Decrasus Umbra the Apostle of Greed, Kingpin of Galadon

Skill List

Role

Chapter 10

Rumors floated across the Galadon Graveyards of missing bodies and torn flesh. While this
was fairly normal, the strange came from the presence of a zombie rat with a shadowy head.
Chasing the rat was a constant grumbling duergar, whom the denizens knew as Decrasus, who
was once just another thief but now has changed. Ever since he became the Kingpin, his
demeanor had become more generous (as did his flow of coins), often purchasing wilted dead
flowers for graves. The gravewalkers new that in his own twisted ways, the flowers were
still a sign of respect. But now, Decrasus was more aloof, constantly muttering to himself
about "shadows", "exploding heads", "fangs", and "meat".

What the gravewalkers of Galadon didn't know, and nearly no one else besides Skreech, was
that the visions that Decrasus sees has become abundantly more elaborate ever since Skreech
began to speak in common tongue post his transformation. In one fell swoop, Skreech's head
exploded and was replaced with an inkling of magic from a different plane. Skreech had
evolved, growing closer to what he viewed as his "home", and his desire to consume meat
had become gluttonous. Even Decrasus's boils and flesh wasn't even to satisfy the rat
anymore. Moreoever, Skreech now hears whispers from a deranged amount of shadowy beings,
constantly raspy, constantly hungry, seeking more meat. These creatures play to Decrasus'
guilt, offering much more in magic (something that Decrasus failed at in his youth) so
long as Decrasus causes great destruction using sorcery, creating a fissure such that it
can be seen from the Plane of Shadows.

Decrasus as embarked on his journey, in guidance from Skreech and a formidable Monster,
to gather strong magical items to thin the Veil and bring the whispers closer to this plane.
While he perseveres, understanding his greed, he realized that he must go far beyond simple
gathering items to thin the Veil. Utilizing the hatred that many have for the Village and
their tendency to destroy fundamentals of magic, he has "convinced" Tamurah and Skaeldifer
to gather other powerful magical items to thin the Veil. Soon the items gathered by the
Monster and the tasks by other heroes will bear fruition.

Role

Chapter 9

"Ahem ahem, testing one two three". A strange zombie rat, that seems to have reform into
something more of a night demon than a rat, scampers up on a crypt.

Decrasus' life has become a shamble. Or so many who are sloth-like may think, but for him,
the shadows of time seems to have paid attention to him.

"My master has gone through some transitions, whether he knows it or not. And grand plans
does he have!"

A long reptilian tongue made of shadows emerge between Skreech's fangs and hisses balefully
as a strange image dances in your head.

***
Decrasus has gathered those items of value, as requested by Freadahr the Greedy, and
presented those items in a strange fashion. He knew that Freadhar represented just one of
the aspects of Morius, and provided other "gifts" - although confiscated by the greedy cat
naturally.
- To Freadahr the Greedy, the crystalline eldritch sword named 'Spirit Breaker', an ancient
gold coin, and the Amulet of Sektah-Rah
- To Mebbar the Sloth, a sleeping pill and a vial of death
- To Riettlor the Prideful, a scroll of power and the Signet Ring of the Cortian Royal Family
- To Eaimie the Lustful, the wedding dress of a lich
- To Sanzahka the Vain, Vainglory, the wooden mace
- To Imbreia the Gluttonous, a pouch of nourishment
- To Leimalia the Rageful, a scroll of extreme overkill

He has been tasked to understand and spread greed amongst many, where bringing the more
powerful and reknown who fall into his purpose. He has begun this task, utilizing his
connections as the Kingpin, especially targeting those with significant greed of items, of
gold, or of purpose to require "favors" for simple support and magical wears.
- Noctrea, the Warmaster, who has agreed to imbibe anything that Decrasus wishes and perform
a simple act in the Empire at Decrasus' desire, in return for the return of his wears.
- Trystien, the Godfather of Voralia, who has agreed to refrain from interfering with
Decrasus' business, including stalking those of the Light within Voralia, in exchange for
not "bonking" merchants of Voralia.
- Malavyn, the Dreadlord, who has agreed to do one thing in the future mutually beneficial
that won't break Imperial law, in exchange of the legendary sword "Ruby Sun"

He has learned that greed is not only of items, but of services. And only time will come
before these new fruits bear fruition.

