Pumpkin-King

A decayed portal near the entrance of Oranbega is reassembled by the Circle of Thorn Mystics. Unaware of where the portal leads, the Circle gathers a small task force to gather intelligence and take over the land if possible. Upon arrival, the Circle finds themselves deep within a dark forest of trees, some with curious designs on their trunks. Outside the forest, they discover a ghoulish town where nothing is ordinary...for decaying creatures walk about and the town is lit by everlasting moonlight. The Circle gathers a small invasion squad, believing these creatures to be of no threat, and attacks the citizens of the town. They might have taken the town by storm, had it not been for a certain skeleton man who rules the land. The Circle of Thorns had somehow discovered Halloween Town! A brief battle ensued, but the invasion squad wasn't prepared for the screams and power of Jack's horrific magic.

The Thorns retreated deep within the forest to their portal, with Jack and his eldest son Shade persuing them. Jack and his son were able to prevent the mystics from opening any of the other Holiday Land's doors, and the remaining Circle retreated back through the portal.

Knowing that this invasion might be only the beginning, Jack devises a course of action. He'll contact "Sandy Claws" to warn him and the other Holiday lands about the Thorns. Not wishing to leave Halloween Town defenseless, Jack stays near the portal to guard from further attacks, and decides to send Shade through the portal to investigate just who these "Thorns" were.

Shade arrived near the entrance to Oranbega, clouded in his mysterious Shadowfall to prevent detection. After climbing through the catacombs to the surface, Shade finds himself in a strange land filled with sunlight, skyscrapers, and villany. It was shocking that the people did not find his appearance unusual. In Paragon City, the people, for better or worse, were used to odd appearances. After saving a citizen from an attack by a skull wearing Hellion, he asked about the Circle of Thorns. The citizen only knew they were fearful, and said all Super Heroes get their information from City Hall. Curious about what the citizen meant by a "Super Hero", Shade went to the City Hall, and spoke to the MAGI representative.

Shade knew that if he ever hoped to stop the Circle of Thorns, he would have to help all of those in need, and not just his home. But as the spitting image of Jack Skellington, he wasn't able to strike the fear he needed. To help him, he used his dark magic to fashion a new costume of terror and fear. With his new costume complete, Shade donned the Mantle of his father, and became this realm's Pumpkin-King!