Priests of the Dark God, Calin and Bran.

Ascension to the Dark Path

Calin and Bran were competitive from birth. Having grown up among the urchins of Waterdeep the brothers learned early on how to look after themselves. They constantly sought the upper hand in almost every situation. The edge that would put them ahead -weather or not it was a fair advantage they could care less. Being the sons of a fairly overworked prostitute the boys lacked any sort of parent figure. What they did have however, was a kind old man who went by the name of Thanatos. From the first time the brothers met Thanatos they noticed he had a few odd quirks such as an odd obsession with the color purple. Occasionally he would have rather morbid talks with the boys about death and what might await them in the afterlife. Thus the brothers became prepared for their dark future. At night Thanatos would send the boys on peculiar errands such as purchasing scrolls or retrieving valuable stones of unknown origin for some unknown purpose. During the day, when not roaming the streets with the other urchins, they were taught to read by Thanatos. He taught them to think and fend for themselves in a world where knowledge is certainly power. By their twelfth year they could read fluently in several dialects and write in almost as many. The books they learned from, however, were the religious texts of a lich god. They became well versed in the True States of Being and the power that could be gained by achieving them. When the brothers reached the age of sixteen Thanatos gave them each a scroll that contained directions to a hidden enclave of the Devout of the True God. One night, Thanatos led the Calin and Bran to a crypt just north of Waterdeep. When they entered the crypt, they could see in the murky light faintly glowing symbols they had come to memorize over the past few months engraved upon the floor, walls, and ceiling. Thanatos lay in the middle of the crypt upon a magic sigil, surrounded by rubies, diamonds, and onyx. He began to chant. The brothers knew this ritual by heart and, feeling powerful magical forces beginning to manifest themselves, eagerly joined in. The following day the two weary brothers grinned in triumph, exultant in their success. In the center of the crypt floated a skull with gleaming onyx eyes with gems encrusting it in strange patterns. As they left the darkness of the crypt they heard a voice in their heads. It spoke: “Continue on the dark path my students and return to me”. As the voice spoke Calis and Bran each felt
a searing pain on the palm of their right hand. They now carried the symbol of the Dark god. Their God. Velsharoon. Forever...