Netherlock

'***"My kin, my countrymen, today has been one of great loss. With a heavy heart, I fear we must realize this is not the end of our torment...we have been chosen by the gods on this day to be smitten. Why this is so I do not understand, however, what I do understand-if not mistaken- is that each of us, every single one of us, longs for justice. I am afraid that if we wait indefinitely, that the enemy will return again and again until we are spent. I intend to exact our revenge on the hell dwellers. We have learned a great deal in these last two battles, enough to take the fight...to them. However my guards are not half of what they were in number, so I ask...might ye follow? And avenge our fallen?". '*- Captain of the Guard**

Ten Generations ago, soon after the crowning of Castiel, There was a prosperous town in the overworld of Maria which was home to the forefathers of the colony now known as Netherlock. The Town was the birthplace of many brilliant people...Scientists, Philosophers, Alchemists, Warriors, and Explorers. The Town itself was positioned near a large mountain with numerous riches of gold, iron, lapis, and many other natural resources. Over the course of a month, 80 miners and mapmakers had gone missing inside the caves. Whenever an expedition was organized to venture down to a large door-like entrance, someone in the cave would go missing. The people didn't think much of it other than the explorers simply got lost in the pitch-black tunnels, probably starving to death in the process. This idea came under more careful thought, however, when 3 men returned from the caves, covered in lacerations and burns, and specifically placed markings on their foreheads resembling upside down holy-symbols. When the three were nursed back to health and questioned about what happened, the only response was blank, emotionless stare. 3 weeks after their recovery, the men were found in different parts of the town muttering complex mathematical equations and scribbling on walls and the ground. The men were taken into custody and put under psychological evaluation. Every 3 hours the men would draw the same symbols on walls and floors that were on their foreheads, each of which had unreadable mathematical equations surrounding the symbols. When the men were finally interrogated in a desperate attempt at understanding what was happening to them and why they were doing what they were, each man roared like some ungodly creature and then immediately dropped dead to the floor. Moments later, the unsightly symbols scattered across town were glowing with a fiery red aura. Beasts of indescribable strength and ferocity leaped forth from the symbols as if they were a portal of some kind. Within hours the entire city was set ablaze. Screams filled the air, swords rang, shields bucked, arrows whizzed in every direction. The massacre lasted until dawn, and the other-worldly beasts had withdrawn back into their plane of existence.

When the smoke cleared, the gravity of the situation had only just now been realized, and the remaining leaders knew that this was likely not the last they had seen of the enemy. the town's full guard was regrouped and prepared for what they thought would be the biggest battle they would ever face. Resources were salvaged and relocated for safekeeping, armor and weapons were forged, defenses were erected, and the women and children were sent off around the mountain for safety. The town was monitored tirelessly and dreadful anticipation filled the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the women and children were on their way to another town on the other side of the mountain with haste, as many of the women were great with child. When the group of refugees were halfway to the village, almost all of the pregnant women suddenly went into labor simultaneously. To the mother's shock and misfortune, the newborns were all possessed, flailing violently as they exited the womb, attacking their mothers with abnormal strength, strangling them with the still attached umbilical cords. The surviving mothers fled back to the war-torn town attempting to escape the monstrosities**.**

'*As this was coming to pass, the portals at the town began to glow yet again, and the Guard's war horns echoed into the valley. The archers readied their bows, the cavalry prepared to charge, and the Captain of the Guard prepared to give the order. It is said that no less than a legion erupted from the portals in the town, horde upon horde of undead and demonic raced toward the now fearful yet angered human army. The order was given, and a storm of flaming arrows descended upon the hellish filth, splitting up their ranks and clearing a way for the cavalry to charge'***.** A heroic trumpet sung to the heavens, and the ear splitting battle cry unique to the towns guard "DEATH!" roared through the air in the forefather's language. The Cavalry gained momentum as the brave guardsmen furiously directed their steeds towards the enemy. Horses were eaten alive, and warriors were torn limb from limb, skulls were crushed, demons were slain with the utmost hatred, and blood turned the earth black. The Guardsmen-despite the overwhelming odds- held the hills of the battlefield and pushed the enemy back to the abyss, retaking the town in the process.

'*After the men regrouped in preparation for an expected second wave, the surviving women'*had reached the town, still being chased by the newborn abominations. Screaming for someone to come to the aid they ran to the guardsmen, pointing to the horrors behind them. While the newborn horde was quickly slain, this event had decimated the remaining moral of the guard, as many of the children's fathers were the ones performing the slaughter of the possessed children.

With the men demoralized, and the women beyond heartbroken, after witnessing everything that they had built reduced to ash, they had no plan for what to do next. All was nearly destroyed throughout the town, and the enemy would most certainly return within the day. None of the surrounding towns would aid the forefathers, despite their pleas for aid to be sent, for no man wished to face the horrors that had arisen. Angered over the loss of a generation, the forefathers could think of one thing and one thing alone...Vengeance.

The Captain of the Guard stood in front of the gathering crowd and composed himself long enough to deliver the following words. "My kin, my countrymen, today has been one of great loss. With a heavy heart, I fear we must realize this is not the end of our torment...we have been chosen by the gods on this day to be smitten. Why this is so I do not understand, however, what I do understand-if not mistaken- is that each of us, every single one of us, longs for justice. I am afraid that if we wait indefinitely, that the enemy will return again and again until we are spent. I intend to exact our revenge on the hell dwellers. We have learned a great deal in these last two battles, enough to take the fight...to them. However my guards are not half of what they were in number, so i ask...might ye follow? And avenge our fallen?".

