MTG Salvation

Disclaimer:
[Magic: The Gathering] (C) Wizards of the Coast.
I do not own Magic: The Gathering or any of the names which are property there of. I wrote this to express my love for that particular game not to harm it in anyway.

So'for of the Vedalken


Dressed in plain blue robes, smile about his face, So’for, Vedalken boob, set off from the house in which he had just emptied.
Humans, Vedalkens, and all sorts of species paid him for his work. He enjoyed every moment of it.
He was a cleaner. Taking away all the junk in your attic or catacomb. So’for carried a large box full of metal with an array of shaped objects and colors inside it. He only had two arms, but he managed to carry it to the transportation tube in which he would slide down to the lower ground level outside the Synod sanctum. He never used the Serum that filled them full of insight and knowledge. Instead, he traded away all the junk he got, and bought all the shiny, new objects that caught his fancy around the world.
So’for’s home, located twenty miles outside of the city walls, wasn’t very big in it’s complexity. Three rooms filled the house. His bedroom taking up two, and the kitchen. A giant pit had been dug out inside the house. Long metal sheets rested atop the pit, enabling him to walk about.
So’for entered and threw the box as far as he could to the other side of the house, where it landed on top several broken machines. He took off his robe, hanging it on the closed door. Clanking across the long pieces of metal that he called a floor, he went to his bed, and pulled out a manual. He glanced over it, picking up a small animal like object from the pit surrounding him.
“Tighten carefully... loud noise...” he read, pulling a small tool out of his pocket. “Do not cast any magic onto...” his voice was small, but clear. He poked at the object with the small long needle like object he had withdrawn. It sprang out of his hand, landing on top the junk. So’for gave a sly smile. It bounced across the room, emitting a small noise as it went. So’for could hear small gears grinding from it’s direction. It would break again soon, that was obvious. He pulled over the box, grabbing a small sphere from within.
“This” he said to no one but himself. “This, is bound to be worth something.” It twisted in his hand, trying to rub itself free.
“A little agitated are we? We can fix that.” He grabbed a long bar from his bed, and taped it on its top once, were it stiffened and stopped. “Lets look inside.”

Hours passed as he investigated his new objects. None were promising enough to sell, however one did look as if it did belong to someone famous. He reached back in the box with a sigh as he retrieved the last item. A long snake like body coiled out into the air as he raised it, it’s head pointed; a mockery to it’s body dangled at the bottom.
“Ugh. A human contraption!” He threw it to his bed as he withdrew a pair of thick gloves. “Only a human would use animal’s as a template for design. Who knows what awful things lie within it on it’s-“ So’for continued rambling to himself as he picked the object back up. Red little eyes glared back at him, long metal nose sharp with light and cut.
“Useless. No in’s, no out’s. Useless.” He tapped it with the long rod, pressing a button on the bottom of it, sending an electrical current through the snake as it hopped with the current about the bed. So’for got up and fixed himself a small drink. He didn’t like his job. It was dirty work most of the time, and most of it was junk. But he did have some unique items that couldn’t be found else where. Items that would one day grant him all he needed. Only a few were missing. Though he new he would never get his blue hands on them. He recalled his mentor, So’foralen’tchenchill. He had hated the man. For one his name was too long, unlike most of Vedalken kind. Second he always kept the junk. Never threw anything away despite how rotted or how foul it smelled. What would he do? Keep the snake or throw it out? Just because a human created it doesn’t mean it’s useless. Though it un-doubtfully did. He swallowed his drink and went back to the bed, where the snake gave off a small spark as he sat. “Lets take a look, one last time...” He jabbed his finger at the head, where he was met with a small amount of pain. He jabbed at the metal plated spine, where he was met the same. He jabbed at the end, where a needle punctured his skin as a large cap uncoiled itself from the rest of the snake to engulf his hand.
“Ahhh! What in the name of-“ but he stopped. The snake had done something. A memory, from his past. So’foralen’tchenchill teaching him that no matter how much junk was in the world, someone was still smart enough to turn it into cold hard cash.
So’for was sure that the snake had summoned the memory. But something else had happened too. He knew something about it. Something he couldn’t have known on his own.
His hand resting inside the cap, he became aware of what it was. For every moment it was connected to him, he saw images that were not his own. Great metal giants roaming the land, smashing houses and goblins in it’s trail. Waves full of life splashing against the shoreline as creatures came from it. A large, dark figure, standing over him telling him something very important.
So’for quickly withdrew his hand. This was no mere device! This was some sort of, some sort of memory chamber!
The cap withdrew back inside the snake, where it gave a small little jilt. Almost as if it...
Yes. That’s what it was for. It wasn’t for memory. It was for stealing. Stealing memories.
So’for, not sure if what he was about to do was very bright or wise, lifted the head to his face, where there eyes met. Was his life worth it? To find out all that this thing had inside of it? Of course it did! He didn’t even have four arms!
So’for turned it around, and placed it on the back of his head. He waited a moment before the needle made contact with his head. Maybe it wasn’t so bad, living the life he did. Four arms only meant he had two to love! Life’s worth living if you-
But So’for couldn’t finish the thought; the needle grew, and jabbed itself all the way into his brain, down to the center. He was instantly thrown to the side, memories flooding. He saw great wizards battling. Recalling spells that hadn’t been used in ages. Finding secret tunnels underneath the very planet itself that only the most holy ones could know about.

