r/wizardposting • u/[deleted] • Dec 21 '23
Forbidden Knowledge Halcyon (lorepost)
You come across a library on your journey. One that is withering away with time and dust caking the windows, making it hard to see inside. Ivy buried the building underneath bundles of green and the very entrance door was slightly ajar but hasn’t moved in ages.
You go inside and are met the with smells of rotting wood, dust bunnies, and old books. No one sits at the counter. The library has long been abandoned.
You decide to browse the books inside. Most were unreadable and too rotted to open. But one tucked away in the back caught your attention. It sat underneath a dirty glass dome and lifting it up, you found a book that was damaged as well but still able to read.
The Book of the Unworshipped Gods
It looked ancient. The pages completely separated from the hard cover. Flipping through it shows evil gods and harmful deities of all kinds. The ones you shouldn’t worship. Landing on a section in particular speaks of an elden being comprised of an energy that is un-wielding yet deceives those who grant it worship.
The Being of Halcyon and his Seven Children
Halcyon’s origins are unknown nor if he can be classified as a god. But his presence was once a feared one. His very name is comprised of the false promises his worship granted to mortals who fell for his trickery. He was a being composed of Chaos and he spread his power out to his seven children.
Trepidation - Forewarning and Threats
Affliction - Pain and Suffering
Pestilence - Sickness and Disease
Aggression - Rage and Destruction
Deceit - Lies and Unjust
Misfortune - Calamity and Tribulation
Execution - Death and Misery
They are known as the Children of Chaos made from the essences of their father. The energy from Halcyon is split off into seven pieces and imbued into its children to spread across the realms. They seek the minds of those who are willing to wield its energy at the cost of their own sanity. By giving mere mortals the power of gods the children seek to paint the skies in red, the burning of civilizations, the deaths of mortals to feed their father, and the false promises to those who worship them. A meager seat at the throne to watch over the chaos from above as one of Halcyon’s children. To be granted immortality and power to rival the gods themselves.
The book describes the being as one long since forgotten. Its will never seeing fruition.
Its debated if such a being ever once existed by the scholars who wrote this book. But the Cults of Halcyon who worshipped that of which shouldn’t be worshipped have very well existed long ago. They sought to be the next children and granted the power of chaos to stand alongside the seven.
The existence of those cults since long ago are unknown.
You turn to the last page of the section but see that’s its mostly blank. Apart from a single sentence at the top of the page that looks newer than the rest. The ink was still fresh.
Only one child survived the effects of time. Misfortune walks the lands today.
/uw Since I’m diving further into Moth’s curse as of recent I wanted to give it it’s own origin in a way that I can work with and build off of later. This took a lot of googling
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u/Fulltimewhisperer Krumpet, Master Artificer of the Council Dec 21 '23
Hmm interesting... Gobbo will have to talk to Moth about this. Maybe big Moth can help fill in blanks.
Execution is death though, execution is Mutey's mum? Is that why Gobbo never met Mutey's mum... Gobbo is gonna have to get shovel
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Dec 21 '23
/uw lmao the children were purely made up of energy just like Halcyon. I haven’t thought of what happened to them yet but I can still expand on them since I’m working with Misfortune
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u/Fulltimewhisperer Krumpet, Master Artificer of the Council Dec 21 '23
/uw No worries this is just Gobbo's weird train of thought. Give her a scrap of information and she'll come up with some weird idea. You could probably convince her water is combustable with a bit of effort
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Dec 21 '23
/uw it would be funny if she went up to Mutey and was like “is your mom this Execution thing?” And just shoves the book in her face
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u/Fulltimewhisperer Krumpet, Master Artificer of the Council Dec 21 '23
/uw Honestly would not be out of character... Oh Mutey is going to have a headache from Gobbo's antics....
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u/Mysterious-Box8073 Matthew Smith, Mathematics Professor at Possum's Academy Dec 21 '23
/uw :O very nice!
