A History of Gryko

Foreword:

Servants of the Gods come in many shapes and forms, from the benevolent

angel to the wicked demon, to the tranquil balanx. Many are content to

serve their masters and mistresses with their might, spreading their message

and fighting their causes on Algoron. In this tome, however, we explore one

such messenger who has broken from his master and seeks to supplant him and

reign in the world.

The creature known as Gryko was once mortal, once human, but now is

considerably different. He seeks to dominate and control the world with his

vile creations and will not hesitate to destroy any who stand in his way.

Official documentation on Grykos life has been difficult to find, as he is

centuries old. The reader is cautioned not to take everything in this tome

as absolute truth, for time tends to distort the facts.

Humble Beginnings:

Best as always to start at the beginning. Gryko was, in life, a humble

priest of Dragoth, the God of Disease and Decay. Perhaps humble is

inaccurate, however... He was possessed by a zeal that made him drive forth

the will of Dragoth, destroying, infecting, decaying all that he was able to

in service to his master.

Unfortunately, as with all mortals, one day Gryko himself felt decay come to

himself, and he began to grow old and die. He pleaded with his master for

salvation, promising him more deaths, more plagues, more destruction.

Dragoth refused him, saying some things even he could not do, and soon Gryko

would pass to Fatale.

Life and Death:

As he grew still older, his mind unraveled by thoughts of power and cheating

death, Gryko now sought domination over all things. To do that, he again

poured his power and research into creating life in his bubbling cauldrons.

From these arose monstrosities, the blobs that with a single touch could

cause life to wither and die. These he released upon the world, still

hiding in the shadows. These, however, proved to be stupid creatures, and

without guidance they would be quickly brought low by the defenders of local

cities.

Thus, Gryko continued his work, and in time gained a more sinister

understanding of life and power over it. He learned how to spread his seed

to women and have them bear his unholy offspring. Through his demonic

children, he intended to conquer all of Algoron.

Transformation:

A garrison of paladins arrived to end this threat, but before they could,

Gryko stabbed himself in the heart, murmuring one final incantation.

Quickly the Paladins slew the few blobs created, but with Gryko dead, they

thought their work done.

But death was not to be Grykos fate. In the end, he succeeded... But he

was no longer himself, he was a shadow. He was a creature of darkness, a

monster of the very worst sorts. His first act was to slay nearly all the

Paladins and then he retreated into hiding to finish his transformation.

How long this transformation lasted, and how long afterwards Gryko hid

himself from the world, none can be certain. But it was long enough to

destroy any sanity that remained. What became of Grykos physical form, none

can say where it is buried or how it was destroyed, if it was.

Emergence:

When Gryko finally emerged into the world he did so as a symbol of fear and

terror. If Malachive is a prime example of evil that allows all the world

to see and fear it, then Gryko is the evil that slinks through shadows and

nightmares. He began his attacks on the Shalonesti, although why this was

so remains in dispute. His initial target was a family on the outskirts,

from which was produced a child of Grykos blood. Unaware of her heritage,

she was brought into Shalonesti kingdom, where the demon hoped she would

assume control.

His plans were thwarted, however, when it was learned the girls powers had

somehow developed in opposition of his own. Her touch became destruction

for Gryko only, and aided and encouraged by the Shalonesti, they drove him

away. At this time another flaw was discovered, for Gryko surmised that

most parents would not allow his spawn to survive. They had to be

individuals of prominence, who had much to lose, many people to care for.

Indeed, positions of power would enable his children to seek such positions

as well, strengthening his rule.

Grykos daughter vanished into the woodwork, supposedly leaving Shalonesti to

escape the hatred she knew would come from being the spawn of a dark being.

Imps:

Gryko made several further attempts to attack Shalonesti, hoping to secure

their then-Queen, Caither, as the vessel for his children. Reportedly, all

attempts were thwarted and he was again driven off. Gryko himself could not

be everywhere at once, and his minions the blobs were all but useless for

anything other than frontal assaults. Thus, he turned his attention briefly

to refining the process, and he created imps in their stead as his new

minions.

Three types of imps arose from his cauldrons, each possessing their own

manner of terror that they could bring to this world. The shadow imps, the

thorn imps, and the pain imps. Shadow imps could, as their name implied,

leap from shadow to shadow stealthily and quickly and strike without

warning. Thorn imps were covered in terrible thorns all over their bodies,

unable to be approached easily. And pain imps were the very worst sort,

whos single touch could render a victim powerless with agony and nausea.

Conquest:

With his new minions ready, Gryko prepared to strike at a new city...

Thalosia. Despite unconfirmed warnings, the city was completely unprepared

for the assault, and the Sultana very nearly lost her life and her sanity

before the power of another God intervened to drive Gryko off, the Goddess

Kadiya. She drove away Gryko and his imps with her power, and the healing

medicines of her priestess saved the life of Fastia, destroying the

infection in her body. The experience left her shaken but she quickly

recovered. Thalos quickly prepared itself for future attack, setting balls

of light in the streets to reduce shadows and darkness and arming its army

and Tower with knowledge of the imps and how to fight them.

From the Shadows:

Driven off, Gryko slipped into the shadows and out of sight for a few years,

emerging only periodically to harry the likes of Thalos or Darkonin, though

for unknown reasons. His imps, previously his most trusted of minions, were

quickly routed when their weaknesses to elemental attacks (fire, cold,

lightning) became apparent. Gryko again returned to his cauldrons to refine

the process, attempting to create hunters of a sort who could destroy his

imps before they turned on him or went rogue. Reports of his sightings

became fewer and fewer over time.

An End?:

Eventually no reports came at all, Gryko seemingly vanished despite numerous

searches to try and locate him from all the cities he'd attacked, and more

besides. What this means is still in question. Does he live still, and

does he intend to continue his plans for domination and subjugation of all

the world and its peoples? Only time will tell.

Theories have arisen about possible means to Grykos destruction, however.

Key elements are drawn from the manner of his creation. His body was

abandoned so he could become shadow, if destroyed it may weaken or

annihilate his spirit from this world. And also, as a mortal he served

Dragoth, but now he serves none. Dragoth is not known for being merciful to

those who abandon him, and the hand of a God is surely one way to destroy

any creature in existence, even one as foul as Gryko.