Champion of Dereth Issue #2
Now Playing: Champion of Dereth Issue#2



"Asheron?" spoke Queen Elysa, "Wake up," she whispered into his ear. "Erm? Yes? Who is it?" Asheron spoke as he lifted his head up off his dark mahogany desk. As he tried to gather his thoughts together he realized that the fight with Bael'Zharon's had only been but a dream. "Oh I'm getting to old for this… Ahh, Elysa. What good news have you brought for me today?"

"The Olthoi swarms have calmed down in the east, and aside from that, everyone and everything is calm."

Asheron, still pulling out of his sleep, was pleased. "A day like this is a good day to take a break" he thought to himself. "Maybe I will go fishing."

Meanwhile, back in the marketplace, a lonely traveler was having a rough trading experience. "The item is 400 pyreals I tell you! Pay now or be gone!" spoke an old healer from a town far out in the plains. "Pfft, as you wish" spoke the weary traveler who goes by the name of Sar Nah' Rheme. It was not until long ago that this traveler was part of a large allegiance of friends, warriors, and family. But one day, the monarch was turned into something evil; he became a ruthless killing machine, slaughtering everyone in sight. The allegiance dissolved away until soon there was no one left but Sar Nah' Rheme and his Monarch, Lu' Bane.

Lu' Bane was always one to help a fellow allegiance member who was in distress; he could always spare a few pyreals to beginning mages who were low on components and money. But this would suddenly all change one summer's evening when Lu' Bane was exploring a dark and mysterious new dungeon. From what he could tell it seemed abandoned, except for a few leftover mice and banderlings. As he reached what seemed to be a long upward running hallway, he became aware of a very potent smell. Making his way through the hallway he came to a single room, where off to the left lay what looked like an alter of some sort.

Lu' Bane, not being the one to take safety into consideration, began to blow away the dust from the alter. Being careful not to touch it he continued on. As he cleared more and more dust from the alter be began to make out what seemed to be a name. The first part was easy to decipher, "Bael" but the second half had been corroded and worn. Lu' Bane was not sure what it could mean, but he could care less, he was more interested in discovering out what this alter has the power to do. He noticed there was a large floating red orb of some sort. Placing his hands upon this orb he instantly felt a rush of power and emotion strike him like a hurricane. "What's this?" he thought to himself as a large dark figure with red eyes and gigantic wings seemed to form itself behind the alter. Spreading its wings as if to welcome him it let out a deep scream, and as quickly as it had appeared it was gone.

Lu' Bane felt free, he felt...in control. What he did not know was that he had joined Bael'Zharon's dark army, and peace would not last long.

Champion Of Dereth, Issue #1
The sinus-burning, eye watering smell could only mean one thing, Olthoi were near. The fellowship hid behind a tree, around the side they could see a group of Olthoi, sitting there, not doing anything. “Something isn’t right here,” the leader whispered. The Olthoi knew the fellowship was there, but were more interested in something that had caught their attention up over the horizon. The men looked, but saw nothing, “What could they be so worried about?” spoke out Zhou, a formidable swordsman. “It looks as if they are frozen.” And indeed, he was right, the Olthoi were frozen, but not physically. What they sensed was an ally, one of great darkness and power. “Brok,” spoke Zhou, “We must take this advantage.” Brok just stood there looking at them, wondering what was going through their heads. Zhou wasn’t in the mood to wait around, running towards the Olthoi with blade at hand, and shield ready, he began attacking. The Olthoi broke from their trance and began attacking. Within seconds he was surrounded, “Hang on Zhou!” shouted Brok, “Were coming!” The rest of the fellowship followed suit. Brok, a skilled archer, stayed back, while he let his deadly arrows of bludgeon work their way into the plated armor of the Olthoi’s exoskeleton. Soon, all the Olthoi had been slain, and the men began to wonder what the Olthoi were so scared of.

Later that day, after the fellowship had disbanded, Brok noticed a strange dark figure looming over a hill north of Holtburg. From his place by the town crier, it appeared to be a large creature of some sort. “Oh, what a fine opportunity I am faced with, such a creature, so large, so dark, so sinister, will bring me great riches in the market!” As Brok began to approach the figure, he started to see the outline of what looked like wings. “It flies also!” Brok thought to himself. Through the river Brok continued, until he was face to face with this creature. “Isparian...” spoke the creature, “What is your business here Isparian...?” he continued. Brok was astonished; this creature could fly and talk, a find as rare as this must not be let go. “ As Brok began to attack it, he instantly found himself high above the town of Arwic. Brok floated there for a minute, while a voice spoke out in his mind, “Do not fear me, Isparian, for you cannot die; your lifestones assure you of that. This is your first and only warning, bring to me the one known as Asheron.”

