Chapter 1 "The Dark Conclave"

                In ancient times there was good and evil, no more.  The evil called themselves the Dark Conclave.  This unholy council consisted of daemons, liches, gargoyles and humans.  The conclave used death and destruction to further their pursuit of total domination of Sosaria.  The original council thought it best to write down and keep a record of what all they have learned through their pursuit.  This grimore was called "The Shak'lar". 

                The Conclave was at constant battle with the forces of good called, "The Lunar Magi".  During great battle between these forces, a human member of the Conclave was taken by the Magi.  The Magi not knowing of the Shak'lar sentenced him to banishment to the abyss.  This trip is well known to be one way and few have ever been sentenced to such a cruel fate. 

                Upon banishment of the Conclave member, the Shak’Lar fell apart at the binding and the powerful secrets of the Conclave were lost so long as their council remained broken.  The Magi not knowing what harm they had done to the Conclave were on guard as if the Conclave was still as powerful as it had been.  It was not until many years later that the Magi learned of the events that came to pass that day.   Ever since the Magi have ruled Sosaria with ease and prosperity.  Though broken the Conclave still exists and awaits its revenge, for all know that the balance must be maintained and the years of goodness and prosperity will be followed by years of destruction and poverty. 

                The Conclave waits now for the weak man with unimaginable power, they call this person "The Thrax".  With this man alone can they bring back the full power of the Conclave and resurrect their banished cohort and restore the Shak'lar.  Thousands of years have passed and only now has the word spread that this person has been born on Sosaria.

                The Conclave now prepares for their revenge as they have sight of their victory at hand.  Sixteen years have they to wait to be whole once more.

 

 

                                                                Chapter 2 "Small Man, Big Future"

 

                Thraxus was born in Nujel'm, though he doesn't know where his parents are and has never met them or remembered them but does have a small amulet around his neck. He lived with his aunt and uncle, who worked in a family owned smith shop.  They told him that his mother and father had died at sea while sailing from Nujel'm to Vesper.  He was trained by his uncle in the ways of a warrior in hope that he might one-day join Lord British's Guard.  Thraxus was not motivated however and nearly two and a half years after he had started his warrior training he came to a turning point in his life. 

                While at the miners guild collecting some ingots for the smithing shop he came across a black robed wizard.  Thraxus had never seen such a person in town before, especially at the miners’ guild.  Thraxus could not help but stare at the flowing black robes and the elegant movement of the wizard across the room.  He felt the urge to go speak with the enlightened one but feared the reputation of the black robed wizards.  As he debated weather to go or to stay the wizard turned swiftly around and glared at Thraxus.  Thraxus was stunned and terrified at the sight of the wizard.  The wizard moved towards Thraxus almost as though he were floating rather than walking.  Though terrified, Thraxus stood his ground as the ominous wizard came within inches of him before stopping.  The wizard began to chant while taking out and crumbling some reagents from her pouch.  Soon there were guards in the building pushing their way through the crowd towards the wizard.  As the wizard finished casting the spell, Thraxus' hand began to glow.  Not knowing what to think Thraxus started to ask what was happening, but was interrupted by the wizard who said only this.  "You are he who we seek, we must talk, SOON, I will contact you."  Shortly thereafter the wizard waved her staff and was gone.

                Thraxus returned that day to discover his guardians missing, as though they had just packed everything and left.  There were no signs of a struggle and the house was empty of all they owned.  He waited there for his uncle and aunt to return but to no avail, they did not return. 

 

                                                                Chapter 3 "Walk Down Memory's Path"

 

                Thraxus used the ingots he obtained at the guild and made a few small weapons and pieces of armor to sell for food and clothing.  He next set out on the road for Trinsic.  He was not long on the road when he encountered the black robed wizard again.  Stunned but not as fearful Thraxus drew his sword.  The black robe around the figure began to shimmer and turned dull.  With a few pats the black was shaken loose of the robe to show a beautiful white hooded robe.  The wizard came nearer and nearer to Thraxus but did not make any aggressive gestures or movements towards him.  When he raised his sword she stopped and began to talk.  "Sir Thraxus, you know not who I am but that will come in time.  I am here to warn you away from the dark path you are about to take." "That was you in the guild then?" said Thraxus.

