YOU EXIST TO SERVE ME NOW!
Tergrid, God of Fright
deck storyline
Chapter 1: The Whispering Conspiracy
In the twilight of Kaldheim, shadows whispered secrets of dread, and the frost touched every corner of the realm. At the heart of this desolation lay Tergrid, God of Fright
, a figure woven into the fabric of fear itself. Known to her adversaries as a master necromancer, she harnessed the torment of countless souls through her cursed Lantern in Castle Locthwain. Her dominion stretched across the land, where the echoes of the feared and the forgotten resided.
Long ago, while still a child, Tergrid had faced a harrowing fate when her own shadow had tried to kill her. It was her cursed Lantern, fed by the anguish of the dead, that kept that sinister manifestation at bay and turned terror into her ally. This bittersweet connection had forged her understanding of fear as a potent weapon.
"When Tergrid was a child, her shadow tried to kill her. Only her Lantern keeps it at bay."
-- (Extract from Tergrid's Lantern
)
During her ascent, The Raven Man — known in ancient times as Lim-Dûl — became intrigued by her potential. He approached Tergrid with ambitions of becoming a demigod, seeking to elevate himself above mere mortals and gain a foothold among the divine. He promised her, power and eternal dominion over life and death through the legendary relic, the Thran Dynamo.
“Together, we could plunge the Multiverse into eternal shadow,”
-- Whispered the Raven Man. His dark intentions cloaked in seductive allure.
“With your Lantern and my mastery of the undead, we could rewrite the fabric of fear and wield it as our weapon.”
-- He added.
Tergrid felt the weight of his words, sensing a temptation for absolute control and the ability to surpass even the mightiest gods. She laid her hand upon the Dynamo, contemplating the pact that lay before her, one that could change the fate of Kaldheim and beyond. As the Thran Dynamo amplified the potency of her Lantern, Tergrid unleashed a tide of dark magic, heralding the spread of Pox — a plague of despair that rippled through the Multiverse, even reaching its clawing grip into Dominaria. The Raven Man's plan, was to later, erradicate the pox to gain the city's blessing.
And the Raven Man said to himself:
"As Kiora said once, When Gods become apaethic, the people will worship anyone who answers their pleas."
-- (Text extracted from from Temple of the False God)
Their alliance was founded on mutual benefit; the Raven Man sought to reclaim his lost influence after being spurned by former allies, while Tergrid craved the dark ascendance she had always desired. Tales of devastation began to circulate, and shadows whispered of their might. As fear grew like a storm cloud, swirling chaos revealed itself, and Tergrid reveled in the power she had wrought — a harbinger of shadows whose journey had only just begun.
Chapter 2: Liliana’s Trail of Death
A heavy silence enveloped Dominaria, pierced only by the haunting cries of despair. Liliana of the Veil walked the desolate land, her heart heavy with the weight of memories. Once a queen of necromancy, she had returned to this realm, drawn by whispers of the dark affliction of Pox that had begun to plague the villages, leaving devastation in its wake.
This land had seen her triumphs and defeats, and as she traversed the ruins, she felt the echoes of her past calling to her. Liliana reflected on her history in Dominaria, her battles with the Cabal, and the unending quest for power that had brought her both enemies and treachery. Here, amid the shattered remnants of what once thrived, she sensed that the source of this plague was intricately tied to her darker arts.
With each step, a chilling realization settled in.
"This devastation bears the unmistakable mark of Lim-Dûl’s influence; the darkest specter from my past. Lim-Dûl taught me the art of raising the dead, but his path was one of ruthless control and domination."
-- Liliana said
The thought sent a shiver down her spine; if he was behind the spread of this plague, it meant his dark return was imminent, once more seeking dominion over life and death.
Unwilling to confront this darkness by herself, Liliana knew she needed the help of others. She called upon Ob Nixilis Reignited the vengeful demon planeswalker, who harbored his own grudge against the powerful entities that sought to destroy him. Their shared experiences with the darker aspects of power could make him an unpredictable but valuable ally, capable of sowing chaos among their enemies.
Furthermore, she reached out to Karn, Scion of Urza. His unwavering commitment to preserving the balance of the Multiverse and his formidable intellect made him an invaluable companion, even to deal with Nixilis' personal desires. His ability to create powerful constructs and manipulate mana, would allow them to hold the line against the overwhelming evil they were facing. Together, they represented both strength and strategy, a formidable force against the encroaching shadows.