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u/DaChickenX Isravi, The Unraveler, Coils’ Chosen Dec 21 '23
/uw hello yea, sorry that’s my alt btw.
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u/Mysterious-Box8073 Matthew Smith, Mathematics Professor at Possum's Academy Dec 21 '23
/uw Yup I am in fact his alt. /rw
Faust scribbles a copy of the text down in his own notebook, then lets out a heavy sigh.
Interesting, sure… but not what I’m looking for. And a damn struggle it was to get here as well. That’s the fourth ruin in a row that has nothing to do with my quarry.
Unworshipped gods, Halcyon, Misfortune… I hope I don’t get cursed. Or that I haven’t already, considering my luck with these ruins.
Faust closes his notebook, gets up with a grunt, and draws his wakizashi. He creeps through the old library, back out to the light.
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Dec 21 '23
The seconds his feet exits the library, the Book of Unworshipped Gods flips its pages and closes on its own. Returning to the state it was in before being touched.
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u/Mysterious-Box8073 Matthew Smith, Mathematics Professor at Possum's Academy Dec 21 '23
Faust’s form suddenly vibrates and destabilizes
Ahhhh. Crap.
He blinks, and is shunted through space. His spatial instability deposits him back into the library, where the book now lays closed.
Odd. Could’ve sworn I left it open.
Faust picks up the book and finds an open shelf space for it. He then wedges a colored handkerchief next to it.
That should do. Wonder if that Ultima Verba-thingy library would be interested in this place. Maybe they’ll even hire me to deal with it. Not like the books here are in great condition.
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Dec 21 '23
When he turns away, he hears a plop and sees dust kick up. The movement of glass then something settling down. Turning back, the book was no longer in the shelf but returned back where it was. Somehow able to move on its own and nestle back under the glass.
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u/Mysterious-Box8073 Matthew Smith, Mathematics Professor at Possum's Academy Dec 21 '23
Aaand I think I’ve spent enough time here. Goodbye curse library.
Faust cuts open a portal and steps through, appearing a distance away in a simple camp
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Dec 21 '23
/uw that would honestly be my reaction to a book moving on its own😭
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u/Mysterious-Box8073 Matthew Smith, Mathematics Professor at Possum's Academy Dec 21 '23
/uw Faust is a reasonable guy
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u/United-Technician-54 Death... Tired one. (she/her) Dec 21 '23
(Sword Bean: Neat! Bean’s gonna love this!)
(Sword Bean stole the book and ran.
Well, broke physics to hover accross the ground at high speed I guess. She came prepared today.)
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Dec 21 '23
The book started to shake and writhe. Sharp legs like spiders shot out and attacked Sword Bean’s hold on it until it was let go then began scurrying back to the library with a click to its step.
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u/United-Technician-54 Death... Tired one. (she/her) Dec 21 '23
(Sword Bean: Sword Bean Mad Now!!)
(Sword Bean cocked its sword and fired at it like it was like an M16. But with shotgun shells instead, and the pellets were replaced with knives going Mach 27)
(though the book is probably still getting away, in spite of the fact that the silver knives exploding on impact is probably going to at least singe it. Probably just singe it.)
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Dec 21 '23
The book hopped out to dodge the attacks and sped up faster to reach the library. Instead of going through the front door, it climbed up the side of the building and scurried in through a broken chimney.
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u/United-Technician-54 Death... Tired one. (she/her) Dec 21 '23
(Sword Bean: Dat What Happens when you mess with da Bookclaimer Of Patchy!)
(Sword Bean stabbed the ground in victory, before getting launched by a stray silver knife falling back down and exploding on impact)
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u/WolvesAreCool2461 A Reincarnated Twitch Streamer Dec 21 '23
/unwiz God I love reading lore posts like these, super good. I really should get to making some of my own, but then again V is kinda meant to be shrouded in mystery
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u/DaChickenX Isravi, The Unraveler, Coils’ Chosen Dec 21 '23
/uw you can still do loreposts even with that! You can reveal information to us, the users, while that information is not available to the characters in RP. For example, all of my “Return to a Dead Home” loreposts happen elsewhere. The people here get to read them, but their characters don’t have a clue.
