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.