The three met near the Cabal Coffers, one of the last places in Dominaria free from the grasp of Pox. The area was steeped in shadows and dark magic, providing a sanctuary where they could gather their thoughts and strategize against the looming threat.
As she gathered her allies, Liliana knew that betrayal and mistrust were constant companions, but the looming threat of Lim-Dûl demanded that they face this darkness together.
Chapter 3: The Blight of Dominaria
In all this chaos, a faerie rogue known as Tinybones, Trinket Thief arrived from Theros, as a Dictate of Erebos, the God of the Dead. Erebos sensed a disturbance in the balance of life and death, and believed that Tinybones, with his cunning nature, could navigate the shadows to gather vital information about the dark forces emerging.
As Tinybones glided through the remnants of shattered villages, he felt a knot of tension forming in his gut. The stench of decay lingered in the air, signaling a darkness deeper than he had anticipated. When he encountered Liliana Vess, an aura of potential danger surrounded her.
With a sly grin, Tinybones announced himself:
“I come bearing news from the realm of the dead. Erebos fears an entity that lurks in the shadows; one that thrives on terror and despair.”
Liliana raised an eyebrow, intrigued:
“What do you know about Lim-Dûl, faerie?”
Confused, Tinybones leaned closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper:
“Who is Lim-Dûl? I'm talking about Tergrid, God of Fright
. They say her mere presence siphons the hope from the living and empowers the dead. Tergrid's Lantern
casts shadows deeper than night itself, binding the souls of the forsaken to her will.” He paused, glancing around as if sensing unseen eyes, then continued, “In addition, the Thran Dynamo, an artifact of ancient power, disappeared from Dominaria a long time ago, and has been seen recently in Kaldheim. We suspect it's fueling her might.”
Karn's expression darkened as the implications settled in:
“The Thran Dynamo is a relic from a lost age - around 10.000 years ago, before the Brothers War. It's an artifact capable of amplifying one’s power to unimaginable levels. If Tergrid possesses it, she may command forces that could reshape reality itself.”
Said Karn, who then added:
"In Mishra's desperation to destroy his brother, he allowed Gix to destroy him instead."
-- (Text extracted from from Painful Quandary)
And then he concluded:
"That was the last time the Dynamo was seen."
Ob Nixilis listened intently as possibilities raced through his mind. This was a confrontation he could exploit — a powerful goddess at the center of turmoil and two potent artifacts ripe for the taking.
“Chaos is a ladder,” -- he mused.
“Every soul broken and every world shattered is an opportunity for those willing to seize it.”
--
Liliana's resolve began to waver under the weight of their predicament. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Lim-Dûl was also involved; his dark influence always lingered in the background of her thoughts. The thought of confronting not only Tergrid but also the dark specters of her past filled her with dread, sending an icy shiver through her very core.
"We must find her and put an end to this before it spirals out of control.” - Liliana added.
With a grim sense of foreboding, Liliana, Ob Nixilis, and Karn pressed on, their determination fueled by the knowledge that they must confront the darkness threatening to consume their world. They set their course for Castle Locthwain, the stronghold of Tergrid located in Kaldheim. Understanding the dangers ahead, they planned to planeswalk there, ready to face the unknown.
And as soon as they departed, a sudden wave of Death Cloud rolled over the landscape; a harbinger of Tergrid's influence. Tinybones, caught in the onslaught, laughed defiantly at death's door. “This isn’t the end for me, my friends! I’ll just...”
But the suffocating magic consumed him, silencing his bravado. With a dramatic flourish, Tinybones fell to the ground, and his bony frame collapsed in a pile of skeleton parts. As the last remnants of his essence were drawn into the shadows, a thought echoed in the back of his mind with a hint of humor: “Well, I suppose even a skeleton like me can die... again!”
With that, he became a fragment of Tergrid's dark power — a servant bound to her will.
Chapter 4: The Plague-Bearer’s Wrath
The air hung heavy with tension as Liliana, Karn and Nixilis moved toward Castle Locthwain; their hearts steeling for the confrontation that lay ahead. A sense of unease settled over them, a premonition of the battles to come.
As they approached the dark bastion, memories flooded Liliana’s mind, drawing her back to the last time she had faced such darkness. It had been during her encounters with Lim-Dûl, whose presence had always danced on the edges of her consciousness. She vividly recalled their last fateful meeting, where shadows twisted around them, and despair hung heavily in the air.
In the depths of that encounter, Lim-Dûl had wielded his necromantic powers with ruthless efficiency, ensnaring Liliana in a web of dark enchantments. He had reveled in her fear, using it to draw from her essence, amplifying his own strength with each moment she spent in his grasp.
