Tome:The God of Undeath
OOC Note: This folklore intentionally omits Alithyk Caluss' time as a god worshiped by the Order of the Shade due to it not being realistic that the drow would have openly shared this information with outsiders. The Agitation arc takes place thousands of years after the events of this story. The following has been Admin Approved.
The God of Undeath
Translated by Kanna Tsuji
Preface:
The original tome was found to be in pristine condition given its caretakers in the Kingdom of Enchantment, but was very clearly dated from the curled ends of the parchment. Each page seemed to have been at some point removed from its binding, dipped into a clear resin to preserve it, and re-affixed with bindings made of braided dragon whiskers. The text, however, was in the old Elven language, a language the Pixies of Enchantment shared with the elves of Kelay before humans made Common the standard trading language. While the original’s authenticity was independently verified by Provectus Malus Bradyn of the Vampire House Mahara, it has since been returned to the Enchantment Royal Archives. The following is a Common translation, with restored imagery from the assistance of Provectus Malus Quintessa of the Vampire House Dragana. This story dates back to a time when the pixies and fae shared the Kingdom of Enchantment as one, and is a tale of death, undeath, rebirth, and love.
Pages 1/2:
These pages are delicately illustrated with a landscape split in two, one with long ethereal figures sitting amongst the clouds, and one of a hillside where it appears a war is taking place. Leaning over the clouds is a black-cloaked figure. Though its face is obscured by clouds, those well-versed with deities might recognize an item worn by the figure: The Eye of Vakmatharas.
- Long ago, towards the end of the Second Dark Ages, Vakmatharas looked down at Hollow from the Realm of the Gods. Death was rampant, fights to the death were initiated over petty grievances, and puppets of the dead were used as pawns in combat as the mortals fought to ascend their temporary life.
Pages 3/4:
The same black-cloaked depiction of Vakmatharas faces the opposite direction from the previous page, glancing down from the clouds to a prospering seaside village.
- Despite this bloodshed, communities grew, colonies blossomed with new life, and the God of Death’s work was beginning to spread thin. Whereas the other gods had the leisure of only having select mortals decide to worship them, to bestow gifts upon, Vakmatharas affected everyone.
Pages 5/6:
The scenery of clouds and the sea shifts to that of a serpentine skeleton covered in black butterflies.
- An apprentice was needed, one that would eventually split the crown of bones. Undead, it’s stomach pressed to the fetid earth, like a blade newly forged, rose from the ground. ‘Rise, my creation.’ Vakmatharas ordered the creature.
Pages 7/8:
Emerging from the fluttering wings that completely cover the serpentine skeleton comes a pitch-black insect-shaped head, eyeless and with a thin line for a mouth where pincers would be. Its mouth has been opened to reveal a spiral proboscis for a tongue, similar to how butterflies feed. Underneath the butterfly wings, the creature can be seen wearing a cloak with the symbol of Vakmatharas as a brooch.
- Vakmatharas bestowed upon the creature the name Alithyk Caluss, and set it free into the mortal world to ensure no one was attempting to circumvent death without his permission. The God of Death was so confident in his creation, and gave it domain over the Underdark and the surrounding areas.
Pages 9/10:
A soiree in the castle of Enchantment is illustrated, watercolor rainbows of pixie and faerie wings and ball gowns blotting the spread like a wildflower field. In stark contrast, the depiction of Alithyk Calluss as a lone black figure behind a marble pillar draws the eye to the page.
- What Vakmatharas did not know was that his creation was an envious one. Over the years, it grew to envy the lives of mortals, how easily and carefree they lived their short lives, and envied the worship that Vakmatharas and other gods received. Caluss found that it had a gift for the arts of necromancy, able to effortlessly raise the dead and grant them new life as undead.
Pages 11/12:
This spread depicts The Trembling Tree, one of few known pathways to the Underdark. From the tree hangs five large spider cocoons, and the visage of what is presumably Alithyk Caluss stands with his back to it to face the reader, wearing a black cowl over his face, a silver ring on the end of one his extended claws with a dark-ruby encrusted skull set on its face, and a matching brooch to clasp the cloak shut set in an ornate frame of hematite that replaces the brooch of Vakmatharas.
- Behind the God of Death’s back, the creature decided ‘why must the title of a god be limited to these old names? I am more powerful than he knows. I am more powerful than God of Death, yes, I am the God of Undeath. And what is a God without a Goddess to rule by my side?’
Pages 13/14:
A beautiful fae woman with chestnut skin and ringlets of rosy pink hair is depicted in the arms of a fae man dressed in the traditional red and gold colors associated with the Goddess Delisha. In the background of birch trees, Alithyk Caluss is seen peering at the pair.
- What Caluss did not realize was that the gods could not fall in love, much less so with mortals. Its undead heart bled with unrequited love for the Princess of Enchantment, Princess Calliope, the youngest of the nine royal children and next to ascend to the throne. Love is not always meant to be, though, for Calliope’s heart belonged to another: the High Priest of Delisha, Thorndew Lovesong.
