LordCommander

The Sword of the Divine

Before there was Argos, there was Azazel; The Daemon of Glory, a proud yet honorable warrior. His first mentions were during the Wars of Creation against the Void, slaying horror after horror with the zeal and dedication that few could match. Always wanting to earn the respect of his divine peers and best his rivals, he was mostly disliked by his peers. Some due to his arrogance and self-centered nature, and others due to his war-loving tenancies. Azazel was ignorant of their criticisms, surrounding himself with his servants and followers who only shout praises to his name.

During his many battles with the Voidal abominations, that was when he was most well-received, where even the Aenguls would speak well of his fighting skills. The praise of his peers continued to please the Warrior Daemon genuinely. His confidence seemingly unending and ever growing, his vibrant speeches to his flashy fighting moves to the splendor that was his decorated armor. However, as other war heroes rose from the war against the void, leading to him desperately trying to upstage any would be rivals. More and more did this campaigns would cost him soldiers and almost his plane of existence. Eventually, on one faithful battle, he was outmaneuvered and overwhelmed. Having to call upon the other Aenguldaemons who were fighting against the void for help, this deeply hurt his pride as the others came and took the glory of this great battle.

Slowly returning to his realm; The Bastion Realm of Argus. The Warrior Daemon focused on rebuilding his host and keeping in contact with his cults. Asking of them for praise and battles dedicated to his name, finding the Descendants to be amusing but in the end, nothing but insects to the Daemon. When he first heard of the Arch-aengul’s project of the Soulstream, he decided to help by sending some of his servants to reclaim the souls of honorable warriors. However, in truth, he used it to recruit those willing, and those who worshipped him into his legions. Over the years, he would regain his confidence, yet a growing doubt would haunt him.

When the wars became few, and his involvement in the politics of the divine began to fade, slowly The Warrior Daemon became bitter. Where once he dedicated himself entirely to the honorable cause of the defense of Creation, he would sell his blade to the Aenguldaemons that needed seasoned warriors. The only cost would be their acknowledgment and chances of glory. Finding work in slaying the occasional threat, and working through his agents on the mortal plane to earn the love and adoration of the descendants. Doing this for countless years until he received a summons from an unlikely patron, from the returned Arch-daemon; Iblees.

The Hubris of Glory

Their meeting was brief, the distraught Warrior Daemon filled with doubt was quick to be persuaded to join in the wars to come. Iblees using his pride and desire to become relevant once more against him. Although The Warrior Daemon held no ill-will towards the mortals, Azazel was promised glory and fame eternal, no longer forgotten.

When the war between Iblees and creation had begun, Azazel arrived at the first war council, meeting with the other of his kin who joined on Iblees’ side. Roles were given out; The Warrior Daemon wanted to be on the frontlines, fighting in the vanguard where Azazel could find the glory he sought. However, to his dismay, he was ordered to provide Auxiliary. Despite his many attempts to refute, Iblees dismissed him, telling him that he was not truly loyal to the cause and that he should have been thankful to be even allowed to be on the winning side of history. The Arch-Daemon’s words stabbed at Azazel’s pride like a dagger. He complied and agreed, but would not be pleased with his new role.

Armed with his mighty greatsword; Vanquisher, Azazel slew through ranks of Descendants with ease. The Host under his command would fill the gaps in the lines, moving quickly to provide support. Many a time did The Warrior Daemon attempted to prove his worth, to earn his place on the Vanguard, and every attempt left with hollow answers. Despite the treatment, he served as loyally as possible, for despite the growing ill-repute of Iblees. Azazel holds his honor in high regard, refusing to go against the contract that was signed.

However, the final straw would be broken, for during the arrival of the Aenguldaemon host to defeat Iblees. The front-lines demolished, and aid was needed, Azazel and his mighty host would arrive quickly, to fill the lines and try to relieve the battered undead legions. Despite his valiant efforts, slowly and gradually his forces were pushed back. Until he was on the defensive, in a final plea to Iblees, he requested aid. Otherwise, he would be outnumbered and overwhelmed. Iblees had given nothing but silence, leaving Azazel to die.

This betrayal, shattered the spirit of Azazel, for the first time, he staged a retreat. Survival and spite were driving him to break the contract. During this, a few of his former rivals would surround his battered host and attempt to ambush him. With strikes fueled by rage and the experience of a thousand battles, Azazel barely managed to slay his attackers. Mortally wounded from the action, his forces were scattered, and he returned to Argus.

Reborn from Iron

Upon his return to his prized realm, he discovered that the wounds inflicted upon him were inflicted upon his realm as well. Slowly regrouping with the remains of his Cult and his Daemonic Host, when he left his physical form. The essence of Azazel was wounded and left weakened, his realm stabilizing him and keeping him from death. For the years following the end of the war, Azazel muted himself from his former brethren. With every next year, his essence was worsening, and his mood grew dark. 

