The Death of Karn

The graveyard virtually pulsed with malignant energy. A dark rain began to fall at midnight, while a lone, black-hooded figure stood before a tombstone. The stone read ” Master of silent death….. KARN”. If one was so inclined to get close enough, a low mumbling could be heard coming from the figure. Not in any language that most mortal peoples could understand. It gave the impression of the utmost evil. Thunder crashed louder as a black mist began to envelop the tombstone. The figure’s chanting grew louder as if to compete with the sky’s thunder. As the chanting grew to a crecendo, the black mist swirled faster and faster around the grave. The wind whipped the figure’s hood back, to display a face that would send any normal man running and screaming! It was the face of a dead man. No flesh remained on the skull. Only a bit of muscle and tendon held it together. But the most impressive sight was the bejeweled crown that perched on top the skull. Very few have seen it and lived. A red light glowed in the eye sockets. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the black mist congealed into a distinguishable form: that of a man. It only appeared as a shadow, but the first figure recognized it easily.

“Your service is required once again. And this time you cannot refuse!” the crowned mage proclaimed. He then began to laugh. The laughter seemed to amplify itself a hundred times over. It echoed throughout the graveyard, and even the rest of the city was awakened by this unnerving sound. Later, they would not be able to say what had awakened them. The mage spoke to the shadow form before him: ” You shall be my private assassin. In the form of “The Shadow” you will do my bidding. I have a task for you. Come, I will reintroduce you to some old friends……… HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Ha Ha ha ha…”