Role

Chapter 8

It was an odd sight. A putrid and ugly duergar stooped haughtily before a rather charming
felar thief and each discussed the merits of a rat before a clean, pristine, desk next to
an ajar door. Not just any ordinary rat, but an abnormally half-dead (or full-dead)
zombiefied rat that squeaked with a decaying vocal cord. Why would anyone want such a
creature? It was a rather heated discussion as it appears that the felar thief wanted the
rat, but the duergar swished and swayed his words around the felar, offering this and that.

Suddenly a bargain seemed to have been struck. The zombiefied rat hissed and screeched as
it went back into the cubbyhole that was the duergar's pocket, but in a position with a
clear gaze outward. With a lick of three of his fingers, the duergar performed a rather
odd dance, perhaps something that he learned from the underdark, as three shadows emerged
from the duergar's shadows. The felar's shadow seemed to attempting to consume it, an
ongoing battle from the barter earlier and a clear show of each other's greed. They
appeared similar.

As the duergar left the meeting room, he muttered to himself while flashing intricate hand
signals, seemingly to the rat.

'Dat fargin felah tinkin 'im wantin Skreech. Nah gittin nah Skreech. An Skreech an ah
gitting everytin!'

'But 'im wantin three items o' value. Cheeky bastid. Ah'm givin 'im three items o' value,
an mo!'

Instead of heading out of the church, Decrasus glanced around surreptitiously and stealthily
sneaked eastward, past the somber halls, into various rooms. He peeked into the rooms of
Leimailia the Rageful, Imbreia the Gluttonous, Sanzahka the Vain, Eaimie the Lustful,
Riettlor the Prideful, Mebbar the Slothful, and lastly, Freadahr the Greedy. Hidden within
the shadows, he observed each of their antics, their sins, and what they want.

After all, greed is all in the value of the beholder. An apple is of no value unless there
is a desire or need for it, and is liken to spoil and rot away. It is a matter of want,
need, and a spectacular display to show what they want or need.

The duergar continued mutter to himself, seemingly ticking off numbers in his head, as he
left the church with a new insight into desire and greed.

Role

Chapter 7

Decrasus was born to a demon of Greed, which instilled in his selfishness and a
desire for everything, and a duergar anti-paladin within Aran'gird. He initially
desired to learn magic and demonology but was very limited and failed. This lead him
to create situations that were similar to magic - fake "incantations" that were really
traps with similar effects.

The characters of being sired by a demon of Greed was promulgated by his upbringing
and his instinct for survival. He would stop at nothing for his desires, even, if
necessary, betrayals. But this was offset by his relationship with Skreech, to whom
he found a kindred spirit.

Even rats have souls. Skreech was originally a "normal" rat within the Underdark, but
he feasted enough on magic and carcasses of demons that exploded his intellect and
survival instinct. Through these mutations, he found a kindred soul in Decrasus and
helped him survive in the Underdark. They entered Galadon graveyards to live, where
they became a nuisance, stealing and pilfering everything.

Skreech eventually died. Decrasus was mournful but due to the connection with Skreech,
knew that there was more than the body. He searched for a method for revival and found
an ancient temple deep in the Underdark. There he found a scroll that seemed to have
been meant for him and Skreech for he could read the strange writings perfectly.
Skreech was revived as a possessed zombie rat.

The truth is that, similar to Azuremain, elements of failed summoning for Nightwalkers
remained at the temple. Skreech is revived possessed by the spirit of a nightwalker,
who has deep desires and greed for everything in this dimension. But Decrasus doesn't
care about that - he only cares that Skreech is alive. Like a nightwalker with a voice,
Skreech now promises a land of possibilities, where Decrasus can even perform magic
similar to the greatest mages. This land is one of the Shadow Planes. Ultimately Decrasus
will want to bring the Shadow Planes into this plane.

