(background art by zbigniew m. bielak)

information

(This carrd is still an ongoing project; apologies if certain links are broken!)

Anticosmos is an original story and universe by Qal. While many of the base ideas for this world and its inhabitants were conceptualized years and years ago (going as far back as 2003!), this verse really came into development in late 2019. It then unexpectedly developed into something far larger over time (you know, as it does).The timeline spans several millennia and chronicles the rise and fall of a necromantic empire and its aftermath, as well as the personal histories of those who live in this universe-- be they human, demon, or deity. I wanted to take a "grey" approach to this tale, where few are "all good" or "all bad".The inspirations are numerous: both western and eastern esotericism/the occult, books and games I grew up with and internalized, all types of art, music, folklore, mythology, and, of course, religion.There's a lot to read, and I know I can be wordy-- but I hope you enjoy what you see, and I appreciate your interest.

THE BEGINNING

Long ago, the death god Qayin and the mother goddess Isa fought for control of the human realm.The fierce battle came to a standstill when Qayin voluntarily shattered himself on the Great Plains of Zaberac. So cataclysmic was the Fragmentation that the world nearly split; the humans caught in the flood of Abyssal Chaos that resulted from the dissolution of Qayin's physical form became infused with fragments of the death god himself, which had been his intent all along.In the end, there was no victor. Qayin's wife, the goddess Qalmana, now ruled the Underrealms in her husband's absence, and a heavily weakened Isa sat on her gilded throne on the Celestial Arc. Meanwhile, humanity rose from the ashes of the gods' battle.

THE ABYSS-FORGED EMPIRE

It was soon discovered that those who now possessed fragments of Qayin could wield dark magicks, like necromancy and communication with the dead who hadn't reincarnated yet. Those with larger fragments had greater magical potency than those with smaller fragments, and the largest fragment was said to belong to a man known as Qemetiel.In time, Qemetiel was hailed as the ruler of the Fragmented. As his influence grew, he formed an empire, with legions of undead Fragmentless humans raised via his unparalleled talent for necromancy. He soon built his palace in the sundered Plains of Zaberac, suspended by giant chains over the voidal rip Qayin had created centuries earlier. The realm was renamed to the Sitra Achra, and the empire called itself the Sitran Empire.Qemetiel had no need for an heir. As a gift, Qalmana gave fifteen of her most beloved demons to the Sitran Empire: three to act as Oracles who could identify and find Qemetiel's reincarnations, and twelve to form the Council of the Reaping Sickle, who would watch the realm between reincarnations or before Qemetiel came of age to rule.The Fragmentless humans, however, were not pleased with the Fragmented's frequent encroachment on their lives. Their dead were often stolen and resurrected for the Sitran armies, disrupting their reincarnation cycles forever. The Sitrans, unquestionably, began to view themselves as superior.

THE FALL

In response, Fragmentless priests of Isa worked day and night over years and years to develop Purification magick: a form of magick that could purify Fragments of Qayin from those who possessed them, stripping them of their necromantic ability and demonic blood. When word of this reached the Sitra Achra, fear set in-- for the first time, these "mere" humans became a genuine threat.And a threat, they were. The Order of the Ivory formed shortly thereafter: an order of highly-trained warrior priests whose primary goal was not only to teach the art of Purification, but to eventually capture Qemetiel and purify his Fragment of Qayin.Despite the Sitrans' best efforts, the Order of the Ivory proved immensely powerful and dangerous. They stormed the imperial palace, leaving trails of carnage in their wake, and managed to take the Emperor after an onslaught of resistance from the undead Sitran armies.Unfortunately for the Order, Qemetiel's Fragment proved far too large and far too powerful to be properly purified, although it was heavily damaged in their attempts. The emperor managed to pick the priests off one by one with the last scraps of his strength before collapsing in his chamber.Hephesimireth, the Imperial Archmagus and advisor to Emperor Qemetiel, had succeeded in fighting off and killing several powerful members of the Ivory who'd attempted to bar his path. He arrived too late to stop the attempted purification ritual, but managed to escape with the injured Qemetiel; where they went is still unknown.With the Sitra Achra in ruins, the emperor missing, the council purified and killed, and the land torn asunder, the empire had finally fallen.Of course, this is the story most know.What truly befell Qemetiel?

QEMETIEL

the eternal emperor

According to ancient historical reports, it is said that Qemetiel's first incarnation was a simple apothecary and a scholar, living with his lover in a quiet, book-riddled house amidst a forest of ghostly white aspen trees. His true name is lost to time.His life would change drastically when he witnessed the cataclysmic clash between Qayin and Isa on his way across the Great Plains of Zaberac. He'd intended to meet with scholars from Haulakkan, but of course, that would not happen; Qayin would shatter himself across the Plains and directly atop the young man, causing a voidal rip and tendrils of abyssal black to spread for miles and miles. Everyone caught in the darkness would perish.But all was as Qayin planned. Soon, those who lost their lives in the Dark would be reborn; this time, with pieces of Qayin Himself embedded within their very being. It became evident very quickly that those with such pieces--called Fragments by those who possessed them--had acquired abilities previously unheard of. They could speak with the dead, even raise them from their eternal slumber and enthrall them if they so chose, and it seemed that those closest to the initial shattering could do these things with greater ease, efficiency, and power.The most powerful of all was a man the world came to know as Qemetiel. The people came to view him as a leader, and by his second incarnation, his influence was such that he formed an empire comprised of four kingdoms. Men both Fragmented and not bowed to him and feared him.Qalmana, the ruler of the Underrealm in Qayin's wake, provided the empire--now known as the Sitran empire--with fifteen demons to assist henceforth. Twelve would act as Council, ruling in Qemetiel's stead between reincarnations and before he came of suitable age. They were known as the Council of the Reaping Sickle, as a nod to Qayin's weapon of choice. The other three demons would act as Oracles, who could tap into the past, present and future to locate Qemetiel's newest reincarnations.Across all incarnations, Qemetiel was a highly effective ruler, albeit known for his cruel streak. It was said that he only expressed any sort of kindness or affection toward Hephesimireth, his personal advisor and the only man he ever considered his beloved. It is also worth noting that not every incarnation of Qemetiel was born a man or identified as such; some were women, but were still referred to as "emperor" with male pronouns as becoming Qemetiel was more akin to stepping into a role than an identity.His most notorious incarnations were:

QEMETIEL II

Formed the Sitran Empire.

QEMETIEL LVII

Married Princess Silvana of the Northrealms, but his desire to keep it purely "business" and Silvana's difficulty acclimating to the Sitra Achra led to a difficult marriage. It resulted in the now-empress taking her own life and the alliance with the Northrealms breaking, causing a longstanding feud that existed until the Sitran Empire's fall (and well after). Northern soldiers captured and executed Hephesimireth as well, believing his well-known romantic relationship with the emperor played a role in how the marriage turned out.Silvana was canonized as a saint, whereas Qemetiel was condemned by the people of the Northrealms. The people of the North came to worship the Saint Silvana and Qemetiel's name was considered so vile that it may as well have been a swear for centuries even after the empire's fall.

