Forgotten Prophecies: Introduction

Light from torches wavered upon the dark walls of the stone crypt, while a man rested within upon wooden chair.  Sitting back, staring into the air before him, breathing slowly.  Lining the walls of his room were books from ages long forgotten, and items which seemed to glow with some radiant power.  The door, leading out of the room, was golden and barred shut, as it had been for the past eight centuries.  The man within, cursed.1

Sitting in his chair, he starred blankly at the wall before him, as if to see an image of the outside world, or did.  The expression of his face had been the same one which he had bore for the past three centuries.  The expression of a man who's lost hope, or the sight of a man gone mad from his own company.  A pathetic end to a realms greatest of wizards, and the extreme punishment of the gods to a mortal man.2

Eight centuries past, since he had taken mortal men and defeated the realms greatest kingdoms.  Then challenge the gods themselves bringing one an immortal down and casting him out of existence.  A crime, which was unimaginable, and dealt with severely.  A mortal man, had acclaimed to the power of the gods, and as such, could not be destroyed by normal means.  Yet, his death could come about in other ways, but not at the hands of the gods, and it was thus how he was imprisoned.3

Sent within a mountain, and barred within an ancient crypt sealed off by a door forged by the holy Braum, creator of all.  Then enchanted by Illian, Lord of the Spell, and guarded by beings created by the goddess of the earth, Serith.  A drastic and desperate attempt to dispel the realms of his presence, which had rallied most the lands to defeat him.  The battle had destroyed half the western lands, now known as the Scorched plains.  Magic which had never been seen before, nor since, was unleashed upon those lands.4

It was rumored to the realms that the great wizard had been slain, but among a few who believe he still existed created a cult following.  Known now as The Force of Ictar, mostly composed of outcast men and women, who believe in his supposed power and look to him as another god of Ki'on.  Yet, their main search in life is to find his final resting place.  Within the ranks of the Force, reside some of the realms most feared wizards, as they studied various tomes of their old lord.  The tomes which had been magically hidden from the gods at the time of the capture.5

It were these tomes, and the history which laid claim to believe in Ictar.  And which had kept the Force surviving for such a long time, and not to fall apart.  For the power which resided within the tomes was astounding, and mages would travel and pledge their servitude just to read a few pages.  But, the contract was binding, once within the force, death could only set you free. 6

As blank eyes stared, an eye brow raised.7