Post by Test on Nov 25, 2023 18:15:13 GMT -5
We’re at an ECE house show Hardcore Lenny and Grimmstone have just taken out their anger over their recent loss on X-Rated on a pair of local jobbers in a tune-up match. They stand in the middle of the ring celebrating their victory as their music plays. After celebrating their victory for several seconds, their music stops and the lights go out. JackHammer: What the hell?? Is this Solom Noctourne again?? Cecil: Are you freaking kidding me?! The Fog Theme by John Carpenter starts playing as the tron lights up with a video feed at an old 18th century cemetery. The purple hue of blacklight illuminates the ring as the Disciples watch the tron intently. It is the dead of night; the owls hoot, the wolves howl, and the wind blows like the moaning of a tortured spirit. The camera shifts forward deep into the cemetery until it arrives at an old mausoleum. The stone doors creak open, and the camera view descends down the concrete steps into the dark below. All the while the sounds of a fight grow louder, as the camera reaches a dimly lit chamber. Suddenly loud, guttural screams echo throughout as we come up on a makeshift ring with no ropes and a concrete floor; upon which Solom Noctourne has a woefully inexperienced sparring partner locked into the Clutch of Death and violently tapping out in his attempt to end the excruciating pain. Solom doesn’t release the hold until his unfortunate victim passes out from all the pain. Solom stands up with his back to the camera as he covers himself in the pitch black robe and shrouds his face in the hood once again. Then he turns to face the camera with a sick Cheshire grin on the chalky white painted lower part of his face that could be seen. Solom: Well Disciples, congratulations on your meaningless victory. It’s about damn time you finally won another match, Lenny! I’ll deal with you in a bit, but first I shall indulge you, and answer the question that is eating away at you: Who is Solom Noctourne? Solom steps over the unconscious jobber and down a small set of steps to the floor of this creepy make-shift gym. The camera follows him down a side tunnel and into a room with several wrestling title belts mounted on the stone walls. In between the belts on display is a painting of a very tall wrestler dressed all in black with long hair that shrouded his face in shadow, and he sits on a large gothic throne. Solom stops by the painting and addresses the camera again. Solom: In another era, there was a legend of professional wrestling known simply as the Night. He was indeed the very personification of the night, and the very apex of the Darkness. Night saw unparalleled success, won countless world championships, and even tag team championships with his brother and tag team partner. WOW, CCW, and more. He conquered them all as world champion, and struck fear in the very souls of each and every superstar lucky enough to share a locker room with him. They all fell before him and they all learned one way or another, to fear…the…DARK! The camera pans around to the various title belts: CCW World Championship, WOW World Championship, several others, several pairs of world tag team title belts, and photos of Night raising belts in victory. Solom: Night had his era, but now the time has come for a new era. In this new era, the Night has sent forth his progeny to carry on the torch—to carry on the title of the one TRUE Master of Darkness! I am the chosen successor of the Night, the Archfiend of Anarchy, the Nebula of the Night! Learn my name children, and know it well; for the name of the one true Master of Darkness that stands before you today is, SOLOM NOCTOURNE! The camera follows Solom as he walks out of the room and back to the main chamber where he had been training. Solom: Now then, let’s get to the business at hand shall we? Let’s talk about these “Disciples of Darkness.” In particular, their leader Hardcore Lenny, and his right hand man, Grimmstone. I have been watching you “disciples” for a while now. I wanted to see how true your discipleship of the Darkness really is. Quite frankly boys, what I’ve seen from you is pathetic! You fought amongst yourselves, and then at Crash & Burn you two had an opportunity to become tag team champions. Did you seize the moment? NO! You lost! to the Prodigies! They’re a joke of a team; a pair of lightweight pushovers, and you should have destroyed them! That brings us to the last two weeks of X-Rated, and the “leader” of the Disciples himself—Hardcore Lenny. First, the Disciples faced the Prodigies again; all three of them. This time, without Lenny. Isn’t that interesting? The result? The Disciples got the job done. Well done. However, Lenny had his own match that night: one on one vs. the US champion, Miller Magnum. You had a golden opportunity to make a statement in front of the whole world. All you had to do was beat the self-proclaimed “goat.” You failed! You lost! Are we starting to see a pattern here?! On the latest X-Rated, I gave you another