Johann

Pog.

Hold on a sec...

👉👈 it was an effort.

Dear god.

There’s no conspiracy, it’s just me, apologies. 😞

‘Twas a wild ride bro

Man.

Praetors, The Voidscarred Transcendents ”Power... wrought with curses, much like living – how quaint.” – Avenel Synalli, Former Primarch. Origins Power. Power is pursued by the competent and learned in the elusive practise of magic, a temptation that indiscriminately afflicts the hearts of the righteous, the vainglorious and the malevolent. It was this pursuit of power that throttled magi of old, self-proclaimed masters of the art, and rediscovered that which was forsaken, scorned and feared - the esoteric; decrepit tomes that detailed unnatural means for a descendant to transcend their arcane capabilities for a price. Yet they took it, whatever the cost was, for such is the vanity of mortality. Their humanity, these magi centuries ago delved in where no Man dared delve. Tenacious in their pursuit of this unnatural knowledge, just like their forebears, many failed to achieve the transformation, the attainment of what sanity would think impossible, the embracing of the antithesis of existence, the Veil - the void. Yet they persisted, whatever the cost was, for such is the strength of mortal convictions. But in due course, one succeeded. He who dubbed himself The Primarch, first of his Kind, the pinnacle of arcane prowess, the first Archon. The transformation, however, came with a price that he slighted in the heat of passion; it would take away the blissful ignorance that pervaded the minds of even the most learned magi, rendering him privy of what the ancient basin of power he so admired truly was - something beyond the comprehension of the mortal, perhaps even the divine psyche. It was all and it was nothing, a paradoxical oxymoron that he came to embody. Henceforth did this newfound awareness, a glimpse into infinity, begin gnawing at the sinews of his sanity and the fragile fabrics of his humanity, emboldened by the immortality he had now been cursed with as a vessel of the eternal, the Void. Woe. Over his ceaseless years, cursed with immortality, he found a means of procreating that which he had seen. It was a vain yet enduring effort to share his woes in the midst of his dwindling humanity, the compassion that he once held for descendants of his ilk dripping from his soul, progressively consumed by the entropic energies that he had offered it to. “Man has sought immortality in many ways… sought to transcend mortality; yet none dared touch the void.” - The Primarch, first of the Archons Thus came the day when the Primarch prevailed, creating what is now known as the lost art of forging the “arcane trinket” by imbibing it with the energies of the void that had consumed him, for the purpose of allowing it to consume another. It is ironic, the unfathomable capabilities of such a feeble device--yet, it served those capabilities. The cursed gift of embracing the void was offered by the Primarch only to those of competence; those that accepted the price they had to pay for the power they wished to attain. And thus arose an order of Archons who projected their arcane aptitude and wisdom across the realms - marvelled and dreaded by the naive. The rise of the Archons came as swiftly as their fall, for even the immortal cannot transcend the neverending march of time. They vanished, the Primarch and his many pursuivants, to a place no mortal soul can ever conceive. To the anguish of many, the departure of the Archons was as traceless as the disappearance of the manuals of the craft. Perhaps it was for the better that their cursed legacy was put to rest. Thus followed many generations without question - until there arose a question. Even though there remained no evidence of the lost art of malforming one’s soul with the energies of the void to become a fabled Archon, it did not stop the neverending pursuits of the righteous, vainglorious and malevolent. They persisted, whatever the cost was, for such is the strength of mortal convictions. And the cycle continued; against overwhelming odds, the becoming of an Archon, now dubbed Praetors was revitalised and rediscovered by contemporary alterationists, fundamentally changed from their spiritual predecessors. It was proof of the remarkable ingenuity of mortality, the pride of the Creator. This restored generation of Praetors offered descendants the same unnatural transformation that had afflicted and empowered their forebears, but with the original art lost to time, the strength was diluted, the process meticulous and unforgiving. Regardless, the allure of transcendence was enough for many of their ilk, who took to embracing it once more like their forebears, blissfully naive of the price they had to pay - they paid, and the Praetors returned, wrought of the mastery of transfiguration, of mana. Truths endowed, Perceptions ordained - The Void, touched. Description “Great truths hide behind your eyes, carve them out and see.” - Doviculus The Praetors are a product of something unnatural that flagrantly defies the bounds of the mortal coil, for it is where the soul of a descendent is scarred by the void, malformed by the fragments of the veil and void. Where this inseparable link brands one’s being with curses does it also provide numerous boons bestowed upon transfigurationist willing to make the sacrifice - the augmentation of their arcane abilities and immortality. It is only by virtue of their profound understanding of the art of transfiguration that Praetors are able to preserve their very own integrity, for the turbulent currents of mana that bless and afflict are unsuitable for the common Man. The Boons of Transcendence Exemption from the burdens of the mortal coil Though the soul is claimed by the void, and the descendant’s being coursing with the essences of the void, the mortal vessel remains ever-present and needy. Akin to the life they once had, the Praetor is still subject to the burdens of the mortal coil, bearing blood, bone and muscle that must still be sustained through nutrition and sustenance. However, as their being is powered by the void, neglect of these mortal needs will no longer lead to death, while disease becomes redundant, null. One may hunger, but never perish to starvation. One may thirst, but never perish to dehydration. One may suffer, but never perish to suffering. The Praetor may feign ignorance for these bodily needs, as the survival of their souls are no longer dependent on their adherence to addressing mortal suffering, but the mortal vessel will most certainly weather the consequences. If one does not sustain the integrity of their muscles, then one will certainly pay the price of a compounding weakness. A curse that accompanies the virtues of this immortality are the ramifications of crossing a point of no return for the body, rendering its integrity sundered with the burdens of vesselhood and the base ignorance of the Praetor towards their mortal needs. It is for the very same reason that a Praetor would lack a need for sleep, unlike the common Man, for the very mana that flows through their veins provide a source of sustenance for the Transcendent - this allows them to passively recuperate their energy over the same extent of time a mortal would require sleep. Akin to any other functions of mortalkind, it is not effectively impossible, simply a hardship for one that has transcended from mortality, demanding meditation for its indulgence where a Praetor temporarily casts their frame of mind back to humanity in emulation of the act. Breathing is unnecessary in both of the Transcendent’s vessels, as the Mana surging with their blood keeps their mortal coil alive. Although air-chokes won’t hinder the Praetor, blood-chokes can still prove effective, as it cuts off blood flow to the brain, leaving the Transcendent unconscious. Should a Praetor take water into their lungs, it wouldn’t do much besides prevent them from speaking or weigh them down. Removing the water completely may require assistance via CPR (this is not to say that the lungs are completely redundant, damage to the lungs will still be just as painful as before and will undoubtedly handicap the Transcendent. If their lungs were removed entirely, the Praetor would die, as it’d be impossible to remove them without damaging major blood vessels around the organs). Due to this, the Praetor would be fully capable of surviving within the Void in both of their forms. Transcendent Proficiency This state of being endows the Praetor with boons beyond simply immortality, for the void, after all, is the age-old source of all voidal magics. It must be borne in mind however, that time weathers, and the once-formidable strength of Praetors has been no exception to this, weakened by its throes. Relative to ordinary descendant magi, Praetors are still capable of casting voidal spells with relative ease, naturally able to effectively manage their latent mana pool. This rids the Transcendent of any negative emotion decreasing the potency of their casting and significantly lessens the mental strain of high tier spells. Unlike their predecessors, who dabbled in manipulating the essence of spells, contemporary Praetors have abandoned this reckless practise, for transcending that which is beyond the capabilities of one’s soul is foolish and detrimental. Instead, it has been understood that the innate potentialities of transcendence lie in the augmented manipulation of mana, thus enabling Praetors to extend this understanding of transfiguration to perform feats unthinkable to their mundane ilk. The intimate and now wary association of the soul of Praetors to the void, however, has awakened what was once inert capacities. Being souls scarred by the void, claimed by its entropic energies, Praetors are now able to practise lesser variants of certain magics with similarly close associations to the void, namely a weakened form of blinking and telekinesis. This profound understanding also endows Praetors with the ability to interpret Moonspeech, the enigmatic tongue of the very entities that aimlessly roam the primordial planes of the Void. A transcendent Praetor possessing red aura. Perhaps the most defining trait of Praetors would be their uncanny ability to surrender their mortal vessels at will to the otherwise suppressed energies that course through their being, be it within combat or otherwise, immobile, a risky but rewarding process. The transformation culminates in the removal of their mortal vessel as it disintegrates into the void, thereafter replaced by a fluid, humanoid body encased in a strange arcane hide, allowing them to flow freely without the hindrances of the vessel - hovering becomes plausible, though not to any combative extent but simply as an alternative means of locomotion. This transformation also awakens all their otherwise dormant combative capabilities, with the exception of being able to rend advanced spells with ease. Becoming eddying currents of the very energies they harness, aura and passive mana, Praetors in their transcendent forms are able to supplement twice fold the mana compared to a normal magi in voidal rituals, with this channelling of mana further extending to arcanium forging, wherein the roll threshold will be reduced by 4 for a Praetor. The Curses of Transcendence Regarding the Mortal Vessel As is a recurring motif, the acquisition of unprecedented power in the beings of mere descendants comes with a price that is to be paid - curses that are to torment the Praetor, perpetual afflictions. As the soul has already been scarred, consumed and inebriated by the vices of the void, the Praetor will be unable to wield any deific magics, with nearly every dark magic with the exception of Pale Blood Magic being impossible to practice and master. The mortal vessel, as established prior, also remains susceptible to the consequences of harm, rendering it pervious to abilities such as necromantic draining, and other forms of physical trauma. Naturally, if the mortal vessel is subject to fatal trauma - the excessive loss of blood - mana will begin to drain out of the body, slowly but certainly spelling the demise of the Praetor, unless the wound is healed in some way. Alchemical substances applied upon the epidermis of the mortal vessel will still yield function, but any ingested elixirs will prove obsolete for the Praetor as the voidal energy and active mana that courses through their being nullifies any effects contrived by the material alphabet - intoxicants are no exception, with their effects largely diluted to a negligible extent. If two Praetors were