QEMETIEL LXXVIII

The most notorious incarnation of all.LXXVIII was the final incarnation before the Empire's fall. Born to a mother who desperately wanted a child, she was beyond distraught when the baby opened his eyes and had Qemetiel's telltale black sclera. In a desperate attempt to avoid the Oracles, she resorted to all manner of witchcraft to hide her son, traveling from location to location to make it harder for the Empire to catch them.And for a time, it worked. The woman and her now four-year-old son eventually made their way to Olverant, begging the Elder to allow them entry and protection. The Elder, Arali, long displeased with the Empire's method of taking children from their parents and understanding that the woman and her child were on limited time, allowed them in.They were warned beforehand, however, that the Oracle Allukah was allowed entry into Olverant as well, citing the Oracle's constant willingness to abide by the city's rules while within its walls. Arali made Allukah swear to secrecy, to which he agreed-- but not for long.Allukah, ultimately deciding the empire needed Qemetiel and that it would be unwise to break such a longstanding tradition, informed the Council of the Reaping Sickle that Qemetiel had been hiding out in Olverant the entire time. In little time at all, the Oracle Vanth and the Council made their way to Olverant and forced their way in by ways of anti-cloaking spells and frighteningly powerful elemental magick.Little Qemetiel was forcibly removed, his mother was killed, and Arali was bound in magicked chains before they left as punishment for hiding the Emperor.The child did not take to life inside the palace well. Every prior incarnation had been an infant, but this one was a four, nearly five-year-old child with full memory of his parents and the peace of Olverant. Every day was a bitter screaming match with the Council, who were dreadfully strict and often cruel, with harsh punishments for even minor acts of disobedience. One such punishment was permanently taking his stuffed rabbit--the only reminder young Qemetiel had of his old life and his mother--away so it wouldn't distract him. To make matters worse, his eyesight had begun to rapidly deteriorate, and soon he was all but completely blind.But his cries did not go unheard. The third Oracle, the Oracle of the Past--known as Azmedaj--could not bear the sound of the tiny boy screaming throughout the night for his mother and his lost rabbit friend. Despite his reputation as the cruelest of the Oracles, he had spent the most time around humans and had quietly developed a sense of empathy for them. Azmedaj would secretly enter the child's room at night to read him stories and wipe the tears away, and in time, little Qemetiel came to view him as a father figure.After several months had passed and the miserable boy still had not acclimated to life in the palace, Azmedaj decided he would prepare an escape. He studied up on obscure cloaking magicks like the ones used to protect Olverant. He also had a small, secret cottage in the Falmarga Wood to the east of the Sitra Achra where he kept his books and would often retreat when he needed quiet.Azmedaj decided he would ready a powerful cloaking spell to hide the cottage from anyone who dared approach, and he would take little Qemetiel there to raise him as his own son. After nearly a year of preparing the spell, he absconded with the child, leaving absolutely no trace.Their life together was idyllic. Azmedaj taught Qemetiel how to forage for berries and herbs, and even how to shoot a bow despite his blindness. Qemetiel had a keen sense of his surroundings and as such, developed impeccable aim. By ten years old, he was an expert hunter and fisher.Of course, such bliss could never last. Ten years after their escape, the cloaking spell began to weaken ever so slightly, and the keen eye of Oracle Vanth was able to pinpoint their location. Just as he did the first time, he and the Council of the Reaping Sickle stormed forth, ripping the now nearly seventeen-year-old Qemetiel from his comfortable home. Azmedaj was also immediately exiled from the Sitra Achra, never to be seen or heard from again.On the return to the palace, something in Qemetiel had changed. There were no tears or screams, just a deathly silence born from a roiling fury. He vowed that he would never forgive the Council (or Vanth) for taking everything he ever loved from him, and quietly promised himself that this reign would be the cruelest the world would ever know.Qemetiel did not back down from this promise by any means.On the eve of his coronation, a banquet was held to celebrate. When asked to speak prior to a toast, he asked the head of the Reaping Sickle, Malacoda, where his old stuffed rabbit was. When Malacoda could not answer, Qemetiel took the knife intended for his steak and plunged it into the neck of Draghignazzo, the councilman to his immediate left. He then ordered the chefs to take Draghignazzo's body and roast it-- which they did, hesitantly, as Qemetiel was now officially emperor and his authority now exceeded the Council's.Historical accounts vary, but some say that the Emperor devoured Draghignazzo's corpse without shame. Others say he forced the remaining members of the council to cannibalize one of their own.As time passed, Qemetiel LXXVIII demonstrated his dreadful cruelty over and over, from drawn-out public executions to simply killing those who annoyed him on any given day. Both the public and the court lived in fear of him-- all except Hephesimireth, that is.Hephesimireth was a well-known scholar whose reincarnation history spanned millennia, just as Qemetiel's own. Like Qemetiel, he, too, had a defining physical trait that identified his reincarnations-- pale irises that shone brighter than the whites of his eyes. Time and time again, he would take his place at the emperor's side as his advisor-- and his lover. However, after the incident with Silvana and the Northrealms, the Council felt it was best to keep the two apart and all records of Hephesimireth were intentionally scrubbed from history. Any attempts to make contact were ignored.Until LXXVIII.With no loyalty to the empire, to the Council, to anyone but himself, Qemetiel requested an audience with Hephesimireth, having learned of his existence when he discovered a letter from the scholar hidden away in Draghignazzo's desk. Reluctantly, Malacoda arranged a meeting, and as predicted, the two felt instant chemistry and Qemetiel appointed Hephesimireth as advisor on the spot. They quickly became inseparable, and Hephesimireth filled Qemetiel in on their long and storied history.Together, they were an unstoppable, terrifying force that nobody in their right mind dared to test-- at least, until the Order of the Ivory had enough of the Fragmented stealing their dead, and were now in a position to strike.Ten years into LXXVIII's reign, the Order of the Ivory attacked the Sitra Achra full force after completely decimating the population of Armatis and Haulakkan. The warrior priests came in numbers nobody had anticipated, and were stronger than anybody could imagine. They stormed the palace and, while Hephesimireth was making necessary on-the-spot preparations to escape with the Emperor, they managed to capture Qemetiel and begin the Purification ritual.By the time Hephesimireth returned, Qemetiel had slaughtered every member of the Ivory who had attempted to Purify him, but he was visibly weakened. He explained that they were unsuccessful in their ritual, but he could feel the "fibers of his soul" damaged in a way he couldn't explain. Without another word, the advisor then took the emperor and fled, abandoning the Empire for good.Where they ended up and what became of them is unknown.