 "Yes, and I am sorry for the confusion but with so many eyes watching I must not arouse suspicion that I or any other Magi are near you." 

                The wizard went on to talk about the dark robed wizards who were awaiting their chance to reign supreme on Sosaria.  She mentioned that Thraxus could find sanctuary within a tower south of Trinsic.  This tower was owned by the Knights of the Silver Serpent.  With them Thraxus was told to learn and be protected.  "You must arrive there before your sixteenth birthday!" she said forcefully.  Before Thraxus had a chance to reply she had vanished.  Thraxus felt as though this wizard was familiar to him but he did not recognize her nor did she speak of him as if they had known each other. 

                It was yet three days until Thraxus' sixteenth birthday and the journey to Trinsic was two days by itself.  Hopefully Thraxus would find the Knights or their tower within that third day or who knows what could happen.  Thraxus therefore set swiftly out on the trail toward Trinsic. 

                That night he had a dream of a white robed woman singing him to sleep when he was an infant.  The face on this figure was not revealed in his dream.  As he saw himself drift into sleep, a shadow drew over the house in which he was sleeping.  With the passing of the shadow there was a silence in the air.  Soon after there were sounds of a woman crying for her lost child.  Another shadow passed over the house but did not leave as the first one had.  Though Thraxus could not see there were shouts and screams of terror.  Thraxus slowly drifted back away from the house and with this, the shadow took shape.  Thraxus realized that it was his face as the shadow.  The eyes of the shadow burst out bright red with fire as he heard "Who dares trespass on the deeds of this moment!" Fire then shot from the eyes directly at Thraxus.  Thraxus woke up in an unusual cold sweat.  That was the last sleep Thraxus would get that night.

 

                                                Chapter 4 "A Lunar Eclipse"

 

                Still night around him Thraxus decided to start on his journey once more with the light of the moon guiding his way.  He made his way back to the main road to head onward towards Trinsic.  A short while of traveling and the land seemed to be getting still darker as he traveled.  Knowing it was in the midst of night he boggled at what would be making it even darker still.  Grabbing the amulet around his neck Thraxus was engulfed in a bright white light for an instant, Thraxus was blinded by the white flash for a few moments but when he regained his vision he realized that he was granted night sight.  As it became darker and eventually pitch black, Thraxus looked up towards the moon where his light had been coming from.  He found the moon dark as the night itself and no signs of recovery from the blackness.  Soon he found himself walking through soft ground as if it were wet. 

                Soon Thraxus could only hear the sounds of his own feet sinking into the ground which he determined was mud.  As he continued down the path he felt a sudden gust of wind.  He quickly turned around but saw nothing.  He felt another presence near and knew he was being watched perhaps even being stalked.  He began to hear whispers from within the trees and though he could not understand them at first they became more and more clear as they got closer and louder. "You are the one we seek, it is you Thraxus.  We wish to help you, you whom know not your power from within.  A deal! Yeeesss, A deal.  We wish to help you tap into your power Thraxus.  This in return for your help in a small matter.  Yeeesss.  We wish you to help resurrect a friend.  And though you cannot yet, we can help you train so that you may learn to.  Think of the possibilities Thraxus.  He is the Thrax.  You could save many and help protect the world from harm.  The Thrax yeeesss.   Here me now! Make your choice before sunrise.  Think it and we shall return to help thee sir.  Fare thee well on thy journey...to Trinsic is it?  Fare thee well.  The Thrax can do it, we nearly have him.  With him all will be resolved.  Yesss the Thrax."  If Thraxus tried to reply he was unsuccessful in using his voice.  Perhaps they knew his thoughts perhaps they were trying to help Thraxus. 

