Lord of Spells from Faerûn

When Kelanwo and others were discussing how to go to that strange and dangerous castle to rescue the so-called "Mrs."

The god of tyranny, the Lord of Darkness, Bane, is talking to a mysterious man in a large room.

Since the night he was thrown from the heavens - what believers call the Day of Advent - Bane has never been idle for a moment. He needs to stay busy to distract himself from the distress of his mortal state.

So Bane simultaneously transformed the originally pale skin until it was burnt and turned black, tough and rough, highlighting the destructive nature contained within. Spikes sprouted from his skull, protruding from the blackened flesh, and his face was reshaped into the most ferocious appearance imaginable while still maintaining human appearance. Bane's hands turned into claws that could tear flesh and bones, and even shatter steel.

Ben's exploration of this body went beyond that. He discovered something in the microscopic world under the cerebral cortex that interested him even more. When he focused his consciousness on a cell in the blood circulating in the body, he allowed the body to When deciding on a path to explore, Ben felt an excitement that rivaled divinity itself, the power of the mind.

But he also realized it was a trap and forced himself to pull away. He set up barriers in the brain of the body he was forced to settle in, strengthening his perceptions and forcing them to continuously stretch outwards, never allowing himself to dangerously succumb to the status quo of being locked in a human body again.

Bane is a god, and miracles have always been boring and commonplace to him. But now that the miracles of God's Realm have been blocked and left him, he must focus on the task at hand before he can return to Heaven one day in the future and satisfy his desire for miracles and mysteries in a way more suitable for the gods, who are Immortal, time is the least valuable thing to him. Ben set a small goal at this time, maybe a hundred years later he will start to study the power from the soul.

The human rulers of Zhentil Keep knelt before Bane on his first day here and handed all their assets over to Bane. Bane is happy that this coup does not require bloodshed. He also needs as much human bait as possible to embellish his conspiracy and hold them tightly in his claws.

The construction of the new temple of the Dark God has begun. The rubble was quickly cleared and a temporary high wall was erected to cover up the complicated tricks arranged by Bane. Realizing that his position as titular ruler of Zhentil Keep was in jeopardy, Manshon offered to surrender his power and men to Bane's service, but Bane chose to remain near his Black Throne. In addition, he did not want to manage the boring day-to-day operations of the city, as long as the residents were loyal and ready to sacrifice at any time.

On the third day after Bane arrived in Faerûn, he began to dream. He saw Mystra smiling in the face of fear, the gods laughing at Io as they succumbed to their fate, and Bane, the architect of nightmares, ultimately succumbing to his own nightmare. among. He cursed the new weakness this body brought him, and Bane once again began to think about Mystra's wonderful performance when she bid farewell to the divine realm.

So Bane decided he should find Mystra and figure out why she was so calm in the face of Io's wrath.

On the fifth day after the Day of Advent, Manson's right-hand man went to the Battle of Shadow Valley. The powerful and important mage Tepus Blackthorne brought information about Mystra's whereabouts in Faerûn—— [Rule Tomb Castle].

Bane placed a seal on the door to his chamber, then teleported Blackthorne and himself to the Castle of Tomb. They found Mystra outside the castle, looking weak and helpless, whether injured or attacked.

Perhaps her own spell had gone awry, Ben thought sarcastically.

Mystra fell into weakness. She was indeed attacked by her own spells as Ben had guessed. Mystra had not yet retrieved the power she had hidden in Faerûn, and the magic network was also powerless to her. The object of control.

It wasn't until the God of Darkness stood in front of her that Mystra suddenly became aware of his appearance, and immediately released a trace of power, a slightly modified [Command Technique] originally prepared for the saint she intended. The spell turned into a blue-white falcon, cut through the night sky, and fled away. Bane ordered Blackthorn to follow the magical creature. The envoy transformed into a dark raven and followed closely behind the falcon, but it disappeared when it arrived at [Arabelle] in Cormyr.

Bane imprisoned the goddess in the Tomb Castle with arcane chains burning with magic flames. He suddenly felt a force impacting the room. Mystra had woken up and was testing the strength of the restraints, shaking the entire bare rock dungeon. Even though the goddess was so weak at this time, she did not regain her power. She didn't get the body of a saint, but the essence of the magic net still gave her endless magic power.

So Bane summoned a creature that was terrifying to the goddess at this time so that Mystra could remain weak and docile.

"Come, monster! I call you to this plane, just as my servants have served me before!"