to procreate, conception would be impossible; however the procreation between a Descendant and a Praetor brings about a pitiful creation. The unborn child is likely to die before deliverance (possibly creating complications for the carrier) and, if born, will suffer from permanent Voidal Weakness—a reduced amount of stamina and an inability to gain steadfast amounts of muscle, also plagued by an unstable form of Magical Alteration out of the offspring’s control. Objects that the cursed child touch and hold have a minor chance horribly deforming in shape once they have made physical contact with it for long enough, or occasionally items around them shifting through the Void erratically, reappearing a few inches off from where they once were. This is not a controlled form of Alteration, nor may it be used to gain any utilitarian or combative advantage - it is an erratic, pervading curse that will forever afflict the progeny. Regarding the Transcendent In their transcendent form, being entirely composed of turbulent currents of passive mana, the Praetor acquires newfound and magnified weaknesses which are the bane of their empowered being. Incurring a direct laceration of a thanhium-alloy weapon, the antithesis of magic, will render the Praetor’s arcane capabilities debilitated to Tier 3 capabilities for the rest of the combative encounter and disrupt their concentration for three emotes as the Praetor agonises in the excruciating pain of thaumburn, unable to recover their focus from the disruptive mana. Severe strikes will kill the Transcendent in the matter of a couple seconds: a thanhium-alloy sword plunged into a vital area, such as the torso, will surely lead to their demise. Auric Oil and Aurum-based weapons incur a similar, albeit less magnified effect upon Praetors, disrupting its concentration for one emote, leaving a burning sensation at the site of its wounds - evidently more effective than mundane weaponry. Other forms of anti-magic that may prove perilous towards the capabilities of the transcendent Praetor, such as Unsound Mages. Their mana-draining aura will be twice as potent on the Praetor versus the average Descendant. The Confusion spell will last for four emotes rather than two, and the Sunder projectile spell will last for five emotes in contrast to its average three emote length. Should a Transcendent be hit with Negate Mana, it will prevent them from casting entirely for two OOC hours. Regardless, mundane weapons still pose a threat, although to a lesser caliber of anti-magical means. The Transcendent form possesses no bones, organs, nor skin, yet are still subject to the pain of steel clashing against their otherworldly vessel, equivalent in durability to their Descendant body. The damage dealt to their Transcendent form will reflect onto their Mortal Coil. If a warhammer were to strike the Transcendent form’s arm, it would be just as painful and handicap the arm as if they were in their Mortal Coil. Once they revert to their physical form, the bone would be fractured. Should a limb be severed in their Transcendent form, it will reflect onto their physical body. In place of blood, their Mana internals will leak from the wound in misty bodies should they be cut with any sort of blade, anti-magical or not. This is just as painful as regular blood loss. Incurring harm from flames or frost will still inflict the same extent of damage as it would upon a normal body, however, being set aflame or contracting frostbite is a non-factor due to the nature of mana. The amount of mana held within the Transcendent’s being is numbingly immense, and thus their presence can be easily detected by any Magi within a four meter radius, the magical power unable to be concealed. While those Magi may not understand the Praetor, feeling a similar sensation to that of a powerful spell being cast, should a Transfigurationist come near enough to cast Voidal Feeling upon the Praetor, they will gain a level of understanding as to what the Transcendent is and the nature of their soul’s intertwining with the void. This grants the Transfigurationist with the ability to Abjure Transcendents, should they so choose to. The use of an Abjuration projectile on a Praetor will stun them for two emotes, rendering them stationary beyond their current position for that duration. Ward Shields will act as physical barriers to the Transcendent, incapable of being passed as if they were steel shields. Strengths Abridged Weaknesses Abridged Creation and The Rite of The Trance When a descendant voidal mage has mastered two Voidal Magics and become Adept (T3) in Transfiguration, nearing the limits of their definite capabilities, they may seek to continue desiring the succour of acquiring power and transform themselves into perhaps the pinnacle of voidal mastery - a Praetor. To do so, they must first seek out an Elder Praetor, which in itself may perhaps be a trial and tribulation. Every Praetor may hold a variegated opinion towards the prospect of bestowing their boons upon a mortal, as is dictated by their psyche. An example would be that Praetors who reject their humanity may be more predisposed to scorning mortals that seek them out to join their ranks - the direction of responses is entirely dependent on the player’s character. “Embrace the change, let your soul nevermore be slain, let truth be gained.” Time weathers all, and the means of becoming a Praetor are no exception to this rule. With many centuries of neglect and shifts in mentality, the method in which the fabled mana trinket can be created has been lost to the ages. The process of becoming a Praetor remains hinged on the mediation of an Elder Praetor, for it is they who must perform the rite of the trance upon an aspirant magi without risk. Voidal heaths, hollows and nodes possess the most profound connection to the void - thusly, with the absence of the mana trinket, Elder Praetors must substitute this need by performing the rite upon these enigmatic planes. Upon this desirable site, the Elder Praetors must situate himself before the imminent Praetor, embracing their transcendent form for the process. Refined Focus Crystals, at least five should be laid out in a polygonal manner around where the target Mage will sit, upon relatively level ground with no moving or unstable structure. The mentor Transcendent will thereafter imbibe their own mana towards that of the focus crystals, concentrating it in tandem with the latent energies of the environment, ultimately directing this conglomerate of mana into the initiated Praetor. In the process of this ritual, the Elder Praetor will chant a cryptic, esoteric incantation in an obscure tongue of the void which will only be discernible as unintelligible, distorted reverberations originating from within the Praetor’s being. These sayings mark the advent of the descendant’s soul becoming malformed by the void as an unprecedented quantity of voidal energy is channeled into the mortal vessel - the strain of this process upon the target’s soul causes one to instantly fall unconscious at its onset. The trance begins. The departure of the soul from the mortal plane as it is claimed by the void. It is following this unconsciousness when the unnatural effects of this ritual begin to seep into the forthcoming Praetor’s being, an effect of the voidal energies that overcome their mortal vessel. As the soul begins to be scarred, malformed by the void, physical changes begin to appear upon the Praetor’s body in indication of this terrible transformation. One’s body mass would dwindle, tissues and muscles degrade and skin pale, the consequences the mortal vessel suffers for transcendence. The coursing of mana through a Praetor’s veins shifts their eye colour to a mixture of their aura and that which they once possessed, yet that is not all for the transformation, for the mortal vessel is not the only component of one’s being. Much to one’s surprise, the duration of the ritual is when the Praetor experiences perhaps the final tranquility of their lives, before it is superseded by a traumatizing, perhaps even scarring barrage of visions before consciousness is recovered - sights of the void, the truths of existence, the futility of mortality, among other irrevocable axioms of the void and the veil that one may witness in this ensuing delirium. The sights will be accompanied by maddening, hallucinatory and psychedelic whispers, the void’s terrible symphony of cacophonous, eldritch shrieks. In this sensory surfeit, wherein all five senses are sunk into complete immersion, they will experience the Void and the apparent, yet minute creation of the Material World. If the scholarly Mage’s understanding was the tip of the iceberg, then the initiating Praetor would be plunged beneath the water into the dark abyss to gaze up at what the rest of the cold mass offers. It comes to understanding how fickle they are in comparison to the metaphysicality beyond the Material Realm: shapes without form, colors indescribable to the Descendant mind, and the insignificance of time; the Void’s infinite potential becomes apparent. To the initiate, it may seem like years have passed by, but in reality only fifty seconds, precisely. In short, a Mage experiencing the Trance is an ant that comes to the revelation that they are, infact, an ant, but could become the size of an elephant through the infinite potential that lies in the Void. Every soul has a differing reception to the void, thus the experience of Praetors will naturally differ, however it is needless to say that the experience follows a common thread of comprehending that which is beyond the thresholds of mortality. Creation Red-lines: - The target Mage must be Tier 3 in Transfiguration and at least Tier 5 in two other Voidal Magics. - The target Mage must not be a Machine Spirit. Their soul must be contained in a natural mortal vessel. - The target Mage may not possess any Magic or art affecting the soul or mind that isn’t Voidal, including Kani but excluding Pale Blood Magic. Exceptions to this are knowledge-based feats, like construct creation such as Sorvians or Automatons. Unsound Magic may not be possessed either due to its anti-magical properties. - The aesthetics of the ritual is mostly up to the participants as long as the prerequisites are met and the required changes proceed. - An Elder Praetor is required to start the ritual. It is unachievable without them. Forms The Mortal Vessel Humanity is perhaps the Praetor’s greatest boon, the preservation of one’s original form a testament to the persistence of the soul. One’s former being and soul are inextricably linked, for the body has been the vessel of the soul ever since inception, a fundamental tie defining of the mortal’s very existence on its plane. Upon the becoming of a Praetor, the body remains, now acting as the mortal vessel of the immortal soul, permanently altered in form, reflective of the voidscarred it houses. The complexion of the mortal vessel is pale, the hue of its eyes shifted to a mixture of the Praetor’s aura and its original, with areas of visible veins giving off a glow of the Praetor’s aura as mana becomes infused with one’s sanguine lifeforce, the crimson ichor of blood. The mortal vessel will experience some physical weakness in consequence of the voidal energies that degrade one’s vessel, only further exacerbated by one’s disposition to neglect bodily needs; a Praetor’s strength will be comparable to that of a mundane mage, unable to proficiently utilise heavy weapons, with their body incapable of enduring the strain of plate armour. The Transcendent Transcended, the Praetor embraces the latent, suppressed energies of the void as they permit it free reign over their very being, unlocking that which is usually restrained for the purpose of preserving their mortal visage. The transformation is an agonising process for most, an expected result of allowing arcane to overcome the mortal vessel, burning and searing away bones, sinews, skin, and other aspects of the mundane body, shifting to a surreal, turbulent mist of arcane energy in the colour of their aura which is mildly encased by an invisible, but tangible hide. Naturally, the innate nature of one’s soul will cause the transcendent Praetor to adopt a humanoid form, identical to that of their original being, however the prominence and definition of features is under the discretion of the Praetor. A discernible outline of a maw, eyes, and other bodily features can be replicated by the reforged through the utility of various textures and shades of their aura, though the alteration of one’s being does not