Apocolites

Apocolites are mystical warriors of legend, who serve or rule governments of the Afterlife. They are armed with crystalline swords known as wisp blades, which each channel a specific power through the user's body, turning the sword, and the wielder's eyes and veins, a particular color to match the internal power. Apocolites are considered (by the uneducated) to be wizards and mages, but the more astute know there is a scientific reason for why the apocolites have gained such abilities. No one knows where the apocolites originated from, even more so as of 27 A.O.G., where Pre-Rift history has been mostly eliminated from the cultural sphere. Apocolites are not part of any set order, and may act independently from governmental bodies, but this is a rare occurrence due to the immense amount of power they hold. Apocolites are often seen either on the front lines of a war, or governing a universal body as a "Thane."

Apocolites, with their enhanced physique, can use their wisp powers to reach levels of strength and speed considered impossible by regular humanity. Coupled with their powers, they become akin to angels or gods.

Apocolites are extremely durable, far more so than their regular human counterparts. Apocolites can withstand blows and tremendous force from weaponry, survive falls from great heights, due to their stronger skeletons and flesh. A flesh-breaking wound will not bleed as intensely as opposed to a human, and apocolites are immune to many diseases, including but not exclusive to lead poisoning and naturally-occurring cancer. Apocolites are weak to only one known material; bluesteel, which is a metal with many wisp-like properties (hard to break, lighter than steel, durable, though not as durable as wisp). When an apocolite is wounded by a bluesteel implement, their flesh can burn, or blister. Oftentime apocolites report or have been seen having visions after contact with the metal. Bluesteel, for an unknown reason, counteracts any durability bonuses or boons brought by the wisp, and can kill an apocolite outright either through poisoning, or blood loss. However, an apocolite's wisp blade is still more durable than bluesteel, giving the apocolite a slight advantage in an encounter with an adversary wielding the metal.

Apocolites are called "apocolites" due to them being on the front lines of every afterlifian apocalyptic event, sometimes on "both sides" of the event, with the capabilities of *causing* an apocalypse as well as preventing one.

## History:

Apocolites are mentioned in surviving history textbooks. The oldest known apocolites are those who descended-by-wisp from King Yeshua Magdelena, one of them being Yeshua's father, Zoroaster, who became king after Yeshua. It is unknown as of 27 A.O.G. how they gained their powers.

Apocolites have fought in at least ten wars against the Lumieri, and it is thought by many that their purpose is to do battle with the dark god. Cynics will counter and say its human power run amok, and the more religious will say their purpose is to serve the current sitting king (who acts as a 'God' over the denizens of the Afterlife).

During the Rift War, thousands of apocolites fought, and many of them were slain. In some texts there are accounts and interviews of the citizenry of the time, that state some were worried that the apocolites would join the Gevvyd in extinction.

After the Rift, Gregoros gathered all loyal apocolites, and claimed the world of the Afterlife against those disloyal to his claim. This event was known as 'Gregoros's Crusade' in the history books, but the Sunnese refer to it as 'The Third Apocolite War.' Though, even the Sunnese have scant information on this, and most of the information exists in elaborate folk tales.

### Universe Eight:

On Universe Eight, the first known "legal" apocolites were those of Violette Frederikke's thane-parent, and her fellow apocolites. During the reclaiming of Thane's Isle, the battles wiped out many of Frederikke's peers, including her thane parent. Frederikke eventually became thane of Universe Eight. She immediately continued Gregoros's quest of repatriating Universe Eight, and called ten apocolites of her own (including Harold of the Craiq, and Rhea Redsword), to assist her.

Following Frederikke's death in 11 A.O.G., her apocolite-son Wynton Kellogg assumed the title of Thane of Universe Eight. Wynton would later be assassinated, and succeeded by his youngest apocolite-son, Zenzele Azikiwe. All of Wynton's apocolites, save for Siera Marsilis, perished in an event known as "The Tumult."

In 27 A.O.G., the Chosen Five were called to Thane's Isle to cease the advance of the Lumieri into Universe Eight.

