Here is my take on the origin of Kaalia, the commander from EDH. The only thing I found written for her was a paragraph by Doug Beyer that was kinda vague and a little nonsensical in my opinion It was pointed out to me (thankfully very soon) that Kaalia has an origin story. It wasn't that clear due to how old it was, but here are the links to it - The Stonekiller 1 and The Stonekiller 2 - I hope you still enjoy my version though, hah. The biggest problem with the character was explaining how a single human cleric could get control over some of the most powerful creatures of all Magic lore (namely: demons, angels and dragons). My origin story is an attempt to explain that. If you like this and want me to write more origin stories for commanders, just leave your suggestion. Criticism is always welcome (as is pointing out ortographic mistakes, heh).
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Kaalia of the Vast
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Unknown plane of existence.
The Vastness, a barren wasteland.
The Past.
“In the beginning there was a mold carved on the clay, lifeless, dead. There came the first of the angels, and it gave it the sense of righteousness, the need to seek justice, to spread kindness and to abide to the laws of its equals. Yet, the clay remained what it was, despite the gifts it was granted. Then, there came the first of the demons. It gave the craving for power, the desire to rule and conquer, the capacity to be vicious and wicked to reach its goals and to focus solely on oneself. Yet, the clay remained what it was. Finally, there came the first of the dragons. He breathed a fire so hot its smoke covered the skies and burned the land. Once it was finished, the clay was no longer dead. The gift of the dragons was life. Hence why we, humans, should be forev-”
“What a load of crap,” interrupted Onnon, sick of hearing the same tale for the hundredth time. “Angels, demons and dragons barely know we exist, except when we become useful to them.” He spoke acidly looking straight at elder Ildun, the one who was telling the tale.
The elder smiled back at him, wrinkles around her mouth and eyes. “You might be right Onnon, maybe you’ve outgrown the tales of this old lady, but they still ring with the truth. All of us are part demon, part angel and part dragon, regardless of what they might think of us.” Around her, two generations of their clan’s people sat and listened to the brief discussion that took place. Now, more than ever, it was important for them to congregate.
Kaalia was sitting there, close to the campfire, her head resting on her mother’s lap. She had been lost in her own thoughts, not paying attention to the story. The crops she had helped to grow were feeble and small, and there was no hunt to be found in the gorge. Soon her people would have to move again, or they would starve. Her attention was brought back when Onnon started to argue with elder Ildun, and she saw him waving his hands and speaking sarcastically about her tales. She didn’t find that attitude commendable, but she understood his frustration. He was one of the clan’s scouts, and one of the few that understood that their land was dying.
Onnon had rode to the north and to east, following the same path that their people usually took in the Long Walk, but there was nothing to be seen there. The rain didn’t come this season, and the few herds of gnarrs were scattered and diminished. Some of the older members of her clan had already perished to starvation, and the fear was that the children too would start to succumb. Kaalia looked at her mom and saw she staring away from the discussion, observing the few stars that could be spotted on the dark sky. Her hard features were balanced by her lovely smile. She too had red hair - ‘touched by dragons’ as their people would say - but hers was mingled with streaks of silver, due to her age. Kaalia saw her mother’s features get leaner with each passing day, and that worried her more than anything.
…
After the end of the discussion between Onnon and elder Ildun, people started to disband and move back to their huts. The clan of nomads had to rise early to look after the few crops they had and take advantage of whatever daylight they could get. Kaalia helped her mom up, and she moved with a dignified grace, despite the problems on her knees and back that forced her to use a cane so early.
“Mother,” Kaalia spoke, “I need to talk with Onnon about the Long Walk. I need to know everyone will be safe for the road. It will not take long.”
“My dear, take as much time as you need. I can drag these old bones back to the hut just fine. Don’t worry about keeping me company as well, I’m going to put myself to sleep. Being old is a tiresome business.” She made a pause, smiling back at her daughter that still had a troubled look on her face. “You shouldn’t worry that much dear, we’re going to be fine.”
Kaalia tried to force a smile while her mom started to move back to their home. “Mother, wait. Can I ask you… why do you look up to the stars so much?”
“I think about your father dear,” answered her with a mournful tone on her voice.
“He would be proud to see the woman you’ve become. I like to think he watches us from above.” Then, her mother smiled. “You have the same green eyes as him.”
With nothing to say to this, Kaalia just nodded with her head. She loved her mom so very much, and just wished to see her in a better place than this. Her mother had endured a lot in her life and raised her daughter almost on her own, despite being judged by the elders for not taking another husband. This life of arduous walks in the middle of a desert with barely anything to eat wasn’t what she deserved. Things had to be set right.
When Kaalia approached Onnon, he was still sitting close to the place where elder Ildun told her story, distracted by thoughts of his own. He was tall and slender, with a copper skin whose color got intensified by his days under the heavy sun. The shadows of a dying campfire danced around over his body.
“Onnon, a moment of your time. Others have said that you traveled far and away, farther than anyone in our clan. Yet, you didn’t find more hunt or a place where we could grow our crops strong.”
“I fear that is true Kaalia. Many of our clan will perish in the next Long Walk until we find safe haven. That is… if we find safe haven.” Onnon’s words were as harsh as the Vastness itself.
“We can’t have that,” Kaalia spoke again feeling as if a rock was above her stomach, “there must be another way, maybe a way out of this misery.”
Onnon rose to his feet, looking around to see if others were close. “There is,” he answered, almost whispering. “I traveled far, where no member of our clan has gone before, and I saw weird constructions made by other clans. I’ve met with a few of their members, and they spoke a language similar to our own. They said they could take us in, that we could move out of the Vastness.”
“They didn’t ask for anything in return?” Questioned Kaalia, who had met few people not belonging to her own clan. She was a skeptical about the good nature of outsiders.
“They did, of course.” Onnon took another look around, afraid that the wind itself was listening to the conversation. “They would make us work in their crops and mines, the ones that were capable of it. The ones that were not would act as servants.”
“They want to enslave our people,” concluded Kaalia with bitterness on her voice.
“They would save us. We are not going to live another season in these conditions and you know it!” Exclaimed Onnon, moving his hands around as if to point out the aforementioned conditions their clan was in, “that’s why you came to me.”
“This is not our way, we’re nom-”
Onnon spat to the side, interrupting Kaalia’s speech, “Demons carry ours ways! You know better than this Kaalia! I’ve shared my opinion with the elders and they wouldn’t listen! They rather die in this forgotten desert than accept help.”
“It is not help they’re offering, it is a life of servitude.”
“It is a life nonetheless. We’re doomed if we stay here.”
She took a long glance at him, followed by a deep breath. “Thank you for your information Onnon. I hope you can find better places for us.” She kicked a bit of sand over the embers of the campfire, snuffing the lights out, and moved back to her hut. Onnon didn’t move, just stayed there, looking at Kaalia walking away, lost again in his own thoughts.
…
The days moved fast after the last congregation of the clan. The crops had yielded whatever they could and there was no game to be found. That meant that it was time for the Long Walk. In a last ditch effort, the elders had sent the scouts to search for greener fields days ago, but the few who had returned didn’t bring good news. Onnon didn’t come back.
