Embracing Darkness - Tharod becomes a Blackguard

“The throne belongs to Severi.”

The words had barely left Zephyra's lips when the smooth, oak wood doors swung open, revealing a pitch black room. The inky darkness was only pierced by an eerie, red glow coming from an arcane pattern on the floor, drawn with blood ages ago. Yet it was not the pattern that attracted the groups attention, for it seemed as if the glow was there just to illuminate the skeleton lying at its centre. Slowly, purple tentacles started writhing along its arms as it rose up and turned to face the heroes.

Those eyes ... my grandfather!

“Now is the time to prove that you are one of our knights.”

When he glanced at the others, Tharod realized that they hadn't heard, that the message had been only for him. With a fury he hadn't displayed since they entered the ruins he charged the creature, slashing at it with mighty swings of his great axe. Edaar was right by his side, but the creature was quickly driven backwards by Tharods furious attacks.

Zephyra, meanwhile, swore as one spell after another seemed to have very little effect on the creature. However, the creature itself was not defenseless. With a blade even darker than the darkest night it slashed at Tharod, whipping its tentacles in fury and, perhaps, pain. And then, suddenly, with a triumphant screech, it lashed at Tharod one last time and threw his broken body to the floor.

At that moment, Ghalan suddenly realized he could not stand and watch idly any longer. With a muttered, “I will not let my brother get killed like this,” he entered the room and knelt next to Tharod. As the power of the Light flowed through his hands into Tharod, the latter opened his eyes again.

“Live, brother.”

With these words, Ghalan rose again, slashing at the skeleton with Sunrazor while Gyllenn was distracting it. When she finally crushed its skull with her war hammer, the creature fell back into the pattern where it crumbled to dust. With an angry red flare, energy got released from its remains. It swirled for a few moments before hurtling itself towards Tharod, who passed out again with a short cry.

Then the darkness slowly left the room ...

(written by Ghalan)