===== Chapter 2 - The Destruction of R’Lyeh =====
While the first battles of the Period of Destruction were raging on the continent, other events – more quiet but no less dangerous - took place much closer to Derimir. Travellers from the island of Rekel brought disturbing news of dire happenings in R’Lyeh. The city of R’Lyeh had once before been caught in a time loop, the inhabitants appearing as little more than ghosts to any who visited the place. And now it seemed they were fading again.

Despite the continuing battles with the empire, a small group, led by Archmage Vindir Peivrian embarked for Rekel to investigate the situation. When they arrived in R’Lyeh they found the inhabitants already faded to varying degrees, some were still almost normal, some others barely discernible and unable to interact with anyone from outside. Suspecting another case of temporal magic to be the cause of the problems, Archmage Vindir conducted several tests, but it was not until Lady Gaidin arrived that they were able to discern the clerical nature of the spells that were the cause of the process. Together they determined that someone was leeching the live energies of the people of R’Lyeh, drawing them off to feed some hideous purpose.

Lady Gaidin and Master Peivrian were then able to track the ritual to its source, a secret underground complex near the city. As they came near the complex they encountered heavy resistance by clerics, and mages wearing the symbol of Dural, making clear the dark force behind the plot.

Deeper and deeper they advanced into the complex until they finally entered a ritual chamber, the centre of which was dominated by an altar on the surface of which lay a crystal of pure blackness. Incorporeal spirits were flitting about the room, some trying to get away, but inexorably drawn into the crystal.

On the far side of the room stood a bald man in robes proclaiming him a high ranking seeker of Dural, awaiting the party. He told them that the ritual was already completed and that he would use the energies of the people of R’Lyeh to become a god in service of his Lord Dural.

As Master Peivrian and his comrades prepared for battle, they received some unexpected help: Marcus of R’Lyeh appeared, he whom no one had seen since the destruction of his tower in Cerea. Though himself a lich, Marcus was nonetheless the rightful ruler of the city of R’Lyeh and it seemed he still felt some responsibility for his subjects. Together they brought battle to the fanatic cleric and wove mighty magics but it seemed that nothing they did could hurt him. Too far had the evil ritual already progressed.

Then, just as Master Peivrian sank to a ground with a mortal wound and Lady Gaidin was flung back into a wall with bone crushing force, Marcus made a dash for the altar, reached for the black crystal and crushed it with his bare hands.

The effect was immediate: Without the crystal as a focus, the cleric’s body was not able to contain the energy of so many souls. He gave a terrible scream and then his own soul tore free of his body, joining the maelstrom of souls racing around in the room. In those moments more than one of the company of Master Peivrian went mad and not all of them made a recovery.

The souls however were not able to escape the ritual chamber. The ritual was not ended with the destruction of its focus. Faster and faster the maelstrom of souls continued to swirl, until all at once they changed their direction and went straight for the figure of Marcus, perhaps sensing the presence of their rightful ruler. From one second to the next, the room lay in silence, only broken by the moaning of the wounded and the faint gibbering of the mad.

Marcus stood in front of the altar, the fragments of the crystal still in his hands. He slowly turned around and surveyed the scene in front of him. He opened his mouth and said only three words: “This is… unexpected.” Then he vanished. After he had gone Lady Gaidin did her best to tend to the wounded and they made their way back to the surface. They found the city of R’Lyeh once again devoid of people with only a few scattered spectres roaming the eerie streets.

From what we know today, we can be quite certain what happened that day: By absorbing the souls of a whole city in addition to that of a high ranking seeker of Dural, Marcus of R’Lyeh became the god we know him to be today.