That day Kaalia was taking care of her mother, who was feeling particularly weak. She had a pain in her back that kept her from getting up of the ground. She kept insisting to her daughter that it was fine, and she just needed some herbs, ointment, and time to rest. Her mother barely had made through the last Long Walk, even considering she had been carried by a horse most of the way. Now they had much fewer horses and she was in much worse condition.
“Mother, stay here,” Kaalia said despite knowing her mother wasn't in any condition to leave, “I will fetch herbs to prepare your balm, and I will be back soon.” Her mother smiled back at her, hiding the pain she was feeling not to trouble her daughter.
Kaalia walked out of the tent to an uproar of sounds and movements while everyone in her clan was lifting their camp and preparing to move. She avoided a group of scattered children running back to their fathers and saw a mom making an effort to breastfeed her newborn baby. Mother and child were in a pitiful condition, as was the rest of her clan. The night before they buried six elders, three children and two youngsters, and the Walk hadn't even started yet. The thought that her mom could perish didn't leave her for a moment, and she felt sick and numb on the inside. She would cry if she thought that could make things better.
None of the elders in the camp seemed to have the herbs that she needed, so she went out of the ring of huts to look for them. The sole of her feet were hardened due to the many walks she had made, and she barely felt the rocks and cracks on the ground as she searched for any signs of vegetation. Finally, she found a small patch of grass on the side of a dying riverbed. She collected the herbs that she needed and moved back to the huts, but stopped when the wind crossed her face carrying a terrible smell. The smell of smoke and ashes.
She looked over the sky to confirm her terrible suspicion. The smoke was gushing out from the direction of the camp. Kaalia felt her heart sink and rushed back to the huts, her head pounding and her sight starting to become foggy. When the huts were in sight she could see the fire. The fire and the horsemen. A group of warriors carrying torches and swords were lighting the camp ablaze, and she heard cries and screaming. Her people were being slaughtered. Amidst the foreign warriors, leading the charge on his black stallion, was Onnon.
Kaalia couldn’t bring herself to move any further. If she tried to save her mom and her people her body would just be added to the pile of corpses. She clenched her teeth and fell on her knees, sinking her nails deep on her flesh. Her eyes were watery with tears of rage. She was furious with Onnon, the traitor, the bastard who brought fire, smoke and ashes to those of her village. She was furious with the ancestors, the angels, the demons and the dragons, that allowed such grave injustices to go by unchecked in the world. However, above all, she was furious with herself, for being too much of a coward to go down and save her mom, the only precious thing that she had on her life. Fear had put a grip on her, and she could but stand there listening to the sounds of people dying, hoping against any hopes that her mom would be spared. She screamed, powerless, frustrated, blood dripping from where her nails entered her body.
The warriors left. They carried along with them the members of the clan who were deemed strong enough to work, everyone else had been burned alive. She moved down to what was left of the hut where she lived, and there she found the charred corpse of her deceased mother, unrecognizable but for the burned cane gripped around her fingers. She stayed there, staring at that scene until nightfall. Then, she looked up to the stars, imagining the place her mother would be. While doing so she made a promise:
"I'll have my revenge if I have to call on every force from above and below."
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
“Many generations ago, when mankind was still young, angels, demons and dragons fought for the control of the heavens, in what was known as The Great War. In the beginning, there weren’t any winners in the war – blood, feathers and scales fell from the sky while the creatures kept murdering each other to the tune of thousands of lives. However, as time progressed, the angels – more organized and disciplined – started to make advances and win the war. Dragons and demons knew that, fighting alone, they would lose. In spite of the hatred they cultivated for each other, the dragons and the demons forged an alliance that promised to overturn the tides of battle. The angels began to lose ground, and they realized their cause was doomed. In a last ditch effort, Nathalia, leader of the angels, went and talked to the humans. She offered to attend to any one request that was asked of them in exchange for the humans to join their side in the war. The humans obliged, and an artifact of immense power was forged to seal the arrangement: The Ancestor’s Mark. Any human that held The Ancestor’s Mark could call for the favor of the angels. With the help of the humans, the angels won the war, getting the control of the heavens. The demons had their wings removed, and were banned to the darkest abyss that could be found. The dragons were prohibited to breath their fire, and were banned to the deepest caves inside the mountains. However, the angels had endured too many losses, and a Truce was forged to guarantee peace. From then on now, no group could declare war on the other, under the penalty of being attacked by the members of the other two groups. The humans kept The Ancestor’s Mark very well protected, and wars were waged over its control. It is not known who holds the Mark, and what is planned to do with it.”
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Silver Peak, somewhere in the Vastness.
The Present.
Her hands had torn blisters and her fingers ached and trembled. The only thing in Kaalia’s mind was the next place where to put her grip. She had been climbing the Silver Peak for the last three days, and the food that she rationed was all gone. She would probably die if she tried to get down to the base of the mountain. The only way left was up.
The wind was dreadfully cold, and Kaalia’s head felt dizzy. She was having more and more difficulty breathing and had to make more and more stops along the way. The only things that kept her going were the thought of revenge and the sight of the argent apex of the mountain, covered by clouds. She knew that was the right place. She had heard all the stories as a child – the elders spoke of a mountain so high that its peak could kill a person frozen to the death. When the sun hit the mountain the right way, you could see the top shining in a silvery spectacle. That was the Silver Peak, the greatest mountain in all the Vastness. The lair of angels.
When Kaalia finally reached the top, her heart was pounding so hard against her chest that she thought she would die. Trying to control her breathing, she moved her hand inside the small pouch she had brought. Her fingers touched the artifact inside it, and that helped her recovering her senses. She felt the groves and cuts etched on the metal piece, and that made her strong enough to move ahead. In front of her, the peak of the mountain expanded as a flat surface, ending against three colossal spires each circled around by an incredibly intricate metallic ring. The rings reflected with gold and silver markings, and as soon as Kaalia started to walk she could spot hosts of angels flying to and fro the big metallic structures. She was in the right place after all.
Before she could give many more steps, two angels descended from the sky in a fully plated body armor, their eyes betraying no emotion and their mouths a straight line. They had long hairs, one blonde and pale and the other of a dark brown color. They had the feminine complexion that was equal to all angels, and both held in their hands a long spear with a curved blade at the end.
“What brings you here, human?” Asked the angel with a dark brown hair.
“I came to call in a favor that you own,” answered Kaalia keeping her head down, in-between breaths.
“Angels own no favors to humans,” replied the blonde-paled angel, “be gone from where you came, and disturb us no more.”
Kaalia proceeded to move her hands into her pouch, which made both angels react and point their spears at her. She moved back, and almost fell, but managed to show them what she had brought. It was a silver disk with an eye marked upon its center. The angels immediately recognized the artifact.
“The Ancestor’s Mark,” mumbled one of them, “where did you get that?”
“That doesn’t matter,” replied Kaalia, “what matters is that you will take me to your leader, and I will call in the favor.” She couldn’t help but grin at the end of that sentence.
