• Sinous looked down the cavern, into the pale torchlight that beckoned to him. His master was in there. His mission was nearly complete. Sinous held the Helmet of Ollric, the last piece to a set of armor crafted by a God. His master already wore the rest of the pitch black set of armor. For too long the world had not known of Divine power. For too long the world had not experienced the works of their creators. It was time for the truth of power to be revealed, and that was the task of the Daemon worship group known as the Cult of Swouldat. Sinous and his master were the very last members of the infamous group. The time was coming for their infamy to become endless power.

    Sinous was a kindly Dwarf, a servant to his cloaked, mysterious master. He, unlike his peers, was banished from the nation of Ye' Khalliof for treason involving a Daemon conspiracy. Sinous fled to the newfound land of Oraklees where he, as well as all others, were welcome. Sinous sneaked aboard the first Oraklic ship he could find, and that was when he met his master, Archiles.

    Archiles was not a Dwarf, and for sure was not kindly. His race was not exactly recognizable, because he belonged to no race. He was a mutant, a cross between a Dark Elf and a Human. He was of medium height, his eyes dark red with bright white pupils. He was scrawny, his strength taken for granted. In his mind, all the strength he needed was that of the mind. He became a well known Warlock in Oraklees, allowing him to basically steal a position in the Naval Militia. He was on the fifth largest ship in the world, sitting at an open window, waiting for enemy ships to pass by. His only task, to sink his enemies. But he took lives not in the name of a King, but of Swouldat, Lord of the Abyss.

    Upon meeting, Archiles killed an Oraklic soldier for his armor, which he gave to Sinous. The refugee had a disguise, a ticket to a long lost freedom. When the ship reached the harbor of Helswor, Archiles and Sinous escaped, only to reunite with the long lost family of Archiles, all of whom were in the Cult of Swouldat. The Moonlit Patron, the mother of Archiles, claimed to have heard a message from Swouldat himself. That was the beginning of the end.

    Sinous took his first step into the cavern, an immediate shadow covering him head to toe. As he slowly walked inward, the daylight faded, and just as it did, he was beside Archiles, hapless as ever and cloaked in pitch black. Sinous, shivering in his dark red robes, was silent.

    "What is the problem, my friend?" Archiles asked. "This is a night of fortune. This is a night we become forces to be reckoned with. Why so desolate?"

    "It's quite obvious your happiness is a mask, Archiles. We both know you suffer." Sinous replied.

    Archiles frowned. "You are right. I suppose emotional honesty should be provided, friend." Sinous looked at the ground, remembering the last words of the Moonlit Patron. It is my request, my sons, that you consider my warnings. You must do as I tell you, Archiles, because the fate of the world depends on it. Archiles, you must be the one to wear the armor of Swouldat, for Sinous is the new bearer of the Voice. Swouldat has asked me to give you names... Archiles shall be the Knight of the Styx. Sinous... you are taking my place in this family. I will call you the Prophet of Urndrao...

    "Archiles, why did your mother call me the Prophet of Urndrao?" Sinous asked as they continued to walk.

    Archiles chuckled a little. "Urndrao is the Daemon world, a realm where the Unholy roam without persecution. It is where we wish to go. Urndao is Swouldat's way of saying Paradise." Archiles explained.

    "Interesting..." Sinous replied.

    "Have you yet heard Swouldat speak?" Archiles asked.

    "No, I haven't." Sinous hesitated in speaking the truth. He did not want to seem weak to his master. They approached a dead end, and at the end was a wall with an encryption on it. Unreadable. "I've heard it is an extremely dramatic experience, though."

    "Yes. Let's hope Mother was correct in naming you the new bearer of the Voice." Archiles said. He approached the encryption, trying to read it. "This is odd..."

    "What, Archiles?" Sinous asked.

    Archiles' vision began to blur, his head growing light and dizzy. "What in the world?" He asked. As he said those words, he fell to the ground, fast asleep. The torch fell with him, suddenly going out. Sinous was left alone in a dark, cold cavern, shivering. He dropped the helmet.

    "By the Gods... What is this?" Sinous asked.

    Madness, my Prophet.

    Those words, spoken with such a deep, gritty voice, rung in Sinous' head. They hurt and soothed his mind at once. He did not know what to think. His breathing became rapid. "Hello?"

    Hello, Prophet. I have some orders for you.

    "Who are you, exactly?"

    Drehal, son of Swouldat, speaking to you from Urndao. We have some orders for you, and they do not involve your master. What do you say we have a little chat, eh?

    The surrounding area suddenly changed from pitch black to a meadow of blood red grass, wavering in the slow wind. The sky was bright red, and around twenty feet away from Sinous was a man with red skin in trimmed, polished black armor. He had three horns on his head, a sword on his back, and a shield in his left hand. With his right hand, he beckoned to Sinous.

    Come to me.