(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?