He lay there for hours, maybe days or weeks, he couldn’t be sure. All he knew was that he was starving beyond anything he new before, and so dehydrated that he could hear the water rushing in the pipes throughout his home. He could remember grabbing at the snake, trying to pull it out, but being met with shocks far greater then he had before. He thought he had been bitten, too.
Now he reached back again, and gave a mighty yank on the snake. His hands hit the wall, grasping the air. The snake was on his side, the needle back to it’s original size with minimal blood on it. The cap missing. So’for felt the top of his head. A small pin hole was all that remained of the giant intrusion. He glanced around the room, where the little gear winding machine was staring at him from the bed. It’s gears now dragging, a plea in it’s eyes.
Despite So’for’s new found fear for the object, he picked up the snake, and stared into it’s eyes once again.
So’for would swear on all Vedalken kind that he saw his blood in those eyes. That it stole from him all the memory that it had been denied for so long. But what in exchange? Oh but what in exchange! He recalled the memory’s he had been given. Spells! Oh how he had always wanted to know what the old ones new! And now he did!
So’for went outside, where it was dark. The ground clanked below him as he walked it’s metal surface to his back yard. A large tree protruded with small targets on it. He called upon the ground, feeling it’s life and it’s artificial dirt that gave life to this tree. He remembered the death of a man he hadn’t known, a man so great that death would never hold him. He called upon a great black, ash stricken cloud towards the tree, where it ate away at it with little effort before vanishing as quickly as it had came.
So’for gave, for the first time in his life, an evil smile. Now he would have what he needed. Now he new all that he would ever need. He went back inside, back to his bed. The snake still lying there, it’s head pointed to the wall.
“Oh, you are special, alright.” So’for picked it up, and swung it around his shoulder. “Your not leaving my sight ever again.”
The winding object on the bed turned it’s head with it’s last bought of energy, watching So’for leave the house as the gears finally stopped.

So’for hadn’t gone far before he felt dizzy. He could remember that this happened to everyone after tasting it’s power. But to no regrets, he continued. He wasn’t like the rest. He would rule and conquer all that he desired. Why, he recalled. Why that’s why it was made! To steal the memory’s of a great mage, only to use them against him! A harmless little snake. So’for gave a series of laughs that ranged from hysterics to calm demeanor. It was a weapon to destroy and create. Everyone would want it. Only he would have it.
He had entered the city only thirty minutes later. He must have run, though he couldn’t remember running. Only that he had placed the snake on his shoulder, and that it had connected itself to him. He new his blood was in it’s eyes now. He could see out the back of his head.