Pages 15/16:
This spread depicts Caluss holding a beautiful pale-blue rose in one inky claw, and a handful of gold coins in the other, seeming to try to get the princess’ attention. The faerie, though, has her back to him to embrace the Delishan priest.
- Undeterred by the presence of another, Alithyk Caluss pursued the princess. He offered her the most beautiful flowers that would never perish, all the riches a god could possibly give a mortal, everlasting life as an undead. To the God of Undeath’s dismay, the Princess was pure of heart. She did not envy those in her family with more riches than her, or those who would live longer. So long as Priest Lovesong was in her life, she could face any hardships before her.
Pages 17/18:
An illustration beneath the text shows the insectoid figure in a cloak with a halo around its head holding the hands of two faeries in each of its claws. The rosette curls and silver crown indicate that this is the Princess of Enchantment. The two copies of her appear to be identical, save for the fact that one has sunken eyes and a slack jaw, while the other has her eyes closed, the universal symbolism of a ghoul and a corpse.
- Enraged by the spurned advances, and envious of the love denied to it, Alithyk Caluss decided ‘She must be blind to the beauty that undeath brings. If I show her, she will choose to stay by my side!’ And so, the God of Undeath committed a cardinal sin of the necromantic arts as put forth by its creator: Calliope was turned into the first ghoul.
Pages 19/20:
This spread shows the watercolor stretch of Enchantment Castle’s dance floor and soiree attendees from the pages before, with a significant difference: The ghoul of Calliope stands where Alithyk Caluss stood before, and those waltzing have ashen skin instead of rosy skin.
- ‘Go forth, my bride. Let us gift the entire world with undeath so that they may appreciate their new God. With the armies I amass, I will be given a seat in the Realm of Gods, revered as a God amongst Gods!’ Alithyk Caluss had gone mad with ego, forcing Calliope to turn the other denizens of Enchantment into ghouls as well with her kiss of undeath.
Pages 21/22:
This spread shows the red and gold of Priest Thorndew Lovesong embracing the ashen princess. Cerulean tears drip down her pitch-black eyelashes, serving as the only color on her figure.
- Calliope’s colorful beauty had been taken away by the God of Undeath, as had her love for life. This did not matter to the Delishan Priest, though; she was still the Calliope he had fallen in love with, and he knew her soul was still buried deep within. As powerful as a necromancer Alithyk Caluss was, he could not truly separate a soul from its vessel like Vakmatharas’ powers could. And so, Calliope’s soul rebelled against her new form, and she refused to harm the person she loved most.
Pages 23/24:
The black-cowled figure is seen holding a sword over the red fae, whose hands are held up in self defense. Behind the God of Undeath, the colorless Calliope can be seen clasping her hands together in prayer, blue tears streaming down her cheeks.
- Rage consumed the God of Undeath. All the powers of the Realm of Gods could not grant him everything he wanted. In a fit of anger, he committed another sin: He struck down the Priest of Delisha.
Pages 24/25:
A backdrop of lightning heralds the entrance of the final character in this tale. Well-dressed in a bright red ballgown with a string of pearls around her neck, and a mask upon her face, black on the left, white on the right, and glowing red eyes to symbolize anger; this is the face of the Goddess Delisha.
- The elder Goddess Delisha could feel the untimely demise of her best priest immediately. Enraged, she summoned Vakmatharas to demand an explanation as to why he had taken Thorndew before his time. It was only then that the God of Death realized his mistake in letting his creation run rampant. Alithyk Caluss had abused its power, and destroyed the binary of life and death in a quest to sate its own ego.
Pages 26/27:
With the God of Death on one side, and the Dark Mother on the other, this spread shows the figure, its cowl ripped off and jewels gone, its inky claws buried in the fetid earth as it is dragged towards a portal.
- Having incurred the wrath of the Gods, Alithyk Caluss was sentenced to exile. No more would he interfere in the realm of mortals, and no more would ghouls be allowed to roam the world of Hollow. But what of the star-crossed lovers?
Pages 28/29:
This spread shows the skeletal shrouded form of Vakmatharas, holding Calliope’s hand in one, and Thorndew’s hand in the other. Both fae have their eyes closed.
- ‘Forgive me, my children. My hubris blinded me to the dangers that my creation possessed. While I cannot undo the memories of his crime, I can reverse his curse upon thee. Rise again, and live out the remainder of your lives in peace. Come home to me when you are truly ready.’ Vakmatharas declared.
Pages 30/31:
More colorful than before, Calliope and Thorndew now hold hands, their eyes opened and with soft smiles upon their faces. Vakmatharas has taken his absence from the scene, but the princess now wears the brooch of Vakmatharas while the priest continues to wear the brooch of Delisha.
- And with that, the life was restored to the two for their bravery and show of true love in the face of Alithyk Caluss’ terror. The remainder of the kingdom gave the two a choice, as Calliope had still hurt many people. Deciding they would live their newfound life to the fullest, Calliope and Thorndew left Enchantment together to be married, knowing they would never see the beautiful Kingdom of Enchantment or any of their family ever again... But they had each other, and that was all that mattered. And they lived happily ever after.