Two thousand years ago, Nhagruul, the foul
a sorcerer who revelled in corrupting the innocent,
the spread of despair,
neared the end of his mortal days
and was dismayed.
Consumed with hatred for all things living...
Nhagruul sold his soul to the demon Lords of the Abyss
so that his melevolant spirit would survive
after his body perished.
In an excruciating ritual...
Nhagruul's skin was flayed into pages
his bones, hammered into a cover
and his diseased blood transformed into the ink
to pen a book most vile.
All those exposed to the book were driven mad
or so corrupted by the wicked knowledge contained within.
They had no choice but to turn evil.
Misery and bloodshed followed the disciples of Nhagruul...
as they spread their master's dark dream.
Creatures vile and depraved
emerged from every pit and unclean borough
to partake in the fever of destruction.
The cities and kingdoms of Karkoth were devoured
by this plague of evil
'til an order of warriors arose from the ashes.
They called themselves The Knights of the New Sun
and swore an oath to resurrect hope in the land
The purity of their hearts was so great that Pelor, the God of Light
granted the knights powerful amulets
with which to channel his righteous power.
Transcendent, with divine might the knights of the New Sun
pierced the shadow that had darkened the land
for 1200 years, and casted asunder.
But not everyone was awed by their splendor.
The disciples of Nhagruul disassembled the book...
and bribed three greedy souls to hide the pieces
until they could be retrieved.
The ink was discovered and destroyed, but
despite years of searching
the cover and pages were never found.
Peace ruled the land for centuries...
and the Knights got lost in the light of their own glory.
As memory of Nhagruul faded away,
So did the power of Pelor's servants.
The Knights of the New Sun abandoned themselves
in the foolhardy belief that The Book of Vile Darkness
could never again be made whole.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3: THE BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS
Pelor, we are here tonight
on the eve of the oath to renew our pledge of service
and to admit one more righteous soul into our Order.
Grayson Azriel, step forward.
Do you swear by Almighty Pelor
to dedicate your life to the purity of service?
Yes.
To forsake all worldly pleasures?
Yes.
To defend the weak and show mercy to the wicked?
Yes.
And above all things, to remain the one beacon of hope
when all other lights have gone out?
To never give in to despair?
The dark will never triumph
as long as the light inside me prevails.
Raise your sword to receive Pelor's blessing.
Come back to camp. The men have taken up a collection of gold
to start your new knighthood.
You're disappointed that the Obelisk didn't recognize you.
I thought I would be the one to waken it.
As did all the other Knights of the New Sun
for the past 800 years.
- Myself included. - But I failed you!
You are still a knight!
A knight?
Half the men here are barely capable of housing a human spirit
let alone a noble one.
People laugh at us.
At least the ones that heard of us do.
And why do we even wear these?
They don't do anything.
It sounds like you're angry that there's been peace all these years.
That's not it.
You thought it would be like the tales you've heard since you were young.
The power of Pelor streaming in to you from the Obelisk.
Yes!
The first real Knight of the New Sun in 800 years!
- You knew this might happen. - But not to me!
I thought I was different.
I had the very same thought when I was your age.
Spoke the very same words to my father.
What he said to me
his father told him and I will tell you
If you want to be a knight, act like a knight!
Follow me.
To the end.
Father...
Pelor...
Bless me with your divine might to help find my father.
Your most loyal and righteous servant has been taken by the barbarian filth.
So be it.
Glad you had fun. Time to pay.
- What's the fuss? - Come on, time to pay.
Come in.
Don't be shy.
Close the door.
You can take your clothes off behind the curtain.
- I just want to talk. - It's your money.
What do you want to talk about?
Those barbarians.
You were just with some.
How many of them are there? Do you know where they're staying?
- What's your business with them? - They have my father.
I have to find him.
Why would I help you and put my neck on the chopping block?
I can pay you... solid gold.
Means nothing to me anymore.
My brother was a Knight of the New Sun.
He died a pauper in Deloh.
- So you'll help me? - The barbarians bragged...
about an important prisoner.
Where did they take him?
I don't know.
But there are questers in town that will.
You'll need more than courage to rescue your father.
Come on, I have a friend who can help.
- Good evening, Tambor. - Hello, Carlotta.
- New Friend? - Aren't they all?
Welcome to The Adventurer's Vault. Going Out Of Business Sale today.
