The Theft of the Book of Cagliostro was a successful mission undertaken by Kaecilius and the Zealots to steal the Book of Cagliostro from the Kamar-Taj library, seeking rituals from the book's texts in order to contact Dormammu. After locating and stealing the necessary pages pertaining to the ritual, the Ancient One confronted and engaged the Zealots in battle inside the Mirror Dimension. Despite this, the Zealots were still able to escape with the book.
Background[]
Having lost his wife and unborn son, Kaecilius desperately sought to understand why his family died. This led him to Karl Mordo, who introduced him to a Celtic sorcerer known only as the Ancient One. Under her tutelage, Kaecilius became a member of the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
Eventually, Kaecilius began to feel unsatisfied with the knowledge his mentor had shared with him. After learning that several other Masters were also unsatisfied, Kaecilius formed the Zealots with the sole purpose of seeking the truths that the Ancient One had denied them.
Remembering a ritual that would allow the Zealots to summon the entity Dormammu, Kaecilius planned to steal it from the Book of Cagliostro, which was kept under close observation in the library of Kamar-Taj.[3]
Battle[]
- "Master Kaecilius... That ritual will bring you only sorrow."
- ―The Ancient One to Kaecilius[src]
Upon infiltrating the library, the Zealots overpowered and restrained the librarian before watching as Kaecilius calmly decapitated him with his Scythe Daggers. He then located the Book of Cagliostro and found the ritual, which he ripped out of the book.
The Zealots in the Mirror Dimension
The Ancient One suddenly appeared and advised against performing the ritual, prompting Kaecilius to open a portal so he and the Zealots could escape. The Ancient One followed them through the portal to London before trapping them in the Mirror Dimension so they could not endanger innocent lives.
Although the Zealots restrained her legs, the Ancient One escaped with ease and conjured her Tao Mandalas, which she used to take out several Zealots. She them took on all of the Zealots including Hugh Goodbody, who she killed. Knowing how powerful Ancient One was, Kaecilius used his Sling Ring to open a portal so he could escape with his remaining followers. As the ran away, Ancient One jumped off of the building and walked away, restoring the warped landscape before exiting the Mirror Dimension.[4]
Aftermath[]
Kaecilius spent several months to decipher the ritual that, upon its performance, granted the Zealots access to the Dark Dimension as well as unparalleled control over the Mirror Dimension. He then prepared to launch an attack on the three Sanctums and leave Earth vulnerable to Dormammu. This attack was nearly successful as Dormammu was able to take over Hong Kong. However, Doctor Strange used the Eye of Agamotto to trap Dormammu in a time loop to create a deal that he were to leave Earth alone. Strange returned to Earth with everything back to normal. Kaecilius and his Zealots were then turned into Mindless Ones and transported to the Dark Dimension, being able to live for eternity.[4]