--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          [A Legacy of Despair]
The appearance of Despair has tainted and consumed the entirety of my form and has done so since being created. First, being molded into Count Neron Lunare in the ninety-ninth year of the Midnight Age. Learning the Traditions of the Consanguine, the culture that we have been born into. Giving my unlife to the very one who created us, I devoted my eternity to You, our Dark Mother of Corruption.
Ultimately becoming a creature of strong will, with a strength of presence that inspires loyalty within those around. I find Tradition, Loyalty, and Strength in Soul are what drives me further down Your spiral. The time has come for my Corruption to become Your Manifestation:
A contribution tainted in Your gifts, lessons learned and taught by Your Depraved Soulsmith.

The world landed on my chest and just like that it shattered my heart into pieces
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            [Despair]
This eulogy begins with the very scent of unending despair. As with every season of success comes their droughts of sorrow. After existing as Lunare there came to be a point in time that required more. More than one could do with those taking to slumber. Finding House D'baen, I was an outsider. A Consanguine not of their bloodline, not fitting in quite yet in my youth. It's true, they taught me what it meant to have structure, know strength, and command at will. My first real tastes of avarice as I resided amongst their Ascendancy council for decades, even centuries. Fueled by the desire to forge a legacy that would not be forgotten.
Then the curse of stagnation sank in, taking those whom I trusted and cared greatly for. One by one, watching those of very people rest eternally in their coffins. The death of Queen Belladonna. The crumbling of the Imperium. Year after year of seclusion, one cave to the next. Years turning into decades, decades turning into a century. Until that which I cared most for, took to eternal slumber. My Sire, my closet friend and most trusted of all. Mourning the passing of Athala rippled immensely through my very foundation.
Berating her final resting place with blood rituals, be it with every known kalsu rune or those enhanced by the very souls I capture. Hammering at the very earth till I wore my flesh to the bone, drowning in each wave of sorrow as the realization looms before my eyes. That which I felt I could not exist without, has left me to do so. Not knowing how to handle that which consumed by very being I turned to my own torpor.

Her screams are nothing but an echo in an unforgiving world
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            [Fear]
Through that pit of despair came the familiar face of fear. Through that Fear, my coffin was first found. Upon awakening, there laid the ruins of the very foundations that I helped build, guide, and forge. The absence of a legacy, the absence of all that which I cared for, the absence of a meaningful existence. Fear guided me to unspeakable actions, teetering cowardice as my place was sought for.
Returning from torpor to forsake the very gift of eternity I was given. Finding myself an outcast amongst the living, even for the Enorian standards. I still wore Your gifts freely and found myself chastised and deemed tainted even so. The one known as The Rekindled tried scorching the very corruption out of my soul. Searing flesh to bone, burning every ounce of flesh I was consumed by fire. Having not known only then, that Your very seedlings of corruption had taken root.
It was through those very moments in time that watching my own ashes fade into nothingness. Did I find myself broken and molded into every bit of grotesque beauty. A true creature of Your creation, a tainted soul with the only goal to spread Your words without fear. Standing before Ethne, the Rekindled I found You through her malice. Through that pain, through that fear all that was left was You. Utterly and entirety, You plucked me from those ashes to mold what is now, Your Soulsmith.

                    Even if I burn in the light, with You my existence will be eternal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            [Malice]
Chased from Enorian, the Luminary, and the Templars for a fear they could not control. The sheer manifestation of Your will, I had become that which they could not 'cure'. Their words becoming so twisted, confusing their 'Light' with my tainted soul.
The ache of a failing legacy becoming too much to bear, the path of the Carnifex was laid before me. Stripping myself of senseless pride and claim to glory, I became less than the very warhounds I command now. The anger within boiled, burned the very blood that flowed through my veins. The hammer I wielded became my closest ally, in the wake of my conquest to Malice.
The very claws one may call malice was plaguing their demeanor, their soul, and their mind. Theyquestioned their very beliefs simply with my unending existence as I returned to the Consanguine. My body and mind craved more, needed more. It was through those moments, I found the true calling of my soul.
Becoming one of the Carnifex, and yet craving and desiring every gift You bestow upon us, following the path I sought to forge. I was to be an outsider to their personal cause. Your Sister, Lady Iosyne. Whom the Carnifex followed, and bestowed their devotion towards. I, on the other hand, was consumed by different means and desires. I planted my own seeds within the Keep and ultimately became their religious leader, their Tainted Chaplain. Leading soldiers into battle under Your name, I burrowed my very depravity into those who claimed to be tainted most. In doing so, my soldiers spiraled accordingly, finding themselves Ever Downwards.

                              Death whispers, Darkness heeds, Immortal savagery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            [Might]
Forged through war, molded by fear, consumed by despair there sat an unending rage. A wrath with the face of both Consanguine and Carnifex. The memories of my past, fighting and clawing at the forefronts of my mind. It was through that very intent which drove my will further and with a renewed vigor.
While cleansing those deemed weak, and myself of such weaknesses from the very existence of this plane. Testing myself against those deemed superiors, who claimed to have a reign over me. Tempering my rage with focus, I sought to control that before me. Ascending within the Carnifex as their Commander. For it was my will, and it would be brought forth.
Occupying my past time with becoming the very strength incarnate I desired. Culling the lesser into the very essence You may require. Taking pride in obliterating that which would deify Your will or my desires. The unmasked Might being tempered just as the very steel I wear or wield. Harnessing the very strength of mind, body, and soul.



   Embrace the darkness in your heart and become eternal and consumed into everlasting pleasure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            [Avarice]
I leave the taste of Avarice for last, as this was often my weakest traits amongst Your gifts. Though, as I reflect on my past I believe this to be false and perhaps the strongest of them all. While I was afraid of having a nonexistent legacy and taking to eternal slumber, each of Your Chosen have embraced my survival.
Though word and pen have not been my strongest attributes, it becomes easier as I embrace the truth of what I desire becoming. I wanted a legacy, and I forge it with each waking moment I descend Your spiral. I wanted stature and I found such with the D'baen and Carnifex. I wanted Your approval, and You named me Soulsmith.
I fought myself for years, determining what was or wasn't instead of simply opening my eyes. Once I began to speak, others listened. Once I guided others downwards, they descended appropriately. Once I gave my entirety to You, I became this very creature. I became what I always desired. Strength, Tradition, Loyalty, and endowment of corruption.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was through the very gifts bestowed by Your will that saved me. Learning what it was to have an indomitable will, solely focused on planting those very seeds amongst others. With that, my eternal gratitude will be Yours and Yours alone. For I simply hope and wish You find the words I speak to be true to You and the Spiral.

Eternally Downwards,
Your Soulsmith