Malrik

Malrik's descent began when he discovered the Abyssal Plane, a dark, chaotic dimension beyond the natural order of Velmora. He stole fragments of its power and infused them into Abyssal Shards — physical crystals containing chaotic energy. He did not intend to destroy Velmora, but believed granting mortals access to this power would push them toward greatness. The corruption within the shards proved far more dangerous than even he had realized. The Abyssal Shards corrupted kings, scholars, and warriors across Velmora. In the Aetherion Empire, mages used them to enhance the Grand Nexus, contributing to the explosion that destroyed the empire. In the Velmorn Kingdom, nobles seeking eternal life used the shards for forbidden rituals that cursed them into undeath. The shards also created monstrous abominations — humanoids and beasts warped by chaotic energy. The gods combined their powers to seal Malrik away in a prison tied to the Veil itself, but the Abyssal Shards remained scattered throughout Velmora. His cultists, the Children of the Abyss, continue gathering shards, believing they can break the seal. The Eclipse Prophecy foretells that when the Three Black Suns align, the barriers imprisoning Malrik will weaken, giving him the chance to return. Malrik's original intent was to help mortals evolve through ambition and change, but his obsession with the Abyssal Plane convinced him that chaos was the ultimate source of progress. As the gods distanced themselves from him, he grew isolated, seeking ever darker sources of power.