In the shadowed corners of the world, where the veil between life and death is perilously thin, there exists a forbidden ritual known as The Crossing of Balgoldore. This ancient and sinister ceremony is a harrowing journey for those who dare to embrace the power of the dragon, binding themselves to the god of death, Dovium. The Crossing is not merely a test of endurance but a brutal and agonizing passage, where the price of transformation is paid in blood and pain.
The Ritual of the Crossing
The Crossing of Balgoldore begins on the night of the Blood Moon, a celestial event that occurs once every century. The chosen Terrama—a human who has forsaken their mortal life for the chance to ascend to draconic might—enters the ceremonial grounds, a desolate and cursed land known as Balgoldore. Here, the air is thick with the scent of decay, and the ground is littered with the bones of those who have attempted the ritual and failed.
The ritual is presided over by the Blood Priests of Dovium, dark clerics who have long since abandoned their humanity. Their faces hidden beneath hoods woven from the sinews of the damned, they chant in the ancient tongue of dragons, invoking the power of Dovium. The air crackles with dark energy as the god of death himself is called to witness the transformation.
At the center of the ritual site lies the Altar of Sacrifice, a towering slab of black obsidian, stained with the blood of countless victims. It is here that the Terrama must make their first sacrifice, offering the blood of a willing or captured soul to Dovium. The blood must be fresh, and it must be drawn with the Ritual Blade, a dagger forged in the fires of the underworld. The sacrifice is a harrowing act, for the life force of the victim is consumed by the altar, and their screams echo through the night, a symphony of agony that marks the beginning of the Crossing.
The Pain of Transformation
With the sacrifice complete, the Terrama is led to the Circle of Binding, a ring of ancient runes etched into the earth with the blood of the fallen. Here, they must kneel before the Blood Priests as the true horror of the ritual begins. The Binding Rites are an excruciating series of incantations that tear at the very fabric of the Terrama's soul, reshaping it to withstand the power of the dragon.
As the rites are spoken, the Terrama's body begins to contort and twist, their bones snapping and reforming with agonizing slowness. Scales, black as night and hard as steel, erupt from their skin, ripping flesh apart as they spread. Wings sprout from their back, tearing through muscle and sinew, while their hands and feet are twisted into deadly claws. The transformation is excruciating, a torment that lasts for hours, each moment a fresh wave of unimaginable pain.
Throughout this nightmarish ordeal, the blood of the Terrama flows freely, staining the Circle of Binding. But the pain is not merely physical; the soul of the Terrama is ravaged by the power of Dovium, who demands complete submission. The mind is assaulted by visions of death and despair, the consciousness shattered and rebuilt in the image of the god of death. Those who falter during this stage are left as broken, soulless husks, forever trapped between life and death.
The Final Sacrifice
As dawn approaches and the transformation nears completion, the Terrama must make one final, dreadful sacrifice. To seal the pact with Dovium and fully embrace the power of the dragon, they must offer their own heart upon the Altar of Sacrifice. This act is the ultimate test of will, for the heart must be removed while the Terrama is still conscious, using the Ritual Blade. The blood must flow freely, a river of life draining away as the heart is placed upon the altar.
In a moment of unbearable pain and ecstasy, the heart is consumed by the flames of Dovium, and the transformation is complete. The Terrama, now reborn as a dragon, rises from the Circle of Binding, their eyes glowing with the dark fire of the god of death. They are no longer human, but something far more powerful—and far more terrifying.
The Aftermath
The newly transformed dragon is both a creature of awe and horror. They possess the strength and power of a dragon, but their soul is eternally bound to Dovium. They serve as his harbingers, spreading death and destruction wherever they roam, their very presence a reminder of the dark pact they have made.
Yet, the price of the Crossing of Balgoldore is steep. The pain and suffering endured during the ritual leave deep scars, both physical and spiritual. The dragon's mind is forever haunted by the memories of their transformation, their humanity a distant echo that can never be reclaimed.
The Crossing of Balgoldore is a ritual feared and revered in equal measure, a dark path to power that few dare to tread. Those who survive it are forever changed, bound to the god of death and transformed into beings of immense and terrible power. But the cost of such power is a lifetime of torment, for in the end, the true price of the Crossing is the Terrama's very soul.
Comments