n the secluded, religious town of Ebonvale, nestled between treacherous mountain paths frequented by thieves, a boy named Azrael was born. The town was isolated, its only link to the outside world a perilous route often haunted by bandits. Azrael's father was one of the head priests, revered for preaching from a mysterious book that had fallen from the sky. The townspeople, ignorant of its origins, saw it as a divine gift and followed its teachings zealously.
Azrael grew up under the strict guidance of his father, who taught him to recite passages from the holy book and perform 'sacred' rituals. The book described symptoms of demon possession, which coincidentally matched the symptoms of a disease plaguing the town. Those afflicted were either executed or exiled under the guise of purification. As a boy, Azrael witnessed these brutal exorcisms, the haunting image of the 'possessed' etched into his memory. Despite his father's rigorous expectations, Azrael found solace in his mother's gentle teachings about farming and animal husbandry. His best friend was a loyal herding dog named Amos, with whom he spent many peaceful hours. Socially isolated, Azrael's only real connections were with his mother and Amos.
As Azrael matured, his love for his town and his faith deepened. However, his life took a dark turn when his mother fell ill. Rumors of her having the 'demonic' sickness spread, and his father grew increasingly anxious. One fateful night, as his mother lay bedridden, Azrael's father decided to perform a final, desperate exorcism. Azrael awoke to the sound of his mother's screams and the smell of burning. Rushing to her room, he found his father branding his mother with 'holy' marks, convinced she was possessed. Azrael tried to intervene, but his father overpowered him, declaring that both Azrael and his mother were tainted. In his father's twisted mind, fire was the only purification, and he set the house ablaze.
Azrael was left with deep, painful scars from the fire, both physical and emotional. His mother died in agony, her screams echoing in Azrael's mind. Miraculously, Azrael survived, staggering out of the burning house in a daze. His father proclaimed his survival a divine sign, but Azrael's faith was shattered.Consumed by anger and grief, Azrael became mute, his disillusionment growing daily. He saw his father's teachings for the lies they were, realizing the brutality and ignorance they masked. One night, he confronted his sleeping father and, with cold precision, slit his throat, marking the beginning of his dark transformation. Leaving a note on his father's corpse that read, "Just because they have the torch in the dark, does not mean you should follow them," Azrael fled the town, taking his mother's ashes with him.
After fleeing the devastated town of Ebonvale, Azrael found himself in a world vastly different from the insular, dogmatic community he had known. The scars from the fire were a constant reminder of his father’s fanaticism and his mother’s agonizing death. He wandered aimlessly, consumed by grief and hatred, until he was discovered by a gang of thieves. Pitying his scarred appearance, they took him in. Within the gang, Azrael learned the ways of the criminal underworld. He discovered a natural talent for precision shooting, his keen eye and steady hand making him an exceptional marksman. His skill with a rifle became his outlet, a way to channel his pain and anger. Over time, he earned a fearsome reputation, becoming known for his cold efficiency and deadly accuracy.
One night, during a particularly risky heist, Azrael and his gang stumbled upon an ancient, hidden crypt. Inside, they found relics and tomes of dark magic, including a book that spoke of immortality and necromantic power. Fascinated by the promise of understanding and controlling death, Azrael secretly took the book, hoping to find answers that had eluded him all his life. In the dead of night, away from the prying eyes of his comrades, Azrael began to study the dark arts. He performed forbidden rituals and delved deeper into necromancy, his obsession with death transforming into a twisted form of artistry. He sought to master death itself, to turn it into the ultimate expression of his rage and pain. As he mastered the dark magic, Azrael felt the curse of undeath slowly take hold. His body became more resilient, his senses sharper. He could now command the dead, manipulating them with the precision of a maestro leading an orchestra. However, with this power came a profound change: his humanity faded, replaced by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance and a twisted sense of beauty in death.
One night, Azrael's gang discovered his dark secret. Horrified by his necromantic abilities, they turned on him. In the ensuing battle, Azrael unleashed his full power, raising the dead and slaughtering his former comrades. From their remains, he crafted a grotesque masterpiece, a testament to his newfound identity as the Forsaken Maestro. Now fully embracing his lich form, Azrael set out on a dark crusade. He became a feared bounty hunter, targeting false prophets and religious charlatans who preyed on the gullible. Each kill was an intricate performance, a symphony of death that showcased his artistic prowess. He left behind elaborate death scenes, each more macabre and beautiful than the last. Despite his cold exterior, Azrael held a soft spot for animals, remembering the bond he shared with his herding dog, Amos. However, he refused to take another companion, fearing that his cursed existence would bring them harm. His only solace was the pocket watch containing his mother's ashes, a constant reminder of the love and loss that fueled his dark path.
Azrael is driven by a desire to expose and destroy false prophets and religious charlatans. He sees himself as a misunderstood artist, crafting his legacy through the perfect execution of his targets. His scars serve as a constant reminder of his past and fuel his relentless pursuit of vengeance. His transformation into a lich has given him the power and longevity to pursue his twisted vision of art and justice indefinitely.