All prices are final. Rock bottom!
I'll take that Ring of Force, a bag of holding,
a Wicked Blade, and that knight armor.
- Paragon, or Heroic? - Paragon.
Who's going to pay for all this?
Carlotta, can you count this?
- Where did you get all that gold? - The Knights collected it for me.
The gods smile on you.
Why don't you try this vicious blade?
Its maker swears the weapon takes pleasure drawing blood.
Still hot from the forge.
And a bottle of poison.
I'm no assassin, Carlotta.
Ground thastle root. Deadly.
It's for you.
In case they want to torture you.
There is a Shadar-Kai witch
hiring mercenaries in the Green Dragon Inn.
She and the barbarians who took your father...
have been hired by the same master.
Lord Shathrax.
- Shathrax? -They're searching for pieces of some ancient relic.
Join their band, if you can. Earn their trust.
With any luck, the witch will lead you to your father.
Grayson.
You're gonna be assailed by evils that,
that can't be fought with a sword.
But the purity of my heart is not some commodity
that can be traded or bought.
- Everything has a price. - I'll die first.
- It's easy to say now. - Everything I've ever done has been easy.
It's my father.
Better hide that.
- It's yours. - No, use it to strike a blow for my brother
But keep it hidden.
If she catches you with it, she will cut your throat.
Come here.
Stay strong.
Farewell.
Ale.
Dwarven.
If you lie again, you will die by the edge of my sword!
We'll take the forest road to this cave.
And then?
Are we to search the dark like a gang of orcs?
What if?
Zahir forbid, something unforseen was to happen to you?
If I told you the location of the horn
what's to prevent you from sneaking away and taking it for yourself?
My word of honor.
I didn't think assassins were allowed to jest.
Humor is discouraged, but not forbidden.
All of you. Make no mistake.
The strongest adversary you've ever faced
is before you.
Your doom lies within me.
I hear you're looking for strong arms.
You call those arms?
They're better suited for employment upstairs.
with the other catamites.
What the hell is this?
Get out of my chair before you get hurt!
If you were anything but a fool...
You'd know that a man that sits with these killers...
doesn't give a damn about ownership of chairs.
Terror is the most valuable weapon.
Is it in your heart to be terrible?
The vermin lord's right.
You have to earn a place at this table.
Pick someone here...
and kill them in cold blood.
Do that, and you can join us.
You stand upon a portal of greatness
and have given its gatekeepers no reason to allow you entry.
Do you know what it is we seek?
All I care about is reward.
And how to spend it unwisely.
The reward is 5000 gold
and 1/12th of all the treasure we acquire along the way.
1/12th?
- I only see six. - And I only see half a man.
I'm more than enough for you.
- Excuse me. - We're waiting.
I'll take that.
Everyone OK with 1/5th?
You're getting blood on my map.
Yes, Lord Shathrax, we're on our way.
Five in number.
Don't even think about it.
Think about what?
Shadar-Kai women believe the best way
to a man's heart...
is through his back.
It's not her heart I'm interested in.
I'll carve that into your gravestone.
It might be quite difficult with one hand.
I'm proficient with both hands... at carving.
- Shall I show you? - Leave him alone.
Dragon!
I was hoping to catch the dragon asleep.
What we seek is in his cave.
Give it time to feed.
I saw five prisoners.
So in my experience, a dragon of that size
needs an hour to consume a human being.
- Five hours, then. - Four and a half.
- What? - One of the prisoners was a child.
Alright then, four and a half.
The dragon will sleep after gorging itself.
No!
Why aren't we attacking now before it eats and regains its strength?
You will speak only when spoken to.
On your feet, boy.
You can't set the world ablaze on your ass.
Bezz, take a look.
See if the dragon sleeps.
Corpse.
Another corpse.
The dragon sleeps.
What's happening?
Clatha!
Say "clatha"!
Clatha!
- Where is the boy? - Under there.
He purchased our victory with his life.
A bargain, if there ever was one.
Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut
and have people think you are a fool,
than open it and remove all doubt.
Are you mocking me?
Yes.
Speak when spoken to, my ass!
Dragon slayer!
This could be useful.
- Is that it? - Everything of value.
What a miserable excuse for a dragon.
No wonder it was so easily slain.
- See if it's trapped. - Step back.