## Training:

One of the Thane's responsibilities is to train new apocolites and prepare them for any civil or military conflict. Oftentimes, the thane will delegate this task to the master-at-arms, or other soldiers. When an apocolite arrives, they are asked to "spiritually meditate", which involves taking hallucinogens, and being fed Gregaronian propaganda while "seeing god." If an apocolite fails this task, they are asked to do it over and over again, until they succeed. The first spiritual meditation is seen over by the sitting Thane of Universe Nine, who is the right hand to the King. If an apocolite is deemed truly unworthy, they are not permitted to be in the public eye, and are either shunted to the thane's guard for further instruction, or sent to Universe Nine to have their powers removed.

Combat training, at least on Universe Eight, involves many physically demanding tasks, such as an apocolite holding their wisp blade straight ahead for hours until they fall unconscious, or deflecting ludicrous amounts of rubber bullets or other projectiles with their wisp blade. They are trained with swords and guns, and are made to complete obstacle courses in the King's Hill Battle Hall.

Apocolites are trained to have political minds, to be well read and in-tune with the situations of their lands. Any one of them, due to calamity, could become thane if the cards fell in the right place. It is expected of all apocolites to be able to govern, even if their duties may end in death or retirement before they get the chance.

If an apocolite succeeds in their education, one of their final tasks in "training" is to deal with a civil or military conflict themselves. It is assumed that no human affair can fell an apocolite (a statement that is verifiably false), so the trained apocolite will prove themselves by completing the task. If successful, the apocolite is more likely to be selected in the Thanerite.

## Succession:

Due to the post-Rift events, Gregoros enacted a "rule of ten," where there would always be ten thanes, (one for each of the nine universes plus a hidden "tenth group"), each with ten apocolites to train. In the case of a thane's death, one of their apocolites would claim the title of thane, and the other apocolites would continue on until there were not enough left to safely rule the nine universes. The current sitting thane would then call ten apocolites, and the cycle would continue. This is referred to as "The Thanerite." Gregoros put this system in place partially due to the long lifespan apocolites can have, as well as the phenomenon of their powers growing as they age (so long as the apocolite/thane continues to train their body and mind). Though, this system can and has failed numerous times, because Gregoros did not account for human greed. If all the apocolites happen to be slain or refuse to rule, Gregoros will appoint one of the "tenth group" to govern the universe in lieu of a responsible party. The tenth group remains on Universe Nine, to serve as Gregoros's kings guard, as well as Ministers of the Clock, and generals in the King's Army otherwise.

Groups of apocolites are referred to as a "karass." A karass traditionally consists of a Thane who leads 10 apocolites below them. A karass with have a variety of apocolite powers, and there are no organizational rules regarding what powers are allowed in each karass. Some have doubles of powers, such as the karass of Wynton Kellogg, who had two children of light (Alenka and Zenzele Azikiwe, both siblings) present in servitude.

Apocolites are bribed heavily with the finest foods, clothes, riches, and whatever desire they wish, to cement their loyalty to their sitting thane. The thane is granted riches even beyond this, but is watched closely to determine loyalty, and if betrayal is detected, then the thane will be asked to give up their powers, and the first-arrived apocolite of the karass will resume control over the Universe.

## Powers:

Apocolites are each armed with a crystalline wisp blade, which channels their inner abilities. These powers are considered to be magic by the layman, and can be immensely strong, and destructive if not used properly. The wisp blade's color matches a power associated with it, which changes the complexion of the apocolite severely, turning their eyes and veins a different color, and glowing when the power is activated. The origin of the powers is arguably more mysterious than the origin of the wisp blade, as it is implied the wisp was invented at some point, but the powers are some sort of preternatural occurrence that has no visible or known source.

Certain powers tend to have more "elemental" qualities, but others can influence the world around them in more subtle ways. The Child of Mentality, for instance, can influence the minds of others, for good or ill. Children of Animal Control can do the same, but with more malleable and with the less-complex minds of non-sentient animals. Powers such as "Water," "Ice," "Air," "Fire," and "Stone," for example, directly control one aspect of the world, and cannot control other materials or beings through other means.

### List of Apocolite Powers:

Below is a list of all apocolite powers canon as of Book Two: Prisoner's and Pirates:

* **Mentality** -the ability to enter the mind of any subject (sometimes multiple subjects) and alter the emotional state or brain chemistry of the target for good or ill. Experienced wielders can also alter bodily functions such as hunger, or pain, or sexual wants. Sword color of **Crimson**.

