Stories of Heilos: The Second Corruption War

Chapter 1

"As long as conflict exists, so too does Corruption." - A translation of Ancient Heilosian Runes

---------------------------------

Yloria, The Kingdom of Runia
15th Spirit Moon, Splintering Era 1235

The Shadow Network sprawled all across the underground systems of Yloria. Home to thieves, criminals, hermits - those who prefered the shadows, and liked to avoid the gazes of the ruling body - and even the gods.

But everyone who lived in the Shadow Network knew that one god dwelled in the Network, same as them: Lady Ijolite, Goddess of Mystery, was the Network's benefactor and - in some ways - its "divine protector". Rumours or old stories tell of the Goddess being ostracised when she was young, but those years have long passed, and those stories are often dismissed.

One thing was true, however: disrespect the laws of the Network, and punishment will come your way.

On this particular day, however, rumours from above began to circulate the network: of people acting erratically, of strange noises coming from Alliance Point outside the kingdom, to dreams of dead men walking and a sickly green glow accompanying them.

Yloria's parliament discussed the stories, and were rather concerned. Historians and consultation with the gods had given rise to potential answers. None of which were ideal.

But even then, no one noticed the strange feeling of ancient power seeping through.

Deep below in the bowels of the Network, a woman was imprisoned by magical chains and wards. An immortal. A God-King. For over a thousand years she had been imprisoned there - only visited a few times a year. Anything to keep the former Empress from going insane.

But, according to one of the most important laws in the Shadow Network: Dea Bedelia must not be freed. And thus the law had stood for over a thousand years, and anyone that tried suffered the consequences.

The former Empress was stewing in her hatred - as she had done for her entire imprisonment. Her children, while able to overwhelm her, did not have the stomach or the drive to completely destroy her. But her hatred did not extend to her children - far from it, she was rather proud of their accomplishments.

The only thing she hated was their betrayal - them and the betrayal of her former consort, Lord Hydron, and the only other remaining God-King.

Sure, she lost control of her powers - who wouldn't? Oh... Yumet wouldn't, but she's dead, and so is Lokosa. Just the two of them now. But to split apart from their unified relationship - and helping her be locked away, deep in the bowels of these ancient ruins? What sort of consort was that fool?

And so she stewed, and brooded. While she did not have the knowledge or expertise to break out of such wards, it didn't stop her from trying. Unfortunately, every visit to her chambers meant the wards and chains were reinforced.

However, even she - amidst her brooding - did not notice the ancient power seeping towards her - drawn by her hatred... her anger... her lust for conflict. It seeped closer...

And it struck.

Bedelia suddenly lurched, gasping as she felt something strange crawl on - no, through - her body. Her orange eyes flashed a sickly green, and her vision started to go dark.

---------------------------------

Hydron City, The Kingdom of Hydron

While the name itself was rather vain, the floating capital city of Hydron was still rather grand, built on top of an old flooded Ancient Heilosian city.