…
The ceiling of the room was so high you could barely discern what appeared to be paintings on it. Stained glass on the windows filtered the light that reached the inside, glittering the place with all kinds of color hues. The exception stood at the end of the room, where a single golden throne stood still and away from all the windows, making a deep shadowy contrast with the rest of the environment. Sitting on the throne was the tallest angel Kaalia had seen so far, with a stern face and a harsh look. Her back was fully erect and she too was using full body armor, but hers was a mix of gold and silver, with a tiara holding her short blonde hair back in place.
“I’m Nathalia, leader of the Angels. Come closer human,” spoke the angel sitting on the shadowy golden throne, “come closer and show me the artifact.”
Kaalia moved away from her escort party and crossed the hall with the light making multiple patterns on her face. She knew she had to be exhausted after a three-day climb sleeping very little and eating even less. However, the excitement in fulfilling the first step of her plan made her capable of ignore the pain and exhaustion. Her body was shaking, but she couldn’t tell if it was from anticipation, anxiety or lack of food. Once she got close enough to Nathalia she grabbed the artifact once again and showed it to the angel.
“Yes,” the angel continued to speak, “yes, that is the Ancestor’s Mark. I would recognize it anywhere.”
That was her move. The Ancestor’s Mark was the proof of a promise the angels made to the humans many generations ago. It was promised to the bearer of that Mark to ask anything of the angels, and they would have to grant it. However, whatever it was asked, it would be granted only once.
“I don’t know how you got your hands on the artifact, but I suppose it is not important.” Nathalia, still sitting in the throne, rose to her feet and walked to stay in front of Kaalia, standing at least three heads taller than her. “What is that what you wish?”
Kaalia, her red hair falling to her shoulders, lifted her head with a look transfigured by sadistic glee. Her green eyeballs had vanished completely, and Nathalia knew what that meant. The angel expressed contempt. Finally, Kaalia said “I demand that you wage war with the demons”.
The angel, taken aback by that request, retreated two steps.
“You know that can’t be done,” Nathalia finally said, finding her voice, “we are under Truce for millenia. If we break it, dragons will join the demons, and the angels will be murdered by the thou-”
“I don’t care,” replied Kaalia, interrupting the angel. “When my clan was being murdered, I didn’t see any angels falling from the sky to help us. You should all die, as far as I’m concerned.”
Nathalia clenched her teeth and furrowed her brow in anger, but contained herself. “You will not command me to a suicidal war little human, who do you think you are?”
“I am Kaalia of the Vastness, and you will attend my request!” Kaalia held The Ancestor’s Mark up high, and the artifact glowed in an intense blinding light. Nathalia, leader of the angels, felt its magical power compelling her, and fell to her knees. The other angels were all paralyzed.
“Wait!” Exclaimed the leader of the angels, sweat descending through her forehead, the magic of the artifact making her almost unable to speak. “Isn’t there any other thing you want from us, to release us from our oath?”
Kaalia smiled. “Yes, I could release you from your promise, but I will demand two things instead of one.”
“What would be those things?” Asked Nathalia, the knuckles of her hands white in fury.
“The first is for you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command.”
“It is granted,” spoke Nathalia, through gritted teeth. She waved her hand and immediately Kaalia felt her back prickling and then hurting. A grotesque sound of bones being splintered and flesh torn apart followed. Kaalia held a scream and, then, two white wings emerged on her back, dripping with blood. A mark of the commitment of the angels. “What is the second request?”
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
“A person is never truly resourceless. While you’re alive and breathing, you still have one last thing to attempt – a bargain with demons. Many humans have fallen into that trap, seeking the promise of glory, gold and partners, but the price is always too high. Demons that are summoned will often demand a soul as a form of payment, inevitably binding the human to do the bidding of the demons on the afterlife, making it impossible for one to ever meet their ancestors. The more powerful the magic used, the more powerful and dangerous is the demon that is summoned. The most powerful and treacherous of all demons is Abbadon, a vicious creature, that takes pleasure in the pain of others and whose greed knows no boundaries. Yes, indeed, a person is never truly resourceless, but the cost of bargaining with a demon is always too high. It will change you, forever.”
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Dark Scar, somewhere in the Vastness.
After her mother died and before reaching Silver Peak.
The burned cane was all that Kaalia had left of her mom. She took it and moved away from what was left of her clan. The only thing that occupied her mind for months was her revenge. Unfortunately, in the time that passed, the coalition of clans that Onnon had joined amounted strength in the Vastness. The news spread fast that they were conquering the other clans and becoming more and more powerful. Kaalia would never defeat them alone.
She studied magic, powerful and forbidden, and started to modify her mother’s burned cane into a staff that would help her channel all that rage. After a long time, she learned all the rituals necessary and found out about the right place where she was supposed to go. The Dark Scar, an abyss so dark and wide that nobody knew whether it had an end. It stretched for many miles on the ground, as if a scar of a serious wound that had been inflicted upon the land itself had formed. There she held her staff high in one hand and a ceremonial knife on the other. She proceeded to slit her wrists, initiating the ritual to invoke demonic forces.
She drew magic figures on the ground, and time went by while she kept repeating the mantra necessary to invoke demons. She gathered more and more mana from around the place, but the loss of blood was starting to affect her mind. If she died there, it would be the end for her and for her clan. No revenge, no retribution, Onnon walked free. Remembering that only fueled her rage once more, and she channeled all that fury on the staff, chanting with renewed effort, until her vision blurred and her hands shook. Finally, a voice replied from the shadows. It was grave and deep, laced with malice and a disturbing sense of control.
“Well done little cleric,” it was Abbadon. “You’ve managed to summon the most powerful of all demons. Let’s hope you don’t make this a waste of time for both of us, especially because you seem to have such a short supply of it left.” Kaalia couldn’t see him, but knew that he was grinning. “What is that you want?”
“I want-” Kaalia interrupted herself, almost fainting. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on her words, “I want you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command.”
There was a guttural laugh as a reply. Suddenly, from the Dark Scar, Kaalia heard the sounds of grunts and rocks being crushed, followed by a smell of sulfur. She opened her eyes only so slightly to glance at colossal hands appearing from the border of the abyss, and a huge muscular creature propelling his body onto the ground. Abbadon. His body was a muscular leathery mass, as dark as the abyss itself. The demon stretched himself, bigger than a tree, his eyes sparking with a yellow sickening light.
“It seems you did make us lose time after all,” continued Abbadon, inching closer and closer to Kaalia, “your pitiful soul doesn’t come close to pay for your end of the bargain.”
“I’m not selling my soul,” Kaalia replied, “I have a better thing to offer.”
“And what is that?” The demon asked, moving on fours limbs while going around the magic circle Kaalia had drawn, as a predator playing with its food.
“I can give you… the heavens.” Kaalia bit her cheek to avoid falling to the ground.
Abbadon laughed again.
“The heavens?” Questioned the demon with irony, “and how are you going to take it from the angels?”
“They are going to give it to me,” Kaalia went on, “you just need to find The Ancestor’s Mark and I, as a human, will go the Silver Peak and force them to comply.”
Abbadon stopped moving. He was just having fun with that conversation, but now he started to actually listen. “Nobody knows who holds The Ancestor’s Mark.”
