https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Hastearms 2026-07-01T04:11:04Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.25.2 https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=History_Lesson&diff=1314 2020-01-07T14:22:02Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div><br /> == Timeline ==<br /> ----<br /> ''Key:''&lt;br&gt;<br /> '''B.''' ''Years before the founding of Patraeia'' &lt;br&gt; '''S.''' ''Years Since the founding of Patraeia''<br /> ----<br /> <br /> [[800B]]-Founding of Antea on Insulera<br /> <br /> [[1S]]-Founding of Patraeia<br /> <br /> [[100S]]-Initial contact and commencement of trade between Patraeia and Antea<br /> <br /> [[180S]]-Patraeia goes to war against Antea, rumors of sorcery return from the front<br /> <br /> [[200S]]-Mysterious event destroys Antea, Patraeia claims victory and the favor of the gods<br /> <br /> [[200-2374S]]-Patraeia expands, defeats numerous enemies, establishes itself as greatest civilization, etc, rumors circulate about mysterious powers possessed by the Anteans<br /> <br /> [[2374S]]-War against the barbarians escalates due to Emperor Claudius’s political ineptitude<br /> <br /> [[2376S]]-Popular overthrow and assassination of Emperor Claudius<br /> <br /> [[2376-2378S]]-Power vacuum, civil war, etc<br /> <br /> [[2378S]]-Establishment of the Senate, end of civil war<br /> <br /> [[2378-2380S]]-Senate is weak and corrupt, war w/ barbarians drags on<br /> <br /> [[2380S]]-Senator Pertentus bribes and threatens his way into leading an expedition to Insulera, <br /> inspired by rumors of mystical power, founds Elpida<br /> <br /> [[2381S]]- Settlers of Elpida set up a temporary camp, nearby the current docks. The wolf population prevents most exploration efforts.<br /> <br /> [[2383S]]- As better defenses are set up, first attempts to chart the island begin. The east coast is explored. A potential area for future settlement is identified north east.<br /> <br /> [[2385S]]- Center of Elpida, along with the main streets are built.<br /> <br /> [[2386S]] - Efforts to explore the center of the island begin. Several explorers go missing.<br /> <br /> [[2387S]] - As even more explorers go missing, and select Elpidan goods begin to disappear, Pertentus issues a ban of leaving the vicinity of Elpida. Venturing into the center of the island is strictly forbidden. <br /> <br /> [[2388-2395S]] - Elpida grows steadily, constructs most buildings you see now. Farming and production of goods become quite profitable. Elpida slowly begins to prosper.<br /> <br /> [[2396S]] - The need for more resources prompts Elpidans to make an exemption to the travelling ban, allowing for a few settlers to set up a mining camp in the north. First mine shaft is constructed.<br /> <br /> [[2397S]] - First caravan route is established between Elpida and the mining camp.<br /> <br /> [[2399S]] - Permanent buildings are constructed in the mining camp. Meanwhile, the followers of Phaedron become a popular religion in Elpida.<br /> <br /> [[2400S]] - Several of Phaedron’s followers go missing. Pertentus claims the town is losing favor of the gods, arranges for more spending on religious matters. Pertentus personally oversees the budget.<br /> <br /> [[2402S]] - Travelling ban is completely lifted, efforts to map the island continue.<br /> <br /> [[2403S]] - Several points of interest are discovered, including the Halls of Death and various caves.<br /> <br /> [[2404S]] - Pertentus invests heavily into an expedition to explore the caves around the island. After spending most of Elpida’s budget and months of exploration, Pertentus claims nothing was found and ends the project.<br /> <br /> [[2405S]] - Pertentus dies, possibly murdered<br /> <br /> [[2406]] - Current year</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=2405S&diff=1313 2020-01-07T14:21:45Z

<p>Hastearms: Created page with &quot;Currently, there have been reports of Senator Pertentus' death. There is little reason as to why it occurred, and many have speculated that it was an act of the Gods. Others c...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>Currently, there have been reports of Senator Pertentus' death. There is little reason as to why it occurred, and many have speculated that it was an act of the Gods. Others claim that it was a coalition of the other Senators, or some assassin that may have murdered the great leader. There have been many who have sought the answer, but there is little to find for the death was so sudden, so unexpected. Families were seen crying in the streets of Patraeia, many placing flowers upon his grave. Patraeia may never learn of what truly happened, but who knows what the future might bring...<br /> <br /> -Aetos Golias</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=History_Lesson&diff=1312 2020-01-07T14:20:57Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div><br /> == Timeline ==<br /> ----<br /> ''Key:''&lt;br&gt;<br /> '''B.''' ''Years before the founding of Patraeia'' &lt;br&gt; '''S.''' ''Years Since the founding of Patraeia''<br /> ----<br /> <br /> [[800B]]-Founding of Antea on Insulera<br /> <br /> [[1S]]-Founding of Patraeia<br /> <br /> [[100S]]-Initial contact and commencement of trade between Patraeia and Antea<br /> <br /> [[180S]]-Patraeia goes to war against Antea, rumors of sorcery return from the front<br /> <br /> [[200S]]-Mysterious event destroys Antea, Patraeia claims victory and the favor of the gods<br /> <br /> [[200-2374S]]-Patraeia expands, defeats numerous enemies, establishes itself as greatest civilization, etc, rumors circulate about mysterious powers possessed by the Anteans<br /> <br /> [[2374S]]-War against the barbarians escalates due to Emperor Claudius’s political ineptitude<br /> <br /> [[2376S]]-Popular overthrow and assassination of Emperor Claudius<br /> <br /> [[2376-2378S]]-Power vacuum, civil war, etc<br /> <br /> [[2378S]]-Establishment of the Senate, end of civil war<br /> <br /> [[2378-2380S]]-Senate is weak and corrupt, war w/ barbarians drags on<br /> <br /> [[2380S]]-Senator Pertentus bribes and threatens his way into leading an expedition to Insulera, <br /> inspired by rumors of mystical power, founds Elpida<br /> <br /> [[2381S]]- Settlers of Elpida set up a temporary camp, nearby the current docks. The wolf population prevents most exploration efforts.<br /> <br /> [[2383S]]- As better defenses are set up, first attempts to chart the island begin. The east coast is explored. A potential area for future settlement is identified north east.<br /> <br /> [[2385S]]- Center of Elpida, along with the main streets are built.<br /> <br /> [[2386S]] - Efforts to explore the center of the island begin. Several explorers go missing.<br /> <br /> [[2387S]] - As even more explorers go missing, and select Elpidan goods begin to disappear, Pertentus issues a ban of leaving the vicinity of Elpida. Venturing into the center of the island is strictly forbidden. <br /> <br /> [[2388-2395S]] - Elpida grows steadily, constructs most buildings you see now. Farming and production of goods become quite profitable. Elpida slowly begins to prosper.<br /> <br /> [[2396S]] - The need for more resources prompts Elpidans to make an exemption to the travelling ban, allowing for a few settlers to set up a mining camp in the north. First mine shaft is constructed.<br /> <br /> [[2397S]] - First caravan route is established between Elpida and the mining camp.<br /> <br /> [[2399S]] - Permanent buildings are constructed in the mining camp. Meanwhile, the followers of Phaedron become a popular religion in Elpida.<br /> <br /> [[2400S]] - Several of Phaedron’s followers go missing. Pertentus claims the town is losing favor of the gods, arranges for more spending on religious matters. Pertentus personally oversees the budget.<br /> <br /> [[2402S]] - Travelling ban is completely lifted, efforts to map the island continue.<br /> <br /> [[2403S]] - Several points of interest are discovered, including the Halls of Death and various caves.<br /> <br /> [[2404S]] - Pertentus invests heavily into an expedition to explore the caves around the island. After spending most of Elpida’s budget and months of exploration, Pertentus claims nothing was found and ends the project.<br /> <br /> [[2405S]]-Pertentus dies, possibly murdered<br /> <br /> [[2406]] - Current year</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1305 2020-01-01T01:17:36Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> ====Pricing options:====<br /> <br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250 polus <br /> *1000 polus<br /> *2500 polus<br /> *5000 polus<br /> *10000 polus<br /> *20000 polus</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1304 2020-01-01T01:17:31Z

<p>Hastearms: /* 'Pricing options: */</p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Pricing options:====<br /> <br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250 polus <br /> *1000 polus<br /> *2500 polus<br /> *5000 polus<br /> *10000 polus<br /> *20000 polus</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1303 2020-01-01T01:17:23Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> <br /> ===='Pricing options:====<br /> <br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250 polus <br /> *1000 polus<br /> *2500 polus<br /> *5000 polus<br /> *10000 polus<br /> *20000 polus</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1302 2020-01-01T01:17:03Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pricing options:'''<br /> <br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250 polus <br /> *1000 polus<br /> *2500 polus<br /> *5000 polus<br /> *10000 polus<br /> *20000 polus</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1301 2020-01-01T01:16:49Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pricing options:'''<br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250 polus <br /> *1000 polus<br /> *2500 polus<br /> *5000 polus<br /> *10000 polus<br /> *20000 polus</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1300 2020-01-01T01:16:10Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Pricing options:'''<br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250<br /> *1000<br /> *2500<br /> *5000<br /> *10000<br /> *20000</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank&diff=1299 2020-01-01T01:15:44Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Elpidan Bank, a place to save what you own, or spend as you desire. It is a true place of protection, which is often run by those who follow Metus. The Bank is where many begin on their life within Elpida, for it is where they can begin to save for their homes and land in which they wish to buy. It is also where they may trade amongst other customers, or take out loans in order to get their land before it is claimed by another settler. However, there are many who wish to see their coin returned, and will do whatever it takes.<br /> <br /> So, if you are one who does not take care with your coin, be warned once you step into the dark alleyways and streets at night. For your shadow will not be the only one following you, or threatening you for that matter. None the less, the banks are where the power flows within Elpida, and it might even make its way towards you.<br /> <br /> '''Pricing options:'''<br /> There are currently 6 tiers of bank storage available for purchase:<br /> *250<br /> *1000<br /> *2500<br /> *5000<br /> *10000<br /> *20000</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Bank_Raid&diff=1298 2020-01-01T01:13:52Z

<p>Hastearms: Created page with &quot;The air was quiet and uncomfortably still, as if the world was holding its breath. The sun stayed low in the sky, barely peeking it’s bright white face into the indigo sea o...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>The air was quiet and uncomfortably still, as if the world was holding its breath. The sun stayed low in the sky, barely peeking it’s bright white face into the indigo sea of stars. Whispers caught on the wind like stitches being snagged and torn, the city knew that trouble was brewing. <br /> <br /> Figures, dark and grey, like smokey smudges in the square slinked quietly over the cobblestones. Unlike assassins, or other feared trouble, they seemed large, bulky, and sharply shaped against the shadows of the sandstone buildings. Over their shoulders dark longswords winked wickedly at the dawn, baring their cold, iron blade with boldness. They continued to shuffle through the heavy dimness, and their muffled voices could be heard echoing through the empty streets.“It’s gonna be a big ‘aul, this one is.” One of the figures said in a deep, gruff voice with a rough accent showing that they were not from this city, or at least hadn’t been for a good few years. “Shut the ‘ell up.” Another figure said, clocking the first round his large, muscular head, and leading the group forward. They continued to shuffle forward, their weaponry chiming like ominous charms of death, warning the empty wind of their evils. Once the group reached the bank, they stopped, staring up at the large, majestic building. “Vere’s security, from what I ‘eard.” The large figure stated in that same, gruff accent. “Ven we split, take ‘em from the sides.” After some more growling whispers, they split into two groups, and rushed off into the darkness.<br /> <br /> Two loud cracks could be heard, a billow of dust went up in the streets, and bricks toppled to the floor, cracking and crashing. “You idiot! We were meant to be quiet-like.” One figure grunted. A small team of security started shouting in surprise, but within seconds they were jumped on and slaughtered, standing no chance against the massive cascade of iron and steel. The group continued past the corpses of security, and within twenty minutes they returned with large, bulging sacks of gold. “God, this is enuff for a whole new arsenal! It’s like it’s me birfday!” One of the figures said with delight, rushing along with the group to flee with the money. “I already told ye to shut up, say one more fing and I’ll chop off yer fingers and yer toes,” One lady said, rolling her small, ugly eyes. The group went quiet, but they all began to loosen and laugh as they ran through the streets holding the huge moneybags. “Phaedron was looking down on the bandits tonight boys and girls,” The largest figure said, as they reached the edge of the city. “What do we say fellas?” He turned towards the group, who rolled their eyes like schoolchildren and recited, “Fank yew Phaedron for yer blessin’ of our ‘aul tonight.” The large figure grinned and nodded, and the group burst into laughter again as they disappeared into the night, scampering away like unruly wolves.<br /> <br /> And their greedy, massive cackles laid heavy in the broken air as they left, settling painfully over the four corpses of the security guards.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1297 2020-01-01T01:13:25Z

<p>Hastearms: /* 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.3 (The Bank Raid) */</p> <hr /> <div>== 12/30/19 : Release 1.0.5 (Bank Storage)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added Bank Storage<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Reduced the value of iron ore (0.33x current value)<br /> *Increased the value of wolf-skin (5x current value)<br /> *Increased the drop rates of wolf-skin (2x current value)<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fixed shop stealing<br /> *Other internal changes<br /> <br /> == 12/27/19 : Release 1.0.4 (Quarry Update)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Disable Blank Join/Quit Messages<br /> *MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer have been added to blacksmith building<br /> *New MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer in lower area of mining town<br /> *7x7 Quarry Plots are available for purchase (33 new plots in total)<br /> *Sandstone Quarry and Clay Pit are now constructable within a 7x7 quarry plot - these buildings passively award resources on a daily basis.<br /> *Crafting trainers now notify you of your current tier.<br /> *Add command /portal<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Processed food items provide significantly more nutrition<br /> *Armour has now double the durability.<br /> *Exports now update every 4 in-game days (~8 hours)<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fix client side render bug with water buckets<br /> *Removed /tell<br /> *Fix plot upkeep bug<br /> *Fix Zweihander item info<br /> *Fix shield item info<br /> *Add crafting tier checks back<br /> *Fix portal leaking crafting shapes<br /> *Fix fine axe recipe<br /> *Fix log splitter on all axe recipes<br /> *Fix milk buckets in recipes creating vanilla buckets in crafting recipes<br /> *Decreased durability on splitting axes but increased durability on fine splitting axes.<br /> *Removed 3 wolves from edge of Elpida due to exploit<br /> *Fix server crash due to bug in log splitter<br /> *Fix chests in plots showing all same inventory<br /> '''Portal Changes:'''<br /> *Add search box<br /> *Add condition crafting requirements<br /> *UI improvements<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.3 (The Bank Raid)==<br /> Event: [[The Bank Raid]]<br /> <br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added New Shopkeepers:<br /> **Miner - mining supplies, ores<br /> **Atroledis - Explorer’s armor set<br /> **Weapons - swords<br /> **Architect - housing components<br /> **Florist - healing herbs<br /> *Added encouragements for full bellies (It increases your stamina)<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Tweaked food consumption (You now don’t have to feast like a beast)<br /> *Players now get 50% more stamina when they have full food.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fix for bank accounts multiplying people's money.<br /> *Fix apple orchards disappearing over time<br /> *Disabled /msg command<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.2 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Domestic Cows now produce milk - bring an empty bucket and ask it for milk.<br /> *Introduced NPC leashing - they will return to their original spawn if they are dragged too far away.<br /> *Citizenship status is shown when hovering over name in chat<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Added a new mineshaft into the Mining Village mines.