Emperor of Evil and Terror

Let's be honest; You've all got one.
The one 'Big bad' you just absolutely love to blame everything on. The one responsible for all that's wrong in the world. The one that, if they didn't exist, everything would be right and perfect.
Mine's been around Vertinall for ages. And their name is the Emperor of Evil and Terror.

Who are they and why should I care

Ruling over the Super Evil Castle place in the south, The Emperor of Evil and Terror (Who I will now be calling EOAT because that's a pain to write out all the time) is said to be responsible for all the evil creatures of the world. If it lurks in the night, its totally their fault- blame 'em.
The story surrounding the creation of these monsters is completely unknown, but someone could've sworn they saw them coming from down there, so the stories must be true.
They are completely evil. They kill babies and parrots because they want to. All kinds of messed up stuff. You do not want to encounter this person- monster, ever.

That's rubbish, I want answers

You aren't the only one.
A number of folks from across the world weren't really happy with not knowing why this EOAT was such a pain in the arse, so like civil folk they decided that someone should go ask. You'd be amazed to find out that nobody really shot up to volunteer for this.
Except this one person.

Meridel Findanzers

by TheDumbOwl (Me)

Press junkie. Loves poking into other people's business.

From a young age Meridel was constantly asking other people questions. Questions about their personal lives, the choices they make, why they made them, and was generally a nuisance to just about anybody she got in front of.
She dreamed of becoming a journalist growing up, but when you're in a place as dull as Vertinall, you need something big if you want to get noticed.
This seemed like enough.

A journey begins

Meridel wasn't one to wait for approval or permission to go and bug someone, so like the complete badass she is, she packed her stuff and began her trek down to the castle.
No hired help. No armed forces. Just a pen, paper and a boatload of questions were all that stood between her and the forces of Evil.
Her journey started in Riverbum, a town located in 'Something??' (See The Great Map of Vertinall) where the river splits in two. From there she walked, and then walked some more.
She got some really weird looks that day when she crossed the border into the Land of Evil, looking more prepared for brunch than facing off one of the most terrifying legends in all the land. But her face looked ready for just about anything.

Facing off big bads with bigger doors

To Meridel's amazement she didn't encounter any kind of resistance during her Journey to the castle. The only forces she ever came into contact with was a few fairly nasty gusts of wind.
It was a hell of a distance, so she would camp out towards the end of each day. And again; No resistance. The nights were actually quite pleasant, and calm.
Where were these 'Demons' that never sleep, and make items of clothing out of your insides? The further she got the more questions it raised.
I mean just YOU try to imagine that the equivalent of hell exists and is a place that is on the planet that you could go to, and when you finally show up the only thing that's menacing is the weather.
Frankly it made the whole thing a seem a bit crap.
A few nights of this went by before she made it to the castle. Now THIS was more what she was expecting. Massive towers, big spikes coming out of everything. Charred stone walls. Lava moat. The whole nine yards. Not to mention the giant ass door.
She walked up and gave a good few fuds on it.
And then they opened.

by TheDumbOwl (Me)

Good lord they're bloody massive. The doors kind of make sense now.
For the rest of this, I'm gonna do something a bit interesting. How about we go and see what happened?
That's rhetorical, by the way. We're seeing it. You don't have any choice.

Q&A With the Emperor (Of Evil and Terror)

WHO DARES ATTEMPT TO SIEGE MY CASTLE?
Greetings! Meridel Findanszers; I'm an Independent Journalist and I've come to ask some questions. Are you the Emperor of Evil and Terror?
OH, THAT'S ME. COME IN. LEAVE YOUR SHOES BY THE DOOR.
I'm- What?
SORRY, I'VE HAD SOME NEW CARPETS FITTED AND I DON'T WANT TO TREAD ANY MUD IN.
... Okay.

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(INSIDE THE CASTLE)
WOULD YOU LIKE A CUP OF TEA?
.. I'm fine, thanks.
I'LL LEAVE THE POT OUT IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.
If you don't mind I'd like to start with the questions.
OF COURSE, SILLY ME. GO ON.
Who are you?
I AM THE EMPEROR OF EVIL AND TERROR. YOU CAN CALL ME EMPY. ALL THE OTHER DEMONS DO.
Okay... Empy: What is your take on the stories surrounding yourself? You're said to be the most evil, violent being this world has ever seen, responsible for all the wrong in the world.
ACTUALLY I JUST REALISED YOU MAY HAVE WANTED TEA BUT JUST NOT LIKED THE ONE I PICKED. I HAVE LOTS OF OTHER ONES IF YOU WANT TO LOOK. JUST STAY RIGHT THERE-
This really isn- He's already gone.

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Look, this is very kind of you but I'm fin-
OH NO, YOU'RE NOT A FAN OF TEA ARE YOU? I THINK I HAVE SOME COFFEE OR COCOA BUT I'LL NEED TO CHECK THE DATE-
... Look if you answer one question I'll just, get out of your hair.
OH GOSH, I'M SO SORRY. I FORGOT ABOUT THE QUESTIONS, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE RIGHT? PLEASE GO AHEAD.
Lets see... Why did you set so much evil on the world? All these creatures, demons.. What was the point of it all?
OH. I DIDN'T MAKE THOSE, THEY WERE HERE WHEN I CAME HERE.
Wait, so all the stories about you being the source of all evil... Is a lie?
YEP.
... Great. Uh- Thanks for your time.
VISIT ANY TIME YOU LIKE, DEAR. I'LL MAKE SURE TO GET A BIGGER SELECTION IN.

That's seriously it

Meridel hasn't become the big time Journalist she's always dreamed of, but she's got a hell of a sweet deal with a gossip magazine 'Tea Today' in exchange for more stories with their biggest fan, Empy.

by TheDumbOwl (Me)

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"So Empy there's one question the Tea Today readers are DYING to know: What is your favourite type of tea?"
"FOR ME? IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE CHAI TEA. A DELIGHTFUL SPICED DRINK TO PERK YOU UP ON THOSE BLUE DAYS. ALSO THE ONE I BUY TASTES A BIT LIKE GINGERBREAD. IT'S LIKE TEA AND CHRISTMAS ROLLED INTO ONE. PERFECT."

—Meridel, Extract from 'Tea Today'

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by TheDumbOwl (Me)

I HATE THAT EMPEROR GUY. I mean I've never met them, or seen them, or heard them, or know if they exist or not, but I definitely don't like them.

— Random passerby