Dr. Nathaniel Black had always loved history, fascinated by the ancient cultures of the world. It was a natural progression for this Virginia boy to attend William and Mary University once old enough. In time, he achieved his masters in Ancient Egyptian Culture.
As luck would have it, Nathaniel was hired onto a team that discovered a new site south of Cairo. Particularly fascinated with burial rituals and mummification practices, Dr. Black was the first scientist to be in attendance when they dug up the previously undiscovered tomb. The sarcophogus was long, composed entirely of gold. Due to a series of hoaxes, the team needed to make sure that the find was a "legitimate" one. From the hieroglyphics on the walls, they found that this tomb belonged to a Pharoah called Ateth, or "Eater of Shadows".
Dr. Nathaniel Black was chosen to determine if the sarcaphogus was truly dated back to ancient Egypt. As he was using some of the most advanced carbon dating techniques around the tomb, he slipped and bumped the sarcophagus lid. A great rush of air sounded from within the sarcophagus and a spray of dust shot into the face of Dr. Nathaniel Black, sending him straight to the stone floor. When his co-workers came to check on him, he was not breathing--he was dead.
The team cancelled the dig and took the corpse back towards Cairo. The team never made it back. Magi from The Circle intercepted the vehicle and killed everyone there with destructive magics, leaving the already dead Dr. Nathaniel Black. That night, Nathaniel woke up, but it was as if it was a dream. He could feel himself standing up, looking at the burned SUV with his charred associates within and start running back towards the tomb of Pharaoh Ateth. He could tell that his body was lean, muscular and significantly taller. In fact, it did not look like his body at all. His eyes pierced the dark gloom with ease and his strides were sure and strong...
Nathaniel was horrified. He spoke, asking "Hello?". The voice that uttered was not his own. Thinking he would wake up from this dream at any moment, Nathaniel ventured more, "Who are you? What's happened to me?"
For the first time, Dr. Nathaniel Black did not feel like he was alone in this new body--there was another spririt, another soul within. His strange voice responded, "I am Pharaoh Ateth, once a King of these lands. Our lives are now forever linked, Dr. Nathaniel Black. When you opened my sarcophagus, you released my essence into the first available vessel. That vessel is you. For the rest of our lives, the Ba and Ka spirits will reside in one flesh."
Nathaniel yelled out in protest on the edge of hysteria, "What are you talking about? Why me!"
A gentle voice responded from the same mouth as they ran, "Dr. Nathaniel Black of Virginia in the United States of America...I did not mean to take away your life. For this, I can never convey the gratitude I have for what you are doing for me. You see, I planned this day. I planned this day to return to the land of the living centuries later so that I must do what needs to be done..."
Nathaniel's consciousness seemed a bit more calm, even curious, "What do you mean?"
Ateth responded candidly, "My name is Ateth, the 'Eater of Souls'. I was not born with this name--I was given it. I was an accomplished Pharaoh when I came to power. My benevolence was well known all over the lands. But my lands were faced with a great darkness, an evil faction that wielded magics long forgotten by most. I sought tuteluge from all of my kingdom's most renowned priests. They taught me the ways of magic so that I would better understand my enemy and how to defeat them. When I discovered that I could not beat back the tide of darkness, I decided that I would perform the Ritual of Creeping Death and wake up at another time. You see, my Queen was killed by this faction of evil magicians. I left the kingdom to my son's capable hands and I chose to fight another day, for fear that our magics would not survive the war.
The Ritual of Creeping Death is a ritual that I performed on myself, with the help of some of my most loyal priests. What the ritual does is bring death to my body, but holds my soul in a sort of stasis. Once the ritual was completed, my advisors locked me away in my tomb. I would live again when a sentient being came close enough for me to merge with them. You are that living being Dr. Nathaniel Black."
Pause. In a resigned voice, Nathaniel asked, "How does this work?"
"Unfortunately the ritual cannot be reversed. You and I are forever linked. Your body has changed and taken on the semblance of my former body until it is time for us to both part from this world. You have released your surface memories to me, but not your stored knowledge. You can release this to me. On the otherhand, I can give you all the knowledge that I know..."
"You mean there is no way for me to get back my body? I can never be 'alone'?"
"I am sorry. Your body is gone. It is part of the ritual. We are also linked souls, so you will never entirely be alone. I feel I must tell you why this was a necessity, Dr. Nathaniel Black. There is an evil that does not belong in this world. The magics of my people did not belong in this world either. But as long as their magic existed, it was best that ours remained as well. Does our magic remain?"
Dr. Nathaniel Black thought about Ateth's question and responded, "I am not sure what you are asking, so I will share with you what I know. If we are to be 'merged', you should know about modern times..."
