Eternal Eclipse

Members performing an initiation ritual on an initiate

The **Nefandi**, also known as the **Cult of the Eternal Eclipse** or the **Cult of Yrrhedes** were an organization of mages, cult, and a secret society that spanned across the Nilfgaardian Empire and later the Northen Kingdoms. They were dedicated to the study of Chasm Magic, the political domination of the Nilfgaardian Empire and the Northen Realms from the shadows, and the veneration of an entity they referred to as the Eternal Eclipse, and as well, its children. Guided by the philosophy of the Left-Hand Path, in contrast to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, they believed that the study and domination of beings such as demons and other similar entities, could benefit humanity and elevate it to the status of gods—a destiny they fervently believed humanity was meant to achieve.

## History

### Origins

The origins of the Nefandi are a mystery. It is believed that as an organization, they may be the oldest across the entire continent. Even more so than magic academies founded in territories as distant as Ofir and the Apumayu Basin, having emerged shortly after the Conjunction of Spheres when the first humans ( before the arrival of the nordlings), settled on the south of the continent. According to the translation of their oldest texts, they would originate from a sphere destroyed due to a war against beings known as grigori, whom they sought to prevent on their road to full godliness since supposedly they wanted to dominate and enslave humanity and other races. Eventually, resulting in a catastrophe for both sides, leading them to seek refuge in another sphere where they could recover from their injuries and, eventually, deal with the remaining grigori, but only after gaining enough power through a strategy measured in centuries.

### Almost extinction in the 5th century

In the 5th century, at some point, the Nefandi gained significant power, converting numerous humanoids to their cause, including members of races like orcs, kobolds, goblins, and giants, as well as taming monsters such as basilisks and ghouls. However, a group of paladins and mages from Axen thwarted their efforts by destroying the main temple located in the Red Horn massif. Twenty years later, mercenaries hired by Delibe priestesses infiltrated the temple's underground, successfully obliterating the Eye of Yrrhedes—an ancient artifact brought by the Nefandi from their sphere, which was powering the worshippers. After the destruction of their main temple, the persecution of their members, and the destruction of the artifact, and subsequently, Yrrhedes' banishment (later brought back through one of their members acting as a vessel/conduit), survivors reorganized and opted to operate in the shadows for their future plans, giving rise to the cult of Eternal Eclipse as it would later be known.

### 5th - 13th century

It is said that the Eternal Eclipse, after recovering from its near destruction in the 5th century and changing its strategy, gradually ascended in power until finally becoming one of the many forces (as it was not the only one but one of the most important) manipulating the threads of things in the shadows. For this, they employed a strategy that consisted of infiltrating key positions of influence by recruiting adepts from important families and gradually expanding their network of devoted followers. This recruitment process targeted individuals from influential, aristocratic, or royal families (as seen in the case of Brianna Vassermiller), ensuring that their influence reached various sectors of society. The Eternal Eclipse strategically placed adept members in pivotal roles within politics, academia, and other spheres of power, allowing them to subtly guide and control the course of events.

It is believed that they, for example, were the cause of the ascension of the Nilfgaardian Emperor Torres var Emreis in the 12th century and influenced things such as the Great Sun becoming the official religion of the Nilfgaardian Empire. This was done so that eventually, the Eternal Eclipse would succeed it as the official religion when the time came, creating a conducive environment without any problems for the widespread practice of Chasm Magic and the realization of their vision of humanity's ascension to godhood.

In the late 13th century, the Eternal Eclipse extended its influence to the Northern Kingdoms by placing certain members of their organization as infiltrators in the successor of the criminal organization known as the Syndicate, named the Gardunnia. This forged a significant connection between the two organizations, that unbeknownst to them, becoming one of the contributing factors to their eventual downfall.

#### Decline and definitive extinction ( 1280 / 1360 )

The downfall of the organization began when one of its members, Brianna Vassermiller, decided to sabotage it from within after discovering its more ambitious plans (and partly also due to Yrrhedes himself who believed that although useful, if he let them exist any longer, they would rebel against him soon or after).Brianna was joined by more individuals, not from within the organization, but from the outside, who had learned of its existence and plans. One such person, and the most important, was Tubiel of Brenna, who formed an alliance with the sorceress that would largely put an end to the presence of the Nefandi by the year 1280, temporarily thwarting their plans. However, their last member, Mimit Sova, continued these plans in some manner and would not be stopped until the year 1360, when a trio composed of the future founders of the School of the Crane—Putnam Pitch and Jolanta Dinmarb—along with the then-grandmaster of the School of the Fox, Adalwulf of Aedirn, finally defeated him, bringing an end to the organization.

