The Mad God's Wage
(<em>Instrumental</em>)
Submitted by johnmansley — Jun 21, 2026
Venturing in the wilderness as he did a thousand times before, seeking rare plants that could not be found in the woods of the kingdom. The old mage, unwary and reckless, went a little bit too far. Luck was not with him this time, he chanced upon the Lord of the Dark. Soon surrounded by a bunch of demons, the old man was captured. Then he was led to the clan's lair under mischievous laughter. Facing the evil one himself, the weak mage did not resist. The vile creature invaded his thoughts, then possessed his spirit. Sneaking into the dead of night, under the charm of an evil force, the old mage went back to Syrakia to achieve his sinister job. Like a thief, he moved amongst the shadows until the crypt he reached. He robbed the crystal of light and brought it to the lair of the Beast. Looking at the gleamless crystal, the lord wore a wicked smile. And as he waved the gem over his head, arose ardent cries. Powerless, the old man contemplated this ominous scene. Of what was to follow, nothing good he could foresee. Gathering clouds over Syrakia, sinister shadows over the castle. Deprived of the protection of the gods, Syrakia, now prepare for battle. Abandoned in the darkness of a festering dungeon, the old mage undertook to find a way toescape from his dreadful fate. Using his psychic power, he compelled a nearbycreature to come and unlock the gate that blocked his way. He fixed the weakly-minded being with an hypnotic glance and drew its attention on his fingers, that were all surrounded by a ring. Dazzling sparks of light flew from the enchanted rings and flashed in the darkness, mystifying the trembling creature and tracing the wayto freedom...
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
So it was the dawn of another peaceful day, when the old mage finally reached the castle's gate. Entering the throne room, he shivered, filled with guilt. He bowed humbly to his king and then said unto him: "Sire, I am compelled I fear, to bring you disastrous news. The bright crystal, woe on me, is now in hands vile and cruel." At these words, the king glared at his unconscious mage. He rose his eyes and stood for a while, fixing emptiness. "Oh what a tragedy," he said. "This will surely seal our fate. Without the crystal's light, the realm is defenseless." Distressed by such bad news, the king was lost in his despair, when came up to him an old man wearing a long white beard. It was the last of the elders, the wise man of the realm. He locked his stare upon his king and said unto him: "Sire, all hope is not lost, there is a way to slay the evil lord. He who holds the sword of truth can defeat this one if he's stout and pure." Then the king ran his eye over the people and beckoned an impressive young man to come to him. "Arbo my son," he said. "You are our only hope. Seek out the sword of truth, oh please save us from doom."
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Instrumental
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Arbo grumbled and snarled, as the first rays of light disrupted a too brief sleep, wrestling his still weak eyes. The old man stood on the hill, fixing a distant point, beckoning the yawning prince to get up and come to him. Down the hill lied a particular city called Thebes, concealing some odd menace behind its gates hardly welcoming. A deplorable monster, who was known as the Sphinx, was blockading the Thebans inside the cursed city. It had been sent by the will of the wicked Hera, who wanted the Thebans to pay tribute to the gods. Descendant of a sinister line of five generations of monsters, the evil creature devoured alive everyone who failed to answer her riddle. Arbo was on the way leading to the city's gates when he saw an old man who seemed in great distress. The elder was walking in the most laborious way, leaning on a staff and staggering at his every step. Arbo came up his way and addressed him kindly. The old man then unfolded the lines of a strange prophecy: "Ancient legends have long foretold That a blessed one would come someday From a far, distant kingdom To deliver Thebes from its cruel bane." Incidentally, Arbo found the insidious Sphinx on his way. She was standing proud on a rock outside the city's gates. It was a fiendish creature, like he had never ever seen: having the face of a woman and a lion's body. The Sphinx disdained as she considered the new visitor. With a voice filled with insolence,she posed her deadly riddle: "Shalt thou tell me what creature walks on four feet in the morning, stands on two feet at noon and on three feet in the evening?" "O, muse of the dead, listen to the words you want not to hear, for my voice shall now herald the end of your sanguinary reign. This creature is man, who crawls on all four in infancy, stands on two in manhood and leans on a staff in old age." Upon receiving this unexpected answer, the Sphinx hurled herself to death from her rocky throne. Thus Thebes was freed from the throes of the vile monster. And Arbo, by the quickness of his mind,proved his valor.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Instrumental
