As the dead priest's blood spilled onto the stone, the very ground itself seemed to come alive. Something in the air was stirring, as though the forgotten land was waking up from a deep slumber. As Forinthry began to escape its comatose, the ground beneath the ritual site began to rumble and shudder with increasing severity until, with a loud cracking sound like the snapping of bones, the earth split at the four points around the plinth. From under the rock rose four, large pillars of dark stone, ascending upwards until they reached a peak of about seven feet. 

The cloaked figure's eyes widened beneath his cowl at the sight before him - yet, as miraculous as it was, this was not the time for hesitation. Raising his knife above his head, the man began to chant in a language that was thick and foul to the ear; inhuman sounds that seemed to call upon the bowels of Hell with every syllable. As he spoke, crackling purple energy began to manifest atop each of the pillars, with a similar aura encapsulating the blade into which he channelled his power. His words came thicker and faster, marching towards a climax as the energy around him began to intensify. When the moment was right, he brought the dagger downwards with immense force, slamming it into the chest of Badden's corpse. [i]"Lord Raazik, arise!"[/i]

There was a blinding explosion of power as the holyman's body burst outwards, organs and shattered bone flying in all directions. When the light had cleared, the thickest and most impenetrable of smokes remained, impairing the man's vision to the point he could not see more than a few centimetres before him. However, he could sense he was not alone. There was a great electricity in the air; an undeniable presence of power - and, as the smoke began to clear, his assumptions were confirmed. There, before him amidst the fog, was a definite silhouette. Tall, dark… horned. Instantly, the man dropped to the ground. "Hail to the Faceless One!", he cried out, bowing at the feet of the new arrival. There was a long and gut-wrenching silence: Raazik was not known for his kindness. There he stood, as still as he was silent. His features were still not clear amongst the smoke, however he was seen to raise his arms and stretch mightily, every bone in his body seeming to crack as he did so. Eventually, he spoke.

"Rise, Daeyal." his deep voice hissed, seeming to echo and bounce on the air. Daeyal obeyed. "You have done well. Your contribution to our cause has been recognised. You will be rewarded."

"Oh, thank you, Lord Raazik! Thank yo--"

"Silence. We have business to attend to." the Faceless Mahjarrat interrupted, his voice colder than the winds that once again howled violently. Before Daeyal could contest, the pair were enveloped in a bright purple light. Daeyal's stomach churned as he felt himself be whisked off his feet. He could see nothing but purple all around him, but his other senses were on fire: his nose was invaded by a stench more vile than he could ever have imagined, his ears rang with a thousand voices all speaking the same foul tongue, his skin burned as though he had been plunged into the depths of a Karamjan volcano. And then, as quickly as it had began, it ended.

Looking around, he found himself in a different place entirely. Granted, they were definitely still within the barren planes of the wilderness - however, this particular spot was much deeper into the forbidden land. In fact, Daeyal was certain he could hear the angry waves crashing against the rocky shores not too far away. Raazik sighed loudly. Now that they had left the haze, Daeyal could see the Faceless Lord with clarity. He was bound in teal robes, shining silver armour protecting his extremities. Of course, his most notable feature was the large, horned mask, which concealed his entire face. It was rumoured that not even Raazik himself could remember his original form - the most potent shapeshifter to ever walk Gielinor, he was infamous for his deceptive skill. Nervously, Daeyal cleared his throat. "S-something wrong, my Lord?" he asked, gulping in anticipation.

"You…" Raazik snarled. "You call yourself a Zarosian? Ha! You are oblivious to the importance of this land." he growled, clearly angered by Daeyal's ignorance. "This… This is the resting place of Ghorrock." he explained, a hint of remorse in his voice as he surveyed the ruined wasteland. Daeyal wondered who Ghorrock was. Perhaps he was some ancient warrior of the Empty One. The significance of the name escaped him. Raazik scowled beneath his mask, his telepathic abilities giving him insight into his subject's curiosity. "FOOL!" he roared with such force that Daeyal was knocked backwards, landing on the black earth. Fortunately, Raazik's rage soon seemed to subside as his pent up frustration was channelled towards another target in his mind. "This is not the fault of our people. Saradomin and the Pretender are responsible for the erasure of our legacy." Despite his masked face, Raazik looked furious. "This world has much to learn of the Empty Lord and His power. Come, let us go inside."

As Daeyal looked around once more, he confirmed that there was not a single building insight. Where on earth did the Faceless One intend they enter? He was not awarded much time to be confused. Raazik stepped forward, raising both arms in the air. He stood for a moment in total silence, not uttering a single word. Daeyal watched intently, until he heard a familiar disturbance beneath his feet. Much like at the ritual site, something was tunnelling its way to the surface; he could feel the intensifying vibrations in his bones. Whatever it was, it was much larger than the pillars from before… It felt as though a thunderous earthquake was tearing through the wilderness, everything in the surrounding area shook violently with the increasing force. The ground began to sink, forming a large crater that split and cracked as it caved away on itself and, from the depths - to Daeyal's amazement - rose a grand, towering fortress. As it ascended, the charred dust of the earth it had erupted from ran down its walls, settling gently as the entire world seemed to fall silent once more. 

Satisfied with his work, Raazik approached the huge doors of the castle, which swung open of their own accord as he grew close. Daeyal followed.