HEPHESIMIRETH

imperial archmagus & advisor

Hephesimireth is one of the most complicated figures in Sitran history. He is perhaps who scholars and historians argue over most.Although he'd had many previous lives, it wasn't until he took his place at the imperial court that they were reliably documented. Known pre-imperial incarnations were given titles (despite what little information was available on them), whereas numbers were appended once he joined the Empire.The common threads among each account of Hephesimireth's pre-imperial incarnations are that he was born in Armatis and was a scholar as well as a priest of both Qayin and Qalmana.In at least one life, Hephesimireth left sometime during early adulthood to expand his horizons and pursue knowledge in Ordestos. He was also said to, at one point, have lived with a lover someplace remote, but this location has never been identified or discovered.It is known that he would continuously return to Ordestos in later pre-imperial incarnations, judging by Ordestian records and anecdotal accounts.When the Abyssal King Qayin shattered himself over the Great Plains of Zaberac, Hephesimireth had reportedly been visiting with fellow scholars from Haulakkan. He was not caught in the direct impact, but he was close enough to be devoured by a voidal tendril, resulting in what would become a sizeable Fragment upon rebirth.Across all of Hephesimireth's documented (and semi-documented) incarnations, he was described by both historians and acquaintances as a skilled manipulator of the elements, and later, a skilled necromancer. Each reincarnation was said to be cold and austere, but also brilliant, efficient and hardworking. He also had a tendency for experiments that could border on inhumane, and he was not above using living people for his research if it meant the knowledge gained was significant and important.Hephesimireth and Qemetiel's legendary relationship began during the reign of Qemetiel VI. As he'd once again been living and studying in Ordestos, the Ordestian scholars recommended Hephesimireth personally for the Sitran imperial court. So impressed was Qemetiel with Hephesimireth's ability to make snap decisions and formulate plans that he was chosen to become the emperor's personal advisor very soon after.It was only a matter of time before this relationship became romantic. Devoted to one another, the pair reigned over the Sitran Empire side by side throughout their many reincarnations. That said, their lifetimes didn't always align, and the legend goes that in the lives where they did not meet, Qemetiel was melancholy and depressed as though something were missing.Not unlike the Emperor himself, a reincarnation of Hephesimireth could sometimes be identified by his eyes; his pupils were an unusually bright white that contrasted against their sclerae. However, he was not the sole Fragment-bearer who possessed this trait, and while odds were high, it was not a failproof identifier. There were a fair number of impostors over the years who banked on this trait alone in an attempt to secure a position at the Imperial Court, but the Oracles and Council were quick to disprove them-- and execute them for their transgressions.Some of Hephesimireth's most notable incarnations included:

HEPHESIMIRETH, THE HALLOWED INFERNO

This incarnation was thought to have lived roughly 350-400 years before his later incarnation, Hephesimireth I, joined Qemetiel's court.According to Ordestian records, he was an esoteric scholar, a devoted priest of Qayin and Qalmana, and a skilled elementalist who was known to hold sacrificial burnings in the Abyssal King and Queen's honor. He is responsible for the formation of the Necrosophic Cult of Inferna, a highly-secretive group of mages and scholars whose worship was said to be extraordinarily intense.As a gift for their devotion, Qalmana bestowed upon the Cult the blessing of palefire.Although the Hallowed Inferno wasn't born in Ordestos, he was an influential--albeit controversial--figure among Ordestian society. There were as many who found his practices cruel (despite his sacrifices giving their consent) as there were people who supported his work-- but regardless of the people's opinions, he was in good standing with the Abyssal King and Queen, which was all that mattered to him.

HEPHESIMIRETH I

The first of Hephesimireth's incarnations to arrive at the Sitran imperial court. He and Qemetiel VI immediately recognized one another as kindred spirits with similar goals and views. He quickly became the emperor's right hand man and personal advisor; later, his lover. They enjoyed a prosperous and powerful reign until Hephesimireth's death at age 72.

HEPHESIMIRETH XIX

One of the most powerful archmages in the world at the time, Hephesimireth XIX wrote a collection of grimoires detailing his methods and instructing readers on the finer points of his personal work. While they were primarily kept within the Sitra Achra's royal library, he wrote copies of these texts to give to both the Cult of Inferna in Ordestos and the Necrosophic Temple in Armatis. They are considered extremely precious to this day and are still sought after by skilled, well-established mages looking to expand their horizons.XIX's love for Qemetiel XXVII was, simply put, legendary. Despite his notoriously harsh and cold exterior, Hephesimireth loved the emperor so deeply that when Qemetiel contracted the "grey ring sickness" (a fatal, but rare and non-contagious parasitic infection) and passed away aged 25, the archmage had a temple built in his honor. Qemetiel's body was laid to rest in a massive chamber on the top floor, and this chamber was decorated with thousands of bones-- human, animal, and most importantly, bones from both of their previous incarnations' bodies.This temple became known as The Ossuarium, and it would be off-limits to all but Qemetiel himself once he was reborn. Qemetiel's subsequent incarnations--particularly the ones who did not reunite with Hephesimireth in that lifetime--would frequently seek solitude here, finding comfort in its silence.

HEPHESIMIRETH XLVIII

The most infamous of Hephesimireth's incarnations, he once again took his place beside Qemetiel as his right-hand man, advisor, and beloved. When the northern king proposed an alliance between realms by ways of a marriage between his daughter, Silvana, and the Emperor Qemetiel, Hephesimireth supported the idea. As the Northkingdom of Sindalvia possessed advanced weaponry unseen elsewhere, and the Sitran Empire had its undead army, he believed an alliance would be beneficial to both nations.Qemetiel was displeased by this idea, but Hephesimireth assured him that it was a purely political marriage. Given that the empire did not need Qemetiel to produce an heir, Princess Silvana wouldn't even need to share the emperor's bed. In fact, they would hardly need to interact.Despite his reluctance, Qemetiel agreed to the marriage. This was the first of his incarnations to marry, and so it was a monumental event. After a grand wedding, Silvana immediately moved into the palace.Both Qemetiel and Hephesimireth realized immediately that this marriage would not be a smooth one. As soon as she arrived, Silvana made it very clear she wanted things her way. She began to demand that everything be done "the Northern way" (clothes, food, decor, etc...), treated the palace staff poorly, and became rather clingy with her new husband-- which he, nor Hephesimireth, appreciated.The princess refused to acclimate, no matter what Qemetiel, Hephesimireth, or even the council suggested. It was evident that she hated the Sitra Achra and did not wish to live there. As time passed, her behavior grew more and more unstable, and she would often accuse others of plotting against her without any evidence. She would have violent outbursts. Eventually, Silvana loudly declared to the entire palace that she would not eat until Qemetiel treated her as a proper wife. He did not; instead, he continued seeking Hephesimireth's company.And in just a few short years, Silvana would take her own life.Mihai, Silvana's brother, had ascended the Northern throne a year prior. When news of his sister's death reached him, it was reported that he lapsed into a near-berserk fury. From Silvana's letters, Mihai knew that Qemetiel only loved Hephesimireth, and so the king was quick to blame the Sitran advisor for his sister's misery.Immediately breaking the alliance between nations, the enraged Mihai threatened the Sitra Achra with war. Due to the Northrealms' advanced weaponry, Qemetiel, Hephesimireth and the Council of the Reaping Sickle did not take this threat lightly. While the Sitran Army of the Dead was known throughout the world for its ability to decimate and destroy, Northern technology was considered an even match; in fact, certain members of the Council believed it could be superior. It would be a dangerous situation regardless.As the Sitrans pondered their options, Northern assassins infiltrated the Sitra Achra and managed to capture Hephesimireth. They'd been personally ordered to do so by King Mihai, who issued an official ultimatum: the Northrealms would not go to war so long as they had Hephesimireth's head. Mihai also demanded that Hephesimireth never return to the Sitran court once he reincarnated. A furious Qemetiel viciously protested, but Hephesimireth himself insisted that he die if it could prevent widespread devastation.It was said he walked to his execution with poise and dignity, ever the austere and frigid man he always was. Qemetiel was reported to have watched Hephesimireth's beheading, stonefaced and unblinking.There was no war; Mihai kept true to his word. Silvana was martyred by the Northrealms and canonized as a saint, while Qemetiel and Hephesimireth's names were considered profane. The two nations agreed never to interact again, and the Northrealms barred all Sitran citizens from their gates. The Council of the Reaping Sickle also decided that they would hide Hephesimireth's history from Qemetiel's later incarnations to avoid his potential curiosity, and to better keep with the peace agreement.