Ben heard a roar in the back of his mind, and the creature responded: "I'm coming."

It emerged as a swirling mass of red mist, spiraling up like a whirlwind and sprouting hundreds of quivering, twisting tentacles that hungrily tore the air before the goddess. An equal number of pale yellow eyes suddenly opened, floating in the swirling mist, darting like ghosts through each other's companions, each eye eager to view their prey from its own angle. Finally, the mist broke through dozens of large cracked mouths and extended into the endless dark space. Its mouth kept opening and closing, emitting what anyone could only interpret as a cry of hunger.

Mystra recognized this creature: it was [Haksha], a monster from other planes with a greedy desire for magic.

Bane undoubtedly reached an agreement with it. In return for helping it come to the main material plane, this monster will give the dark god what it desires - power. Haksha has the ability to release some of the magic he has absorbed, and Bane needs this energy to fuel his plans.

Yes, a rechargeable battery. Ben thought sarcastically.

Since the day the gods fell, they have lost the channel to obtain power from the Kingdom of Gods above Faerûn. Lord Io knocked their essences down to the mortal world, but that does not mean that they will bring matching powers with them. When they dominate the world, their power does not exceed that of mortals, and it will become less powerful if they use it a little.

Water without a source, this is the situation these gods face.

But Mystra is different. She is the Demonic Network, and the Demonic Network is her. Without the support of the power of the Kingdom of God, she is still the outlet for the magic power of the greatest creation.

Mystra considered her options. Haksha was known for its cunning nature, and if Bane was foolish enough to make a pact with the creature, she might be able to use this to her advantage.

"We have a lot to talk about," Bane said, Haksha hovering behind him.

"Why did you imprison me?" Mystra said.

"I will be happy to help you untie these bonds, as long as you listen to what I have to say...and agree to help me complete my plan."

"go on."

"I wish to form an alliance of gods," Bane said. "Swear fealty to me and my purpose, goddess, and I will set you free."

Even in the presence of Haksha, Mystra couldn't help laughing. "You're crazy," she said.

"No," Ben said, "I'm just being honest." He turned to face the monster and said in a calm voice, "She's yours. But remember our agreement."

"certainly."

Hundreds of eyes turned away from Bane, and this time Mystra screamed unbearably. The mist-like monster attached itself to the goddess's body, sucking everything about her crazily like a greedy black hole. Her power continued to drain away until it dried up, but soon the magic network continued to flow magic into her body like hard-working bees. , was consumed in an instant.

When it was over, the grotesque creature chuckled, plunged its glowing eyes into its gaping throat, and contentedly prepared to rest. Mystra was surprised to find that she was still alive. Even though she was half asleep and half awake, she was horrified by the pain.

Bane cursed the monster loudly until it opened its eyes and burst into a stream of blue-white flames that surrounded the dark god. Soon, Bane gained his stolen powers.

"That's enough!" Bane shouted, and the blue and white flames went out.

"It's you, right?" Mystra said bitterly while trying to struggle against the restraints, "It was you who stole the [Slate of Destiny]. I suspected it was you from the beginning."

"I took it," Bane said, and the monster he brought to this plane collapsed on the spot, swallowed its last eye, and fell into a deep sleep. "With Melkor."

"Io will make you pay for this," she said. Ben felt the magic drawn from her condensing inside him, as if waiting to be released.

"Io can't do anything." The dark god's laughter filled the room.

Since that night, Haksha has absorbed Mystra's magic power more than a dozen times under Bane's instruction. It is like human blood and will continue to replenish itself. According to their contract, Bane gets a portion of his power each time.

Today, the Dark God stands in the vast dungeons beneath the Castle of Tomb, staring at the still waters of the Scrying Pool he built, talking to Melkor.

Much of the castle has been adapted to Bane's needs, and it has undergone many changes since the god chose this place as his stronghold. The God of Darkness once tried to use magic to sculpt the rooms and corridors into his Temple of Pain in the [Shura Field], but his efforts were often in vain. The chaotic magic made it impossible for even the gods to cast every spell accurately.

Bane feels like a poor artist every time he uses magic, and the castle's appearance is almost comical, but it bears witness to Bane's failed efforts, much to the banished god's displeasure.

"Why did you use up Mystra's power?" Melkor's voice was a little impatient. "Your mortal body can only hold so much power at a time, and this container must be filled again and again."

Ahem, a hundred years later, as the Supreme God, this time, I, Ben, will be the one to do it myself!