Gostwyld The Eternal King

Gostwyld, the Zenith of Death, is a complex and enigmatic figure, pivotal to the lore of Veltara. Once a being of true neutrality, Gostwyld was known for his calm and stoic demeanor. However, underneath this composed exterior lies a passionate and explosive wrath, which is unleashed when he is angered. Gostwyld's appearance is both haunting and striking. His pearlescent irises, a common trait among Zenithians, are set against black sclera, making his gaze seem otherworldly. His skin is pale and flawless, contrasting starkly with his stark white hair. Gostwyld possesses a conventionally attractive face, characterized by low arched brows and a sharp, diamond-shaped face.
Clad in a regal suit of stygian plate armor, Gostwyld wields a large ebon blade known as Last Breath. This menacing weapon is a symbol of his deathly power, as is the crown that sits atop his head.
Tragedy turned Gostwyld from true neutrality to vengeance when his beloved wife Lilliana and their twin children, Lilith and Kassius, were brutally murdered. This sorrowful and painful event reshaped his ambitions and goals, igniting within him a burning desire for vengeance against those who betrayed him and the Elder Gods who allowed it to happen.
In his quest for revenge, Gostwyld unleashed the Ashen Rot upon the world, a curse of undeath that not only consumes mortal souls but also blights the land and wildlife. As he watches the world suffer, Gostwyld remains a sorrowful, pragmatic figure, haunted by the memories of his family and the life he once knew.

The Last Zenith

The sun hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the castle and keep of Duskmourn, as the mortal armies led by King Levi approached its gates. The air was thick with tension as Gostwyld, the Zenith of Death, and his beloved wife, Lilliana, prepared to surrender peacefully. They believed that their children and loyal servants would be spared if they submitted to the mortal king's will. As Gostwyld and Lilliana stepped out of the castle, their hands raised in surrender, King Levi assured them that their children and followers would be spared. With heavy hearts, the two Zeniths embraced each other, knowing that their time together was coming to an end. As they held each other close, Gostwyld drove his ebon blade, Last Breath, through both of their hearts, an act of love and mercy to spare them from the mortal king's wrath.
King Levi, believing the two Zeniths to be dead, gave the order to sack the castle. His troops stormed the halls, killing every man, woman, and child they encountered. Amidst the chaos, Gostwyld's twin children, Lilith and Kassius, were captured and dragged from their home.
With a cruel smile, King Levi ordered the execution of the children. They were dragged to the edge of the courtyard and thrown from the cliffs, their terrified cries echoing through the air. The sound of his children's screams pulled Gostwyld back from the brink of death, his heart swelling with anguish and rage.
Awakening too late to save his children and his people, Gostwyld's devastation was unleashed upon the intruders. With boundless leaps, he tore through the mortal ranks, striking with not just purpose but unbridled anger. Gostwyld butchered more than two-thirds of the invaders before succumbing to his multiple mortal wounds.
As he drew his last breath, Gostwyld unleashed the Ashen Rot upon his home, a curse that would spread like wildfire throughout the decades until his fateful return. The once-peaceful keep of Duskmourn now stood as a testament to the terrible price of betrayal and the devastating power of a father's vengeance.

Death's Return

After centuries of slumber, Gostwyld's power had grown immeasurably. In his deathless sleep, he had gathered the strength necessary to command legions of undead and Risen, ready to exact his revenge upon the world that had betrayed him. As Gostwyld awoke, his wrath was palpable, and his legions of undead stirred from their eternal rest. The first among the living to kneel before him were the human lords who sought power and immortality. Gostwyld granted their wish, blessing them with the gift of unlife and transforming them into the first vampires. These newly created creatures would serve as his loyal vassals, spreading his influence and terror throughout the mortal kingdoms.
Gostwyld did not forget the loyal servants who had been brutally slaughtered during the sacking of Duskmourn. With a wave of his hand, he raised them from their graves, bestowing upon them the dark power of undeath. They arose as Death Knights, revenants, and other horrifying creatures, filled with an insatiable desire for vengeance against those who had wronged them.
Now, with an unstoppable army at his command, Gostwyld turned his gaze towards the mortal kingdoms that had betrayed him so long ago. His return marked the beginning of a new era of darkness and terror, as the undead legions marched upon the world, leaving death and destruction in their wake.
As the mortal races quaked in fear, they could not deny the terrible truth that Gostwyld, the Zenith of Death, had returned, and his vengeance would be swift and merciless.