HEPHESIMIRETH, THE RED

The Advisor had been all but purged from the annals of Sitran history, and in time, very few people would remember that he once occupied a prestigious position in their court. Only the recordkeepers of Armatis had any written evidence and it was kept under lock and key by the Necrosophic Temple; most other evidence was destroyed at the Council of the Reaping Sickle's request. Even the scholars of Ordestos burned all mention of Hephesimireth's time in the Sitra Achra.Hephesimireth the Red was the only post-imperial incarnation to be given a title instead of a number due to the fact that his arrival was wholly and utterly unexpected. He was born in Armatis and he quickly associated himself with the Necrosophic Temple, likely because they knew well who he was. Once he'd established himself among their ranks, he was granted access to their hidden library.At this point, he was well into adulthood. When he learned of his own long, storied history with the emperor, he decided to try and make contact via letters, occasionally with the Necrosophic Temple's assistance. Predictably, these letters went unanswered for some time until Qemetiel found one that had been hidden away in a desk. When the emperor read it over, he immediately invited Hephesimireth to the Sitran court for a meeting, despite the Council's aggressive protests and insistence that it could reignite old conflict with Sindalvia.Hephesimireth arrived at the Sitra Achra, where he was received by Qemetiel LXXVIII. As one would expect, and much to the dread of the Council, the pair felt an instant spark and the emperor once more took Hephesimireth as his personal advisor, caring nothing for what problems might arise.The moniker "The Red" came about due to LXXVIII's notorious cruelty, which Hephesimireth supported and also engaged in. They were a shockingly violent duo; Qemetiel was constantly ordering and carrying out executions while Hephesimireth used the oft-mangled corpses for necromantic experimentation. He created all manner of monstrosities, most notably chimerae with human heads and wildly aggressive temperaments. They would guard the emperor's chambers and patrol the halls outside, trained to devour any stranger who got too close-- even the Council kept their distance lest they find themselves without a head.Five years into the pair's reign of terror, stealing corpses from Fragmentless nations and resurrecting them for their army, taking whatever they wanted with violence, the people had had enough of their loved ones' reincarnation cycles getting disrupted. The Ivory decided once and for all they would gather up their finest hunters from different chapters across the world and put a stop to the SItrans' cruel practices. On a whim, the leaders of Naveyre's Ivory chapter sought help from the Northkingdom and were successful in obtaining their assistance (likely because the king was well aware the Sitrans broke their peace agreement by allowing Hephesimireth back to court, but this is unverified).The Ivory and the Northern soldiers gathered in Eirakhal to the northeast before they stormed the Sitra Achra. The Sitrans' undead army, as well as their legion of battlemages, fought back as best they could, but they were ultimately rendered powerless by the Ivory's Purification magick in such enormous quantities.Hephesimireth, sensing that the emperor was genuinely in danger, briefly left his side to plan an escape route as quickly as he could. Unfortunately, in just that short amount of time, the Ivory's finest managed to slay the chimerae and break into the emperor's chamber. While their Purification ritual failed and they were all slaughtered, Qemetiel's Fragment was irreparably damaged. When Hephesimireth returned, Qemetiel described the feeling as "the fibers of his soul fraying".With no time to waste, Hephesimireth took the injured, sickly Qemetiel and fled. There are many theories as to where they ended up, but there is no real evidence to support them. Many also theorize that Qemetiel and Hephesimireth knew well in advance of the attack on their realm but decided against making the appropriate preparations for defense, hoping the empire would fall. With what is known of Qemetiel LXXVIII, this is not an unlikely scenario.

ARALI

Arali the Elder is the ruler of Olverant, and she has reigned for a thousand years. She is a mage and high priestess of Partashah, goddess of the dark side of the moon.Arali is committed to keeping her land neutral from the conflicts of surrounding realms. She also keeps Olverant safe by ways of an extraordinarily strong cloaking spell, hiding the city from the view of anybody not using level four Seeing Eye magicks. As a majority of practitioners typically only study up to level two, Olverant is all but invisible unless Arali chooses to allow you in.She is the only known half-demon in the world. While her exact parentage is unknown (and she refuses to talk about it), she is long-thought to be the child of Qalmana's handmaiden, Eisheth Zenunim, and a human man. As such, she has immense longevity and resilience.Arali is a master weaver. She creates magickally-infused tapestries that protect against hexes and curses, as well as cloth that bolsters the wearer's innate magickal abilities. She has taught many of Olverant's residents how to weave, and they've passed those skills down to their children. Olverantian textiles are considered the finest and most powerful in the world, and they are worth a fortune-- and those woven by Arali herself are considered so precious that many kingdoms who possess her tapestries treat them as royal heirlooms.

THE BINDING

When Qemetiel's final incarnation, LXXVIII, was born, his mother Lorelei--a decent sorceress in her own right--worked tirelessly to keep her child hidden, knowing what fate would inevitably befall him. After four years of constant moving and hiding to evade the Oracles and the Council, she decided she would seek refuge in Olverant. She desperately sought out a mage who could use a level four Seeing Eye, and when she finally found one, they made their way to the Hidden City to ask for help.Initially, Arali was hesitant. She knew what many dangers this could pose, but she had long believed the Sitran practice of stealing children from their parents--solely because they were the Emperor reincarnated--deeply cruel and unsettling. She believed it unfair that anyone be forced into a situation they did not ask for simply because of who they were in a past life, and felt that every person deserved to carve their own path in life.Arali eventually allowed Lorelei in on the strict grounds that she seek shelter in the Temple of Partashah and only leave its walls at night. This was because the Sitran Oracle Allukah was allowed entry into Olverant during the daytime, also under very strict rules. Allukah was a master weaver who contributed much to the Hidden City (both monetarily and by ways of teaching weaving techniques), but he was not to bring outside politics inside of its walls under any circumstance. Doing so would result immediate banishment.Lorelei did as Arali instructed, but a visiting Allukah could sense Qemetiel's presence instantly-- after all, that was his primary job and what he was trained for. Arali made it very clear that Allukah would never be allowed back into Olverant and would be executed at the gates should he betray Qemetiel's whereabouts to the Council. Allukah agreed to these terms.Unfortunately, that agreement would not last. Allukah would inevitably tell the Oracle Vanth of Qemetiel's whereabouts (although, a note: several sources state that Vanth could sense "traces" of Qemetiel's essence on Allukah and he was subsequently blackmailed/threatened into giving up the location). This resulted in Vanth using a level 4 Seeing Eye and storming the gates with the Council and a troop of undead soldiers.Qemetiel was forcibly removed and his mother was killed along with several of the priests and priestesses in the Temple of Partashah she'd been hiding in, and as punishment for concealing the Eternal Emperor from the Sitra Achra, Arali was bound in magicked chains so strong that they would take hundreds of years of effort to break.In present-day, long after the empire's fall, Arali was finally freed from her chains after centuries of hard work by the people of Olverant. In the time she'd been bound, the priests and priestesses of Partashah took care of the Hidden City and kept order. Now, Arali reclaims her place as ruler, more cautious than ever before.

THE SITRA ACHRA

The central location of the Sitran Empire, the Sitra Achra was a massive palace/city suspended by ancient, magickal chains over the Abyssal Plains of Zaberac--a dark void and direct, albeit dangerous, portal to the Underrealm--where Qayin voluntarily shattered himself thousands of years prior.It was founded by Qemetiel II and remained a formidable force ruled by Qemetiel's many reincarnations for four thousand years.Primarily inhabited by the Fragmented, the Sitra Achra was a realm of dark magicians and necromancers guarded by both dark magicks and an enormous undead army. The soldiers were mainly resurrected Fragmentless humans whose corpses were often stolen. It was due to this that the Ivory developed Purification magick as a way to combat the necromancers who disrespected their dead.The Sitran Empire had control of the kingdom of Armatis, Haulakkan, Vas Namkaahr and Ordestos, all of which are inhabited first and foremost by the Fragmented.

