Aetulla

Monolith Conan Equivalent : Warlock Tile

Movement : 2

Passive Defense : 2

Combat (Die / Reroll) :

Orange / Yes

Orange / No

Ranged Combat (Die / Reroll) :

-

Skills :

Spell Caster (Level 4)

Protected

Wounds : 7

Reinforcement Cost : -

The soldier had never seen such wealth, piled high in the tomb of a rotting king.  Surely no one would miss a simple gold coin or two ?  Fear and greed - or was it simply hope, hope for a better life ? - struggled for a brief moment and, almost inadvertently, the Stygian stretched out his hand.  When he snatched it back, guiltily, two perfect circles of gold gleamed in its palm.

The soldier felt the presence rather than heard it. He turned, with the slowness of one who feels impending doom and believes that he can still buy time.  The Master stood in the door frame.  Beneath his hood his eyes were invisible, yet they pierced the soldier's soul.

"I....I did not mean to.  I'll put them back.  It was foolish desire, I would not willingly betray Natohk".
"You will betray me.  I was the Veiled One, I am the Veiled One, and I will be the Veiled One.  I have no place in my army for those whose souls are clouded by human desire".

The soldier writhed in the grasp of destiny, emitted weak protest, but knew it was already too late.  It almost came as a relief when he felt his heart suddenly squeeze in his chest, the dim lights faded, the glitter of gold was swathed in darkness, and the man toppled lifeless, spilling unspoken treasure in his wake.

Aetulla's mouth sketched a rictus, which was neither or joy nor of displeasure; irony, perhaps.  This one had failed him in life, but death was not the end to servitude.  The sorceror uttered words of power, turned back into the corridor and pulled the door shut.  Behind him the corpse twitched, then rose to guard, for all eternity if need be, the treasure it had once thirsted to possess.
 

When the legendary Zamoran thief Shevatas inadvertently awakens Thugra Khotan, priest-king of Kuchthemes who poisened himself 3000 years ago, he who becomes Natohk, the Veiled One, raises the greatest of his ancient servitors from among the dead.

Aetulla was a sorceror among the Zhemri, the future founders of Zamora. Not even the dark magic of the ancient spider-god Zath could sate him.  He travelled to Kuchtemes in the great desert to the south-east of Shem, where he perfected his knowledge of the black arts at Thugra Khotan's feet.

Following the same path as his master when Kuchtheme fell to the Hyborians circa -2950, Aetulla's body was hidden by his lieutenants and preserved throughout the ages by powerful spells.

Three millenia later, Aetulla walks abroad to do Natohk's bidding and lay the ground for the rising of a new Kuchtheme.  Their combined thirst for domination is so great, that not even the Stygian priest-kings of the present day dare to follow them, for fear of losing both their power and their souls.

Campaign History :

After failing to secure Icilia during his attack on her temple of Ibis, Aetulla pursued Nuala, Brude and Ethelglyth into the Kothian Desert. He fell into a trap at Ula Aethel, devoured by the serpent-demon Stthag, who drew from him the energy needed to escape her magical bonds.  Natohk thus loses a powerful servant...but is the necromancer truly dead, or has he found another master ?