“I will teach you the true meaning of power,” he had promised, his tone seductive yet menacing. “You could be so much more if you embrace the darkness fully.”
But Liliana had fought back, summoning the depths of her own magic, determined to escape his clutches. In a moment of revelation, she had severed his influence, watching him falter as her will reclaimed its strength.
“I will not be your pawn!” she had shouted, expelling the shadows that tried to bind her. “I refuse to be shackled by your legacy!”
Now, as they neared Castle Locthwain, that fateful encounter weighed on her mind. Lim-Dûl's allegiance to Tergrid only magnified the threat they were about to face.
The stillness was shattered as they reached the castle gates. Without warning, Tergrid emerged from the shadows; her presence overwhelming the group. The air grew cold, charged with dark energy. Her Lantern pulsed with an eerie light, casting long shadows that whispered of doom.
Liliana squared her shoulders, determination solidifying within her. “Tergrid!” she called, her voice steady despite the fear creeping into her heart. “We have come to end your reign of terror.”
Tergrid's gaze fell upon them, a predatory smile creeping across her lips. “Foolish mortals. You cannot begin to understand the power I command. Your struggles will be in vain.”
Before any of them could respond, the air shifted. A chilling laugh echoed through the darkness, and the Raven Man emerged, his form coiling with shadows. His presence exuded a sense of insidious authority, and an unsettling familiarity washed over Liliana.
“Ah, my dear Liliana...” he taunted, his voice smooth and dripping with malice. “You should know by now that the darkness has many masters—some older than you might wish to admit.”
Lim-Dûl’s silhouette loomed larger as he stepped closer, his eyes glinting with malevolent mirth. “You think you can escape your past? I am the shadows that haunt you, the whisper in the dark that guides your every decision.”
As the battle commenced, Liliana knew this confrontation was not just about power; it was a showdown against her past, her fears, and the darkness that loomed ever closer.
Tergrid unleashed a torrent of death empowered by Toxic Deluge. The skies blackened, and the earth churned as the living fell and the dead rose to fight for her. Karn’s constructs, fueled by Everflowing Chalice, faltered under the onslaught.
Liliana retaliated with Blasphemous Edict, her voice cold as she turned Tergrid’s forces against her.
“They have forsaken their vows. Now I will forsake them.”
But Tergrid's smile widened as she responded to Liliana, her voice a chilling whisper:
“What do you have that I cannot obtain?”
Her Lantern, bolstered by the Thran Dynamo, absorbed the treacherous spirits, twisting them into her thralls.
Chapter 5: Lanterns and Betrayal
The battle erupted with chaotic fury as Tergrid unleashed her menacing magic, transforming the battlefield into a scene of devastation. Shadows lengthened and twisted under the dark influence of her Lantern, while the air crackled with palpable dread.
Liliana, Ob Nixilis, and Karn fought to maintain their ground against the swarms of Tergrid and the Raven Man's minions—shadowy figures that surged forth from the depths of despair, bound to Tergrid’s will. They clashed against Tergrid’s forces, grotesque apparitions birthed from fear itself.
“We need to regroup!” Karn shouted, summoning a line of constructs from his magical reserves. But even as his artifices surged forward, they faltered under the relentless tide of an overwhelming assault from Tergrid.
Ob Nixilis, sensing the impending doom, unleashed his dark powers. “You think mere shadows can overcome me?” With a flick of his wrist, he cast Vona's Hunger, draining the strength from Tergrid’s forces while igniting the darkness with his flames. The mist of death coalescing around him became a weapon, incinerating the weakened foes in an inferno of shadows.
Seeing an opening, Liliana gathered her energy, her voice rising above the chaos as she invoked Necromancy, summoning the strength of the fallen. “I will reclaim what is mine!” The remnants of her magic pulled the very essence of the battlefield, rising against Tergrid’s thralls.
But Tergrid was unyielding. With a swift motion, she gathered her power and unleashed Torment of Hailfire; a spell only a God could cast. The air turned thick with energy as the ground trembled beneath them. “Your plight only serves to amplify my strength!” she cried, the spell crashing down like an unstoppable storm, annihilating everything in its path.
Liliana felt the shadows closing in, their grip tightening around her. Determined to fight, she pressed forward, but Tergrid's power was overwhelming.
Ob Nixilis frowned as he witnessed the sheer might of the goddess. “This goes beyond our expectations. We must find a way to counter her power!”