                The night still being young Thraxus continued on his journey towards Trinsic.  Now used to the routine of stomping through the mud Thraxus was making fairly good time considering his obstacle.  Convinced that he should not be side tracked from reaching the Knights tower he had decided to himself to decline the offer he had received earlier should they return.  Almost instantly the ground shook with tremendous force.  Thraxus turned around to see an Ogre Lord accompanied by 3 Ettins and 2 Ogres.  Knowing one Ogre itself would be more than enough to kill him, Thraxus began to run from the giants, which was only somewhat successful due to the muck in which he was running.  Soon his strength faded and the troop of giants fell upon him.  Thrown into a bag he was being carried to what he thought must be their camp to be eaten or tortured.  Desperate he grabbed his amulet, which had always supplied him with just the small amount of help he needed, but this time nothing happened.  Knowing he was done for if help didn't arrive soon he began to wonder about his untapped power.  Only a short while after they had started the group of monsters dropped Thraxus to the ground and pulled the bag from his body.  They were circled around a big cauldron, which was steaming with the fire beneath it.  The Lord grabbed a huge hammer, which was leaning up against a nearby tree, while the other two Ogres took Thraxus and laid him on the ground, flat on his back.  They secured his hands with rope and held his feet themselves.  The Lord walked over to Thraxus, raised the hammer, when a shrill whistling sound flew through the air as an Ettin lost both its heads from what appeared to be some sort of blast of energy.  This was followed by several blasts of fire from within the tree line.  With this an ogre dropped dead to the ground.  The Lord, enraged, took towards the tree line where it saw something that even it was scared to face.  Thraxus looked toward the tree line to see two red lights shining from within.  At closer examination he noticed that the eyes were connected somehow and moving in unison.  As he watched a great black dragon emerged from within the tree line, knocking down the trees rather than twist around them.

                Though slightly eerie, the familiar sound of whispers was a welcomed sound for Thraxus.  His ties were released and he stood up to face his saviors.  "You have decided to let us help you then sir?"  Hesitating at the thought that he might be doing something terribly wrong he did not answer.  "Sir we cannot stay here long it is dangerous."  Off in the distance Thraxus heard more rumbling and he felt the ground start to quake beneath him.  Not knowing if this was some extreme way to convince him to help them Thraxus reluctantly said he would be willing to perform the resurrection for the revival of his hidden powers.

 

                                                                Chapter 5 "Great Heart"

 

                The group and Thraxus soon set off to the northwest towards Yew.  Knowing this and knowing his deadline Thraxus begun to once again doubt his decision to help the group.  He asked that the group leave him markings in which to find the way so that he may have some time to himself to think on the events of the past night.  With that he sat down to collect himself.  Resting his head upon his hands he saw a giant buck.  Looking around quickly he could find no other sign of life.  The buck was staring right at him as if there was some intelligence within.  Realizing there was an oddity in this, Thraxus stood up to examine the buck.  As he did the buck began to walk towards him.  As the buck drew closer to him he peered into its eyes, which were not brown like a normal animal.  The eyes of the buck were crystal like with a faint tint of blue to them.  As he stared into the eyes of the buck he heard a voice speaking to him.  "If you value life, not only yours but others, you will away from this place.  Leave towards the safety of the Knights, or behold your fate."  With those words Thraxus was thrown into a vision.  He saw himself on a mountain peak shouting orders.  As he turned to look at the earth below he saw that there was no life.  Only monsters and beasts and daemons existed below, all awaiting his command.

                As the vision faded he awoke to find himself on the main road to Trinsic.  The blackness of night was shattered with the purple sky of dawn approaching.  Where he stood he saw the path of the group which had marked so he could find his way to them.  Shall he go the path of the dark ones or shall he flee to Sanctuary.  The thought of power and the things he could accomplish with this power were more than a match for the impending doom, which he managed not to see.   Thraxus took to the path of the dark ones and followed it to a dark temple underneath the ground.   There, waiting for him was a ceremonial pentagram with the blood of a freshly killed animal upon the center.  Glancing over towards a back chamber Thraxus saw the buck, which he had seen, in the forest.  It was slain and its blood was that which was placed on the pentagram.  Falling to the ground with heartbroken agony Thraxus was carried to the pentagram where he was placed and bound.  The last words he heard were "Kal Vas Xen Corp". 