<br /> *Added 6 rich ore veins into the mountains above the Mining Village - great rewards await those who make the climb.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Coins deposited into the bank now persist through logging out.<br /> *The Metal Mixer should not duplicate ore anymore.<br /> *PvP is now disabled.<br /> *Plots should now be available for purchase.<br /> *Food no longer drops on death.<br /> *Fixed gold dust recipe.<br /> *Fix breaking sugar cane<br /> *Fix for the apple orchard<br /> *Removed /me and /w commands<br /> *Fixed portal recipes for MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer<br /> <br /> == 12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added launch participation rewards<br /> *Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> *NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> *Added Mailboxes<br /> *Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> *Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> *Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> *Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> *Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> *Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> *Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> *The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> *The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> *The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> *Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> *A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1296 2020-01-01T01:11:17Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>== 12/30/19 : Release 1.0.5 (Bank Storage)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added Bank Storage<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Reduced the value of iron ore (0.33x current value)<br /> *Increased the value of wolf-skin (5x current value)<br /> *Increased the drop rates of wolf-skin (2x current value)<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fixed shop stealing<br /> *Other internal changes<br /> <br /> == 12/27/19 : Release 1.0.4 (Quarry Update)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Disable Blank Join/Quit Messages<br /> *MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer have been added to blacksmith building<br /> *New MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer in lower area of mining town<br /> *7x7 Quarry Plots are available for purchase (33 new plots in total)<br /> *Sandstone Quarry and Clay Pit are now constructable within a 7x7 quarry plot - these buildings passively award resources on a daily basis.<br /> *Crafting trainers now notify you of your current tier.<br /> *Add command /portal<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Processed food items provide significantly more nutrition<br /> *Armour has now double the durability.<br /> *Exports now update every 4 in-game days (~8 hours)<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fix client side render bug with water buckets<br /> *Removed /tell<br /> *Fix plot upkeep bug<br /> *Fix Zweihander item info<br /> *Fix shield item info<br /> *Add crafting tier checks back<br /> *Fix portal leaking crafting shapes<br /> *Fix fine axe recipe<br /> *Fix log splitter on all axe recipes<br /> *Fix milk buckets in recipes creating vanilla buckets in crafting recipes<br /> *Decreased durability on splitting axes but increased durability on fine splitting axes.<br /> *Removed 3 wolves from edge of Elpida due to exploit<br /> *Fix server crash due to bug in log splitter<br /> *Fix chests in plots showing all same inventory<br /> '''Portal Changes:'''<br /> *Add search box<br /> *Add condition crafting requirements<br /> *UI improvements<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.3 (The Bank Raid)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added New Shopkeepers:<br /> **Miner - mining supplies, ores<br /> **Atroledis - Explorer’s armor set<br /> **Weapons - swords<br /> **Architect - housing components<br /> **Florist - healing herbs<br /> *Added encouragements for full bellies (It increases your stamina)<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Tweaked food consumption (You now don’t have to feast like a beast)<br /> *Players now get 50% more stamina when they have full food.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Fix for bank accounts multiplying people's money.<br /> *Fix apple orchards disappearing over time<br /> *Disabled /msg command<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.2 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Domestic Cows now produce milk - bring an empty bucket and ask it for milk.<br /> *Introduced NPC leashing - they will return to their original spawn if they are dragged too far away.<br /> *Citizenship status is shown when hovering over name in chat<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Added a new mineshaft into the Mining Village mines.<br /> *Added 6 rich ore veins into the mountains above the Mining Village - great rewards await those who make the climb.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Coins deposited into the bank now persist through logging out.<br /> *The Metal Mixer should not duplicate ore anymore.<br /> *PvP is now disabled.<br /> *Plots should now be available for purchase.<br /> *Food no longer drops on death.<br /> *Fixed gold dust recipe.<br /> *Fix breaking sugar cane<br /> *Fix for the apple orchard<br /> *Removed /me and /w commands<br /> *Fixed portal recipes for MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer<br /> <br /> == 12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added launch participation rewards<br /> *Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> *NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> *Added Mailboxes<br /> *Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> *Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> *Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> *Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> *Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> *Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> *Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> *The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> *The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> *The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> *Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> *A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1295 2020-01-01T01:06:37Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>== 12/21/19 : Release 1.0.5 ==<br /> <br /> == 12/21/19 : Release 1.0.4 ==<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.3 (The Bank Raid)==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added New Shopkeepers:<br /> *Miner - mining supplies, ores<br /> Atroledis - Explorer’s armor set<br /> Weapons - swords<br /> Architect - housing components<br /> Florist - healing herbs<br /> Added encouragements for full bellies (It increases your stamina)<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> Tweaked food consumption (You now don’t have to feast like a beast)<br /> Players now get 50% more stamina when they have full food.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> Fix for bank accounts multiplying people's money.<br /> Fix apple orchards disappearing over time<br /> Disabled /msg command<br /> <br /> == 12/23/19 : Release 1.0.2 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Domestic Cows now produce milk - bring an empty bucket and ask it for milk.<br /> *Introduced NPC leashing - they will return to their original spawn if they are dragged too far away.<br /> *Citizenship status is shown when hovering over name in chat<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Added a new mineshaft into the Mining Village mines.<br /> *Added 6 rich ore veins into the mountains above the Mining Village - great rewards await those who make the climb.<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Coins deposited into the bank now persist through logging out.<br /> *The Metal Mixer should not duplicate ore anymore.<br /> *PvP is now disabled.<br /> *Plots should now be available for purchase.<br /> *Food no longer drops on death.<br /> *Fixed gold dust recipe.<br /> *Fix breaking sugar cane<br /> *Fix for the apple orchard<br /> *Removed /me and /w commands<br /> *Fixed portal recipes for MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer<br /> <br /> == 12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1 ==<br /> '''New Features:'''<br /> *Added launch participation rewards<br /> *Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> *NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> *Added Mailboxes<br /> *Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> *Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> '''Balancing Changes:'''<br /> *Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> *Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> *Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> *Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> '''Gameplay Fixes:'''<br /> *Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> *Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> *Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> *The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> *The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> *The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> *Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> *A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1294 2020-01-01T01:03:45Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>== '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.5''' ==<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.4''' ==<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.3''' ==<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.2''' ==<br /> New Features:<br /> *Domestic Cows now produce milk - bring an empty bucket and ask it for milk.<br /> *Introduced NPC leashing - they will return to their original spawn if they are dragged too far away.<br /> *Citizenship status is shown when hovering over name in chat<br /> Balancing Changes:<br /> *Added a new mineshaft into the Mining Village mines.<br /> *Added 6 rich ore veins into the mountains above the Mining Village - great rewards await those who make the climb.<br /> Gameplay Fixes:<br /> *Coins deposited into the bank now persist through logging out.<br /> *The Metal Mixer should not duplicate ore anymore.<br /> *PvP is now disabled.<br /> *Plots should now be available for purchase.<br /> *Food no longer drops on death.<br /> *Fixed gold dust recipe.<br /> *Fix breaking sugar cane<br /> *Fix for the apple orchard<br /> *Removed /me and /w commands<br /> *Fixed portal recipes for MetalMixer &amp; MetalFormer<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1''' ==<br /> New Features:<br /> *Added launch participation rewards<br /> *Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> *NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> *Added Mailboxes<br /> *Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> *Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> Balancing Changes:<br /> *Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> *Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> *Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> *Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> Gameplay Fixes:<br /> *Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> *Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> *Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> *The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> *The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> *The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> *Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> *A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1293 2020-01-01T01:02:26Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>== '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1''' ==<br /> <br /> New Features:<br /> *Added launch participation rewards<br /> *Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> *NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> *Added Mailboxes<br /> *Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> *Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> Balancing Changes:<br /> *Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> *Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> *Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> *Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> Gameplay Fixes:<br /> *Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> *Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> *Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> *The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> *The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> *The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> *Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> *A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Update_Notes&diff=1292 2020-01-01T01:01:02Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>== '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0.1''' ==<br /> <br /> ===New Features:===<br /> Added launch participation rewards<br /> Portal displays crafting ingredients now<br /> NPC Shops - The herbalist now buys and sells healing potions (more shops coming soon)<br /> Added Mailboxes<br /> Added political nomination posts and polling stations.<br /> Add apples to the apple orchard<br /> ===Balancing Changes:===<br /> Softened the death penalty - Food regens to 75% &amp; Penalties only last for 5 minutes now.<br /> Ore respawns every 10 minutes (instead of 30 minutes).<br /> Introduced more log piles to the map<br /> Plots reset and all cost 3000<br /> ===Gameplay Fixes:===<br /> Crafting trainers should now properly train you and award skills.<br /> Fixed Recipes containing buckets<br /> Starting NPC now gives you additional hints - and a book!<br /> The High Court track now correctly stops the Elpida Theme from playing over it.<br /> The LogSplitter now does not just bug out because it feels like it.<br /> The queue is now correctly calculated (Maybe?)<br /> Fix places on map that players can get stuck<br /> A bunch of internal bug fixes<br /> <br /> == '''12/21/19 : Release 1.0!''' ==<br /> Check back for release notes.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1291 2019-12-20T23:22:15Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex, the holy book containing all current knowledge of the 6 Gods and the divine religion, was first told by word of mouth before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Creation ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Peace ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Humanity ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Distance ==<br /> '''4.1''' Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> '''4.2''' Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''4.3''' Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> '''4.4''' At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> '''4.5''' But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> '''4.6''' So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Storms ==<br /> '''5.1''' Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> '''5.2''' “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> '''5.3''' The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> '''5.4''' Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> '''5.5''' That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> '''5.6''' From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse of Love ==<br /> '''6.1''' One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> '''6.2''' Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> '''6.3''' Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> '''6.4''' Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> '''6.5''' There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''6.6''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> '''6.7''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Darkness ==<br /> '''7.1''' And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> '''7.2''' He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> '''7.3''' He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> '''7.4''' He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> '''7.5''' These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> '''7.6''' Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> '''7.7''' Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> '''7.8''' The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> '''7.9''' But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> '''7.10''' Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> '''7.11''' With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> '''7.12''' However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> '''7.13''' The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> '''7.14''' The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> '''7.15''' Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> '''7.16''' The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> '''7.17''' They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> '''7.18''' Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> '''7.19''' May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> '''7.20''' And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> '''7.21''' But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Prayer ==<br /> '''8.1''' Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> '''8.2''' And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> '''8.3''' And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> '''8.4''' And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> '''8.6''' And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Soul ==<br /> '''9.1''' Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> '''9.2''' But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> '''9.3''' Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> '''9.4''' The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the camel have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> '''9.5''' The