change the nature of one’s voice, which shifts to a distorted, deep tune. "In my fatigue, I gazed upon it -- An angel, yet it spoke no words of virtues nor flames of righteous fire. I looked and peered upon great whirlwinds, a hailing frost; One made of apathy and of no remorse, great hurricanes of flame clashing as a brilliant ethereal light veiled it. In the center of this primordial chaos was the angel, azure eyes gazing at my own. Their whole body, their rims, and their spokes; Their wings, the same cyan embers bathing their divine form. I questioned my sight, my voice and mind -- For whenever GOD had to slaughter or punish, he had sent an angel. I couldn't perceive what laid before me; Even now, the features seem so dream-like, yet I am sure -- An angel fell from the heavens and came to punish the wicked. I repented -- Clutching the cross that guided me; The blind faith that gave me reason. My knees cradled by the freezing snow, yet it mattered not. My whole life praising GOD to see an angel, wings dipped in blood. It went ahead, caring not for me; The great power followed, without turning it passed me." - The Ravings of A Witness. Transformation Becoming: The figure begins to sporadically twitch and shudder, the veins about his eyes and arms beginning to radiate a brilliant violet aura. [!] The flesh and bones of the figure begins to sear away with an audible hissing, his extremities replaced by plumes of purple aura. The mist-turned flesh would remain in place, an intangible arcane hide beginning to manifest. [!] As the arcane hide concludes its manifestation, the figure’s being now purely composed of packed arcane energy, a plume of violet aura rising from his head, a spectral fog replacing his legs. Reverting: The violet Praetor shudders and convulses in place, a cacophonous crackling emanating from his being as bones, begin to manifest within, the transformation shroud by a veil of purple fog. Muscles and sinews form about the bones, the mists shrouding the figure gradually absorbed inwards, converted into flesh with time. [!] With time, the transformation completes, the Transcendent now fully reverting into his original form, body twitching from the strain of the transformation as he took heaving breaths, the soul accustoming itself to the burdens of the mortal vessel. Rituals Rite of Designation - [N] – Greater A Praetor may empower an obelisk, turning it into a conduit of voidal energy, showcasing the Praetor’s augmented capabilities Hollowing - [N] - Greater The Praetor releases copious amounts of Mana with bizarre properties into the area surrounding them, scarring the terrain to create a smaller iteration of a Voidal Hollow. This is often cast because the Transcendent naturally finds comfort in Voidally-scarred lands. Voidal Communion - [N] - Greater A Praetor can perform a ritual in which they seek knowledge and insight from the deep void. Sacraments of Sealing - [N] - Greater A gathering of Praetors and voidal mages may seal and purge a voidal tear from the veil. Rite of the Trance - [N] - Elder Once a Praetor has mastered their augmented ability and become certain of their transcended being, they may pass the torch down to another trusted Transfigurationist, should they wish. Severance - [N] - Elder Just as a Praetor may be created, they may be denied their Transcendence. Through the power of multiple Praetor and Transfiguration Magi, a Transcendent may be deposed of their accumulated power and ability. This could be for a myriad of reasons, such as abuse of power, betrayal to allied Transcendents or simply because the Transcendent desires a return to humanity. Spells and Abilities The Transcendent is capable of incredible feats surrounding an enhanced form of Transfiguration. They are much more effective when transmuting materials and can put up a threatening defense against adversary spells. Psychometry: Non-Combative Your average Transfigurationist’s basic tool, however the Praetors possess the ability to view the history of the changes an object has undergone, such as figuring out the forging process for a recently crafted sword. Passive Telekinesis: Combative Alteration includes the forgotten art of Telekinesis, which allows one to apply gentle amounts of momentum to influence an object’s location. Although its combative use has dwindled in power, minor cantrips are still possible. Minor Brisk Step: Combative A bastardization of a method created by Translocationists, a Praetor may skip through the Void to evade attacks and incoming threats, although not nearly as freeform and open as the average Translocationist. Enhanced Transmutation: Non-Combative With such an extensive understanding of their Magic, the latent mana in objects can be manipulated more efficiently than the average Transfigurationist. Alter Appearance: Non-Combative Their expansive understanding of the Material Realm and beyond allows them to alter their physical form as if they were transmuting an object. The options surrounding this are fairly freeform. Reinforce Mana Pool: Non-Combative The Transcendent reaches out to an ally Mage’s Mana Pool and funnel energy from themselves to the Mage, stabilizing their casting. This would often be used when a Praetor is guiding a student in spell casting and wishes to put in a safe guard to prevent them from passing out or losing a significant amount of Mana. Purvey Spell: Non-Combative Most instructors of the Arcane present a spell to their student as a demonstration to aid their casting; however, a Praetor may plant the makeup a spell itself into the mind of the learning Mage, giving them a clear and cohesive image of what they must cast and how it must be cast. Revitalisation: Non-Combative Almost every Mage has experienced an event in their life in which they have an incredible amount of Mana, putting great strain on their body and often knocking them unconscious or leaving them in a handicapped state. A Praetor can aid a Mage befallen in such peril by forwarding Mana from themselves to the ally Mage’s soul. Impede Projectile: Combative By reaching out to the active mana around a projectile spell, the Transcendent can freeze it in its path. This could be used as defensive technique to evade adversary spells. Debilitate Mana: Combative By reaching out to the soul of a Descendant, they can “grip” the Passive Mana gathered around their soul and restrain them, restricting their ability to move for a short period of time. Expropriate Projectile: Combative An evolved form of Impede Projectile, the Praetor can hijack an adversary Mage’s projectile spell and tear their grip from the incantation, using it for their own doing. Tier Progression Lesser (T1) The Praetor has only recently performed their transcendence, thus inexperienced in effectively harnessing the surplus mana of their transcendent being for practical purposes. Transformation from the mortal vessel to the transcendent will inflict a searing pain upon the Praetor, akin to being baptised in a fire; given a singular week of practise, the pain will begin to subside to merely a stinging sensation upon transformation. Returning to the mortal vessel will drive the Praetor to an ineffable exhaustion, breathless as a result of the exertion one requires to remanifest their original being. This stage lasts for two weeks. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) Spells: Psychometry, Enhanced Transmutation, Alter Appearance Going out of transcendent form will incur debuffs for 9 emotes (major exhaustion, magic temporarily weakened to Tier 3 for this duration) Greater (T2) The Praetor is moderately experienced, having exercised their capabilities for two full years. With this time comes a natural growth in proficiency as the Praetor is better able to tap into the mana reserves of their being, in addition to experiencing little actual pain in the process of transcending, but instead merely an odd sensation that is more of an out of body experience. When reverting, the Praetor will be out of breath at most, though their capabilities will still be limited for some time. After a month as a greater Praetor, the effects of transformation will decrease in magnitude, though their capabilities remain relatively the same. This stage lasts for 2 months. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) Spells: Psychometry, Enhanced Transmutation, Alter Appearance, Passive Telekinesis, Minor Brisk Step, Reinforce Mana Pool, Purvey Spell, Revitalisation, Impede Projectile, Debilitate Mana, Expropriate Projectile Can aid and perform rituals Going out of transcendent form will incur debuffs for 7 emotes (minor exhaustion, magic weakened to T4) Rituals: Rite of Designation, Sacraments of Sealing, Voidal Communion, Hollowing Elder (T3) The Praetor has become seasoned with many years of experience, with practise in manipulating their mana and performing rituals. Upon this stage they become an Elder Praetor, one who can lead the rituals of transcendence and severance. Transformation becomes a trivial affair, however reversion will still incur debuffs upon their being. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) Spells: Psychometry, Enhanced Transmutation, Alter Appearance, Passive Telekinesis, Minor Brisk Step, Reinforce Mana Pool, Purvey Spell, Revitalisation, Impede Projectile, Debilitate Mana, Expropriate Projectile Can lead rituals Going out of transcendent form will cause incurrence of debuffs for 6 emotes + minor exhaustion (breathlessness) Rituals: Rite of the Trance, Rite of Designation, Hollowing, Sacraments of Sealing, Voidal Communion, Severance Mental Description The Rite of Trance exposes one to the true preternatural--an untamed and foreign wild contra to the understood and documented voidal connections of the typical magi. One becomes truly immersed in the void, drowned in a sea of infinite expanse and blank nothingness. Innumerable visions are received, their contents paradoxical, a realm where the natural laws of the Descendants seem quixotic. Incomprehensible and unfathomable, one finds themselves a malleable entity in a plane of entropy. Nonexistence becomes visible, its character beyond simple unending blackness and unable to be articulated in the mortal tongue. Likewise, one bears witness to a more encompassing existence, shapes and colors indescribable and impossible, objects formed yet formless. The passing of time itself becomes meaningless; the visions will feel as though they occur over fleeting seconds and concurrently over a thousand millenia. It is in this oxymoronic realm, terrifying and beautiful, that a Descendant becomes aware of their child-like naivety, that their understanding of the material realm is no more than that of an ant. And, it is here, that they climb the first rung on the ladder of truth. The depicted visions of a Praetor during transcendence. Such experience is an enlightenment in its term, as the mage has bore witness to a higher realm far beyond the perception of the masses. As the ritual itself is transformative of ability and understanding, so too may it become transformative in personality. Praetors may gradually develop a condescension towards descendants, viewing them as transient and ignorant while they have become eternal. Yet, as no two magi experience these voidal connections the same, and indeed the personalities of the thinking races being numerous in their own right, the extent of this effect will vary. Some may preserve their old character while others will reject it entirely. Immortality begets limitless time to philosophize, and thus those that receive its boon will view and understand it uniquely and evolvingly. In the Transcendent form one becomes an indecipherable mass of magical being, the physical manifestation of one’s own mana. Though they may vaguely take on a humanoid form, their mentality may not. Indeed Praetors in this state often adopt a disposition unlike that of a mortal vessel, perceiving themselves as near deity. Finding themselves less susceptible to the typical human emotions they may act more scornful and condescending, a consequence of the empowerment that surges through, and demonstrably alters, their being. Although Transcendent minds mostly retain personality prior to connection, the forbidden truth they’ve experienced will undoubtedly dictate their future perceptions. They’ve experienced the infinite potential of the Void, the creation of the Material Realm, and the revelation that Descendant-kind are unimaginably small, mere ants compared to what lies beyond the Veil and even further; however, they’ll find that the exact details of this revelation are unable to