Ithlamech

Ithlamech was a common villager but he never felt common. He was quite tired of being bossed around. He didn't like how the Ealdensteads were up in their high and lofty positions and how everything they said went. Whenever he voiced these things to the people around him, many thought him crazy. They advised that if he was set on complaining so much about his current situation, he should travel back to one of the four kingdoms and live under their 'cruel' rule. Nearly everyone he spoke with insisted the reigns of the four kings were worse than the ways of Wynsumheord, but he begged to differ. He saw Wynsumheord just as bad. Some power-hungry, oppressive organization set on controlling the people. He always thought himself better than the average person. The sheep around him quite literally followed their shepherd with no protest or question, but he was curious. Why were things being done this way? Who put the Ealdenpreiests in charge? Why couldn't he rule and have sheep following him?
As Ithlamech grew older, he became more and more of a recluse, separating himself from any family and friends, living alone in remote areas of the forest, avoiding comman areas and anywhere rules were necessary to be followed. He spent a lot of time contemplating how he could rise from the ashes. He wanted to be free from rule and opression, but he did not want to be hidden away in the shadows like a coward. He wanted to rise up and become a great leader others would follow. He wanted to create change. Only he knew what was right for the people. They didn't know what they wanted, but he knew what he wanted.
Researching in several books and drafting copious plans, he saught for a way to come into power. He did not want to join the system of the Ealdenstead. He would still be bound to general guidelines and the people would have opinion and say on what he chose to do. No. He had to become more powerful than the Ealdenstead so that even they would kneel in his presence. He came to the conclusion that the only way to properly rise to power was through fear. He needed the public to fear him, and what more did the people fear than unknown magic? Familiar spirits? Witchcraft? He immediately took up the quest in searching how to gain such strengths. He consulted with witches who had been outcast, but discovered most of them were in hiding as they feared what the people would do to them. He thought such was nonsense. He needed to gather a brave group of powerful people who were unafraid of what the Ealdensteads would do long enough so that the Ealdensteads would become afraid of what these powerful people would do.
One day, Ithlamech finally stumbled upon the thread he knew would change his life: the myth of Anathema's Casket showed great promise. Though many believed it not, he believed that, if he could find the casket, it would contain all the power he could ever hope and dream of. He dedicated the rest of his life to locating it and, one day, he finally did. He could not contain the pure excitement and elation that flowed through his veins as he dug through the soil with his bare hands uncovering the prized box. Lifting it out of its grave, he laughed loud and uncontrollably, flinging it open and relishing in the glory that would soon be.
Though the trinkets within seemed powerless to the average person, he knew that Friar Belfstian buried it away for a reason. The Friar was too afraid to burn it, which meant these things had significance and power. He only had to awaken them.
Ithlamech spent days praying and worshipping every deity and spirit that was thought to be able to breathe life into the talisimans until he finally heard them reply. The charms began to glow, and he allowed the spirits to imbue him. Rising in the darkness, with the darkness, Ithlamech became, the great Corypheus.