“Are you telling me that the most powerful demon from the abyss can’t figure out who has an ancient silver disk?” Questioned Kaalia.
The demon grunted.
“Careful girl, I haven’t decided if your life is worth it yet. And what makes you think that, if I found the Mark, I would hand it to you?”
“Only a human can call in the favor.”
“What if I strike a better bargain with the ones that hold the Mark?”
“If they had any intention to strike bargains with demons, they would have summoned you here, not me.”
Abbadon smiled. That cleric was tenacious.
“Very well, and how do I know that you will keep your end of the bargain once I give you the Mark?”
“You can keep my soul until then. Only until then.” Kaalia was losing her voice, she wouldn’t hold on much longer, too much blood had left her body.
“I say we have a deal.” Concluded the demon, stretching his hand towards Kaalia. She reached his hand in agreement and, the moment that they touched each other, she could feel her wounds being healed as if she hadn’t lost any blood. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, coming straight from dark magic, but it cleared the fogginess in her mind. She also felt something else leaving her, something essential, something important. Her soul. Following that, her very eyes disappeared as well, even though she kept her vision. A mark of the commitment of the demons.
“Remember to hold your part of the bargain girl,” said Abbadon, vanishing again into the shadows.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
“The hardest creatures to sway in all the land are, undoubtedly, the dragons. One can always appeal to the sense of duty of angels and strike bargains with demons. Dragons, however, are prideful, ancient creatures. They don’t recognize any authority but power. You can’t reason with dragons, nor can you expect them to hold you to any great standard, since you are just a simple human. Dragons also resent us deeply, because they know humans were the cause of their banishment to dark, stony caves followed by the prohibition of breathing their fire. If a human sees a dragon, he has one of three options: kill it, run from it or be eaten by it. The older a dragon is, the bigger and most powerful he becomes, and the more space it needs. The oldest of all dragons is Red Death, Father of Dragons, and it is still debated if his name is due to the vivid and bright red color of his scales or due to the color that is left on the places that he visits – the dark crimson of fresh blood.”
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Rocky Mountains, somewhere in the Vastness.
The Present, after visiting Silver Peak.
Kaalia flew down to the complex of caves. It would take a while for her to get used to that, but she enjoyed it already. However, her enjoyment passed when she remembered what she was about to do. This time there wouldn’t be any tricks or conversations. She would have to do it by sheer intimidation or a display of force. She had her staff back with her and hold it tight by the shaft while looking at the darkness ahead. At the base of the Rocky Mountains, there were a multitude of caverns whose entrance quickly faded into shadows. The size of each entrance marked the size of the dragon that lived inside, and she stood in front of an entrance so big it would take many, many minutes for her to fly all over it. That was Red Death’s lair.
Channeling mana onto her staff, Kaalia shot a magical projectile that went far into the cave, momentarily illuminating its interior. Kaalia saw the remainders of cattle and sheep slaughtered, together with broken wagons and human skeletons. Minor creatures that were feasting on the remains immediately dispersed back to their holes. She started to channel mana again and shot another projectile. And another. Another. She knew that, despite her putting all her energy into them, they wouldn’t even scratch the scales of Red Death. Nonetheless, she was deliberately invading his territory and trying to threaten his life. No dragon would take that lightly, least of all the Father of Dragons.
It didn’t take long until a rumbling sound could be heard from within the trenches of the cave, and she quickly flew back to distance herself from the entrance. The air started to get hotter and hotter, while smoke found its way from the inside of the cave to the outer world. Kaalia heard crunching sounds and the scraping of rock against something that sounded harder than steel. The head of Red Death appeared first, quickly followed by his neck. His skull alone had to be many times the size of Kaalia, and never in her life she had felt so insignificant standing in front of a living being. The vertical traces that were his eyes looked around until finally focusing on Kaalia. At that moment the rest of his body moved forward, and a pair of colossal wings appeared and stretched against the sky, with a hulking red body that could overshadow many small villages put together. Looking at a creature like that was humbling, terrifying and awe-inspiring, all at the same time. Yet, she had to do what she had to do.
Red Death didn’t spoke a word or made another sound, he simply opened his mouth big enough to fit many nomadic huts. His plan was to eat Kaalia and forget the issue. To him, she wasn’t anything more than a fly – a simple fly that was buzzing and woke him from his sleep. Despite paling in fear, Kaalia knew she had to change that or die on the spot. Before the dragon could move any further to eat her, she screamed.
“NOW!” At her command, hosts of angels fell from the sky while hordes of demons appeared from the holes in the ground. They channeled holy and dark magic and, despite their diminute size compared to the dragon’s, the damaged they cause was real. Red Death was taken by surprise, and even though he shook his wings and brandished his claws – instantly killing and smashing angels and demons alike – he couldn’t take care of all of his aggressors. He growled loudly in pain while the angels and demons, bounded to Kaalia, continued to pound the Father of Dragons to the ground.
“STOP!” Kaalia screamed after a while, when she knew the dragon wouldn’t be able to take the beating much longer.
Nathalia immediately flew down to the cleric, even more furious than she was before.
“That wasn’t our agreement human!” Exclaimed her, breathing heavily, “we weren’t supposed to break the Truce, and attacking the Father of Dragons does just that.”
“The hosts of angels and hordes of demons are bound by magic to obey me,” proceeded Kaalia, coldly, “my will overrides your Truce.”
Nathalia looked at her, infuriated. She had been tricked and she knew it, but there was nothing she could do. The angels had lost the heavens to the demons, and they were all bound by magic to that single human cleric. It was unbelievable.
Red Death had fallen to the ground in one of its sides, and his breathing was irregular, but he didn’t seem to be dying. Yet.
“Father of Dragons,” called Kaalia directing herself to the huge creature, “will you listen to me now?”
The eyes of the dragon blinked in agreement, though he didn’t speak yet.
“I am Kaalia of the Vastness, I command angels and demons, bound by magic to obey my will. I will have them slaughtered up until the last one of the dragons, which includes you and all of your offspring, unless we strike a deal.”
“I’m listening,” answered the dragon, his voice coming out as a guttural rasping sound that certainly could be heard from miles away.
“I want you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command. In exchange, I will spare your life and also grant all of you the permission to breathe your fire again.”
The dragon stood still for what it looked like an agonizing eternity, his eyes drifting around to the many creatures that surrounded him. Finally, turning his head back to Kaalia, he answered.
“Agreed.”
As soon as the dragon said that, Kaalia felt the same prickling and hurting as from the last time. She bended backwards, bitting her lips, somehow the pain seemed worse. Once again she felt bone and flesh giving way to something else, and leathery red wings projected from her back. A mark of the commitment of the dragons. It was high time for Kaalia’s revenge.
…
Nobody in the coalition of clans believed what happened. There weren’t any warnings, signs, or predictions. Death fell from the sky and from down below the ground, mercilessly and swiftly. The many patches of land they had conquered, the many clans they hand enslaved and the many warriors they had trained, all of that was over in a matter of days.