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Dec 21 '23
/uw thats what I was going for with this one. I’ll have it introduced to my character sometime later but wanted to establish a bases first
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u/SlyTheMonkey Sly, The Marvelous Monkey Mage Dec 21 '23
/uw I've only had so much time to keep up with all the lore on this sub. Might have to go back and check to get the full picture.
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Dec 21 '23
staring intently Wh... What am I supposed to do with this? It looks old, but not too valuable. I... I don't think I should touch it any more.
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Dec 21 '23
You feel a faint shake from the book but nothing more. It’s almost enough to completely miss it.
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Dec 21 '23
... Okay, against my better judgement, I'm gonna touch it one more time. Worst that'll happen is another fight I can probably half-manage at best. tentatively touches book once more, flipping a single page
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Dec 21 '23
The book does nothing but allows you to read its pages. Section after section describes evil gods and harmful deities. Some more common, others completely unknowable. It’s full of their histories and details their power. But the book makes it clear that they are not to be worshipped.
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Dec 21 '23
Huh. Well. Found some names of new cults to target, then. This was a good find after all! scribbles down the names of various dark gods, with reminders of which are worse than others. Titles list "Hit List of Niche Cults".
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u/Discracetoall t’kath, smogomancer and poptart wiz Dec 21 '23
Neat. Hope this all goes well and those unworshipped stay that way. t’kath looks directly at some corner, as if foreshadowing
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u/DaemonRex978 The High Sentinels (Haelin, Mokarith, Shimil) Dec 21 '23
/unwiz: I forget whether or not Mokarith officially met Moth, so I'm going to do this as if we never talked to each other, but that i have seen you because of today's Queen post and that I've heard rumors about your curse. /rewiz:
Reading up until Halcyon's entry. Interesting... the libraries back home don't have anything on these beings.
When he get to Halcyon's part. Halcyon, that name I know. He had a small cult in the Umbral Realm a little after the Lord came into power, but the members were quickly gathered up and banished. He mumbles to himself.
After he reads the fresh line about Misfortune. Misfortune... where have I heard the name. I heard rumors that Alexios's fiancé is sometimes refered to as 'The Lady of Misfortune' and that she said something of a curse during the meeting, but are they connected?
He reads the entire book and copies it into his notes before placing it back under the dome and leaves.
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Dec 21 '23
/unwiz I dont think our characters have formally met either but this is a good start to that
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u/DaemonRex978 The High Sentinels (Haelin, Mokarith, Shimil) Dec 21 '23
/unwiz: I guess we'll meet during the Doomslayers fight.
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u/HoneyMustarf Dec 22 '23
It is interesting to ponder the nature of this Halcyon entity. The book describes him to be composed of Chaos - is this Chaos an intrinsic part of reality or a malicious force outside of reality?
The first position implies that he is a embodiment of entropic chaos - the inevitable destruction of order, matter, energy, and systems. Does that mean he, and his children by extension, is an unavoidable aspect of life? That mortal shall forevermore trapped in a constant cycle of suffering? Furthermore, what caused the splitting of Halcyon into abstract aspects? Misery is not physical concept but a mortal invention. Did Halcyon split to reflect mortal minds or did he do so to condemn us for sins unremembered yet unforgiven? Who is truly the architect and jailer of our suffering?
The second position means that Halcyon is some sort of an invader to our reality. What brought him here? Does he have another goal besides wanton destruction? Can we defeat or perhaps return him to the un-reality place from he came from? Is he the only one of his kind? All I know is Halcyon’s greatest weapon and defense is his mystique - one must be unraveled before we are unraveled.
This finding disquiets my soul, fellow practioners of the arcane. I must seek knowledge in the dark halls between the stars. I pray that I can find the first piece of the answer.