Decrasus is a follower of Morius seeking to became an Apostle of Greed. He also desires
to join the Scions - not only because of his affinity with Skreech and the Nightwalker
Skreech and the ensuing visions, but also because the Scions are composed of elite
mages, something that he failed at.

Role

Chapter 6

"Skreech, yer dity rat, wheh yer goin??"

The strangely graceful movement of a duergar scampered after an abnormally quick
moving rat. Jumping from gravestone to gravestone, they deftly maneuvered through
the intricacies of the Galadon Graveyard. The denizens of the graveyard just looked
at the troublemakers with an exasperated sigh. He had evaded capture so often
within Galadon, stealing and prying away goods. It was a good few months when
Decrasus and his rat had left following rumors of his rat's death. They did come
back rather peculiar.

Skreech seemed to move with intention. He had shown Decrasus visions of the future,
of possibilities that can be, sparking an urge for desire and greed. To create
(or rejoin) the realm from which Skreech now understood his soul originated from,
for it was true that he was no ordinary rat.

At last Skreech stopped with a huffing and puffing Decrasus behind him. A church
stood before them, a bastion of darkness to spark the vices that Skreech and
Decrasus held within.

"Wut da farg beh dis?"

Skreech rushed into the church with an annoyed Decrasus before him. But that
annoyance soon became curiosity and inquisitiveness. Decrasus had often neared the
church with Skreech, but never stepped inward - a forboding sense that permeated
the air and warned his soul. Of course he always wanted to venture into to steal
and pry from whatever was inside. But as Decrasus entered the church, he
immediately dropped to the ground, almost forcefully, in a show of respect. He was
trembling within and Skreech's constant reminders and visions of a land of unlimited
possibilities flashed in his mind. Almost in a trance-like state, both he and
Skreech walked through the Foyer (although he swiped the book titled 'The Vitiatic
Faith' - he couldn't help himself sometimes) into a small room with a lazy,
greedily dressed felar.

An eventful day this was as Decrasus heard from Freadahr the Greedy of the church of
Morius and all the blessings of a Faithful. One step closer to reaching the land of
visions.

Role

Chapter 5

A strange scene unfolded even within the graveyards of Galadon, where
strangeness was normal. Rumors floated of the sorrowful wail of a raspy
grating mournful voice from a blob of flesh. It was clothed in all black, or
perhaps that was the fur that peeked out from its attire. In front of the
creature was an even stranger sight - an abnormally bloated rat, filled with
stitching and scars, with a black flecked tongue and beady red eyes, once
full of life and now in a daze.

Decrasus mourned the illness and oncoming death of Skreech, uncaring of the
onlookers. They had, after all, come to the graveyards to be left alone. It
was peculiar that he found such an affinity to a rat, but their habits of
stealing and surviving seems to have ingrained itself in his mind. With the
money that he had stolen, he left the sanctity of the graveyards with the
dying Skreech to Galadon, Hamsah, and other surface cities, seeking a cure
for the battered body that ailed the creature. The surface provided little
insight into Skreech's condition, especially as healers and others who deemed
themselves of the "Light" persecuted him. Time passed, and Skreech eventually
succumbed to his injuries.

Decrasus left the surface and returned to the Underdark for a "cure". The Dark
Gods seemed to find pity on his situation, as much as they have pity. It is
more likely that they found amusement in his pain. For within the depth of the
Underdark Decrasus found an ancient temple full of undeath, magic, and rats.
There Decrasus spent many moons, a crazed lunatic searching with a singular
purpose of reviving Skreech. But he was not a necromancer and his command over
magic was fake, at best.

Little is known of what happened as Decrasus close himself within the temple.
Some say that he found an entrance to the Inferno and he brought forth the
Demon of Greed. Other says that he became warped, a twisted version of himself
through the mind control of a lich. The truth is somewhere in between, for he
appeared to be guided through the shadows to an ancient scroll. Although he had
failed in magic so long ago, the texts of the scroll seemed to flow in his mind,
commanding his body as if possessed, bringing life into Skreech's body.