Angels, demons and dragons commanded by one cleric to destroy her enemies. Kaalia spared the elderly, the woman and the children, because she wasn’t a monster like them. She freed the slaves, including the survivals of her clan. Everyone else was put to swords, claws and teeth. Fire spread throughout the camps as well, dragonfire. It reduced all her enemies to smoke and ashes. She drew in the smell once more, listening to the people who screamed and cried. That didn’t make her feel better, but it made her feel avenged. Though there was one last thing.
“Kaalia,” it was Abbadon calling her from below, his face with a perpetual smile. She knew he was taking great pleasure from the massacre. “We’ve found who you were looking for.”
…
Kaalia took slow steps while getting inside the tent. In there, Onnon was standing tied by chains to a post. His face had been beaten, and it was bloated and bloodied. He could open only one of his eyes while looking at her.
“Witch,” Onnon managed to say, spitting his own blood. “Murderer.”
“I am a murderer,” replied Kaalia, “but only because you made me one.”
“Coward,” continued Onnon, “couldn’t… face me on… a fair fight.”
“Was that what you offered to our people?” Asked Kaalia, “a ‘fair fight’?”. Before Onnon could answer anything, she put the blade of her knife deep into his stomach, staring with her blank eyes directly at him. Onnon’s body contracted, and he started making gurgling sounds with his mouth. It was Kaalia’s time to spit on his face. She took the blade away, and gave one last look at him before leaving the tent.
Above her, on the outside, Red Death stood bigger than life itself.
“Burn it down,” Kaalia ordered to the dragon, “but make sure that it burns slowly.”
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
The only thing I found written for her was a paragraph by Doug Beyer that was kinda vague and a little nonsensical in my opinionIt was pointed out to me (thankfully very soon) that Kaalia has an origin story. It wasn't that clear due to how old it was, but here are the links to it - The Stonekiller 1 and The Stonekiller 2 - I hope you still enjoy my version though, hah. The biggest problem with the character was explaining how a single human cleric could get control over some of the most powerful creatures of all Magic lore (namely: demons, angels and dragons). My origin story is an attempt to explain that. If you like this and want me to write more origin stories for commanders, just leave your suggestion. Criticism is always welcome (as is pointing out ortographic mistakes, heh).Unknown plane of existence.
The Vastness, a barren wasteland.
The Past.
“In the beginning there was a mold carved on the clay, lifeless, dead. There came the first of the angels, and it gave it the sense of righteousness, the need to seek justice, to spread kindness and to abide to the laws of its equals. Yet, the clay remained what it was, despite the gifts it was granted. Then, there came the first of the demons. It gave the craving for power, the desire to rule and conquer, the capacity to be vicious and wicked to reach its goals and to focus solely on oneself. Yet, the clay remained what it was. Finally, there came the first of the dragons. He breathed a fire so hot its smoke covered the skies and burned the land. Once it was finished, the clay was no longer dead. The gift of the dragons was life. Hence why we, humans, should be forev-”
“What a load of crap,” interrupted Onnon, sick of hearing the same tale for the hundredth time. “Angels, demons and dragons barely know we exist, except when we become useful to them.” He spoke acidly looking straight at elder Ildun, the one who was telling the tale.
The elder smiled back at him, wrinkles around her mouth and eyes. “You might be right Onnon, maybe you’ve outgrown the tales of this old lady, but they still ring with the truth. All of us are part demon, part angel and part dragon, regardless of what they might think of us.” Around her, two generations of their clan’s people sat and listened to the brief discussion that took place. Now, more than ever, it was important for them to congregate.
Kaalia was sitting there, close to the campfire, her head resting on her mother’s lap. She had been lost in her own thoughts, not paying attention to the story. The crops she had helped to grow were feeble and small, and there was no hunt to be found in the gorge. Soon her people would have to move again, or they would starve. Her attention was brought back when Onnon started to argue with elder Ildun, and she saw him waving his hands and speaking sarcastically about her tales. She didn’t find that attitude commendable, but she understood his frustration. He was one of the clan’s scouts, and one of the few that understood that their land was dying.
Onnon had rode to the north and to east, following the same path that their people usually took in the Long Walk, but there was nothing to be seen there. The rain didn’t come this season, and the few herds of gnarrs were scattered and diminished. Some of the older members of her clan had already perished to starvation, and the fear was that the children too would start to succumb. Kaalia looked at her mom and saw she staring away from the discussion, observing the few stars that could be spotted on the dark sky. Her hard features were balanced by her lovely smile. She too had red hair - ‘touched by dragons’ as their people would say - but hers was mingled with streaks of silver, due to her age. Kaalia saw her mother’s features get leaner with each passing day, and that worried her more than anything.
After the end of the discussion between Onnon and elder Ildun, people started to disband and move back to their huts. The clan of nomads had to rise early to look after the few crops they had and take advantage of whatever daylight they could get. Kaalia helped her mom up, and she moved with a dignified grace, despite the problems on her knees and back that forced her to use a cane so early.
“Mother,” Kaalia spoke, “I need to talk with Onnon about the Long Walk. I need to know everyone will be safe for the road. It will not take long.”
“My dear, take as much time as you need. I can drag these old bones back to the hut just fine. Don’t worry about keeping me company as well, I’m going to put myself to sleep. Being old is a tiresome business.” She made a pause, smiling back at her daughter that still had a troubled look on her face. “You shouldn’t worry that much dear, we’re going to be fine.”
Kaalia tried to force a smile while her mom started to move back to their home. “Mother, wait. Can I ask you… why do you look up to the stars so much?”
“I think about your father dear,” answered her with a mournful tone on her voice.
“He would be proud to see the woman you’ve become. I like to think he watches us from above.” Then, her mother smiled. “You have the same green eyes as him.”
With nothing to say to this, Kaalia just nodded with her head. She loved her mom so very much, and just wished to see her in a better place than this. Her mother had endured a lot in her life and raised her daughter almost on her own, despite being judged by the elders for not taking another husband. This life of arduous walks in the middle of a desert with barely anything to eat wasn’t what she deserved. Things had to be set right.
When Kaalia approached Onnon, he was still sitting close to the place where elder Ildun told her story, distracted by thoughts of his own. He was tall and slender, with a copper skin whose color got intensified by his days under the heavy sun. The shadows of a dying campfire danced around over his body.
“Onnon, a moment of your time. Others have said that you traveled far and away, farther than anyone in our clan. Yet, you didn’t find more hunt or a place where we could grow our crops strong.”
“I fear that is true Kaalia. Many of our clan will perish in the next Long Walk until we find safe haven. That is… if we find safe haven.” Onnon’s words were as harsh as the Vastness itself.
“We can’t have that,” Kaalia spoke again feeling as if a rock was above her stomach, “there must be another way, maybe a way out of this misery.”
Onnon rose to his feet, looking around to see if others were close. “There is,” he answered, almost whispering. “I traveled far, where no member of our clan has gone before, and I saw weird constructions made by other clans. I’ve met with a few of their members, and they spoke a language similar to our own. They said they could take us in, that we could move out of the Vastness.”
“They didn’t ask for anything in return?” Questioned Kaalia, who had met few people not belonging to her own clan. She was a skeptical about the good nature of outsiders.
