From NexusCrossing

[edit] =Background

Born a male human in the slums of a large city, James was nothing special. In fact the only unique thing about him was how normal his family was. His mother was a young women who was only not working the streets due to pride and his father, who worked the tannery, often came home drunk, and yelled at everyone and everything, even if he never hurt anyone.

As James grew he learned about the world. He learned about the magic some people hold, and the power others hold and gain via wealth and politics. But he also learned that he was weaker then most and often had to run away from people who wanted to steal what little food and money he had. Finally, on his 12th birthday, after being badly beaten for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he swore he would gather power and have his vengeance.

After traveling to one of the mage's in the slums he found out he was unmagical. Annoyed and frustrated that he had lost one of the quick ways too power he accidently asked the mage the first thing that came into his head, "Is there anyway to use magic if you aren't born with it, like stealing or something?" The mage, in his anger blast the boy out of the house saying, "Their are some questions better left unanswered. The fact that you would consider stealing another's god given gift for your own gain is monstrous. Leave here and give up your dreams of power, for following the path you just suggested is not something me or any other mage will help you with. That path leads to darkness."

Unlike most who would have taken the mage's warning, James decided he had worried the mage, who had thought he would steal his power. Which of cause meant it was possible. Armed with this knowledge, he went in search of the city for a way to find this knowledge. Not that he would ever do it... but he may be able to recognize the signs of someone else doing it and save the victim. The mage would be grateful then, and that would gain him some power.

At the same time he went in search of a way to try and gain the other Power that was readily availabe. Political. The quickest route for this was the army. If he could show all he was able to do in the army he would be able to gain power. So on his 16th birthday, he left his home, and headed for capital city in search of power.

It was on this trek that his first big break came. One night he left the road for a clearing he saw in the distance in the forest. The clearing was too small to camp, as was then next one, as was the next one. Finally totally lost, James found an ruined tower. Curiosity overcame sensibility and he went and explored. In his explorations he found a book in the lowest section of the tower, called "The Journel of Zar'Resnar"

Zar'Resnar had been something he heard people say in fear in the previous village and their were many totums to ward off evil. So it cam as a great surprise that he had actually been a mortal, and wasn't a god or demon or something. He Opened the first page and came across this.

"If you are reading this then my dreams for immortality have gone unfulfilled. It is probably due to the near by mage of great power. However this means you are either, another warlock who sensed the power from this place and avioded the traps, a skilled thief who thought their was money here and disabled them, or a lucky peasant who missed them. However the important thing is that this book choose you. In it you will find how I gained power though force, manipulation and blackmail. You shall also learn how to steal magic, hide magic and some of the spells I invented. Be warned though, their are those who will seek to stop you. Always remember this tower, use it as a constant reminder, that until you are totally immortal, a being of the divine, you can still be killed.

Trust No One."

James read the book from cover to cover for the next few days, and learned a lot. While he couldn't practice magic yet as he needed to steal magic for that. And he couldn't do that could he.

After a day's deliberation, he decided he would steal his magic from an evil magic user. Then, taking the book, and anything else useful in the tower, he left.

It was in the slums of the his destination he found such a caster. A twisted being who used his power to rape women, James found and killed him, taking his power. But an act of Warlockism, no matter how light, twists the soul. That day, James died, and Zel'Dispa was born. The power raced though his veins and he killed at least five other casters in the slums before he got a hold of himself. If he kept up like this, he would be caught and executed, and his careful plans would come to nothing.

Waiting three days, he went to the palace and presented himself to the king, claiming to be a Sorcerer form a far land who came to advise, "The foremost king in all the land" Spending a few days to get into the king's good graces, he then headed to the Library and read as much as he could. He also healed the sick...for a price, and made deals and plans with the nobles. While he was rather pathetic at it at first, he learned fast and realized that a royal court was far more like the slums then they would ever admit...except more backstabbing. He also once a month, found a mage and drained them dry.

As his power grew he found a section of the book he had never seen before. 'Immortality.'

"If you can read this you have done more then I ever hoped you would. Most would have been found and killed by now. Good it means you have the power the resist releasing your magic and killing everything you find, or going insane. Thus, it is now time for you to learn what causes Immortality. It is very simple...POWER. The more powerful you are, the longer you will live. Thus the more power you absorb the more powerful you become, until Immortality. Take this knowledge and show the world its true master my apprentice."

Dark and Powerful, Zel'Dispa slaughtered the mages of the city without warning and then left. Gathering a group of followers he started a quest to destroy all casters that would not serve him. At the same time he freed several cities from Mage dictatorships, killed magical monsters and pressured magical items of all kinds across the world.

He also continued to make conections in high places as, while feared by many kings, he had never once aspired to ruling an area of land. "If I ruled I would have to stop searching for greater power." Thus he had contacts in many countries.

However finally the power went to his head and he found out how to convert Life force into magical power. Now all beings could feed him, so he started slaughtering people by the village. It was back near the tower of Zar'Resnar that he died. The village elder's had been waiting for him and had set up trap. confidently he walked in and watched as his magic vanished. Weak he was killed on the spot.

So when he woke up he was surprised. He should be dead. When he looked down he saw the village that killed him now had a second alter. 'They will remember me forever as a demon, and that shall keep me alive.' Revitalized, he move to a place that his follows had gathered in large numbers, to guild them in getting revenge on the world that had killed him. His last thought was, 'If I was kept alive by that village, maybe Zar'Resnar still lives.' Shaking his head at the silliness of the concept Zel'Dispa flew on the winds to where he would turn his cult into a kingdom.

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