\--==Official Submission==-- FROM: Lieutenant Anubis RE: The Story of Anubis Chapter 3- The Beginning of the Darkness Chapter 3- The Beginning of the Darkness Present day Captain Anubis sat at his desk reading ancient text from a book that appeared older than the land itself. His most recent purchase to his collection and by far his most costly. Carefully he turned the brittle pages, straining to make out the arcane words. His books gave him an escape from the politics he dealt with as captain; long hours of debate and conflict can wear a man down. Lighting struck and the desert rains came. This would be a most violent storm this night, getting up from his desk he went to the window to close the shutters. Back to his desk and into his book. The clock struck 2 in the morning when he had come to a most bizarre chapter. The text was difficult to translate, this book had proven to be a most vile and hideous writing so far, he thought perhaps it would give him some insight to the origins of the very evil that cursed the land today. Even as the words swept across his lips he knew he had made a most grievous error, horror filled his very soul. Quickly he slammed the book shut and threw it into the fire...it did not burn. A man came to visit that very night asking if Anubis would be willing to sell the book, normally he would be more than happy to be rid of the evil thing but something was different. Anubis sat at his desk, saddened at the loss he now felt. For over a decade he had maintained the balance, keeping the dark powers at bay. The transformation had already begun. A clump of flesh fell from his face, exposing the bone visage that was his true self. His mortality was slipping...quickly he took his quill and wrote a letter to General Rahl. The Captain called for his messenger, ordered him to deliver the message to the General and released the boy from service upon completion. After an hour the transformation was complete the Lich Lord rose to his feet and walked to the window of his tower, his glowing red eyes piercing the darkness. "Well now where to begin..."