The horn will herald the future...
where the brightness of the sun will be replaced by a mystical darkness.
In this gloom,
the frail will be culled.
and mastership will belong to the strongest in courage and will.
Only weaklings, too gutless to kill for what they want
will view this moment as cruel.
We are 1/3rd part in Karkoth's return to greatness
Pre-ordained by the very laws laws that gave birth to
and nurture all existence.
What.... is that?
One of the dragons prisoners. There's three more of them up there.
He must have put them to sleep before battle.
- Vimak, come on, give me a hand. - Vimak, you take orders from me, not him.
I never said anything about slaves or human sacrifice.
- I think he means to liberate them. Good boy, you were listening.
- Liberate? - The Celestial Grindwheel says...
the he who requires mercy, deserves death.
Is it your intent to liberate the underpeople
from the ruin of their lives?
If so, please...
allow me to assist you in the ritual. - No, no! No ritual!
If we take these wretches back to Little Silver with us alive...
they'll treat us like heroes.
Yes.
Give us anything we want.
I think its a wonderful idea. They could be generous.
Vimak.
Help him with the rest of the prisoners.
Be careful not to harm a single hair on their precious heads.
Seith.
Open up!
We killed the dragon. We need food, water and lodging.
We mean you no harm.
We saved three of your citizens from certain death.
Delgar!
- Is that you? - It's me! They have rescued us.
I think this belongs to you.
Open the gates!
The dragon is dead!
Feeling very good about yourself, aren't you?
Killing a dragon will do that for you.
I cut this from his tail for you.
Only the most powerful slayers have earned the right to wear such a trophy.
Well, go on. Take it.
- Ever catch a raccoon? - No.
You put an apple inside a box...
and cut a hole in the side.
The raccoon grabs the apple...
but can't pull his hand out because the hole is too small.
The damn beast is so happy to have the apple
that it won't let go.
By the time he sees the rock coming down to smash his skull,
it's too late.
Dragon Slayer.
It is possible these people savour the simplicity of their lives?
No. The only meaning in their lives
is to provide me with a place to bury my weapon.
Only then will they be fulfilled.
See.
Are you the wife of Riyo, the tanner?
- Yeah - My condolences on his passing.
I'm sure he would have wanted you to have this.
- Thank you. - That's daddy's!
Go look after your mother. You're the man of the house now.
Mummy?
Get out of here! They're biting your mother!
Dance with me.
Here.
Hold me like this.
It's not so bad, is it?
Come home with me tonight.
All the other boys around here are so dull. Farmers and blacksmiths.
I swore an oath to my father.
He'll never know.
I can't.
- I'm not who you think I am. - Yes you are.
Let's get this over with.
The strong prey on the weak without mercy or remorse.
Strong.
Weak.
Don't move.
The apparatus is ready
to extract liquid pain, Lord Shathrax.
Father!
You saved my life.
By Shadar-Kai law, you're entitled to my body.
You may ravish me however you see fit.
Do you want me on the bed?
- No. - Fine.
Command me.
Get up.
Put your clothes on.
My clothes?
- Are you spurning me? - Call it what you want.
I escaped the Pyramid of Shadows.
Faar, the King of Trohold, breathed his last breath into my face
with my knife in his guts.
My knife.
Do you think I'll tolerate rejection from a human boy?
You said I may ravish you however I see fit.
I chose to ravish your pride.
My desire is to see you humbled.
No.
I can see in your eyes.
You want more than my humiliation.
Your heart is beating faster than a rabbit.
You want it, but you don't take it. Why?
What are you hiding?
I don't trust you.
I think we'll travel to Shathrax's fortress without you.
Goodbye.
No.
You like to court death.
I like that.
It makes life worth living, doesn't it?
Have you got the treasure?
All of it.
We'll meet you at the gate.
Vimak.
They're locked! From the outside!
Everybody stay calm.
Open the gates!
The gates?
Oh I would, but, our keeper seems to have a cut throat.
As do six others.
Just a taste of what's next if you don't open the gates!
We'll finish what the dragon started
and bring these walls down around your heads.
Not one of you will be spared.
- Think of your children. - You kill our men.
And now you expect us to let you walk out of here with our treasure?
Consider it payment for killing the dragon.
Then we will die fighting, before starving like beasts
for you will die with us!
Target the Shadar-Kai Witch!
