Arcaeism

(WIP Page, do not edit) Arcaeism is religion originating from mid-west Eldham. It is a highly polytheistic and centres around the worship, stories and splendour if its Gods. Arcaeism is also a philosophical faith, with members encouraged to contribute to the tales and discuss their opinions on how the universe and Gods were created.

Figures of Worship
There are more than 35 Gods and immortals in Arcaeist Myths. There are a number of ranks and levels these Gods can fit into, often based on their importance, time of birth, and role. Gods can take a number of forms at their own will. Some can appear humanoid and take on fairly normal looks. Sometimes, however, they can become the very thing they embody. This can range from become one with the ocean to becoming the Earth itself. Most Gods continue to age until they become satisfied with their existence and role - at which point they become fully immortal and cease to continue aging. This can be seen in how Erixs and Wilturus appear to be teenagers, whereas younger Gods such as Lunelsis and Picanses have grown wrinkled and old.

Primordial Beings
Primordial Beings originate from before the existence of life, and will continue to exist well after. It is disputed between scholars whether or not these Beings are living or not, as they do not interact with the universe around them quite like others do.

Temporium
Temporium is time itself. Temporium is the least discussed being in Arcaeism, for they have no personal relationships or impacts on the world. They are often depicted as a being of pure starlight, owning a beautiful golden-coloured amulet. Within the amulet is a cosmic eye that watches all and counts the seconds as time moves. Temporium will continue to do this, as it always has, for eternity. Temporium also apparently contributes to the fate of the Universe. They apparently work in direct tandem with Xerante to keep fate running and in check. This is all speculation however, and there is no evidence to suggest that this is true.

Andro & Xus
Andro is known as 'The Spark of Death', whereas Xus is 'The Flame of Life'. It is difficult to describe what exactly this means. It is believed by Jyra Decius, the current High Bishop of Arcaelm, that these two beings are polar opposites. Andro represents the sudden sensation of dying, whereas Xus is the slow burn of life. All that is for sure is that one cannot exist without the other. For what is death without a life to end? These two beings floated aimlessly throughout the void before, inevitably, hitting one another. This collision brought the first Gods into existence - The Archons.

The Stars
Sisters since time began, the Stars number in trillions. The light they emit is so bright that no being can possibly witness what form they truly take. Some of these sisters take the form of constellations. What these constellations mean is debatable. The Stars, while primordial beings, can die - eventually they will die out and their light will fade. No one knows what will happen if all the Stars die out, but the fate dictated in the Fata Codex implies that it will be the end of times for all mortals.

Archons
The Archons are unquestionably the most powerful Gods. The primordial beings hold far greater influence, but the Archons were the first Gods to gain consciousness.

Androxus, Archon of Logos
Of all the Gods to exist, Androxus is the most intellectually complex, as well as the most elusive. Androxus is responsible for the creation of Rathnir, Eldham, the stars, the sun, etc. Androxus is often referred to as the ‘Archon of Logos’, as their judgements, reactions and viewpoints are all based in raw fact and logic. Any decision made under Androxus’ influence will be an honest, factual, and sound one. Androxus is not often spotted, as they tend to lurk in the deepest depths of Nova (AKA The End). Androxus does not enjoy the company of the other Gods, nor does he particularly like anything living – However, the one creature they truly find a distaste for is the human being, due to its destructive nature towards natural resources and the land. Despite this, they still accept offerings and gifts blessings to humanity. Though, bear in mind, they will only accept things that are truly logical and useful. Androxus is also credited with the creation of mathematics, science, and research. It is argued that Androxus was the first Archon and the most influential. This is backed up by his name being a combination of Andro and Xus.

Yenersus, Archon of Pathos
Yenersus is a wild God, distancing herself from most of the other divine entities of the Earth. She is responsible for creating a massive of the Earth’s beasts and animals. She enjoys the simpler of desires, preferring animalistic traits to civilized ones. Rather than interact with her siblings and family, she prefers to look after her creations. It is said that, in the beginning, she created only 10 different animal species. That number has increased over time to be in the thousands. Yenersus enjoys hunting: armed with her divine bow 'Hesenfall' (Later renamed simply 'Pathos') she takes down those who deserve deathly punishment. For this reason, she has become a fond partner of Mortire and the other Gehium Gods. Yenersus gave way to and is credited with inventing hunting, womanhood, weaponry, armour, punishment and a great number of other things our society values to this very day.

