Callidus

Callidus, (pronounced /kɑːlɪdʌs/) this god used to be seen as the antithesis to the old gods, across the continent of Kellner, and especially in Conamar. He is the representation of undeath but also the endless pursuit of knowledge even beyond the limitations of life. He was hated and feared in all places except for in Ceremoure, where he is still worshipped and beloved by the people. Elsewhere in the world, he is feared as a bringer of chaos and the unnatural opposite to the healing of Medeora.

In a contemporary Kellner, he is seen somewhat as an opposite even to Red Deus; where Red Deus heals and prolongs life, Callidus warps and creates an unnatural formation of life. As such Callidus is still not a welcome god. However, people are less opposed to his worship as they were, seeing him as somewhat of an old-fashioned belief.

## Key Mythology

### Callidus' Imprisonment

The most important mythology associated with Callidus is how he was sealed away in mirrors.

The tone of the story vastly differs depending on who is telling it. From the perspective of Ceremoure, Callidus is depicted as the victim. In that version of the story, Callidus is focused on the advancement of information and knowledge (specifically in the art of Stitching and necromancy).

However, from the perspective of The Sanatio Church, Callidus is performing wild and dangerous arcane practices in relation to the dark art of Stitching. In this version of the story, Callidus is often attempting to create an undead army to overthrow the old gods and their benevolent rule to create a time of great darkness and cruelty.

In both stories, it is The Maw who turns to the rest of the gods and emplores them to do something about Callidus for fear that a plague of undeath would bring ruin to the world. Most of the deities dismissed The Maw due to their opposition to the restoration and healing that the dieties stood for, however, it was Medeora, the deity of healing that agreed, seeing Callidus’ methods as an inversion of their domain.

The Maw and Medeora worked together to convince the rest of the gods that Callidus was a threat to both their rule and the state of the world. Now convinced, the deities came together and created a plane of mirrors that would act as a prison for Callidus. His soul was sent to this plane of mirrors, while his corporeal body was ripped and destroyed.

The Sanatio church’s story believes that Callidus’ influence was completely removed from the world and that he is no longer a threat. Meanwhile, the Ceremoure story believes that Callidus can appear to his followers in reflections.

### The Stitched Soulmate

Before he was trapped in the plane of mirrors, it is believed that Callidus was not always as interested in the art of stitching. He was once a deity of medicine and the research of healing practices.

However, the myth states that Callidus had fallen in love with a mortal boy - something the rest of the gods did not approve of. This was however something he could not control as he had annoyed Stultitia.

Callidus’ logic focused brain and an uncharacteristic amount of alcohol had led to him wandering the world loudly proclaiming that he was too intelligent for love; that he was too smart to fall to the whims of something as frivolous as love. Angered by the dismissal of their divine domain, Stultitia cursed Callidus to experience the very thing he believed himself to be too intelligent to fall victim to.

He fell in love with a mortal boy and the boy fell in love with him too. The pair were happy for a time, and Callidus slowly began to recognise the power of such emotions.

It was then that the second part of Stultitia's curse took place. The mortal boy died.

Callidus did everything in his power to heal the boy, but nothing would work as there was no natural healing for the affliction of death. It was as The Maw stood over the corpse that Callidus acted drastically and twisted his knowledge of healing, invented Stitching, and found a way to give the boy new life.

Still a rudimentary art, he was not able to resurrect the boy and instead was able to replicate his soul throughout time, creating the figure known as The Stitched Soulmate.

The Sanatio Church views the existence of this individual as a myth, believing that no such person exists. However, despite that they still villainise the individual, making them out to be an anti-christ-like character. Importantly about this story is that when it is told by the Church (which is not often if ever) Callidus’ turn to Stitching is seen as a corruption.

On the other hand, the Stitched Soulmate is revered as a saint in Ceremoure, with people believing that they will bring greatness to the kingdom one day. Similarly, the turn to Stitching in the Ceremoure version is more ambiguous in it’s morality - it is neither seen as a good or bad thing.