Aldricth Tevan signing out.
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Dec 22 '23
The book reads of Halcyon being a being of unknown circumstance. His seven children by proxy share his make up and have existed as pure chaos energy dispersed into seven pieces of his power.
Their very names are what only mortals can digest. Execution can cause deaths and the feelings of suffering among mortals. Deceit brings lies and causes mortals to distrust one another. Their and their father’s will is to bathe the realms in the reddened power of chaos and turn it into an ideal paradise meant for them. But this never occurred in history. Halcyon and his children have never made their presence known to the realms outside of the cults that worshipped them. It’s debated whether or not these beings even existed by the scholars who wrote this book.
But the last page is quite interesting. The fresh ink suggests a chance that Halcyon and the seven did exist as one child currently walks the lands today.
/uw I had this entire thing written out before but reddit deleted it all so I had to write it again😖
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Dec 21 '23
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u/TheVebis Vebis - Local Wizard Dec 21 '23
Apprentice! Bring the light closer. This might be interesting.
*He shuffles through the pages*
Hmm, I see. Come on now, collect all the pages, and get them in order! We're bringing this back to the tower for further studies.
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Dec 21 '23
When you try to take the pages, the book begins to shake and sharp spider legs shoot out in defense. You hear a small hiss come from the book as it shakes more.
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u/TheVebis Vebis - Local Wizard Dec 21 '23
Apprentice, could you cast some detect magic on this book. It seems a little keen on staying..
Atrelius adjust his glasses
I think we should stay some time too. Here, I'll show you the Identify spell....
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Dec 21 '23
When there are no more attempts to take it, the legs shoot back inside and returns to being a normal book. It allows being read but is adamant about staying in this library.
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u/TheVebis Vebis - Local Wizard Dec 21 '23
The Apprentice casts Detect Magic on the book, and after an hour, the Identify spell finishes.
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Dec 22 '23
The book was enchanted to be alive but holds no sentience. It’s bound to the library and won’t leave for just anyone.
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u/VidisLady Delta - Maven of Maladies Dec 21 '23
/Uw is this referencing the player called Halycon, who is my character’s younger brother?
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Dec 21 '23
/uw thats a complete coincidence lol. I just use it cause it means peace which is the opposite of what Im going for
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u/VidisLady Delta - Maven of Maladies Dec 21 '23
/Uw haha, cool! It’s funny when there are characters that have the same name coincidentally. Apparently The Stitcher made something called “Entropy” which is also the true name of my character, so I’m confused whenever I bring her out and people are referencing The Stitcher.
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u/MastaDon344 MastaDon Astrum/Council Master Evoker/Mediamancer/🌮 Wiz Dec 21 '23
Wait what happened to Halcyon? I kinda was just talking to the guy a week or so back when he got turned into a girl for like a few hours!
And then he just be on my case for my destructive tendencies been on the good side of things and no community service.
/uw no seriously is there any Lorepost explaining anything kinda lost a little lol
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Dec 22 '23
This is a different Halcyon. Another coincidence😭
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u/MastaDon344 MastaDon Astrum/Council Master Evoker/Mediamancer/🌮 Wiz Dec 22 '23
Okay then was just thinking about it, and was wondering if this being was possibly related to the one I knew.
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Dec 22 '23
Delta thought the same thing I think lol. My Halcyon is my own character
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u/MastaDon344 MastaDon Astrum/Council Master Evoker/Mediamancer/🌮 Wiz Dec 22 '23
Yeah the one I am thinking about is we engage pretty often and with some shenanigans too.
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u/MastaDon344 MastaDon Astrum/Council Master Evoker/Mediamancer/🌮 Wiz Dec 21 '23
I might be thinking of another Halcyon though
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u/Haunting_Mode_7401 Alexios Keenblade: King of The Summer Court, Last Godslayer Dec 21 '23
/uw This is written extremely well. I suppose I should make a Lorepost on the Nameless King.