crow, the bat, and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the bat, the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> '''9.6''' And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> '''9.7''' Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> '''9.8''' For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> '''9.9''' But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> '''9.10''' Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> '''9.11''' The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''9.12''' But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse of Devotion ==<br /> '''10.1''' Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> '''10.2''' For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> '''10.3''' Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> '''10.4''' The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> '''10.5''' Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> '''10.6''' They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> '''10.7''' Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> '''10.8''' They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> '''10.9''' The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> '''10.10''' And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Sin ==<br /> '''11.1''' Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> '''11.2''' Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> '''11.3''' Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> '''11.4''' If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> '''11.5''' Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> '''11.6''' Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> '''11.7''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> '''11.8''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> '''11.9''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> '''11.10''' Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> '''11.11''' Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> '''11.12''' But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Death ==<br /> '''12.1''' After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> '''12.2''' In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> '''12.3''' Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> '''12.4''' Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> '''12.5''' The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> '''12.6''' If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> '''12.7''' If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Doom ==<br /> '''13.1''' Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> '''13.2''' The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> '''13.3''' The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> '''13.4''' Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> '''13.5''' Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> '''13.6''' Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> '''13.7''' Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> '''13.8''' One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> '''13.9''' For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> '''13.10''' There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> '''13.11''' At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Night ==<br /> '''14.1''' The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> '''14.2''' The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> '''14.3''' The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''14.4''' Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> '''14.5''' If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> '''14.6''' Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse of Shadows ==<br /> '''15.1''' Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> '''15.2''' He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> '''15.3''' His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> '''15.4''' That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> '''15.5''' Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> '''15.6''' “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> '''15.7''' Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> '''15.8''' “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> '''15.9''' “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> '''15.10''' “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> '''15.11''' And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> '''15.12''' Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> '''15.13''' Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> '''15.14''' “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> '''15.15''' “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> '''15.16''' “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> '''15.17''' Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''15.18''' And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Elpida&diff=1290 2019-12-20T23:20:03Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Factions */</p> <hr /> <div>== '''Notable Locations''' ==<br /> *[[Arena]]<br /> *[[Potions and Ailments Building]]<br /> *[[The Bank]]<br /> *[[Elpidean Port]]<br /> *[[Temples]]<br /> *[[Farmlands]]<br /> *[[Plots]]<br /> <br /> == '''Factions''' ==<br /> *[[Children of Phaedron]]<br /> *[[The Salvian Family]]<br /> *[[Elpidan Militia]]<br /> *[[Explorers' Guild]]<br /> *[[Taverns' Guild]]<br /> *[[Warriors' Guild]]<br /> *[[Banks of Metus]]<br /> <br /> == '''Professions''' ==<br /> *Farmer<br /> *Blacksmith<br /> *Herbalist<br /> *Woodworker<br /> *Lumberjack<br /> *Politician <br /> *Merchant<br /> *Misc</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1289 2019-12-20T17:12:40Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Final Decision */</p> <hr /> <div>Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term!<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdateFinal.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> [[File:InsuleraNew.png.jpeg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> Choosing what role you will occupy will come with time and experience. Perhaps as you learn new recipes and craft new materials, you may try to specialize in that. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office and see if they are buying what you harvest, and use that income to launch your next career or adventure.<br /> <br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:InsuleraNew.png.jpeg&diff=1288 2019-12-20T17:12:17Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1287 2019-12-19T23:40:55Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Arriving in Elpida */</p> <hr /> <div>Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term!<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdateFinal.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> [[File:Insulera.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> Choosing what role you will occupy will come with time and experience. Perhaps as you learn new recipes and craft new materials, you may try to specialize in that. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office and see if they are buying what you harvest, and use that income to launch your next career or adventure.<br /> <br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:DocksUpdateFinal.png&diff=1286 2019-12-19T23:40:44Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1285 2019-12-19T23:36:56Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term!<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdated.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> [[File:Insulera.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> Choosing what role you will occupy will come with time and experience. Perhaps as you learn new recipes and craft new materials, you may try to specialize in that. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office and see if they are buying what you harvest, and use that income to launch your next career or adventure.<br /> <br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1284 2019-12-19T23:36:12Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Final Decision */</p> <hr /> <div>After you get accepted as a prototype tester and send @tcvs your Minecraft username, we will set you up as soon as possible. Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term.<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdated.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> [[File:Insulera.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> Choosing what role you will occupy will come with time and experience. Perhaps as you learn new recipes and craft new materials, you may try to specialize in that. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office and see if they are buying what you harvest, and use that income to launch your next career or adventure.<br /> <br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1283 2019-12-19T23:33:30Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>After you get accepted as a prototype tester and send @tcvs your Minecraft username, we will set you up as soon as possible. Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term.<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdated.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> [[File:Insulera.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> With your new pickaxe, you are now free to visit the mine and try to obtain some metals. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office, and see if they are buying wooden pickaxes (if yes, with what you now know, you could make a nice profit!).<br /> <br /> You now know how to craft items. Making a wooden pickaxe is hard work, but it is only the tip of the unique and dynamic crafting gameplay. If you enjoy it, consider learning about new recipes. Who knows - you might make a nice living crafting items and exporting them!<br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1282 2019-12-19T20:52:32Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex, the holy book containing all current knowledge of the 6 Gods and the divine religion, was first told by word of mouth before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1: Creation ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2: Peace ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3: Humanity ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4: Distance ==<br /> '''4.1''' Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> '''4.2''' Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''4.3''' Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> '''4.4''' At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> '''4.5''' But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> '''4.6''' So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5: Storms ==<br /> '''5.1''' Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> '''5.2''' “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> '''5.3''' The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> '''5.4''' Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> '''5.5''' That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> '''5.6''' From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6: Love ==<br /> '''6.1''' One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> '''6.2''' Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> '''6.3''' Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> '''6.4''' Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> '''6.5''' There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''6.6''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> '''6.7''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7: Darkness ==<br /> '''7.1''' And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> '''7.2''' He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> '''7.3''' He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> '''7.4''' He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> '''7.5''' These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> '''7.6''' Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> '''7.7''' Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> '''7.8''' The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> '''7.9''' But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> '''7.10''' Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> '''7.11''' With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> '''7.12''' However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> '''7.13''' The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> '''7.14''' The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> '''7.15''' Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> '''7.16''' The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> '''7.17''' They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> '''7.18''' Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> '''7.19''' May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> '''7.20''' And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> '''7.21''' But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8: Prayer ==<br /> '''8.1''' Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> '''8.2''' And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> '''8.3''' And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> '''8.4''' And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> '''8.6''' And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9: Soul ==<br /> '''9.1''' Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> '''9.2''' But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> '''9.3''' Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> '''9.4''' The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the camel have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> '''9.5''' The crow, the bat, and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the bat, the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> '''9.6''' And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> '''9.7''' Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> '''9.8''' For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> '''9.9''' But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> '''9.10''' Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> '''9.11''' The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''9.12''' But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10: Devotion ==<br /> '''10.1''' Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> '''10.2''' For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> '''10.3''' Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> '''10.4''' The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> '''10.5''' Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> '''10.6''' They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> '''10.7''' Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> '''10.8''' They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> '''10.9''' The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> '''10.10''' And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11: Sin ==<br /> '''11.1''' Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> '''11.2''' Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> '''11.3''' Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> '''11.4''' If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> '''11.5''' Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> '''11.6''' Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> '''11.7''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> '''11.8''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> '''11.9''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> '''11.10''' Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> '''11.11''' Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> '''11.12''' But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12: Death ==<br /> '''12.1''' After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> '''12.2''' In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> '''12.3''' Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> '''12.4''' Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> '''12.5''' The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> '''12.6''' If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> '''12.7''' If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13: Doom ==<br /> '''13.1''' Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> '''13.2''' The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> '''13.3''' The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> '''13.4''' Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> '''13.5''' Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> '''13.6''' Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> '''13.7''' Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> '''13.8''' One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> '''13.9''' For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> '''13.10''' There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> '''13.11''' At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14: Night ==<br /> '''14.1''' The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> '''14.2''' The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> '''14.3''' The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''14.4''' Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> '''14.5''' If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> '''14.6''' Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15: Shadows ==<br /> '''15.1''' Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> '''15.2''' He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> '''15.3''' His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> '''15.4''' That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> '''15.5''' Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> '''15.6''' “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> '''15.7''' Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> '''15.8''' “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> '''15.9''' “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> '''15.10''' “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> '''15.11''' And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> '''15.12''' Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> '''15.13''' Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> '''15.14''' “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> '''15.15''' “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> '''15.16''' “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> '''15.17''' Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''15.18''' And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1281 