Decrasus returned to the Galadon Graveyards alongside his most trusted companion.
Sure Skreech seemed slightly different. His beady red eyes glowed of fierce
hellfire within. His body seems impervious to hunger or thirst, and he seemed
more hungry for Decrasus' flesh. Night and day seemed to be the same for Skreech.
Often times dark colored air whirled around Skreech, followed by hoarse breathing
calling forth each desperate gasps or unnatural air with all his strength.

The most different thing of all is that Skreech often whispered at Decrasus,
urging him with visions of a land of night and shadows. A land that belonged to
but who wouldn't be after encountering death?

Role

Chapter 4

Rats are generally viewed as unintelligent. They are, however, one of the
ultimate animals when it comes to survival and instinct, having the ability
to procreate much more than any mammals and swarming in masses. This
survival instinct folded multiple times, with a dose of luck, created the
creature known as Skreech.

Skreech was born deep in the Underdark near Aran'gird and had senses that
far surpassed other rats. At an early age, he was able to cower, flee, and
hide away from his beady patron's ravenous appetite. Survival of the fitness
indeed, as he often saw a bunch of dead rat corpses and hid in them, eating
all sorts of feces, bile, and slob just to survive (even for a rat, a
significant amount of disgust).

This survival instinct, in turn, created a strange rat. Perhaps it was the
amount of magical or demonic refuse from Aran'gird. Or perhaps it was just
evolution. He became abnormally big, uniquely intelligent, and his survival
instinct turned into overdrive.

This may be the reason why his fate crossed with Decrasus'. Their first
encounter was rather awkward, as Decrasus placed traps in the Underdark
to imitate the power of mages and ward of danger only to capture an
abnormally large and ugly rat. Skreech had triggered one of his traps,
nimbly avoiding a perilous fate. Decrasus was impressed, finding a kindred
spirit with a strong survival instinct. Ever since that day, Skreech
intuitively followed him, creating diversions and distractions for Decrasus
to survive. When Decrasus was hungry, Skreech sacrificed one of his packmates,
letting Decrasus feast on the body.

Or maybe the reason why his fate crossed Decrasus was the similarities they
held. Decrasus was born with an inkling of demonic heritage of Greed. Skreech
feasted on many flesh of demons of Greed.

In either case, they traversed the Underdark together, creating a symbotic
relationship. Decrasus knew he had a benefactor and was strangely not surprised
at seeing an abnormally large and ugly rat being the benefactor. In turn,
Decrasus knew what Skreech wanted - a being of such greed himself, Skreech
wanted to eat Decrasus' flesh and boils, and all matters of defects.

But traveling the Underdark isn't safe. As they eventually emerged to the
surface world, the injuries that Skreech undertook to save Decrasus took its
toll. Scars from burns and cuts on his body soon festered. Lethargy and all
matter of disease emerged on Skreech's body. If not for the magic that Skreech
ingested perhaps he would have fallen a long time ago.

At last, Decrasus and Skreech arrived at their destination. A strange calling,
almost a survival instinct (or otherwise), resulted in living in the Galadon
Graveyards. It wasn't so bad for both. They were wholly left alone, for who
wanted to disturb a pair of unlikely and ugly creatures in a corpse filled
graveyard?

Role

Chapter 3

A being born of such ill-fate had no right to live, but persevere the child
did somehow, perhaps through the sliver of demonic energy, the tendency of
duergars to survive, or the unwillingness to acquiesce to fate. He was
hidden away in Aran-gird, studied by the demonologists, tortured through
multiple angles as they strived to understand the measure of their success.
While a protege in the extreme craft of mischievousness, the concept of
magic or glimpse into demons was lost to the child. It appeared that the
child's was a simple duergar, and his only resemblance to a demon was in
his grotesque appearance.

