Landious a world three times the size of the earth you know. Filled to the brim with magical beasts and weapons and those who use them both… Realmforgers. They embody the essence of adventure. Shining beacons for those not as strong to look up to. At least that was the case many years ago. Throughout the long history of this world many things have been discovered and fought over. Little remains for the Realmforgers to quest for. Instead they use their magic and knowledge to side with factions, causing empires and guilds to rise and fall. Realmforgers who wish to join these factions are given a ranking on a scale from F - S which determines their overall current ability. The faction that determines a Realmforgers ranking is the Divine Council. 16 members who are all born with divine magic flowing through them, make up the council.
In Landious most people are born with the ability to see and use very small amounts of magic. Each living soul has its own aptitude for one particular element or school of magic and some people have the determination to learn and train to the fullest extent to become stronger. Other elemental magics and schools of magic can be learnt and used even if it is not within somebody's aptitude, however you will never utilise that magic better than someone's on the same level with that particular natural affinity. Not all magic is equal which is why those born with an aptitude for Divine magic are immediately made council members and trained from birth. Theiton Darven the unofficial leader of the council takes his position very seriously and has a nagging need for order and organisation. He takes it upon himself to punish unruly Realmforgers who break the rules set by the council. One in particular Realmforge continues to defy him. The S rank Realmforger named Veyne Moregrove. A hunter for knowledge with an affinity for undead magic. Veyne is the only S ranked Realmforger who is unaffiliated with any faction. Despite not engaging with the rest of the world his overwhelming power makes all of Landious nervous. His aid to any faction could well and truly change the realm for better or worse.
In the snowy north lands of Landious at castle Duskhold, a tall, fit man stands ready in the castle's laboratory, his long tied back black hair begins to flap as he raises both his hands over an object on the ground. Vayne starts to conduct an experiment on the skull of a black dragon. Glowing lines beam up from the magic circle on the ground and purple lighting cracks from Vayne's hands. Parts on the skull crack and move as six miniature bony protrusions pierce out from its sides, two large pincer claws shoot out from the empty eye sockets of the dragon's skull.
"Lesser undead and high level undead combination experiment number 213 complete! Rise up cr-crab dragon?! I'll need to come up with a better name later."
Small sparks of the purple magic form before they are condensed within the claws of the undead creature as it begins to scuttle across the room.
"Upon analysis, the residual magic from the black dragon skull combines well with the undead crustation. I wonder if it has to do with the common ancestor they share. More analysis is required it seems. Despite its unique magical characteristics I'd say this undead only ranks around the C+ to B tier. Maybe it can assist in removing the rubble from my cristal mine. Nevertheless I shall call upon you later."
With a wave of his hand, Veyne magically sends the undead monster underground to be summoned later. Moving over to his desk he begins to write down his findings. After some time he stands and calls out.
"Balgorth! Balgor! Where are you?"
He allows the silence to fill the halls but he hears no reply.
"Balgor! What is he -"
In that instant something zips from the darkness behind him. A shadow ghoul jumps out. In a fraction of a second Veyne's eyes glow red and black jagged blades appear around the ghoul. Before being struck, the ghoul bows and takes a knee. In a breathless voice it says.
"Master of my master, Veyne. Balgorth wishes to inform you that he is indisposed as he is answering the door for you as we speak."
"No wonder I didn't sense you coming, you're not even one of mine."
"Lord Balgorth will be with you shortly."
With that the shadow ghoul returns to the darkness and vanishes. Leaving Veyne standing there rubbing his head.
"I understand that's how he used to communicate back in the first age but I can't keep having him send those things so suddenly and without warning."
As he begins to walk out of the room towards the front door of his castle, Veyne reminisces on how it was only 1 year ago that he managed to raise the undead corpse of the demon king from the first age. Having someone like that as your right hand and door man makes for a pretty funny scene in Veyne's mind. Finally making it to the grand hall entrance just as Balgorth shuts the doors. The tall undead demon turns to face its master and gives a half bow. Veyne says.
"Balgor, you've got to stop sending me messages via those ghouls. I really need to see if I can teach you more modern types of magic."
The demon smirks while gritting its remaining teeth. The corpse of the once great demon king, still with his red spiky crown protruding from its bloody head stops bowing and replies.
"My master. Fortunate of you to meet me here. I am glad my messenger made its way to you safely. I am at your service. How shall I serve?"
"Just tell me who was at the door, Balgor."
"Indeed sir, you had another messenger from the council today asking you to make your way to council headquarters. I told them the usual that you were indisposed with your experiments and that if they continued, threats of making those councilmen into the tortured undead would be easy. I believe our threats are falling on deaf ears, my lord."
"Interesting…"
Veyne recalls that this is the third call to the council this month. They have never been this persistent before. That old fart Theiton Darven has been trying to put me down for the last 5 decades. I have a bad feeling about their persistence. It may be better for me to investigate myself. I'll pay those douches a visit if only to shut them up personally.
"Balgorth, prepare my death countermeasures down in the dungeon. I'm going to the not so Divine Council and I have a feeling I'll need my backups."
"My pleasure my lord. Would you like me to activate all 150 countermeasures? It may prove to be strenuous on your magic reserves."
"That's why you'll use your magic while I'm gone. While you're at it raise Duskhold's defences to maximum. Kill anything on-site. If it's important I'll just resurrect it later."
"It shall be done my master."
Balgorth strides off in the direction of the dungeon as Veyne makes his way to the tallest tower and begins waking up the spire. Once to the top he wakes the three headed undead hybrid dragon that is sleeping there.
"Wake Necrothrix! We have a show to put on."
Mounting the dragon, he takes off to the other side of the northern plains where the council resides.