be committed to words to share their forbidden knowledge with other Descendants, existing as a “third eye” or sixth sense. This is the cold and unforgiving reality that plagues the Transcendent’s mind and represents the true transition between Mage to Praetor. As for the Praetor’s motives and drive, anything pertaining to the Arcane will draw fascination to them, be it a large and intricate enchantment, unique materials infused with Mana such as Arcanium, or Voidally-influenced land, such as Hollows, Nodes, and Heaths. In particular, Transcendents will feel most at ease and comfortable in these magically scarred lands. What most find bizarre and unsettling would be a state of equilibrium in the eyes of a Praetor. Their interest in thaumaturgical phenomena and enchantments would likely drive a sense of innovation in them, intent on pushing the Arcane’s abilities to their limits for the purpose of expanding on its potential or increasing their own powe, possibly both. The rejection of humanity entails grave consequences for the Praetor - corruption. Psychology Red-lines: - Change in mindset must be roleplayed. Although this doesn’t mean that the Praetor must become an inherently evil or malevolent character, they will not be of average mentality in comparison to a Descendant and will always elevate themselves above others regardless of whether or not they hold onto their humanity. - It is impossible for a Praetor to accurately describe what they see in their Trance to another Descendant. They may say that they’ve experienced creation in its purest form and seen the scale at which everything lies, but further details may not be elaborated on, as the Descendant mind cannot comprehend what is seen in the Trance and it’s truth cannot be worded through common language. Do you know of insanity? I have glimpsed it; I have grazed it. I have been in the throes of its reach. One minute I knew peace; the next, I was plunged into a horrid hellscape. There were voices in my head. Incessant, itching, aggravating, pulsing, and cacophonous voices ringing out in a sickening symphony; they launched a painstaking and torturous assault on my mind. I did not know even a moment of rest. I peered into the void and witnessed horrors I could not and still cannot put into words. Maddening, maddening, maddening sounds, sights, scents, and tastes filled up my senses with one feeling translated into many: insanity. I heard the conversation of fiends and bore witness to a psychedelic onslaught of visions - I questioned the existence of a GOD. Those feeble, shallow fools lust for longevity--for immortality. They fail to understand; they cannot comprehend what it means to be immortal. To be immortal is to be imprisoned. I am doomed to a ceaseless existence full of suffering, madness, and detestable knowledge. Immortality is a curse, not a boon. I wander the fields of existence alone - I am neither here nor there. If I was asked who I was or what I was, I would not be able to answer. I am a damned being of endless torment. I am everything and nothing. - The Ravings of a Praetor. Corruption Heavily inspired by Zarsies’ Original Lore ”Sometimes, insanity comes knocking. Other times, it tears down the walls.” For a Praetor, frailty lies not only in the body, but irrevocably in the mind. Vulnerability lies in eternity; the eternal, susceptible. For time may wear one callous and grim. Endless and unfathomable like the Void they embody, a Praetor is susceptible to the throes of madness, for their existence is a paradox and can be mildly remedied by the ways of the world. The soul of a Praetor, orderly constructs that embrace the very antithesis of its being, is an enigmatic one, a living contradiction, a persistent paradox. It is the reason every Praetor, as time weathers their consciences, walk on a tightrope over the endless entropy they have embraced within themselves. To fall, all it takes is a little push. In the abyss, humanity fades and insanity ensues. Effects of Corruption Those that choose to fervently reject their humanity, the foundation of their existence, are more susceptible to becoming the subject of the fading humanity all Praetors experience. Over time, they may become throttled into madness and mania through the hubris they garner, or the condescension they cultivate, unnatural traits that only gnaw at their mortal integrity with the passage of time. Soon enough, as this persists… the tipping point comes, the fall begins and the spiral consumes. It is in this descent that a metaphysical seed of corruption is planted within the malformed soul, of those that incessantly submit or entertain their follies. Over the duration of a year, the seed will slowly bud, causing perversions in the mind of the transcendent Praetor. As the seed continues to sprout, an inflaming madness supervenes until the transcendent Praetor possesses a unique personality which antagonizes, dissociates and disdains the Mortal Vessel. This can, for example, include a violent, abusive transcendent form or a depressive, self-harming transcendent form. When the transcendent fully develops its own personality, the soul of a Praetor is figuratively split, wherein the transcendent will seek control of the Mortal Vessel, wedging a rift between the struggling forces within one being. If left untreated, the objective superior, the Transcendent will continuously weaken the Mortal Vessel until their sanity is crushed, humanity lost - the transcendent persona becomes across both forms, a singular being. The only means in which this condition can be remedied is through holy magics that can remove diseases and sickness, for the means in which the Praetor's mana can be drained have been lost to time. Death Where death is so final for mortal souls, a curtain’s call, the final closing of a lifelong story, the ultimate embrace of dark that beckons upon all… it is but the beginning of another chapter for the malformed soul of an eternal being, a Praetor. Woe, to not be endowed a finality in one’s existence is a cursed blessing, an inseparable dichotomy that empowers and torments. For a Praetor, every death appears to be a final tune of life’s symphony, yet it is but a deceptive diminuendo, a faux calm that is only followed by the Praetor returning to the world through the void’s energies, remanifesting upon a designated obelisk, or the Cloud Temple, reborn in the mortal plane. Upon their return, a Praetor will possess no memory of the events that lead up to their death, though the trauma of the event will still be felt for some time. Every death a Praetor experiences entails the subsiding of their soul, the process of replication siphoning one’s very essence purely for the purpose of ensuring one’s continuance. It is said that after three deaths, a Praetor loses their sense of ego, of oneself as they truly descend into something beyond madness, ultimately rendering them incapable of returning to the mortal plane, casting their soul forever sundered in the abyss of the void. General Red-lines: - This lore is not common knowledge and the existence of Praetors is only known to those that have previously witnessed their kind. One cannot simply say they have “read” of Praetors or “heard” of their properties. - Praetors do not have larger Mana Pools than average Descendants. Their only “battery boost” lies in their ability to transmute substances with more potency and a higher scale and range. - Mental change MUST be roleplayed. A Transcendent does not necessarily become an inherently evil or emotionless character, but they have a constant elevated superiority in comparison to Descendant life, regardless of whether or not they hold onto parts of their humanity. - To become a Praetor, the player must be Tier 5 in two voidal magics and at least Tier 3 in transfiguration. - Praetors may not practise deific or dark magics, with the exception of Pale blood magic. - The Transcendent’s abilities may not be bound to enchantments. They are unique to them and them only. - Physical changes MUST be roleplayed. Praetors may not wear any sort of plate armor and incredibly stamina heavy weapons such as poleaxes, maces and warhammers are not practical and combat. Pros: - Offers Magi a way to reach a peak in their ability and obtain immortality through advancements in Voidal Alteration. - Spells dedicated to countering adversary magic projectiles. - Immunity to extreme climate and most mundane illnesses. - Sleep and breathing are redundant and not required by the Transcendent. - The Transcendent’s powerful connection to the Arcane prevents negative emotion from impacting their ability to cast. - Encourages interaction with other Magi surrounding Circling, Arcanium Forging, the non-combative support spells and rituals Cons: - Weakness to anti-magical means such as Thanhic Alloy, Auric Oil, Abjurations and Unsound Magic. - Requirement to shift to Transcendent form for the utility of combative abilities, which also exposes you to a whole host of weaknesses. - No dark or deific magics with the exception of Pale Blood Magic. - Exclusive to Transfigurationists. - Limited lives before an unconditional PK - Drastically changes the character’s mindset, barring off a lot of “slice of life” roleplay from the character. - Immunity to alchemical elixirs that are ingested. - Alcohol is significantly less effective, requiring three times the potency for a Praetor to experience its effects in the Mortal Vessel. - Unable to swing stamina intensive two-handed weapons. - Prosthetic limbs outside of Arcane origin will fail to work. - Procreation between a Praetor and Descendant brings about horrible defects. Changelog - Added changelog - Removed functionality of designated obelisks as “respawn points” to prevent complications. - Nerfed passive telekinesis - Added additional “con” regarding the inefficacy of alcohol - Added three new aesthetic abilities: Revitalisation, Reinforce Mana Pool and Purvey Spell. - Clarified that Praetors can only debilitate descendant-sized creatures at most. - Nerfed debilitate mana - Clarified Praetor transcendent form interaction to fire and frost - FINALLY added Authors’ Notes. - Clarified Praetor armour guidelines - Added a limit to a Praetorian connection and disconnection, where a Praetor may only ever be connected and disconnected TWICE. - Specified debuffs and risks for transformation (vulnerability and immobility), and that it can naturally be done during combat. - Expanded on designated obelisks to incorporate it better to forthcoming mana obelisks rewrites. Authors’ Notes Isaac: I’m very satisfied with how this lore came out once me and Johann agreed to merge our projects into one. My main motivation behind this piece is to raise the ceiling of potential for Voidal Magic, and, encourage roleplay and synergy between Praetors and other Mages. I want to thank Johann for throwing this whole thing together. Although a lot of the ideas present in this lore also exist in my Spellforged lore, Johann gave all of my spells and descriptions a more fancy and tonally solid writing style, further stapling what this lore is all about. Johann: Praetors essentially an answer to the prevailing issue with void magic, a dire lack of rp substance for it to truly be interesting lore that is to be perceived by the playerbase as something beyond “spellbook” magic. By combining the flavour and aesthetics of my own write with Isaac’s mechanics, the piece genuinely felt more complete than each of our writes individually. Both our writes blended cohesively into a singular lorepiece that showcases the roleplay potential void magic could have, and that there is still a potential for a “cool factor” if void magic is portrayed as something far more profound than how it is usually perceived on the surface. I hope this lorepiece will set a good precedent for future void lore pieces to also begin looking towards incorporating actual rp substance and flavour, while also, if accepted, act as a means of setting higher standards for void magic roleplay in the community. This is a concept myself, Isaac and I’m sure many others have discussed extensively over past months, so I do hope, with all the balance that has been conceived in lore piece, that our efforts will come to fruition in the end, that void magic can be made far more compelling than what it currently is. Citations Phil's Original Lore Changes to Archons Zarsies’ Corruption Lore Isaac's Spellforged Write My Archon Write Credits Johann and Isaac (Co-Authors) Zarsies (Corruption Lore) Phil (Original Lore) ...and all those that myself and Isaac consulted over the duration of this write.

