Abhorrants

Sir Rassilon Shiroken, Shield Guardian Captain, hosted a lecture about the Abhorrants at the Shrine of the Platinum Dragon. Lord Othander Kole of Althainia, Sir Kuromaru Shiroken of the Shield, Captain Kattla Haonaar of Althainia, Postulant Xalyis Deza'th of Althainia, and Siehna and Rikali, both students from Althainia, and myself, Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, were present.

Sir Rassilon started the lecture by posing a question: 'I'll start with a simple question, and ask whom here is familiar with the first race created by the Gods of Algoron?'

Sir Kuromaru answered in the form of a question, 'Dragons?'

'Correct,' responded our host, and Sir Rassilon continued, 'Dragons are the firstborn of the Gods. That is widely accepted and known history. What I delve into now is history that many historians hoped never to hear of. That they buried, hid, destroyed... to conceal the truth. For whatever noble reasons they may have had. I tell you now before the birth of the dragons there existed a race called the Abhorrants. These are monsters of great power and greater evil.

I have heard them described as pale demons, with red eyes and dark horns, each inscribed with a sigil just here...' and there Sir Rassilon taps his forehead lightly '... marking a most significant fact regarding them. I wonder whom here may be familiar with what this fact is?'

Lord Othander Kole answered, 'The date of their deaths.'

Sir Rassilon confirmed, saying, 'Just so. Though we cannot read their language, an Abhorrant can know from its creation the day it will perish... only a small number of greater powers in the world are able to alter this fact prematurely. Usually, and most significantly, the hand of a God. The original history tells us that the Abhorrants emerged from chaos and darkness when the world was newly forged, a power unto themselves the Gods had no sway over, who waged war against them. The dragons, the firstborn, were made in an effort to counter them. And although it was a bloody war, and I have record of several Gods lost to us... the Abhorrants were eventually defeated.

Defeated... but not destroyed. They were said to be sealed into a Netherworld... another dimension of unspeakable horror. A portal was made to it, hidden, guarded by a single Angel in the lowest levels of Hell. And then, there history was forgotten'

I pause now to invite questions if any are needed to clarify this particular part of the Abhorrant history?'

Captain Kattla Haonaar asked, 'Why did not the gods just alterr the perrish date of those... abolenths?'

Sir Rassilon answered, 'An Abhorrants power is on par with a God. An army of them... a horde I am told... against even the Light, Darkness and Twilight Houses... is not something easily controlled, or destroyed.'

Here I added, to better illustrate the point, 'So quite difficult to walk up to one and rewrite his expiration date on his forehead, I reckon.'

Sir Rassilon agreed, 'Even if such a thing could be done with ink and quill... I suspect it could not.'

Rikali then asked Sir Rassilon, 'Is their portal.. still there?'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'So far as I have been able to determine, yes. But that is further history I will delve into momentarily. So for many centuries the world turned, history was forgotten, the portal undisturbed. The Angel guardian of it, however... another matter unfortunately. Aramaleous... I do hope I am pronouncing that correctly... was unable to bear living in Hell so far away from his Gods touch. The strain of darkness and madness all around... left him unable to distinguish properly his friends and foes. And this is when the Conclave found him.

Sir Rassilon continued, 'To slightly draw back a year or so, we have the emergence of Malachive. I trust all here are familiar with this name. During this period he was still a loyal God of Darkness under the Dark Damiyo's rule. This was before he broke their ranks to go rogue. I wonder then whom here is familiar with the names Takt and Mantaroth? Also key players in these events. I suspect many of you have seen Mantaroth, perhaps unknowingly.'

Lord Kole remarked, 'Powerful mages of the Black Robes, at the time'

Sir Rassilon confirmed this, 'The most powerful. And the very blackest, robes or not (I fiound myself hoping these two kept their robes on). Mantaroth became a champion in the AGL arena, where many can see his statue still but that is.... not largely relevant to this. Suffice to say they, along with Malachive, found the portal we spoke of earlier. Convinced its guardian they were benign... and used the key... to open it. Malachive entered alone, seeking an audience with the Abhorrants. The intent was to use them as his conquering army. The history here is... fuzzy... but it is said the Angel recovered his senses and he, with a group of Knights and Althainians... worked to try and seal the portal with all of them inside of it.

Obviously they did not succeed. No less than three Abhorrants have been encountered over the years, along with Malachive. If any others escaped the Netherworld, we have no record of it... but I find it unlikely. Abhorrants are not... very subtle creatures.

The portal hasn't been revisited since. It -may- still be there, but... now... it is useless. The key was destroyed. A small comfort, but a welcome one I imagine. I'll pause once more for questions, if any have them?'

Captain Kattla posed to Sir Rassilon, 'Purrhaps the only one who can make such a lock again would be the kenderr, as they seemed imporrtant enough to be the firrst to feel mala's wrrath.'

Sir Rassilon remarked, 'I think that was more based on Malachive's attempt to frighten an un-frightenable people. Crush a spirit that had never been crushed before. If anything, I would almost fear a kender finding the portal... for they may find a way to pick such an unpickable lock'

Here I added, 'Suh Aenarion had some detail of the matter with the angel and trying to seal the portal in his memoirs.' And will direct the reader to this scroll for the memoir.

