Snippet #2083363

The God of Death felt a shifting in his domain, not just the influence of his return but the retreat of another. Something else had been calling The Underworld home during his absence. Arktorius tilted his haunting gaze down to look upon his realm with interest.

"You will forgive me if I do not await the return of our brother. I know his power well and need not a display of it."

With that he turned to his servant Inglip, looming over the elven mage forebodingly.

"You... You have proven yourself to me mortal and you shall receive your reward as promised... in time."

With a wave of his hand Inglip was transported back to his room in the Temple of Malakath to await his prize. This done Arktorius' body began to resonate blueish black energy as his body shifted from the world of men to the nether. It shimmered and faded from existence only to reappear in a place of pure unholy disbelief. Mountains of ice jaggedly shot upwards from the groud and stabbed the sky of the world below in response to the return of it's master. The deathly wind howled in triumph, bringing with it a frigidness that could freeze the blood in the veins of any mortal. The dead all chanted his name in ghastly worship of their master. The Underworld, the seat of power for the King of the Damned and yet, another sat on the throne of the Void. A demon in truest form sat shaking in terror at the return of the true king. Arktorius stared up at him with his haunting blue eyes smoking with pure power. As with the rest of his realm the throne itself changed in response to Malakaths presence. The throne of skulls froze over and encased itself in unforgiving ice. The false ruler who had taken up residence in the realm of the dead was restrained by the throne he so carelessly claimed for himself, the ice forming over his limbs holding him enthralled. Arktorius moved slowly, his footfalls were like the steps of doom as he made his approach. The dead all howled in unison at the slaughter that was to come. The Master of the Void, King of Death and Darkness stood now, looming over the creature with displeasure on his face.

"Usurper..."

He said, his voice a haunting whisper. His hand shot out and wrapped around the throat of Void Splitter before ripping him from the throne. The ice around his limps shattered under the force and the being hung their limply, dangling in the grasp of the God of Death.

"Show me what mad thoughts led you to believe you could claim dominion over MY realm."

With those words Arktorius Malakath layed the mind of Void Splitter out to bear. For the God of the Underworld to enter your mind it could be painless, unnoticeable if he wished it so. This was most certainly NOT painless. Arktorius flayed his mind as he ripped it open wide. Void Splitter screamed in unimaginable agony as his mind was torn asunder through the simple presence of the Death God entering inside it. Arktorius saw its birth from the void. Witnessed the creation of the blade with the same name. Observed its choosing of its champion Cauld Neth. Then an interesting sight indeed. The champion of the usurper was locked in combat with the Mistress of the Black Lust. She had called fourth Nightmare incarnate and at the moment Cauld was battling for his life. The sight pleased Arktorius as the sting from Lilith's betrayal was still fresh in his mind. Malakath exited the mind of Void Splitter much to the relief of the creature. Casually Arktorius let loose his hold on Void Splitter and allowed him to drop to the frozen ground in a heap. The Master of the Void turned away from him and took his rightful place on the frozen throne.

"Your misadventures amuse me young one. So much so that I shall spare you the fate of oblivion. Infact... I shall reward you. You, who challenges the Mother of Monsters. For as it is now your champion stands not a chance of surviving the next few moments. The blade Void Spliiter he wields is incomplete. Made of you it is not whole.. and must be made one."

Arktorius Malakath rose one hand and Void Splitters body began to glow. Dark energy swirled around him and invaded his very being. The creature of the Void screamed in torment as the essence consumed him and ripped him from Malakath's realm. Arktorius entered then the mind of Cauld Neth, the once champion of the creature from the Void now, if he so chose, the agent of the True Master of the Void.

"Here my voice Cauld Neth. I am Arktorius Malakath, the One and Only Lord of the Void. You're benefactor has graciously appraised me of your current predicament and I grant you a boon. First I make your weapon whole."

As he spoke the demonic blade in Cauld's hands began to shake violently as dark power swirled around it. The being from the Void that had so foolishly thought to claim the throne of the dead for himself was now being inserted into his own creation. Reconnected with what of him lay in the blade all of Void Splitter was now the weapon of Cauld Neth. He wielded all the power of the creature from the void in his hands, a formidable force to be reckoned with for sure but the King of the Damned was not done.

"My benevolence goes further..."

As his words echoed in the mind of Cauld the ground around the bearer of Void Splitter and the Nightmare began to tremble. Cracks formed in the earth and blue light began to eek its way out. Smokey blue essence poured fourth and with it, the hands of the dead. Out of the rifts made between the land of the living and the underworld crawled out a horde of draugr . Undead warriors who have long since died in wars forgotten ages ago. Fearsome ghouls who know not pain or fear but only the need to kill. They hear only the call of their master and the battle drums of war.

"Behold... The dead rise to fight at your side, bearer of Void Splitter. My gift to you."

Arktorius lounged back now, pleased with his work. Lilith would know without a doubt who was at work here. She would soon see the price for betraying the God of Death. She saw fit to aid his enemies and so too shall he aid hers. The battle was now truly about to begin and Arktorius Malakath would watch every second of it.