Atreates

Harbinger of Devastation

The Million Slayer

**Atreates** was the Major Titan of War before his fall to Chaos. It was well known throughout the Golden Age that no warrior, be they mortal or immortal, had greater skill in marshal combat than him. Atreates fights with such ferocity that it would be far easier to describe him as a destructive force of nature rather than a duelist. Since his banishment towards the end of the Cataclysm, Atreates resides in his castle within the Planes of Chaos made entirely of weapons and fire. At the heart of this accursed citadel is a colosseum named Slaughter's End. Here, the demons and denizens of the realm indulge each other in a perpetual gladiatorial arena that has persisted for the past 5,000 years. Through methods of dark magic, the castle itself sores across the Planes allowing Atreates to challenge anyone and anything that he finds worthy, satiating a thirst for battle that can never be fulfilled.

## Description

### Appearance

Before his fall, Atreates was humanoid in form, like many other Titans. He had blood red skin, pointed elven ears, had a long black mane of hair and burning orange eyes. Atreates also sported armor that had texture very similar to obsidian in nature. He was also a giant even by Titan standards. Atreates was a half foot taller than most of his brother and sister celestials.

After falling to the grip of Chaos, Atreates' physical features were drastically changed. The corruption made him far more sinister in appearance. His forearms, hands and feet became enlarged, scaled, and sprouted great talons. Atreates' skin turned black and cracked with veins of reddish glowing energy. The Titan grew enormous wings and a spiked tale making him far more draconic than humanoid.

### Personality

Atreates had always been gruff and stoic towards everyone around him even other Titans. In the early years of the Reclamation he would often fend off towns from demonic creatures and move on, seeking no praise nor commendation from the people he protected. From the very beginning, Atreates sought only the fight. The Titan distanced himself from mortals as he believed keeping the horrors of battle away from the "weak" was the best way to keep them safe. Atreates doubted the value of mortal foot soldiers in combat against Chaos as he viewed them as easily corruptible and unfit to battle demons.

In the modern era, Atreates fights and kills as he pleases. He is completely lost to the enjoyment of constant combat. For him, anything less than unapologetic slaughter would be a dull and pointless existence. Vioelnce is his muse and destruction is his symphony. Despite his explosive behavior, Atreates is still a being of honor and holds admiration for being of great martial talent.

### Iconography

A single skull set aflame is the symbol most associated with Atreates. Cultists and Chaos worshipers will sometimes vandalize temples dedicated to Titans of the Light as a warning. In most cultures across Argos the flaming skull is an omen of destruction.

### Weapons and Abilities

Atreates wears a set of shining black armor that has since been enhanced and bastardized by the effects of 5,000 years in the Planes of Chaos. In addition, he wields a flaming sword named, *Infernus,* that was forged by the Titan, Duramir, to commemorate the bond between Titans and mortals of Elura. There is nothing the blade cannot cut and its edge burns so hot that it melt rock.

Atreates has an otherworldly aptitude for martial combat that records fail to recall a time where he was bested in single combat by anyone. Atreates was so terrifying in dueling that his fall to Chaos was thought to be one of the biggest threats to Elura. In addition to being nearly invincible with a sword, he has an affinity for fire magic. Atreates can cast projectiles of fire at will, a power he enjoys for its destructive nature.

## **History**

### **Background**

Atreates was both a role model and an outsider in the Pantheon of Titans. His power and conviction to eradicate the demonic infestation of Elura was something to be admired by everyone that knew him. It was his fearlessness against the darkness that caused many mortals to rally not just behind the guidance of the Titans but Atreates himself. Despite this, Atreates was not well known to most Titans as he felt he had very little in common with fellow celestials that did not share his dedication to the art of combat. The closest, if not only, friend he had was Thurunor. Atreates admired Thurunor's martial abilities and often claimed that the Lord of Storms was second only to him in skill. The two of them sparred frequently and maintained a silent, but mostly friendly rivalry.

#### **The Reclamation**

Atreates was as much a warrior as he was a deity to the people of Elura. He lived and breathed for the thrill of battle. When the time came for the Titans to defend the mortals from Chaos, it was his absolute pleasure to do so. For a hundred years, he led great armies across the planet and brought destruction to the demons that plagued Elura. Atreates was so talented in this endeavor that he was one of the few Titans that had been given the authority to command others of his kin, answering only to the Priarchs themselves. It was during this time that he grew closest with Thurunor, the Lord of Storms. They would make a legendary duo that scholars still find immortalizations of to this day. At the height of the Reclamation, Atreates would obtain the unofficial title of *Million Slayer* by his peers to account for the sheer number of demons he had killed. While the number cannot be confirmed, scholars agree that it would likely be much higher. At the end of this great war, Atreates' Guardians cornered the last forces of Chaos to the northern reaches of Eisenor where he battled the infamous Arch Demon Lord, Baphomet and beheaded him.

#### **Fall to Chaos**

Centuries into the Golden Age, when the Astral Guardians were tasked with dispatching demonic forces in the Astral Plane, Thurunor had noticed a change within Atreates. The Titan began exhibiting fits of rage that would take him far from his own forces. He would soon begin chasing down the enemy over further and further distances. Atreates started orchestrating far more reckless engagements that would bring him to the heart of the fighting even at the cost of his own soldiers. When the Golden Age pressed on, Atreates found himself without a fight, and by extension, without a purpose. But as he felt his own usefulness die, his thirst for combat grew more ravenous. Val, the Titan of Change, having already turned to Nathwin years prior, came to Atreates many times during this period. He would tell the Titan of War that he was nothing but a tool for Noros and with nothing left to fight, he would be discarded. Over time, Val convinced the great Atreates that an allegiance with the God of Chaos was the only way he could ever truly be the eternal warrior he had yearned for all those years. In turn, Atreates gathered his Archon and Chosen in hopes of convincing those most loyal to join him. Many did turn, and those that didn't were slaughtered.

#### **Cataclysm**

Throughout the great and terrible conflict that befell Elura, Atreates remained ever present where the fighting had been the most deadly. He tore his way through thousands of those that swore to protect the planet, killing Astral Guardians, Chosen, Archon, and Titans alike. The Priarch, Detro, had intended to deal with the turned Titan of War once and for all. Though days before the final events of the Cataclysm, it was Thurunor, whom without his father's permission, set off to confront his once beloved friend. The two Titans fought one another in a gruesome battle all while Atreates was luring the Lord of Storms into a false sense of security, making him believe that he had the upper hand. When it appeared that Thurunor had nearly won, Atreates horribly wounded the Titan and tore out his eye. Before Atreates could deal the death blow, the battle was interrupted by five Praetorian Guards. After two had been killed, Thurunor, along with the remaining Praetorian reinforcements were barely able to subdue Atreates and banish him to the Planes of Chaos.

#### **The Modern Era**

Atreates has only ever reappeared twice in the Material Plane since the events of the Cataclysm due to the powerful wards placed on his soul after his banishment. It is extremely difficult for him to leave the realm of Chaos and becomes even more difficult for every time he is able to. It is for this reason, and the fact that he has not been seen on Elura in over 3,000 years that most people view him as an abstract legend or power of a forgotten age. Despite this, those that worship Atreates still seek his patronage, but only the strongest of warriors in the Material World will ever gain the attention of the Dark Titan. Atreates remains ever present in the Planes of Chaos; challenging any and all that would fight him. He is a restless spirit, always plotting for what he believes will be his inevitable return to Elura so that he may one day bathe in its absolute destruction.