First Initiation to Lord Thax's Order

The acrid tang of smoke fills Shango's nostrils as a harsh voice echoes in his mind, "Come to Me, Shango."

You lift your eyebrow slightly, curious.

~Much hurried traveling later~

The Fulcrux of Thax.
A barren crag of granite juts out over a caldera, hanging above a lake of liquid metal far below. Sickly blue striations run through the metal contained within the colossal lake beneath, bubbling and churning fiercely and emitting an intense heat as it releases acrid tendrils of steam into the air. The clouds set upon the pitch black sky above cast a cerulean pall throughout the area, not a single star in sight. A monumental torrent pours down from an unseen source high above the clouds, providing the lake with an infinite supply of mercurial material and generating a choking mist that pervades the area, thick with the metallic tang of blood. Veins of the silvery-blue aqueous metal run through the granite of the rock underfoot, oscillating with unseen power and slicing alternate paths through the surrounding rock at its whim. A hunting trophy bearing Gero's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Xena's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hot pink heart-shaped candy lies here, tempting vermin and passersby alike with the scent of chocolate and vanilla swirl. A hunting trophy bearing Taevyn's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hot pink heart-shaped candy lies here, tempting vermin and passersby alike with the scent of chocolate and raspberry swirl. A hunting trophy bearing Gero's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hot pink heart-shaped candy lies here, tempting vermin and passersby alike with the scent of rock candy. A hunting trophy bearing Gero's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Bleuu's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here. A hunting trophy bearing Bleuu's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Bleuu's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Xena's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Zerrin's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Sondayga's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Wobou's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Maligorn's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Xena's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A conflagration of liquid metal rises from the stone beneath it, weaving its molten threads into a malevolent spike. A hunting trophy bearing Falmiis's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. Wisps of acrid smoke dance across the viscous surface of a pool of molten metal. A hunting trophy bearing Shedrin's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Bleuu's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Bleuu's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. A hunting trophy bearing Anelissa's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter. The fossilised remains of Zerrin are here. A hunting trophy bearing Anelissa's head is here, a grisly reminder of the power of a skillful hunter.
You see a single exit leading through a pool of molten metal.

Flames erupt from the caldera below as a distorted voice echoes, "Welcome, soldier."

Shango says, "Greetings, Lord Thax."

Shango gives the master shrine of Thax a respectful salute.

Flames erupt from the caldera below as a distorted voice echoes, "Many have asked Me to become my priests among the mortal populace. What think you of this?"

Shango says, "Unsurprising. A Divine 'new' to their minds, I'd expect many to fall head over heels over themselves to seek Your attentions."

Shango says, "And You in particular are well remembered in the histories of the First World."

Flames erupt from the caldera below as a distorted voice echoes, "I am not interested in becoming Patron Elder of mortals who simply find Me interesting. I require soldiers who are willing to commit themselves to Me and what I have to teach and command, that we may take back the First World."

Nodding slowly, Shango says, "Much as I'd expect from Your reputation, Sir. Those that can fight to protect themselves and especially others from the ravages of the Souless is essential, after all. What did You wish of me?"

Flames erupt from the caldera below as a distorted voice echoes, "I wish to know if you are ready to become one of My soldiers, Shango. The first recruit in My army."

The pointed tips of Shango's ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

Shango says, "If that is Your desire, then I would happily accept the honour."

A sudden thrumming fills the air as a vibrating Divine portal opens up directly before Shango, wavering madly before settling in the air, strange colours and pathways flowing beyond.

Flames erupt from the caldera below as a distorted voice echoes, "Enter."

As Shango steps into a vibrating Divine portal he is momentarily deafened by the thrumming of the portal, distracting him from the fact that he has just stepped out into nothingness, though this uneasy realisation has barely struck him before his legs are compelled to take another step, and he emerges through an identical portal.

Encased in metal.
A void of nothingness hangs within a sphere of metal, enclosed on all sides so that no light or sound can escape. A sickly, greenish light illuminates the void, though it reveals nothing about the surroundings. The metal itself is dark an featureless, unyielding and lifeless to the touch. Filling the air with a low-pitched thrum, a vibrating Divine portal floats here.
You see a single exit leading through a vibrating Divine portal.

Shango finds himself floating helplessly, the void around him suffocatingly still and silent.

Shango says, "I am here, Lord."

Tingles of numbness brush against Shango's extremities like needlepricks, slowly spreading up into the core of his body.

Shango idly twitches his tail.

The pinpricks grow sharper, more insistent, as pain races down Shango's nerves and spreads like a wildfire.

Thax, the Machine says, "Only in pain and death do we know what we truly can be, Shango. There is much pain in My service."

Shango says, "I can handle it, Lord Thax."

Shango says, "Only shall it fuel my Wrath towards what targets deserve it, pain is a tool they will regret being given to me."

Gripping His throat, Thax, the Machine says, "Very well, Shango. You will become the first recruit in My army. Our ranks are not yet ready for others, but the time will come soon enough for our ranks to swell."

Shango says, "As You wish, Sir. I am Yours to direct in this."

Shango's muscles contract, sending spasms throughout his body as thick clouds of acrid smoke fills his lungs.

Thax baptises Shango into the Outer Circle of the Divine Order of Thax, the Machine.

Shango lets loose a long breath from His lungs, exhaling slowly.

He is a radiant immortal and seethes with an aura of pure viciousness, His indomitable form wreathed in clouds of acrid smoke shot through with lines of malevolent green energy. Flaming crimson eyes glare out from beneath the eyeslit of His grotesque visor, emanating utter derision and casting an unearthly red pall upon their surroundings. The screeching sounds of metal grinding on metal envelop Him as gears twist and shift within His blackened zingavium armour, the twisted metal encasing the unfathomable immanidivinus energies contained within. Valves upon the joints of His twisted armour hiss riotously as fierce jets of steam rage into the air with every movement, surrounding His body with an immense heat which causes the air to distort. Jagged spikes splay out in all directions from His broad shoulders, each honed to a needle-like tip. Knife-edged protrusions line the metallic frame about His arms and legs, their serrated edges stained a vivid, sanguine red. He is wearing a tattered cloak.

Gripping His throat, Thax, the Machine says, "Go now, like a breaking wave of death and transformation, and think upon who and what our army will be."

Shango says, "So it shall be done."