Evolution: A Warlock’s Rise To Power

The overbearing quadkong led the charge towards the walls of Desolation. Hidden in its shadow, Tyrannical Kyp began to cast a spell. He called upon the most dominate energy source in the area and infused it into his beast's flesh. In this case, that was shadow energy.

The quadkong's fur became black as night as it led the charge towards the gate. Behind it, thousands of ghosts followed.

Just outside of arrow range the quadkong stopped. All four of its fist beat on its chest before it let out a roar. Accompanying the roar was a beam of shadow energy that launched from its mouth. The shadow beam crashed into the gate with a loud bang. The gate shook but deflect the magical energy.

The ghosts rushed past Tyrannical Kyp and started to rise into the air. A wall would do nothing to stop the ghostly figures.

Arrows and spells were fired at the army. Whoever was leading the soldiers of Desolation wasn't an idiot. Every arrow was imbued with magic or made from magical metal, allowing them to do damage to the apparitions.

Doing damage and stopping the ghosts were two different things. The ghost swarmed the top of the wall and reached out towards the soldiers. Some used their ghostly weapons, others could only use their hands, but the result was the same. The drew blood as the battle of Desolation began.

Being the only mortals involved. Tyrannical Kyp and his quadkong stuck out like a sore thumb. It would take time to breach the gate, and he was the only one that needed to. His other option was to climb the wall but that would leave him just as exposed, and a fall would be unpleasant.

Fortunately, the ghosts had only just begun their attack.

Several of the soldiers were shaking in fear. They had seen a lot of things while serving the Plague Baron, but being attack by an army of ghosts was a first. The worst thing that you could do was to show fear to a ghost, the more afraid you were, the less resistance there was when one tried to posses your body.

The ghosts took action and dove into the bodies of almost a quarter of the soldiers on the walls. The ghost howled in excitement. Regaining a body, even if it was only temporary was something every ghost desired.

The possessed soldiers turned on the comrades. Chaos spread across the rampart. Soldiers were force to fight their brothers and sisters. The worse part was that killing one of the possessed would mean the death of a soldier while the ghost was ejected and only wounded, still able to fight.

"Come on Tango, let's join the fun." Kyp said to the Quadkong.

The beast leapt towards the wall, managing to grab hold of the stone and started to climb up.

As the quadkong's face looked over the top of the wall a boot came smashing into it.

Tango, the quadkong grunted but didn't budge. One of its four hands reached and grabbed the leg. Pulling the soldier off the rampart, Tango smashed him into the wall below before letting him fall to the ground.

The beast pulled itself up and instantly attracted the attention of many. Kyp looked around at the chaos on top of the wall, corpses were strewn across the area while soldiers fought each other. Many ghosts had descended into the city.

Since Tyrannical Kyp had been by himself when he declared that he would be atatacking, Desolation's army had not taken it seriously. The soldiers on the wall were only their normal patrol. The main force was still inside the city.

Kyp cast a quick glance at the bodies and found what he needed. Under orders from his master, Tango picked up a war hammer and a greatsword from the corpses. Normally two-handed weapons, they were easily he wield with one by the large beast.

Kyp concentrated and shared his weapon proficiencies with his beast. Kyp was unable to do any direct damage himself but after he learned that he could pass his proficiencies to his tamed beast, he spent a good while tracking down the Weapon Master companion class.

Tango leapt off the wall and into the city. With a loud slam he landed in front of a squadron of soldiers coming to help at the wall. Tango pounded on his chest with his free hands and ran forward. Kyp released a beast pheromone from his position in Tango's shadow.

The quadkong sniffed the air, his fur gained a tint of red as his muscles began to swell. Tango's speed and strength increased as did the damage he took, but it was imperative to move through the squad quickly.

When standing before the city of Desolation, kyp received a quest from Lucan. If he preformed well, there was a couple good abilities coming his way that would enhance Tango's lethality. He was going to do everything he could to get those rewards.

The immense strength of a quadkong couldn't compare to the soldiers. The first swing of the war hammers its target into meat paste. The greatsword cut out into the group, slicing three in half with a single blow. Tango's empty hands picked up a pair of soldiers and smashed them together before hurling them into the group. It wasn't long before only corpses were left in the street.

Tango ran to where Kyp directed. The beast was eager for more bloodshed.

*Bang*

Tango was thrown backwards and smashed into an empty storefront. The large kong shook his head before getting back up.

Kyp could see that up ahead as single soldier stood in the middle of the street. His armor was more detailed than the soldiers he had previously seen. It was also covered in hundreds of small scratches and dents. The armor and the man wearing it had probably been through countless fights.

Kyp took a good look an realized that it wasn't an ordinay soldier. It was one of Desolations vice-generals. And the man was an Elite above his own level.

"Come on Tango, let show that fool why you don't piss off a kong."

***

5 players in a deep underground cave had just defeated the ancient elven protectors in the final cavern. The last protector was bleeding out and a moment from death, being ignored while the players approached an alter covered in chains. A chest sat on the alter, bound by the chains.

"Grim, use the solution we prepared." Said a samurai.

The rogue nodded and approached the alter. He pulled out several vials of a dark black ichor and poured them on the chains.

"No… you musn't…. release." The last protector died, unable to finish his parting words.

"Hmph, we earned this treasure bud, don't be greedy." Said a priest to the corpse of the protector.

The ichor on the chains slowly climed up the engraved metal restraints and congealed atop the chest.

*Shatter*

The chains disintegrated and revealed a symbol on top of the chest. It was a picture of a woman with the lower half of her body being a spider. The five players gathered around the chest and opened it together.

Inside a pile of gold and jewels. On the vary top sat an ordinary looking stone. Grim reached out and picked it up, to get it out of the way.

"Ouch." Grim said.

"What is it."

"That stone cut me." He replied as a drop of his blood fell and landed on the alter.

*Crash*

The wall in the back of the cavern crumbled to reveal a tunnel that led deeper underground.

An errie voice echoed through the cave. "Our time has come, rise my children. We shall claim the surface and prove we are the rightful ruler of this world."

[Worldwide announcement.]

[The Mother of Darkness has awoken from her slumber and sent her forces to capture the surface. The drow legions are coming. Access to the underdark has been opened in various locations across the material plane. A new era has descended upon the world.]