During the Age of Wars, a time of chaos and bloodshed where heroes rose and fell with the whim of the gods, there existed the Casters, a group of people persecuted for their association with strange idols and newer gods. They were both hated and feared for their affiliation and were denounced for their refusal to accept the customs of the God-Followers.

The Casters consequently formed their own society. The Caster Society was a place were they were free to practice their ideals and rituals without fear. The Casters existed in a peaceful state with slight skirmishes every now and then. Over the years that the Caster Society existed no problems arose so great that they could not be resolved and the Casters were content with living under the watchful eyes of the God- Followers.

But contentment can last only so long.

A roaming battalion of fifty strong ran early in the morning. Their armor was slight just enough to keep them fast but protected. The battalion moved swiftly their bands swishing in the early morning breeze. The sun shined above and battered their heads with its rays. The marking was visible; A calm sea with light shining from above. It was the emblem of the God-Followers, people who placed their faith and lives in the hand of the gods and enforced their views on the people who chose to live in their domain.

The battalion was making a special trip through the countryside. Word had been heard recently that the Caster society was brewing up trouble in the southern regions. The battalion was not authorized to engage in battle or to make any communication at all. They were sent merely to make sure that everything was still peaceful between the Casters and the closest territory of the God-Followers. That battalion wasn’t supposed to have been sent today but the usual roaming party was unavailable at the time. Some people wonder if the correct battalion had been sent whether things today would be as they are.

“Ho! I believe I see something there. In the grass! Fellows hurry our prey runs for its holes!” yelled Fossor. Fossor was the young son of the leader of the God-Followers. Fossor was untrained and eager. He commonly made mistakes but was often pardoned because of his lineage.

At Fossor’s word his men hurried and soon caught up to the prey they were chasing. Upon reaching the prey, Fossor realized he had come across a person.

“Ho! Mates, our prey has deceived us. We chased no animal but our own brethren. Let us stop and see what unlucky wretch we have chanced upon!” Fossor said.

Upon getting closer Fossor quickly said “Mates, a female we have found. Indeed quite a beauty!”

Addressing the female who stood before him Fossor called “Well now why might a lovely lady like you be alone in the fields.”

“I have a right to be alone wherever I wish and I ask that you, whatever you might be, be on your way as I am sure you have better places to shepherd your vanguard of fools to” , the lady said.

Fossor was outright surprised and barely managed to say “How dare you, an obscene wretch with pit of ice for a heart. You will come with me so you may be properly punished for this offense.”

“I will not be coming with you as you have no right at all to shepherd me around” she called back.

“What do you mean” Fossor asked but looking upon her wrist noticed that she carried a rather shiny bracelet. Taking notice of this he saw the black palm engraved in the bracelet. With a gasp he backtracked for he had realized that this woman was a Caster.

“Ho! Mates, a Caster we have found! A Caster!” he said to his battalion.

The battalion murmured amongst themselves and on man called out “Kill her! How dare a caster say such things.”

The lady stood and with cold hatred in her eyes whispered “I give you fair warning and warning only once. Leave me and leave me. Go on your ways and leave me be. I have no problem with you or your men and prefer to leave it that way.”

Fossor walked up to the lady and said with a grin on his face “But no, you can’t expect me to just leave you. You are of course a Caster. The likes of which I have not seen in years. No. I will take you and make you my slave as you are fit to be.”

“You will leave me and be on your way.” she said back coldly barely controlling herself.

“No” Fossor said and with that he bound and gagged and proceeded to tie her to his horse.

“Okay mates! Let us ride off and be gone!”

Fossor had made a tragic mistake on that day. While the events had proceeded a Caster had been watching. With a cold look in his eyes he turned in the direction of the Caster society and ran as fast as he could.

Little did Fossor know what a mess he had started.

Odium, the Caster who had seen the events that had unfolded earlier, rushed into the tent of Sedo, the Caster elder.

“Sedo!”, Odium called.

“Yes, my son what troubles ail you” Sedo responded.

“The God- Followers! They are too much. I warned you of their plans but you dismissed me. Now, see what they have done. They have taken her. They have taken Perturba!”

“Are you sure” Sedo recognized Odium’s statement with a slow and steady demeanor.

“Yes father. They have taken and there is but one thing we can do” Odium said.

“Do not rush my son, we must deliberate and think”

Odium was a young and smart boy. He was 17 finishing his rites merely six weeks ago. He was extremely ingenious and more powerful than even the older Caster males. Odium even practiced the ancient arts of necromancy and spell casting in his spare time. Despite this Odium was plagued with a deep hatred for the God-Followers. He was never able to accept the life the Casters lived and had recently been pushing for war against them.

“Odium I know how you feel about the God-Followers but you cannot rush into something without proper deliberation” Sedo advised.

“No father. I am sorry. I have waited too long for justice and will do what I must” he said to his father.

To the other Casters around him he said “Casters! Brethren! For years we have lived under the God-Followers. We have lived in fear and secrecy and were exiled. Exiled! We, the greatest of the factions. We! We who can control the heavens and curl the Underworld to our wishes. With all our power we have hidden. Hidden! For thousands of years we have hidden in waiting. No longer! Today I call for us to rise. I call for us to summon the things of old. I have studied and trained for this day. Today I will not sit by and accept that a fellow Caster was taken. No! Today I will kill all who wait in my way and shall receive my fellow. We will not sit and be taken advantage of. We will rise! And we will fight! Adohkmen!”

With his riveting speech and call of power Odium did something unheard of before. He called together the hearts of the people and brought back a feeling that had been lost for decades.

The fellow Casters rose together and stood and with Odium called “Adohkmen! Adohkmen!”

Odium turned and with an invocation of darkness summoned hell to rise from beneath him and for the ancient spirits to stir.

“Oh Spirits! Those who watch and wait to be called. Today I call for awakening. Today I call for you to arise. I call for hate and chaos to stir. I call with my body and mind. I call upon you to rise and fight alongside us. Rise! Rise spirits rise! Oriur!”

Odium made one last call for the Casters and raised his hand. A blackened palm with a serpent mark burned in the skin Odium wore the markings of the Casters. With an army of Casters following him and a legion of darkness walking behind him he marched on the Gods.

Little did he know what a revolution he had caused.