2019-12-19T20:50:56Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1: Creation ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2: Peace ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3: Humanity ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4: Distance ==<br /> '''4.1''' Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> '''4.2''' Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''4.3''' Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> '''4.4''' At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> '''4.5''' But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> '''4.6''' So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5: Storms ==<br /> '''5.1''' Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> '''5.2''' “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> '''5.3''' The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> '''5.4''' Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> '''5.5''' That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> '''5.6''' From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6: Love ==<br /> '''6.1''' One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> '''6.2''' Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> '''6.3''' Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> '''6.4''' Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> '''6.5''' There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''6.6''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> '''6.7''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7: Darkness ==<br /> '''7.1''' And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> '''7.2''' He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> '''7.3''' He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> '''7.4''' He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> '''7.5''' These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> '''7.6''' Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> '''7.7''' Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> '''7.8''' The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> '''7.9''' But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> '''7.10''' Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> '''7.11''' With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> '''7.12''' However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> '''7.13''' The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> '''7.14''' The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> '''7.15''' Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> '''7.16''' The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> '''7.17''' They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> '''7.18''' Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> '''7.19''' May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> '''7.20''' And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> '''7.21''' But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8: Prayer ==<br /> '''8.1''' Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> '''8.2''' And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> '''8.3''' And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> '''8.4''' And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> '''8.6''' And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9: Soul ==<br /> '''9.1''' Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> '''9.2''' But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> '''9.3''' Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> '''9.4''' The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the camel have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> '''9.5''' The crow, the bat, and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the bat, the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> '''9.6''' And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> '''9.7''' Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> '''9.8''' For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> '''9.9''' But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> '''9.10''' Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> '''9.11''' The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''9.12''' But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10: Devotion ==<br /> '''10.1''' Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> '''10.2''' For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> '''10.3''' Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> '''10.4''' The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> '''10.5''' Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> '''10.6''' They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> '''10.7''' Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> '''10.8''' They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> '''10.9''' The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> '''10.10''' And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11: Sin ==<br /> '''11.1''' Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> '''11.2''' Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> '''11.3''' Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> '''11.4''' If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> '''11.5''' Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> '''11.6''' Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> '''11.7''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> '''11.8''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> '''11.9''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> '''11.10''' Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> '''11.11''' Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> '''11.12''' But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12: Death ==<br /> '''12.1''' After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> '''12.2''' In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> '''12.3''' Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> '''12.4''' Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> '''12.5''' The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> '''12.6''' If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> '''12.7''' If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13: Doom ==<br /> '''13.1''' Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> '''13.2''' The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> '''13.3''' The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> '''13.4''' Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> '''13.5''' Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> '''13.6''' Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> '''13.7''' Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> '''13.8''' One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> '''13.9''' For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> '''13.10''' There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> '''13.11''' At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14: Night ==<br /> '''14.1''' The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> '''14.2''' The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> '''14.3''' The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''14.4''' Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> '''14.5''' If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> '''14.6''' Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15: Shadows ==<br /> '''15.1''' Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> '''15.2''' He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> '''15.3''' His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> '''15.4''' That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> '''15.5''' Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> '''15.6''' “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> '''15.7''' Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> '''15.8''' “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> '''15.9''' “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> '''15.10''' “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> '''15.11''' And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> '''15.12''' Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> '''15.13''' Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> '''15.14''' “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> '''15.15''' “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> '''15.16''' “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> '''15.17''' Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''15.18''' And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1280 2019-12-19T20:49:54Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1: Creation ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2: Peace ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3: Humanity ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4: Distance ==<br /> '''4.1''' Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> '''4.2''' Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''4.3''' Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> '''4.4''' At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> '''4.5''' But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> '''4.6''' So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5: Storms ==<br /> '''5.1''' Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> '''5.2''' “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> '''5.3''' The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> '''5.4''' Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> '''5.5''' That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> '''5.6''' From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6: Love ==<br /> '''6.1''' One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> '''6.2''' Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> '''6.3''' Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> '''6.4''' Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> '''6.5''' There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''6.6''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> '''6.7''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7: Darkness ==<br /> '''7.1''' And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> '''7.2''' He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> '''7.3''' He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> '''7.4''' He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> '''7.5''' These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> '''7.6''' Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> '''7.7''' Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> '''7.8''' The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> '''7.9''' But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> '''7.10''' Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> '''7.11''' With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> '''7.12''' However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> '''7.13''' The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> '''7.14''' The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> '''7.15''' Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> '''7.16''' The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> '''7.17''' They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> '''7.18''' Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> '''7.19''' May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> '''7.20''' And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> '''7.21''' But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8: Prayer ==<br /> '''8.1''' Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> '''8.2''' And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> '''8.3''' And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> '''8.4''' And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> '''8.6''' And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9: Souls ==<br /> '''9.1''' Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> '''9.2''' But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> '''9.3''' Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> '''9.4''' The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the camel have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> '''9.5''' The crow, the bat, and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the bat, the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> '''9.6''' And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> '''9.7''' Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> '''9.8''' For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> '''9.9''' But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> '''9.10''' Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> '''9.11''' The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''9.12''' But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10: Temples ==<br /> '''10.1''' Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> '''10.2''' For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> '''10.3''' Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> '''10.4''' The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> '''10.5''' Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> '''10.6''' They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> '''10.7''' Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> '''10.8''' They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> '''10.9''' The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> '''10.10''' And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11: Sin ==<br /> '''11.1''' Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> '''11.2''' Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> '''11.3''' Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> '''11.4''' If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> '''11.5''' Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> '''11.6''' Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> '''11.7''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> '''11.8''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> '''11.9''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> '''11.10''' Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> '''11.11''' Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> '''11.12''' But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12: Death ==<br /> '''12.1''' After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> '''12.2''' In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> '''12.3''' Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> '''12.4''' Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> '''12.5''' The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> '''12.6''' If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> '''12.7''' If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13: Doom ==<br /> '''13.1''' Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> '''13.2''' The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> '''13.3''' The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> '''13.4''' Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> '''13.5''' Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> '''13.6''' Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> '''13.7''' Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> '''13.8''' One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> '''13.9''' For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> '''13.10''' There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> '''13.11''' At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14: Night ==<br /> '''14.1''' The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> '''14.2''' The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> '''14.3''' The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''14.4''' Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> '''14.5''' If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> '''14.6''' Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15: Shadows ==<br /> '''15.1''' Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> '''15.2''' He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> '''15.3''' His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> '''15.4''' That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> '''15.5''' Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> '''15.6''' “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> '''15.7''' Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> '''15.8''' “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> '''15.9''' “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> '''15.10''' “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> '''15.11''' And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> '''15.12''' Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> '''15.13''' Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> '''15.14''' “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> '''15.15''' “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> '''15.16''' “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> '''15.17''' Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''15.18''' And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&diff=1278 2019-12-19T19:01:47Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div><br /> = &lt;strong&gt;&lt;center&gt;Welcome to the Minecraft Frontiers Wiki!&lt;/center&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; =<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> {| class=&quot;wikitable&quot;<br /> |&lt;center&gt;[[File:DocksUpdated2.png|600px|link=]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> |-<br /> |&lt;b&gt;About:&lt;/b&gt;<br /> Minecraft Frontiers is an innovative entertainment project, delivering a blend of storytelling and consequential player choice. Our server is a living playground where your presence constantly influences your surroundings. This interaction between you and your environment results in an unpredictable experience. No more playing in worlds that are the same as they were a year ago. The time you invest here is guaranteed not to be wasted, as every moment spent has an effect on something, somewhere else in the world.