Ilvetorus, Archon of Ethos
Ilvetorus is an infamous God whom mortals either praise or despise. Ilvetorus brought humans into existence, and therefore gave our very first ancestors life. He embodies everything human, and because of this he represents the best and worst of our kind. At times he can be charismatic, seductive, kind, caring, passionate and loving. But on other occasions he can be cruel, ignorant, foolish, womanizing and greedy. Ilvetorus gave way to the Auctoritas Age of the Gods when he attempted to overthrow the order of The Gods and took over the Earth. He was quickly defeated and returned to his position as Archon.

Hesenka, Ex-Archon of Kairos & Monster Incarnate
Hesenka was an Archon created by Ilvetorus during the early days of Earth. Hesenka was once a soft-spoken and cautious individual with little control over his powers. These powers were the ability to create horrid monsters; Creepers, skeletons, zombies, endermen, etc. He was chased out of the Overworld for his creations' behaviour and sent to a realm known as Gehium or the 'Deep Bedrock'. With Androxus' help, he crafted a realm which he dubbed 'The Nether'. Within this realm he would chain the souls of sinners and prevent respawning. From this realm, he would continue to create monsters in the different realms of the universe. However, he was limited to only creating them when it was dark. Why monsters have stopped spawning in Eldham is a mystery even Arcaeist leaders are yet to unravel.

Incarnates
The Incarnates were a group of immortals who were not quite Gods, but not mortal, either. Many of them were brought to life alongside the Archons, but others were born much later. Keep in mind that some Gods can be Incarnates as well. These Gods will be listed here as well.

The Wither, Decay Incarnate
The Wither, or simply Wither, is feared by mortals and Gods alike. While its role and power is mere when compared to the God of Death herself, The Wither is a physical manifestation of all decay; Nothing was safe from its touch, not even the Gods themselves. Yenersus killed the beast out of primal fear, but unlike other beings, Wither is unavoidable. Inevitably, it will be summoned once more, and it will cause death and decay until it is killed once again. Even when it is not physically present, the grip Wither has on the Earth can be seen. It manifests itself in the decay of structures, the growing old of humans, even in sickness. Everything, eventually, will fall to Wither - so it has always been and always shall.

Vulgae the Warped Tree
Vulgae is a being that blurs the line between sentient and object. For Vulgae owns no tongue to speak with, as well as no limb to reach with. And yet, Vulgae still manages to do both. Vulgae is largely responsible for plant life alongside Androxus. Androxus originally intended for flora to be non-living and simply for decoration – though he created Vulgae as an experiment to see what a living tree may look like. However, Vulgae had other plans, and extended her reach to the plants around her, inflicting them with the curse of life. She continued this until all plants on Earth could feel, hurt and die. Androxus punished her by cursing her, twisting both her mind and body. She became the first Warped tree. Vulgae became a trickster, wishing only to harm and hurt others. Despite being cut down and killed at the end of the Duoras Age, her might lives on in both the Rathnirlum Gods and the Warped Seeds she planted in the Nether. This is why Warped trees of multiple varieties can be found in the Nether to this day.

Formidula, Fear Incarnate
Fear is an emotion that all beings have the capacity to feel. From flora, to fauna, to man and to the immortals, no one is safe from experiencing terror. Formidula is the very personification of fright. To many, Formidula’s very appearance is enough to make one freeze in shock. Long limbs extend from a skull-like face, bearing a great beard. The face itself stretches from one end of its head to another, with ten blackened eyes to observe all. The mouth is just as alien as the rest of its form, as it seems to be able to open from all angles. Gigantic sticks – what are left of trees the beast found – have been pushed through its skull to form a crude-looking crown. To add to the horror, Formidula is taller than any jungle tree and rivals even mountains. It is unknown what Formidula does to mortals. But if somehow, it sees you, run. You are already as good as dead. Formidula has, however, been shown to have the capacity to feel. For example, it married Diantus when they both fell in love late in the Aureum Age. It developed a humanoid form at this same time, which he prefers to use now. It is said it appears to take on the form of both a zombie and a skeleton at once.

Altresus, Mountain Incarnate
Altresus was born alongside the Archons and was the older of two Giants. Altresus embodied the mountains, valleys, and the volcanos of the Earth, changing it from a flat sphere to a diverse and winding landscape. Altresus was a motherly and guiding figure who looked after many of the Gods, Incarnates, and even Archons during their earlier years. Altresus was unable to have children of her own, and so she looked after her family as such. She was later turned mortal for defying Ilvetorus, and eventually died of age. Altresus may have suffered a cruel fate, but she will eternally live on as a beacon of maternal love and worship for all.

