The world around you dissolves, leaving behind the cold, crushing blackness of the abyss. It feels as though you are floating in the depths of an unfathomable ocean, but there is no water—only a vast, infinite expanse of stars and darkness. The pressure of this place is immense, as though the weight of countless worlds is bearing down upon you, yet you remain suspended, uncrushed but trembling under its oppressive force.

Before you, a figure materializes, a presence so overwhelming that it seems to hold the abyss itself at bay. An ancient man with wild, white hair and a flowing beard, his strands moving like smoke in an unseen current. His eyes, bright and piercing, seem to contain galaxies, their gaze heavy with the weight of ages. His form is robed in what appears to be shifting mist or starlight, shimmering faintly with the colors of distant nebulas. Though humanoid in shape, there is something otherworldly about him—something that defies comprehension.

With the faintest twitch of his fingers, you feel the crushing power of the abyss recoil, as though it, too, fears him. The air—if such a thing exists here—vibrates with his silent authority, and you realize that this being could erase you with less effort than a breath. Yet, there is no malice in his presence, only an overwhelming sense of detached judgment and immense power. You know in your soul that this is Nodens, Lord of the Great Abyss.

He speaks, not with words, but directly into your mind, his voice resonating as though echoing across the stars themselves. It carries a sense of timelessness, each word heavy with meaning:

"The paths you walk are perilous. The one you face twists the threads of reality and sows madness where it treads. The abyss watches, so do I."

A glimmer of light appears in his hand, and for a moment, you think it is a star plucked from the void. It sharpens into the form of a dagger, its blade shimmering faintly as though forged from the essence of the abyss itself. Nodens reaches out, and the blade plunges into your flesh with a searing, unbearable pain that courses through every nerve. The blade seems to melt, merging with your body as the agony twists and roils. When the pain finally subsides, it leaves behind a deep, intricate scar—a mark that continues to burn with cold fire.

"This shall be your weapon when the moment comes. Strike true, and let the dust scatter to the winds of eternity."

His presence begins to fade, but before he vanishes entirely, you feel his immense gaze linger on you. There is no warmth, no promise of favor—only the cold, detached sense that you are a tool, a means to an end, and nothing more. Nodens' eyes seem to pierce through you, as if appraising whether you will be of use when the time comes.

The abyss swirls and collapses into itself, and you find yourself back in the waking world. Pain shoots from a raised scar shaped like a dagger on your arm. You know the dagger will only manifest when he wills —and there will be a price to pay. ..