I wrote this intro to an Evil campaign:
Background information, this campaign is a multi-session one-shot as a stopgap due to one of our players having to go away for a few weeks.
Pyrrhus is a demon in our campaign world, and in our normal campaign, my character is a Warlock with Pyrrhus as his Patron, the DM fancied playing a PC, and I fancied DMing. it seemed like a fun way to add some consistency to our world. The campaign is set 2000 years before ours in a renaissance Europe setting where magic is commonplace.
“Welcome to the Nexus. You are the worst person in the world.”
Pyrrhus’ voice enters your mind in shifting, undulating, dark tones, something you sense a lesser being would find intimidating. It comforts your black heart.
“Your world, at least.”
“I have brought you here because you have performed admirably for me in the past, and the task I request of you now will be your greatest challenge yet.”
“You have pledged your soul to me, and now the time has come to collect. You have served me well in life, and I offer you a chance to earn more mortal years.”
In front of you the misty fog that surrounds you condenses into a vision of a sleepy town sitting in the valley between two hills.
“This place is known as Twinfell, in the land of Medea, do not be fooled by it’s innocent appearance, within it lays the greatest opportunity that ever was or will be. Not only for myself, but for you.”
Five pillars of light appear before you
“There are five great heroes within this town, each has in their possession a powerful artifact”
“These are no mere trinkets, and they must be destroyed, each one contains a portion of their soul, the essence of the hero. Each takes a form precious to the individual, and can be anything from a ruby, to a building or even an animal”
“Do not underestimate the nature of your task. Much like yourself, these heroes are legends in their own world.”
The pillars of light fade slightly.
“Like all good men however, they have their weaknesses, one of which you are especially poised to expose”
The central pillar becomes changed, from one point in the centre seeps out a liquid, like blood in still water, that grows to consume the pillar in a foul colour.
“Bring these men low, break their spirit, and their bodies, if you wish, but in order to activate the amulet, you must desolate them entirely, only when they are truly broken will the amulet be vulnerable.”
Before you appears an orb, within it you can see a burning flame.
“Once you have broken their spirit, this orb will destroy their relic”
“It is possible, of course, to simply kill these heroes, however their relic may become lost to you, furthermore, without breaking the spirit of the man, his soul still has power over that which is my undoing.”
In front of you a face appears, a face that you recognise. A face that you hate.
“This is your target, break them, and then with the orb, break the conduit of their power, and your reward will be truly magnificent, as you know, I am good to those who serve me well.”
You feel a dizzy spinning as you shift through the void. When you open your eyes you find yourself on a hill overlooking a town in twilight. In your hand is a fiery orb the size of your fist. Around you are four others who seem equally surprised as you are.
As you regain your bearings, you hear Pyrrhus’ voice within your mind one last time.
“Seek a young warlock named Andre, he can give you the guidance you need. Do not fail me.”