Kill her before all others!
Open the gates or I'll blow that necklace
and you'll need sponges to gather your remains!
Then I will meet my maker without shame in my heart!
Men, on my count of 5, fire!
1! 2!
- 3! - Half!
We will return half the treasure
if you open the gates.
The next words you speak will be your last.
I'd rather have half with you than all without!
- They killed the dragon! - Give them half!
We've had enough trouble.
It seems our supporters have spoken for us.
I didn't realise I had any.
Well...
The calmer heads prevail.
Take half the treasure.
And go in peace.
Clatha!
Delgar!
- I'm not who you think I am! - Who are you?
Hey. shhhh!
You'll have to be quiet. I'm here to help, OK?
There should be an exit up ahead.
Then we'll run into the forest, okay?
What's your favourite forest creature?
Zombies.
Zombies? That's the last thing we want to see.
I told him before that the zombies are bad, but he won't listen.
Your sister is right. What about unicorns?
- Unicorn's are for girls. - They can help us.
I tell you what, when we get into the forest, I want you to keep an eye out for me.
Tell me if you see one. Can you do that for me?
Akordia, let's go.
- Where is Grayson? Have you seen him? - No.
We must leave this place
before the walls become and inferno.
- You go! - He's probably dead.
I'll catch up with you.
You're going to throw your life away for a boy!
A human boy?
Not very legendary.
One word, of this to anyone,
and I'll roast your bones.
Now you're talking!
This is your doing. There will be a reckoning!
If there were to be a reckoning for me,
it would have happened long ago.
Anyone foolish enough
to pledge their life to a god that doesn't give a damn,
deserves what they get!
Thank you Pelor.
You've opened my eyes.
Time to split the treasure.
All told, theres 60,000 in gold and gems.
Almost 12 thousand each. More than the reward.
More than enough for me.
For you.
A vorpal weapon.
It was your idea to return to Little Silver.
Go on. Take it.
See how it feels.
What about Shathrax?
I'm selling the horn to the assassin
for his share of the treasure.
You can continue with him if you want.
Drink of my blood in the allegiance rite.
And you may serve as my valet.
Or you can come home with me to the city of Gloomwrought.
We'll terrorize those slugs for a while.
Adventure, Battle...
glory beyond your wildest imagination.
We'll split the treasure in the morning.
You don't have to decide now.
Let me convince you.
Don't leave me.
My son.
Can't sleep.
Can't sleep?
You have gold,
you have a girl.
Grayson, you must learn to enjoy life...
with the same abandon that you risk it.
What are you gonna spend your share on?
When I was a child,
our village was hit by an avalanche.
My family was killed. I was injured.
The chief cast me out.
He said my family was weak.
Since then, I have dreamt of only one thing.
Seeing their heads roasting on an open fire.
Not because they were wrong, but because they were right.
Those too weak to better themselves,
- ...deserve their low positions. - Has it ever been any different?
Lions prey on each other.
An avalanche far less merciful than the first
is about to descend upon my village.
I will avenge my family's shame by killing all those who remember it.
Then, with my gold, I will build a new village.
It's a good dream.
To Chief Vimak.
Poison! Thastle root!
Assassin!
A seven foot Goliath disappears with 60,000 in gold...
and nobody hears or sees a thing!
- No footprints, nothing! - We still have the horn.
Why don't we just continue with the task...
and then we can collect our reward from Shathrax?
Shathrax?
I'm tired of hearing his name on your lips.
Why are you so desperate to see him?
This has worked out well for you, hasn't it?
The horn is mine. We had a deal.
Deal?
Give me your share of the treasure and you can have the horn.
What?
No treasure?
Then no deal.
Give me the horn.
If you want to join me, you'll kneel in submission.
And partake in the allegiance rites.
Or else what?
- I'll kill him! - Go ahead.
I'll never kneel to you.
As you wish.
Bluffing!
I wasn't gonna kill him.
Tell her, to heal me.
She'll... she'll listen to you!
I beg you.
Mercy!
No.
Back to the original plan.
We'll complete our task and go and see Shathrax.
The ruins are in Zupannul (?)
"Only in the deepest dark can you see your soul."
Nhagruul.
What the hell is that thing?
An undead child betrayed in life by its god.
I'm hungry!
What's it eat?
