The Summoned- Norax's Fall

The Dark Plane: 110 years ago

    Tonir Brown looked around at the assembly he had gathered. There were very few, but it had been more than he had expected. After all, what he was doing, and what he was about to propose, could get him executed very quickly. He glanced around at the familiar faces in the crowd. Luther, who was one of the last remaining Planeskeepers, and some nameless apprentice of his were present, watching with interest from the back. Kein Runnall, the mayor of Genaberg, was sitting in the front row, surrounded by various members of his cabinet. Norax was standing at the edge of the stage, looking around for agents of the enemy. Norax's wife, Rachel, was seated somewhere in the middle. The rest of the group Tonir didn't know. He guessed they were civilians from Genaberg, or Naogon, or somewhere else. He did know something, however- none of Kanaos' men were here. Norax had managed that, somehow.
    Tonir cleared his throat and instantly the crowd was quiet. It seemed they appreciated the weight of the situation as well as he did. He spoke up. "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I'm sure you all know why we're here, but I'm going to say it again. I want everyone to know what we're up against, and I want to give everyone a chance to back out if they don't think they're up to it.
    "Kanaos is researching the Forbidden Magic." he said bluntly. This produced no effect- everyone here knew that much already. "The same magic that Xanek used, the same magic that Nathekiorion wielded against us, that same magic is being brought to bear once more by the evil mind of our overlord!" he pronounced. He paused to take a drink, and then continued. "We all know of the magic used during Nathekiorion's invasion. A man could become transformed into a demon with no more than a fraction of that power. Many of us here saw it with our own eyes. I do not want to be a demon! But it is not only for myself that I fight- I do not want my family made into demons. I do not want my family slaughtered by demons! I do not want my family to even know of demons! I would not wish that suffering upon anyone! And yet Kanaos would bestow it upon all of us!"
    Many people in the audience were nodding their heads in agreement with this statement, but Tonir could read the question in their eyes: What do we do about it? So he told them.
    "The answer to our problem is a simple one, though hard to accomplish. We must overthrow Kanaos."
    Dead silence greeted this proposal. Overthrow Kanaos? The very idea seemed at best foolish, more than likely suicidal. Dumbfounded looks greeted Tonir's gaze.
    Then Norax rose and turned to face the audience. "He's right!" the warrior yelled. "I'll follow Tonir!" Tonir nearly jumped when Norax shouted. They had rehearsed this- but it had still startled him nevertheless.
    Norax continued his speech. "I don't want to be a demon any more than Tonir does. I'm a summoner, just like him, and I'm also a warrior. I'll help him end this!"
    There was scattered applause. Norax's argument was powerful, but the overwhelming spectre of Kanaos was more powerful still. Tonir cleared his throat again, and Norax sat back down.
    "Norax, myself, and a few others are prepared to make good on our words." Tonir began again. "This very evening, Norax and some of our followers will storm Kanaos Keep, and dethrone the Evil that dwells within it. But there is the very real possibility that this will fail. I will make no illusions for you- this plan is a desparate one. So we have another plan to implement. I will be going to the Nexus with Kein Runnall this evening, as Norax attempts to overthrow our villan. Whether Norax is successful or not, Kein is leaving this plane, as am I. Coming with us are many of the peoples of Genaberg. We are leaving the Dark Plane, gentlemen. There are many of you out there whose families may be in danger if our plan tonight does not succeed- send them with us if you wish."
    This created a small buzz in the audience as the people talked to each other. Quickly interpreting the nature of the talk, Tonir spoke up again.
    "I am not abandoning you!" he announced, so decicively as to quiet everyone immediately. "I am continuing our work from the Light Plane. If we are unsuccessful in our current plan, I may be able to pursuade the powers of our sister plane to intervene on our behalf. This is my plan."
    There was silence for a while and then Tonir spoke one final time. "If any of you wish to join us, you may stay. However, I must begin planning for this incursion soon. As a result, I now pronounce this meeting at an end."
