BEFORE KINGDOMS ROSE OR FAITHS RULED, A BROTHERHOOD EXISTED, HIDDEN IN THE DEEPEST SHADOWS OF THE EARTH THE DARVISHAN-E-ZULMAT, THE SEEKERS OF DARKNESS. THEY GATHERED IN A DESOLATE VALLEY UNTOUCHED BY LIGHT, WHERE THE SKY ABOVE LAY STRIPPED OF STARS, AND THE AIR THICKENED BY THEIR RITES HELD A SILENCE SO DEEP IT FELT SUFFOCATING. CLIFFS ENCASED THE VALLEY LIKE JAGGED FANGS, TRAPPING A FOG THAT SMOTHERED EVERYTHING BENEATH IT. EVEN THE TWISTED TREES SEEMED TO COWER, THEIR ROOTS TWISTED AND KNOTTED, STEEPED IN CURSES WHISPERED ACROSS LIFETIMES.

THE CLEARING