Word spread fast throughout the land of this beast. People from all over sought to slay this creature. So-called masters of the magic’s were resisted, Masters of the Blade were deflected, and Archers were evaded. And all met the same fate as Brok. Asheron, from his island, could sense this creature, and the pain and suffering it was causing the people of Dereth. “Bael’Zharon…” spoke Asheron, “Why have you disturbed my peaceful world.” “Lord Asheron!” yelled Mitsuko one of Asheron’s followers, “We have received word of a massive creature to the west of the town of Holtburg!” Asheron’s eyes wondered over towards him, “I am aware of this my friend, go, warn the towns people, have them all gather here, for the battle which is to happen will be great.” “But Asheron…you could die.” Asheron walked over to Mitsuko and placed his hand on his shoulder, “Do not be scared Mitsuko, you are in good hands. Now go, warn the people.”

Mitsuko was teleported to Holtburg where he began to warn the people of the impending battle. “People of Holtburg!” he screamed, “You must abandon your shops and your homes, for a battle of which great power is to come.” As Mitsuko was finishing his warning, he noticed a large shadow slowly moving from behind him. Trembling with fear, he began to turn around. But found himself in the grasp of Bael’Zharon’s mighty claws.

Bael’Zharon’s eyes darkened.

As Bael’Zharon prepared to strike Mitsuko, he suddenly vanished from his hands.

“What!?” shouted Bael’Zharon, “Asheron, where are you!” he screamed. Asheron had teleported Mitsuko away from harm, but now it was time for Asheron to confront Bael’Zharon.

As Bael’Zharon stood there, not sure of what was going on, he heard a voice speak out from behind him.

“So we meet, Bael’Zharon…”

Bael turned quickly, but saw no one...

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” He shouted. Asheron walked out from the shadows and began to approach Bael’Zharon. “Ahh, there you are.” Spoke Bael, “Your days are numbered Asheron, for my dark servants and I shall cleanse the landscape of your petty Isparian friends.”

Asheron just stood there, with a look of devotion in his eye. “Your wrong Bael’Zharon…” Just as Asheron started to take Bael’Zharon had slashed Asheron across the abdomen. Bael’Zharon let out an evil laugh, “You’re so sure of your self, but your confidence blinds you.”

As Asheron brought himself to his knees, and began to cast a spell, he was blind sided by a blow from the side by Bael. “Why continue? Fool, you know you cannot win this battle. Join me, join my race of warriors, we have no fear, we desire power and control, just like you do...”

Asheron spoke up, “Your wrong Bael’Zharon, I do not desire ultimate power like yourself. I protect my followers, we work as one.”

Just as Bael’Zharon started to run towards Asheron again he felt a sharp pain in his back. Bael’Zharon stopped and turned around where he found that a small group of loyal followers of Asheron had gathered. “Never turn your back on your enemy Bael’Zharon” spoke Asheron. Bael’Zharon quickly cleared the area of the brave followers. When he turned back towards Asheron he was gone.

“Hiding again are we? That isn’t like you.” Spoke Bael.

But what Bael’Zharon did not know, was that the small group of followers that distracted him, gave Asheron enough time to heal himself. He was now atop a far off hilltop, the perfect position to attack. He began to cast a deadly spell of war…

“Never return here again Bael’Zharon” he yelled.

Bael’Zharon had no time to react as a deadly blast of lightning struck him. Asheron had critically injured Bael, and was near death. Bael’Zharon sunk to one knee, blood dripping from his wounds. “How could this be?” he thought to himself, “I am the hopeslayer…” he continued. Asheron wasted no time, he cast his second war spell, a spell that would bring to an end a power of which should never have been born.

Bael’Zharon stumbled, and then fell. “This is not the last you will see of me, I will return, even more powerful then my current state permits. Until then…” Bael’Zharon fell in a slump over the towns well, and soon was no more.

Asheron recalled to his island home, where hundreds upon hundreds of cheering and joyful followers greeted him. “We knew you could do it!” one shouted.

The menace was destroyed and life went back to the way it was before Bael’Zharon ever showed up. But one of Bael’Zharon’s last words loomed in Asheron’s head. “This is not the last you will see of me, I will return, even more powerful then my current state permits. Until then…” Asheron did not know if this was truth, but if so, it would take more than just him to conquer the new Bael’Zharon.