The Lore of Alchemist Hestia of the Hall

Hestia, the third son of the King’s cousin never displayed any interest in the practice of the nobility. Each ball or party, he stayed inside his quarters, his nose deeply buried in his books. Luckily for him, the pressure to marry anyone of wealth or privilege wasn’t as big a burden as was with his older brothers, but he was still expected to show a little interest in the intricacies of the court. Unfortunately, he didn’t. When Hestia was a young adult rumors started flying around that he was dabbling into the arcane and the mystic arts, something that was forbidden at the court of his father by decree of the King and penalty of Death. No occurrence of strange happenstance could be without Hestia being around and once the well was transformed into a raging fountain of croaking frogs, his father had no other choice than to banish his own son from his realm.

But Hestia had plans of his own. Within the library at his father’s court, deep in the darkest corners of the library, he had found a tome. The work was called De secretis mysticis: Alchemista vita et opus. Translated, it was called: about arcane secrets: the life and work of an alchemist. He had been intrigued with the little book, not leaving the library for several days on end. He had learned about the theoretical possibilities of mixing different herbs and plants to create salves that could grant the user great strength, or poison him to the brink of death. He had learned which potions would prolong life, to induce paralysis and even to cure the common cold if he wished. But it was all theory, the book introduced means and methods that weren’t available in the open, things he hadn’t heard from all across the realm. It had been his fortune that his eyes had fallen on the smallest footnote, only visible with a magnifying lense: Find the Halls of the Hallowed and you’ll find the secrets of Alchemy.

And thus, he wasn’t disappointed or anxious when he had to leave his father’s court, instead he was determined to find these Halls of the Hallowed. The only problem was that he didn’t have a clue if the place even existed or where it could be located. He traveled to harbor towns and grand cities, discussed the theories of drunk men and scholars and finally in a dark neck of the woods, he found the answers he was looking for. Written on an ancient scroll was the location of the Halls of the Hallowed.

The trek towards it was treacherous, filled with passages along ridges on mountains and swamps filled with horrific creatures but finally he stood before the gates granting access to the Halls of the Hallowed. In there, he found what he felt was always missing from his life, like-minded people. There were people there honing their craftsmanship in enchanting weaponry and armor, others were trying to find the solution in the stars or the entrails of animals but most interestingly, there was one other person like him. This man was known as Nyxos, a young one born out of wedlock in a small rural village. He told Hestia that ever since he was born, he didn’t receive chance or opportunity and shade was thrown at the

bastard everywhere he went. Hestia felt the inner rage of his friend, not knowing of things to come.

They were unraveling the very fabric of matter together, experimenting in the laboratories below the Halls. At first, they managed small practices, turning concoctions into valuable potions that would save the life of many, but his friend was enchanted by one illusive craft, turning minerals into pure gold. They had stumbled upon the alchemic formula that was needed but were unable to decipher everything in there. But one unfortunate day, Hestia couldn’t sleep, tormented by strange and dark dreams about his friend. He saw that the door of Nyxos’ room was open, and that his bed hadn’t been slept in that night. Hestia started wandering the Halls of the Hallowed and found his friend in the laboratories. Nyxos was dressed in a black rope, fringed with purple thread and working on the strangest experiment he had ever seen.

Nyxos threw a potion at the ground, and from there Fiends and skeletal warriors rose, and held Hestia captive. Nyxos explained that in order to amass wealth through transformation of minerals, there was one ingredient he needed, the blood of a gifted person. Understanding the implications of what was happening, Hestia managed to drop a smoke bomb he concocted earlier and made his escape. Later he learned that the army of undead Nyxos had created, destroyed the Halls and all its occupants were killed.

Now, the story picks up years later, in a time where Hestia had been hidden from Nyxos’ eye. Hestia had found ancient secrets, runes and recipes, trying to find a way to stop his former friend and it is only now that he leaves his hideout. He has heard of rumors of a dark lord rising through the ranks of a neighboring country, empowered by an army that seemed like it could not die. The final battle between Hestia and Nyxos will soon commence. A battle between the Alchemist and the Necromancer, a battle that can ultimately decide the fate of the realm.

Entered by: 0xDF61…06B2 and preserved on chain (see transaction)