<br /> <br /> The whole experience is powered by fully custom plugins, created from scratch to ensure all of the systems are constantly interacting with one another. This level of cause-and-effect means every player is accountable for their own actions. While most games ask you to first act and think later, Minecraft Frontiers makes you think about the actions you are about to carry out. Harvesting a wheat field and selling it off-shore will result in food shortage on the island, influencing the prices of bread on the market. Killing off a group of bandits may result in an overpopulation of wolves, doing more harm than good. A Prefect or Minister of Trade setting sales taxes too high may actually ruin their gold income, possibly sending the city into a crisis and significantly influencing player wealth and value of currency.<br /> <br /> These are only a few of the examples of how we aim to redefine not only Minecraft, but gaming in general. We see Minecraft Frontiers not as a server, but as a platform for innovation and meaningful entertainment that doesn't force players into making brainwashed decisions.<br /> <br /> To access discussion about the Wiki, please visit [http://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/section/wiki-discussion.30/].<br /> |}<br /> <br /> {| style=&quot;color: black; background-color: #ffffff; width: 100%;&quot;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Basics&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Gameplay&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lore&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> |-<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Getting Started]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Citizenship]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Roleplaying]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Update Notes]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Crafting]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Trading]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Politics]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Plots]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Dialogues]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[History Lesson]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Elpida]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[The Holy Codex]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Gods]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Creatures and Wildlife]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Class System]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> |}<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> {| style=&quot;color: black; background-color: #ffffff; width: 100%;&quot;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Donations&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Rules&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Staff&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> |-<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Donation Overview]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Tiers &amp; Rewards]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Server Rules]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Forum Rules]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> | style=&quot;width: 33%; background-color: white;&quot;|<br /> &lt;center&gt;[[Active Staff and Roles]]&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> |}</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Getting_Started&diff=1277 2019-12-19T19:00:40Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Chatting */</p> <hr /> <div>After you get accepted as a prototype tester and send @tcvs your Minecraft username, we will set you up as soon as possible. Starting up the game is not difficult at all. However, we strongly recommend you follow all of the additional steps, as it will make your experience a lot more fun in the long term.<br /> <br /> =Setting Up=<br /> This section will cover everything from registering, to the point when you connect to our server. Follow these steps and you should have the perfect Minecraft Frontiers experience. If you ever get lost, feel free to post on our forums. We are more than happy to help you with the process!<br /> <br /> ==Server Texturepack (Conquest)==<br /> Minecraft Frontiers uses a customized version of the Conquest texture pack, of which you will be prompted to download when joining the server. While this is a minified version of the texture pack, we still highly recommend getting the full version of the texture pack and installing Optifine.<br /> <br /> ==Companion App (Portal)==<br /> Our server uses custom music integrated through a web client and featuring location specific music based on where you are in game, located at '''portal.minecraftfrontiers.com'''. Portal is home to both the music player and crafting information. <br /> <br /> Music is not delivered through the texture pack anymore - instead, you open a website as you join the server and the sound is delivered directly through the website. This allows for multiple sounds to be able to play at once. In addition, the size of the texture pack is greatly reduced.<br /> <br /> ==Connecting==<br /> The server IP address is '''play.minecraftfrontiers.com''' and the version of Minecraft should be 1.14.4.<br /> <br /> Simply add the server in your multiplayer section, with the IP address mentioned above.<br /> <br /> Upon connecting, you will get a chat message, saying &quot;[MF] Click me for sound&quot;. As expected, clicking the link brings up a website window that will deliver the custom soundtrack. Simply leave the website open in the background and enjoy your MF experience. Our server soundtrack has been fully licensed and is a great addition to the game. We highly recommend you have the music player open.<br /> <br /> =First Steps=<br /> So you connected. Now what? Minecraft Frontiers is a sandbox experience. This means the world is there for you to explore. There is no one way to play the game. A crafter may play the game very differently to an explorer. Still, the freedom may be overwhelming at first. This section is designed to guide you through the first few steps you might want to take. It is not necessary to follow the guide at all, but it may be useful.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Citizen==<br /> See [[Citizenship]]<br /> <br /> ==Chatting==<br /> By default, only those around you can hear you. Global chat is disabled.<br /> For more information on chatting, visit the [[Chat]] wiki section.<br /> <br /> ==Arriving in Elpida==<br /> [[File:DocksUpdated.png|thumb|Elpidan Docks]]<br /> Every new player starts out in the docks. This area holds the exports office - a key building used for exporting goods. The goods export process is fairly simple. You harvest resources, you craft an item, you export it, you earn money. This is the most basic way of making a living in Elpida - and also a guaranteed way. The list of items you can export changes regularly, so be sure to check the office every once in a while to know what you can export at the time.<br /> <br /> After arrival, follow the path up the hill. This will lead you to the main town. Elpida is organised into districts. Take some time to explore the town. If you bump into an NPC, say &quot;hello&quot; to start a dialogue with them. You may chat with them like you would with any other player. If they recognize your words, they will respond. When talking to NPCs, hover over their text to get hints on specific topics or keywords to mention to them.<br /> <br /> Feel free to stroll through the streets, meet some players, visit a few buildings that interest you. Visiting the taverns is particularly important, as the bartenders know quite a bit about the local rumors. Just ask them!<br /> <br /> ==Your first axe==<br /> [[File:Insulera.jpg|thumb|Map of the island.]]<br /> To do anything productive, you will need tools. The basic tools are made out of wood. However, using unprocessed wooden logs won't be any good. You will need to split logs using an axe. To get your trusty axe, you will need to get your hands on wooden logs. Luckily for you, the lumberjack in Elpida has plenty to give out, and for free! You can find the lumberjack in his shop, in Trade Street. This is located just off the Main Square in Elpida.<br /> <br /> Head back to Elpida's Main Square and visit his crafting bench. He will be happy to share his stations with you.<br /> <br /> [[File:ImperfectStick.png|150px|thumb|left|The imperfect stick recipe.]]<br /> <br /> ===Step 1: Make imperfect sticks===<br /> <br /> To craft your axe, you will first need 2 [[Imperfect Stick]]. You can make them using the logs you obtained from the lumberjack. Simply place two logs above each other, in the top left corner of the crafting bench. Take your stick out and repeat the process.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [[File:TrustyAxe.png|150px|thumb|left|The trusty axe recipe.]]<br /> <br /> ===Step 2: Make trusty axe===<br /> <br /> Now that you have your 2 [[Imperfect Stick]], combine them with 3 [[Log]], in the shape shown on the left. This will create your very first axe!<br /> <br /> In many cases, crafting requires a lot more steps. You might need to create multiple components (such as [[Imperfect Stick]]), or even combine components to form other components. There is a range of items to craft, with different crafting difficulties. Always make sure you don't jump ahead and craft the most difficult items straight away. There is profit to be made on the easier items too!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Splitting Logs==<br /> [[File:LogSplitting.png|thumb|left|The log splitting station.]]<br /> The process of splitting logs converts the logs you have into split logs. Split logs can then be used in further crafting. For most recipes, you will have to split logs first.<br /> <br /> The log splitting station is also located in the Mining Town, right next to the Blacksmith's tent. It can also be find near the Blacksmith's Shop in Elpida. It looks like a wooden stump. Walk up to it with a wooden log in your hand and right-click it. This will place the log on to the splitter. Then take your trusty axe and hit it like you mean it!<br /> <br /> Logs will split in no time. Make sure you do this a couple of times to have enough split logs for making your first pickaxe.<br /> <br /> Logs or split logs do not have any immediate value. You can't export them at the office. They are a crucial part of the crafting cycle though, as they are needed in many of the components. Even rare items will often need at least a few of the basic ingredients.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Crafting a Pickaxe==<br /> A wooden pickaxe will let you mine ores quite efficiently. Well, not super efficiently, but it sure is better than mining with your hands. There are no limits on which ores you can mine, so even with your wooden pickaxe, you'll be able to get the good stuff!<br /> <br /> As mentioned before, crafting often works in steps. A pickaxe has several steps. It may take time, but it is that more rewarding for you. Remember, the harder something is to make, the more expensive it will be. Prices at the export office will depend on how many people sell the stuff. If you find an item that is very hard to make, chances are not many players will take the time to craft the item. As a result, you will be one very happy crafter as your pockets start overflowing with gold coins!<br /> <br /> ===Step 1: Get split logs===<br /> <br /> Using your [[Trusty Axe]], get at least 3 [[Split Logs]].<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Step 2: Get imperfect sticks===<br /> <br /> As before, you will need to convert 2 [[Log]] into [[Imperfect Stick]]. Do this at least 2 times.<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Step 3: Craft a wooden pickaxe===<br /> <br /> To finish the recipe, combine 2 [[Imperfect Stick]] and 3 [[Split Logs]], using the shape on the left. This will result in a [[Wooden Pickaxe]].<br /> <br /> [[File:WoodenPickaxe.png|150px|thumb|left|The wooden pickaxe recipe.]]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Final Decision==<br /> With your new pickaxe, you are now free to visit the mine and try to obtain some metals. Alternatively, you could also make a trip back to the docks, visit the exports office, and see if they are buying wooden pickaxes (if yes, with what you now know, you could make a nice profit!).<br /> <br /> You now know how to craft items. Making a wooden pickaxe is hard work, but it is only the tip of the unique and dynamic crafting gameplay. If you enjoy it, consider learning about new recipes. Who knows - you might make a nice living crafting items and exporting them!<br /> If you are more of a warrior, try to get your hands on a sword. With a weapon, you can explore the wilderness and try your luck with hunting. Animals often drop materials that you may either use or trade with other players.<br /> Most importantly, don't forget to have fun. Elpida is a living experience, with adventure waiting on every corner. We are constantly adding additional features, meaning there will always be new stuff for you to learn, new areas to explore, and fresh things to do!<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Useful tips:'''<br /> * Visit the bank to deposit your earned money. This will prevent you from accidentally losing it, or dropping it on death.<br /> * Talk to NPCs. Some of them might share information that may make your life easier, including crafting recipes or directions to hidden areas!<br /> * Make friends. You may be a one-man (or woman) army, but Elpida is a complex community. You will achieve things far easier when you team up with others.<br /> * Write down things as you discover them. There is a lot to learn, so make sure you note down that odd recipe you find or that peculiar structure you located. You never know when you'll need these!</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1276 2019-12-19T19:00:01Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> '''4.1''' Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> '''4.2''' Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''4.3''' Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> '''4.4''' At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> '''4.5''' But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> '''4.6''' So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> '''5.1''' Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> '''5.2''' “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> '''5.3''' The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> '''5.4''' Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> '''5.5''' That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> '''5.6''' From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> '''6.1''' One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> '''6.2''' Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> '''6.3''' Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> '''6.4''' Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> '''6.5''' There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''6.6''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> '''6.7''' And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> '''7.1''' And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> '''7.2''' He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> '''7.3''' He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> '''7.4''' He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> '''7.5''' These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> '''7.6''' Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> '''7.7''' Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> '''7.8''' The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> '''7.9''' But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> '''7.10''' Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> '''7.11''' With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> '''7.12''' However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> '''7.13''' The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> '''7.14''' The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> '''7.15''' Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> '''7.16''' The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> '''7.17''' They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> '''7.18''' Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> '''7.19''' May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> '''7.20''' And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> '''7.21''' But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> '''8.1''' Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> '''8.2''' And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> '''8.3''' And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> '''8.4''' And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> '''8.6''' And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> '''9.1''' Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> '''9.2''' But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> '''9.3''' Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> '''9.4''' The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> '''9.5''' The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> '''9.6''' And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> '''9.7''' Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> '''9.8''' For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> '''9.9''' But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> '''9.10''' Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> '''9.11''' The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''9.12''' But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> '''10.1''' Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