THE NORTHREALMS

Sindalvia

The northernmost lands are the Northrealms of Sindalvia. While it's praised for its unique and beautiful architecture as well as its delicious food, Sindalvia is most known for its technological advancements (particularly weaponry) in the absence of magickal prowess, making them a precious ally in any situation. Very few Sindalvians possess Fragments.While Sindalvia and the Sitran Empire stuck to their own business for a long while, Sindalvia noticed quickly that the Ivory were becoming a threat to the Fragmented. Seeing an opportunity for a valuable and long-coveted alliance, the king offered his daughter's hand in marriage to Emperor Qemetiel LVII.The Emperor was not enthused, but at the insistence of his advisor (and beloved), Hephesimireth, he wed Princess Silvana, forming an alliance between the two most powerful realms in the world.Unfortunately, it was a marriage frought with hardship. Silvana never quite acclimated to the Sitra Achra, and while she loved Qemetiel, he did not return her affections and preferred to keep the company of his advisor. Her unhappiness ultimately culminated in the now-Empress taking her own life.In a rage, Silvana's brother Mihai--now the king--dismantled the alliance and called for Hephesimireth's head, claiming that he was at least partially responsible for his sister's misery. He was captured by Northern soldiers and executed while Silvana was martyred and quickly canonized as a saint. War nearly broke out between the two realms until Mihai claims he had a vision of his sister warning him against it.Afterward, Sindalvia kept to itself, although every ruler has made an unmoveable vow never to help the Sitrans under any circumstance. This includes everyday citizens helping Sitran citizens in any way, and it is considered a crime punishable by anywhere from fifty years in prison to execution. The people have also come to worship Saint Silvana alongside Isa, the Mother Goddess.

THE HIDDEN CITY OF OLVERANT

The Hidden City of Olverant is a realm to the west of the Sitra Achra. It is ruled by Elder Arali, who has protected the land for a thousand years. The city is entirely hidden from view by ways of a powerful cloaking spell placed upon the realm by the Elder, and it is almost impossible to find without an extraordinarily strong revealing spell.A fully neutral realm, Olverant stays far away from any conflict, and while its residents may come and go, it does not allow visiting outsiders unless they are personally permitted by Elder Arali. As one might expect, obtaining permission is not a simple task.Olverant is most known for its weavers and textiles. They produce magically-infused tapestries of unparalleled quality that offer protection from hexes and curses, or cloth that mages work with for any number of reasons-- be it for their own protective shrouds, ritual work, or the chronicling of history.Allukah, the Oracle of the Present, was the only one with any allegiance to the Sitran Empire allowed to enter Olverant. This was due to his masterful weaving techniques and willingness to adhere to Arali's precise rules for entry.In his final incarnation before the empire fell, a four-year-old Qemetiel (originally named Alaric) and his mother were granted protection within Olverant's walls. Arali felt the Sitran practice of taking children from their unwilling parents deeply cruel regardless of whether or not that child was the Eternal Emperor reborn, and in this particular incarnation, Qemetiel's mother had gone to extreme lengths to keep her child hidden as evidenced by the fact the boy reached four years old without the Oracles discovering him.Unfortunately, Vanth, Oracle of the Future, found them when Allukah betrayed their whereabouts despite swearing to secrecy and the little boy was dragged back to the Sitra Achra so he could one day reign.In the ensuing chaos, Arali was bound in magickally-infused chains and weakened. Many innocent residents of Olverant were caught in the crossfire. After the Oracles (and several members from the Council of the Reaping Sickle) left with Qemetiel, those who still lived began to work tirelessly to break their Elder's chains.

SHAMAIYA

(art by clioroad @ deviantart)

Shamaiya was an Ivory hunter-priest who lived in the era of the Final Emperor, Qemetiel LXXVIII, and is often credited with the raid on the Sitran palace that led to the empire's fall. The hunter was widely considered a warm and friendly soul, and was beloved by those who knew him.Born in Naveyre, his merchant father passed away while out on business in the Galduin Islands after a plague tore through the land. His mother, already weak and sickly before her husband left, eventually passed away from a combination of illness, grief and stress.At only four years old, the boy was orphaned, but was soon taken in by a wealthy couple who'd been well-acquainted with his mother. He was given a fairly comfortable upbringing (comparatively), although he was never quite treated as "part of the family" in the way the couple's other children were.As a child, Shamaiya was clearly intelligent and academically-gifted, but he did not care for the strict structure of the Naveyri elite's schooling and thus found it difficult to apply himself, much to his adoptive parents' dismay. At fourteen he stopped attending, and taught himself the basics of Purification magick before seeking out a mentor among the Order of the Ivory.His mentor's name was Tala, and she was an established hunter-priest regarded as one of the finest in Naveyre. Harsh and strict, she made certain that Shamaiya understood what being a full-fledged member of the Ivory entailed. Her training methods were difficult and grueling, but Shamaiya's genuine interest and passion drove him to excel.At sixteen, Shamaiya began teaching himself the basics of alchemy. At twenty, he developed alchemically-crafted arrows that could paralyze a Fragment-bearer and temporarily neutralize their abilities, allowing for an easier Purification process. It was this creation that saw him become a full-fledged member of the Ivory, certified by Queen Jaharut herself.Over the years, his reputation as a hunter-priest grew and spread like wildfire. He was occasionally compared to Grischa Farion (oft-hailed as the finest member of the Ivory to ever live--but a sizeable number thought such praise exaggerated; nigh heretical, even). When tension between the Fragmentless Realms and the Sitran Empire began to peak, Shamaiya was chosen by both Queen Jaharut and Tala (now the official leader of Naveyre's Ivory chapter) to lead the assault on the Sitran palace and neutralize Emperor Qemetiel's Fragment.Shamaiya gladly accepted this task. Twenty of the Ivory's finest hunters were chosen to assist him on his mission while hundreds more from various Ivory chapters across the Fragmentless Realms would conquer the main city. And although the Northkingdom of Sindalvia swore they would never engage with the Sitran Empire again after the Tragedy Of Saint Silvana, Tala and Shamaiya convinced the king to provide one thousand of their heavily-armed soldiers as backup.At first, it seemed to be going well. The Sitran Army of the Dead was decimated despite superior numbers; the Fragmented soldiers and mages were neutralized (some providing a greater challenge than others, of course). The Council of the Reaping Sickle was destroyed, with each member falling to the hunters' arrows, magick and blades one by one. Shamaiya's unit then stormed the palace and fought their way to Qemetiel's chamber.Qemetiel was alone, awaiting the return of Hephesimireth, who'd left briefly to make on-the-spot preparations to escape with the emperor. Shamaiya's unit paralyzed him with their alchemical arrows and began the Purification ritual, but quickly realized just how greatly they'd underestimated the Final Emperor.So large was Qemetiel's Fragment that twenty of the Ivory's best men couldn't neutralize it (and according to historical reports, it's theorized that fifty, even a hundred likely wouldn't have been able to). The ensuing fight was horrifically bloody, but Qemetiel managed to slaughter each and every hunter-priest who dared enter his chamber that evening.However, his "victory" did not come without consequence-- the Ivory hunters, while unsuccessful in their Purification ritual, did manage to damage Qemetiel's Fragment so heavily that he felt "the fibers of his being" were disrupted and his very essence "frayed". When Hephesimireth returned, he escaped with the greatly-weakened emperor, and none have seen or heard from them since. The once-great empire had fallen unexpectedly in the span of only an evening.Shamaiya's body was never recovered or even found. This has led to much speculation as to whether he survived and managed to escape, but the University of Ordestos' finest scholars find it unlikely. There were alleged sightings of him in Vas Namkaahr, but this has never been verified.