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
"Ouch!", said Arbo through gritted teeth as the floor of his roomgreeted himback to his original dimension. Noticing the bed close by, he couldn't help questioning the spellcaster's precision and he articulated some hardly elegant words. As he got back to his feet, his bed caught his gaze once again. The spell had considerably drained out his energy, making himself an easy prey for sleep. Night was falling and it was a blessing. At least, he tought, the perfect control the elder exercised over time compensated for his questionable precision regarding space. Sinking into his bed, the prince let the sleep overcome him and this night, strange visions haunted him as he walked the land of dreams. I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, set a seal upon him. He should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years fulfilled. In this world is there any sword that can extirpate evil once and forever? In this world is there any weapon that can restore peace in my imperilled kingdom? When the thousand years expired, a new evil arose from the pit and went out to deceive the nations. And then came the prophesied one that faced Satan in the name of the world and bound him for a thousand years. He cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, set a seal upon him. He should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years fulfilled. In this world is there any sword that can extirpate evil once and forever? In this world is there any weapon that can restore peace in my imperilled kingdom? Now a new evil has arisen to deceive the nations of the world and gather them to battle. They will scatter on the breadth of the earth and wage the war, fighting each other till that Satan is chained again. I'll cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, set a seal upon him. He should deceive the nations no more till brought back to life once more. In this world is there any sword that can extirpate evil once and forever? In this world is there any weapon that can restore peace in my imperilled kingdom?"
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Night in all its secret surely is the propicious moment for the feeble mind to worship his fallen god, whose craving for vengeance is equalled only by the blind lust of his servants. As the wolf howls and the wind moans, strange actors prepare to play their sinister roles before the curtain rises on this baneful scene that shall only be witnessed by the heedful eye of Night. In the dead of the darkened night, I can spy on your every move. High above, standing all alone amidst the gloom. Every night, out of nowhere, I will come and see what all of your mortals, will miss while you're asleep. In the dead of the darkened night I can see malevolent shadows. Mysterious acolytes, moving stealthily in search of privacy. Listen, can't you hear the peculiar whisper of treason? A fistful of gold, ten flashes of light and the terrible pact is done.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Courage is often the warrior's most admirable virtue and Arbo's braveness was mistrusted by no one in the realm, but courage was the little less of what would be needed this time to achieve what the elder described as "A task that remained unfinished for much too long." About 300 years ago, the realm had suffered a painful scourge caused by the visitation of the terrible dragon. The furious beast ravaged the land and found no master until a lonely child came and soothed the monster before commanding it to get out to the eastern limits of Syrakia, beyond the Forest of the Lost Messengers, where the light never shines... Far from Syrakia, past the veil of ever dark, beyond the infinite mists of imagination, there was a place of great evil cursed by all, realm of a mythical creature, the almighty dragon. Invading the dragon's domain, Arbo reminded ancient tales. So many brave, courageous warriors had been slayed into this place. Venturing where most mortals dared not tread. Be cautious Arbo, this cavern might be your grave. Arbo now so far from home aren't you scared? Shall you make your way through this perilous quest? Lost in this unknown and forbidden place, will there be an end to this hellish nightmare? Making his way through the underground labyrinth, the courageous warrior could feel his pulse quicken. His torchlight was drawing lugubrious shadows, dancing on the walls to the cadence of his moves. The passageway was leading to a truly immense cavern. Arbo managed to find some courage and forced himself to enter. Something alien was present, something was watching him. Lurking somewhere in the dark, silently waiting. Arbo now so far from home aren't you scared? Shall you make your way through this perilous quest? Lost in this unknown and forbidden place, will there be an end to this hellish nightmare?
