The Guide's Notes: "The_Summoning"

This was it, I was certain. The remains of the tree that Boyle and his father cut down, its wood being later used to construct an inn, a harpsichord, a shipping crate and an idol...

I could feel that same scrabbling in my mind that I had felt just before all of my visions. This time it was the stump itself that seemed to be beckoning me closer.

...

Cabadath, a Celtic druid, awaits the return of his friend and colleague Galdn, who brings news of the invasion of Anglesey by the Roman Suetonius Paullinus.

Having fallen out of favour with his fellows for certain radical beliefs and activities, Cabadath lives in solitude in this remote forest clearing, and prefers not to travel himself.

"Cabadath!" Galdn calls his friend.

"Galdn," He calmly replies. "You bring news?" He then asks, as Galdn walks closer up to him.

"The foreigners have landed," He answers, with slight nervousness in his voice. "They could not be deterred by our sorcery. All... is lost."

Cabadath didn't seemed fazed. "Oh? Certain, are you?"

"Thuh- they are making their way across the land, eliminating resistance." Galdn stuttered. "Even you, out here, will be brought down within days." He paused, looking at the ground in sadness and failure. "I'm sorry, Cabadath."

"And the great druids of Anglesey bow so easily to this brash foreign power?" He asks, lightly amused by all that has transpired. He scoffs. "Do not hang your head yet, my friend. Perhaps the activities for which I was ostracised could yet spell an answer."

Cabadath got his full attention. "What are you talking about?"

"You know of my dealings of the Ethereal Realm?"

Galdn paused before answering. "I... know what you claim. That there exists some otherworldly territory populated by demons and creatures of 'magick'. And that you, Cabadath, can somehow commune with these creatures."

Cabadath pauses in thought, before speaking, "Come inside, and I shall explain." They both then made their way into his small hut in the forest, where there was a logo painted in red, located against the far wall, dripping onto the ground.

Galdn seemed flabbergasted by the sight. "Cabadath, what is this madness?"

He stood in front of the logo, where there was a small table located in front it, where he turned around and looked at his colleague. "In my dealings with the Ethereal Realm, I have learned of many powerful demons and elementals. But there is one spoken of only reluctantly, a beast possessing of awesome power."

Galdn was shocked. "You plan to summon a demon!?"

Cabadath continued, ignoring the sudden outburst. "The most terrible of them all, who strikes into even the most unflappable creatures I have spoken with." He didn't see any flaws in this plan. "A pain elemental. Indeed, the only pain elemental, ruler of a desolate wasteland where none dare venture. An invulnerable, hugely potent beast that feeds on the agony of others. And... today is his day. This day when the boundaries between the realms weaken ad he glimpses our world. To bring him through at that point should be simple."

Galdn was speechless, "Even if you could conjure such a thing... how would you have it defend our lands?"

"I have much knowledge in the ways of magick," He answered with complete confidence. "With the correct bindings, any demon can be forced to my will." He turned back to the symbol. "I completed the preparations while I waited for your return. All that remains is the summoning."

"Cabadath, it pains me to see you build your hopes on such nonsense." He expressed, losing near-all belief in his friend's words.

"Be silent, and watch!" He ordered, as Galdn simply sighed in defeat and walked over to the corner of the hut. "You shall see your nonsense soon enough!" He then proclaimed, before kneeling down at the table and at the logo, reciting.

In this hall of death, and by the light of Belenus' gift, I summon you.

I bring you gifts to mark your path.

I feed you with pain.

I call you with madness.

I summon you with the greatest loss.

And I bind you by your true name.

*REDACTED NAME*

Sparks started to fly from the corners of the symbol, as Cabadath raised his hands, while Galdn became speechless again. "By the gods...!" He remarked, as it looked like he was going to faint from the sorcery on display.

"I have reached out to you through the void! I command you by your true name! Show yourself!"

Galdn slowly began to panic. "Cabadath, please, stop this!" He tried to yell, but to no avail.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" He yelled at his loudest voice, as a white portal suddenly appeared, with a gigantic eyeball filling the area of the portal, blinking a few times before staring at Cabadath with it's red eye.

"By Teutates...!" Galdn nearly fainted there, at his own remark. "It's huge!"

"It... it is larger than I... anticipated..." Cabadath admitted, standing up his spot, staring directly into the large eye in front of him. But he turned back to Galdn, still confident in his own ability. "But he must obey the rules of magick. It is bound! I can command it!"

He was then suddenly interrupted when the eyeball's tentacle reached out and grabbed Cabadath by his waist, surprising everyone the room, before Cabadath's emotions turned into one of shock and fear. "No! It is far more powerful than I thought!" He tried to get out of the hold he was in, but he wasn't strong enough. "Galdn! Help me!"

With sorrow in his eyes, Galdn looked away from his gaze, and walked towards the door. "F-forgive me, Cabadath." He said, bowing slightly, before leaving the hut and bolting away from the area.

"Nooo! Galdn! I beg of you! DON'T LET IT TAKE ME ALIVE!" He yelled before being sucked into the portal, where everything flashed into white.

...

He, of course, has no use for meat. It feeds on pain. It does not kill its prisoners. Cabadath's agony was a particularly rare morsel, and he ensures it would last.

His soul was placed inside an oak sapling on the site of his old home, to grant his body immortality and could suffer in anguish for all eternity to feed his dark, new master.