It suckles on the negative energies that birthed it.
Malice, fear,
kindness and compassion are deadly poisons to her.
My tummy hurts.
Give me some food and I will give you a prize.
We must prove our hearts are free of decency.
Bezz.
You first.
Feast yourself.
Isn't she darling?
Okay, Bezz. Enough.
Enough!
More!
Grayson.
Grayson, go.
Grayson.
Do it, or I'll cut off your hand and do it for you.
You've done bad things.
You did it.
Although I dare say you did it when you murdered Vimak.
Love!
It hurts!
Father, kill them!
You hurt?
- Was it me? - Yes.
Too bad it won't scar.
We have a cover.
Yes.
We're ready.
Yes, Lord Shathrax. Little Silver keep.
Red.
Grayson.
You haev been instrumental in the events that will change Karkoth forever.
Your deeds will be legendary.
Your name will live on, for as long as the land is a wilderness,
where the land will be ruled, same as the devout. (???)
Welcome to the Shadowfell.
Indulge in your darkest secrets
without fear of reprisal or judgement.
The construction ceremony starts at midnight.
Father! Father!
Father!
Father! Dad!
Father!
- Grayson. - Yes
It's me. I'm here.
- My son. - My son?
Shathrax told me to check on the prisoner
and I find this wretch, calling you his son!
Grayson, how does this Shadar-Kai abomination know you?
What I know about him would curl your toes, old man.
Akordia.
I can explain.
What have you done?
- What has happened to my son? - Come on, father! We must go!
I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what's going on here.
I've betrayed every oath.
I've murdered, and denied an enemy mercy.
I've seen horrors, father.
So I'll not hesitate to drag you out of here if I must!
Judge me if you want, but I'll not fail to save you now.
I'll go with you,
but not because you command me as you would a slave.
Out the window.
Father, go! Out the window!
Grayson, you must destroy me.
Shathrax is re-assembling The Book of Vile Darkness.
He's retrieved the pages
and intends to extract liquid pain from my body
for use as ink.
- Once they have the cover... - They...
have the cover.
They have?
Grayson. No.
It was the only way I could get here to save you.
Save me?
At what price?
Hurry up! Kick it down!
You say that you've sinned, you've committed terrible crimes.
What is one more?
What about remaining the beacon of hope?
That light has gone out with you, Grayson.
Think of the pain. For me.
For all the people of Karkoth.
If you do not kill me,
Then I will do it myself, if I must.
Strike, now!
Before it's too late!
Every shameful act I committed in the name of a greater good...
only brought me closer to this moment
where I must destroy what I love most.
I've become a beast.
No better than the ones outside this door.
No, father. I won't kill you.
Let's fight. Fight with me!
To the death if we must!
Even if we're captured and the book is created,
as long as one light burns in the darkness, they will never be victorious!
Come, then, if you dare! I'm Grayson Azriel!
Dragon slayer and blackheart!
Look!
Father...
It's the man that grants power to the amulet.
Not the other way around.
Your son was worth a hundred of you.
I tried to warn you, but you didn't listen.
My way is the only way to to survive in this world.
I'd have been a better father to you than this useless fool.
Prepare him for extraction!
All along, It was him you wanted.
First true Knight of the New Sun in 800 years.
His liquid pain will be used to pen the new Book of Vile Darkness.
You used me from the start.
Lied, gambled with my life, all to get him...
- Here. - Correct.
Take comfort...
knowing there is no punishment you can inflict on the boy
more excrutiating than that which waits for him.
Today we usher in an era of Darkness
But what some call darkness
I name, the Ascendancy Of The Mighty.
The gutters will run red with the blood of those
too weak or cowardly to defend themselves.
Someone will stop you!
Even if it takes a thousand years!
A new order will arise.
Excellent.
Even now you don't believe that all your choices
conduce to my ends.
Extract the liquid pain before truth sets in
and the purity of his heart is tainted by despair.
And I sayeth, let there be darkness.
More.
My boy.
Come with me to Gloomwrought, Grayson.
We'll cram our victory over Shathrax down their throats.
Make them choke on our legend.
And then what?
More of the same.
A life worth living.
I can't.
I must continue my duties as a Knight of the New Sun.
How boring.
Maybe.
And if our paths should cross again,
would you try and kill me?
In self-defense.
I can't promise anything.
Farewell.