https://www.deviantart.com/flaviobolla/art/House-of-Time-209709767

"You may have passed our tests initiate but there are still many more challenges for you to face. The Guild of Dark Mages is not without it's own dangers least of which are your own fellow mages who will most certainly seek your demise. Now speak the words again and be re-born in the fires of hell."

"Eattrange hoz haee hat." And as you speak those most ancient of words, the dark mage spills the jug filled with blood over your head, the blood cascading down you, filling you with an incredible heat as though your veins were coming alive for the very first time, the energy inside of burning white hot like a candle in the darkness before slowing dying away to a murmur. (+50 Mana.)

Sucking in gulps of air, you wipe away the blood from your eyes, and wonder what else you would need to do to reach your goal? And in truth you did not know. The road that had led you here had been long and perilous and yet you sense there was far greater danger to come. There would be many more battles to be faced, and that in itself both terrified and excited you.

Waving a languid arm in the air, the mage leads you towards the doorway at the back of the room when the entire chamber suddenly collapses all around you and your back outside with a stiff hot breeze slapping against your cheeks, the beauty of the island replaced with something far more gruesome and terrible. The glowing bulbs of light contorted into ominous beacons of darkness that pulse with dark red energy, the ground becoming cracked and bruised with not a single bit of greenery to be seen, and the air filled with acrid black smoke spouting out from the many cuts in the ground. The only thing to not change was the obsidian wall which stood a few feet from you, but even that seemed startlingly dark with the engraven images of screaming faces imprinted into the black stone, leering at you with a desperate hunger.

Instinctively taking a step back, the dark mage lets out a dry laugh. "It never fails to see the shock on those newly recruited into our ranks. The Counsel of Magelords long ago decided that it would not be wise to scare off those who'd traveled so far to learn our ways, lest it reduce our numbers. A clever design do you not think?"

Having never seen anything quite like this place, you'd have to agree, although the idea of staying here seemed far less tempting now. The power it would take to create such a distortion of reality around an entire Island was just too worrying to contemplate.

"Ahh, but you've yet to see the beating heart of the Island,"whispers Daedalus, "It is one of few wonders of the world you must behold with your own eyes."

"If you're done gawping, you will need to hurry, Magelord Farlorn has been alerted to your arrival and should be awaiting you on the other side. He does not take well to those who dawdle,"said the mage.

Pressing his hand into the stone wall which vanishes at his touch, the dark mage reveals a long darkened passageway, lit only by a few torches.

Reluctant to enter the darkness, you wonder again if you should go back, but the image of Lorna and Gorrack shaking their heads, finally spurs you on forcing you to step inside.

Lungs filled with acrid black smoke, you press a hand to your mouth and walk along the darkened corridor, passing thousands more faces contorted in agony along the wall, the torchlight reflecting their fear and pain, and not for the first time, you wonder what you were getting yourself into you.

The tunnel dipping slightly downward before rising back up shows light pouring in from the other end.

Eyes watching you, mouth tight with fear, you hurry out of the enclosed space, and breath a sweet sigh of relief upon tasting fresh air mixed with the salt of the sea.

Surprised at how glad you were to be out of that tunnel, you look up and hear Daedalus whisper, "Welcome to the beating heart of Bloodtides."

Gathered together neatly in orderly rows is largest city you've ever seen with a multitude of stone buildings pressed up alongside the infamous Towers of Abaddon. The air filled with streams of red light that shoot back and forth between the buildings, while hundreds of flaring orbs of light float in the breeze. The streets bustling with thousands upon thousands of dark mages, each of them going about their business. And at the heart of it all, beating with light and life itself, sits a great majestic red orb embedded into the land, adorned with thick golden chains and wrapped around by two large golden arms that clasp it tightly to it's bosom.

"Wha-what is it?"you ask.

Delighted by your question, Daedalus replied softly, "They call it the Gateway, a pathway between worlds and the source of all magic, though I'm certain followers of the Lightbearer would have something to say in that regard. But all that really matters is that this gateway connects us to the realm of demons, and is the reason why their magic is much stronger here."

Mesmerized by the incredible sight, you barely register the sound of footsteps coming from behind you and a voice speaking to you, until a flaming whip slashes across your back. (-100 Health points. Half elemental damage, half physical damage.)

Reacting swiftly you summon an enchanted blade to your side, and spin around to attack before half catching yourself at the look of amusement on the dark mage's face. "And what do you think you'll do with that novice?" asked the mage, his voice dry and hard. Tall, with gaunt cheeks and sharp yellow eyes, he pulls back his hood to reveal an ageless face, his white hair pulled back into a ponytail and mouth curling into a smile to briefly expose the points of fangs. (-10 Mana.)"I'd suggest releasing that blade of yours, unless you desire further punishment novice."