Decrasus was often intrigued at the pain and experiments conducted on his
flesh and mind, but became equally frustrated, often with unbridled rage,
at his inabilities. Throughout his childhood, he wanted more - the
understanding of a Harmentia demon, to contract with the pit fiends to
devour souls, gathering the elements within his hands, or as simple as
raising a skeleton to do his bidding. As frustrations mounted, he turned
to other means that imitated some of these crafts. He especially enjoyed
the destruction caused by the simplest of traps, for, as in the duergar
tongue, "Death is Death."

These failures as Decrasus' inability to grasp magic eventually resulted
in Decrasus being cast away by the demonologists and turned away from
Aran-gird (to the delight of its citizens, for he was also a pain in the
ass to them). Similar to his birth, he had no right to survive the
intricacies of the Underdark. And he wouldn't have if not for Skreech,
a rat as unfortunate as Decrasus.

Role

Chapter 2

"Run Skreech! Get dem! Bite bite gnaw chew eat dem up!"

A grotesque duergar, more energetic than he has every right to be based on
the ungauntly crooks on his deformed body, laughed with glee as the crowd
in Galadon looked for help. The duergar was a constant hassle within the
cities of Galadon and shunned, especially by the lawful or those of good
intention. Only misery and misfortune came to those who encountered the
child and his rat. They were a known menace, living within the Galadon
graveyard, coming out at night to steal and terrorize the masses. But
terror was never a crime. Neither was disturbing the peace, and the Blood
Tribunal, those "guards" for the people, couldn't do anything about this
oppression.

Even the Galadon Thief's guild barely accepted their antics. While the
child paid his dues to operate under the Guild's jurisdiction, he had
obtained a reputation of a thug, pushing and prodding, and often bullying,
people into submission with his rat.

Decrasus pushed the boundaries with the phrase "children will be children".
Some say that a demon puked on him as an embryo. Rumor are that when he
came out of the womb, he had eighteen fingers, six attached to his face,
and his parents were so disgusted that the ruptured the fingers on his
face leaving pus, biles, and scars. Other rumors say that he was cursed by
the witch of the forest to moan, whine, and be a pain in the ass.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. The name Decrasus is more of a title
in duergar language granted to an accursed child born of wedlock in a
demonic ritual requiring the sacrifice of multiple souls. His birth bearer
was a duergar of little fame of the anti-paladin guild in Galadon. Her
greed was unfathomable, and even as she consumed souls through her craft,
she wanted more power. Drawing upon her greed, she was convinced by
demonologists from deep within Aran-gird to bear the child of a demon of
Greed of the 5th circle, but the process was interrupted by her archnemesis,
dwarven paladins of the Fortress of Light. Only a sliver of the demon's
presence and power swirled about the duergar during insemination before she
was stripped away of her sanity and life at the failed process, leaving
behind her child, a pulsing mass of grotesqueness that is difficult to even
qualify as a living being let alone a duergar.

Role

Chapter 1

A strange rodent creeps through the mausoleum before you. It looks
like a horrible abomination captured within the tiny form of a rat.
Twin beady fiery red gleam with undeniable malice, whisker droop with
fresh and dried blood, and underneath it's patched gray fur are various
worms eating away at its decaying flesh.

'Hisssss squeak squeak sqeeeeuk squeeeek??'

The zombie rat scampers on top of a cracked stone cross, seemingly
trying to speak.

"Ahem. The name is Skreech Skavenhell. How do you do?"

A talking undead RAT??

"Yes, well, I suppose we're pretty uncommon. No one wants to bring
undeath to a rat nowadays. We're always thrown away, like all experiments."

The rat clicks it's fangs together, making the sound of a clicking tongue.

"But my master, Decrasus Umbra, a duergar of little renown, managed to
make me. Isn't that even more rare? An idiotic necromancer?"

The rat scampers down the grave and wipes away some combweb, revealing the
fading words D. Umbra.

"This is as much my story, as it is his..."

The fiery red eyes glow brighter, overshadowing the rat's body, revealing
a thick whirling mass within as images pop in your head...

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