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Courage is often the warrior's most admirable virtue and Arbo's braveness was mistrusted by no one in the realm, but courage was the little less of what would be needed this time to achieve what the elder described as "A task that remained unfinished for much too long." About 300 years ago, the realm had suffered a painful scourge caused by the visitation of the terrible dragon. The furious beast ravaged the land and found no master until a lonely child came and soothed the monster before commanding it to get out to the eastern limits of Syrakia, beyond the Forest of the Lost Messengers, where the light never shines... Far from Syrakia, past the veil of ever dark, beyond the infinite mists of imagination, there was a place of great evil cursed by all, realm of a mythical creature, the almighty dragon. Invading the dragon's domain, Arbo reminded ancient tales. So many brave, courageous warriors had been slayed into this place. Venturing where most mortals dared not tread. Be cautious Arbo, this cavern might be your grave. Arbo now so far from home aren't you scared? Shall you make your way through this perilous quest? Lost in this unknown and forbidden place, will there be an end to this hellish nightmare? Making his way through the underground labyrinth, the courageous warrior could feel his pulse quicken. His torchlight was drawing lugubrious shadows, dancing on the walls to the cadence of his moves. The passageway was leading to a truly immense cavern. Arbo managed to find some courage and forced himself to enter. Something alien was present, something was watching him. Lurking somewhere in the dark, silently waiting. Arbo now so far from home aren't you scared? Shall you make your way through this perilous quest? Lost in this unknown and forbidden place, will there be an end to this hellish nightmare?
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Instrumental
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
To walk in this part of the realm aroused grievous memories in the warrior's mind and he knew it was no coincidence. To the north lied the vestiges of an ancient province of Syrakia called Kol, that had been reduced to the size of a vulgar town after its numerous assaults against the motherland. This town, that was split by an abyss of discord, appeared through the centuries being the home of corruption and deceit. It was under the domination of two notorious crooks that ruled over the two halves of the village. If the antique province had been a plague for his ancestors, the village was a torture for Arbo and the prospect of returning there seemed an agony. Something terrible had occured in this very town, something that had killed a part of him. Yes, the warrior had a bone to pick with someone there and his fists clenched as he divined the nature of his final task. In the distance, the sinister village was appearing in all its hideousness. Nothing had really changed since the last time in this place where ignominy had its own odor. Just breathing this air seemed the most reprehensible sin. Instructions were futile, thought the elder, but all the same he gave a last word of warning to which the warrior seemed deaf before vanishing into the night. Arbo watched the old man slowly fade away, wearing a worried face as darkness stole the day. His heart pounding, he entered the decadent place, making himself ready to be put to the test. As he trod these streets of ill fame, the stare full of suspicion, then came back into his head the old man's admonition. Dark hand, hand of greed. Hand that gives, hand that steals. Bright hand, hand of truth. Hand that bleeds, hand that cures. Don't ever trust in the hand of greed. Whatever she gives, twice she steals. Always trust in the hand of truth. The pain she gives, she always cures. Walking for a while, Arbo landed up in a deserted street. This place was evil, all his senses were on the qui vive. Then arised from nowhere, a short man chubby and balding. He slowly came up to Arbo and then said unto him: "Descendant of Syrakia, thou art said to be brave and strong. Slay my foe, the mage Zorka, and I shall give thee all thou want." "I am surely as brave as you are greedy and liar and what I want is surely beyond your skills by far." "I will give thee gold, more gold than thou shalt ever need. Show me what thou art made of coward, kill my ennemy." "Gold's not despicable, but I think your gold surely is. Now get out of my way, you wimp, before you make me ill." Leaving Urmeech, Arbo hurried to the northern part of the village. There he would have to eschew the lure of the old mage. Suddenly, in a flash of fire, Zorka appeared. Lust glinted into his eyes as he said unto him: "Descendant of Syrakia, I can give thee power and glory. Bring me the head of Urmeech, and then by all thou shalt be feared." "A king must not be feared by his people, but by his ennemies. When I reign over my kingdom, I'll show you what a true king is." "I heard that recently thy beloved Nadya met her fate. Shouldest thou kill Urmeech, I shall rise her from the dead." "There is but one justice in life and this is the justice of death. It is not given to man to question the quirks of fate." Then Zorka leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Instrumental