While it’s not explicitly stated in the lore, the Necronomicon still contains necromantic arts, along with newly manifested infernal knowledge which I emphasized for the sake of explaining the additional changes it’s undergone, @Luciloo

Thanks, dad.

Man.

The Remnant Tomes Of Power Molded from the essence of their patron deities, the tomes of power are artifacts of unfathomable power, inheritors of the boundless potentiality wielded by their creators. Though they were originally set upon the mortal plane, passed has the time where Man wielded these tomes as purveyors of their will, some lost to the obscurities of the ages or others rescinded in from the clutches of their hubris. Once there were nine of these fabled tomes, but now do only a fraction of them remain, some emboldened by prevailing evils, others diluted by decadence. The Necronomicon The altered iteration of the Necronomicon, infused with Ibleesian and Infernal evils. Once a prominent artifact in the age of Iblees’ scourges, the Necronomicon fell into obscurity with Iblees’ waning machinations as the Daemon of Ruin, it’s behaviour fickle and elusive. A reflection of the Daemon of Ruin’s nature, the tome never strayed far from the ire of the descendants, for it was pursuant of their plight while dormant in function. Yet this docile, passive existence was only cut short with the Inferi incursion of Arcas which once more reawakened the ancient evil that had receded into the shadowy recesses of existence; the Inferi were an evil that resonated with a portion of Iblees’ power by proxy of Ixris’ deviations. In light of this change did the tome re-manifest upon the mortal plane in a location unknown, imbued in the essence of the Inferi, maleus and malflame, while retaining its secrets of old - a vessel and a reminder of evils old and new. The Necronomicon is now a twisted alteration of its original forefather, hosting Ibleesian blight that intertwined, mingled, and assimilated with its cousin evil - Infernal malflame. Happening upon this terrible tome is a portent of the accursed, but to dare peer into its contents simply serves as an augury of plight. With mortal eyes and within mortal comprehension, the ordinary Man can only attempt to witness its contents for so long, for exposure to the tome’s damning contents will sentence one to some traumatic, grisly fate. In this damnable exchange where sacrifice is made for knowledge shunned by even the Gods, greed only entails death when one attempts to hoard the ken of Ruin’s infernal manifestation. A successful perusal of this tome does not equate to a successful suppression of the writhing evils that lay within, however. The very tampering of this tome only entails the release of Ruin’s will before its departure thereafter, the tome consequently expulsing some manner of calamity upon the land, be it Ibleesian blight or some other forgotten evil of times immemorial. [Backfacing section removed] The Book Of Souls The eye of the Archaengul remains ever set upon the mortal plane from the peaks of the Golden City, retaining a watchful gaze upon the origin of the souls she shepherds. Her vigilance begets understanding, and the contemporary turmoils that wracked the mortal plane with the fall of Arcas reinvigorated its dormancy, a call of duty, answered. The whereabouts of this projection of Aeriel’s power are unknown, though its nature, unlike the Necronomicon, has remained a constant despite the turbulent currents of mortal history. A reflection of Aeriel’s influence over the wayward souls of Ebrietaes, the tome itself is a catalog of all the names of the dead, those that have passed from the mortal plane and into the soul stream. It is this that result’s in the tome’s constant dynamism, ever churning and stirring as names are added upon its virtually infinite pages. Riddled with ancient lores of the Ebrietaes and its inner workings, the tome allows the user to call upon a deceased soul from this realm back to the mortal plane for the purpose of communion. Upon its calling, the soul will manifest out of the pages of the tome in the form of a revenant at peace, remaining upon the mortal realm for a Saint’s day without any knowledge of the events that lead up to their death. This feat may be performed once a year, though any further abilities specific to events in the future will be up to ET discretion with managerial approval. Purpose Before devising this write for the current ST workshop project, it came to my recognition that the tomes of power were an inherently frowned upon idea, with their previous infamy for being objects that were hoarded by clique for personal power gains, overall being lore objects that only catered to very specific player groups, as opposed to the canon of the server as a whole. By making these tomes purely ET objects, it is within my hopes that they will be properly used in future events for what should have been their purpose in the original lore while also mitigating whatever attempts to powercreeping people may take if they were purely public. The very dynamic the tomes bring – divine artifacts simply scattered across the land for mortal use – serves as an optimal narrative device for the server’s story, and I figured it would be optimal if this unused potential was recycled through a better iteration of the now shelved lore. Citations Original Lore Credits Johann (Author) Zarsies (Consultation) Wretched (Consultation and Previous Lore)

Wonk heraldry time.

Archons rewrite part 2 when?

The madman’s actually done it...

A hooded mali’aheral looks upon the weathering missive in passing, perusing its contents before a frown settles upon his impassive visage in light of its contents. Regardless of what provoked his displeasure, he pockets the parchment, with intent to perhaps investigate further...

