“Sooner or later, fear’s sticky web envelops the mind of any being. There is no escaping it, no hiding from it. There is fear in every one of us. Do not fear death, or you will die!” The Epic of the Ashlur. Chapter 1117, Innora’s rescript

The wooden shelves, rubbed down by a thousand sleepers, hit one’s side painfully at every bump in the road. The wagons carrying the cages were packed with slaves of every age. Sweat, the smell of excrement, nausea from eating spoiled food, and fear were the only things in which these poor souls were now united. Chained up and in pain, they were being taken to the other side of the world. And what would await the captives there? The slaves’ grayish-green skin spoke of their Ashlur origin. For a decade by now, this small tribe had been suffering at the hands of raiders and slavers, without being able to stand up to them in any way. Fear was bred into their very blood and bones. And so, during this nighttime passage, they sat sleepless, peering into the dark with terror-filled eyes.

Yet look at the lad over there, clutching a trinket in the shape of a bird! A little tense, a little cross, but without the smallest sign of fear. A moment later, a bluish-black feather appears out of nowhere on his neck! He clutches the bird tighter. His fingers run along the polished wood, touching its feet, its beak… another feather! Without letting go of his talisman, the young man slowly rises to speak:

– My fellow sufferers, hear me when I tell you this, fear ye nothing! Put your trust in me, and you will be saved!

Yet another feather, and now long talons on his right hand! The stranger gripped the wooden bird so hard that his knuckles went white. It was then, that, unbeknownst to the slaves, every lamp went out at once at the head of the caravan. “Forg, you son of a… Light those goddamn lamps!” yelled the drunken caravan driver, frightened by the sudden darkness. Meanwhile, the feathered man went on:

– Fear causes weakness, and we must be strong! It is time to stop thinking like slaves and trembling cravenly as we endure humiliation!

As he delivered his speech, he grew still more feathers, as well as talons on his other hand and, it seemed, also on his shoulders. A blue shimmer emanated from his eyes, and suddenly his nose seemed so very like a real bird’s beak. Besides, a provocative-looking top hat appeared on his head.

– I will help our people, but I will be merciless. I demand that you forget your fear of death, or die!

There was a commotion at the head of the caravan. One of the guards seemed to have glimpsed something that scared him. He screamed wildly, drew his sword and charged at one of his fellow guards. Blood spilled, and panic erupted. Some of the slavers tried to chase “the beast lurking in the forest”, only to kill each other off in the darkness. Those who stayed close to the caravan were terrified by the black shadow flying about in the sky. The driver gasped and clutched his heart. A minute later, he was already dead. Those slaves that felt fear as well were unable to calm the tremors wracking their bodies, draining strength and life, and perished as well. Others sat, and watched in silence. The man, if one could call him that, continued:

– My name is Phobos. Remember it, and cast off your fears!

Hero Wars Phobos opened the cage in a single movement and got out. All that remained of the band of slave traders was a handful of people crawling about helplessly. Fear had turned their hearts into so many frantic butterflies, trapped in a jar. And the thick, dark substance of their life force was pouring out of them and towards the human bird. Now free, the surviving slaves opened the rest of the cages, finished off their tormentors, and no longer had fear of anything.

Mysterious Phobos left the Ashlurs to help other people in distress, but the memory of him has been handed down through generations. The Ashlurs no longer knew fear, and no-one has since managed to force them to anything against their will. If you wish to find out who Phobos is, and how he got into the slave cage, you can ask him yourself if you find him in his Guardian squad. But do not even think of approaching him if there is fear lurking inside your soul.