Svarog and Žmij traveled from one town to another, followed by a treacherous retinue of converted Whisperers clad in monstrous masks. The foul procession burned houses and devoured souls, looking for Dolya’s servants along the way. Wherever they found one, they always did the same thing.

Their promises of power, might, and harnessing of death were beautiful.

Their threats of carnage, devoured souls, and eternal enslavement were equally terrifying.

While many feared the danger, many were tempted by Žmij’s tales, and so the Whisperers succumbed – some out of greed and lust for power, others to save their settlements. Serving under a new master, their whispers turned to hisses that resembled those of a serpent.

Though some were brave and honorable enough to oppose the Serpent Prince, each of them was turned to ash – along with everyone in their settlements.