Archons, The Voidscarred Transcendents ”Power... wrought with curses, much like living – how quaint.” – Avenel Synalli, Former Primarch. Origins Power. Power is pursued by the competent and learned in the elusive practise of magic, a temptation that indiscriminately afflicts the hearts of the righteous, the vainglorious and the malevolent. It was this pursuit of power that throttled magi of old, self-proclaimed masters of the art, and rediscovered that which was forsaken, scorned and feared - the esoteric; decrepit tomes that detailed unnatural means for a descendant to transcend their arcane capabilities for a price. Yet they took it, whatever the cost was, for such is the vanity of mortality. Their humanity, these magi centuries ago delved in where no Man dared delve. Tenacious in their pursuit of this unnatural knowledge, just like their forebears, many failed to achieve the transformation, the attainment of what sanity would think impossible, the embracing of the antithesis of existence, the Veil - the void. Yet they persisted, whatever the cost was, for such is the strength of mortal convictions. But in due course, one succeeded. He who dubbed himself The Primarch, first of his Kind, the pinnacle of arcane prowess, the first Archon. The transformation, however, came with a price that he slighted in the heat of passion; it would take away the blissful ignorance that pervaded the minds of even the most learned magi, rendering him privy of what the ancient basin of power he so admired truly was - something beyond the comprehension of the mortal, perhaps even the divine psyche. It was all and it was nothing, a paradoxical oxymoron that he came to embody. Henceforth did this newfound awareness, a glimpse into infinity, begin gnawing at the sinews of his sanity and the fragile fabrics of his humanity, emboldened by the immortality he had now been cursed with as a vessel of the eternal, the void. Woe. Over his ceaseless years, cursed with immortality, he found a means of procreating of which he had seen. It was a vain yet enduring effort to share his woes in the midst of his dwindling humanity, the compassion that he once held for descendants of his ilk dripping from his soul, progressively consumed by the entropic energies that he had offered it to. “Man has sought immortality in many ways… sought to transcend mortality; yet none dared touch the void.” - The Primarch, first of the Archons. Thus came the day when the Primarch prevailed, creating what is now known as the lost art of forging the “arcane trinket” by imbibing it with the energies of the void that had consumed him, for the purpose of allowing it to consume another. It is ironic, the unfathomable capabilities of such a feeble device--yet, it served those capabilities. The cursed gift of embracing the void was offered by the Primarch only to those of competence; those that accepted the price they had to pay for the power they wished to attain. And thus arose an order of archons who projected their arcane aptitude and wisdom across the realms - marvelled and dreaded by the naive. The rise of the archons came as swiftly as their fall, for even the immortal cannot transcend the neverending march of time. They vanished, the Primarch and his many pursuivants, to a place no mortal soul can ever conceive. To the anguish of many, the departure of the archons was as traceless as the disappearance of the manuals of the craft. Perhaps it was for the better that their cursed legacy was put to rest. Thus followed many generations without question - until there arose a question. Even though there remained no evidence of the lost art of malforming one’s soul with the energies of the void to become a fabled Archon, it did not stop the neverending pursuits of the righteous, vainglorious and malevolent. They persisted, whatever the cost was, for such is the strength of mortal convictions. And the cycle continued; against overwhelming odds, the becoming of an Archon was revitalised and rediscovered by contemporary magi. It was proof of the remarkable ingenuity of mortality, the pride of the Creator. This restored generation of Archons endowed descendants the same unnatural transformation that had afflicted and empowered their forebears, but with the original art lost to time, the strength was diluted. Regardless, the allure of transcendence was enough for many a powerful magi, who took to embracing it once more like their forebears, blissfully naive of the price they had to pay - they paid, and the Archons returned. Description “Great truths hide behind your eyes, carve them out and see.” - Doviculus The Archons are a product of something unnatural that flagrantly defies the bounds of the mortal coil, for it is where the soul of a descendent is scarred by the void, malformed by the fragments of the veil and void. Where this inseparable link brands one’s being with curses did it also provide numerous boons also bestowed upon those willing to make the sacrifice - the augmentation of their arcane abilities and immortality. Though the soul is claimed by the void, and the descendant’s being coursing with the essences of the void, the mortal vessel remains ever-present and needy. Akin to the life they once had, the Archon is still subject to the burdens of the mortal coil, bearing blood, bone and muscle that must still be sustained through nutrition and sustenance. However, as their being is powered by the void, neglect of these mortal needs will no longer lead to death. One may hunger, but never perish to starvation. One may thirst, but never perish to dehydration. One may suffer, but never perish to suffering. The archon may feign ignorance for these bodily needs, as the survival of their souls are no longer dependent on their adherence to addressing mortal suffering, but the mortal vessel will most certainly weather the consequences. If one does not sustain the integrity of their muscles, then one will certainly pay the price of a compounding weakness. A curse that accompanies the virtues of this immortality are the ramifications of crossing a point of no return for the body, rendering its integrity sundered with the burdens of vesselhood and the base ignorance of the Archon towards their mortal needs. This state of being endows the Archon with boons beyond simply immortality, for the void, after all, is the age-old source of all voidal magics. It must be borne in mind however, that time weathers, and the once-formidable strength of Archons has been no exception to this, weakened by its throes. Relative to ordinary descendant magi, Archons are still capable of casting voidal spells with relative ease, naturally possessing a superior mana pool, rendering them less prone to exhaustion. Unlike their predecessors, who dabbled in manipulating the essence of spells, contemporary Archons have abandoned this reckless practise, for transcending that which is beyond the capabilities of one’s soul is foolish and detrimental. The intimate and now wary association of the soul of Archons to the void, however, has awakened what was once inert capacities. Being souls scarred by the void, claimed by its entropic energies, Archons are now able to practise lesser variants of certain magics with similarly close associations to the void, namely a weakened form of blinking and voidal feeling. A transcendent Archon possessing red aura. Perhaps the most defining trait of Archons would be their uncanny ability to surrender their mortal vessels at will to the otherwise suppressed energies that course through their being/ The transformation culminates in the removal of their mortal vessel as it disintegrates into the void, thereafter replaced by a fluid, humanoid body encased in a strange arcane hide, allowing them to flow freely without the hindrances of the vessel, awakening all their otherwise dormant capabilities, with the exception of being able to rend advanced spells with ease. As is a recurring motif, the acquisition of unprecedented power in the beings of mere descendants comes with a price that is to be paid - curses that are to torment the Archon, perpetual afflictions. As the soul has already been scarred, consumed and inebriated by the vices of the void, the Archon will be unable to wield any deific magics, with nearly every dark magic with the exception of Pale Blood Magic and Mysticism being impossible to practise and master. The mortal vessel, as established prior, also remains susceptible to the consequences of harm, rendering it pervious to abilities such as necromantic draining, and other forms of physical trauma. Naturally, if the mortal vessel is subject to fatal trauma - the excessive loss of blood - mana will begin to drain out of the body, slowly but certainly spelling the demise of the Archon, unless the wound is healed in some way. In their transcendent form, being entirely composed of turbulent currents of mana, the Archon acquires newfound and magnified weaknesses which are the bane of their empowered being. Incurring a direct strike of a thanhium weapon, the antithesis of magic, will render the Archon’s arcane capabilities debilitated, akin to that of a lesser magi, and disrupt its concentration for three emotes as the Archon agonises in the excruciating pain of thaumburn, unable to recover their limbs from the disruptive mana. Aurum and its alloys incur a similar, albeit less magnified effect upon Archons, disrupting its concentration for one emote, leaving a burning sensation at the site of its wounds - evidently more effective than mundane weaponry. Other forms of anti-magic that may prove perilous towards the capabilities of the transcendent Archon, perhaps even lethal to its being, are unsound and abjuration magic, both of which may be utilized against them to stagger and cripple. Creation When a descendant voidal mage has mastered three voidal magics, nearing the limits of their definite capabilities, they may seek to continue desiring the succour of acquiring power and transform themselves into perhaps the pinnacle of voidal mastery - an Archon. To do so, they must first seek out an Elder Archon, which in itself may perhaps be a trial and tribulation. Every Archon may hold a variegated opinion towards the prospect of bestowing their boons upon a mortal, as is dictated by their psyche. An example would be that Archons who reject their humanity may be more predisposed to scorning mortals that seek them out to join their ranks - the direction of responses is entirely dependent on the player’s character. “Embrace the change, let your soul nevermore be slain, let the truth be gained.” Time weathers all, and the means of becoming an Archon are no exception to this rule. With the many centuries of neglect, the lack of evidence and the shifts in mentality, the method in which the fabled mana trinket can be created has been lost to the ages. The process of becoming an Archon remains hinged on the mediation of Elder Archons, for it is they who must perform the transcendence ritual on the aspirant magi without risk; one may perform this ritual with a skilled transfigurationist if all the criteria to become an archon are met, though naturally this is not without its own perilous dangers. Voidal heaths possess the most profound connection to the void - thusly, with the absence of the mana trinket, Elder Archons must substitute this need by performing the transcendence ritual in these enigmatic planes. Upon this desirable site, two Elder Archons must situate themselves on opposite sides of the imminent Archon, embracing their transcendent form for the process. Furthermore, the presence