    People slowly stood up from their seats, walking to the exits as though in a daze. A few stayed behind- Norax, Rachel, Luther, his apprentice, and Kein Runnall were the ones that Tonir knew. There were three others who had stayed, all of them standing somewhat nervously in the center of the room. Tonir stepped down from the platform that he had been occupying during his speech and approached them.
    "Gentlemen, may I help you?" he said, fairly certain of their intent.
    The one nearest Tonir looked up and stammered. "Y-yeah. We want to help."
    Tonir's only reply was a raised eyebrow.
    The other two nodded their agreement, and the first looked from them back to Tonir. "We don't want to be demons either- we weren't around for Nathekiorion's invasion, but our parents raised us right- we know what went on, and we don't want it happening to us."
    "Well said. Gentlemen, you are with us. Go introduce yourselves to Norax and he can get you caught up on the battle plans." The new recruits nodded enthusiastically and walked away. Tonir shook his head- they were too young to be involved in such a conflict. But he couldn't afford to turn anyone down at this point. They were low on men as it was.
    "Kanaos does not trust you, you know." A voice spoke up. Tonir brought himself out of his thoughts and looked up to see Luther, along with his apprentice, facing him.
    Tonir smiled bitterly. "Ah, Luther. It is good to see you. Always pointing out the strong points in my plan, eh?"
    Luther shook his head. "I do not mean to criticize you, friend. I wish for your plan to be a success. I am coming with Norax tonight, am I not?"
    Tonir nodded. "True. You are correct that Kanaos does not trust me. It would seem very strange indeed if I were to be leading a large group of people toward the heavily guarded Nexus, wouldn't it?"
    Luther smiled slightly. "It seems that you have already considered this contingency then?"
    "Of course I have. I wouldn't risk that many people if I wasn't sure we could get to the nexus. The attack on the keep may not be enough of a diversion to keep Kanaos' attention away from me- I plan on bringing along a few elementals to cause a diversion at the nexus, so that we might escape. At the very least, my abilities will serve to protect my charges." Tonir explained.
    "Very well, you have thought this through. I wish you success, Sir Brown. I can only pray that Norax and myself are as successful."

    Norax sat in the empty room where the meeting had taken place but a few hours ago. In his lap was an ornately carved scabbard, and in that scabbard was a sword. The sword that Norax had in his posession was no ordinary sword, and he knew it. The sword had been passed down to him by his father. It was a powerful sword that dated back to the invasion of Nathekiorion. The demon himself had forged it, as well as one other, and it had turned out to be his undoing.
    Norax was holding the sword that had felled Nathekiorion.
    Luther, trailing the three recruits who had volunteered earlier, entered the room. Norax gave them a passing glance and then turned his attention back to the carvings on the scabbard. Luther had translated them for him long ago- they warned against the use of the sword, saying that "The touch of the Evil One has fouled the sword for all time". Luther had given similar warnings to Norax about bringing it on this trip. If the Tomb Sword could fell Nathekiorion, then it would do just as well to Kanaos, Norax had argued. Luther conceded that, but said that the sword was no longer the tool of Good. Norax might be condeming himself just by having it in his possession. In the end, Luther could not talk the warrior out of bringing it. It seemed to Luther that Norax would end Kanaos' evil, even at the cost of his own soul. The three recruits- Eli, Andrew, and Spencer- hadn't been privy to that conversation. They had been busy talking to themselves in hushed tones about the upcoming battle. Luther and Norax had both told them that it was very likely they would end up dead, but they still had wished to come along.
    Presently, Norax stood up. "Okay everyone, this is your last chance. Does anyone want out?" Silence greeted his question. "Good. Let's go."
    Silently, Norax led the four others out of the room they were in and into the streets of Naogon. There was no talking among them as they navigated the crowded streets, each following Norax's lead. After a few minutes they had managed to end up in a small store on the main street. Norax stopped, and Luther took the lead, ushering them inside and closing the door after them. Luther motioned them all together as he closed the shades to the building.