“They did, of course.” Onnon took another look around, afraid that the wind itself was listening to the conversation. “They would make us work in their crops and mines, the ones that were capable of it. The ones that were not would act as servants.”
“They want to enslave our people,” concluded Kaalia with bitterness on her voice.
“They would save us. We are not going to live another season in these conditions and you know it!” Exclaimed Onnon, moving his hands around as if to point out the aforementioned conditions their clan was in, “that’s why you came to me.”
“This is not our way, we’re nom-”
Onnon spat to the side, interrupting Kaalia’s speech, “Demons carry ours ways! You know better than this Kaalia! I’ve shared my opinion with the elders and they wouldn’t listen! They rather die in this forgotten desert than accept help.”
“It is not help they’re offering, it is a life of servitude.”
“It is a life nonetheless. We’re doomed if we stay here.”
She took a long glance at him, followed by a deep breath. “Thank you for your information Onnon. I hope you can find better places for us.” She kicked a bit of sand over the embers of the campfire, snuffing the lights out, and moved back to her hut. Onnon didn’t move, just stayed there, looking at Kaalia walking away, lost again in his own thoughts.
The days moved fast after the last congregation of the clan. The crops had yielded whatever they could and there was no game to be found. That meant that it was time for the Long Walk. In a last ditch effort, the elders had sent the scouts to search for greener fields days ago, but the few who had returned didn’t bring good news. Onnon didn’t come back.
That day Kaalia was taking care of her mother, who was feeling particularly weak. She had a pain in her back that kept her from getting up of the ground. She kept insisting to her daughter that it was fine, and she just needed some herbs, ointment, and time to rest. Her mother barely had made through the last Long Walk, even considering she had been carried by a horse most of the way. Now they had much fewer horses and she was in much worse condition.
“Mother, stay here,” Kaalia said despite knowing her mother wasn't in any condition to leave, “I will fetch herbs to prepare your balm, and I will be back soon.” Her mother smiled back at her, hiding the pain she was feeling not to trouble her daughter.
Kaalia walked out of the tent to an uproar of sounds and movements while everyone in her clan was lifting their camp and preparing to move. She avoided a group of scattered children running back to their fathers and saw a mom making an effort to breastfeed her newborn baby. Mother and child were in a pitiful condition, as was the rest of her clan. The night before they buried six elders, three children and two youngsters, and the Walk hadn't even started yet. The thought that her mom could perish didn't leave her for a moment, and she felt sick and numb on the inside. She would cry if she thought that could make things better.
None of the elders in the camp seemed to have the herbs that she needed, so she went out of the ring of huts to look for them. The sole of her feet were hardened due to the many walks she had made, and she barely felt the rocks and cracks on the ground as she searched for any signs of vegetation. Finally, she found a small patch of grass on the side of a dying riverbed. She collected the herbs that she needed and moved back to the huts, but stopped when the wind crossed her face carrying a terrible smell. The smell of smoke and ashes.
She looked over the sky to confirm her terrible suspicion. The smoke was gushing out from the direction of the camp. Kaalia felt her heart sink and rushed back to the huts, her head pounding and her sight starting to become foggy. When the huts were in sight she could see the fire. The fire and the horsemen. A group of warriors carrying torches and swords were lighting the camp ablaze, and she heard cries and screaming. Her people were being slaughtered. Amidst the foreign warriors, leading the charge on his black stallion, was Onnon.
Kaalia couldn’t bring herself to move any further. If she tried to save her mom and her people her body would just be added to the pile of corpses. She clenched her teeth and fell on her knees, sinking her nails deep on her flesh. Her eyes were watery with tears of rage. She was furious with Onnon, the traitor, the bastard who brought fire, smoke and ashes to those of her village. She was furious with the ancestors, the angels, the demons and the dragons, that allowed such grave injustices to go by unchecked in the world. However, above all, she was furious with herself, for being too much of a coward to go down and save her mom, the only precious thing that she had on her life. Fear had put a grip on her, and she could but stand there listening to the sounds of people dying, hoping against any hopes that her mom would be spared. She screamed, powerless, frustrated, blood dripping from where her nails entered her body.
The warriors left. They carried along with them the members of the clan who were deemed strong enough to work, everyone else had been burned alive. She moved down to what was left of the hut where she lived, and there she found the charred corpse of her deceased mother, unrecognizable but for the burned cane gripped around her fingers. She stayed there, staring at that scene until nightfall. Then, she looked up to the stars, imagining the place her mother would be. While doing so she made a promise:
"I'll have my revenge if I have to call on every force from above and below."
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Silver Peak, somewhere in the Vastness.
The Present.
Her hands had torn blisters and her fingers ached and trembled. The only thing in Kaalia’s mind was the next place where to put her grip. She had been climbing the Silver Peak for the last three days, and the food that she rationed was all gone. She would probably die if she tried to get down to the base of the mountain. The only way left was up.
The wind was dreadfully cold, and Kaalia’s head felt dizzy. She was having more and more difficulty breathing and had to make more and more stops along the way. The only things that kept her going were the thought of revenge and the sight of the argent apex of the mountain, covered by clouds. She knew that was the right place. She had heard all the stories as a child – the elders spoke of a mountain so high that its peak could kill a person frozen to the death. When the sun hit the mountain the right way, you could see the top shining in a silvery spectacle. That was the Silver Peak, the greatest mountain in all the Vastness. The lair of angels.
When Kaalia finally reached the top, her heart was pounding so hard against her chest that she thought she would die. Trying to control her breathing, she moved her hand inside the small pouch she had brought. Her fingers touched the artifact inside it, and that helped her recovering her senses. She felt the groves and cuts etched on the metal piece, and that made her strong enough to move ahead. In front of her, the peak of the mountain expanded as a flat surface, ending against three colossal spires each circled around by an incredibly intricate metallic ring. The rings reflected with gold and silver markings, and as soon as Kaalia started to walk she could spot hosts of angels flying to and fro the big metallic structures. She was in the right place after all.
Before she could give many more steps, two angels descended from the sky in a fully plated body armor, their eyes betraying no emotion and their mouths a straight line. They had long hairs, one blonde and pale and the other of a dark brown color. They had the feminine complexion that was equal to all angels, and both held in their hands a long spear with a curved blade at the end.
“What brings you here, human?” Asked the angel with a dark brown hair.
“I came to call in a favor that you own,” answered Kaalia keeping her head down, in-between breaths.
“Angels own no favors to humans,” replied the blonde-paled angel, “be gone from where you came, and disturb us no more.”
Kaalia proceeded to move her hands into her pouch, which made both angels react and point their spears at her. She moved back, and almost fell, but managed to show them what she had brought. It was a silver disk with an eye marked upon its center. The angels immediately recognized the artifact.
“The Ancestor’s Mark,” mumbled one of them, “where did you get that?”
“That doesn’t matter,” replied Kaalia, “what matters is that you will take me to your leader, and I will call in the favor.” She couldn’t help but grin at the end of that sentence.
