Ilmorn Cometh
A hooded figure approached the lands of the Burning Tower, Aiolia. A chilling wind blew across the land, through the forests and over the jagged ridges of the mountainous barrier to this kingdom. A great flame burns eternally in the citadel rising from the mountains. The Orc wizard and his imp underlings reside there, for now. The black cloak covered the gliding figure completely, leaving not a print in the ground where it passed. A fresh flurry of snowflakes began to fall, unable to land on the figure or perhaps unwilling to touch that which comes. A guard of orcs rode out, on the backs of wyvern, the all seeing wizard in his burning tower was not so easily fooled by intruders. The foul beasts, brandishing weapons of all sorts, snarled at the intruder who continued on his way towards them. The commanding orc let out a mighty roar.
“Who intrudes in the lands of our master?” The figure stopped in his tracks, face and body hidden by his large cloak the Orcs tried to get a good glimpse of his appearance. Stepping down from their wyvern a few of the Orcs made their way over to the mysterious being. “Reveal your face by command of the fire mage!”
A sharper chill swept the group as the wind picked up unnaturally. A scaled hand of three fingers rose out of the cloak, slowly raising the index finger towards a limb broken from its tree. The limb shook violently as the Orcs looked on and began to be dragged towards the figure slowly. Upon reaching his him it sprang forth from the ground and into his hand, exploding away the small branches and bark to reveal a relatively smooth and straight staff.
“Enough of your tricks sorcerer! You are not dealing with petty magic in these lands. Begone before your weak magic brings about your doom.” The Orc commander snarled again, his minions laughing and cheering him on. “Leave the lands of the Burning Tow--” His words stopped, the staff of the hooded figure was pointed directly at him now. He fell off his wyvern, holding his gut until eventually releasing his sick across the chilled ground. “What foul magic is this!” He coughed and spit during his words.
“Take me to him.” A crackled voice beneath the hood spoke out. The orcs quickly stepped back as the hood flew backwards revealing the long beak and infinitely black eyes of the wizard before them.
“The master...he...slumbers.” The group attempted to speak simultaneously. The birdlike wizard made a curious noise in joy.
“Give me your beast, orc.” Ilmorn stepped forward to the riderless wyvern of the orc commander. “You won't mind will you?” He squawked a single laugh as he mounted the beast and rode off to the citadel. As he passed the lands below, the towns and farms, forests and mountainsides, they all turned gray and dull. The orcs all fell sick behind him, vomiting uncontrollably.
The wyvern took Ilmorn to the citadel, high above the land below he glided down from his wyvern mount and into an open balcony. Within the fires of the towers master burned, but on a platform in the center lay a sleeping wizard. Ilmorn approached him carefully.
“A weak soul produces weak magic.” Placing his hands over the comatose wizard he chanted a few words in an ancient language. “I want you to see this orc.” His eyes opened, but he could not move, Ilmorn had given him brief consciousness but not much else. “I am sorry you cannot move. We both know a wizard is never to be trusted, not even in death.” The orc wizard looked around calmly, no doubt inspecting his situation, but noting his helplessness. Ilmorn lifted him upwards, grabbing a dagger from underneath his robes and marching him over to the balcony. Holding him out for all to see, high atop the burning tower, Ilmorn empowered his voice to reach the lands below clearly.
“All Orc kin are banished from the lands of Ilmorn. Your old master is witnessing his final moments in this realm; pay close attention, you have a new master now!” With a slice of the blade across the neck of the weak wizard it was over. Dropped from the heights of the citadel his reign was fast ending. The Great Famine approached.