    "I am going to use magic now, my friends. I wish for all of you to close your eyes, and attempt to empty your minds." Norax nodded and closed his eyes. The three recruits followed his example. Luther raised his hands up slowly and chanted in a hushed tone. There was a moment of disorientation so severe it nearly knocked the recruits over and then they were no longer in the shop. Instead, the dank atmosphere of a dungeon surrounded them. The recruits looked around themselves as though they were unsure how they had arrived in this place, while Luther and Norax opened the door of the cell they had landed in effortlessly. Motioning the dazed cadets to follow, Luther led the way. Vauge voices could be heard somewhere in the distance, and more than once Norax though he heard someone screaming.
    "Where are we?" Eli ventured, his hand never going far from the hilt of his sword.
    Norax looked back at him. "We're in the catacombs below Kanaos Keep. Keep quiet- there's nobody nearby, but I get the idea that sound might travel quite a way down here." he whispered.
    Eli nodded his understanding. The group marched in silence for some time, until Luther motioned them to a stop. He turned to the group and spoke. "These are the stairs- we will arrive very close to the throne room when we emerge, and I will attempt to use magic to shield us from the eyes of the guards. You must be as silent as possible, and try to attract no attention to yourselves. If the magic fails us, then you will need to fight. I will aid you in whatever way that I can."
    Norax nodded, and the recruits collectively swollowed in nervousness. Luther lead the way up the stairs, completely silent in his passing. There was no lighting, and it was not long until everyone had to shuffle along, trying not to trip over the stairs or each other in the process. Andrew bumped into Norax before he realized the procession had stopped. Luther's voice made itself apparent again.
    "We are at the doorway- the door to the throne room will be in the center of the wall to our right. Do not run toward it unless we are seen. Once inside, we will have to face Kanaos. There will be no guards, or advisors with him- he is too afraid of someone learning the secret that we already know. If his guards knew that he was tampering with the Forbidden magic, they would kill him themselves. Now, prepare yourselves."
    Norax thought to ask the old wizard how he knew so much about Kanaos, but then decided against it. The door opened, blinding them momentarily as light streamed into the stairwell. Luther was the first out of the door, followed by Norax. The recruits nervously followed, hands on the pommel of their swords, ready to draw at the slightest notice. There were at least twenty guardsmen in this hallway. One of them looked directly at Norax, and then looked away in disinterest. Apparently, Luther's magic was working. The group of five walked slowly and deliberately toward the palace door, making nearly no noise whatsoever as they did so. Finally, Luther arrived, motioning toward the others. Norax turned to the handle of the door, pushing lightly in an attempt to open it without alerting anyone, especially Kanaos. It was then that one of the guards glanced in their direction. He looked directly into Norax's eyes, and for one moment, he was sure that he had been discovered.    Then the man looked away. The door opened rather abruptly behind them, and Norax was through it before any of the others.
    Kanaos' throne room was dimly lit, and empty except for the five that had made this journey. The door closed and locked loudly behind them. "This isn't good...." Norax said, his hand resting near the scabbard of the Tomb Sword.
    "In that, you are correct." A voice, nearly earsplitting, rang throughout the room. Light suddenly flooded the area, revealing Kanaos sitting complacently in his throne, surrounded by horrible, disfigured things that Norax recognized immediately as Demons. Kanaos himself was beginning to resemble them, Norax noticed. His clothing was in rags, and his posture appeared humched. Most telling, though, was the grotesque face that presented itself to them. Kanaos had been human- once. Now all shred of humanity had been taken from him by the magic that he had sought. If Kanaos was a demon, as it seemed, then he had already discovered the Forbidden magic, and there was little hope at all for their plan.
    Kanaos spoke- though what remained of his mouth did not move. "Welcome to my castle, doomed ones. It is an honor to have you here. My demons will enjoy disemboweling you." With that, he pointed forward, and the hoarde at his side broke loose.