> '''10.2''' For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> '''10.3''' Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> '''10.4''' The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> '''10.5''' Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> '''10.6''' They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> '''10.7''' Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> '''10.8''' They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> '''10.9''' The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> '''10.10''' And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> '''11.1''' Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> '''11.2''' Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> '''11.3''' Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> '''11.4''' If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> '''11.5''' Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> '''11.6''' Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> '''11.7''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> '''11.8''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> '''11.9''' And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> '''11.10''' Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> '''11.11''' Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> '''11.12''' But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> '''12.1''' After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> '''12.2''' In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> '''12.3''' Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> '''12.4''' Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> '''12.5''' The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> '''12.6''' If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> '''12.7''' If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> '''13.1''' Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> '''13.2''' The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> '''13.3''' The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> '''13.4''' Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> '''13.5''' Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> '''13.6''' Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> '''13.7''' Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> '''13.8''' One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> '''13.9''' For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> '''13.10''' There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> '''13.11''' At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> '''14.1''' The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> '''14.2''' The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> '''14.3''' The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''14.4''' Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> '''14.5''' If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> '''14.6''' Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> '''15.1''' Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> '''15.2''' He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> '''15.3''' His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> '''15.4''' That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> '''15.5''' Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> '''15.6''' “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> '''15.7''' Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> '''15.8''' “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> '''15.9''' “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> '''15.10''' “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> '''15.11''' And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> '''15.12''' Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> '''15.13''' Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> '''15.14''' “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> '''15.15''' “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> '''15.16''' “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> '''15.17''' Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> '''15.18''' And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1275 2019-12-19T18:50:43Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1274 2019-12-19T18:50:18Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1273 2019-12-19T18:50:04Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1272 2019-12-19T18:49:51Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> '''2.1''' And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> '''2.2''' Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> '''2.3''' Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> '''2.4''' Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> '''2.5''' Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> '''2.6''' Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> '''2.7''' And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> '''3.1''' The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> '''3.2''' They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> '''3.3''' They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> '''3.4''' Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> '''3.5''' “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> '''3.6''' ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> '''3.7''' Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> '''3.8''' One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> '''3.9''' The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> '''3.10''' And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> '''3.11''' Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> '''3.12''' Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1271 2019-12-19T18:47:10Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> '''1.9''' “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1270 2019-12-19T18:46:58Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> '''1.1''' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> '''1.3''' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> '''1.4''' Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> '''1.5''' With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> '''1.6''' And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> '''1.7''' The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> '''1.8''' With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.9 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1269 2019-12-19T18:41:40Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 8 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> 1.1 In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> 1.2 Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.4 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.5 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.6 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.7 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.8 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.9 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1268 2019-12-19T18:41:20Z

<p>Hastearms: /* 1.1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> 1.1 In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> 1.2 Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.4 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.5 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.6 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.7 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.8 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.9 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1267 2019-12-19T18:39:19Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> ===1.1===<br /> In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.4 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.5 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.6 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.7 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.8 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1266 2019-12-19T18:39:10Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> ===1.1=== In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.4 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.5 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.6 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.7 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.8 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1265 2019-12-19T18:38:34Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> ''1.1'' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> ''1.2'' Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.4 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.5 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.6 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.7 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.8 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1264 2019-12-19T18:36:26Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Verse 1 */</p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> ''1.1'' In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> '''1.2''' Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> 1.2 Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.4 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.5 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.6 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.7 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.8 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals.<br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Holy_Codex&diff=1263 2019-12-19T18:35:58Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>The Holy Codex was first told by word of mouth, before being transcribed by scholars in the old tongue. In recent years, the Codex has been translated into common tongue, allowing all people to revel in the glory of the Gods.<br /> The Codex is routinely added to by the Holy Council (a group of the Arch-priest/priestess of each God) according to visions from the Gods. Therefore it is currently incomplete.<br /> <br /> == Verse 1 ==<br /> 1.1 In the beginning there was only darkness and thus it was the age of darkness.<br /> <br /> 1.2 Panjea had no form and no mark. The waters were still and silent. And black was the face of the world. The Gods had been sleeping for eternity, and so had their universe.<br /> <br /> 1.2 Untouched was the world and untouched were the gods, this state had always simply been. The Gods were not created but just were, as was the world.<br /> <br /> 1.3 Around the dormant Gods, the aether began to form; the blue heavens beyond our skies. It was the only light, and it was good and whole. And then one God woke. And Ignarus stood, seeing the universe and his dormant siblings. “Be you cast down.” He said. “For this world is mine and mine alone.”<br /> <br /> 1.4 With this, he threw the Gods down to Panjea. And then he reigned high, but he reigned false, and thus the age of the False Reign commenced. <br /> <br /> 1.5 And the 5 Gods rose, and as they opened their eyes but all was dark. So Marventa grew stars from the Tree of Light, and she plucked them from the branches and placed them in the sky, and so the Gods could see the universe, and the False Reign. <br /> <br /> 1.6 The Gods came together and flew to the aether, enraged by the falsehoods their brother committed. The Gods knocked Ignarus off the High Throne and shattered his crown of lies. “You are wholly evil.” Legaros did say to his brother, “and for your falsehoods you shall be cast down to the depths of the world. And may you never rise again.” <br /> <br /> 1.7 With this, the Good Gods forged the nether, a fiery pit for all evils and falsehoods to reside. And they sent Ignarus down to suffer for his sins. <br /> <br /> 1.8 “May you never see the beauty of the world.” Legaros shouted from the heavens. But Ignarus could not reply as his mouth was full of burning coals. <br /> <br /> == Verse 2 ==<br /> 2.1 And now is the glorious days of the True Reign, the High Reign of the 5 Gods. And the Gods divided up the universe between them equally, so that no God would be without.<br /> <br /> 2.2 Legaros was given the aether, for him to rule and protect. He donned the armour of the heavens and drew a white greatsword to defend the realm with. <br /> <br /> 2.3 Aestheria was given the subtle moon, so that she may share her learning and arts. She is the embodiment of beauty, made from glowing molten silver that takes the form of an enchanting woman. <br /> <br /> 2.4 Marventa was given the seas, and the wind, and the stars which she grew. Although not as beautiful as her silver sister, she is far stronger and tougher, carved from sea-stone.<br /> <br /> 2.5 Metus was given the sun and the land, and from this land he blessed soil to be bountiful and rich, and he was given all the gold of the world. He was not forged from gold though, instead he was made from earth, and thus he was humble.<br /> <br /> 2.6 Phaedron was the final God - given the clouds, shadows, and darkness. He had no given physical body, like the others, and so forged himself one from the shadow.<br /> <br /> 2.7 And so there was peace for some time, where the Gods were harmonious and all was good and pure, and thus Era of Peace began.<br /> <br /> == Verse 3 ==<br /> 3.1 The skies were still vacant and the lands were untrodden and all was silent. Aestheria felt sad that a beautiful world was so empty, and so she created the first human - a woman made in her own image, and she named her Phoebe. Legaros followed her example, and made a man to keep Phoebe company, naming him Alexander.<br /> <br /> 3.2 The humans grew hungry and so they prayed to Metus. They said “Oh lord! Let the soil have bounty and harvest, so that we may feast and be full.” Metus heard their prayers, and planted crop all over the world, making the land fertile and lush. And then, Metus made animals that they may hunt and roast.<br /> <br /> 3.2 They grew thirsty and so they prayed again. “Oh lady! Let there be pools of water that we may drink and our thirst may be quenched.” And so Marventa made rivers and lakes, with fresh water that they may drink, and she filled the seas and the skies with beautiful creatures so that they may never be bored.<br /> <br /> 3.3 They grew tired, and they prayed once more. “Oh lord! I beg that for the stillness darkness so that I may rest my eyes.” And so Phaedron created the night, and they slept.<br /> <br /> 3.4 Ignarus heard of this beautiful creation and he was enraged that he had no part of it. He tried to call to them, but they could not hear him, so he appeared in their dreams, so that they may see him. <br /> <br /> 3.5 “Phoebe, sweet Phoebe, you woman of beauty, do you see me?” He said in her dreams. “I see naught but fire, and so I am cautious.” She replied. “You need not be cautious, oh lovely Phoebe, the fire is warm and bright.” But Phoebe was wise, and she turned away from the fire and left. <br /> <br /> 3.6 ”Alexander, noble Alexander, you man of beauty, do you see me?” He said in his dreams. “I see naught but gold, and that looks suspicious.” He replied. “You need not be suspicious, oh brave Alexander, the gold is beautiful and valuable.” But Alexander was humble, and he turned away from the gold and left.<br /> <br /> 3.7 Ignarus screamed, his mouth full of burning coals, and he stormed through the nether, deciding what to do. And then he knew. He called to the animals, filling their weak minds with images of greed and pain, and so the balance of the world tipped.<br /> <br /> 3.8 One night, the humans slept by the fire under the starry sky, and a pack of starving wolves surrounded them. “Begone creatures of ice, you will find no comfort here,” said Phoebe. But the wolves had eyes of fire, and they launched at them, tearing at their arms and legs.<br /> <br /> 3.6 The humans fought the wolves, each killing two with their bare hands. But Phoebe was injured, and so for days after the battle Alexander cared for her, nursing her back to health.<br /> <br /> 3.8 And through suffering they found hope in each other. And she did love Alexander, and Alexander did love her.<br /> <br /> 3.9 Within the year they were wed, and they had 5 children to represent the 5 Good Gods. From them, all men and women of the world were birthed, and therefore mankind is forged from the Gods.<br /> <br /> 3.10 Let this be known; to man and woman. Children are a gift of the Gods, and so they must be respected and loved. A man who strikes his son will be stricken by the Gods, and a woman who beats her daughter will be beaten by the Gods. Act as Phoebe and Alexander and you act in the image of the Gods. Be good and pure and kind.<br /> <br /> == Verse 4 ==<br /> 4.1 Over time, their bloodline became diluted and impure, and so humans lost faith in their Creators. So Legaros and Aestheria sent their first born child - Sekarus, the godling of messages and leader of Angels, down to Panjea.<br /> <br /> 4.2 Sekarus raised temples all over the world, and recited the Holy Codex so that humans may never forget their creation. The Holy Codex was written out, and given to all temples so that they may share the stories of the Gods.<br /> <br /> 4.3 Some men still ignored the light, falling to the darkness of sin and ignorance, but the Gods decided to let them choose their path. “I do not want blind faith.” Legaros said unto Sekarus, “The path is clear and obvious and they should choose right, but I will not force their hand”. <br /> <br /> 4.4 At the end of their days, man or woman will be judged by Legaros, the Lord Protector, and will be sent to punish in the nether or be rewarded in the aether. All children who pass are passed directly to the light of aether, so that they may live again in peace.<br /> <br /> 4.5 But Legaros is merciful and just, and those who repent in the nether may be raised to the heavens, once all they had once concealed is now open and they are honest and true.<br /> <br /> 4.6 So with this make it be known that you may be judged on earth, but the greater judgement is in death. All who judge act in Legaros’ image, and therefore must be merciful and just, may you be cast down to the nether elsewise.