He had entered the city square and went to all the stands. No one, not even a human was present. Night. Oh how he hated it now. Everyone was asleep. No problem. He could easily steal a child from it’s bed. He raced up the pavement that seemed hollow below, and headed towards a great palace of a home, back to the Synod sanctum. He recalled to his memory the exact spells he would need. Confiscation, Thievery. It would be easy, easier then-
“Sir! Sir!” Called a four armed guard ahead of him. “You may not enter! This sanctum is closed for-“
“Be quite! I don’t have time to deal with you!” So’for shouted, calling through again the land for that ash filled cloud of death.
“Sir! I’ll ask you only once more-“ But it was too late, So’for had cast the spell and forced the guard to his bottom, where his skin slowly vanished leaving only bones and organs.
“ ‘I’ll only once more ask!’ “ So’for mimicked the guard. “ ‘Only once!’ ”
He found a very simple spell in his memory, and smashed down the doors in front of him. He gazed in awe as the wall crumbled above. Large pieces gave way to the air as they went. Crashing and soaring. This would be easy. No being could ever stop-
Splat!

So’for lay on the ground, his skull crushed by one of the larger rocks. He could see, just a little out of his eyes. People were rushing to him. Good. He would kill them all. Drain them of their memory’s. It would be easy. It didn’t matter how dizzy he was, he would kill them all, all of-
But So’for couldn’t think, couldn’t breath, and wouldn’t live. Guards of all kinds went to him, some casting there own spells to lift the rocks and free his body. Some gasped as they recognized who it was. Some turned away at the sight of it all.
The snake unattached itself, and slithered under So’for’s clothing. It wouldn’t be found.

So’for woke up what seemed like days later. A dark room larger then any he had ever seen surrounded him. He could make out tables with blood. Objects that resembled blades and measuring tools of all sorts surrounded him. He wasn’t strapped down. He got up, spying a giant hole in the outer wall leading outside like a giant smile for a window. Small bars of metal could be seen around the hole. A great blast had come through for sure.
“Up and abought, are we?” asked a small, wicked voice from behind him. So’for turned as fast as he ever had, his arm falling to his side. The creature in front of him was small and ragged, sporting only a single piece of dirtied cloth over itself. It’s eyes sunken in, nose too long, and skin covered with liver spots and rot. A small gold cane it rested on, neatly polished with a nice sized ruby atop it.
So’for glanced down at his arm, which lay below him with little to no blood coming out.
“Oh! You can’t turn so fast anymore! No-no!” The creature went to him quickly and picked up his arm. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to do anything about that. That arm was damaged already though, that’s for sure. We’ll- We’ll get you a new one.” It went to a table, and stuck a pin through the arm with a small label.
So’for searched his memory, but couldn’t find anything about this place, or it’s apparent child.
“Oh, allow me!” it said, spying a glimpse of wonder in So’for’s eyes. “I, am Contop. I was thrown out of the sages home around a hundred years ago. I live here in the swamps, you see..” It spread it’s arms, which So’for noticed it had a third in it’s back. “This. This is my-my home.” He eyed So’for, small grin forming. “They left you for dead, you know.”
So’for only looked around, spying more bodies intact, and limbs like his spread throughout the room.
“I need to leave. I have important-“ But So’for couldn’t finish. He started to cough hard. He couldn’t stop. When a large object ejected from his throat, he managed to stop the coughing while holding back his breath.
“What’s!” He pointed to it. “That’s! What’s that!” He shouted, horror overrunning his senses.
“They left you for dead, So’- So’for.” Contop pointed to So’for’s body. “Your body’s dead.”
So’for looked at the creature, having enough of it’s games. “I’m leaving. I-“ but he felt it again, the need to cough.
“It won’t go away. The body doesn’t like air after it’s died. It rejects it. I’ve instilled some, shall we say, experimental utilities in you, to stop the air from causing you to feel as though your suffocating. Makes you cough a bit, like-like you did there, but at least you don’t feel like your dyin!” Contop went to So’for’s table. “Here, hold this.” Contop tossed a round blue stone at So’for. “Blue magic. It’ll stop you from coughing so hard. Sit down, So’for.”
So’for obeyed, but only because he now felt as though he would explode from the inside if he didn’t. He rubbed the blue stone in his hand.
“Your dead, my friend. I’ve reanimated you with magic.. And a few tools.. You’ll only last as long as I do. But don’t- don’t worry! I’ve been alive a loong time!” Contop scrambled over to a chair.
“And that cane? You third arm?” So’for questioned.
“Oh, this cane is special. I’m not alive because I know magic!” Contop started to laugh. He stopped after a long moment had passed.
“No, no. Actually My great grandfather was a necromancer. Not so unlike myself, but he used Magic instead of tools to keep people and animals alive. After I asked him to teach me his ways instead of my...” Contop looked around. “Primitive, ways.. He simply gave me this cane, and told me to keep it by me at all times. He died some time later.”
So’for couldn’t feel sadness for this creature. He had a world to conquer. Perhaps he could start here? Learn the secrets of the Necromancers? So’for digressed.
“The cane holds the magic to it, I suspect...” Contop looked into the red ruby as if longing for it’s secrets, which it surly held.
“As for my arm, I gave it to my-myself!” He said proudly. “I could get you one, you know.”
So’for only stared on at him.
“Very well. This is how your life’s going to be for now on. You will not eat, drink or run. No screaming, pounding or heaving. All these things can and will make you rot faster. You may leave when you wish, but I think you’ll want to stay a while first. I could use the company, you know. If you like magic, there’s a full vault in the basement. Seki’s down there right now. He’s a dragon, by the way. But don’t worry, he don’t bite. Though if you see him trying to eat the books, hit him on the nose lightly.” Contop got up. “If you wish to leave, there’s a boat. Though I’m taking Seki for a ride later to the out ridges, get myself some new arms for yeah. And some fish. I like-like fish.” He gestured to the giant tank that So’for couldn’t see. When it became visible to him, he could see great, tropical fish in it, most of which were reanimated.
“Come on, I’ll show you around.”