    The recruits panicked, and were torn apart before they could gather enough sense to draw their swords. Norax's Tomb sword was at the ready, striking out at the abominations. There was a flash of grey light as the sword struck the foremost, and the demon vanished. The rest of the hoarde had too much momentum to stop- they were struck down by Norax's sword or Luther's magic. In the space of only a minute, the attackers had vanished or were lying dead on the groud.
    "Impressive!" Kanaos proclaimed. "I knew the whelps would not last long, but I am truly impressed that you managed to destroy all of the demons! Very well, it seems..." Kanaos stood and stepped down from his throne. "That you will have to face me."
    Nobody moved. Norax held the sword ready, feeling its energe pervade him. He could sense the power in the sword- pulling at him, trying to draw him inward as it had done to the demons. He was stronger than it though- he could fight the pull of the sword. Something else within the sword was trying to reach him, he realized, as he stood here facing his nemesis. Perhaps Luther had been correct... maybe the Tomb Sword no longer served Good... perhaps it was its own master. Norax decided that he did not care. He was going to use whatever good was left in the sword to destroy Kanaos. Then he would fling the accursed thing over the next ravine he found.
    Luther made the first move. Darting a great deal faster than one could reasonably credit an old man like him, he lunged forward, a dart of light flying from his fingertips faster than the eye could follow. Luther's magic struck Kanaos directly in the chest.
    And Kanaos laughed. "So- this is the power of the legendary Planeskeeper?   I was right to give up the profession. You should have come with me Luther, you could be so much more powerful." With that, Kanaos raised his arms and both Norax and Luther were flung back against the wall, held three feet above the ground. "Fools! You thought to overcome me? It cannot be done. No magic is great enough to fight me! I have already discovered what you " - he directed this to Luther - "were to much a coward to explore. The Forbidden magic is mine!"
    Luther was chanting something in a low tone, his words nearly imperceptible. Slowly, the two of them sank to the ground while Kanaos watched, his eyes wide.
    "You dare defy my magic?" Kanaos sounded amazed.
    Luther nodded grimly. "You own no magic, Kanaos. Your magic owns you- that is the difference between us."
    "Liar! Witness the power that I command!" Wind suddenly tore through the room, flinging Luther once more against the wall- but leaving Norax untouched.
    Norax wasn't about to let this opportunity pass. Whether Kanaos was ignoring him because of some magic Luther had made, or just because the demon was too angry with the old wizard, Norax didn't care. He leapt forward, closing the distance between the two of them in a fraction of a second. Kanaos' eyes swiveled in Norax's direction, the surpised expression on what was left of the demon's face turning to bitter hatred as Norax's sword collided with the tough hide that had once been human skin.
    With a grey flash of light, Kanaos vanished, and Norax collapsed to the ground.
    Luther sprinted toward the warrior. "Norax! You've done it!" He shook Norax, attempting to revive him. Luther was a powerful wizard, but knew next to nothing of healing. If Norax were seriously injured, there would be nothing he could do.
    Norax sprang back to consciousness with a gasp. His hand still held the sword that had slain Kanaos- he could feel its heat in his hand. He had done it- Kanaos was no more. As Norax struggled to stand up, he came to a terrible realization.
    Kanaos was no more, but something else was.... That something within the sword that had been pulling at him earlier, trying to subvert him, had grown stronger. Much stronger. Somehow, using the sword to destroy the demon had strengthened whatever was within. It pulled at him now- not attempting to imprison himself in the sword like the others, but to use him from within the sword. Norax was so tired- his strength had been spent in this battle. It would be so easy to give in.
    "Norax! Let go of the sword! Put it down!" Luther's voice seemed to be coming from someplace very far away.... Norax knew the truth in that voice, though.   He had to put the sword down, or be lost forever to the evil that had grown within it since the fall of Nathekiorion.
    The touch of the Evil One has fouled the sword for all time... Norax had to let go- he willed himself to let go. The voice of Luther faded further as Norax was pulled to the sword. He had to let go- he had to let go... he had to let go!
    Norax held on to the sword, and lost his soul.

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