In the depths of Umbrawood, where the light of the mortal world is but a forgotten memory, Krylos reigns supreme as the Devourer of Shadows. His name is spoken only in hushed whispers among those who know the truth of the dark forest, for Krylos is more than a lord of shadows—he is the embodiment of fear itself. To gaze into his realm is to face the darkest recesses of one’s own soul, where every secret fear and hidden sin take shape and hunt in the twilight. Krylos is a creature of pure shadow, his form constantly shifting and flowing like the darkness he commands. He does not appear as other demons might; he is the darkness itself, a living void from which there is no escape. His eyes burn like embers through the blackness, two points of malevolent light that see into the very heart of a soul’s terror. His presence twists reality, warping the senses and causing even the most stalwart to question what is real and what is illusion.
The Umbrawood
Krylos's domain, the Umbrawood, is a labyrinth of shadow and fog, a forest where time and space lose meaning. The deeper one ventures, the more disoriented they become, lost in a nightmare from which they cannot wake. The trees are ancient, twisted things, their blackened branches stretching like claws toward a sky of endless twilight. Every sound in the forest is a whisper of forgotten horrors, every step a descent into madness.
Master of Fear
Unlike many of the other archfiends, Krylos does not rule with brute force or overwhelming might. His power lies in subtlety, in the manipulation of perception and fear. His servants—the Nightstalkers—are creatures of shadow, shifting in and out of sight, their forms taking on whatever will drive the souls they pursue to madness. Krylos revels in the hunt, taking pleasure in watching souls crumble under the weight of their own terror, consumed by shadows both real and imagined.
The Sin of Deceit
Those who find themselves condemned to Umbrawood are often those who thrived on deceit, betrayal, and manipulation. They are souls who used the shadows of society to advance their own agendas, weaving lies and treachery. Now, they are trapped in a world where the shadows are their greatest enemy, where their own sins manifest as hunters that will never tire, and they are forever pursued by the darkness they once embraced. Krylos cares not for the soul’s screams; to him, it is the quiet fear, the moment of realization when the soul understands there is no escape, that fuels his eternal hunger. For in his forest, there is no dawn—only the endless night.
The Umbrawood is a twisted and sinister forest, where light dares not tread. The trees here are gnarled and black, their branches stretching like skeletal hands toward the blood-red sky. A thick, inky fog perpetually blankets the forest floor, obscuring all but the faintest outlines of the path ahead. Time itself seems to warp in this forsaken place—an hour may feel like a lifetime, or a century may pass in the blink of an eye. The air is heavy with dread, and an unnatural silence pervades the forest, broken only by the distant whispers of unseen horrors.
Inhabitants:
The souls who wander here are those who reveled in deceit and manipulation in life, using their cunning to twist reality for their own gain. Now, they are pursued by Nightstalkers, shadowy creatures that blend with the darkness and stalk their prey with silent precision. These creatures are born from the fear and paranoia of the souls trapped here, taking the form of whatever their victims fear most. Other inhabitants include shades—ghostly remnants of lost souls, forever wandering in a state of confusion and despair.
Sins:
Those sent to Umbrawood were often masters of deception—liars, betrayers, and manipulators who thrived on bending the truth to their will. Politicians who abused their power, con artists who preyed on the weak, and backstabbers of all sorts find their punishment in the eternal darkness of Umbrawood, where their own fears turn against them.