Nuclous, Cloud Incarnate
Nuclous was the second Giant, born into existence a few minutes after his older sister Altresus. He certainly earned his title - there would never in history be someone as tall as Nuclous. His head literally touched the peak of the sky, creating clouds in his wake. For eternity, his role will be to generate clouds as he walks around the globe, causing them to slowly orbit and rotate. Nuclous was as gloomy and irritable as he was intimidating. The only God who was able to talk to him without issue was his sister Altresus, and even she had trouble catching him in a good mood. When Saegus and Sowelsis took up their positions as the God of The Sky and God of Weather respectively, Nuclous was able to take a break from his unending role. He took a nap in the cool ocean, and did not move for many years. Eventually, Picanses grew tired of his nonsense and transformed him into a great iceberg. This iceberg eventually split and floated its way across the great ocean. It is said in legends that Nuclous now lives on in the many icebergs and ice biomes, still alive and happy in this new, peaceful role.

Picanses, Ocean Incarnate, God of Fishing & of Hunting
Picanses is a delightful personality, filled with just the right amount of pride, sense of humour and empathy to be adored by all. Despite his friendly demeanour, he still embodies the sea – he can quickly change and lash out in rage. This is usually the cause of rocky weather and tsunamis. He is respected by all and it is well known that if you wish to gain safe passage over the sea, you should ask for Picanses’ blessing first. He also bears the title of being the God of Hunting and Fishing. This adds another God to the list for hunters to pray to when going out to snag food. Not many have physically seen Picanses since he received his role. This is because, as the Incarnate of the Oceans and Seas, he spends most of his time as water itself. He can still embody a physical form if he wishes, and usually breaks out this form for important occasions. Picanses has a wonderful relationship with the other Gods – for his role demands it. He must work around and with Noctus, Lunelsis’ seasons and her tide, Sowelsis’ weather and storms, and many, many other Gods. For his laid-back attitude and ability to go with the flow, he is respected by his colleagues and has no true enemies. Ultimately however, he has a strong rivalry with his brother Saegus.

Saegus, Sky Incarnate, God of The Sky & of Farms
Saegus is a slender and handsome man who controls the sky itself. Directing storms, rain and the breeze, he is usually rather busy dealing with the constant work that comes along with his title. He is commonly prayed to and worshipped by farmers across the Earth. Despite this, he is a headstrong and respectable figure he stands as a role model to mortals everywhere. Despite this, those who know him will be aware of his stubborn and sometimes aggressive behaviour. While not prone to sudden bursts of anger like his brother, Saegus can still become violently mad when he is told he is wrong. As for his stubbornness, it also is the opposite of Picanses’ ability to go along with the order of the world. When things do not go his way, Saegus protests and fights against it. He also, unlike his brother, swore an undying allegiance to his father Ilvetorus.

Arcaelum Gods
These Gods make their home within the divine Kingdom of The Gods of the same name. These Gods are arguably the most privileged, as not only are they in a place of great power and respect, Arcaelum Gods are the most worshipped and praised of all Gods. A majority are descendants of the original Archons, but others are elected and brought into the Kingdom.

Xerante, God of History
As the son of Androxus himself, Xerante has found a solid base of human worship, as well as a cult following from his fellow immortals. However, his actions do not particularly warrant it. Xerante is responsible for writing both past, present and future within his book, the Fata Codex. Legend has it that he gifted humans a copy of this book, however he warned them that opening it would cause an apocalypse that would end the world as we know it. This turned out to be false, as a wise man named Koros opened this book and found that there was no such horror released. Koros would later marry Yenersus, but that is a story for another time. Why does Xerante lie in such cruel ways? He is is simply bored. Xerante is playful and somewhat annoying, constantly asking questions and egging on other Gods. All of this is simply for his own entertainment. For, according to Xerante, what is an immortal life without entertainment?

Rosaria, Goddess of Gender
Rosaria has many goals, far too many to list in one title. For not only is she the creator of Gender )and all things encompassing it), she is also a representative of love, passion, and pregnancy. She is also the Goddess of Agony, heartbreak, hatred and blind rage. She earned these negative titles from her mighty vengeance when discovering her husband Ilvetorus had cheated with multiple people across the globe. When not enraged, Rosaria is a stunning and lovely woman. She is also knowledgeable, having experienced life as both a mortal and a God. As one of the first to be raised up to Arcaelum, she is respected by much of her family. She, in turn, loves all of her family dearly. If anything were to happen to them, she would likely fly into another hateful rampage - one far more devastating than the last.