<br /> <br /> == Verse 5 ==<br /> 5.1 Some time passed, and Phaedron became jealous of Marventa’s wind. “I should have the whole sky.” Said he, who is forged from shadow and darkness. “For is it not I who struck Ignarus first? Without my stealth you would have nothing, and so I deserve more.” <br /> <br /> 5.2 “Is it not I?” Said Marventa, who is forged from sea-stone and water. “Who granted you the light of the stars so that you may see the universe?” “Aye it was you, and so you have the stars, but you have no claim to the sky.” Phaedron returned.<br /> <br /> 5.3 The God and Goddess bickered between them until Legaros stopped them. “Are we children of men? Why do you bicker so? We are Gods, and there is no place for bickering here.” <br /> <br /> 5.4 Marventa respected his words, and sunk back into the sea. But Phaedron was insulted, and angry.<br /> <br /> 5.5 That night, Phaedron crept up on the Gods, concealed in the clouds, and assaulted their aerial territories. The embattled Gods used their great power on him, but he disappeared before the light could touch him. <br /> <br /> 5.6 From this commences the War of the Skies, which are known as storms, and they continue to this very day. <br /> <br /> == Verse 6 ==<br /> 6.1 One day, when no battle was present and all was as good as can be, Metus approached Marventa. “Sister.” He said. “Your seas are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your strength is incredible and your stars are so bright. I confess my love for you, sister, and I know I am but a humble God, not as mighty as Legaros or as sneaky as Phaedron but…” <br /> <br /> 6.2 Marventa smiled, and embraced him, “Your lands are bountiful and your animals are beautiful, your humility is admirable and your crops are so rich. I confess my love for you, brother.” And so they were in love, and birthed many godlings between them. <br /> <br /> 6.3 Let all humans bear witness to this humble partnership, love and you will be loved in return. Pray you do not fall to falsehood and superficiality and remember that, in the eyes of the Gods, you are all made to be loved and to love. <br /> <br /> 6.4 Have humility in your riches and strength in your beauty, and you shall rise to the aether.<br /> <br /> 6.5 There was love between Legaros and Aestheria also, pure and selfless love, the love of husband and wife wed, like Phoebe and Alexander.<br /> <br /> 6.6 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen god is the Mother or Father, say these words in the name of Legaros and Aestheria so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bless this marriage with your almighty power, <br /> As my love is honest and true,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Umira bless our holy marriage,<br /> Let Phelo bless our holy home,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> 6.7 And so, if you are to be wed, and your chosen God is Marventa or Metus, say these words in the name of the two Gods, so that you may be blessed in life and in the lives to come:<br /> Oh Lord and Lady in aether above,<br /> Heed my words and read my heart,<br /> Bring this marriage into your holy light, <br /> As my love is humble and strong,,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> Let Isa bless our holy womb,<br /> Let Ylone bless our holy soil,<br /> And blessed be the 5.<br /> <br /> == Verse 7 ==<br /> 7.1 And Ignarus will never love, as his heart is burnt and dead, but Phaedron has loved a few, and let those few be known. <br /> <br /> 7.2 He loved Amira, an insane and murderous ancient Queen of Old, with skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood. With him she birthed Persephone, Thea, Theresa, Omela, and Grace. <br /> <br /> 7.3 He loved Raven, a legendary assassin who sacrificed hundreds of men to him. With him she birthed Larissa, Cleo, Ariadne, Lucius and Isidore. <br /> <br /> 7.4 He loved Penelope, a cynical and calculated young woman, who murdered her family in his name. With him she birthed Orpheus, Odious and Theodosia. <br /> <br /> 7.5 These children are born of the darkness, but are not godlings like their holy cousins. They are named Demigods, half God and half human, and they share some traits with their godly parent. <br /> <br /> 7.6 Phaedron’s demigod children are the Shtrigae, and they feast on human flesh and drink human blood. Their eyes are a pale purple, their lips a crimson red. They generally move in the darkness of Phaedron, and so their skin is pale and smooth. <br /> <br /> 7.7 Their hair is darker than coal, the blackness of death, and their teeth are long fangs. They are known to be incredibly beautiful, and incredibly dangerous.<br /> <br /> 7.8 The shtrigae live for thousands of years, unstopped by disease or pain. Their wounds heal quickly, and leave no mark, and they may only be killed by beheading, and then burning of their body. <br /> <br /> 7.9 But head my warning, they are extremely strong and fast, and will take hundreds of men to kill.<br /> <br /> 7.10 Aestheria also birthed Demigods, for she came unto the earth and wanted to spread her beauty among humanity. She fell in love with an ancient Prince, who was incredibly handsome and strong. <br /> <br /> 7.11 With him she birthed many children, and these children were the Lunarae - but the children were so beautiful they had to turn to Phaedron to conceal their beauty by living in isolation, otherwise men and women alike would become totally transfixed, and forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> 7.12 However, one woman, Lana, was so beautiful that even Phaedron couldn’t resist her, and so he bore children with her. <br /> <br /> 7.13 The children had Aestheria’s beauty, but Phaedron’s ruthlessness and ability to shapeshift and melt into shadows. <br /> <br /> 7.14 The original Lunarae, including Lana, ended their own lives, due to how miserable they were at having to live in isolation. <br /> <br /> 7.15 Aestheria wept for her children, as those who end their life do not receive the gift of afterlife, and their souls are instead shattered irretrievably.<br /> <br /> 7.16 The children of the Lunarae, Hura, however, became deadly assassins, killing humans with their beauty. They act similarly to the Shtrigae and are often seen as their siblings. <br /> <br /> 7.17 They have silver hair and smooth pale skin, and where the Shtrigae are uncomfortably dark to look at, the Hura are uncomfortably bright.<br /> <br /> 7.18 Let this act as a warning to you! You must be careful of the children you bear, for having a child is a serious act, and you will be committed to that child in the eyes of God. <br /> <br /> 7.19 May you raise good children, or you will come to regret having them at all. And regret is worst of all, as fertility is a gift of the gods.<br /> <br /> 7.20 And may no mother or father kill their own children, as this is forbidden by the Gods, and may your children’s blood drown you in the nether, while they rejoice in heaven.<br /> <br /> 7.21 But if you worship Phaedron, you are not without the gift of love and fertility, as Phaedron had himself. To bless your marriage under Phaedron, you must say these words when you are to be wed:<br /> Oh Dark Lord who rules the shadows,<br /> Heed my whispers and read my silence,<br /> Shroud this marriage under your cloak, <br /> As his/her blood is my blood too,<br /> May we have children as you have had,<br /> May our children have children as yours have had,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> == Verse 8 ==<br /> 8.1 Common prayers can be said anywhere, but best said at shrines or temples. If the Gods are good you will be blessed. A sacrifice to the Gods is best at getting their attention, but the different Gods require different sacrifices.<br /> <br /> 8.2 And may your voyage be safe if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Marventa, Marventa, blessed be your name,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please bless me the same,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, keep your wind with my boat,<br /> Marventa, Marventa, please keep me afloat!<br /> <br /> 8.3 And may your soil be fertile if you say Metus’ prayer, and if you are illiterate then sing the words and they will be written in your heart, and rejoice with your friends.<br /> Oh Metus humbled am I to,<br /> Sing your blessed song,<br /> You planted crops that then grew,<br /> To feed us all day long,<br /> <br /> Oh Metus prosperous and kind,<br /> Bless me from above,<br /> And riches never make me blind,<br /> To the true richness of love!<br /> <br /> <br /> 8.4 And may your judgement be fair if you say Legaros’ prayer, and judgement may not mean in a court of law, but judgement of your sword before battle, or judgement of your mind before a meeting.<br /> Oh Lord who is my Father,<br /> Let my head be clear and my eyes bright,<br /> Let me judge fair,<br /> Let me judge true,<br /> Let me judge right,<br /> And so then I beg of you,<br /> Let me be judged fair,<br /> Let me be judged true,<br /> Let me be judged right,<br /> Blessed be the 5,<br /> And blessed be your name.<br /> <br /> And may you be enlightened if you say Aestherias’ prayer, a poem spoken by the sweet-spoken.<br /> Oh Lady who did birth me,<br /> A mother who loves me,<br /> And keep wisdom in me,<br /> And keep beauty on me,<br /> And keep ignorance off me,<br /> And let me be blessed in your name,<br /> And the name of the 5,<br /> And let me bathe in your silver light,<br /> So that I may act in your image,<br /> As Phoebe did before me,<br /> <br /> 8.6 And may your footsteps be silent and your dagger sharp if you say the Prayer of Darkness, but say your prayer in silence, unless you are a High Priestess or Priest.<br /> Dark Lord,<br /> Send your shadows unto me,<br /> For the sins of the unworthy,<br /> Shall be baptised in blood and fear,<br /> May I stay shrouded under your cloak,<br /> And may my dagger stay dark,<br /> Silence is my music,<br /> And blood my dance.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Verse 9 ==<br /> 9.1 Many years did pass from whence the High Reign began, the animals came and fell and grew, and so did the humans. <br /> <br /> 9.2 But there is a distinction, a human has a soul that changes with the actions that they commit, a sinner’s soul will drag along the floor with the weight of their falsehoods and a holy one will fly, weightless. <br /> <br /> 9.3 Some animals are without souls, let it be known that a rat, shrew, and mouse have no soul. Let it be known that the duck and the fish have no soul. <br /> <br /> 9.4 The dog and the cat have a soul, and the horse and boar, and the fox and the deer have a soul. And the lion and the tigers have a soul, and the wolf and the leopard have a soul, and the elephant and the monkey have a soul. The bird and the shark have a soul, and the whale and the dolphin. The bear and the bird have a soul, and the sheep and the pig and the cow, and the snake.<br /> <br /> 9.5 The crow and the raven have a soul, although shrouded. Let it be known that the crow and the raven are messengers of Phaedron, who blackened their wings with charcoal.<br /> <br /> 9.6 And if any new animal may come, let its soul be judged on the closest resembling animal of its kind.<br /> <br /> 9.7 Animals with souls have intelligence, they can love and bond and trust and hate. However not to the extent of man or woman. If an animal is good then it will too, ascend, but those who sin will be sent to the nether no doubt.<br /> <br /> 9.8 For let it be known, that an animal can too judge right from wrong, and the wolves pray to Aestheria, and the deer pray to Metus, and the sharks pray to Marventa, and the snakes pray to Phaedron, and the dogs pray to Legaros, and the lions pray to Ignarus. <br /> <br /> 9.9 But the rats and the mice know nothing but food and water and disease, and so they have no soul. And so when they die, they do not ascend, they simply will rot and be eaten.<br /> <br /> 9.10 Fear the man who eats the rat and fear the man who eats the mouse for they are vile creatures, created by Phaedron to do his bidding.<br /> <br /> 9.11 The cat has a soul, and they pray to Phaedron. And that is why the cats and dogs fight. And those who don’t fight are not holy animals, and should be thenceforth sacrificed to the Gods.<br /> <br /> 9.12 But beware! For the cat is a creature of shadow and hard to kill. They are cousins of the lion and leopard, and their savagery is in their claws and their teeth, and they will feast on human flesh when the moon is full, for that is when blood is freshest. <br /> <br /> == Verse 10 ==<br /> 10.1 Blessed be the monks who work in the temples, blessed be you and your name!<br /> <br /> 10.2 For the monk devoted fully to the Gods. The monks keep no age, no family name, and no sin. All monks must leave their family name and take the name of their God instead, and so henceforth they are part of the family of the Monastery. <br /> <br /> 10.3 Monks of Marventa and Metus will have no leaders, and will be simply equal in title and responsibility. They are simple and jolly, and represent the farmers and the sailors who pray to them, may they be blessed! <br /> <br /> 10.4 The simplicity of their duties may not be confused with marriage or children, and so no monks of Marventa or Metus will have children or wed.<br /> <br /> 10.4 Monks of Legaros have order, to represent the order of the God himself. There will be monks, and then the bishops, and then the Archbishop. The monks must be trained in the ways of fighting, so that their skills may be used for protection when needed. <br /> <br /> 10.5 They are all men, to represent Alexander, and they may only wed and bear children with the nuns of Aestheria.<br /> <br /> 10.6 Nuns of Aestheria are beautiful, to mirror Aestheria’s own beauty. They wear the silver of her moon, and don her symbol across their clothing. They must be trained in literature, dancing, singing, and the harp.<br /> <br /> 10.7 They are all women, to represent Phoebe, and they may only wed and bear children with the monks of Legaros.<br /> <br /> 10.8 The followers of Phaedron remain largely in secret, but the children of Phaedron, the followers of shadow, they resemble monks and so they wear the name of Phaedron with pride. <br /> <br /> 10.9 And Ignarus has no monks or temples, may his followers be wrought with falsehood and sin.<br /> <br /> == Verse 11 ==<br /> 11.1 Read the words of Legaros, the High Lord and Protector of Gods and the Realm. He says unto the world there are 3 types of sin, which are transgressions against divine law. Unforgivable sin, grievous sin, and venial sin. <br /> <br /> 11.2 Unforgivable sin secures your place in the nether immediately. There is no redemption, no repentance. The Gods will never forgive you for these atrocities, and so the nether will be eternal for you. <br /> <br /> 11.3 Grievous sin is severe sins that you can repent for. The Gods can forgive you of this sin, and cleanse your soul. If you die with grievous sin you will be sent to the nether, but once you are open to the Gods and repent for your sins, you will be lifted to the aether. <br /> <br /> 11.4 If you commit grievous sin in your life, but repent before death, you will be lifted to the aether as any other holy person would be.<br /> <br /> 11.5 Venial sin are mishaps, small mistakes or accidents that do not deprive the soul of divine grace. They are slight, and pardonable, and situational. <br /> <br /> 11.6 Your judgement is decided by Legaros, based on your intentions and necessity of the sin. For example, if you are starving and steal bread because you are dying of hunger, Legaros will still lift you to the aether, and the deed won’t be seen as sinful.<br /> <br /> 11.7 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby does state that venial sins include: thievery, pick-pocketing, wishing harm upon a neighbour, ignorance, inadvertence, duress, unneeded fear, jealousy, greed, gluttony and divorce.<br /> <br /> 11.8 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that grievous sins include: murder, bodily harm, blasphemy towards the Gods, wishing death upon a neighbour, harm upon a child, grand theft, arson of another’s property, harm of a holy man, false testimony, destruction of the Holy Codex, worshipping of false Gods, murder of family, and harm of a man or woman in prayer.<br /> <br /> 11.9 And from here let it be known that Legaros hereby decrees that unforgivable sins include: murder of a monk, nun, priest, or priestess, mass murder, destruction of holy property (temples, shrines, etc), impugning testimonies of the Gods, murder of children under the age of 1 year, corruption in the flanks of God, and obstinacy in sin up until death.<br /> <br /> 11.10 Let it be known that no sin is beyond situational judgement however. For example, if a monk fell to insanity, and was about to kill you, then you would be permitted to defend yourself, even if it resulted in the death of said monk. <br /> <br /> 11.11 Self-defence means you commit no sin, say the Gods. And if, in the situation, you would die without repenting said sin, then that is self-defense, and in the eyes of the Gods you have not sinned.<br /> <br /> 11.12 But beware! If man or woman tried to abuse this merciful law, tries to bend or change it to fit their own wicked ways, then they will be sent to the bottom of the pits of the nether, forced to eat burning coals until their mouth turns black.<br /> <br /> == Verse 12 ==<br /> 12.1 After death, one’s soul takes the form of your physical body, and you are transported to the Holy Plains. You walk through the empty white space until you reach a white building - the Holy Court. <br /> <br /> 12.2 In the Holy Court, every deed and decision you have ever committed is read out in the Holy Scribe, by Xaton, angel of order and judgement, godling of Aestheria and Legaros. <br /> <br /> 12.3 Legaros hears his son, and then judges you upon your sins, deciding if each one is justified or not. Once he has reached his conclusion, he makes the final, overall decision on whether your soul is dark or light.<br /> <br /> 12.4 Now you leave the court, walking through the great doors of oak, and you come across a bridge. You must walk across the bridge to progress into the afterlife. If you do not walk across the bridge then you will be chased by wolves, so you are forced to walk across the bridge<br /> <br /> 12.5 The bridge is crafted from ancient wood, with weeping faces carved along the gnarled sides. It sways, despite there being no wind. Below the bridge is a river of fire, the River Styx. You hear the screams from the condemned souls when walking across, chilling, dying screams.