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
In heaven, the gods stood pondering, overwhelmed by the mess caused by the mad god. "In this world, is there any soul that can extirpate all this evil?" they wondered. "May this one, if he exists, reveal to us before the cancerous decay reaches the eternal skies." As the sole hero prepared to stand before the gods, the evil seed was spreading out across the land, plunging the world of the mortals into turmoil. Chaos, powers of the dark side overgrowing beyond control, soiling all the kingdoms across the breadth of the earth. Demons, brigands and Judas, killing and stealing without remorse. Fading more, day after day, the precarious flame of hope. And the gods looked down from heaven to a world falling into decay. The balance from the forces of law and chaos was crumbling away. And they thought the time had come to draw out the pernicious poison. To close the circle once more and annihilate their creation. But came up the demigod, who was the great Syrakia. "Please change your minds." he said, "Bellow still live righteous mortals. Amongst them stands a sole hero, who is my trustworthy descendant. The Sphinx he defeated, the dragon he slayed, the lures of Kol he withstanded." And the gods looked down from heaven to the deeds of the sole hero. They believed that his will was worth the confidence of the gods. And they thought the time had come to pass on their divine power. To grant the sword of truth once more and restore harmony in this world. And the hero looked up to the edge of the sky, perceived the divine sign in the depths of his heart. Sole hero in the quest for freedom, preserving hope across the land. With the fate of the kingdoms lying in his nimble hands. A celestal stairway appeared, a stairway that seemed to touch the sky. The elder looked exhausted after casting his last spell, but he managed to climb one by one the crystal stairs before coming back with a crystal sword pendant. The young prince stood amazed. "The most powerful sword shall ever be nothing more than a vulgar piece of steel." he said. "Put on this pendant. The only sword of truth, in its time shall be revealed." The turn events were taking was more and more peculiar.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
Meanwhile in Syrakia, the spectre of death was about to knock at the castle's door, as the army commanded by captain Garth was suffering under its dark minions. Defenders fell, afflicted by some inexplicable curse, as if they were just lambs brought to a sadistic slaughter. Sneaking in the dead of night, a strange figure made his way to the besieged castle and entered without anyone noticed his presence. Alone, confined in his chamber, the king stood pondering. I stood alone in the sadness of my darkened chamber, waiting for the sickle of death to seal my destiny, captivated by the dancing flame of a lonely candle, deluding to the soothing melody of the whispering wind. Echoes of a battle disturbed the serenity of my dreaming, bringing my old self back to the awful reality. A hideous cry betrayed the action of a bloody scene, revealing the unsought presence of a hostile being. The flame wavered as came in an unwelcome visitor, unfolding a strange yet familiar figure. Approaching him, I could feel an aura full of hate. I chilled to stone as I recognized his ghastly face. And I raised my stare into the visage of doom, the infamous betray- er, the unsuspected fool. No, we never saw your perfidious trickery. May your soul burn in hell for all eternity. They dragged me along through the wilderness to the lair of the Beast and I realized then that I was a valuable bait. Arbo, my beloved son, please heed my despairful warning. I beseech you don't come back for us, this would be your grave. And I raised my stare into the visage of doom, the infamous betray- er, the unsuspected fool. No, we never saw your perfidious trickery. May your soul burn in hell for all eternity.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