So’for learned in the many days afterward that necromancy was no easy art. He studied it constantly for the first five days before giving up. In order to live, he couldn’t leave Contop alone for long, less he slip and fall. And he couldn’t go into the city, less someone try and rip off his legs.
Contop gave him a metal arm on the ninth day.
“Taken straight from some golem in the Tanglewood. Living creature with un-living materials? Sheesh! Those elves...” The arm was double sided, so the hand split into two halves with it. He felt more and more like Contop the more he thought about it, and less like a Vedalken. He contemplated using magic to fly out of what he now knew was a mountain and take his chances, when Contop came rushing in.
“So’for! So-So’for!” He was running, avoiding his cane and grabbing onto the walls and wires that hung from the ceiling. “Quickly! They’ve come! They’ve come!”
So’for looked out the window, spying a very large group of people; somewhere around two hundred wielding weapons of all sorts.
“Where did they come-come from?” Asked So’for, who had already started speaking like Contop.
“It must have taken days to get here! They must have hidden themselves in the swamp! Oh, they’ve decided to finally be rid of me!” Contop took his hands to his face, tearing through it like leather with his long nails. “Ohh! I’ll have to take Seki and get out-out. Come on. We’ll start over somewhere safe! I know where! We can hid in the-“
But So’for had gone to the window, spying the people, and started his spell.
“Contop, were not going anywhere.” So’for could feel the snake in his clothes moving now, feeling it take interest in his spell work. He called forth the metal plain. Of life with un-life. Before he had even summoned it, the biggest ash cloud he had ever conceived erupted from his body, and spread forth with great speed onto the people. They clawed at themselves and dunked into the swamp, but to no avail. It was air born now. It would stay for as long as...
So’for realized he didn’t know how long it would stay. It didn’t vanish.
Contop only gazed on to the people. “Oh! So-So’for! Were going to have more people around!”
“Not just people, Contop. Were going to experiment.”
The cloud lasted for what seemed like weeks. Time had taken on a new meaning to So’for now. He tested with Contop with the peoples bodies. So’for would put pieces together, then Contop reanimate them. Most failed within a few minutes, others a day at the most.