The ceiling of the room was so high you could barely discern what appeared to be paintings on it. Stained glass on the windows filtered the light that reached the inside, glittering the place with all kinds of color hues. The exception stood at the end of the room, where a single golden throne stood still and away from all the windows, making a deep shadowy contrast with the rest of the environment. Sitting on the throne was the tallest angel Kaalia had seen so far, with a stern face and a harsh look. Her back was fully erect and she too was using full body armor, but hers was a mix of gold and silver, with a tiara holding her short blonde hair back in place.
“I’m Nathalia, leader of the Angels. Come closer human,” spoke the angel sitting on the shadowy golden throne, “come closer and show me the artifact.”
Kaalia moved away from her escort party and crossed the hall with the light making multiple patterns on her face. She knew she had to be exhausted after a three-day climb sleeping very little and eating even less. However, the excitement in fulfilling the first step of her plan made her capable of ignore the pain and exhaustion. Her body was shaking, but she couldn’t tell if it was from anticipation, anxiety or lack of food. Once she got close enough to Nathalia she grabbed the artifact once again and showed it to the angel.
“Yes,” the angel continued to speak, “yes, that is the Ancestor’s Mark. I would recognize it anywhere.”
That was her move. The Ancestor’s Mark was the proof of a promise the angels made to the humans many generations ago. It was promised to the bearer of that Mark to ask anything of the angels, and they would have to grant it. However, whatever it was asked, it would be granted only once.
“I don’t know how you got your hands on the artifact, but I suppose it is not important.” Nathalia, still sitting in the throne, rose to her feet and walked to stay in front of Kaalia, standing at least three heads taller than her. “What is that what you wish?”
Kaalia, her red hair falling to her shoulders, lifted her head with a look transfigured by sadistic glee. Her green eyeballs had vanished completely, and Nathalia knew what that meant. The angel expressed contempt. Finally, Kaalia said “I demand that you wage war with the demons”.
The angel, taken aback by that request, retreated two steps.
“You know that can’t be done,” Nathalia finally said, finding her voice, “we are under Truce for millenia. If we break it, dragons will join the demons, and the angels will be murdered by the thou-”
“I don’t care,” replied Kaalia, interrupting the angel. “When my clan was being murdered, I didn’t see any angels falling from the sky to help us. You should all die, as far as I’m concerned.”
Nathalia clenched her teeth and furrowed her brow in anger, but contained herself. “You will not command me to a suicidal war little human, who do you think you are?”
“I am Kaalia of the Vastness, and you will attend my request!” Kaalia held The Ancestor’s Mark up high, and the artifact glowed in an intense blinding light. Nathalia, leader of the angels, felt its magical power compelling her, and fell to her knees. The other angels were all paralyzed.
“Wait!” Exclaimed the leader of the angels, sweat descending through her forehead, the magic of the artifact making her almost unable to speak. “Isn’t there any other thing you want from us, to release us from our oath?”
Kaalia smiled. “Yes, I could release you from your promise, but I will demand two things instead of one.”
“What would be those things?” Asked Nathalia, the knuckles of her hands white in fury.
“The first is for you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command.”
“It is granted,” spoke Nathalia, through gritted teeth. She waved her hand and immediately Kaalia felt her back prickling and then hurting. A grotesque sound of bones being splintered and flesh torn apart followed. Kaalia held a scream and, then, two white wings emerged on her back, dripping with blood. A mark of the commitment of the angels. “What is the second request?”
Kaalia, drawing deep breaths, smiled again.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Dark Scar, somewhere in the Vastness.
After her mother died and before reaching Silver Peak.
The burned cane was all that Kaalia had left of her mom. She took it and moved away from what was left of her clan. The only thing that occupied her mind for months was her revenge. Unfortunately, in the time that passed, the coalition of clans that Onnon had joined amounted strength in the Vastness. The news spread fast that they were conquering the other clans and becoming more and more powerful. Kaalia would never defeat them alone.
She studied magic, powerful and forbidden, and started to modify her mother’s burned cane into a staff that would help her channel all that rage. After a long time, she learned all the rituals necessary and found out about the right place where she was supposed to go. The Dark Scar, an abyss so dark and wide that nobody knew whether it had an end. It stretched for many miles on the ground, as if a scar of a serious wound that had been inflicted upon the land itself had formed. There she held her staff high in one hand and a ceremonial knife on the other. She proceeded to slit her wrists, initiating the ritual to invoke demonic forces.
She drew magic figures on the ground, and time went by while she kept repeating the mantra necessary to invoke demons. She gathered more and more mana from around the place, but the loss of blood was starting to affect her mind. If she died there, it would be the end for her and for her clan. No revenge, no retribution, Onnon walked free. Remembering that only fueled her rage once more, and she channeled all that fury on the staff, chanting with renewed effort, until her vision blurred and her hands shook. Finally, a voice replied from the shadows. It was grave and deep, laced with malice and a disturbing sense of control.
“Well done little cleric,” it was Abbadon. “You’ve managed to summon the most powerful of all demons. Let’s hope you don’t make this a waste of time for both of us, especially because you seem to have such a short supply of it left.” Kaalia couldn’t see him, but knew that he was grinning. “What is that you want?”
“I want-” Kaalia interrupted herself, almost fainting. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on her words, “I want you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command.”
There was a guttural laugh as a reply. Suddenly, from the Dark Scar, Kaalia heard the sounds of grunts and rocks being crushed, followed by a smell of sulfur. She opened her eyes only so slightly to glance at colossal hands appearing from the border of the abyss, and a huge muscular creature propelling his body onto the ground. Abbadon. His body was a muscular leathery mass, as dark as the abyss itself. The demon stretched himself, bigger than a tree, his eyes sparking with a yellow sickening light.
“It seems you did make us lose time after all,” continued Abbadon, inching closer and closer to Kaalia, “your pitiful soul doesn’t come close to pay for your end of the bargain.”
“I’m not selling my soul,” Kaalia replied, “I have a better thing to offer.”
“And what is that?” The demon asked, moving on fours limbs while going around the magic circle Kaalia had drawn, as a predator playing with its food.
“I can give you… the heavens.” Kaalia bit her cheek to avoid falling to the ground.
Abbadon laughed again.
“The heavens?” Questioned the demon with irony, “and how are you going to take it from the angels?”
“They are going to give it to me,” Kaalia went on, “you just need to find The Ancestor’s Mark and I, as a human, will go the Silver Peak and force them to comply.”
Abbadon stopped moving. He was just having fun with that conversation, but now he started to actually listen. “Nobody knows who holds The Ancestor’s Mark.”
“Are you telling me that the most powerful demon from the abyss can’t figure out who has an ancient silver disk?” Questioned Kaalia.
The demon grunted.
“Careful girl, I haven’t decided if your life is worth it yet. And what makes you think that, if I found the Mark, I would hand it to you?”
“Only a human can call in the favor.”
“What if I strike a better bargain with the ones that hold the Mark?”
“If they had any intention to strike bargains with demons, they would have summoned you here, not me.”
Abbadon smiled. That cleric was tenacious.
“Very well, and how do I know that you will keep your end of the bargain once I give you the Mark?”
“You can keep my soul until then. Only until then.” Kaalia was losing her voice, she wouldn’t hold on much longer, too much blood had left her body.