His desperation grew as he tried to find a way to reverse his condition. Finding no answers in the voidal arts, he would begin to delve into some of the darker magics for the answer. The Warrior Daemon was bent on one purpose; Vengeance. His grim situation drove him to a fit of depravity as he slowly sent out his cults to kidnap practitioners of the Dark Arts, before interrogating them on the knowledge of Necromancy and Blood Magic.

After many long attempts, a ritual was devised, calling upon his Daemons and cultists to draw blood in their deity’s name. Carving runes into a set of Daemonic Steel armor, runes of power decorated the intimidating set of plate mail. Once the ritual was complete, The Immortal essence of Azazel infused inside the prison of metal. From the dark powers mixed with his divine nature, he was reborn into the Daemon of War; Argos The Iron-Clad.

Current Day

Although much of his Cult remain in secret, the only unifying features; being the adherence to Argos’ warrior code and them being warriors of prominence. Due to his steady growth, he had begun to gain the notice of other Aenguldaemons, while many would remain neutral or find distaste in his actions, Argos would remain ever distant, preferring to focus on the growth of his influence and power. It is not certain if the other Aenguldaemons remember any knowledge of his former name and crimes, all that is certain is that in any major war or conflict, the servants of Argos will be there. 
 

The Codes of the Iron-Clad

Over the years of foundation since the revival of the cult of Azazel, The Cult of Argos maintains a strict adherence to a set of moral codes. Even amongst the highest of his holy mages dare not break the law, for upon doing so. Marked them for death within the order, to be quickly hunted down and taught the lesson of betraying the Daemon of War.

The Sword is the Answer to any Injustice

Poison is for the weak. Ambush is for the Cowardly. Our foes only deserve the Slaughter.

Harm not the Child, for they could become strong.

Do not fight the defenseless, for there is no glory.

Conquer Yourself, Conquer Weakness.

Surrender is Defeat, and Defeat is death.

Goal

Argos once devoted his existence to becoming the greatest warrior in all of the Creator’s creation. Wanting to have his tales of glory and battle to ring forever and be sung in halls both divine and mortal. However, with his return, his pride had been shattered and his driven nature put to his new goal. Argos wants to slowly rid the physical world of the weak and the cowardly, to replace it with battle-hardened soldiers sworn to his cause. Should he succeed, he shall take his new army, and right all wrongs with force, no more treachery, no abominations of the void, Argos will never be forgotten again.

Realm: The Bastion Realm of Argus

Formally the creation of Azazel, a sea of Fortresses and mountains. However after his fateful return, the sky was filled with ash, the tall and proud bastions were reduced to ruin, and the landscape destroyed. Yet under Argos, many of the rubble has been rebuilt, and from the central Citadel, a massive forge built. Rivers of Lava fill the shattered chasms of Argus, now used to fuel the endless War machine that the Iron-Clad is preparing. The fallen faithful of Argos find themselves brought to the war-torn realm, the vigors of youth returned to them, and slowly find themselves involved in one of the many roving warbands made of their fellow worshippers. Few cities exist in Argus, with the most prominent one being the City of Bellator. Built around Argos’ citadel and often the first to be provided with the new weapons made by the Daemonic Smiths.  

Bellator and the other Fortress Cities are under the iron-fisted rule of Self-made Warlords, former Champions of his cause which brought Martial law to the areas under their sway. To prevent any of them from stagnation, by the demands of their Daemonic master, the Fortress Cities host a series of Realm-wide War Games. Striking each other down, causing the losing Warlords to fall for stronger ones to rise again. Shortly after they succumb to their wounds, they would be restored to ‘life’ to fight once more in the following years. Great fighting pits are commonplace in these Fortress cities, used as entertainment and to train for the battles to come. The strongest of the Warlords are invited to join Argos and his Daemonic war council, as they prepare and plot for their grand crusade.

“One of the many War-torn Ruins in Argus.”

Art Credit: Matchack

Manifestations

Likely many Aenguldaemons, Argos rarely ever truly manifests upon the mortal plane, ever since the mortal wounds he suffered during the Great War with Iblees, he had been wary to ever return fully to the mortal plane. Instead, he shows a glimpse of his form through visions and illusions. He universally appears as a giant of a humanoid figure clad in darkened plate-mail. The only opening in his battle-scarred armor, being the visor, revealing only a burning pyre. His voice a metallic roar, speaking harshly and straight to the point, whenever his presence is nearby, all weapons and armor begin to stir and shake as if seeking to strike out against a hidden foe.