Flashes of his life were released to his conscious level, all of his experiences poured forth from the mental recesses of his mind, even the embarassing and shameful memories.
Ateth chuckled, "I like you Dr. Nathaniel Black. You and I are indeed kindred souls. It is my turn..."
A flood of memories washed from Ateth into the soul of Nathaniel. Visions of lands centuries past, practices long forgotten, a people so rich in culture were all revealed to the doctor of Ancient Egyptian studies.
"We were so wrong. Your culture is far more intricate and amazing than we ever gave it credit for. I also saw the evil of what you speak of--I think this evil exists today as The Circle and a few other malicious magical groups. Oh...I am sorry about your Queen. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
"Thank you, Nathaniel, indeed she was. I get the sense from you that you are not entirely against this arrangement...?"
"No Ateth. I must admit that I have always wanted my life to contribute something to this world, to Paragon City and beyond, but I never thought I would be able to--that is different now. You...errr we have powers and talents that can make a difference. I wish to be a part of that."
"Oh, you are a part of it, Nathaniel. I cannot exist without you, so you are very much a part of this effort. I was known as the 'Eater of Shadows' in my days because of my efforts in the fight against the evil that assaulted my kingdom. We shall be known this way again--with your help..."
The muscular Egyptian crossed the sands with uncanny speed and came upon his tomb in mere minutes. Once at the tomb, Ateth entered reverently. The place had been torn apart by those who sought Ateth. The Pharaoh smiled and walked over to one of the side walls and gingerly waved his fingers across the hieroglyphics. Seamlessly, the wall recessed revealing a small box. Opening the ancient box delicately, Ateth pulled out his intricately carved golden wrist bands, shin guards, boots, pants and headress. Quickly, he put on what possessions were left, took a rolled up parchment and exited the tomb.
Nathaniel asked, "What is the parchment? And why do 'our' eyes glow?"
Ateth chuckled, "The parchment is what must be relearned by us, Nathaniel. So many centuries have passed that we must relearn the sorcerous arts that I once knew--time wears on the mind, regardless of the magics meant to preserve it. I was warned by my previous advisors that this may happen.
As for the eyes? I am not a natural creature, Nathaniel. Such magics were never meant to still exist on this world, but they do. Because we are an aberration of this world, we will forever be set apart as 'different'."
Dr. Nathaniel Black had always loved history, fascinated by the ancient cultures of the world. It was a natural progression for this Virginia boy to attend William and Mary University once old enough. In time, he achieved his masters in Ancient Egyptian Culture.
As luck would have it, Nathaniel was hired onto a team that discovered a new site south of Cairo. Particularly fascinated with burial rituals and mummification practices, Dr. Black was the first scientist to be in attendance when they dug up the previously undiscovered tomb. The sarcophogus was long, composed entirely of gold. Due to a series of hoaxes, the team needed to make sure that the find was a "legitimate" one. From the hieroglyphics on the walls, they found that this tomb belonged to a Pharoah called Ateth, or "Eater of Shadows".
Dr. Nathaniel Black was chosen to determine if the sarcaphogus was truly dated back to ancient Egypt. As he was using some of the most advanced carbon dating techniques around the tomb, he slipped and bumped the sarcophagus lid. A great rush of air sounded from within the sarcophagus and a spray of dust shot into the face of Dr. Nathaniel Black, sending him straight to the stone floor. When his co-workers came to check on him, he was not breathing--he was dead.
The team cancelled the dig and took the corpse back towards Cairo. The team never made it back. Magi from The Circle intercepted the vehicle and killed everyone there with destructive magics, leaving the already dead Dr. Nathaniel Black. That night, Nathaniel woke up, but it was as if it was a dream. He could feel himself standing up, looking at the burned SUV with his charred associates within and start running back towards the tomb of Pharaoh Ateth. He could tell that his body was lean, muscular and significantly taller. In fact, it did not look like his body at all. His eyes pierced the dark gloom with ease and his strides were sure and strong...
Nathaniel was horrified. He spoke, asking "Hello?". The voice that uttered was not his own. Thinking he would wake up from this dream at any moment, Nathaniel ventured more, "Who are you? What's happened to me?"
For the first time, Dr. Nathaniel Black did not feel like he was alone in this new body--there was another spririt, another soul within. His strange voice responded, "I am Pharaoh Ateth, once a King of these lands. Our lives are now forever linked, Dr. Nathaniel Black. When you opened my sarcophagus, you released my essence into the first available vessel. That vessel is you. For the rest of our lives, the Ba and Ka spirits will reside in one flesh."
Nathaniel yelled out in protest on the edge of hysteria, "What are you talking about? Why me!"