Liliana's resolve solidified, driven by the weight of their predicament. “Tergrid’s vanity will be her undoing. We need to outsmart her, not just outlast her!”
As the battle raged on and spells flew through the air, stakes could not be higher. With the relentless power of Tergrid threatening to drown them, they knew they had to confront the very essence of fear itself and reclaim their power.
Chapter 6: Necromancer’s Gambit
Liliana felt the power of the dark magic coursing through her as she faced the Raven Man, shadows swirling around them like a storm. The air crackled with anticipation, charged with the energy of their impending clash.
“I will not be your puppet again!” she declared, her voice a fierce echo against the darkness. As she called upon the forces of necromancy, tendrils of shadow ensnared the Raven Man, threatening to bind him within her grasp.
“You think you can reclaim what is mine?” he retorted, a wicked smile curling on his lips. “I am the master of shadows!”
With a flick of his wrist, the Raven Man unleashed a wave of magic, but Liliana swiftly countered with a Rise of the Dark Realms. “You won't escape this time!” she shouted, channeling her power to summon the forces of the fallen.
But just as she prepared to deliver the final blow, the atmosphere thickened, and an overwhelming chill swept through the battlefield. Tergrid appeared, her presence commanding and fearsome, her Lantern casting an eerie glow on the chaos unfolding.
Tergrid’s voice rang out, filled with authority that silenced the air.
"Congratulations, I am entretained"
-- (Text from Sheoldred's Edict)
With a swift motion, she raised her Lantern high, directing a spell at the Raven Man. “Grave Pact!” she intoned, weaving deadly magic that twisted the very essence of the battlefield.
Caught off guard and not expecting the sudden onslaught, the Raven Man faltered, his attention shifted away from Liliana.
“No—” he started, whith a panic creeping into his voice.
“What have I done? I’ve given her too much... Too much power!”
Before he could finish, Tergrid unleashed a torrent of dark energy that ripped his life force away, his body convulsing in agony as he fell to the ground.
A chilling silence followed, pierced only by the whispers of the shadows growing louder. Tergrid stepped forward, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“He is mine to command now,” - she proclaimed, twisting the essence of the fallen Raven Man with a wave of her Lantern’s power.
In a heart-stopping moment, Tergrid’s spell claimed him, and the life force he had once wielded was ripped away, leaving only an empty shell. A chilling silence followed, pierced only by the whispers of the shadows.
With a flick of her wrist, Tergrid Reanimate life into him, but it was not a resurrection of freedom. Instead, the Raven Man rose, eyes now devoid of their former cunning, replaced by a cold, lifeless allegiance to Tergrid.
"A demonic pact is all fun and games until the bill comes due," said Liliana, laughing at the Raven Man.
“He is mine now,” Tergrid stated, with satisfaction lacing her words.
“Now, dear Liliana, you will witness the true power of the shadows.”
The Raven Man turned, a marionette now bound to Tergrid’s will, his loyalty reshaped into something sinister. Liliana's heart raced as she recognized the stakes had grown even more dangerous.
Gathering her resolve, Liliana knew she could not falter. The confrontation was not over; it had only just begun.
Chapter 7: Shadows of Defeat
With the overwhelming power of Tergrid and the spirit of the Raven Man cast as her servant, the battlefield shifted. Liliana, Karn, and Ob Nixilis, once brimming with determination, now faced the looming shadows of defeat.
As the dark magic of Tergrid surged through the air, she unleashed her power, attacking both Karn and Ob Nixilis with relentless fury. Liliana felt the urgency of the moment and realized she could only save one of them. Her heart raced as she weighed her options, understanding that Tergrid's influence meant she had to choose carefully.
In a split second, she chose to save Karn, knowing her necromantic skills would allow her to reanimate Ob Nixilis' flesh and bones, but uncertain if she could do the same for a being as intricately constructed as Karn.
“We must hold the line!” - shouted Liliana, channeling her magic to shield Karn from Tergrid’s impending attack.
As Ob Nixilis fell, Liliana felt a jolt of dread course through her; she had made a crucial mistake. It wasn’t just that he had fallen, but Tergrid’s magic started entwining around him, even before he touched the ground, pulling him into her shadowy grasp. The moment he tasted death, she realized he was already under Tergrid's influence due to the sacrifice effect she caused.
“No—Ob Nixilis!” - Liliana shouted.
Before she could react with the Dance of the Dead to reanimate him, Ob Nixilis's expression morphed from shock to anger. “You chose him over me?” he growled, with a mix of betrayal and fury igniting in his eyes. “You thought you could sever our bond so easily?!”
