The Clearing Eliza

<p>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. </p><p>THE CLEARING </p>