Bastian Madigore
The Madigore family lands were once one of the richest and most prosperous of the Parcean Island. 1,500 years ago their most famous ancestor, Belalcazar the conquistador sent a fleet across the Sea of Promises to the wild shores of Mgorongoro. His dream was to attempt something no other warlord had accomplished before, to occupy and pacify the Dread Marches of the interior. A region so dangerous it threatened settlements everywhere else on the mainland.
Belalcazar marched the greatest army ever assembled by the Royal States of Parcea across the River of Thorns straight into the hills and grasslands of the Dread Marches. Years of open battle took a heavy toll on Belalcazar, he grew old, humbled by many wounds, but managed to defeat the Gnolls and construct a grand stronghold there. News of his victory promised fresh trade routes and new lands for Parcea. Settlers came by the score and began erecting a sprawling new city around Belalcazar's stronghold, named after him in his honor.
Much of Parcea's wealth was poured into this endeavor. Many of its best engineers and richest merchants followed. Belalcazar's dream of conquering the Dread Marches almost seemed realized, before it crumbled. Gnolls, Giants, and other evil humanoids amassed in numbers greater than ever before, encouraged perhaps by so much wealth brought in by so many invaders. The stronghold and partially constructed city were lost, abandoned, while precious few escaped with their lives.
The damage to the wealth and influence of Parcea never fully recovered. Settlers in Mgorongoro realized they were better off not returning to Parcea at all so long as they never again ventured into the Dread Marches. Many remained in the camps and trade posts established along the supply lines through Mgorongoro. They were the first colonists of the Commonwealth of Athenea.
Belalcazar's ancestors of course lost everything. The Madigore family became bitter, spiteful and evil committing countless atrocities against their political rivals, enemies, and those who attempted to shirk their duties to the family. Over the course of centuries the Madigore family became infamous for their will to do anything to regain their lost wealth and power.
Rumors of bargains made with demons and devils spread throughout the land, inspiring fear and dread to all... but no matter how hard they strive, their lands never fully recovered. Some say now the Madigore name is cursed.
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Bastian Madigore wheeled his warhorse around, staring in disbelief at the lone figure standing defiantly on the steps of the shrine. Meanwhile all around him, Madigore family mercenaries carried out the slaughter of yet another fishing village. Bastian ignored their screams and sorrowful wails crying out into the dusk. His focus was on this would-be challenger.
Bastian looked as though he rode from hell itself armored in black enameled plate draped in a black cape with a crimson red inner liner. His helm was made in the likeness of a demon with red jewels as eyes that burned with magical flame, as did his blade when he wished.
Bastian spurred his great mount closer to get a better look at this enemy, brandishing his fearsome red-hued demon-steel bastard sword. By the light of burning cottages and huts he saw this figure was a woman with robes fashioned out of silver, blue and green scales. In one hand she held a short spear, the other, a bastard sword.
Bastian felt a mocking laugh chuckle forth from his throat. Another priestess of Athenea so close to his family lands? They were getting bolder, but no closer to rooting their so called wisdom and leadership among the local commoners. Bastian and the rest of the Madigore family would never allow it. Athenea was the patron goddess of the Commonwealth across the sea for sailors, soldiers and scholars who preached the merits of community, exploration, righteousness and education.
As the heavy hooves of his warhorse stomped near enough this unwelcome priestess to exchange words, Bastian was surprised how still and resolute she was. Her face was a study of contempt, anger and disgust. Though elderly in years, this lady appeared anything but weak. Her stare burned into him like a lightning bolt while her long silver-white hair flew about her neck and shoulders in the gusting breeze from the sea.
"YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE CRONE!" He shouted with hate, words amplified for effect by the magic of his helm an instant before he felt his breath heave from his lungs as her short spear struck through his breastplate with enough force to topple him off his steed! Down onto the muddy earth he fell, mortally wounded for the last time in his life.
Never before had Bastian felt such pain or the feeling of his own blood choking up into his throat. As his death loomed, Bastian actually dreaded that his last breath would not be the end. His soul was damned. A fate he was born into. A curse he carried his entire life. Centuries of atrocities committed by demons beholden to the Madigore family had a price, and that price was his soul. The anxiety and the dread of this certainty brought distress and restless paranoia for as long as he could remember.
Now that moment was upon him, Bastian realized his life had been a force of destruction without meaning. Yes he achieved much for his family, but every deed, every favor, had a cost at the expense of others. Bastians rewards had a price of suffering for so many. It was only fitting now that he reaped what he sowed. Bastian's final wish was that if he was his fate to be reborn a demon, that he would remain in hell forever afterward.
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Bastian woke to the sound of singing. It was the priestess of Athenea, chanting a holy hymn as the wind rippled the sails fluttering above him under the stars. The sound of her voice pained his ears harshly. Bastian stirred where he lay on the deck, gasping for breath as if for the first time. Other voices broke out, murmurs taking notice of his wakened state. He attempted to rise, found he could not manage it as his arms were chained to the deck. This enraged him so much so that he could barely make sense of his own mind as he released a roar and struggled harder feeling the iron links rattle and the wood creak and strain under newfound great strength.
The chanting stopped as the priestess moved to stand over him. She was no longer angry or full of contempt. What he saw in her face now was merely determination and pity. "It may pain you to hear the holy hymns, but you must endure them. Your soul is still in jeopardy and I must do my best to save it, even if you truly deserve to suffer a hundred lifetimes over!"
Bastian tried to speak, found his tongue uttering the vile infernal language of demons, even while his mind envisioned how much he wanted to destroy her. The priestess frowned and continued to chant, pacing around the gunwales of the ship as it bucked against the waves. The more she chanted, the more Bastian roared and wailed.
Bastian knew then his worst nightmares had come true. He was reborn now, as much demon as man, he felt wickedness in his thoughts and imagination more keenly than ever before. His body was changed also. Stronger, bulkier, with red scales over much of his skin. Some kind of fangs grew from his teeth, he could feel their points with his tongue. Whatever other changes had occurred were still a mystery to him so long as he was chained to the deck.
The ordeal lasted all night. By the time dawn broke, he felt weak as a kitten, but the hymns didn't pain him quite so much to hear anymore. He also felt some use return to his tongue as he croaked. "Who are you?"
"I am Mervonia, high priestess of the Temple of Athenea of the Commonwealth."
Bastian could hardly believe his ears. All his life he was told how much the Atheneans were traitors who stole away the wealth of Parcea to form their own lands. This priestess was one of his families greatest enemies, or so he was told.
"I am sure you have many questions Bastian. This is not easy to explain except that it relates to your great ancestor Belalcazar and a prophecy. A great evil grows within the Dread Marches. You must travel there and recover something Belalcazar found that only another Madigore can recover. Time is running out, but with luck and Athenea's blessing, there may still be time left to save your soul and restore some honor to your family name in the process."
