Vaults of the Celestial Realm
The Vaults of the Celestial Realm are heralded by the shifting hues of the Skies, marking the cosmos surrender to the dominion of Light. Born from the first breath of the Divine upon creation, these moments fracture time itself, ushering new eras where Light triumphed over the abyss. Six millennia past, the rebellion of the Lord of Shadows, envious of the God of Light, birthed the Legion of Vorabyssiem, corrupted echoes of humanity led by Lilith, the first of the fallen.
The Advent of the Celestial Reign
The Fleeing Times were an age of eternal youth, when death did not exist and the world was bathed in a warm, infinite light. But the Shadow, jealous of the radiance of the Light, descended upon the land, bringing with it its legion of Vorabyssiem, bearers of destruction and death. Faced with this threat, the God of Light sacrificed himself to save the Living, rising in the form of a Protector Sun to push back the darkness and drive the Vorabyssiems back into the abyss from whence they had come.
Thus ended the age of the Fleeing Times, and the Reign of
Cieux was born, marking the advent of a new era, in
which the light of the Sun, bright and pure, now
dominated the destiny of the Living. The Reign
of the Cieux, however, was not marked by
tranquillity but by a flurry of cycles, seven
to be precise, where each new cycle seemed
to rewrite the laws of reality itself. Seven
millennial cycles, and seven colors of sky.
With each cycle, the sky took on a strange,
supernatural hue, and the transition
from one cycle to the next was
nothing short of cataclysmic.
Moments of transition occurred
through the Vaults of the Celestial
Realm those frightening portals suspended
between worlds. Like fractures in the universe,
they opened when the Cieux were at their weakest. All the forces of evil that were previously contained are then released in choatic storm.
The Vaults became passages, gaping breaches where the
essence of the cosmos could be distorted, and where creatures from other worlds could finally find
their way to the Living's lands. The Vorabyssiem
emerged from the bowels of the earth hungry
for flesh, while Phantasmagoniem fell upon
the Livings to steal their bodies. The Reign
of Cieux, thus established, was not a time
of peace, but one of endless trials.
Cycles succeeded one another,
the skies changed, and the
creatures of darkness seemed
ever closer, awaiting their moment
of denouement. The sunlight,
though immense and protective,
could not prevent the shadows from
slipping between its rays, and each transition
marked another step towards the Apocalypse.
The day will come when the sky itself split open again, and the forgotten powers claimed their place in the Living's universe.
essence of the cosmos could be distorted, and where creatures from other worlds could finally find
their way to the Living's lands. The Vorabyssiem
emerged from the bowels of the earth hungry
for flesh, while Phantasmagoniem fell upon
the Livings to steal their bodies. The Reign
of Cieux, thus established, was not a time
of peace, but one of endless trials.
Cycles succeeded one another,
the skies changed, and the
creatures of darkness seemed
ever closer, awaiting their moment
of denouement. The sunlight,
though immense and protective,
could not prevent the shadows from
slipping between its rays, and each transition
marked another step towards the Apocalypse.
The day will come when the sky itself split open again, and the forgotten powers claimed their place in the Living's universe.
Impact on the living
The Vaults lasted from sundown, leaving the earth in implacable darkness, until dawn, when the light chased away the shadows. It was in this endless night that the Living had to face the Vorabyssiem and Phantasmagoniem. In the space of a single night, entire civilizations could be reduced to ashes and drowned in a torrent of blood. As the Vaults approached, sectarian movements emerged, cults of despair that fed the anguish of souls, preparing them for the most terrible ordeal of their existence. For some of the most desperate minds, sacrifices are made to appease the hunger of the Vorabyssiem. The Vaults were seen as the supreme test of the God of Light, who, in an act of eternal sacrifice, offered the Living a new chance, pushing back the shadows at the cost of his own light.
To survive this cataclysm, the Living devised desperate strategies. Some took refuge in underground labyrinths, where the maze seemed to offer a semblance of protection, while others used the fire and salt water of Aenigma to fend off the darkness. But the night of the Vaults was not simply a physical ordeal: some said that those who died during these dark hours joined the Light, waiting in a suspended state for the Egg to be found to offer the Living a new world under the glory of the Light. However, not all were blessed with this opportunity. Many who crossed the Vaults returned blind, their eyes having been consumed by light or darkness. Others were consumed by madness, unable to bear the horrors they had endured, their spirits broken forever by the anguish of what had been experienced. The night of the Vaults was a promise of renewal for some, and damnation for others.
The oldest city in the world
In the year 1000, during the Second Vaults, the city of Chrystemis, capital of the Empire, was threatened by the devouring shadow of the Vorabyssiems. But one man, Eucleides the Shield of the Abyss, stood up to defend the city. This legendary warrior, carrying on his shoulders the weight of hope of the Clans he had united, fought with unrivalled fervor against the darkness.
His blade sliced through the air with the rage of a man ready to sacrifice everything, and yet, despite his bravery, he fell in battle, engulfed by the hordes of abyssal creatures. But his sacrifice was not in vain: thanks to his resistance, many of the Clans he had gathered managed to escape the darkness and survive. To honor his memory, the inhabitants lit a candle every day, a flame that was never to be extinguished. Generations passed, and in Chrystemis, this tradition became sacred.
The candles, like beacons in the night, eventually covered the entire town, forming an ocean of light to ward off the shadows and remind the living of the sacrifice of Eucleides and those who, like him, had stood firm in the face of darkness. The city, bathed in ceaseless candlelight, became a symbol of hope and memory, where every flame carried the memory of those who had given their lives for the good of all.
Myths and Legends
King Roderic the Skeptic dismissed the Vaults as mere superstition, a myth fed by the fear of the weak. He scoffed at his subjects' warnings, refusing to take refuge in the underground labyrinths built by Ioseph, the Beneath Builder. Roderic, in his pride, forbade his people to barricade themselves, convinced that the shadows of the night were mere illusions. But when the sun went down one night, and the Vorabyssiem swept through his lands, all was consummated in a crash of blood and terror. In a single night, the king's kingdom was annihilated, its walls shattered, its inhabitants devoured, and he himself swallowed up by the shadow he had denied. The name of Roderic the Skeptic, and his kingdom of ashes, were left as a warning to those who dared defy the inevitable.
Reign of the Cieux
The Vaults of the Celestial Realm is an incredibly intriguing concept, blending divine order with a sense of cosmic mystery. The idea of laws being safeguarded in such a sacred and untouchable way adds an almost tangible weight to their significance. It’s a thought-provoking read!
Thanks ! This is a central element of my worldbuilding with a lot of impact