QAYIN

Qayin was the God of the Dead and the Abyssal King.He voluntarily shattered himself into countless pieces above the Great Plains of Zaberac, creating the Fragmented. The Fragmented were once regular humans until they were caught in the shattering, the effects of which could be seen rippling throughout realms as far as Vas Namkaahr. Those closest to the shattering acquired the largest Fragments, while those at the furthest ends of the voidal tendrils acquired smaller ones.He was said to be the god the people of ancient times feared most. Even before the arrival of necromancy, the mages of antiquity would do whatever they could to appease him and keep him sated. Blood sacrifice was not uncommon.

QALMANA

Qalmana is the Goddess of the Dead, and current ruler of the Underrealms. She took over when her beloved, Qayin, sacrificed himself in order to create the Fragmented.She is a being of unimaginable power. The souls of the dead are her "property". In order for a necromancer to strengthen their abilities, they must develop a strong relationship with her-- after all, souls belong to her; if one does not get her permission to retrieve a soul, how could they retrieve it at all?The Abyssal Queen does not regularly concern herself with the affairs of mortals outside of necromancy. She does not adhere to a "human" sense of morality, and thus is neither "good" nor "evil".When Qemetiel's final overall incarnation, Eliphelet, was successfully Nullified and his humanity was stripped away, Qalmana welcomed him to the Underrealm with open arms. As his Fragment was the largest of all Fragments, he was closest to Qayin, and she came to view him as something of a son.

PURIFICATION

Purification is a form of magick created and developed by the Fragmentless warrior priests of Naveyre specifically to target and remove a Fragment from a those who possess them. It is most commonly and skillfully used by those belonging to the Order of the Ivory, the first-known wielders.Depending on how large the target’s Fragment is, the longer and more difficult the process will be. Smaller Fragments can be purified in a matter of minutes, but very large Fragments can take hours or days. It is occasionally painful, and the larger the Fragments, the more dangerous the process becomes.Notoriously, Qemetiel, bearer of the largest known Fragment of Qayin, was unable to be successfully purified.The Fragment was instead heavily damaged, meaning any further incarnations would live short and sickly lives.

NULLIFICATION

Nullification is the opposite form of magic where humanity is removed, leaving only the demonic remnant of Qayin. It was allegedly developed by the empire once they learned of Purification magick and its threats.It is far more dangerous and error-prone than Purification-- so much so that it was said to only have been successfully used once and then forbidden. According to the singular ancient text that discusses it, a woman with an extremely large Fragment had her humanity stripped away, resulting in the demoness known as Eisheth Zenunim.

REINCARNATION

(Note: reincarnation isn't technically a "magick", but I didn't know where else to put it.)Reincarnation is a process overseen by Qalmana, the Queen of the Dead, and her many assistants. It can take anywhere from three to twenty human years. While every soul reincarnates, they often cannot be identified unless a mage trained in tapping into past lives can assist.Before a soul is reincarnated, they spend time as a spirit that walks the mortal realm. How long they stay this way can vary based on any number of factors (such as how they died, how easily they accepted death, age, etc...) and while they typically are not visible in this state nor can they be heard, there are places rife with certain magickal energies that allow them to take certain visible forms. Those with Fragments, however, can communicate with them.The reincarnation process is abruptly stopped when a necromancer resurrects someone. As the process involves what is essentially stuffing a soul back into a body, it permanently disrupts the cycle.When a person with a Fragment dies, it will follow them to the next incarnation. This is how the Oracles do their job in identifying a new Qemetiel's location from afar. Using a host of methods (such as scrying pools), they are trained in detecting the energy specifically emitted by his Fragment, thus making them very difficult to hide from.(Parents of his incarnations can also often identify him themselves as his telltale feature is black sclera--a feature only he is born with--and for some it is a joy to know the Eternal Emperor was reborn to them, while others grieve for the child that will inevitably be taken from them. The former will sometimes report to the Council of the Reaping Sickle directly.)

MORTEPHER

the high scholar

Mortepher was a scholar who lived five hundred years prior to Qemetiel LVII.It is believed that he had the second-largest known Fragment. As such, his necromancy skills were unrivaled and he wrote many texts about his own experiences and practices, many of which are still in use today.He is hailed as the Father of Manifestation. Able to perfectly channel his dark energy, he could produce a being comprised solely of concentrated darkness for whatever he so chose. It is said Mortepher was perpetually followed by a small, shadowy creature that appeared to be made of condensed black mist, and that this creature would grow larger when the scholar was threatened. On at least two separate occasions, the creature became so massive and eldritch that it devoured large groups of men whole, and that afterward, the scholar was visibly ill and exhausted.Mortepher was the only known practitioner of dark magicks to ever summon an aspect of Qalmana directly. So deeply did she trust him that she appeared before him personally in the form of a young woman holding a chalice. This aspect became known as “Awan”, or simply The Maiden.Records state that shortly thereafter is when Mortepher disappeared. There are many theories as to what became of him: some believe he followed Awan to the Underrealms and became the right hand man of Qalmana herself. Others believe he was devoured by his own energies; by the creature that followed him everywhere, and that this disrupted his reincarnation cycle somehow. Many also believe that he reincarnated as usual, choosing to remain unknown.Little is known of his personality or what kind of man he was, but anecdotes found in old writings paint two very different portraits. Some said he was ill-tempered and unwilling to entertain foolishness, while others called him quiet and mild-mannered. What all appear to agree on is that the entity following him led most to keep their distance.

ALLUKAH

oracle of the present

Allukah is the Oracle of the Present. Once a dedicated servant to Qayin and Qalmana, he was one of three chosen to act as Oracle when Qemetiel created the Sitran Empire. A stern but kind man with a strong sense of justice, Allukah was often regarded as the most approachable of the Oracles.He is a master weaver, who weaves magickal cloth both using his own techniques and the Olverantian technique. Qemetiel's robes were often fashioned from this cloth in an effort to protect him from harm. In addition to this, he wove tapestries depicting significant current events. Long after the fall of the Sitran Empire, several of his tapestries were found, and they are protected as important cultural/historical relics at the prestigious University of Ordestos.When the Final Incarnation of Qemetiel was born and hidden in Olverant by his mother, Allukah was able to determine his whereabouts very quickly as he was one of few outsiders allowed entry into the Hidden City. Arali, Elder of Olverant, made him promise not to tell the Council of the Reaping Sickle--or the other Oracles--where Qemetiel was hiding. Allukah was said to have stood by his word, but ultimately, the Council found out and Qemetiel was taken, forced into becoming Emperor as was his fate.In Olverant, he is considered a dreadful and wicked traitor, in part because of the chaos that ensued as a result of his alleged betrayal. The Temple of Partashah is particularly very unwavering in the idea that he be known as The Betrayer; the wicked monster who saw their beloved Elder bound in magicked chains that took centuries to finally break.To the Sitrans and their allies, he was seen as a hero, who stood by his empire and brought their eternal ruler back to them from a realm who stole him away.There are anecdotal records, unearthed centuries later, that tell of the Oracle's "betrayal" as a response to threats and blackmail by fellow Oracle Vanth, who claimed he could sense traces of Qemetiel's essence around Allukah. What these threats entailed were not disclosed, but the writer of these anecdotes was quite adamant. It is very possible that the world may never know the truth unless one were to find Allukah's whereabouts and ask-- but after the Empire's fall, sightings were few and far between, and he has all but disappeared.