A gentle voice responded from the same mouth as they ran, "Dr. Nathaniel Black of Virginia in the United States of America...I did not mean to take away your life. For this, I can never convey the gratitude I have for what you are doing for me. You see, I planned this day. I planned this day to return to the land of the living centuries later so that I must do what needs to be done..."
Nathaniel's consciousness seemed a bit more calm, even curious, "What do you mean?"
Ateth responded candidly, "My name is Ateth, the 'Eater of Souls'. I was not born with this name--I was given it. I was an accomplished Pharaoh when I came to power. My benevolence was well known all over the lands. But my lands were faced with a great darkness, an evil faction that wielded magics long forgotten by most. I sought tuteluge from all of my kingdom's most renowned priests. They taught me the ways of magic so that I would better understand my enemy and how to defeat them. When I discovered that I could not beat back the tide of darkness, I decided that I would perform the Ritual of Creeping Death and wake up at another time. You see, my Queen was killed by this faction of evil magicians. I left the kingdom to my son's capable hands and I chose to fight another day, for fear that our magics would not survive the war.
The Ritual of Creeping Death is a ritual that I performed on myself, with the help of some of my most loyal priests. What the ritual does is bring death to my body, but holds my soul in a sort of stasis. Once the ritual was completed, my advisors locked me away in my tomb. I would live again when a sentient being came close enough for me to merge with them. You are that living being Dr. Nathaniel Black."
Pause. In a resigned voice, Nathaniel asked, "How does this work?"
"Unfortunately the ritual cannot be reversed. You and I are forever linked. Your body has changed and taken on the semblance of my former body until it is time for us to both part from this world. You have released your surface memories to me, but not your stored knowledge. You can release this to me. On the otherhand, I can give you all the knowledge that I know..."
"You mean there is no way for me to get back my body? I can never be 'alone'?"
"I am sorry. Your body is gone. It is part of the ritual. We are also linked souls, so you will never entirely be alone. I feel I must tell you why this was a necessity, Dr. Nathaniel Black. There is an evil that does not belong in this world. The magics of my people did not belong in this world either. But as long as their magic existed, it was best that ours remained as well. Does our magic remain?"
Dr. Nathaniel Black thought about Ateth's question and responded, "I am not sure what you are asking, so I will share with you what I know. If we are to be 'merged', you should know about modern times..."
Flashes of his life were released to his conscious level, all of his experiences poured forth from the mental recesses of his mind, even the embarassing and shameful memories.
Ateth chuckled, "I like you Dr. Nathaniel Black. You and I are indeed kindred souls. It is my turn..."
A flood of memories washed from Ateth into the soul of Nathaniel. Visions of lands centuries past, practices long forgotten, a people so rich in culture were all revealed to the doctor of Ancient Egyptian studies.
"We were so wrong. Your culture is far more intricate and amazing than we ever gave it credit for. I also saw the evil of what you speak of--I think this evil exists today as The Circle and a few other malicious magical groups. Oh...I am sorry about your Queen. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
"Thank you, Nathaniel, indeed she was. I get the sense from you that you are not entirely against this arrangement...?"
"No Ateth. I must admit that I have always wanted my life to contribute something to this world, to Paragon City and beyond, but I never thought I would be able to--that is different now. You...errr we have powers and talents that can make a difference. I wish to be a part of that."
"Oh, you are a part of it, Nathaniel. I cannot exist without you, so you are very much a part of this effort. I was known as the 'Eater of Shadows' in my days because of my efforts in the fight against the evil that assaulted my kingdom. We shall be known this way again--with your help..."
The muscular Egyptian crossed the sands with uncanny speed and came upon his tomb in mere minutes. Once at the tomb, Ateth entered reverently. The place had been torn apart by those who sought Ateth. The Pharaoh smiled and walked over to one of the side walls and gingerly waved his fingers across the hieroglyphics. Seamlessly, the wall recessed revealing a small box. Opening the ancient box delicately, Ateth pulled out his intricately carved golden wrist bands, shin guards, boots, pants and headress. Quickly, he put on what possessions were left, took a rolled up parchment and exited the tomb.
Nathaniel asked, "What is the parchment? And why do 'our' eyes glow?"
Ateth chuckled, "The parchment is what must be relearned by us, Nathaniel. So many centuries have passed that we must relearn the sorcerous arts that I once knew--time wears on the mind, regardless of the magics meant to preserve it. I was warned by my previous advisors that this may happen.
As for the eyes? I am not a natural creature, Nathaniel. Such magics were never meant to still exist on this world, but they do. Because we are an aberration of this world, we will forever be set apart as 'different'."
"We are certainly that..."