* **Wind** - The ability to control air, air pressure, wind gusts, and any form of matter in the state of a gas down to a molecular level. Sword color of **Green**.
* **Telekinesis** - Can move items of any size or weight with minimum effort, with as much or less force that the host desires. Sword color of **Navy Blue**.
* **Iron** - Can control solids on the periodic table, (specifically metals), and create, destroy, and manipulate them to their will. Cannot interact with gas or liquid forms of metals. Can create an “iron shield” within their flesh, to protect them against enemy attacks. Sword color of **Bronze**.
* **Mystic** - the ability to access and read minds, alter reality internally and externally. Mystics can see visions of the future and the past, though the visions are muddled and are often not to be taken literally. They are able to gather a mental image of the target, and are capable of glamouring themselves to look like another person. Children of Mystic are the only apocolites that can use glamour change their full facial and body appearance, or change the appearance of someone else through illusion. Sword color of **Magenta**.
* **Fire** - The ability to control and manipulate flame. The ceiling of how hot the fire can be is not known. Children of Fire cannot be harmed by flame. Sword of **Maroon**.
* **Ice** - The ability to manipulate temperature to below-freezing conditions and beyond. Can freeze any fluid to a solid, but cannot interact with any material beyond reducing its temperature to below freezing, or increasing it to “room temperature.” Can spawn ice in the air, and use it as a weapon or a defensive measure. Sword color of **Cyan**.
* **Water**- the ability to control fluids of any element, but most control water. Cannot control molten liquids or plasma. Has the ability to manipulate tides, create waves, or spawn rain regardless of where they are. Sword of **Aquamarine or Turquoise**.
* **Stone** - the ability to manipulate all solid materials, but cannot manipulate liquids or gasses. Can generate stone structures at will, or alter stone items at a molecular level. Sword of **Orange**.
* **Time** - relatively unknown power. Ability to travel to Earth, and appear at a whim anywhere across either Earth’s time stream, or the Afterlife’s. The rules of this power, what they are allowed to do and what not, are not known as there have been only three in the history of the Afterlife. Sword of **Clear**.
* **Light** - the ability to harness the power of a star, generate plasma and control the beam with their hands. Powerful enough to accidentally (or purposefully) destroy the afterlife. Can generate new atoms within their bodies and create any form of matter at a whim. Sword of **Gold.**
* **Healing** - the ability to heal oneself or others, so long as the host or subject has not died from their wounds. Cannot heal mental damage. Bluesteel wounds take far more energy to heal than regular wounds. Can heal sicknesses and plagues. Sword color of **Yellow**.

### Hybrid Powers:

Some apocolites gain the abilities of two (or more) other apocolite classes, making them what is referred to as a twin-apocolite, or twin-thane. Though, colloquially, most are still referred to as apocolites or thanes.

* **Weather Control** (Child of Storm) A cross between Children of Water, and Children of Wind. Sword color of **Teal**.
* **Animal Control** - (Child of Fauna) Children of Fauna can control any living creature, all but humans and Gevvyd, and the animals will follow their will until either killed, or released from the control. Can alter the sentience levels in animals, and alter brain chemistry and animal biology to allow them to communicate. Sword of **Sapphire and Crimson**.

### Other abilities:

* Stasis Field - an ability all apocolites can use to slow time, often in battle. It is unknown why this ability exists, and it often happens involuntarily.
* Glamour - an ability all apocolites can use to mask wounds, or deformities, or hide their apocolitian veins and eyes. Requires training. Children of Mystic are the only apocolites that can change their full appearance, or change the appearance of someone else through illusion.
* Shielding - an ability all apocolites can use to manipulate their wisp blade inside their bodies to protect vital organs from enemy attacks. Used somewhat involuntarily.
* Undeath - Only one of these apocolites exists "naturally" through Gregaronian influence. All others are of Sagittarian influence. This power prevents its host from dying, so long as the brainstem is not destroyed. If the body is killed, the flesh begins to rot, but repairs itself similarly to a child of healing, though not at a fast enough rate to prevent corpsification. Can reconnect severed body parts, including the head. Can be summoned by Children of Shadows after corpse reanimation (known as a “Thrall”) but can exist without Sagittarian influence through artificial means. Sword color of Grey.