The Defiling Ones

Magic is everywhere. It is intrinsically part of all things across the Realms whether or not one can see or feel it. For the Dewyn, those gifted with the ability to not only sense its presence but tap into it, magic is an incredibly powerful force. Through practise the Dewyn will learn to harness that power and use it according to however their gift manifests.

Some though, a thankfully rare few, learn that they can take it from the land around them, and even the living creatures themselves. They drain the essence from the ground upon which they stand, turning verdant grassland into barren plain. They siphon off the vitality of flora and fauna, growing stronger as they all weaken. Those drained become grey and deadened, bereft of colour and passion.

There have been few such Dewyn throughout the histories of the Realms. Those that have arisen are invariably monstrous tyrants who rule over kingdoms drained of colour and life, ruling over subjects who know only servitude in service of their radiant ruler. They do not question this state of being for it becomes normal to them, the vital spark of magic extinguished within them. They live and toil with the barest minimum of life to sustain them, knowing not passion nor freedom. Only service to a cruel and capricious God who shines like the sun, giving them a glimpse of splendour they themselves may never experience.

Such Dewyn, called the Defiling Ones, are only ever brought down by other Dewyn. Great armies of the gifted will march upon the kingdom of a Defiling One lest their corruption spread and they grow even more powerful. These conflicts will always see many lives lost and the Defiling One unleash power on a scale few have seen. They will take hold of their subjects minds and march them to face those who would do them harm and carelessly, cruelly, throw them at the enemy.

Ultimately, the Defiling One will be overthrown, though always at a great cost, a Pyrrhic victory at best. The Defiling One will be sentenced if they survived the battle, either stripped of their power, a Deadening as it is called, or executed. Occasionally though, a Defiling One will escape judgement, fleeing ahead of those seeking to end their tyranny. They disappear into forgotten places, plotting and scheming, eager to rebuild that which had been lost.

And unless stopped, they will rise again and the cycle will begin anew.