 

                                                                Chapter 6 "The Dream"

 

                Thraxus awoke to find himself upon a tall mountain.  The dark ones were all around him though not particularly paying attention to him.  As Thraxus focused his eyes on the group of beings he noticed the crowd parting for a giant being with wings.   This being was a daemon, which he guessed was the leader of the group.  Staring at the daemon he recognized a blue eye, which stood out from the others, for they all, had eyes, both of which were colored a deep red.  Reaching for his amulet as he did when nervous he noticed it wasn't there.  As he looked to the ground for it the daemons spoke, "You will not need the amulet of the magi, for your power is far greater than that of any amulet now.  Here are your robes and book, you have 3 hours to study the book until we will commence our ceremony."  A cloaked figured brought Thraxus his new robe and book.  This done Thraxus was left alone.

                Thraxus playing along with the plan thought it best to put on the robe and take a look at the book.  Slowly he placed the flowing black robe over himself feeling it constrict to him and shape itself around his body as though it were alive.  Turning to the book he recognized this type of book, for he had seen several people who carried one within the town of Vesper, it was a spellbook.  He opened the book to see what spells had been written within the book.  Suprisingly he was able to read the books ancient runes and decipher the meaning of them within.  The book was filled with every spell imaginable from the simple act of creating food to causing the earth to crack open and swallow someone whole. 

                Thraxus as though suddenly struck with an idea, had realized that he now understood the meaning of the runes on his necklace.  Remembering what he saw on the amulet he made out what it said to be, "Protected art thou, our Sacred Warrior".  Feeling lost Thraxus began to study the book and practice the spells from within.  As he turned the pages he noticed they began to glow as he touched them, as if the book was specifically his.  Becoming bored with the book Thraxus soon took to exploring the area around him.  Not to far in the distance Thraxus saw a glowing red light, which he figured he might go to explore.  As he walked toward the light he found that all were making way for him and being sure to keep their distance. 

                Upon arrival to the glowing red light Thraxus discovered that it was a moongate, though it was red it was still a moongate none the less.  With this discovery he debated entering or just turning to walk back to his resting-place.  He figured he had gone enough for one day and that perhaps he should not go any further less it mean his death or others.  He turned around to see the crowd of daemons and humans alike blocking any path away from the moongate.  He now had no choice but to enter the moongate and take his chances with what ever may be on the other side.  Thraxus turned and slowly entered the portal. 

                Noticing the beings all disappear from sight Thraxus appeared to be at the same place.  Looking around to see if the others had been slain or just disappeared he determined that he was once again alone.  Wandering around slightly on the mountain lead Thraxus to a striking conclusion.  He noticed that the grass was all brown and the trees were dead wood sticking out of the ground.  Returning to his resting-place Thraxus peered out unto the land, upon which he saw a sight that scared him to death.  He was once again in his dream seeing the hordes of monsters and beasts on the ground below with absolutely no sign of life other than the beasts themselves.  Wishing more than anything to just leave the place where he now stand, Thraxus turned through the pages of the book rapidly and once finding a spell adequate for this demand, let loose the strings of magic with precise accuracy.  Soon Thraxus was wisked away upon the strings of magic far from where he was moments ago. 