Erixs, God of Desire
Erixs is a selfish and ill-liked God. Responsible for the creation of emotions such as greed, lust and jealousy, Erixs causes nothing but problems for other people. He sees himself as above anyone else. This is especially true when it comes to his brother, who he views as far less important. Erixs very much reflects the negative sides of his father Ilvetorus' influence. Erixs also enjoys a good fight and will not hesitate to sneak down to the Overworld and challenge mortals to a fight. He is not completely irredeemable, however. Unlike most other Gods, he sees mortals not as toys but as real, living creatures. He is careful not to kill them when he fights in duels.

Wilturus, God of Architecture & of Worship, Messenger of Arcaelum
Wilturus is the better behaved middle child of his siblings. He is deeply worshipped by humans after he bestowed the gift of building upon them. He then travelled from tribe to tribe, teaching each of them how to build, how to correctly create shrines to the Gods, and many other insider secrets from Arcaelum. Wilturus sees his brother’s behaviour as a guiding compass on how not to act, and so he tries to be helpful to as many people as once, even if it means punishment. We see evidence of this when Ilvetorus punished him for gifting humans forbidden knowledge by appointing him as Messenger of Arcaelum. Wilturus now lives a busy life of sending messages to and from Arcaelum. To this day, he occasionally appears to worshippers and gifts them direct contact with the Gods.

Diantus, God of Melody & Music
Diantus is the youngest of her siblings, but that does not make her any less beloved. In fact, Diantus is the most talented. She invented music, rhythm, melody and song, as well as making a great number of instruments. It is said that any musical instrument she gets her hands on she can play without flaw, dazzling and perplexing even the most stern Gods. It was with her powers of music that she won over the terrifying Formidula and created his human form.

Eldhaelum Gods
The Eldhaelum Gods were risen from mortal to God by Androxus as a reward for their good deeds. There are only four of them, but their abilities and what they embody would alter the course of humankind forever. They were the creators and protectors of the mythical city of Eldhaelum. This mythical city seems to have been lost to time. Bishops have debated for a long time why the city seems to have disappeared. Some suggest that the horrid war against Ilvetorus caused it collapse, and that the Eldhaelum Gods separated afterward. Others suggest the domain was raised to the heavens to protect it from war. Some deny that the city ever existed, and that the Eldhaelum Gods live among humanity to this day. However it occurred, Eldhaelum is untouchable by modern humankind.

Aethiste, God of Order
Aethiste is the oldest of the original Eldhaelum Gods. He was the leader of his tribe before achieving godhood and is experienced when it comes to leading. He invented concepts such as law, rules, courts, and positions of power. Aethiste suffers from a strange condition most comparable to being bipolar. At times, he was a cruel leader with little tolerance for rulebreakers and any political ideology apart from his own democratic system (Which he dubbed the Aethic System). But at other times, he was a gentle and forgiving man, who spent much of his times writing poems and theorizing on alternative politics. One of the most notable features of Aethiste is his great beard, which is said to grow past his kneecaps. It is a well-groomed beard adorned with parchments. What was written on the papers? No mortal shall ever know. Letters, drafts for new laws, notes, poems – It could be any of these things. One thing is for sure. Anybody who dares to try and read them will suffer.

Credyx, God of Chaos
Credyx is known to be the opposite of all that Aethiste embodies. They dislike laws and the concept of power. He would much rather everyone be equally free to do whatever they wished. Historians disagree over Credyx's gender, but it is agreed that Credyx is likely male, or even intersex. This is probably an effect of his insatiable desire for anarchy.

Lamenos, Goddess of Wealth & of Luck
Lamenos is quiet, but amusing Goddess. She invented the concept of wealth and all things money, and quickly enacted this on humans. Lamenos likes to play with human lives by silently manipulating prices and supply and demand, as well as offering followers endless wealth. Neither of these things are true, but it is still important to worship her. While her behaviour is crude, she is equally jealous, and will make one's life miserable if they neglect her. Treat and worship her well, however, and she may just tip the scales in your favour from time to time. For she, unbeknownst to most, is one of the few Gods able to every so slightly alter the path of Xerante's fate.

Cessian, Goddess of Conflict
Cessian embodies all conflicts; disputes, war, arguments, so on and so forth. As such, Cessian goes by many titles. Cessian is a dark-skinned God with a rather athletic build. Not so much so that she was bulky, she was considerably more dainty than Yenersus or Lamenos, but she was not nearly as fragile as say, Rosaria or Diantus. She was arguably the ideal fitness for a God. She is recognisable instantly by the great enchanted trident she holds in her hand - an eternal gift from her brother and good friend Picanses. Cessian, much like most conflicts, can be unreasonable or even stupid. But she is also a hard worker and willing to forgive after some time. Though she never, ever forgets. War and rage existed long before Cessian, but it was certainly something more common among Gods. Now, mortals could dispute by themselves. This resulted in many wars against neighbouring towns and cities. Many of the Gods see these fights as entertainment, and so they welcome Cessian with open arms.

