First Things First (Part One)

Duke Nightmare was infused with new evil power but at a price unknown to Duke Nightmare. Duke Nightmare had started his life as Alexander Roesone; second in line to the throne of Roesone. Alexander plotted with Traese Noelon, castellan of castle Black Tower, to kill both Alexander’s older sister (Marlae Roesoene) and her Seneschal, Gaered Biersen. With Alexander as the new Black Baron of Roesone, Traese Noelon turned the position of castellan into more of a position of chamberlain or prime minister.

But ruler ship of a domain was not really Alexander’s calling; oh, but he did dear reader enjoy taxation and war. Alexander Roesone invested his lands into Raphael Saberstrike. But the something in the ceremony must have done something, for when Alexander gave power of the land over to Raphael; Alexander got a little something in return. What exactly happened is a mystery but during the investiture ceremony Duke Nightmare came into contact with the inner power of the Red Hood.

Duke Nightmare, under the advice of Kareem, negotiated with an evil wizard going by the name of the Swamp Mage. Duke Nightmare traded a king’s ransom in gold for a magic lamb that would summon an efreet who would grant Duke Nightmare three wishes. The efreet named Firebeard Blackaxe would grant Duke Nightmare his wishes and would forever change Duke Nightmare’s life.

Duke Nightmare, along with Sedrie Bellamie, summoned a nightmare steed from the lower planes. Duke Nightmare feed the dark stallion flakes of platinum in the shape of oats and grains. While the nightmare steed accepted the gift and would allow Duke Nightmare to use the dark stallion for one mission of evil. Duke Nightmare then wished that the steed would serve Duke Nightmare for as many evil missions as Duke Nightmare needed and the efreet, Firebeard Blackaxe made his wish come true.

The second wish from the genie was something out of a Disney movie: Duke Nightmare wished to be a prince. Firebeard Blackaxe told Duke Nightmare that the wish was granted but it would be up to Duke Nightmare to figure out what he became the prince of. And finally for the third and final wish, Duke Nightmare wished that Firebeard Blackaxe would not hold any animosity for the forced servitude. Firebeard Blackaxe enjoyed Duke Nightmare’s bold assertiveness when it came to the first two wishes that the third wish almost made Firebeard Blackaxe laugh out loud. With the last wish, Firebeard Blackaxe would destroy the magic genie lamp and not hold any ill-will against Duke Nightmare.

While the wishes for power and the magical steed really did transform Alexander Roesone into Duke Nightmare, it was the blood-silver spear that helps lead Alexander down a dark path. It was the blood-silver spear that cost Alexander his place in the Church of Cuiraecen, it was the blood-silver spear that kept allies like Trogdor and Bossen-Kessen away, it was the blood-silver spear that gave Duke Nightmare dreams of power and conquest. While Duke Nightmare would only get one real juicy kill from the blood-sliver spear (the Duke of Diemed) until it was stole from him. But even having the spear stolen was not so bad as it lead Duke Nightmare on an adventure that would net him the Dark Cauldron, the Eye of the Warlock, and a vast treasury of gold, weapons and armor, and most importantly: information.

When Duke Nightmare learned of the completion of the second wish whilst traveling through dimensions, trying to return from the Astral back to the Prime Material. In-between the planes of existence the Shadow World looms and blocks the direct path between planes: one has to cross the Shadow World to gain access between the Astral and the Prime Material Planes. When confronted by the shadow barrier, Duke Nightmare was greeted by liaisons from the Unseelie, the court of the dark fairies. When brought to the court of Lussina, the Dark Queen of the Unseelie, Duke Nightmare was greeted and treated as a prince of the fairies.

And that is exactly what Lussina told Duke Nightmare; that Alexander Roesone’s mother was a fairie that had traveled to the Prime and mated with a mortal. Lussina told Duke Nightmare that his mother was locked up in one of three towers were Lussina kept all three of her evil daughters. Lussina could not move to kill her daughters for betraying her so they were forever condemned to languish in solitary confinement. Lussina instead that Duke Nightmare was her grandson and that Alexander should show her the same respect (it was after this that we started referring to Lussina as “Grand Mama”).