Dungeons and Dragons
The Die Master
Prologue
Far back in the distant past, perhaps thousands or ten of thousands of years ago, there were seven great wizards from seven different worlds. Each one possessed a rare and magical artifact, a polyhedral crystal. Each crystal possessed a different power. A 4-sided crystal enhanced the caster's attack power. A 6-sided one paralyzed the caster's foe. An 8-sided one weakened the enemy. A 10-sided one blinded the foe. Another 10-sided one built up the caster's defense. A 12-sided one reflected attacks. A 20-sided one drained the energy and strength of the victim and gave it all to the caster. All seven dice added together to form the number of the universe, The Decca-Seven. The seven wizards met to determine which of them was the most powerful in the multiverse. To determine thus, they decided to combine their powers to do something thought by all to be impossible.
They created a new world.
A breathtaking world that became known as the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons. It was a flat surface which rested on four massive columns that floated in space, with three moving Suns high above it. Various creatures were placed upon it to either hinder or help the seven great wizards. Powerful foes and creatures were created as well as obstacles, as well as powerful items as prizes. The orcs, beholders, dragons, wizards, warlocks, Cloud-Bears, gnomes, bog-beasts, elves, and other monsters and beings of this world were mere fabrications of these seven powerful beings. Even the great sorceress Zandora, the Ultimate Dragon Tiamet, and the Force of Evil known as Venger were created by these seven wizards.
This entire world was merely a game-field for these wizards to battle each other. And, to ensure fairness, a being who new of all the rules to this game was created as well. He was given to title of Dungeon Master.
And so, when all was in place, when all the created beings were up and running, when all the challenges were set, Dungeon Master gave the signal to start.
The "Game" went on for a century. Many of the creatures in the realm were destroyed in the process. They were either slain as obstacle monsters, killed for their gold or items, defeated as a strong opposing force, or died honorably in battle in one of the seven armies the seven wizards had raised. Eventually, the game came to an end, and, as in all games, only one was victorious. High above the rest, Mallacar stood tall.
As Dungeon Master appeared to congratulate the winner, he received instead a terrible shock. The great wizard Mallacar had, in fact, cheated, for he possessed three more 20-sided crystals. These crystals possessed even more power than the others, for they held the power of instant death, rebirth, and possession. Intoxicated with the thrill of victory, Mallacar struck out and betrayed his six opponents. Slaying them all with his power, he stripped them of their six crystals and claimed all seven, plus his other three, for his own. Declaring himself the ultimate being of the Realm of Dungeon and Dragons, he used the magic of the crystals to recreate the Realm and it's fabricated life forms. Once all was reborn, he formed a floating castle high above the Realm, and seated himself in it.
Within his castle, Mallacar made a scale model of "his" new world, complete with all the creatures, beings, civilizations, and landforms which moved, changed, and acted in sync with the actual Realm down below. From his castle, Mallacar could take control of one fabrication and use it to explore, rebuild, conquer, destroy, or merely create chaos in any part of the realm he wished. However, none who he took control over was ever the same again, as seen in the Force of Evil that was once the son of Zandora and Dungeon Master, but is now Venger thanks to Mallacar's influence.
At one time, Mallacar had sent his influence to various worlds. He gave certain beings the inspiration to make games that mirrored and glorified his total control of the events of the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons. One world that most greatly took to this magical inspiration was Earth. Two humans, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, were the most affected by this influence. So much so, that they were able to accurately recreate Mallacar's world up to the slightest detail. When he had saw how strong the influence had become in the world where the planet Earth resides, Mallacar decided to also open various portals Earth and "his" Realm, hoping that some skillful opponents, humans that had mastered this game, would come across one of them and come there to give him a challenge to spare him from his growing boredom.
Mallacar was correct.
"Dungeon Master!"
The being of short stature and great power appeared before Mallacar within the castle.
The wizard looked down at the bearer of rules for the Realm. Mallacar wore a simple red robe, however, various runes were embroidered in gold on the hem of the robe, the sleeves, and the collar. He wore matching red gloves, which had a red, pulsating gemstone in the palms that bore a special power. Orbiting mystically around his waist at all times were the seven crystals, while around his neck on a silver chain, hung his three powerful 20-sided crystals. Mallacar had a large gray mustache that complimented his menacing face and smile. His eyes were a color that was a mixture of crimson red and gold. He had a red cap that covered his black hair.
Mallacar then turned to his model of the world below him. He smiled when he saw the holographic images of six children that had appeared in a wide ravine.
"Finally, I have some opponents. However, they'll need some training before they can pose an actual challenge for me. Dungeon Master, under the guise of locating a way for them, you will send them on various missions, to test them, to change them, to help them gain experience. I will send monsters and other foes to attack them as well. Of course you'll give them magic weapons so they'll stand a fair chance. Hopefully, they'll get as strong as I want them to become."
"When will you release Venger," Dungeon Master said, his arms folded and his face serious.
Mallacar growled and said, "I am not finished with him yet. I require him to be the main adversary of these new players. But just to show you that I'm not completely cruel, I'll tell you what I'll do. During one of their adventures, I'll guide them so that they may come across Zandora's Box, and then you'll be free to to get them to free her for you."
Dungeon Master raised an eyebrow for a second, and then said, "I will never understand why you cheated and betrayed your six friends."
"They were not my friends you fool! They were my rivals! My opponents! My enemies!" Mallacar roared in Dungeon Master's face, "Now, do as I say, or else. . ."
Mallacar turned to his board and walked over to an area where a group of unicorns were. He pointed to the ground, and a portal appeared, sucking in a small unicorn. Mallacar then pointed to an area near the far end of the ravine the children had appeared in, and the portal reappeared, throwing out the unicorn. Nearby, was the Ultimate Dragon himself, Tiamet. The Five Headed Dragon immediately began chasing the unicorn, who immediately began running toward the group of children.
"Yes. . .lead Tiamet right to them!" Mallacar said wickedly.
Dungeon Master's eyes widened, and he immediately disappeared to help the children.
Mallacar laughed loudly, his dark, strong, and cruel voice echoing throughout his castle. He then sat back and watched the holograms on his model of the realm. Taking his eye off of the action, he looked towards one of Venger's castles throughout the realm.
"I suppose I should have them get acquainted right away," Mallacar said, and by giving the thought command, Venger rode on his Nightmare Horse to the area. However, to Mallacar's dismay, Venger immediately attacked when he saw the magic weapons, and his blast was deflected by the Cavalier's Griffon Shield, right at Tiamet's center head.
"Fool!" Mallacar spat as he saw Venger being chased away by Tiamet. Mallacar then looked down to see Dungeon Master conversing with the children.
"No matter," Mallacar said, calming down, "There will be other opportunities for Venger to test the skills of these young ones. Besides, they just got here, they need more time to gain experience points and increase in skill level, so now is not the time for a fight. But, these six newcomers must be ready for battle soon, because danger abounds in my Realm of Dungeons and Dragons!"