## Ideology

Despite their worship of Yrrhedes, the Nefandi harbored a paradoxical ideology. They revered Yrrhedes and its children as powerful entities, acknowledging the benefits derived from their influence. Yet, they also sought to control and manipulate them. Their ultimate goal was to harness Yrrhedes' and its children's power to elevate humanity to godhood. This duality in their beliefs led to an internal conflict within the organization, with factions advocating for either the absolute worship of Yrrhedes and his children or the quest to subjugate them completely. This internal tension contributed to the organization's decline, as some members believed that the only way to truly ascend was to break free from Yrrhedes and its children's influence entirely. Consequently, they broke off from the organization, with some pursuing their goals of ascension individually, and others, who eventually regret their time in the cult, tried to warn the people. This led some to speculate about their existence from time to time. One of its most famous renegade members was the mage Eltibald, who tried to warn about the coming of Lilit. He was believed by some as a prophet and by others as a madman due to how all these years in the cult affected his mental health. However, due to Eltibald's mental health, what he revealed to the light was likely quite misinterpreted.

This internal strife, along with Brianna's decision influenced by Yrrhedes himself, weakened the organization, bringing some aspects to light, and facilitated external interventions, ultimately leading to their downfall in the year 1280, with the exception of their last member who was killed in 1360, as already mentioned.

Regarding the political aspect of their ideology, they believed that by manipulating the political landscape from the shadows, instead of being in the light as it happened during the 5th century, they could avoid their destruction and secure the necessary conditions for the widespread practice of Chasm Magic. This, in turn, would pave the way for humanity's ascension to godhood and the destruction of the remaining grigori. Operating in the political shadows also served as a means to safeguard their plans from interference, allowing them to fend off external threats posed by possible organizations that could have discovered their existence and wanted to thwart their ambitious goals, such as the Praetorship.

## Symbols

The organization had two main symbols: the Eternal Eclipse, which represented the arrival of beings like Yrrhedes and Lilit, and was also a secret name to refer to Yrrhedes, and according to their vision, it also symbolized the future ascension of humanity to gods. The second symbol was an amber-made eye (sometimes golden), which was part of the cult of the demon-god that the original Nefandi probably absorbed into their organization back in their homeworld after discovering Yrrhedes' existence, as they were scholars in Chasm Magic in the first term. This eye was depicted in various forms of iconography, such as the masks worn by its members.

Additional minor symbols of the cult included the sun and the moon. The sun was reflected in the male members and their masks, while the moon was represented by the female members. and their masks Both symbols embodied the two necessary components for an eclipse in either of its two forms.

## Organisational structure and ranking system

The organisational structure of the Nefandi was composed as follows, from the least important to the most important:

* **Neophyte**: Entry-level member, undergoing initial training and indoctrination into the cult's beliefs and practices.
* **Novice**: A member who has shown dedication and basic proficiency in Chasm Magic, progressing beyond the neophyte stage.
* **Acolyte**: Demonstrating a deeper understanding of the cult's philosophy and magic, acolytes are trusted with more significant responsibilities.
* **Disciple**: Individuals who have mastered the fundamental teachings and rituals, contributing actively to the organization's goals.
* **Initiate**: Attaining a higher level of magical prowess and knowledge, initiates are entrusted with secret information and tasks.
* **Eternal Eclipse Priest**: Members with specialized knowledge and responsibilities related to the rituals and practices dedicated to the Eternal Eclipse.
* **Deacon**: Trusted advisors and coordinators within the organization, overseeing specific aspects of the cult's operations.
* **High Deacon**: Recognized leaders overseeing multiple deacons, responsible for strategic planning and coordination.
* **Archdeacon**: Elite leaders with extensive knowledge of Chasm Magic, guiding and influencing the direction of the cult's activities.
* **Archon**: Esteemed leaders at the pinnacle of the organization, possessing profound magical abilities and contributing to major decisions.
* **Eclipse Master**: Masters of Chasm Magic and key strategists, Eclipse Masters hold great influence over the cult's direction and decisions.
* **Conduit**: Individuals who serve as vessels for powerful entities from which cult members can draw power, acting as a bridge between the physical realm and other spheres.
* **Eternal Eclipse High Priest/Priestess**: The highest-ranking authority within the Cult, responsible for overseeing all activities and rituals dedicated to the Eternal Eclipse.
* **Nefandus Primus**: The highest-ranking member directly under the Eternal Eclipse High Priest/Priestess, serving as their chief advisor and executor of critical missions.
* **Eclipse Overlord/Overlady**: A commanding figure with authority over multiple chapters of the Nefandi, ensuring coordination and loyalty among subordinate members.
* **Sovereign of Shadows**: A high-ranking enforcer responsible for maintaining discipline within the organization, eliminating internal threats, and overseeing covert operations.
* **Yrrhedes' Chosen**: The highest honor within the Nefandi, bestowed upon the one deemed most closely connected to the entity Yrrhedes, serving as the living embodiment of their demon-god's will. However, this position does not hold a leadership role since they function as a grand conduit of the entity.