After a moment of silence from the crowd, some say in unison, declared in once voice their furious desire to avenge their fallen, their children, and their future. Every man and woman with a body that could carry a sword was outfitted with armor, weapons, and rations. Scouts were sent into the caves to investigate the location where the miners went missing, and a large stone door was discovered. The same symbols found on the first victims' heads were scattered across each wall, and muffled screams could be heard through it. After marking the way to the door, the others were called down to prepare for entry into the shadow of the abyss.

After a cautionary farewell among each other, the Captain of the guard drew his great-sword, and shouted the ancient traditional battle cry, "DEATH!" three times, each time echoed by the people behind him. With that, the door was broken down, and the forefathers charged through the portal straight into the pit of hell itself. The first sight of hell is a sobering experience for the newcomer and one that would cripple the minds of the faint-hearted. legions of orcish beasts and howling demons could be heard from miles off, as well as the terrifying unceasing wailing of the millions of sinners souls. However, there was no time to ponder these things, as a mysterious humanoid demon, sporting an oversized scythe approached.

In an echoing tone, the demon spoke down to the inquiring: What mortal would have the audacity to set foot into my masters realm before thine appointed time?! The Captain stepped forward slowly towards the demon with his sword in hand as the demon continued to ridicule and condemn the human legion before him. And as the Captain drew closer he declared in a soft voice, "We are the chosen, we are the Vengeful, and the Demise of your kind!" The captain then ran his sword through the unholy creature killing it instantly, and shouted in a heroic tone, "FORWARD FOR MARIA!". And so they moved on, slaying all and showing no relent in their quest.

The forefathers managed to take a sizable fortress in the center of a lava ocean, which held many secrets, and many needed answers to continue their conquest. Much of demonic architecture and tools, as well as weaponry revolved heavily around the implementation of magic and dark sorcery**,** the sorcery of which the forefathers became extremely accustomed to throughout the many battles that followed. The forefathers had slain many, lost many, and learned more than anyone had ever known about the demonic realm, and through this process, gained unmatchable experience keeping the demonic from reaching Maria.

While they were able to survive as nomads for a couple generations, they could not take refuge in the present fortresses forever, as each time they did, the demonic sought them out and drove them out of hiding. In light of this, a territory of their own was needed. Scouts were sent in all directions in search of a hidden land mass. Something where the forefathers could grow, strengthen, and develop their army, for by the 4th generation, their numbers were critically low, and theywere being hunted by the elite demonic forces. After months of searching, an elevated cave-like opening was found, large enoughto house a decent sized settlement with room to grow.Fortifications weremade, a wall waserected, robust housing was made, andthe forefathers finally had a place they could call their own again.

Up until the 9th generation, things were bleak, even though considerable progress was made. The Asher family had just now taken on the leadership role in the colony, and the current leader Joshua Asher was not but 15 years of age at the time. Thomas Asher, came to be known as one of the greatest leaders of what was a very young Netherlock, and it was said among the people that they would lay down their lives for him at the blink of an eye. That however would all change very quickly for when Thomas Asher and his boy Joshua, were out alone attempting to gain knowledge of the hell's leadership, they were engaged by a mysterious foe, similar to the one the forefathers encountered before, however, this one would not be slain so easily, as Thomas and Joshua fought the creature for 5 hours straight to no avail. After what seemedto be an elaborate jest of a fight, the demon slew Thomas, and mutilated him in front of Joshua, helpless to do anything but stare. The demon left him to grieve over what was left of his father's corpse, and told Joshua that he and his people would be next.

Joshua gathered his father's scattered remains in his father's cape and took up Thomas Ashers sword. He returned to Netherlock with that same singular thought of the forefathers...Vengeance. When he arrived with the news of his father's demise, some people mourned, and some saw an opportunity to gain power over the colony. A large mob made an effort to remove Joshua from the succession.This attempt failed eventually as he fought off the coup using the vast knowledge of spells he had accumulated over the course of his training.He then issued a challenge to the people of Netherlock to test their intentions and loyalty. The challenge dared the people to follow him into the lower levels of the uncharted territory of hell. Throughout the journey, they faced an unimaginable beast which at first was thought to be the devil himself. The loyal stayed to fight it with Asher, and the disloyal fled to nearby caverns where they were massacred by unholy filth beyond description.

When Joshua returned to Netherlock after slaying the beast with his remaining forces, he counted and discovered he had returned with a mere 10,000 as opposed to the previous 50,000. The people were weary, starving, and war-torn. Even worse, the demons had been waiting for their arrival in the 1000s. Joshua for a moment thought that he had led his people to their permanent end. He turned to them and asked that they would join him, in a final charge, as family, as warriors, for Maria. To this they agreed. And together, they charged as a people united, for the good of the overworld. And finally, after the smoke had cleared, and warring ceased, Joshua discovered that not a single soul of his people had fallen in that battle. This came to be known as The Great Triumph. In addition to this, the Nethorian Marine Corps was founded, an unstoppable force for the good of Maria and her people.

Hearing of this Castiel himself came down to the pit to meet this new Settlement that had become so successful over the past centuries. While his presence was most certainly a surprise, it was not a welcome one, for the people of Netherlock, including Asher held greatresentment and distrust toward the heavenly deities of Maria, blaming them for what happened to the forefathers so many years ago. Despite nearly drawing swords during an extremely heated argument between Joshua and Castiel, the two came to an understandingto put it lightly, that while **Joshua** did not recognize Castiel as the creator or god of the land of Maria, he had great respect and support for what Castiel represented. That being the unconditional law that ruled over Maria. In light of this, as a sign of goodwill towards the Nethorians and to Asher, Castiel granted the young leader Angelhood, so that he would be better equipped to smite the evils that would have the overworldreduced to ash as the forefather'svillage was.

Joshua and his people are sworn enemies of the demonic to this day, and doeverything in their power to keephell,inhell.

* Netherlock can be found in the Nether, the cords are:233,171