“I say we have a deal.” Concluded the demon, stretching his hand towards Kaalia. She reached his hand in agreement and, the moment that they touched each other, she could feel her wounds being healed as if she hadn’t lost any blood. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, coming straight from dark magic, but it cleared the fogginess in her mind. She also felt something else leaving her, something essential, something important. Her soul. Following that, her very eyes disappeared as well, even though she kept her vision. A mark of the commitment of the demons.
“Remember to hold your part of the bargain girl,” said Abbadon, vanishing again into the shadows.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
- Tales from elder Ildun
The Rocky Mountains, somewhere in the Vastness.
The Present, after visiting Silver Peak.
Kaalia flew down to the complex of caves. It would take a while for her to get used to that, but she enjoyed it already. However, her enjoyment passed when she remembered what she was about to do. This time there wouldn’t be any tricks or conversations. She would have to do it by sheer intimidation or a display of force. She had her staff back with her and hold it tight by the shaft while looking at the darkness ahead. At the base of the Rocky Mountains, there were a multitude of caverns whose entrance quickly faded into shadows. The size of each entrance marked the size of the dragon that lived inside, and she stood in front of an entrance so big it would take many, many minutes for her to fly all over it. That was Red Death’s lair.
Channeling mana onto her staff, Kaalia shot a magical projectile that went far into the cave, momentarily illuminating its interior. Kaalia saw the remainders of cattle and sheep slaughtered, together with broken wagons and human skeletons. Minor creatures that were feasting on the remains immediately dispersed back to their holes. She started to channel mana again and shot another projectile. And another. Another. She knew that, despite her putting all her energy into them, they wouldn’t even scratch the scales of Red Death. Nonetheless, she was deliberately invading his territory and trying to threaten his life. No dragon would take that lightly, least of all the Father of Dragons.
It didn’t take long until a rumbling sound could be heard from within the trenches of the cave, and she quickly flew back to distance herself from the entrance. The air started to get hotter and hotter, while smoke found its way from the inside of the cave to the outer world. Kaalia heard crunching sounds and the scraping of rock against something that sounded harder than steel. The head of Red Death appeared first, quickly followed by his neck. His skull alone had to be many times the size of Kaalia, and never in her life she had felt so insignificant standing in front of a living being. The vertical traces that were his eyes looked around until finally focusing on Kaalia. At that moment the rest of his body moved forward, and a pair of colossal wings appeared and stretched against the sky, with a hulking red body that could overshadow many small villages put together. Looking at a creature like that was humbling, terrifying and awe-inspiring, all at the same time. Yet, she had to do what she had to do.
Red Death didn’t spoke a word or made another sound, he simply opened his mouth big enough to fit many nomadic huts. His plan was to eat Kaalia and forget the issue. To him, she wasn’t anything more than a fly – a simple fly that was buzzing and woke him from his sleep. Despite paling in fear, Kaalia knew she had to change that or die on the spot. Before the dragon could move any further to eat her, she screamed.
“NOW!” At her command, hosts of angels fell from the sky while hordes of demons appeared from the holes in the ground. They channeled holy and dark magic and, despite their diminute size compared to the dragon’s, the damaged they cause was real. Red Death was taken by surprise, and even though he shook his wings and brandished his claws – instantly killing and smashing angels and demons alike – he couldn’t take care of all of his aggressors. He growled loudly in pain while the angels and demons, bounded to Kaalia, continued to pound the Father of Dragons to the ground.
“STOP!” Kaalia screamed after a while, when she knew the dragon wouldn’t be able to take the beating much longer.
Nathalia immediately flew down to the cleric, even more furious than she was before.
“That wasn’t our agreement human!” Exclaimed her, breathing heavily, “we weren’t supposed to break the Truce, and attacking the Father of Dragons does just that.”
“The hosts of angels and hordes of demons are bound by magic to obey me,” proceeded Kaalia, coldly, “my will overrides your Truce.”
Nathalia looked at her, infuriated. She had been tricked and she knew it, but there was nothing she could do. The angels had lost the heavens to the demons, and they were all bound by magic to that single human cleric. It was unbelievable.
Red Death had fallen to the ground in one of its sides, and his breathing was irregular, but he didn’t seem to be dying. Yet.
“Father of Dragons,” called Kaalia directing herself to the huge creature, “will you listen to me now?”
The eyes of the dragon blinked in agreement, though he didn’t speak yet.
“I am Kaalia of the Vastness, I command angels and demons, bound by magic to obey my will. I will have them slaughtered up until the last one of the dragons, which includes you and all of your offspring, unless we strike a deal.”
“I’m listening,” answered the dragon, his voice coming out as a guttural rasping sound that certainly could be heard from miles away.
“I want you and your kind to fight alongside me and against my enemies, whenever I command. In exchange, I will spare your life and also grant all of you the permission to breathe your fire again.”
The dragon stood still for what it looked like an agonizing eternity, his eyes drifting around to the many creatures that surrounded him. Finally, turning his head back to Kaalia, he answered.
“Agreed.”
As soon as the dragon said that, Kaalia felt the same prickling and hurting as from the last time. She bended backwards, bitting her lips, somehow the pain seemed worse. Once again she felt bone and flesh giving way to something else, and leathery red wings projected from her back. A mark of the commitment of the dragons. It was high time for Kaalia’s revenge.
Nobody in the coalition of clans believed what happened. There weren’t any warnings, signs, or predictions. Death fell from the sky and from down below the ground, mercilessly and swiftly. The many patches of land they had conquered, the many clans they hand enslaved and the many warriors they had trained, all of that was over in a matter of days.
Angels, demons and dragons commanded by one cleric to destroy her enemies. Kaalia spared the elderly, the woman and the children, because she wasn’t a monster like them. She freed the slaves, including the survivals of her clan. Everyone else was put to swords, claws and teeth. Fire spread throughout the camps as well, dragonfire. It reduced all her enemies to smoke and ashes. She drew in the smell once more, listening to the people who screamed and cried. That didn’t make her feel better, but it made her feel avenged. Though there was one last thing.
“Kaalia,” it was Abbadon calling her from below, his face with a perpetual smile. She knew he was taking great pleasure from the massacre. “We’ve found who you were looking for.”
Kaalia took slow steps while getting inside the tent. In there, Onnon was standing tied by chains to a post. His face had been beaten, and it was bloated and bloodied. He could open only one of his eyes while looking at her.
“Witch,” Onnon managed to say, spitting his own blood. “Murderer.”
“I am a murderer,” replied Kaalia, “but only because you made me one.”
“Coward,” continued Onnon, “couldn’t… face me on… a fair fight.”
“Was that what you offered to our people?” Asked Kaalia, “a ‘fair fight’?”. Before Onnon could answer anything, she put the blade of her knife deep into his stomach, staring with her blank eyes directly at him. Onnon’s body contracted, and he started making gurgling sounds with his mouth. It was Kaalia’s time to spit on his face. She took the blade away, and gave one last look at him before leaving the tent.
Above her, on the outside, Red Death stood bigger than life itself.
“Burn it down,” Kaalia ordered to the dragon, “but make sure that it burns slowly.”
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).