## Notable members

*For the full list of every Eternal Eclipse member, see Category:Eternal Eclipse members.*

* Brianna Vassermiller (Yrrhedes' Chosen): Bestowed with the title Yrrhedes' Chosen, eventually disowned the organization and played a pivotal role in its destruction. This decision was prompted by an offer from the demon-god himself, granting her the power to save Ebbing from its problems in exchange for vengeance against who banished him, and possible threats to his existence.
* Burnon Gurbeld (Eternal Eclipse High Priest): Held the position of Eternal Eclipse High Priest within the organization. He was a rogue mage who joined the organization, supposedly after deceiving the Lord of Wishes. His feat earned him a rapid rise through the ranks of the cult.
* Eltibald (Eclipse Master): An Eclipse Master for decades within the organization, began to regret the chosen path and eventually broke ties with it. However, due to many years of practicing Chasm Magic, his mental health deteriorated to an extreme. As a result, some regarded his warnings as serious, while others dismissed them as delusions.
* Mimit Sova (Eclipse Master): The last remaining member after 1280, was interested in freeing the organization from the influence of the demon-god. He believed that for humanity to ascend to divinity, they had to draw power from beings he considered more powerful, such as Dagon. This interest intensified when Ireneus var Steingard successfully transformed a witcher from the School of the Cat into an energumen, inspiring him to pursue more ambitious endeavors with a witcher from another school.
* Ireneus var Steingard (Archdeacon): Serving as an Archdeacon, he was also responsible for imprisoning a powerful demon in the body of the School of the Cat Witcher, Kiyan, turning him into an energumen as part of the organization's advancements. He became one of the surviving members after the organization's demise in 1280 but met his end at the hands of Jolanta Dinmarb in the same year.

## Image Credits

* *Master of Ceremonies Gwent Card Art* by Maciej Łaszkiewicz
* *Eternal Eclipse Deacon Gwent Card Art* by Anton Nazarenko
* *Eternal Eclipse Initiate Gwent Card Art* by Karol Bem
* *The Eternal Eclipse Gwent Card Art* by Anton Nazarenko

## Trivia

* Because nothing is known about the Eternal Eclipse in The Witcher lore. For the adaptation of the Nefandi in The Continent, it was decided to mix the two into one along with the cult of Yrrhedes from the tabletop RPG who wrote Sapkowski.
* This pieces of lore from the Gwent Cards could hint a bigger purpose that the one theorized by the community of just a secret cult who wanted the fall of Emperor Torres : ***The air of mystery, the promise of power - enough to obtain a whole set of pawns for your chessboard. For the uninitiated, the Grand Scheme will manifest itself as an avalanche: a series of seemingly insignificant events putting the entire mountain slope in motion to sweep away the ancient régime. Only the madmen and the thorough historians, studying the developments of these days in retrospect, many decades later, will discover the truth: it was a mechanism as precise as a clock, counting down to the advent of a new world order. Once you see beyond the occult fumes and elitist allure, only then you cease to be a piece and become a player.***
* The Eternal Eclipse Deacon mask have a third eye that could be the symbol of Yrrhedes
* They have some inspirations from certain secret societies like Skull and Bones, and the Illuminati (both the fictional and the real)