Illuminus

A festival which celebrates the coming of the God-King and recalls the Summoning of Four as well as the Saints of Courage, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Wit.

To end the Golden War, Four Saints brought together a ritual which opened a gate to allow a Trinity of gods to cross into the material plane which brought a light which cast out the demons hidden amongst the mortal men of the world. A Light which destroyed the illusions in which demons hide. The Dawn, The Moon, and The Clever Star who would became the God-King.

## The Five Days

On the first day we celebrate the summoning of four and the arrival of the Dawn and moon and the clever star. People traditionally dress up in costumes of demons and shadow men, and gather together around fire just after sun set. The light of the pyre acts as the ritualistic light of the arrival of the God King into our world. People then seek out the true names of their friends and family, revealing themselves to be blessed by light and not demons. Then everyone gets really drunk.

On the second day, we celebrate the joining together of the remaining kings and kingdoms to one army when a tournament was held with all the remaining champions before the eyes of the Trinity in order to decide who best to receive the blessings of these gods. Traditionally there is a festival and a feast on the second day, as well as a tournament and a joust. The winners of which are often given gifts or blessings of gold and "magic" to symbolize the vestiges of the Dawn, which were given to the champions on that day.

On the third day we celebrate the launch of the united armies of mortals and gods, a counter offensive against the demons, armed with weapons and knowledge blessed of the divine. Traditionally, people fast and tell stories on the third day. It is a day of songs, and poems and plays. Mummers and Theater troupes often specialize in telling the legends of this day. While every region has their own stories and their own Heroes, they often always follow a similar structure: A humble young man or woman earns a magical gift or weapon by displaying an act of selflessness while being observed in secret by either the Dawn, or the Moon, or the Clever- Star. They then return to their ruined home town, where a villainous demon or monster has taken some innocent person hostage. They then defeat that demon by some means of cleverness or courage and always through the use of their divine gifts, ultimately rescuing the innocent. They always end in marriage

On the fourth day we celebrate the martyrdom of the saint of wisdom but also the ultimate defeat of the umbral lords. Much like the third day, the fourth day is celebrated by fasting as well as the sharing of story and song. Unlike the previous day, the fourth day is focused on the telling of one specific story, called the Illithid. There are many versions of the story, but it is always the same: After the defeat of the Demons, The saints of Courage, Wit, and Knowledge boast of their new abilities, and the new kingdoms they will forge with the power of the divine. The fourth saint, the saint of wisdom, warns them that they will continue in perpetuity a cycle of violence and darkness if they cannot abandon their ambitions. A Parade of degenerate clowns and sages join the saints, who come bearing the gifts of invention- claiming that these inventions came from themselves and not by divine blessing- and so the Gods are no longer needed. The leader, Jengha the Deciever, who is a talented actor and self described liar, tells such a convincing story that all present believe him for "within his Stories/ Lie the truth". To the audience it is revealed that Jengha is the last umbral lord, hiding in plain sight without illusion, who is there to attempt to assassinate the gods. The saint of wisdom divines this truth, and martyrs himself to reveal the true nature of Jengha. The Saint of Courage then duels Jengha atop a mountain, eventually slaying him. In the end the unbelievers are cast out of the light as Hereticals and the Saints beg forgiveness. The Trinity appears as a chorus, and proclaims that to free mortals of this cycle they will forgive them and build for those who sinned a golden city of Elyria so that their ambition can never be brought to destroy and ruin the lives of the pious. There is usuallly a parade of victory where people parade through the streets as both saints and sinners, and then gather together in a common space to tell the illithid. Often the audience performs the part of the Trinity at the end, delivering the verdict of judgment to performers.

On the fifth day we celebrate the ascension and coronation of the Trinity as God-King who builds The Cities of Elyria and rids the world of the temptation of ambition. Traditionally people break the fast of the last two days and feast from dawn till dusk. It is considered good luck to conceive children on this night and so in many places this night ends in orgy.

## Incantation of the Gate

> The World is broken. The World is at peace.
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> From the darkest age of a thousand kings the land has been paved again and again with the blood of the common man, cast aside by the ambitions of greater mortal hearts.
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> Writhing in the muddy wars; Chaos of our own making, the Umbral Lords slithered forth. Shadow men. Nightmares. Shapeshifters. Demons.
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> Sundered and wretched, we knew not friends from foe. As the earth opened wide and whole continents were swallowed. As old magicks ignited the air. As the light was blackened from our skies.
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> And yet.
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> When our extinction was all but assured, hope called forth, howling from the heavens astride a golden flame.
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> Praise to Them that Are. The Dawn. The Moon. The Clever Star.
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> A light which could shatter all darkness. To bring together those who would remain, bathed in the arcane of the great beyond, gifted with armaments of They who broke their bonds to the Heavens to stand by our side.
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> To know peace in this life we cast aside our ambitions, our ruin, and in return, the crown was placed upon Their head.
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> Praise to Them that Are. The God King. The Eternal Dynasty of Elyrium.
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> As the old kings ascended their glittering towers, sealed away in paradise, the lands below were left to heal.
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> The World is at peace. The World is broken.
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> * taken from *“The Incantation of the Gate”*
> * Composed by the Everwon Abbot, Auberx Djin.
> * 27 A.G.
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