 

                                                                                Chapter 7 "The Converter Converted"

 

                Looking at his surroundings and feeling the air, Thraxus determined he must be somewhere near Trinsic.  The Jungle type area though all dead with no wild life.  Thraxus moved about the jungle cautiously knowing that anything could jump out at him at a moment’s notice.  A chill was sent up his spine as he felt the presence of magic within the air.  Materializing before him was the Daemon Lord with his red and blue eye.  It reached out for Thraxus but he moved back unwilling to let the creature touch him.  As the creature reached for him again Thraxus noticed its belt pouch start to glow, and with that its blue eye began to spark with magic.  The creature dropped to the ground holding its head in its hands.  Thraxus took this opportunity to grab the belt pouch and run.  Knowing not what was inside he opened it quickly to reveal his amulet.  Knowing now what had been happening he made his way back to the daemon.  Holding the amulet tightly to him Thraxus ordered the Daemon Lord to send him back to his world.  The daemon laughed and began at Thraxus once again, Thraxus held out the amulet but nothing happened, the amulet wasn't working its power had faded for Thraxus.

                Thraxus turned and gave flight, keeping the amulet with him.  Knowing that the dark powers he had must be corrupting the amulets power by his touch, Thraxus wished away his powers.  The powers did not leave and despite his powers he could not think of a way to defeat the daemon.  Thraxus placed the amulet around his neck, as he had now had enough running.  "I must defeat my foe or perish in the effort" He thought to himself, as it was he who made the decisions that lead him to this vile place.  As the daemon approached he looked through the spell book.  Once he found a spell he though might do some good he began casting, though never letting go of the amulet.  "An Corp" heard the daemon as he shrieked in shock.  Not knowing what to expect the daemon checked itself for wounds or other damage.  Nothing had happened.  Just then a power surged through Thraxus and passed through the amulet and into the daemon.  The blue eye of the daemon began to sparkle and gleam with magical energy.   The daemon was caught offguard at this energy and did not think to move away from the heavenly light that soon shown down on it, regenerating ghosts or in this case slaying the undead with the ultimate regenerative power.  The Daemon Lord was no where to be seen after the blinding white light faded, and in its place was a great heart, the buck that Thraxus had seen earlier. 

                Looking at the buck Thraxus knew what he must do.  Laying on the ground where the daemon was standing were several pouches, some containing reagents and other containing stones of various shapes, colors and writing upon them.  Looking through the stones Thraxus found a stone with "The way of the eight shrines" etched into it.  Getting ready to cast the recall spell off the stone it slipped from his hands and buried itself into the ground.  Quickly the ground ate the stone and there was soon no sign of it having ever been there.  The buck, as if it knew what was to happen next backed away from the spot the stone had dropped at.  No more than half a second after Thraxus stepped back a portal sprang open before him.   This portal was a brilliant blue.  It took only a moments hesitation until he knew he must enter the portal.  The buck jumped in first followed swiftly by Thraxus. 

 

                                                                Chapter 8 "The Weary Traveler"

 

                Upon arrival on the otherside of the gate, Thraxus felt very fatigued.  Needing a moment of rest Thraxus pulled out the spell book to perhaps help him venture to an inn swiftly.  Looking around for his friend the buck, he saw only a man, followed by a woman, both dressed in brilliant white robes.  At a second glance he recognized the woman as the wizard he had met in the miners guild.  Thraxus approached the couple with comfort and confidence and looking into the man's eyes he saw they were a brilliant blue as were the ladies.  Stunned, Thraxus could think of nothing to say to the couple.  They both raised their hands and pointed to a tower off in the distance saying, "That is where you seek, your sanctuary is there.  Be well." and then they walked off into the swamps.

                Having yet still twelve hours until his sixteenth birthday Thraxus knew he had more than enough time.  For a moment he thought he should perhaps go exploring but the thought ended quickly as he realized what he had just been through because of his exploring.  Thraxus had now a great power and the ability to use it for good purposes so long as he wears the amulet around his neck. 

                Thraxus headed off towards the great tower and arrived near a hour later.  When he knocked on the giant door he was greeted promptly by a member of the Knights.   Recognizing his amulet they brought him in quickly and locked the door behind them. This was the beginning of Thraxus' life with the Knights of the Silver Serpent.