Sir Rassilon noted, 'Not an easy task from what I recall, especially with the Conclave complicating things.'

I continued to explain about the quest, 'The task itself was a paradox for Knights... requiring that they eschew their virtues to complete the task.. or so it was promised. They did not, so it is impossible to say if they had, if they would have gotten what they needed to complete the task anyhow.'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'We have many such tasks like those in our history... compromising virtues, compromising rules... for the greater good. None are alike and none are impossible to predict or ready yourself for.

In any case, we move on to what happened next... the first Abhorrant was quick to show his face. And he is the only one an accurate name has been recorded for. He called himself Deathmeer. He came to Thalosia, seeking an object burried in the sands.

I said earlier only the Hand of a God could destroy an Abhorrant, well it is said during the fierce fighting of the early days, a Goddess sacrificed herself, poured her essence into a single sword... a weapon to use against the Abhorrants. The Soul Sword. It was found, but obviously they [the people of New Thalos] did not feel a strong inclination to turn it over to a monster prepared to destroy them.

This is where we find the return of Aramaleous the Archangel. Horrified by his own actions with the earlier portal incident, he sought redemption for what he saw as escaped prisoners. Thalosia gave him the sword, and he challenged Deathmeer. In a curious turn of events, the Abhorrant requested a battle in the AGL arena. This was a welcome idea for most, since the city of Thalosia and perhaps far more was in danger of such a conflict spilling out to destroy it.

Many from all over Algoron came to watch this, a specatacle never before seen... and though he fought bravely... Arameleous was just an angel... and proved no match for Deathmeer. It is said his wings were ripped from his back, and the feathers made into a necklace for Mantaroth. Seeing this raw power for himself may have contributed to what we later knew was Malachive's decision to break away from the House of Darkness. Because the Gods saw fit to step forth on Algoron to fight them and him themselves. A rare event. And not without causalties.

The first incident we saw Kadiya fall, and an unknown abhorrant crushed by Raije. The second, Turpa paid the price, and the other [abhorrant] was destroyed. Again, by the God of War.

Sir Kuromaru begged his pardon, and broke in here to ask of Sir Rassilon, 'Was this before or after Mantaroth had lost the title? The fall of the Angel, that is.'

Sir Rassilon answered, 'Before. It is said the feathers endowed him with power unparalleled, which was -why- he was so unconquerable in the arena.'

Sir Kuromaru then asked, 'Did he lose such power after? I have a hard time believing that once he was reincarnated by Necrucifer, he'd wish to side with Malachive.'

Rassilon replied, 'I think they were destroyed. And as far as I know, Mantaroth has never sided with Chaos. I could be wrong, he has not been seen in some time'

You remarked, 'He just had a hand in causing it, I reckon.'

Sir Kuromaru noted, 'I was simply surprised to hear that he'd be offered a gift by one of the Abhorrants.'

Sir Rassilon elaborated for everyone, 'For those unfamiliar, once Mantaroth fell in the arena, he was executed as is their practice... and was resurrected by the Dark Gods as a Demon. Darkness turns on its own, we've seen that countless times before.'

I further explained to Sir Kuromaru, 'Malachive was not yet abandoned by Necrucifer I think when this occurred, but because of the whole Abhorrent fiasco, Neccy decided his son was out of control?' And then looked to Sir Rassilon to ensure I had the right of this.

Sir Rassilon duly confirmed, 'More or less. During that duel in the AGL, Malachive was still a... I hesitate to say loyal... God of Darkness. And the Abhorrants, while dangerous, more or less on their side as well. Its shortly -afterwards- I think almost a decade later all of them go rogue. And then we come to the loss of two Goddesses and two Abhorrants.

And the final battle with Deathmeer and Raije. The later of whom seems to have well-earned his God of War position amongst the Heavens', Sir Rassilon here paused and held up a single finger. 'However... Deathmeer did not die. Is not dead, still.

It is said during their last conflict the Raije threw him with such force he hit Algoron like a flaming meteor, and because he struck Icewall... a frozen lake, specifically... he melted the ice and sank beneath the water. It then froze over him, entombing him. And the scribe Balanx who recorded this was slain by Malachive shortly thereafter. Others tell of what happened but... only he truly knew where the frozen lake was... is.

Since then... there've been no more sightings of Abhorrants. The chapter of history may be closed but in light of what I learned about Deathmeer, I caution you all not to let it be forgotten again. That is largely all I had, though I welcome questions. Its a confusing timeline to follow, even for myself, so I'll do my best to clarify any matters.'

Captain Kattla then asked, 'What happened to the sworrd of soul?'

Sir Rassilon replied, 'Malachive claimed it at the AGL when Aramaleous fell. He may yet still have it with him but its not been heard of since. Perhaps he destroyed it. Perhaps one of the Abhorrants did, fearing it.'

I noted, for I believe I have read somewhere that it is so, 'I'd imagine he'd keep it, to keep the Abhorrants in tow and prevent them from turning on him.'

Sir Rassilon considered this, and suggested, 'To do so blatantly might invite such a rebellion against him. But its a possibility'

At which point the lesson was brought to a close. May we all remember this lesson, and pass it on, that history about the Abhorrants is not repeated. - Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, Shield General 11/13/11