He was a giant of a man, covered in black armor and a black cloak. \u00a0Even though he sat in a chair at the head of the stone table, he towered over most of the others there, who were still standing. \u00a0There were seven other men, all wearing black cloaks, all eyes on a large map in the center of the table. \u00a0The map showed the eight lands that made up the old world. \u00a0The four lands of dark\u2013those who worshiped the great Fanquizar, and the four lands of light\u2013those who worshiped the pathetic Fa\u2019Aln.<\/p>\n
The giant at the head of the table listened as the seven men argued over strategy and tactics. \u00a0They were human, and that made them weak, but Azoth needed them. \u00a0He needed them to lead his human armies. \u00a0He needed them until his victory had been assured, and then he would destroy them as he would destroy all the pathetic humans on this world. \u00a0He smiled as he thought of how they would suffer. \u00a0The Fa\u2019Aln, the O\u2019orn, the Bryn, and the humans, would all beg for death before he was through. \u00a0They argued over strategy and tactics as if it mattered. \u00a0It didn\u2019t matter. \u00a0His Chumra, led by a few of his dead but undead disciples, would sweep over the world of light.<\/p>\n
The room the eight men were in was a large stone chamber deep beneath the heart of Azenaria, and far beyond the world of mortal man. \u00a0It was a forbidden place that knew nothing of time or space. \u00a0It existed when Azoth needed it to, and ceased to exist when he did not. \u00a0In the day these men had been here, years had passed in the world of man. \u00a0When these men returned to their world, they would return to the very day they had left it. \u00a0They did not know this. \u00a0Their human minds would not be able to comprehend it. \u00a0Only Azoth knew the truth. \u00a0He smiled again.<\/p>\n
The map on the table came to life. \u00a0The water of the oceans swayed in a gentle breeze. \u00a0The forests, mountains, rivers, and deserts all came alive. \u00a0Azoth stood. \u00a0He was at least nine feet tall. \u00a0He leaned over the table, and the other men, and watched the map. \u00a0He watched as a wave of darkness appeared from within a mountain range on the eastern side. \u00a0The wave of darkness spread across the map, moving toward the four lands on the western side. \u00a0A few moments later, the wave crossed the large ocean that separated the people of Fanquizar from the people of Fa\u2019Aln. \u00a0As the wave moved inland, into the land of light, the living map became black and lifeless. \u00a0Within minutes, the entire half of the world was dead. \u00a0Azoth smiled as he reached into his cloak, removed a large dagger, and plunged it into the map, in the center of the blackness, and into the stone table beneath.<\/p>\n
Azoth pointed to the blade and said, \u201cO\u2019orn. \u00a0All others are yours. \u00a0O\u2019orn is mine.\u201d \u00a0He then sat back down.<\/p>\n
As he thought of his coming victory, and the sweetness of it, he began to laugh. \u00a0He would not destroy them. \u00a0He would allow them to live forever. \u00a0Lord Fanquizar would grant him that power. \u00a0He would let them live forever and he would flail their bodies and their souls until the end of time.<\/p>\n
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