<br /> <br /> 12.6 If your soul is heavy, you fall off the bridge, dragged down by the weight of your sins. You land in the nether, and then must meet Ignarus. Ignarus judges you, on whether you are suitable to join his army of the Dead, or whether you are too weak.<br /> <br /> 12.7 If you are too weak, you are sentenced to a lifetime of suffering, until Legaros decides your punishment has been served. If you are strong enough to join the Army of the Dead, then you will serve as a soldier, commanded by the demons of the nether.<br /> <br /> == Verse 13 ==<br /> 13.1 Ignarus hopes one day he will gain enough power to rise to Panjea, and take his army to destroy the world that has only brought him suffering and pain, and kill all humans, the creations of the Gods he hates so much.<br /> <br /> 13.2 The Army of the Dead has three generals; Lorthrax, a swirling fire demon created from nothing but flame and ash, Xandor, a three-headed monsterous beast with burnt bones the colour of charcoal, and Daendra, a huge ghostly figure who weeps blood that burns and screams words that scar.<br /> <br /> 13.3 The Army of the Dead is sorted into three categories, the archers, the warriors, and the mages. The archers are skeletons, made from bone, and have soulless eyes. The warriors look like the broken shells of men, their flesh is rotten and their minds too. The mages could easily pass as human, if not for their strange clothing and eyes.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Lorthrax controls the mages, teaching them the dark arts and magics of the nether. He gives them enchanted stations where they can perform their blood magic, and whispers evil thoughts into their mind.<br /> <br /> 13.4 Xandor is an ugly beast, with three personalities; the central one is the operator, the host mainly in control.His left head is full of hatred, a vile thing, full of vulgar insults. His right head is full of pain, screaming in agony due to his permanent state of torture. He controls the warriors.<br /> <br /> 13.5 Daendra is a woman who once bore a son she loved with all of her heart. Her son was framed for murder by an ex-lover, and executed by the city guards. Her heart became blackened and broken, and she vowed to take revenge against Legaros and his ‘so-called’ justice. She controls the archers.<br /> <br /> 13.6 Daendra’s grief was so extreme, she ended her own life, and her spirit was so full of range and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she was made a general of the Army of the Dead.<br /> <br /> 13.7 One day, when the sky fills with fire and the rivers run with blood, the Army of the Dead will have gathered enough power to rise to Panjea and reign terror down on earth. We must pray to the Gods when the Day of the Dead arrives.<br /> <br /> 13.8 For on the Day of the Dead, babes will be ripped from their mothers’ teat, and crowns will be shattered and the world will become a cremation - and all one can see is ash and anguish and death.<br /> <br /> 13.9 There are other soldiers in the Army of the Dead, but they are demons, created by Ignarus. They have never, and will never be human, and have no soul or heart.<br /> <br /> 13.10 At night, when the Gods (except Phaedron) are resting, Ignarus has enough power to send some soldiers of his army to the surface, and he does, every night, fed by each and every life the soldiers reap. Blessed be the man who slays these beasts.<br /> <br /> == Verse 14 ==<br /> 14.1 The City of the Night is the land where Phaedron rests, his home. It is guarded by Narphendrix, Titan of the Night, an age-old dragon with the black scales of Phaedron’s cloak, and the strange purple eyes that all Phaedron’s creations share.<br /> <br /> 14.2 The City of the Night is inhabited by the Shadow Men, tall and slender creatures formed of nothing but shadow, their eyes that same piercing purple. There are also Shadow Rats, which burrow through the pale yellow stone. <br /> <br /> 14.3 The City of the Night was created by Phaedron after the War of the Skies began, as he needed somewhere safe he could rest, well away from the Gods. It is a separate realm, like the aether and the nether, and cannot be found by anyone except for a child of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 14.4 Avid worshipers of Phaedron will be stolen away by him after their deaths, so that they do not face judgement at the hand of Legaros, but at the hand of their God. Only the best followers receive this gift however, for it is a great gift.<br /> <br /> 14.5 If you are chosen by Phaedron at the end of your time, you become a Shadow Man, granting you immortality from age, for you are hidden under Phaedron’s cloak, hidden even from death. The rats have the same fate, as rats are creatures of Phaedron, informants of his will and bidding.<br /> <br /> 14.6 Men of Shadow are trained, and then sent up to Panjea to perform Phaedron’s commands. They assassinate children of the other Gods, and all who do harm to the children of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> == Verse 15 ==<br /> 15.1 Another tale of Phaedron’s time, is the tale of the creation of Paraxaneth, Godling of Insanity. After a particularly bad storm, one in which Phaedron was badly injured, he decided he wanted vengeance on Marventa, as their rivalry started the godly war, but he knew he must be sneaky, as she would beat him in an open field.<br /> <br /> 15.2 He dressed himself as Metus, the lover of Marventa, and crept up to her in the aether. “Lover.” He said, in a perfect impersonation of the jolly man. “Oh sweet, lovely wife.” He said, kissing Marventa softly, “I do love you so.”<br /> <br /> 15.3 His powers were strong, and Marventa had no reason to question him. She smiled and returned his kiss. “Oh sweet, lovely husband, I do love you so.” She thought it strange, though, that his lips did feel so cold, compared to his usual radiation of warmth.<br /> <br /> 15.4 That night, they birthed a child, and when Marventa looked down at the beautiful girl she had created, she saw that it had the purple eyes of Shadow.<br /> <br /> 15.5 Her lover removed his mask, and cackled at her dismay. “This is my revenge, for you starting this damn war Marventa. For you being so selfish as to not give up your simple winds, when you own the entire ocean, and all stone and rock.” He did say.<br /> <br /> 15.6 “And everytime you see your lover, I want you to remember me Marventa. And remember this child, and this night.” He said, laughing again. Marventa spat on the ground, “I shall kill this child, a foul creature of shadow. I shall never think of it again.”<br /> <br /> 15.7 Phaedron smiled, “Marventa the merciful, Marventa the kind, ready to murder a newborn babe. Well I’m afraid I cannot quench your thirst for blood today Marventa, no, she shall be kept under my cloak so that you can never harm her, so that you can never forget.”<br /> <br /> 15.8 “No matter how hard you try. She won’t ever be history, she will be eternal torture.” And with that, he took the newborn under his cloak.<br /> <br /> 15.8 “She will surely go insane, like all your other creations forced under your damn cloak. Death is far less cruel.” Marventa cried in dismay. “I knew you for a cold bastard Phaedron but an eternity of torture for me is an eternity of torture for her too, she is your own child too.”<br /> <br /> 15.9 “Yes she is my child, and I suppose I will have love for her in my cold heart, but you call insanity torture? I call it a spot of fun. And trust me, an eternal being will rot away in their divine soul without a bit of fun.” Phaedron retorted, before disappearing into the night, leaving Marventa to be alone.<br /> <br /> 15.10 And so Paraxaneth was born, brought up under Phaedron’s cloak. As Marventa predicted, she went completely insane due to never being allowed out from his cloak. Her memories were chaotic, infused with her dreams. Time became meaningless, the world was meaningless.<br /> <br /> 15.11 Soon, she was too much for even Phaedron to handle. She tore open his cloak and escaped onto the world, wreaking havoc and mischief. Phaedron found her again, but he didn’t bring her back to the City of Night because for the first time in her life, she was genuinely happy.<br /> <br /> 15.12 Paraxaneth was happy creating mischief with the mortals, inventing strange and bizarre demons and hosting odd tea parties, and so Phaedron left her to her own devices. Legaros attempted to stop her, once she had taken one too many lives at one of her ‘tea parties’, but Marventa forbade him to.<br /> <br /> 15.13 “Brother, I never thought I would want to see my ungodly child prosper. When she was born I would have drowned her, and kept her out of thought, but now she is a woman grown, she is an angel… just...not like the others.” Marventa said, looking around at the other angels of the aether.<br /> <br /> 15.14 “I look at her and I see Phaedron’s eyes, but I see my face and my smile, and so I beg that you leave her be. There are many other, greater threats we have to overcome, leave the girl alone.” Marventa said, firmly. <br /> <br /> 15.15 “She may be Phaedron’s child, but she is my child too, and so she is part of our family. They are just humans, she is a Godling, whether we like it or not. It is not her fault that she is insane. She had no say in becoming who she is.” <br /> <br /> 15.16 Legaros respected Marventa’s decision, and so he continued to allow Paraxaneth to act the way she was. To this day Paraxaneth still roams the world, with the bright blue hair of Marventa, and the purple eyes of Phaedron.<br /> <br /> 15.17 And here this warning, if you hear of her, or see of her, run. For her games are not lightly played by mortal men. She is the whisperer of chaos and insanity, her voyage is into madness.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Cooking&diff=1254 2019-12-18T15:39:28Z

<p>Hastearms: </p> <hr /> <div>{| class=&quot;wikitable&quot; style=&quot;text-align:center; width:250px;&quot;<br /> | [[File:CraftingProf_Cooking.png|200px]]<br /> |-<br /> | '''Crafted Items'''<br /> [[:Category:Food|Food]]<br /> <br /> [[:Category:Cooking_Ingredient|Cooking Ingredients]]<br /> |-<br /> | '''Unique Aspects'''<br /> Engraving<br /> |}<br /> <br /> Cooking is a primary [[Crafting#Crafting_disciplines|crafting discipline]], centred around crafting food items. Due to the fact that everyone is hungry, Cooking is a key element to a functional community. The basic foods can be crafted with harvested resourced. Higher tier foods require dropped items from monsters. The most satiating foods will need spices, which are mostly imported from offshore, as arranged by the Trade Minister.<br /> <br /> ==Crafted Items==<br /> Cooking produces two types of items:<br /> <br /> <br /> * [[:Category:Food|Food]]: the final, edible items. These differ in the amount of hunger they replenish, in the amount of satiation and in the flavour profile. Each food tastes differently, with players each having different preferences. This means certain foods may satiate some more than others.<br /> <br /> <br /> * [[:Category:Cooking_Ingredient|Cooking Ingredients]]: a wide group of items, all partial components to final food products. This category covers a great range of ingredients - from harvested ones ([[Apple]], [[Wheat]], [[Porcino]]), to spices imported from offshore ([[Mint]], [[Basil]]). The cooking recipes vary in difficulty, so starting cook may prefer to stick to the more commonly available ingredients.</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Citizenship&diff=1253 2019-12-18T04:54:49Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout */</p> <hr /> <div>A citizen of Elpida is an active member of the community that receives certain benefits to their roleplaying experience and general immersion and capabilities. This status is achieved through the completion and subsequent approval of a biography posted on the [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/section/character-bios.40/ forums].<br /> <br /> ==Features of a Citizen:==<br /> *Can own land<br /> *Can vote in elections<br /> *Can run for political office<br /> *Priority joining the server<br /> *More to come!<br /> <br /> ==Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout==<br /> *''Username'': [Your character's Minecraft username]<br /> *''Discord Username (only if you want to be verified in the Discord group)'': [Discord Name and #]<br /> *''Full Name'': [Your character Name]<br /> *''Nickname(s)'': [Character Nicknames]<br /> *''Gender'': [Character Gender]<br /> *''Age'': [Character Age]<br /> *''Date of birth'': [Date the character was born, current year is 2405S]<br /> *''Place of birth'': [Location of where Character was born, i.e. Mainland]<br /> *''Job'': [Character's current job]<br /> *''Interests and hobbies'': [Characters Interests and Hobbies<br /> *''Religious Belief'': [Religious beliefs of the character; see [[Gods]] page for additional information]<br /> *''Signature Item(s)'': [Signature items that have a meaning to the character]<br /> <br /> For additional guidance on writing a thorough biography and getting it approved, see [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/threads/writing-a-biography-guide.153/ this guide].</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Citizenship&diff=1252 2019-12-18T04:54:34Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout */</p> <hr /> <div>A citizen of Elpida is an active member of the community that receives certain benefits to their roleplaying experience and general immersion and capabilities. This status is achieved through the completion and subsequent approval of a biography posted on the [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/section/character-bios.40/ forums].<br /> <br /> ==Features of a Citizen:==<br /> *Can own land<br /> *Can vote in elections<br /> *Can run for political office<br /> *Priority joining the server<br /> *More to come!<br /> <br /> ==Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout==<br /> *''Username'': [Your character's Minecraft username]<br /> *''Discord Username (only if you want to be verified in the Discord group)'': [Discord Name and #]<br /> *''Full Name'': [Your character Name]<br /> *''Nickname(s)'': [Character Nicknames]<br /> *''Gender'': [Character Gender]<br /> *''Age'': [Character Age]<br /> *''Date of birth'': [Date the character was born, current year is 2405S]<br /> *''Place of birth'': [Location of where Character was born, i.e. Mainland]<br /> *''Job'': [Character's current job]<br /> *''Interests and hobbies'': [Characters Interests and Hobbies<br /> *''Religious Belief'': [Religious beliefs of the character; See [[Gods]] page for additional information]<br /> *''Signature Item(s)'': [Signature items that have a meaning to the character]<br /> <br /> For additional guidance on writing a thorough biography and getting it approved, see [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/threads/writing-a-biography-guide.153/ this guide].</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Citizenship&diff=1251 2019-12-18T04:53:20Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout */</p> <hr /> <div>A citizen of Elpida is an active member of the community that receives certain benefits to their roleplaying experience and general immersion and capabilities. This status is achieved through the completion and subsequent approval of a biography posted on the [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/section/character-bios.40/ forums].<br /> <br /> ==Features of a Citizen:==<br /> *Can own land<br /> *Can vote in elections<br /> *Can run for political office<br /> *Priority joining the server<br /> *More to come!<br /> <br /> ==Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout==<br /> *''Username'': [Your character's Minecraft username]<br /> *''Discord Username (only if you want to be verified in the Discord group)'': [Discord Name and #]<br /> *''Full Name'': [Your character Name]<br /> *''Nickname(s)'': [Character Nicknames]<br /> *''Gender'': [Character Gender]<br /> *''Age'': [Character Age]<br /> *''Date of birth'': [Date the character was born, current year is 2405S]<br /> *''Place of birth'': [Location of where Character was born, i.e. Mainland]<br /> *''Job'': [Characters current job]<br /> *''Interests and hobbies'': [Characters Interests and Hobbies<br /> *''Religious Belief'': [Religious beliefs of the character; See [[Gods]] page for additional information]<br /> *''Signature Item(s)'': [Signature items that have a meaning to the character]</div>

Hastearms https://minecraftfrontiers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Citizenship&diff=1250 2019-12-18T04:53:04Z

<p>Hastearms: /* Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout */</p> <hr /> <div>A citizen of Elpida is an active member of the community that receives certain benefits to their roleplaying experience and general immersion and capabilities. This status is achieved through the completion and subsequent approval of a biography posted on the [https://minecraftfrontiers.com/forums/section/character-bios.40/ forums].<br /> <br /> ==Features of a Citizen:==<br /> *Can own land<br /> *Can vote in elections<br /> *Can run for political office<br /> *Priority joining the server<br /> *More to come!<br /> <br /> ==Recommended Character Biography Information and Layout==<br /> *''Username'': [Your character's Minecraft username]<br /> *''Discord Username (only if you want to be verified in the Discord group)'': [Discord Name and #]<br /> *''Full Name'': [Your character Name]<br /> *''Nickname(s)'': [Character Nicknames]<br /> *''Gender'': [Character Gender]<br /> *''Age'': [Character Age]<br /> *''Date of birth'': [Date the character was born, current year is 2405S]<br /> *''Place of birth'': [Location of where Character was born e.e Mainland]<br /> *''Job'': [Characters current job]<br /> *''Interests and hobbies'': [Characters Interests and Hobbies<br /> *''Religious Belief'': [Religious beliefs of the character; See [[Gods]] page for additional information]<br /> *''Signature Item(s)'': [Signature items that have a meaning to the character]</div>

Hastearms