VANTH

oracle of the future

Vanth is the Oracle of the Future; a master of scrying whose tools of the trade include pools, mirrors and crystals. He was a close personal friend of Qalmana's, and as such, she chose him to become an Oracle. Vanth is often described as a playful lover of things such as gambling, music and card games, but with a petty and vicious streak a mile wide that often made those around him wary.It appeared he did not have a good relationship with the other two Oracles; they seem to have found him rather crass. They did, however, acknowledge that out of the three of them, he was probably the most adept magician, and was often the first to locate Qemetiel's newest incarnation.Little is known about Vanth outside of this. He is said to have led the assault on Olverant when the Final Emperor was discovered to have been hiding there. If Allukah were maligned by the people of Olverant, then Vanth is doubly so.Later records unearthed by scholars at the University of Ordestos claim Vanth blackmailed and threatened Allukah into telling the Council of the Final Emperor's whereabouts. As it is anecdotal evidence written by a source that nobody can pinpoint, it is heavily contested and a large source of debate-- but those who believe it say it falls in line with every prior record of Vanth's personality and behavior.

AZMEDAJ

oracle of the past

Azmedaj was the Oracle of the Past, a formidable oneiromancer who once occupied a place in Qalmana's court as her personal dreamseer until she chose him to become an Oracle. At first, he was considered the coldest of the three, and most kept their distance as a result.He lost his right eye when the father of one of Qemetiel's early incarnations ran a dagger through it. The dagger was coated in an enchanted poison that reacted specifically to demonic blood; the man was a skilled alchemist who had synthesized this poison himself for the sole purpose of taking out the demons who would snatch his son away. He greatly underestimated the Oracles' power and resilience, and thus was unsuccessful.However, due to the nature of the poison, Azmedaj's eye festered and the wound nearly killed him days later until Ciriatto, the Reaping Sickle's most prominent healer, saved his life. Unfortunately, the eye could not be saved, and the surrounding tissue was permanently disfigured.When Qemetiel LXXVIII, the Final Emperor, was forcibly removed from Olverant and the little boy was taken kicking and screaming to the palace, it was, surprisingly, Azmedaj who first showed him kindness and empathy. Although it was expressly forbidden by the Council in fear that the emperor would grow soft and weak, Azmedaj would visit the child's room at night in secret to read books to him and dry his tears. In just a few months, the little Qemetiel came to view Azmedaj as a father figure, and the Oracle of the Past had begun concocting plans to escape with the child and raise him as a son someplace secluded.He religiously studied cloaking magicks, teaching himself how to use level four cloaking spells like the ones used to hide Olverant from view. He decided he would take little Qemetiel to a small stone cottage in the Falmarga Wood to the east of the Sitra Achra; a place where he would often retire when he needed peace and quiet from the palace. It originally belonged to a hunter known as Vallahir until Vallahir passed away a century prior.After a year of intense studying, practice and mapping out routes, Azmedaj took the miserable little boy and fled the Sitra Achra, throwing the realm into chaos. But the Oracle didn't care; he had a small home and his little adopted son, who, for the first time in a year, looked happy.And they were happy for quite some time. Azmedaj lived as a human would, raising the young Qemetiel, teaching him to hunt and fish and gather despite the boy's rapidly failing eyesight. Sadly, the Oracle failed to notice that his level four cloaking spell had begun to weaken ever so slightly in one small corner of the area it covered, and the Oracle Vanth was able to pinpoint this weakness very quickly.As Vanth could use a level four Seeing Eye, he revealed Azmedaj and Qemetiel's happy little home, and once more, the now-teenaged boy was taken from a place he felt comfortable and safe, forced to rule a nation he cared nothing for. Initially, Azmedaj was to be executed, but Allukah furiously protested until the Council decided instead to exile him with a sound warning that should he return, he would be killed on sight.He was given a magically-infused tattoo of a special sigil that the Council and remaining two Oracles would be able to sense immediately should he get too close to their realm again. What became of Azmedaj is unknown as he was never seen again, bar a few sightings here and there from locals in other towns.

ESTHER

Little is known of this woman's life; most agree she was born within fifty to one hundred years of the Ivory’s founding. There are only a handful of details that can be claimed with any certainty: her name was Esther, she possessed a Fragment equal in strength and size to the High Scholar Mortepher’s, she was married to an Ordestian alchemist, and she was the first and only demon created through Nullification magick. It's widely agreed upon that she was the sister of this time period's Hephesimireth, but there is no concrete proof.The scholars of Ordestos and Haulakkan speculate that her husband destroyed several written records of Esther and kept as many details about her life under wraps in an attempt to preserve her memory and who she was; he was said to have mentioned that he "couldn't stomach the thought of her appearing in some stuffy scholar's historical chronicle without ever knowing her", and it was this quote that sparked such speculation.~~Esther was, indeed, the first Fragment-bearer to successfully undergo Nullification. Due to the severe effects it had on both the failed experiments and the practitioners who performed the rituals, Nullification was quickly deemed far too error-prone, unstable and dangerous. It was outlawed, and all known records detailing the process were locked away in the Sitran palace library’s relic chamber along with other highly-classified “forbidden arts”.It is believed that Esther's Nullification was only successful due to the size of her Fragment— which was and still is exceedingly rare. It’s also well-known that she was pregnant during her Nullification, and that this may have contributed in some way. The child was said to have been born shortly thereafter, but they were taken from her; where the child went is yet another contested detail, but most believe they were raised by priests at the Temple of Partashah, hidden away from the world.

EISHETH ZENUNIM

Now a demon with her humanity stripped away, Esther would no longer reincarnate, but live eternally unless killed. She also possessed no memory of her former life as a human. Rather than stay in the Sitra Achra where her Nullification took place, the goddess Qalmana brought her to the Underrealm to serve as a Handmaiden— a member of an all-female entourage whose job was to guard the goddess personally. She was renamed Eisheth Zenunim and was given the "gift" of plague, thus becoming the patron demon of disease.Eisheth remains a Handmaiden to this day alongside two others: Naamah and Agrat-bat-Mahlat. The three are close as sisters would be, ever devoted to their goddess and queen.Those who have encountered Eisheth say that she is an unsettling figure to behold, with an eerie voice and strange, almost birdlike movements. She speaks cryptically and is not inclined to give anybody a concrete or easily-understood answer. Humans who call upon her and provoke her ire are said to develop a hideous illness that causes the skin to necrotize, along with vivid and deeply disturbing hallucinations. Those who survive report feeling deathly ill for months afterward.

THE TAPESTRIES

Although records about her early life are muddy, there are four surviving tapestries attributed to the Oracle Allukah which portray Esther's Nullification process. They presently hang in the University of Ordestos, and they depict an incarnation of Hephesimireth as the mage performing the rituals: feeding her an herbal concoction to lull her into a subdued state, tattooing her with elaborate sigilwork, and physically pulling her humanity from her body in the form of a white orb. The final tapestry shows Esther awakening as Eisheth, now the pale color of a corpse, with white irises, black horns and a painted face.The tapestries are off-limits to all but certified Ordestian scholars, and some who have viewed them describe them as "unnerving".

