Upon the seventh day of the seventh month were the Elder Knights called unto the spire - even unto the chapel which is called Perilous. And it came to pass that those knights whom had taken each the Vow of the Abyss and whom The Old Lord did grant favor, did perform the rite which is to summon forth The Old Lord unto communion. Among them were counted six in number and myself also and unto each was given to cast his lot that among them may be chosen a champion for to take upon himself the Glaive as Paladin. And it came to pass upon the drawing of lots that my lot was chosen and it is for this cause that my words are here written that an account may be given.

Knowing well the duty of the Paladin, I did forthwith become exceedingly fearful and did feel the temptation known only unto those chosen upon the turn of the aeon. Great were the tremors of my bones and greater still was the trembling of my soul. There about me were the brethren and there before me stood the great graven stones. The likeness of Paladins past stood on either side and in the center - The Old Lord, whose name none save for The Paladin may invoke.

And it came to pass that I was stripped of my raiment and laid bare before the brethren. Then did they wash me ceremoniously as is the custom. From me was washed all impurity and upon me was poured oil from many vessels. Then upon my frame placed they the Abyssal Armor and unto me was given The Glaive Of The Abyss - each having passed forth from Paladin unto Paladin through the aeons, that their weight may bear upon me evermore. Then, straightway, I heard a mighty clamor, as if from the swirling and churning of the sea. Then from the great graven stone of the Old Lord before me came a voice which thundered forth, and all thereabout laid upon the ground as if drawn unto the earth. And there stood I in the midst of the graven stones and unto me spake the voice saying:

"A hero is forged not in light alone, but in darkness also. It is not only what a man hath, but what he hath given up that maketh him righteous. As the serpent is renewed by the shedding of skin, so must the son of man shed that of himself which doth not serve - a sacrifice which must come to pass that he be raised up unto perfection. Only by passage through the fires of Hell may the savior emerge - refined. To stand steadfast in thy darkness is to extinguish that light that is within thee - inherent. Likewise, ignorance of thy darkness shall lead only to greater darkness. Only by the light shall ye be renewed but only by the acceptance of thy darkness and its transmutation into light.

When the whole of thy mind is of one accord - when both heaven above and the accursed beneath conspire together for the goal upon which thou hast set them - then is thy will perfected. Then is thy word law. On that day, ye shall say unto the mountain, 'Thou art banished' and by the thrust of thy glaive, it shall be done. Gather strength my chosen and rise perfected unto life eternal. Savor that weight that beareth down upon thee, for such is the burden of glory. On this day, unto all is born a legend - A Black Paladin. Every knee shall bend and every tongue shall uplift thy name from aeon unto aeon and ye alone may take for thyself my oath:

'I am The Black Paladin
Mine is The Glaive Of The Abyss and the words by which it is called forth
Mine is royalty and mine is honor
Mine is strength and mine is peace
Mine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory and every magick - above or below - that cometh forth from the aether'
So hath spoken Desporoth"



Huge thanks to Kurt Ferrer for the amazing artwork!