Many stories have been spun to frighten children and adult as the fearsome tales of the nightmarish creature known as Ghoukas spread across the myriad cultures of the world. Shadows that moved in the night, sounds carried on the wind, the odd and mysterious traces of animals crossing the lands…all attributed to the power of Ghoukas.

Deep in his hoary realm of dank ruins and darkened halls Ghoukas waited it was said, for the day the gates would open again, the day when he would burst free to reclaim the lands of dreams…to reclaim what he had lost.

Seated upon a vast obsidian throne the creature known as Ghoukas reached forth with a massive taloned hand. The bright yellow lights that emanated from where eyes should be, hidden under a billowing wrap, sliced through the gloom and landed upon the great cudgel that waited for blood to course along its form, for it hungered to taste pain and suffering again. A deep, echoing voice carried it through the shadowed chambers, [b][i]"Soon we shall feed both of our hungers...soon we shall walk the among the light again...soon"[/i][/b]

Slowly the grim lord stood, the great figure stretched, as it did so the hood fell back, exposing long, thick horns that pointed forward. The dark coloration blended from a deep crimson to the darkest black. One massive cloven hoofed foot touched the floor, as it did so wisps of smoke swirled around the hoof, the weight of the nightmare caused even the solid stone to groan as it protested the movements that proceeded across it’s surface. 

With a sudden swiftness that belied the size of the nightmare come to life, Ghoukas lifted his war club, as a great exhale of breath escaped him, filling the air with curls of smoke. Narrowing his eyes, Ghoukas began the long walk to the gates. A wicked smile crossed his lips, this time he would escape. Woe unto the Dreamers that had locked him away.

Gradually the footfalls slowed and finally ceased to echo around the ruined realm. The great Ghoukas stood a moment as the gleaming eyes studied the massively constructed gates that had held him for eons, time having slowed to a crawl as he only grew in hatred. The power that coursed through his veins, laced with that black hatred and the desire to avenge itself upon the eight worlds.

Ghoukas smiled cruelly, a wisp of smoke escaped his lips, it curled and blew away when he snorted. The vast club that the Lord of Nightmares gripped reached forward and tapped the mighty gates that held him. Eyes narrowing slightly he licked his lips, the blackened tongue, almost serpent like as it traced the outline of the twisted mouth.

His power slowly extending as the Nightmare That Lives realized the time was nigh on hand, he reached forward, his siren call of power flowing slowly through the grand gates and seeking his minions,[b][i] "Prepare for the Devourer of Worlds is coming."[/i][/b]

The swirling miasma that surrounded the form of Ghoukas writhed and lashed out as if a living thing, the tendrils of arcane power seemed to tremble with anticipation of the darkness that would soon spread across the worlds. The Nightmare Lord sniffed the chilled air of his tomb; the rancor that surrounded him had been his comfort for so long, once the first gust of air washed over him he would inhale as deeply as he had ever done so.

The taste of freedom washed down his mighty throat, fueling the rage and hatred that had grown and infused his very being. Ghoukas had waited for such a moment when he would be free to visit upon the worlds the black malevolence that coursed through his veins. A large clawed hand touched the hated gates, feeling the immeasurably cold metal that had been his bane. The great eyes flared and flashed, the azure light cast from them lit upon the barrier, slowly tracing the hewn edges, the battered frame where his might failed to batter the gate down. 

The weakening of the gates rushed through the dark form of Ghoukas, the intense spiraling of his barely contained rage flooded from him, washing over the landscape on the other side of the gate. Closing the great yellow eyes, Ghoukas allowed his power to reach out to his minions, embracing them, infusing them with an aspect of himself, a single thought hammered their minds, [b][i]“I AM RELEASED!”[/i][/b]

With the first steps through the gates, Ghoukas felt the static remnants of the power that once held him fast. The flash and spark of blue-white energy washed over his body, causing the darkly scaled skin to illuminate for an instant before being snuffed out by the unspeakable daemonic energy that reside within Ghoukas. The darkness that flowed from him was as a living creature, moving and engulfing all that was around, washing the world in a poisonous cloud of fear that only amplified the visual impact Ghoukas had upon the fragile minds of those who saw him, shattering their sanity as the living nightmare began his conquest of the worlds, seeking his vengeance upon them.

Ghoukas began to laugh, a chilling morbid laugh that carried on the winds flowing through the world that had imprisoned him.