CLOAKING

Cloaking spells are exactly what they sound like-- magicks which hide their intended target from view. There are four stages of cloaking magick, which are as followed:Level 1: Typically used in a pinch to escape danger. It's very weak and temporary (lasting up to five minutes), but can provide a solid and convenient distraction.Level 2: What most formally-trained mages learn if they choose to study cloaking magicks for practical, real-life use. It's considerably stronger than level one and lasts far longer. A common application of level two cloaking magick is concealing one's valuable items from view; this level is often used by libraries and reliquaries to deter thieves, maintained weekly or bi-weekly by certified mages.Level 3: Exponentially stronger than level two, level three is what highly-trained magick-based assassins use for stealth. Notoriously difficult to learn and execute, very few can use level three cloaking magick. There is a high amount of energy expended and it can be dangerous for untrained practitioners to use if they aren't familiar with proper techniques.Level 4: The strongest level of cloaking magick, there are even less who can use level four. Able to shield entire cities from view for years at a time with proper maintenance, the number of practitioners who can use level four cloaking magick is likely only in the hundreds. It can also be immensely difficult to find a teacher or mentor willing to train anyone as overexertion can mean death for an inexperienced mage; most will not take in any student unless they can use level three efficiently and without error.

SEEING EYE

Seeing Eye magick is the opposite of cloaking magick. It's used to reveal things that have been hidden. Like cloaking magick, the Seeing Eye has four levels that correspond to the target's level of invisibility. Naturally, most practitioners who study cloaking also learn the Seeing Eye.

SATRINA & PARTASHAH

Satrina and Partashah are twin goddesses of the moon. They are said to be the daughters of the first Abyssal Queen from a time before humans ever came to be; from before Qayin and Qalmana, even. They are lesser-known now than they were in the early days of man, having fallen out of favor when the Mother Goddess Isa arrived to rule the skies from her Celestial Arc. However, some dedicated temples still exist, although they are few and far between.

SATRINA

Satrina is the goddess of the bright side of the moon. She is kind and gentle, and is at her most powerful on a full moon. She is said to have a fondness for deer, and will sometimes take on the appearance of a young, leucistic doe when she chooses to visit the mortal realm. Her followers conduct monthly rituals around the full moon and are protective of all deer as a result. It is considered a grave sin to kill one, eat one, or wear its hide-- however, should a devoted follower and practitioner stumble upon a deer's corpse, the bones may be taken and used for ritualistic purposes. Often, they will be placed on an altar after special runes have been carved.When a baby is born on a full moon, Satrina's devotees believe they have been gifted by their goddess, and these children are often trained to join the priesthood. However, a full moon birthday is not a necessary requirement.Satrina has two devoted temples, located in the remote highlands of Essataine and the lowrealm of Bardlia. The priests and priestesses prefer a secluded and tranquil life, similar to Satrina herself.

PARTASHAH

Partashah is the goddess of the dark side of the moon. Although she is loving and maternal, she is far fiercer than her sister, and the practitioners who worship her are much the same. She is most powerful on a new moon, and thus her followers conduct their rituals around it. Rituals to Partashah can be bloody affairs, with practitioners frequently offering up their own blood as a "feast" for their goddess. Partashah is sometimes referred to as the "vampire queen" due to this.Babies born on a new moon are considered to have her blessing, and some believe that "new moon children" possess trace quantities of Partashah's own blood, bestowed upon them as a gift. These children are also believed to have an inborn talent for fire magic, but this is unproven.Partashah has a single devoted temple in the Hidden City of Olverant. Arali, the Elder of Olverant, was once the temple's high priestess until her binding. Nowadays, the temple passes on the position every thirty to fifty years. The current high priest or priestess also acts as Olverant's elder in Arali's stead.

Under Construction

EURYNOMOS

the prince of blades

In the earliest days of the Sitra Achra, before even Hephesimireth's arrival, Ordestos willingly joined the empire and swore loyalty to Qemetiel, who they considered an avatar for the fallen Abyssal King. As a gift, the Ordestian king gave the emperor his youngest son, Eurynomos, renowned for both his tactical skill and overall martial prowess.So adept was Eurynomos with weaponry, and in so many battles did he reign victorious, that many theories came about-- the most common being that he had demonic blood. Whether from an affair the Ordestian king had, or perhaps the boy was a direct gift from the Underrealm, the debate raged for years until Eurynomos died of grey ring sickness at just thirty-six, proving his mortality once and for all.He reincarnated years later, discovered in Toruda's capital city by pure chance after the Oracle Azmedaj had an oneiric premonition. Once told of his great and decorated past as the Emperor Qemetiel's strongest general, Eurynomos would take up his former name and place in the Sitra Achra, once more fighting at the Emperor's side and protecting the realm.When death came for him again, Eurynomos requested that Qemetiel use his unparalleled necromancy skill to resurrect him so that he might live indefinitely among the Sitran Army of the Dead's ranks. Although it would prevent him from ever reincarnating again, he decided he would rather live out the ages as a lich knight rather than be reborn in a new time and place with no memory of who he was.Eurynomos would, indeed, remain for centuries as a lich knight, fighting until he was finally slain in the Great Battle of Naveyre.He is an ancient part of Sitran history, memorialized in statues, a small temple, and a devoted warrior cult that persists to this day.

PALEFIRE

When the Necrosophic Cult of Inferna had sufficiently pleased the Abyssal Queen Qalmana with their devotion, she blessed the twelve members--including the first known incarnation of Hephesimireth--with the gift of palefire.Palefire is a white flame of resurrection. Unlike the later necromancy practiced by the Fragmented which involves the reanimation and enthrallment of corpses (as well as indepth rituals essentially asking the Abyssal King and Queen for their permission), palefire can resurrect and fully heal a body precisely as it was in life.The downside is that it requires a massive amount of energy and leaves the practitioners exhausted (often for days) afterward. Qalmana also set two major rules for its use:• Palefire cannot be used flippantly, as Death is Qalmana and Qayin's domain.•It cannot be used to revive rulers or monarchs of any kind.Its primary use is the resurrection of deceased scholars and mages who have undocumented information lost to time (as well as perspectives from the past).The ability to use palefire is passed down through bloodline and reincarnation. However, it is not guaranteed that a child or later incarnation will have the ability. It seemingly appears at random.

(IN PROGRESS)

ADARANTH

overseer of the sacrament

The last remaining relic of The Hallowed Inferno's time, Adaranth resided within the Necrosophic Temple and was the Cult of Inferna's eternal overseer. At the time of Qemetiel LXXVIII's reign, he was the sole person alive able to wield palefire.Beloved by Qalmana as though he were her own son, Qalmana not only blessed him with palefire, but imbued him with it, granting him eternal life to watch over the Cult's highly-guarded knowledge-- a role he neither wanted nor consented to, but reluctantly came to accept.Possessing the utmost respect for the cycle of Death and the Abyssal Rulers' authority, Adaranth's use of palefire was exceedingly rare. After documenting the knowledge he sought from the resurrected, he would quietly take their lives once more, returning them to the Underrealm.Those who sought him out for one reason or another all describe him as gentle, but with a peculiar sort of "vacancy"; a human soul warped by time. It was said that the magnitude of his power was immediately overwhelming, almost oppressive, upon coming into contact with him.

In Progress