"Henceforth, you better strive to avoid the road." said the elder as they reached the last intersection. "I can sense a great danger all around the castle, moreover only a fool would attempt an intrusion in daylight by the frontdoor. Rather thread your way through the crowns of the trees and strike the enemy by surprise. Your salvation now depends upon your ableness to be more treacherous than the incarnated deception. Trust in your fate, and then it shall reveal to thee." And the old sage left him, carrying on his way along the road. What the venerable man was trying to do seemed evident to the young prince and he saluted his courage before entering the forest, unaware that his every move was observed with interest. In the midst of my daydreams, I had a vision of a sole hero traveling across the land, bringing back to light, holding in his holy hands the only power that could cause my destruction. I pondered upon my imminent demise and I figured out a way to save my life. May the brave warrior come back in his sweet home. Hope he shall find there the most courtly welcome. See the power of the dark side, feel the caress of the robber of life. Isn't the cup of sorrow bitter to taste? Now young hero, who will you save? Greedy eyes watched the black water of a magical pool and filled with contentment as images of a terrible massacre revealed through its surface. Despite one pawn still remained unplaced, the time had come to intervene. As the Mad God turned his back to the black pool, its water became still again, before reflecting the visage of the sole hero. "Lucifer, oh what have you done of my cherished kingdom? You set my world on fire, left only ruin and despair. Satan, you old serpent, you will pay for this mischief, when the last angel casts you back in your pit." On a nearby hill stood the evil one, delighting to the certainty of his triumph. At his mercy, captives amongst whom was the king were firmly chained and gazing upon the scene. "Look at the pitiful remains of your kingdom and give praise to the lord of darkness for he has won. On this hill are gathered Syrakia's last survivors. For your father's sake, won't you give me your sword?" The young prince stood unmoved, unable to take a decision while the blade on his father's throat was inexorably closing in. What he had to do was not so evident, but whatever it could be, he had to do it right now, and trust in his fate, as the old man said. When Arbo gave him his unenchanted sword, the creature started gloating without restraint, not aware that two strange cowled charac- ters were prowling behind him with the most harmful designs. Noticing the presence of the dastardly rogues, Arbo beckoned the evil one, attempting a diversion. The ruse worked perfectly, turning his stare away for a while, giving the Syrakians a chance to save their lives. Taking a staff lying about, Arbo charged the evil one, with a divine fury flashing in his eyes. A mystical light then surrounded his fortune weapon, unfolded the sword of truth and extirpated the demon's life.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
A hearty cheer arose from the excited gathering of survivors as the incarnated Beast staggered and finally fell, still wincing at the wooden sword that had been plunged into his heart. Freed from his shackles, the king himself caught the two cowled characters, that were still paralysed with fear, and unmasked the conspiracy he had seen through those past few days. A deep hush fell over the crowd as the king unveiled the iden- tity of the two traitors: the old mage and the captain Garth himself, and revealed how the two deceivers had used the evil one to achieve their mischevous plan, which was to steal the sword of truth and thus rule over Syrakia and the neighbour kingdoms. A shiver of anger when through the survivors but their fury soon turned to anxiety as they realized that Arbo had disappeared. "A god must not live amongst the mortals.", said a voice old and hoarse. Having cast off his chains, the elder appeared, concealing in his hands the sacred pendant so that no one could see it. "Our saviour has been granted the warrior's rest. For he saw things that no man shall ever see, and did overcome challenges far beyond mankind's capability, his place is now in the heavens, with Syrakia the Great. Let us praise the gods, for the evil seed has been extirpated by their divine intervention." Suddenly, the earth quaked in such a way that all were thrown to the ground. the wooden sword was swallowed by earth and the stem of a tree started to grow at an unnatural speed, his branches reaching out for the sky. A blinding light emanated from the tree and soon covered the whole kingdom. The protective shield of the gods was restored and years of peace were no in sigh fro the people of the new kingdom, which would be named Arbora. A minute's silence was observed in memory of Arbo, the lone hero that had staved off disaster. The elder then faded away and concealed the crystal sword pendant far beyond the reach of mankind, for a long time he wished, until a new evil arises and compels the gods to unleash its tremendous power again.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026
(<em>Instrumental</em>) Somewhere in a poorly lit corner of a dungeon, the Mad God stood alone, pondering upon his new defeat. The pit of his eyes seemed ablazed with sadistic madness as a dagger materialized in his hand. The sinister figure then grinned from ear to ear, let out a hideous laugh- ter and then plunged the dagger into his chest without uttering any cry of pain, entering a millennium sleep of endless torment and burying once more the secret of his true identity, letting the mortals comfort in their truthless verity.
Submitted by Iron_Wraith — Jun 06, 2026