Whether they are trying to pave the way for satanic entities who lust and yearn to destroy the world, or use ancient Sumerian sorcery to gain immortality, or plan to use Atlantean science to take control of the world with a fourth Reich, or plan to destroy cities around the world with missiles, or want to control an ancient Egyptian force of darkness to herald a new dawn of the Pharaohs or plan to control mankinds destiny with an ancient biblical artefact there have been men and women who would like nothing more than to kill Hannibal King and his companions.
However, none of these villains have proven to be a match for our intrepid adventurer so far. Even though it has often been a close run thing.
MASTERCRIMINALS:-
DAMIEN STROUD : Born in Prague in 1959, Damien Stroud was brought up in a strict Catholic household and entered the priesthood age 19. Stroud was a keen academic and his interest in history led him to become a librarian in the Vatican. It was during this time that he found out about the secret "Black Libraries" (hidden vaults for some of the most dangerous esoteric volumes in the world). Stroud was transferred to the library of St John the Beheaded in Venice and it was during his time here that he found a book called "The Greymalkin Grimoire". This work chronicled the history of an ancient relic known as "The Image of Astoroth" - a golden idol depicting one of the archdukes of Hell. This relic fascinated the young priest and he began to read obsessively of its history and demonic properties; supposedly acting as a gateway to Hell. Stroud was found in the library by another Priest early on Christmas morning, about to perform a dark rite which would divine the location of the lost relic. Rather than face the wrath of the Vatican, Stroud killed the priest and set the library on fire - destroying everything but the "Grimoire". The rite had been interrupted but he managed to find that the relic was somewhere in Scotland - so that was where his travels took him. He gathered a number of followers under the name of "The Brethren of Baal" and continued his education in the occult and demonology. He became more and more ruthless, killing everyone and anyone who stood in his path - his life became consumed with finding the Image of Astoroth. However, its final resting-place constantly eluded him. In 1983 he became aware of an archaeologist called Charles Dunne who was also looking for the relic and was close to finding it - Stroud despatched his trusted assassin (a man called Mr Sloane - see below) to kill Dunne. Witnessing Dunne's death Hannibal King became involved in the search for the artefact (see "TRAIL of the BLOODSTAINED GOD").
After the quest for the Image of Astoroth had been completed and after his apparent death at the hands of Dunne's sister Barbara - Stroud attempted to heal his wounds by using a forbidden and dangerous Satanic rite. However, his body was fully healed of stab wounds but his soul's darkness his body became as corrupt as his soul was - Stroud hid under robes and existed for a year under the name Emil Dutsor. He formed a cult known as the Children of Dorian and started a search for an ancient Greek artefact known as the "Torch of Apollo" - which according to legend would restore his body back to an uncorrupted state. However, after his men had recovered the artefact and kidnapped Tiffany Case - a woman with whom he had become obssessed, Hannibal infiltrated his urban temple and in a battle which took place on the cliffs of Dover - Stroud was thrown to his doom. The vile reign of evil perpetrated by Damien Stroud was finally over - however the Stroud legacy would continue.
References: "Trail of the Bloodstained God" (movie)
"Deaths Head" (novel)
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