Disciple of Malas - Chapter 1

[Abbadon]

The lone traveler wandered the endless blanket of icy desert, searching for enlightenment to hone his current skills. He must have more power! For weeks he had searched for the something that was missing – the something that would ascend him past the level of human limitation.

As he followed the icy mountain cliff, he saw something dark in the distance. It looked like a building of some sort... No it wasn't just a building, it was a ziggurat. An evil aura emanated from it, repulsing him, yet tweaking at his curiosity. Cautiously, he peeked inside the great iron doors. No one was there.

The traveler, gaining some confidence pushed the door inward, and the evil aura once again staggered him, but gathering all of his willpower, forced himself onward. Once inside, he looked around, searching. For what he did not know, but knew there must be something here in this abandoned ziggurat. There were a few benches about – this must be a gathering place. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a few teleportation pads. He stepped into one at random, knowing that it wasn't the best idea, but curiosity pushed him forward. When the grey smoke cleared away, he saw some sort of pentagram, but made of blood – above it was a flaming table and on it a book. Somehow the magical properties of the book kept it from burning from the scorching fire. As he flicked it open, the evil aura once again pulsed out, even stronger than before, this time physically pushing the traveler back a few steps. The "Book of Hate" read:

"For those who read this, there is no turning back. Your mortal body shall be baptized in the blood of the Meers found in central Ilshnarr. Slay them and bathe in their life essence and you will gain enlightenment beyond your comprehension. Only then shall you be accepted into the Cult of Malas. There is no turning back."

The traveler quickly marked the abandoned ziggurat's spot and hurried to do the sinful deed of slaying the virtuous Meers, hoping to find the new power he craved...