littering a musty space, ancient-looking husks twisted in death-agonies. A place so redolent with evil, that Athel should have fled... …But before she could do so, a brilliant light shone forth, coalescing into the figure of a woman. She was clad in the white vestments of a Sacred Order priestess, and wore a serene-looking mask. Introducing herself as Elegaius, she claimed to be a transcended spirit seeking out a direct connection with Lumaya. As part of her quest, she had once organized a great, holy service in this very chamber, but forces of Darkness had interrupted her efforts. With Athel’s aid however, Elegaius hoped that the service could be repeated, this time successfully. Naively captivated by the priestess, Athel accepted. Over the following months she spoke to many fellow initiates, convincing them to gather at an appointed hour in the old chamber. As Athel led the service, Elegaius materialized and a deep magical connection formed between them, but it swiftly became apparent something was wrong. The light around her was rotten, and her mask was now a black and terrible visage. Athel realized she had been misled. As the screams of the other initiates filled her ears, she tried to break her link with Elegaius, but could not. The souls of her friends were torn from their bodies, feeding the corrupt spirit as Athel, overwhelmed by the magical backlash of the connection, collapsed. When Athel awoke among the corpses, she found her flesh pale and cold, her body unfeeling. To her horror she realized that her heart was no longer beating. Athel had no time to come to terms with her Undeath. Knights of the Order stormed the chamber and tried to seize her. Acting on self preservation, she raised her hands, unleashing the dark magics that now suffused her body. She was shocked at the necromantic energies that answered her call, but also could not help but feel awe at their power. They caused the flesh of the knights to rot from their bones. As they decomposed before her, Athel fled, pursued by more of her erstwhile comrades. Out in the wilderness, Athel was again visited by Elegaius. While Athel railed against her, the corrupt priestess showed her that there was only one way to undo what had now been done. Only through their immortality could either of them possibly find the time needed to break the veil and establish true contact with Lumaya – according to Elegaius, the Goddess of Light could then end the wider blight of Undeath. This twisted reasoning, coupled with the addictive nature of the dark magics that had taken root in her, saw Athel come to embrace her new destiny as a knight of Undeath. Thankfully for Teleria, this possibility is a mere fable.