Kald Aerthen

[dzidek1983]

Kald Aerthen – the Demon in Me

The day was coming to an end when a dusty caravan arrived near Baldurs Gate. The horses walked slowly tired of the long road, an old man was sleeping at the front allowing the horses to carry the wagon where they desired. The interior of the last wagon was illuminated by several candle light. Inside was a middle aged man, tattoos and scars filled his dark face. Not noticing the incoming night he studied an old book together with a map that seemed new - like just purchased. The book levitated in the air like it was hold by a magic force. Not needing his hands the man turned the pages with a slight move of his cane. This mystical tool itself was a rarity even greater then the powers it was commanding. Forged of black wood with a dragon head on the top which eyes gloomed with an evil green light.

Suddenly the wagons stopped as the horses reached the city gates. The watchful guards with a fist emblem on their tunics demanded some answers from the carter. The guards became more and more irritated as the driver remained mum to their calls to identify himself. They looked at themselves giving each other signs to surround the wagon. One of the guards poked the driver with his halberd. An old dusty hat fell of his head and revealed an undead zombie that began to decompose at their eyes and in matter of seconds all that was left of it were some old rags. Frightened guards stared at each other while one of the group started to search the carts but he found nothing there except some more dust and burned out candles.

In the meantime a newcomer entered the Elfsong tavern….

[dzidek1983]

The rest of the night was spent by him in the tavern where in a corner he studied the book. This time he used his hands not to attract other tavern patrons, as this would be more of a trouble for him. He liked when things ran smoothly without interruption and unnecessary questions. Furthermore he saw really strange beings there, he noted some for further analysis of their utility. He never had many companions but his nature made him respect given word and signed pacts. It eventually has lead to many successful projects in the past – like acquiring his dragonhead cane.

When the first sunbeams reached the taverns floor he decided to move out. He never liked to do his work at night, seemed a waste of light spells. Besides his cold heart needed the warm sun so it does not freeze completely. He remembered as he walked out the door what pain it was for him when he traveled through the frozen north in search of the former owner of his cane. Weakened by the blizzards and snow aberrations that served his rival he almost fell. Only his innate magic and lore knowledge of the surroundings allowed him to conquer the impossible.

[dzidek1983]

From now on the perspective will change to also reflect Kald’s thoughts…

The old man in the graveyard was very helpful at directing me to his companion in a hilltop dungeon. I was eager to take the graveyard ruins for my own – I was even able to intimidate the sage – but then again the place seemed to crowded for my liking. I could subdue the undead there, bend them to my will even, but I noticed a lot of people that were not dead entering the graveyard and I don’t like crowded places.

After a brief visit to the undead place and gathering some scrolls and much needed gold he was ready to visit the ruins the old man was talking about. He even took a letter for the other mage hoping for some reward. Wizards tend to be quite mad, especially in such places so he decided to look for some support in the local mercenary network.

He found what he was looking for in an elf, a fighter, skilled with blades. A typical adventurer hungry for gold and monster blood. He served his purpose well and so his task was done quickly. But what was more important, down in the ruins he found an alchemy lab with several tools fit for his cause. A place away from human eyes, hidden, where he could be alone with his studies.

Spending hours at researching and studying ancient tomes has lead to more power at his hands. He could infuse his cane with even more diabolic power, give it different shapes or even change it to affect others minds and bodies. All this has left him though with even less humanity. But wasn’t this he was searching for… or not? What was he searching for here anyway?

[dzidek1983]

Out of safety of his lab he sealed the door leading to the old crazy wizard on the same dungeon level. He seemed harmless – Kald did not fear him – but the destruction of his work in the laboratory, even accidental, was too much risk to take. He made some small traps that guarded the door to the lab to scare off the local creatures off. After some time the lab seemed more organized, there were vials with different fluids, a steamer to compose different mixtures and a large map of the Sword Coast expanded all over one wall with several spots marked. Some of them were tagged as visited, some to visit. The man was looking for something hidden in this area of Faerun.

The book he was reading found it’s place on a special platform. Open in the middle it made it look very important. Kald was reading it often enough for the paper to be slightly torn. Suddenly when turning pages a small piece of paper found its way to the ground, gently flying away from the attention of the reader.

How did you get out? Kald asked himself. The sole reason of my misery. I will find you and hopefully there is some time left for the rest of our lives…

On the piece of paper was written some strange symbol and words in demonic language that he still was not able to decipher. The paper did not seem old itself but the writing was like from centuries ago, dark and sinister. When Kald reached for the paper to take it from the ground he noticed a Halfling intruder, he managed to disable some traps and was peaking into the room. He looked long enough to catch a glimpse of the book’s title: Eram quod es; eris quod sum.

Kald swiftly got rid of the intruder with a fear invocation. The rogue was left wandering into the leftover traps. After this incident he decided it was time for better traps. He decided also he needed some minions to guard his belongings. After acquiring some scrolls from the local wizard he summoned some animals to guard the room.

Now as the book says I should seek now the knowledge of the lizard tribes to be able to separate the pure elixir from the leftover ooze. I saw some messages about lizard tribes in Cloakwood.

The man marked Cloakwood on the wall map with a bloody red paint and left a little side note pinned next to the mark: gather lizard blood here…

[dzidek1983]

The dark green trees waved eagerly pushed by the evening wind. Dark faced man walked next to the old Bhaal temple just to discover some Gibberling population near a small lake. While not dangerous looking they became the source of serious troubles for the traveler. Small, cunning they avoided incoming blows of his mighty cane that even the best tricks failed to subdue them. Kald fell injured on a green grass. His soul slowly began to fade into a dark portal. He woke up on a plain full of stench of death. Abominations walked through the dead city as Kald made his way up to the palace hill. Guarded by demons inside was Myrkul. Lord of the dead. An ally to his master. Granted the gift of the Lord of Murder, Kald was resurrected.

The visit to the undead world made him weaker than ever, he walked back to his laboratory In the ruins. Angered by his defeat he smashed some Kobold heads on his way down, some Imp lost his head too. Down in the dungeon he spent some time learning. After days of training he was able to focus more power in his bare hands then in his cane. More agile, more powerful blasts came one after another from the tip of his finger.

It was time to face those mutated monkeys once again. This time the plan was to distract one after another, leaving the chief for desert. What joy was it to see those small creatures fly high in the air after huge blasts of magic power made them die one after another. Now the chieftain left alone, without his minions was held by a magic power that neglected his natural quickness. From his body Kald looted a magical parchment with a powerful spell. Just what he needed for the lizard hunting he was about to begin.