Who is the evil King Kal?

King Kal the Fourth is seen by the people of Kalbak as their rightful ruler, a strong and benevolent leader in his thirtieth cycle. But this carefully constructed facade hides a horrifying truth: Kal is not a man, but an ancient, malevolent entity that has haunted Pilo for over 500 cycles, taking many forms and names across its long existence. He is the Father of Darkness, the Scourge of Pilo, a living curse that feeds on the broken hearts and empty souls of all Pilonian life. Where there is hope in the universe, Kal, the entity of despair, exists as well.

A Cycle of Deception:

The being known as Kal has perfected the art of deception, maintaining his reign of terror by transferring his soul into new bodies every few cycles. This ritual allows him to appear as a youthful and virile leader while concealing his true, ancient nature.

His process is as cruel as it is calculated. Kal seeks out an attractive woman to bear the seed of his next vessel. After the boy's birth, he ensures the mother is eliminated, leaving the child entirely dependent on him. The boy is then meticulously groomed to become the perfect physical specimen, carefully scrutinized and prepared for his dark destiny.

Around the age of ten cycles, when the boy reaches manhood, Kal performs the ritual of soul transfer, brutally extinguishing the boy's consciousness and inhabiting his body, leaving behind the withered husk of his previous form. Currently, Kal the Fifth, a boy of seven cycles, unknowingly awaits his fate, believing himself destined to become the next ruler of Kalbak. Ironically, the King, aware the boy began showing signs of Calling, sent him to the Mystic Temple. Kal's arrogance blinds him to any potential threat from the mystics.

Kalbak: A Realm of Materialism and Cruelty:

Kal is drawn to gold, silver, diamonds, and all things rare and valuable. The rich mines of Kalbak provide him with the resources he needs to fuel his insatiable desire for pain and power. He understands that spiritual fulfillment comes not from the relentless pursuit of wealth but thrives on the suffering caused by such pursuits. As the old ways of the mystics fade, Kal's evil grows and spreads, poisoning the land.

Kal's castle reflects his meticulous nature and boundless vanity. Every surface gleams, cleaned daily. Mirrors, murals, and paintings depicting him in all his forms adorn the walls. Even the statues in the great city of Kalbakalos are kept spotless.

He rules with a public facade of kindness, masking a secret cruelty that feeds his ego. Families are slaughtered so he can rape, kill, and devour one of their children, a horrific act performed in front of the family to maximize their pain and suffering, which nourishes the evil within him.

These atrocities are blamed on the Berserkers, a group of ruthless men disguised in bear fur and bear heads. In exchange for money and impunity, the Berserkers carry out Kal's darkest desires. Publicly, Kal decries the Berserkers and claims The Royal Guard hunts them, but in reality, they are allowed to act without consequence. Because information is compartmentalized within Kalbak, no one knows the truth.

Powers of Darkness:

Kal possesses extraordinary powers, some still unknown. He can heal rapidly from almost any injury, though he sometimes feigns weakness to deceive his enemies. His physical strength is twenty times that of a normal person, especially at night. He can summon a thick black fog that suffocates most life forms. He can control flying creatures, seeing through their eyes within certain limits. He can absorb the spirit and drain the life force of those consumed by suffering and despair through touch. His powers of persuasion are legendary and some believe he corrupted Mystic Priests long ago.

Kal controls the production of substances derived from the mined materials of Kalbak. These materials can be combined to create explosives, poisons, fertilizers, food preservatives, and even substances that induce instant pleasure. The control of these resources gives him immense power over his people, fostering dependency.

The Pursuit of Godhood:

Above all, Kal craves the day he can abandon his disguise and reveal his true nature. He desires to be worshipped as a god by all of Pilo. But to achieve this, he must systematically destroy hope, joy, and truth. He recognizes that a united people strengthened by the old mystic ways would pose a significant threat. Therefore, he seeks to fan the flames of anger and fear, fostering dependency among the powerful and crushing the spirits of the weak. The ways of the mystics, Sun Speakers, and Ila Faithful must be relegated to meaningless fables.

The more he can sever the people of Pilo from good and decency, the easier it will be to seize control of the world and be worshipped as the god he believes himself to be. King Kal is not merely a tyrant; he is a force of cosmic darkness, patiently weaving a web of despair to ensnare all of Pilo.