opportunity, Lenny, and you squandered it! I removed Grimmstone from the match, gave you an opportunity to stand on your own two feet as the leader you claim to be, and put away the Enterprise all by yourself. It was there for the taking, and you CHOKED! You failed! You LOST! Again!! Lenny, Lenny, Lenny. Today we are at a crossroads, and all paths run through War Games. Anarchy & Rage get another shot at the tag team champions. To the two of you, this time get the job done! You won’t have Lenny as your excuse for failure this time. Lenny, as for you, you’re facing “Maverick” Matt Justice—a glorified enhancement “talent” half your size. This should be a walk in the park, so do yourself a favour, and make your statement! Your back is to the wall now, and if you fail yet again, the consequences for you will be very dire indeed. Finally, the Master of Darkness himself makes his ECE debut. The lots have been cast, the match has been made, and my first sacrifice has been decided: Grimmstone. Fear not, though, Grimmstone. This is not your doom; no, not yet. This is your audition. In the ring, one on one, face to face with the very personification of your deepest, darkest fears! You don’t even have to win the match. You are facing the greatest challenge of your entire career; so tempered expectations, right? After all, I made pretty short work of you on X-Rated the first time, now didn’t I? If you don’t rise to the occasion this time, well perhaps that incubus Syn will see for herself that there is now a better option? {Solom licks his lips} Hahaha. At War Games, the future of the Disciples of Darkness will be decided. How many of you will actually rise to the occasion and show me your worth? How many will I have to throw back into the fires of hell to reforge into my own pitch black image? I see potential in most of you, but Lenny… Heheh, tick tock my child, tick tock. For you, the sands of the hour glass are very quickly running out. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Who is this new guy barking orders at us like he owns us?! I’ve just told you of the championship pedigree from whence I came. Doubt me if you wish, that’s your folly. At War Games you will see for yourself the depths of the Darkness that courses through my being. You chose to call yourselves Disciples of Darkness, so prove your authenticity! The Darkness will soon consume ECE. That is an inevitability. Either you earn your place in its fellowship, or you fall aside in its wake. Rise or fall; make your choice! Should you doubt the veracity of my words, let me give you a sneak preview of what just might lie ahead for the Disciples of Darkness, and how far goes the reach of Solom Noctourne’s power…. Solom walks passed the camera, which turns around to reveal some kind of altar area. There stand motionless, two masked superstars with Solom stepping between them and turning back to face the camera. These two superstars look oddly familiar.  JackHammer: Wait, is that…is that Eddie Black and Bryan Stryker?? Cecil: What the hell?! Solom: As you can see, lads, I have already acquired a pair of loyal acolytes. They have been reborn as my Reapers! Don’t worry, though. They shall remain in the shadows for now, and our business at War Games shall be conducted…unabated. You all know what you must do. It’s time for all of you to show me your worth, and prove your undying allegiance to the Darkness. Unfortunately for you, Grimmstone, you have been chosen to be the vessel of penance for the failures of your brethren. You will become the first sacrifice of Solom Noctourne! Solom steps up to the top of the altar, where sits a shiny black goblet. Solom picks it up, swirls it like a glass of fine wine, raises it as if for a toast, and then drinks. Some of the blood from the goblet trickles down his chin as he savors his macabre beverage. He then sets the goblet back down on the alter as he lifts his head and spits a volley of blood into the air. He turns to the camera and laughs as he tips the goblet over towards the camera, and the remaining blood spills down the front of the altar and down the steps below. Solom: The hour of the archfiend is quickly approaching! The Nebula of the Night will soon arrive! At War Games, the Dark Age of ECE begins, and the Darkness will consume it all! Thus sayeth….  Solom reaches behind the altar and brandishes a somewhat crooked staff. He turns and slams it down on the steps front and centre for the camera to see. It is topped with what looks like some kind of lantern constructed from a severed head with the light of blue flames emanating out of its empty eyes and mouth like some kind of jack-o-lantern.  JackHammer: Wait, that head! That looks like…that’s Grimmstone’s head! That’s Grimmstone’s head on a stick! Cecil: What the hell is going on?! JackHammer: Lenny and Grimmstone are just looking on at Grimmstone’s own severed head on a stick on the tron!! The crypt fills up with smoke as the scene fades to black, but the haunting image of the Grimmstone head-staff lingers on the tron. |