Korax, the Tainted One

According to astromancers of our time, the fall of the second Serpent Rider took place approximately one millenium after the fall of D'Sparil. No one truly knows how many realms that Korax, the second most powerful rider, had subdued before he reached Cronos, but it is known that there are still many realms out there held under the sway of his vile minions.

Perhaps the most corrupt of the three Riders, Korax was truly an infected fiend. His body, corrupted by ages of using the mysterious Chaos Sphere, was a grotesque manifestation of everyone's darkest fears. His mind, corrupted many eons before his body, held ideals and motivations beyond even immortal understanding.

The history of Cronos prior to Korax's arrival is a foggy one. Most of the records were lost during the invasion, and those that did survive the aweful coming were lost during the years after. What is known, however, is this. Cronos was a realm controled by strict order. Three institutions: the Legion, the Arcanum, and the Church equally held sway over the people of the land. Law was upheld with an iron fist, magic was controlled with an iron will, and the spirit was contained within an iron soul. The land was whole and nearly unstoppable. Nearly.

Korax struck silently, subverting the three leaders of Cronos with dark promises of unlife. Everything seemed normal at first, until the very earth began to reflect the taint of the Serpent Rider and his mind warping Chaos Sphere.

Three heroes, each representing the last vestiges of their floundering institutions, made a vow to cure their realm from the disease. Baratus of the Legion, Parias of the Church, and Daedolon of the Arcanum made their way to the heart of the dark taint. They made their way to the swirling madness that was the portal into the realm of Korax, the bestial Serpent Rider that held their home in his grasp.

Bracing themselves for what was to come, the three companions stepped into the portal . . . and were thrown into Chaos itself.

Korax knew of their plans against him, and he had prepared. He also knew that these last three 'pure' humans were the only ones who could threaten his power. Using the corrupt powers of the Chaos Sphere, Korax scattered the three back across their own land, as far away from his own realm as possible.

When they emerged, the three heroes found themselves separated from each other. And so, setting out to do alone what they had intended to do together, Baratus, Parias, and Daedolon began the long journey back to Korax's domain.

The trek was long and difficult, and the road was fraught with dangers beyond imagination. Dark and vile beasts that could have only come from the insane depths of the Chaos Sphere met with each of the heroes along their way. Unbeknownst to each other, the three fought hard and survived, each thinking that he was the last hope of Cronos. They were not far from the truth.

The three finally met up again at the gates to Korax's domain. Once again, the three braced themselves for the fight to come.

They stepped through unharmed this time, and found themselves face to face with the most hideous creation in the entire universe. Korax, a blackened beast standing over thirty hands high, smiled the most wicked smile they had ever seen, and then reality collapsed in on itself.

The battle was fast and furious, and the three fought as they had never fought before. Korax seemed to be able to control the very walls with his dark power, and the heroes found themselves dodging slabs of stone that had suddenly burst into an ethereal flame. The floor gave way beneath them many times, transforming into a pit of molten rock, yet each managed to make it to safety with the help of another.

Soon, Korax shuddered and collapsed. His chitinous body broke open, and the tortured souls of those he had gifted with unlife were set free to their own damnation. Cronos was finally cured.

Exhausted, the three companions barely noticed that yet another portal had opened in front of them. Taking one last breath and gripping their weapons, Baratus, Parias, and Daedolon stepped into the ethereal gateway . . .