Siege of Numena

Gostwyld's plan was as ingenious as it was brutal. As the Zenith of Death, he had once called the divine city of Numena his home, and he knew all of its defenses and weaknesses. With cold calculation and military brilliance, Gostwyld besieged the city, sending his unending swarm of undead to assault the strongest locations within Numena. His true goal, however, lay beneath the city itself: the River of Souls, the very source of power for the God Flame. Using this celestial fuel to his advantage, Gostwyld sought not to kill the Elder Gods, but to make them suffer as he had suffered.
Gostwyld reached the heart of Numena, the chamber of the God Flame, and struck it with all his might. The Flame roared in a blinding flash of light, and the walls of Numena shook to their very foundations. As the God Flame bled its fire upon Veltara, its power shattered into shards of living flame, scattering across the world. The Elder Gods, caught in the explosion, weakened and fell into a deep slumber known as God Sleep.
As Gostwyld prepared to destroy the God Flame for good, he noticed something truly horrific. Hidden beneath the great flame, he saw the ashen remains of billions of departed mortal souls, nothing more than hollow husks of their former selves. These hollow souls had been used and discarded by the God Flame, fueling its eternal hunger.
In this moment, Gostwyld took pity on these lost souls. Instead of destroying the God Flame, he ignited his own soul and diverted the Hollow souls to a new realm of Oblivion. This realm of undeath would serve as a sanctuary from the God Flame, a place where Gostwyld could offer solace and protection to those abandoned by the gods.
Soltharion, the only Elder God still conscious within Numena, lay defeated before Gostwyld's masterstroke. Abaddon was still in Hell, unable to witness the extent of his brother's failure. With a baleful smile, Gostwyld mocked the defeated Soltharion, swearing that he would watch from the shadows as his once-great empire crumbled to dust and the now-silent city drove him mad with grief.
And so, the Age of Godfall began, with Gostwyld's vengeance complete and the world forever changed.

The Ashen Rot - A Curse of Necrosis and Darkness

The Ashen Rot is a terrifying and insidious curse that plagues the world of Veltara, a manifestation of Gostwyld's wrath and sorrow unleashed upon his death. A deadly affliction, it consumes the living, twists the land, and raises the dead, spreading its dark influence like an unstoppable blight.
Those unfortunate enough to fall prey to the Ashen Rot suffer a slow and agonizing descent into death. Their veins turn black, their flesh pales, and their minds are consumed by a ravenous hunger for life. In their final moments, they become monstrous abominations, driven by the sole purpose of spreading the Rot further. Wherever they roam, death and decay follow, as the very essence of the curse seeps into the soil, corrupting the land and twisting the natural order.
As the Ashen Rot corrupts the living, it also raises the long dead from their eternal slumber. Skeletons, zombies, and other undead horrors rise from their graves, driven by a desire to spread the blight further, killing wildlife and vegetation in their path. These undead minions serve as harbingers of the curse, heralding the doom that awaits those who succumb to the Ashen Rot.
In some instances, the corruption caused by the Ashen Rot can reach a critical level, darkening the skies and transforming the land into a twisted reflection of Oblivion. This phenomenon was witnessed in the Kingdom of Mirtistrav, where the curse's influence became so great that it plunged the kingdom into eternal darkness. The sun no longer shines upon Mirtistrav, and its once lush landscapes have become barren, lifeless wastes.
The Ashen Rot is a testament to Gostwyld's fury and the devastating power of his curse. It is an ever-present threat to the world of Veltara, a reminder of the consequences of betrayal and the darkness that can consume even the brightest of lights. As the Ashen Rot spreads and the shadows grow, the world is left to wonder if there is any hope of overcoming this terrible blight, or if they are destined to fall beneath the weight of Gostwyld's vengeance.

The Pallid Knights - Gostwyld's Elite Undead Champions

In the realm of Oblivion, Gostwyld commands a formidable army of undead, among which the Pallid Knights stand as his most trusted and fearsome champions. These elite warriors, once loyal servants of Gostwyld who perished during the fall of Duskmourn, have been granted the gift of unlife and imbued with immense power, becoming unstoppable forces of darkness in the service of their vengeful lord.
The Pallid Knights are clad in bone plate armor, their once mortal forms now twisted and reshaped into horrifying visages of death. Their skeletal steeds, emanating an aura of darkness and decay, charge fearlessly into battle, trampling any who dare stand against Gostwyld's will. These relentless warriors are the embodiment of their master's wrath, striking terror into the hearts of their enemies as they unleash the fury of the Ashen Rot upon the world.
Each Pallid Knight is a master of both martial prowess and necromantic arts, wielding powerful weapons and dark magic with equal skill. They are relentless in their pursuit of Gostwyld's enemies, leaving only death and destruction in their wake. Their presence on the battlefield is a harbinger of doom, signaling that Gostwyld himself has taken a direct interest in the unfolding events and that his vengeance is close at hand.
Gostwyld's trust in the Pallid Knights is absolute, and he often tasks them with the most critical and dangerous missions. As his personal envoys, they are charged with carrying out his will, enforcing his commands, and ensuring that none can escape the reach of his dark influence. In the world of Veltara, the Pallid Knights are dreaded symbols of Gostwyld's power and a constant reminder of the terrible fate that awaits those who defy him.
As the Age of Godfall unfolds and Gostwyld's influence continues to spread, the Pallid Knights remain at the forefront of his army, leading the charge against the forces of light and the remnants of the once mighty Elder Gods. With each victory, their legend grows, and the world trembles before the unstoppable might of the Pallid Knights, the elite undead champions of Gostwyld, the Zenith of Death.