#a different kind of evoker/vex lore than I normally write

[convexicalcrow]

Cub made the journey down to the ancient city like many other evokers before him, leading a single allay behind him. He'd only found one this time, but one was always better than none. Poor thing had been so keen to help, and was indeed still clutching the book Cub had accidentally dropped that had summoned the creature. It wouldn't be holding for much longer.

His journey was silent, taking careful steps as he made his way to the camp the evokers always used for this particular ritual. The tent was long gone, with only remnants of the wool canvas clinging to sticks and logs and bits of rope. The skulk did erode pretty much everything down here.

The allay didn't seem scared as Cub tied it to a fence post and took the book from it. It flitted around, freed of its obligation, straining to be free from the lead. Not today. Not until it had been utterly corrupted.

Cub lay the book down on a slab of skulk-free stone and opened it to the ritual he needed. This had been taught to him long ago when he became an evoker, when the Vex had claimed him for his remarkable skill with magic, and he'd served them faithfully ever since. He'd corrupted so many allays in his time. His personal army of Vex was the largest amongst the evokers on this world.

Cub went over to the allay and lifted its little head. It seemed to have some kind of old injury on its face, which was rare to see. Allays usually had really good regeneration abilities, so the fact that this one carried a scar was indeed an interesting discovery. Something must have wounded it quite savagely for that to happen.

"So trusting. So helpful. Such kind souls. Pity. You'll serve me much better soon enough. There'll be no helping, just killing. Just feeding. So much feeding. You'll never hunger once you're a Vex. Can't corrupt what isn't already there," Cub said, almost cooing at the creature as it didn't seem to flinch or realise it was in any danger. "I think I'll call you Scar. Give you a nice orange collar. Yes, that will do."

The allay made a soft sound as Cub let it go. He returned to his book and started preparing the ingredients needed for the ritual. He got a cauldron positioned over the fire and harvested some skulk veins and mushrooms. Much of this was muscle memory now and he slipped into a light meditative state where he could almost feel the Vex touching his mind.

His robes felt light, and his hands worked effortlessly. The sweet taste of Vex magic pooled on his tongue and he channeled it into his work, mixing all the ingredients together as he chanted low and steady, words he had said a thousand times or more, keeping his voice soft enough to not attract any unwanted attention.

"Sancti tenebrarum, potentiam meam magnificate. Holy beings of the darkness, may you magnify my power."

The words unleashed the power of the Vex, flowing through his hands and into his work. He stirred the potion, spoke more holy words over it, and prepared the collar with its own magic to keep the Vex bound close to him. He engraved its name along the side, "the Vex Scar, belonging to the Evoker Cub," binding the allay with words as well as a transformation. It would never stray.

The chanting went on for another hour, by which time Cub was in a heavy trance, his body owned entirely by the Vex who worked through him to finish the magic. He scooped some of the finished potion into a small bowl and bid the allay to drink, and it did so without question, because allay never questioned anything, the silly creatures. That's what made them perfect for this.

Cub felt the darkness fall all around him, clouding his vision, as he fastened the collar around the allay who was now crying softly as the transformation began. He did always like the sound of their helplessness. The magic binding them together pulsed strongly once he'd secured the collar, and he watched as the allay's skin darkened, and its flesh rotted away from its wings, and its eyes burned bright white. It would stink of death soon enough.

It broke free from the lead as the corruption came to an end, flying straight to Cub's chest to cling to him tightly. He gently held the little Vex, feeling its excite, hungry energy, and offered a finger for the creature to bite. Its little hands held his finger close as it fed, and Cub smiled, stroking its head with his thumb.

"That's right, feed, little one, enjoy the taste of blood on your lips and the soaring energy that comes from it. This is your life now, Scar. You're mine forever," Cub murmured.

The Vex seemed to laugh, and flew around a little, exploring its new form. Cub held a palm out and the Vex landed there, iron sword held tightly. When do we kill?, it sent to him, its voice joining the thousands of others in the Vex chorus that Cub had grown.

"Soon, soon, my little friends. There are, after all, many players on this world. You'll get your feed, don't you worry about that."