Outcast from merfolk society, Marlin answered the call of The Abyss. In exchange for his servitude to The Abyss, Marlin was gifted powerful magic. But this pact would take a toll on his body, darkening his red scales and sprouting gnarled horns.
He tried to keep the source of his magic a secret, but it would only be a matter of time before it was discovered. And when it was, The Abyss ordered Marlin to take up an eldritch scepter and rain terror across the seas.

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This is for a contest over on deviantART.

I've worked on this for about a week now. I wanted to do more illustrations and the idea of an abyssal warlock popped into my head while trying to think of an entry. The image was so strong in my head that I just had to do this.