For Isidore

Aleon Satyan, once the Archmage Advisor to King Taust of Iresta, sat in his study, staring at the headless, rapidly decaying body of Isidore, his lovely wife. She had been carrying a long, thin dagger in her hand, hidden by the long folds of shimmering black fabric that draped her statuesque body. And Aleon began thinking about the chain of events that had led to this moment of sheer bliss and anguish.

For many years, Aleon had advised the mighty kings of Iresta, using his great powers to help the land, its people, and its kings for many generations. He was well-respected and well-liked among everyone in the kingdom. And his wife, Isidore, was cherished by everyone. Her thick mane of long, golden hair, her bell-like laughter, and her sunny smiles helped lift the hearts of many, even during the coldest winters.

Until that fateful day when Aleon's life was forever altered. On their way back to Aleon's tower, Isidore decided to gallop for a short time. As Aleon attempted to catch up to his delightfully screaming wife, he watched as her horse stepped into a small hole. Isidore was thrown from her mount, and broke her neck. And he could no nothing for her.

Her funeral was a grand affair. Nobles from all Iresta, and from lands beyond, came to pay their final respects. She was buried in the Royal Crypt, along with the other great people from the nation's past. But Aleon hardly noticed. Isidore had been his love, his life. With her gone, there was nothing for him. So he left.

Aleon had no idea why he decided to abandon his tower, and his life in Iresta, or even where he was going. He just knew that he had to leave. And so he did, traveling throughout the strange and exotic lands, learning everything he could, trying to quench and unknown and insatiable thirst. His powers, once thought to be great, were magnified a hundredfold. The world was as clay in the hands of a sculptor; he could do anything he wished.

Except bring his beloved Isidore back to life.

Until the day he came across an old temple, long-abandoned and nearly totally reclaimed by the wilderness that surrounded it. Inside, he found an old tome dating back to the time of the Asyrr. Inside this book, buried deep within the spidery words and glyphs, was a ritual that would bring the dead back to life. Â

Aleon was overjoyed at his discovery at first, but as he read on, doubt crept into his mind. As mighty as he was, the barrier between life and death had been placed by the Gods, and no mortal could dare breach it without assistance. He removed the book from the ancient temple and continued on his journeys.

As the old wizard continued his endless journey across the lands, he began feeling... odd. As if there was some invisible, otherworldly personage following him, watching him. At first he shrugged it off, but when the feeling slowly intensified to the point where Aleon believed he could see the elusive form, he realized what had truly happened.

He had been contacted by one of the Asyrr, ancient demons trapped in a prison far beyond the stars. The Asyrr had promised Aleon to help him retrieve his long-dead wife. And Aleon had agreed, without thinking. The thought of being with his beloved left no room for any shred of doubt. From that point on, the soul of the once-great wizard was eternally damned.