Zoren

In a land from long ago, a tale of ambition, betrayal, and fate unfolded around Zoren, a wizard whose journey from heroism to infamy became the stuff of legend. The gods of Orathia, troubled by a prophetic vision, foresaw the rise of a powerful lich that would bring about the realm's destruction. To avert this dark future, they tasked mortals with a crucial quest: find and destroy this impending threat.

Among those who answered this divine call was Zoren, a skilled necromancer, and his adventuring party. Embarking on their perilous mission, they battled through adversity and, against all odds, succeeded in defeating the lich. Their triumph was celebrated by the gods, who bestowed blessings upon them for their brave deed. However, unease lingered among the deities. Despite the lich's defeat, they feared that fate could not be so easily swayed and that another lich might rise in its stead. Seizing the opportunity, Zoren proposed to study the lich's spellbook to prevent future risings. The gods, harboring a secret, agreed to his request.

Zoren's descent into darkness began as he delved into the spellbook's eldritch contents. Its corrupting influence eroded his sanity, and soon, a sinister voice known as The Withering began speaking to him from its pages. Under its malevolent guidance, Zoren embarked on a grim path of undying. He transformed the magic tower he had discovered with his allies into a fortress for his first phylactery. His once-comrades were now prisoners, doomed to eternally guard it. For his phylactery, Zoren chose an Orb of the Veil, an artifact of great power and mystery. Little did he know, as he left the tower, the gods had turned it into a prison, a part of their grand plan. They had anticipated that fate would adjust, and a new lich would rise. By letting Zoren take the spellbook, they aimed to control the threat he would become.

Centuries passed, and Zoren's imprisonment continued until a devil with white horns, intent on collecting an old debt, found him trapped. This devil, needing Zoren to fulfill their bargain, agreed to free him in exchange for the assassination of Lillith, a rival devil. Together, they orchestrated an infernal invasion of Orathia. In a devastating act, Zoren unleashed a spell so powerful it obliterated thousands of miles of the realm, killing millions.

The gods, witnessing their prophecy come to pass despite their efforts, were left in despair. Some submitted to Zoren's newfound reign, while others chose death over servitude. In a single day, Zoren extinguished the lives of nine gods, using their deaths to create additional phylacteries within the surviving gods and further empower his own. Zoren then commanded the gods to gather the remaining Orbs of the Veil. These orbs were turned into layered defenses for his phylactery, ensuring his near-invulnerability. The culmination of his reign of terror was known as The Reaping, an event that saw the destruction of all Orathia.

In response to this catastrophe, gods from other realms intervened. They granted Orathia 500 cycles of 500 years to rectify this calamity, effectively trapping Zoren and the ensnared gods for millennia.

Zoren's story, from a revered wizard to the dreaded Lich God, is a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked ambition and the complex weave of destiny. His legacy is a haunting echo across Orathia, a saga of power's corrupting influence and the inexorable twists of fate.