of two skilled T5 voidal mages, is a necessity for the channelling of mana through the being of the Elder Archons, who will thereafter imbibe this mana, along with their own, with the latent energies of the environment, ultimately directing this conglomerate of mana into the Archon. In the process of this ritual, the Elder Archons will chant cryptic, esoteric phrases in an obscure tongue of the void that will only be discernible as unintelligible, distorted reverberations originating from within the Archon’s being. These sayings mark the advent of the descendant’s soul becoming malformed by the void as an unprecedented quantity of voidal energy is channeled into the mortal vessel - the strain of this process upon the target’s soul causes one to instantly fall unconscious at its onset. The departure of the soul from the mortal plane as it is claimed by the void. It is following this unconsciousness when the unnatural effects of this ritual begin to seep into the forthcoming Archon’s being, an effect of the voidal energies that overcome their mortal vessel. As the soul begins to be scarred, malformed by the void, physical changes begin to appear upon the Archon’s body in indication of this terrible transformation. One’s body mass would dwindle, tissues and muscles degrade and skin pale, the consequences the mortal vessel suffers for transcendence. The coursing of mana through an Archon’s veins shifts their eye colour to a mixture of their aura and that which they once possessed, yet that is not all for the transformation, for the mortal vessel is not the only component of one’s being. Much to one’s surprise, the duration of the ritual is when the Archon experiences perhaps the final tranquility of their lives, before it is superseded by a traumatizing, perhaps even scarring barrage of visions as consciousness is recovered - sights of the void, the truths of existence, the futility of mortality, among other irrevocable axioms of the void and the veil that one may witness in this ensuing delirium. The sights will be accompanied by maddening, hallucinatory and psychedelic whispers, the void’s terrible symphony of cacophonous, eldritch shrieks. Every soul has a differing reception to the void, thus the experience of Archons will naturally differ, however it is needless to say that the experience follows a common thread of comprehending that which is beyond the comprehension of mortality. Forms The Mortal Vessel Humanity is perhaps the Archon’s greatest boon, the preservation of one’s original form a testament to the persistence of the soul. One’s former being and soul are inextricably linked, for the body has been the vessel of the soul ever since inception, a fundamental tie defining of the mortal’s very existence on its plane. Upon the becoming of an Archon, the body remains, now acting as the mortal vessel of the immortal soul, permanently altered in form, reflective of the voidscarred it houses. The complexion of the mortal vessel is pale, the hue of its eyes shifted to a mixture of the Archon’s aura and its original, with areas of visible veins giving off a glow of the Archon’s aura as mana becomes infused with one’s sanguine lifeforce, the crimson ichor of blood. The mortal vessel will experience much physical weakness in consequence of the voidal energies that degrade one’s vessel, only further exacerbated by one’s disposition to neglect bodily needs; an Archon’s strength will be comparable to that of a feeble mage, unable to swing anything heavier than a sword and their body incapable of enduring the strain of heavy armor. The Transcendent Transcended, the Archon embraces the latent, suppressed energies of the void as they permit it free reign over their very being, unlocking that which is usually restrained for the purpose of preserving their mortal visage. The transformation is an agonizing process for most, an expected result of allowing arcane to overcome the mortal vessel, burning and searing away bones, sinews, skin, and other aspects of the mundane body, shifting to a surreal, turbulent mist of arcane energy in the color of their aura which is mildly encased by an invisible, but tangible hide. Naturally, the innate nature of one’s soul will cause the transcendent Archon to adopt a humanoid form, identical to that of their original being, however the prominence and definition of features is under the discretion of the Archon. A discernible outline of a maw, eyes, and other bodily features can be replicated by the Archon through the utility of various textures and shades of their aura, though the alteration of one’s being does not change the nature of one’s voice, which shifts to a distorted, deep tune. "In my fatigue, I gazed upon it -- An angel, yet it spoke no words of virtues nor flames of righteous fire. I looked and peered upon great whirlwinds, a hailing frost; One made of apathy and of no remorse, great hurricanes of flame clashing as a brilliant ethereal light veiled it. In the center of this primordial chaos was the angel, azure eyes gazing at my own. Their whole body, their rims, and their spokes; Their wings, the same cyan embers bathing their divine form. I questioned my sight, my voice and mind -- For whenever GOD had to slaughter or punish, he had sent an angel. I couldn't perceive what laid before me; Even now, the features seem so dream-like, yet I am sure -- An angel fell from the heavens and came to punish the wicked. I repented -- Clutching the cross that guided me; The blind faith that gave me reason. My knees cradled by the freezing snow, yet it mattered not. My whole life praising GOD to see an angel, wings dipped in blood. It went ahead, caring not for me; The great power followed, without turning it passed me." - The Ravings of A Witness. The Anchor Though the void itself is immaterial, at least in that naive perception of the Descendants, a metaphysical addition to the Archon’s physical person grows as the ritual reaches its close. The Anchor is a translucent formation as wide as a fist, protruding no more than half an inch from the Archon’s frame, its character akin to that of a mineral, only manifesting in transcendence. The specific location of the Anchor is naturally at the heart of the Archon, for it is also the site of the metaphysical soul. The void, a paradoxical plane, is not monolithic in its character, and no two Magi will share an identical experience in connecting with it. This extends to the Anchor’s specific form; some may appear as finely cut gemstones, others as a multitude of loosely connected miniscule crystalline protrusions, and some may yet appear as a more consistent and connected smooth geometric shape, texture akin to stone. The color of the Anchor will generally be reflective of the Mage’s aura, though dull, adopting a bright glow when the Archon makes their connection to the void. While the Archon’s body exists in the physical world, their soul now resides perpetually in the voidal expanse. The Anchor acts as a mirror, reflecting the soul unto a form physical, rooting it in the realm material. Naturally, the Anchor is paramount to the Trancendant’s immortality, and is entirely how it is maintained. If the Archon were to be killed in a manner mundane, dying from harm to the body or mind, the Anchor will boldly flare with the soul’s aura, dissipating into the air in a small arcane explosion, wayfaring through the void and ultimately rematerializing in the physical world at the Cloud Temple or a designated obelisk. Though the Anchor itself is obstinate it is not indestructible, having the durability comparable to a tough stone. Should it be shattered, the Archon’s immortality is rescinded, causing an enforced PK upon their next death until their anchor is restored by an Archon and a skilled transfigurationist. However, as the Anchor is a part of the Transcendant’s body, it will naturally heal over time assuming it is only damaged and not entirely destroyed. Slashing a sword may scratch it a worst, but blunt weapons like maces, flails, warhammers, and clubs pose a grave threat. Four strikes to the Anchor with a blunt weapon of well crafted character will see it shattered, casting the Archon’s being back into the void. If it sustains the abuse given it will heal in a time proportional to the damage; severe cracking in its form may take nearly a year to recover, during which the Archon is vulnerable. Minor cracking (1/4 hits): 1 OOC days to heal. Major cracking (2/4 hits): 3 OOC days to heal. Integral cracking (3/4 hits): 5 OOC days to heal. The transcendent form flickers as the connection to the void grows volatile. Shattered (4/4 hits): Physical form destroyed, its link to the void severed, immortality rescinded, halted. PK upon next death, unless the shattered anchor is restored by an Archon and a voidal mage, with the voidal mage channelling their mana to the Archon to perform a sophisticated transmutation on the anchor. The amount of mana held within the Anchor is numbingly immense, and thus a Transcendent’s presence can be easily detected by any Magi within a four meter radius, the magical power unable to be concealed. While those Magi may not understand the Archon, feeling a similar sensation to that of a powerful spell being cast, should a Transfigurationist come near enough to cast Voidal Feeling upon the Anchor they will gain a level of understanding as to what the Transcendent is and the nature of their soul’s intertwining with the void. This grants the Transfigurationist with the ability to Abjure Transcendents, should they so choose to. Transformation Becoming: The figure begins to sporadically twitch and shudder, the veins about his eyes and arms beginning to radiate a brilliant violet aura. [!] The flesh and bones of the figure begins to sear away with an audible hissing, his extremities replaced by plumes of purple aura. The mist-turned flesh would remain in place, an intangible arcane hide beginning to manifest. [!] As the arcane hide concludes its manifestation, the figure’s being now purely composed of packed arcane energy, a plume of violet aura rising from his head, a spectral fog replacing his legs. Reverting: The violet archon shudders and convulses in place, a cacophonous crackling emanating from his being as bones, begin to manifest within, the transformation shroud by a veil of purple fog. Muscles and sinews form about the bones, the mists shrouding the figure gradually absorbed inwards, converted into flesh with time. [!] With time, the transformation completes, the Transcendent now fully reverting into his original form, body twitching from the strain of the transformation as he took heaving breaths, the soul accustoming itself to the burdens of the mortal vessel. Tier Progression Lesser (T1) The Archon has only recently performed their transcendence, thusly inexperienced in effectively harnessing the surplus mana of their transcendent being for practical purposes. Transformation from the mortal vessel to the transcendent will inflict a searing pain upon the Archon, akin to being baptised in a fire; given a singular week of practise, the pain will begin to subside to merely a stinging sensation upon transformation. Returning to the mortal vessel will drive the Archon to an ineffable exhaustion, breatheless as a result of the exertion one requires to remanifest their original being. This stage lasts for two weeks. