Skotos was the evil counterpart of Phos in the Videssian religion. One belief associated with the religion is in a narrow bridge walked by all souls upon death. The wicked tumble off, unbalanced by their sins, into Skotos' icy hell, while the souls of the virtuous make it across. He made an accord with Skotos when the latter appeared to him in a dream just before he was to be executed for heresy, and gained tremendous power as a sorceror and warrior, as well as an 800-year life, in exchange for serving the dark god.