Rathnirlum Gods
The Rathnirlum Gods, despite their misleading name, do not live exclusively in Rathnir. These Gods were born in Rathnir when Vulgae was cut down, and as such are her children. They waged a long and bloody war against the other Gods in the name of vengeance. The amount of death this war caused was what allowed Ilvetorus to slip in and take over the Earth. Rathnirlum Gods do not live together, and would much rather live their lives separate from one another.

Scelire, God of & Deceit and Lies
Scelire spends her days in Frauslum, the great Temple of The Dark. Frauslum was formed at the same time as Scelire’s birth, proving just how powerful she was right from the beginning. Frauslum was eventually abandoned when Scelire moved to live with Hesenka in Gehium, and is now a kingdom of ruin named the Deep Dark. A common depiction of Scelire will involve her many hands, though the number of which these appear with is debated. Many statues contain four or six hands for ease of building, though some paintings show as many as 100 or even 1000. While trickery had existed before, it had been harmless and without malicious intent. This was no longer the case after Scelire’s birth. Scelire sends her influence from deep below the ground, watching with glee as it seeps up and into the hearts of the living. It is said that if one tells a lie, Scelire gains more influence over you, and you are more likely to lie once again. The only way to cure yourself of deceit for mortals is to bath yourself in one of the many healing springs blessed by Picanses. They can typically be found in holy sites from around the world.

Sowelsis, God of Weather
Sowelsis is a proud and stuck-up God. Once upon a time, Sowelsis taught his siblings Diedus and Noctus how to dance, making him responsible for the cycle of day and night in older times. Nowadays, he has taken over for Nuclous in the role of the creation and the direction of weather. Some say they can still spot him atop his powerful horse companion, riding atop the clouds, great white beard flowing in the breeze. He and Saegus were once in relationship, but are now simply good friends. The two are apparently responsible for introducing Sundays as resting days.

Lunelsis, Goddess of Seasons & Tides
Lunelsis appears to be much older than any other God (due to her continued aging until late in her life), and is considered a grandmotherly force in the world of Gods. Many mortals have assumed in the past that she is the kindest and most forgiving of all. A foolish and fatal mistake. For seasons can be calm and fragrant, they can just as quickly turn wickedly harsh. Much like her brother Sowelsis, Lunelsis was responsible for the orbit of the moon in her younger days. It is thanks to her that we have the tides in our oceans. After Diedus and Noctus took over in their roles, Lunelsis accepted that she would be the Goddess of Seasons. But she is far more than that. She is also the Goddess of solitude, serenity, strength, and of course, the Goddess of Tides. Lunelsis continues to assist mortals by planning out the coming seasons to this day. Lunelsis gave birth to children with Aethiste to the six Anosons, who would take over for their mother as the immortal Gods of the Seasons.

Diedus & Noctus, The Sun & The Moon
Upon birth, Diedus and Noctus became one with the Sun and Moon respectively. For many years, there were no days or nights. It became dark, and many mortals passed on due to the apocalyptic nature of this turn of events. Lunelsis and Sowelsis taught their siblings to dance with one another. The quickly picked up the steps, and began their orbiting dance around the Earth. Diedus and Noctus are sometimes also called the Immortal Soulmates, for they were deeply in love from the moment they met eyes. They were said to be perfect for one another, and that no one could come between their eternal love. Every once in a while every year, they perform an extra special dance where they conjoin in a sign of great passion, and form a solar eclipse. Arcaeists say that finding your true soulmate will be made much easier during this event.

Aetervita, Goddess of Eternity & Life
Permanent death was becoming a major issue in the Overworld. Hesenka complained that too many dead were arriving, and very few of them were sinners. Ilvetorus acknowledged this and decided to turn the souls of the dead into Stars. Unfortunately, this only resulted in the sky becoming overcrowded. And so, Aetervita was born and named Goddess of Life. Aetervita's solution? She would send the dead back to their birthplaces or homes when they died. This was the true invention of respawn. Aetervita spends her time in the beautiful fields of Felicem, a home also shared by Lunelsis and her children. It is said that Aetervita brings life to everything she touches.

Felicem Gods
These Gods are not allied to any particular family, and choose to live separate from