All This Twisted Glory

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence.

Cyrus of Nara, the younger prince of Tulan, was never thirsty for political power. People thought the beautiful copper-haired prince was odd, since he could not speak until he was three, when he fell out of a palace window, tumbling over many rooftops to land in the temple of the Diviners, the powerful magicians of Tulan. A Diviner reassured him telepathically that he was fine, and a delighted Cyrus exclaimed aloud that what the Diviners did was magic: these were his first words. Since that moment, Cyrus was certain his destiny was to be a Diviner. He shunned his royal duties, traveling nearly every day through the tunnel that led to the temple of the Diviners to train with the priests. Cyrus gave up regal robes and cut his hair, dressing in the inky-black garment of the temple. It was understood that Cyrus’s older brother would be the next ruler of Tulan.

By the time Cyrus was close to 20, his training had already advanced enough that he was close to priesthood. However, weeks from this honor, Cyrus made a deal with Iblees, the devil, for undisclosed reasons.