Verse 0: A Friend
"The universe gutters down towards cold entropy. Life is an engine that burns up energy and produces decay. Life builds selfish, stupid rules — morality is one of them, and the sanctity of life is another.
These rules are impediments to the great work. The work of building a perfect, undying creation, a civilization everlasting. Something that cannot end.
If a civilization cannot defend itself, it must be annihilated. If a King cannot hold his power, he must be betrayed. The worth of a thing can be determined only by one beautiful arbiter — that thing's ability to exist, to go on existing, to remake existence to suit its survival."
To know or guess the will of a higher power is often perceived as religion, as a cult, or maybe a fool's gambit. But in this case, it's a fundamental truth of the universe, nothing spiritual or mystical about it. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Welcome, welcome, it is a pleasure to speak to you. Some of you may know me as Toland. To the others, you may refer to me as a Friend. I will be your helpful repertoire of knowledge on ancient Hive arcana. And, of course, the sharp-edged logic of swords. Guiding the uninitiated toward a final battle of spectacular futility used to be my specialty, you know. Forgive me if I'm a little rusty.
Alright alright. Enough enough. That's enough about me, for now. You seek a story, so you not? You seek to understand what brought you here. And most of all you want to know the grand architect of this design.
Revelation, my friends, it will go down hard.
I drive myself to the edge of madness trying to explain the truth. Would you like to know it? It's not difficult, I promise. Just listen for a second-LISTEN!
It is a shape, the queen of shapes, the Perfect Final Shape, as a matter of fact. It's so simple. Elegant like a knife point. It explains - this is not hyperbole, this is the farthest thing from exaggeration - EVERYTHING-
"Existence is the struggle to exist."
That's not difficult to understand, is it? Do you get it? This is integral for you, given what you will come to know. It's a beautiful thing. I ask that you keep this in mind, dear listener. You feel doubts, I'm sure. Don't worry, I'm used to such critical opposition. But you, YOU, I think, truly understand.
I wish there were more like you, like me. This law we have come to understand, it defines what everything is. It's a simple law, but it has no worshipers here, in this realm of heroes and royalty you love so much (Out there, though! Out there!). At least...it didn't. You want to know more?
Soon!
There are beings in this universe that transcend anything you have ever known. I won't try to explain the metaphysics here, and even if I did they would peel apart before this foe. His name is Xol, a Worm God, and he is hungry. The worms don't feed like we do. They have mouths, but no lips. They have stomachs, but they don't digest in the same way their name would imply. The answer, then, is simple.
They feed on death.
So, in way, this is just preparation for a banquet. A nice dinner, where the soul-fire of all those slain lay on the table, glimmering. A battlefield makes a rich feeding ground, then. Does this disgust you? Make you feel sick? Don't feel that way. That's weakness.
We will speak more, eventually. I have quite the tale for you, whichever side you might come from. I do have question for you though, dear listener. I very simple question, and...a forewarning.
Are you afraid to watch your beloved characters burn? To succumb?
Are you afraid of what they might become? What? You don't understand? Let me clarify.
There are other ways to feed the worm that hungers.