Preludes & Nocturnes

[Marburg]

September, 1930

A schism brings chaos to the Order. Ruthven Sykes, second-in-command of the Order of Ancient Mysteries, disappears.

...In the company of the young and beautiful Ethel Cripps, the Magus's mistress.

They take with them many of the Order's treasures and over two hundred thousand pounds in cash.

Magical war is declared.

San Francisco, December, 1930

Ruthven Sykes makes a deal.

"I beg protection, Lord."

"Protectionss comes, dear mortal." the demon hisses. "The thingss you offers uss isss paltry trifless....have you nosing elsse?"

"Perhaps this helmet, Sire?" Sykes offers in desperation.

"Ahhh! Yeesss! the Helm of Onerios. For thiss, I will givess you what you asssk. Ssplendid!"

The demon extends a putrid appendage, and from it, Sykes takes ownership of a small artifact forged in Hell.

"Thisss amulet will makess you safe from all thingss..."

Wych Cross, England

Roderick Burgess performs a blood sacrifice on a white tabby.

"As this blood is shed, so spills your blood Ruthven Sykes, Adept of the 33rd, whose secret name is Ararita...Traitor and oath-breaker!"

Beheaded and disemboweled, the feline simply will not die...The black magic has failed. Burgess is furious...



"...The ritual has proved useless again." the aging 'Daemon King' told his son during their nightly stroll on the estate grounds. "He has protection, that venomous Oaf!"

"What about our prisoner? Couldn't we make him do something to Sykes?" Alex offered.

"We can't make him do anything." The Magus retorted. "All we can do is keep him there and hope."

Alex thought a moment. "We could try and raise Death again?"

"Cretin!" Burgess replied in disgust. "We can get Sykes if we just keep trying."

...In 1936, Ethel Cripps walked out on her man. She took the demon's gift with her.

While he owned it, it kept him safe. While he possessed it, It was worth everything.

...The morning after the next full moon, Ruthven Sykes was found in his apartment by the landlord, beheaded and disemboweled.

---