Liliana's heart sank as the truth of the situation washed over her. Time had slipped through her fingers, and now, they were all caught in Tergrid’s lethal web.
_“I… I didn’t have a choice!” _she snapped, desperation in her voice.
Ob Nixilis, now feeling the weight of Tergrid's dark magic, turned against her and Karn. “You will regret this, Liliana!” he shouted, channels of dark energy pooling around him as he prepared to unleash chaos in revenge.
The battle that ensued was fierce, with Liliana and Karn facing off against Ob Nixilis's wrath. The very essence of their past entanglement turned against them, and they fought not just for their lives, but for the essence of their autonomy against the darkness that sought to control them.
As spells clashed and shadows twisted, they fought desperately against the overwhelming tide. Liliana’s heart raced, torn between her allegiance to her own power and the legacy of a partnership that had just turned hostile.
“You think you can defy me?” Tergrid taunted, her voice laced with malice. “You are mere mortals, trapped in shadows you do not understand! Your efforts will be in vain!”
As Liliana struggled to rally her forces, she caught a glimpse of Karn, who stood defiantly despite the enveloping darkness. “We must break through her will!” he urged, but his voice was growing faint as the shadows closed in.
Liliana's heart thudded in her chest as she fought against despair. In a moment of reckoning, she knew they were not just battling Tergrid but the very essence of her fears and failures.
With one last surge of will, she shouted, “We will not succumb! I will rise from these ashes!”
But as the shadows converged, it became clear that the darkness was not merely a backdrop; it was a force designed to consume them whole.
Defeat loomed as Karn and Liliana struggled against the insurmountable tide, their resolve tested and their efforts rendered against the relentless power of the God of Fright.
Chapter 8: The Lantern’s Dominion
The echoes of despair faded into a haunting silence as the battlefield lay strewn with the remnants of their struggle. Terrible shadows lingered over the fallen, binding their souls to the dark will of Tergrid. Liliana, Karn, and Ob Nixilis, once powerful beings in their own right, now found themselves ensnared in an inescapable fate, unable to withstand the overwhelming tide of Tergrid's might.
The battle had turned into a massacre, with Tergrid’s forces overwhelming their every attempt to regain control. Exhausted and battered, Liliana and Karn struggled to maintain their footing, every effort draining their strength as they faced the relentless onslaught. The cries of the fallen rang in their ears, a chilling reminder of the price of their failure.
As darkness swirled around them, Tergrid emerged from the shadows, her presence cold and commanding. The air crackled with her dark energy, and the power radiating from her Lantern suffocated any hope remaining in the air. The weight of defeat hung heavy between Liliana and Karn, palpable as the dark presence loomed closer.
As Tergrid loomed over them, her Lantern glimmered ominously, pulsating with the energy of the vanquished.
“YOU EXIST TO SERVE ME NOW!” she intoned, with a voice carrying an unsettling mixture of triumph and malice.
“For the next thousand years, you are mine, bound by the shadows you sought to escape.”
With a sinister flourish, Tergrid produced a dark, swirling ink from her Lantern, summoning it to form a magical binding.
“Liliana, you will Sign in Blood your pledge,” - she said with an unnerving calm, and then, turning her gaze to Karn with a mocking laugh, she added:
“And you, Shovelhead, use whatever remnants you have inside!”
That nickname, - a playful jab given by Teferi when Karn was first created - hung in the air as a cruel reminder of his origins. The mocking tone cut deeper than expected, striking a chord that resonated with Karn's uneasy resolve.
Liliana felt the chill of defeat wrap around her, the realization sinking in that the very magic she wielded would now be twisted under Tergrid’s control. Slowly, she too accepted the quill, signing her name with a trembling hand as shadows swirled around her.
“Your little agonies will pave the way to My Infinite Power,” Tergrid declared, with satisfaction lacing her words, as the ink began to glow ominously.
As the final stroke was made, Liliana and Karn felt an unbreakable bond form around them. They were now bound to Tergrid’s will; their souls intertwined with her darkness.
The power of her Lantern surged, flooding their minds with visions of fear and servitude. The world around them shifted, as they became part of Tergrid's dark army, intended to carry out her desires across the planes. With hearts weighed down by despair, they understood the true meaning of bondage in the face of overwhelming power.
As shadows enveloped them, the chilling laughter of Tergrid resonated through the silence; a haunting reminder that they were no longer the masters of their fates. They were now instruments of terror, destined to serve the will of the God of Fright for the next thousand years.
Written by: Ernesto Pinilla