On a rainy day that was rare in the swamps some two months after he awoke here, with the last body wasted to countless burns and configurations, So’for finally gave up. He couldn’t build a body strong enough to withstand the implants. He tried metal arms, roots, swamp water as blood! Rocks! Nothing would communicate with the brain. Contop grew weary with So’for’s attempts. He didn’t understand what he wanted. He could sew on new arms and legs, whole body’s onto each other. Yet this being wanted more. He didn’t want to go threw with threading a needle. He wanted something more.
Contop threw the body over the ledge. A splash fallowed.
‘So’for. I think. I think it’s time we’ve stopped. You-you can’t do whatever it is you’ve tried! Your search for a being better then yourself won’t be found! Necromancy is a way of life! Not a way of creation!” Contop went to a small desk, and withdrew from under it a long tree branch.
“This is enchanted, So’for. Passed onto me from my Great Grandfather in his will. It will help you live better as a rotting corpse. I don’t think I’ll ever need it. It’ll make you live, So’for, without me. I think are time has come.”
So’for was alight with fury and rage. “Live? LIVE? “ he questioned Contop. “I thought-thought I couldn’t live if you died!”
“You can’t. But this will keep you alive. I would have told you earlier, but, you know, the company-“
“COMPANY? You wanted my company!” So’for could feel his jaw weaken, and calmed down.
“Thank you, Contop.”
“I think it’s time we split the banana. You can take the boat. Go live on the other side of the world, So’for. I grow weary of you and your experiments. Take the books if you want them. I won’t need them.”
“So-so, then. This is it.” So’for stated it plainly. Contop dropped his head.
“I’m afraid so.”
So’for took the branch. “I have something for you as well, Cantop. For our freindship.”
“That’s not necessary, So’-So’for.”
“Oh, I think it is.” The Snake leapt from inside of So’for’s stomach, and lached its body around Cantops’ neck. He tried to fight it off with his arms, but failed. The snake was too fast, and drove the needle through the weak skin and soft bone of the skull. Contop was filled with images that weren’t his own. He could see giant’s, great wizards and- So’for’s need for conquering. He wanted his memories to add to his own.
“NO! NOO!” Contop shouted, but it was too late. The memories were withdrawn, and new ones in. The blood leaving his body to the snake. Cantop crumbled to the floor, his flesh quickly rotting away into dust. Soon only his skull was left and the snake slithered around it back to So’for.
“Oh, what’s this?” He bent down to Contop, next to his third arm. A long scroll unraveled from inside. He gazed over it amazed. He understood. The magic of necromancy was now in his hand. And his snake.
He peered over at it, it’s eyes gazing up at him with new blood. He guided it to his head, where it stuck back in it’s needle.
The scroll didn’t hold anything that the blood didn’t, but he had it now. He wouldn’t need the scroll forever, just long enough to memorize and destroy.

So’for went to the window, and summoned the land all around him. It trembled with his thoughts as he drew the mana from it. The bodies of the dead stirred as the ground shifted. The ground rose up to resemble a giant form of a golem equal to half the size of the mountain. The dirt rolled off to reveal metal of a darker kind. Contop new what it was. He knew what it was. He pushed the mana into it, all of it. He shook with the world around him as he channeled all his love, all his hate into it. Cantop new what he wanted to achieve with the failed bodies. He toyed with him. Why? He had just wanted his-
He wanted something. So’for searched his memories but couldn’t find it.
The Golem turned around, it’s eyes alight with an orange light. It stared at So’for.
“Go. Give me a world. And when you’ve finished, come back.”
The bodies below rose with the golems steps, fallowing in it’s footsteps. Soon a great hole was left, revealing a chasm beneath.
“Oh? What have we here?” So’for made his way down to the ground level to inspect it.
“Oh. So this is what it’s for.” The hole resembled something familiar. A snake.
It uncoiled itself in his stomach, and crawled up his spine.
“Curious. Who would construct a snake, to build an army, to take over the world?” He felt inside for his metal friend, and felt for the first time in months feeling. A stab in the skull, as the cap clamped itself around him; draining every drop of memory.
So’for fell to his knees, which crumbled beneath him as his torso fell to the ground. He gazed around the chasm. He tried to crawl to it further, to look deeper, but failed. His hands slowly fell apart as he tried to crawl.
Soon all that was left was his eyes, still trying to find whatever it was at the bottom. The snake unattached itself; slithering away into the chasm.

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Incase you didn't notice, the story resolves around So'for. But for those of us that are oblivious to this, we'll see that the story should be about the M:TG card Skullclamp, which inspired it. Hopefully I've caught the raw power of the card, and the characters + World that is the Mirridon plane while providing an intresting story. Hope ya'll enjoyed.