Of Times Forgotten...

The Scions’ first conquest was a small island nation named Ocllo. Using the powers given them, they raised an army of undead that marched on the city. Then, when all seemed lost, the sorcerers made their grand appearance and “dispelled” the undead attackers, pretending to be saviors of the island. They were praised and lavished in gifts. But the people of Ocllo did not understand what they had embraced.

Within a week, many on the island were infected with an inexplicable “Affliction.” A debilitating sickness, it caused weakness and fever, and caused frailties of all manner. None of the healers or priests could explain it. And so it continued its spread unhindered.

The Affliction was actually the work of the Scions. Using the magic within their bone-blades, they made their attacks at night or in private, always careful to mask their appearance as an orc, perhaps, or to insure that the victim had no memory of the encounter. And so the attacks continued, and no one was the wiser. And all the time, the Scions waited, quietly feeding on the populace. Perhaps if some mage or scholar from outside had been able to observe what went on there, they might have seen the Scions for what they were. But from the very beginning, the Scions made sure that word spread about the Affliction that had claimed the island. So no one came. And the Scions bided their time.

The time was not wasted, however. There, under the direction of Mord’ralthus, the Scions built a temple for their dark lord. Though the people thought it a holy place for their sorcerous saviors, in private the Scions called it the Temple of the Damned. In it was placed a mystic rune that helped the Scions channel their dark mana back to their lord on the Isle of Fire. And by the time the Temple was finally completed, the Scions became thirsty for conquest once again.