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) 1 extra T2 spell Going out of transcendent form will incur debuffs for 9 emotes (major exhaustion, magic temporarily weakened to tier 3) Greater (T2) The Archon is moderately experienced, having exercised their capabilities for two full years. With this time comes a natural growth in proficiency as the Archon is better able to tap into the mana reserves of their being, in addition to experiencing little actual pain in the process of transcending, but instead merely an odd sensation that is more of an out of body experience. When reverting, the Archon will be out of breath at most, though their capabilities will still be limited for some time. After a month as a greater Archon, the effects of transformation will decrease in magnitude, though their capabilities remain relatively the same. This stage lasts for a 2 months. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) 1 extra T3 spell Can aid and perform rituals Going out of transcendent form will incur debuffs for 7 emotes (minor exhaustion) Rituals: Rite of Designation, Sacraments of Sealing, Voidal communion Elder (T3) The Archon has become seasoned with many years of experience, with practise in manipulating their mana and performing rituals. Upon this stage they become an Elder Archon, one who can lead the rituals of transcendence and severance. Transformation becomes a trivial affair, however reversion will still incur debuffs upon their being. Features: Ease of casting (Available for mortal vessel) 1 extra T5 spell Can lead rituals Going out of transcendent form will cause incurrence of debuffs for 6 emotes + minor exhaustion (breathlessness) Rituals: Transcendence Ritual, Rite of Designation, Sacraments of Sealing, Voidal Communion, Severance Rituals Rite of Designation - [N] - Greater An archon may empower an obelisk, turning it into a conduit of voidal energy which serves as a point of reformation. Voidal Communion - [N] - Greater An archon can perform a ritual in which they seek info and insight from within the void. Sacraments of Sealing - [N] - Greater A gathering of archons and voidal mages may seal and purge a voidal tear from the veil. Severance Ritual - [N] - Elder An Elder Archon may enact a ritual to rescind another archon of their transcendence. Mental Description The transcendence ritual, not aggrandizing in its name, exposes one to the true preternatural--an untamed and foreign wild contra to the understood and documented voidal connections of the typical magi. One becomes truly immersed in the void, drowned in a sea of infinite expanse and blank nothingness. Innumerable visions are received, their contents paradoxical, a realm where the natural laws of the Descendants seem quixotic. Incomprehensible and unfathomable, one finds themselves a malleable entity in a plane of entropy. Nonexistence becomes visible, its character beyond simple unending blackness and unable to be articulated in the mortal tongue. Likewise, one bears witness to a more encompassing existence, shapes and colors indescribable and impossible, objects formed yet formless. The passing of time itself becomes meaningless; the visions will feel as though they occur over fleeting seconds and concurrently over a thousand millenia. It is in this oxymoronic realm, terrifying and beautiful, that a Descendant becomes aware of their child-like naivety, that their understanding of the material realm is no more than that of an ant. And, it is here, that they climb the first rung on the ladder of truth. The depicted visions of an Archon during transcendence. Such experience is an enlightenment in its term, as the mage has bore witness to a higher realm far beyond the perception of the masses. As the ritual itself is transformative of ability and understanding, so too may it become transformative in personality. Archons may gradually develop a condescension towards descendants, viewing them as transient and ignorant while they have become eternal. Yet, as no two magi experience these voidal connections the same, and indeed the personalities of the thinking races being numerous in their own right, the extent of this effect will vary. Some may preserve their old character while others will reject it entirely. Immortality begets limitless time to philosophize, and thus those that receive its boon will view and understand it uniquely and evolvingly. In Transcendent form one becomes an indecipherable mass of magical being, the physical manifestation of one’s own mana. Though they may vaguely take on a humanoid form, their mentality may not. Indeed Archons in this state often adopt a disposition unlike that of a mortal vessel, perceiving themselves as near deity. Finding themselves less susceptible to the typical human emotions they may act more scornful and condescending, a consequence of the empowerment that surges through, and demonstrably alters, their being. Do you know of insanity? I have glimpsed it; I have grazed it. I have been in the throes of its reach. One minute I knew peace; the next, I was plunged into a horrid hellscape. There were voices in my head. Incessant, itching, aggravating, pulsing, and cacophonous voices ringing out in a sickening symphony; they launched a painstaking and torturous assault on my mind. I did not know even a moment of rest. I peered into the void and witnessed horrors I could not and still cannot put into words. Maddening, maddening, maddening sounds, sights, scents, and tastes filled up my senses with one feeling translated into many: insanity. I heard the conversation of fiends and bore witness to a psychedelic onslaught of visions - I questioned the existence of a GOD. Those feeble, shallow fools lust for longevity--for immortality. They fail to understand; they cannot comprehend what it means to be immortal. To be immortal is to be imprisoned. I am doomed to a ceaseless existence full of suffering, madness, and detestable knowledge. Immortality is a curse, not a boon. I wander the fields of existence alone - I am neither here nor there. If I was asked who I was or what I was, I would not be able to answer. I am a damned being of endless torment. I am everything and nothing. - The Lamentations of an Archon. Corruption Heavily inspired by Zarsies’ Original Lore ”Sometimes, insanity comes knocking. Other times, it tears down the walls.” For an Archon, frailty lies not only in the body, but irrevocably in the mind. Vulnerability lies in eternity; the eternal, susceptible. For time may wear one callous and grim. Endless and unfathomable like the Void they embody, an Archon is susceptible to the throes of madness, for their existence is a paradox and can be mildly remedied by the ways of the world. The soul of an Archon, orderly constructs that embrace the very antithesis of its being, is an enigmatic one, a living contradiction, a persistent paradox. It is the reason every Archon, as time weathers their consciences, walk on a tightrope over the endless entropy they have embraced within themselves. To fall, all it takes is a little push. In the abyss, humanity fades and insanity ensues. Effects of Corruption Those that choose to fervently reject their humanity, the foundation of their existence, are more susceptible to becoming the subject of the fading humanity all Archons experience. Over time, they may become throttled into madness and mania through the hubris they garner, or the condescension they cultivate, unnatural traits that only gnaw at their mortal integrity with the passage of time. Soon enough, as this persists… the tipping point comes, the fall begins and the spiral consumes. It is in this descent that a metaphysical seed of corruption is planted within the malformed soul, of those that incessantly submit or entertain their follies. Over the duration of a year, the seed will slowly bud, causing perversions in the mind of the transcendent Archon. As the seed continues to sprout, an inflaming madness supervenes until the transcendent Archon possesses a unique personality which antagonizes, dissociates and disdains the Mortal Vessel. This can, for example, include a violent, abusive transcendent form or a depressive, self-harming transcendent form. When the transcendent fully develops its own personality, the soul of an Archon is figuratively split, wherein the transcendent will seek control of the Mortal Vessel, wedging a rift between the struggling forces within one being. If left untreated, the objective superior, the Transcendent will continuously weaken the Mortal Vessel until their sanity is crushed, humanity lost - the transcendent persona becomes across both forms, a singular being. The only means in which this condition can be remedied is through holy magics that can remove diseases and sickness, for the means in which the Archon's mana can be drained have been lost to time. Death “O’ how finality of death that hath been rescinded from our being, yet an anchor, the Achilles’ heel.” – Anordal Elverhilin Where death is so final for mortal souls, a curtain’s call, the final closing of a lifelong story, the ultimate embrace of dark that beckons upon all… it is but the beginning of another chapter for the malformed soul of an eternal being, an Archon. Woe, to not be endowed a finality in one’s existence is a cursed blessing, an inseparable dichotomy that empowers and torments. For an Archon, every death appears to be a final tune of life’s symphony, yet it is but a deceptive diminuendo, a faux calm that is only followed by the Archon returning to the world through the void’s energies, remanifesting upon a designated obelisk, or the Cloud Temple, reborn in the mortal plane. Every death an Archon experiences entails the subsiding of their soul, the process of replication siphoning one’s very essence purely for the purpose of ensuring one’s continuance. The shattering of one’s anchor entails graver consequences, for it subjects the Archon to both mental and physical anguish, an abject affront to the pride many hold of transcendence, furthermore subjecting it to the threat of eternal death. It is said that after five deaths, an Archon loses their sense of ego, of oneself as they truly descend into something beyond madness, ultimately rendering them incapable of returning to the mortal plane, casting their soul forever sundered in the abyss of the void. General Redlines This lore is not common knowledge and the existence of Archons is only known to those that have previously witnessed their kind. One cannot simply say they have “read” of Archons or “heard” of their properties. Archons may not practise deific or dark magic, with the exception of Pale Blood Magic and Kani. Weaknesses MUST be roleplayed accordingly. Physical and mental effects MUST be roleplayed accordingly. CHANGELOG August 4th – Added a ritual for self-transcendence August 5th – Added redlines and clarifications for “description” REFERENCES Original lore Changes to Archons Zarsies’ lore on corruption Isaac’s unfinished Spellforged rewrite. CREDITS Johann (Author and Editor) Setriel (Rewriting anchors + mental description) Nozoa (Rewriting rituals) Spoons and Amelica (Narrative pieces) Lhindir (Consultation) Wretched (Consultation) Kalehart (Consultation) Zarsies (Consultation and Corruption lore) Phil (Original lore)

The stentorian orations of the Great Titan educe a light smile from a wronged ‘aheral, recovering alone in the vestiges of a deserted chamber. “And so the Great Titan proclaims his deliverance – let penance reign over those that have betrayed.”

Thank you, I appreciate the support @Gaius Marius!

Marvelous rewrite, Sorcerio. At least you haven’t diluted it into household magic.. a well written tribute to original telekinesis, with much needed balance changes. First btw.

First and reserved. EDIT: I respectfully disagree with this rewrite.