Shaking your head, you let the blade vanish away.

"You have strange instincts for a mage, but perhaps that will suit you well here. As I'm sure you've been told, I am Magelord Farlorn, Headmaster of the Novices. Any punishment you incur will be dealt with by me," he said with a menacing smile that told you of the pleasure he would take from such a task.

(Click here if you've already acquired novice robes.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

"I see you're already wearing the robes of one of our novices. Might I inquire as to where you acquired such an item?"

Hearing no response from you the dark mage's smile broadened into a wide grin, his fangs gleaming dangerously. "The counsel of Magelords does not take kindly to those willing to slay one of their own, but I must say this is a most pleasing turn of events. Have no fear I will not report you to them, but I will advise you to be more discreet in the future. Walking about in the robes of another could lead to misunderstandings. Now put these on, and toss those aside," Farlorn said handing you a newly made set of black robes.(Acquired Novice Robes +1 Resilience. You will need to wear this for the duration of your time here on the Island, meaning no armor can be equipped.)

(Click here if you do not have novice robes.)

Spoiler: Spoiler

"Here will you need these robes if you wish to remain alive here for very long," Farlorn said handing you a newly made set of black robes.(Acquired Novice Robes +1 Resilience. You will need to wear this for the duration of your time here on the Island, meaning no armor can be equipped.)

Once the robes are on you, Farlorn nods his head in approval and gestures for you to follow him as you heads towards the center of the city which has no name. Walking you silence, you take note of the many stationary Towers grouped together, and see more than a few with strange symbols carved into the slate grey stone. Knowing little of the towers and their hierarchy, you consider asking Farlorn, but the dark mage doesn't exactly give you the impression of someone willing to help, rather he had the face of a torturer who'd spent too many years in the dungeons. Whether it was the pale skin, or the way his head looked like a skull from any angle, there was a darkness coming from this mage you had yet to encounter in your travels.

Head half bowed in thought, you wonder again about your purpose in coming here when you pass the immense red globe and feel a flutter inside of your chest at the crackles of energy pouring along it's sides, drawing you in with it's strange beauty, when a calloused hand pulls you roughly back. But before your eyes are torn away from the globe, you'd thought you seen Lorna and Gorrack at the head of an army of elves and werewolves battling against a host of goblins swarming from all directions, your two former companions struggling to hold the line as they were hammered from all sides, their blood soaked faces, filled with desperation.

You open your mouth to shout that you were coming before realising where you were, Farlorn staring down at you with cold yellow eyes, his lips thinning into a red line. "The Heart of Diabolus is not for the likes of you, the power of the Heart would suck you dry in an instant. Now move!"

Numbly nodding your head, you stumble after the dark mage,unable to shake the image of Gorrack and Lorna out of your mind. They were in trouble, and you were thousands of miles away, unable to help them. And despite your every instinct telling you to just leave, and find a way to their side, you could not abandon your quest.

Teeth clenching into a grimace, you vow that you would rip the cloak to shreds if he proved to be false and renew your determination to be out of this place as quickly as possible. If the war had begun then you needed to be there.

Rounding another bend, Farlorn leads you towards a wide open square, where you see a gaggle of young novices in the same robes as you speaking to each other in hushed whispers, and behind them an ancient building made of light grey stone, it's archways and columns reminding you of fae'lon architecture, intricate and yet beautiful.

Gesturing for you to join them, you walk over to a few dwarven mages discussing the war between the Great Houses in Darath Toth Bar when you notice a orc staring at you. Discomforted by his gaze, you look away and see Farlorn circling round to the front of building's stone steps to stand before the gathered mages, his hands folded behind his back.

Quieted by his mere presence, Farlorn began to speak. "Each of you has survived the trials to come here, but your tests are far from over. You will fight, sweat, and bleed before the end comes. Show any weakness and you'll die, show any mercy and you'll die, try to leave, and you, will die. This is your new home now and those beside you, your new brothers and sisters. There is only one rule we live by, and that is to honor the gods! Everything else is up to you."

As he finishes speaking, five robed mages materielise beside him, all of them wearing different colored robes. "The Magelords will now select those they deem worthy to join their order."

1. Do you try to attract the attention of the red robed mage? (Join the Harvesters - Magical Focus Blood Magic.)

2. Do you try to attract the attention of the yellow robed mage? (Join the Dragon Guard - Magical Focus Death Magic.)

3. Do you try to attract the attention of the black robed mage? (Join the Fireglass Keepers - Magical Focus Demonic Energy.)

4. Do you try to attract the attention of the grey robed mage? (Join the Shadows - Magical Focus Shadow Arts.)

5. Do you try to attract the attention of the purple robed mage? (Join the Targestrian Brotherhood - Magical Focus Summoning Arts.)