Aeons: Vessels of the Will of the One

Have you not heard those prophecies yet? I’m sorry. Seers often tell of the coming of people who are Vessels for the Will of the One. They are called ‘Aeons.’

-Hava, former archon of Kernun, current agent of the Rebellion

While many on the world of Ymir have come to understand that the gods who have long ruled over them are false, there are some who still hold faith in some higher power. As such, several “cults” have formed on the world of Ymir, and inquisitors loyal to the gods hunt all these heretical sects.

The sect that has proven the most resilient in the face of such persecution is The Cult of the One, or, as they prefer to be called, the Path of the One (or, in some circles, the Way of the One). These people believe in a single deity who is above the false gods, and who will one day judge the pantheon of Empyrean for all the evil they’ve done. Seers are usually the authors of the holy texts of this faith, and many of those holy texts speak of encounters with the mysterious beings called “Aeons.”

Aeons have usually appeared to seers but have also made themselves known to various truth-seeking individuals, coaxing them onto the Path of the One. Aeons have demonstrated magical abilities that even the greatest casters of Ymir cannot replicate. They often appear out of nowhere and vanish just as suddenly. They know things that, even with magic, they should not be able to know. They can pause time itself to teach important lessons to lost and weary souls.

Each Aeon clings to a certain color. Animus, the Aeon in Red, for example, wears a long red coat and has matching hair and eyes. The Aeons claim to be “Vessels for the Will of the One,” and when they act, they usually do so to protect those on the Path. Yet, for all their power, their interference in the affairs of the people of Ymir is minimal.

This has led skeptics who scoff at the One to say that the Aeons are nothing more than charlatans who know more about magic than most people. Just more false gods looking for pious servants. The Aeons usually counter this by saying the reason for their relative non-involvement is because they have no intention of becoming tyrants, and if they were to interfere too much, that would surely become their path.

At this time in Ymir’s history, not all of the Aeons have been revealed. Here are those who are currently known:

The Aeon in Red

Animus first appeared during the Second Age. He appears as a young man wearing a long, red coat with matching hair and eyes on a pale, freckled face. He usually carries with him a staff that looks like a twisted double helix. Animus is said to embody justice.

The Aeon in Green

Like Animus, Ra’hamim first appeared in the Second Age. Hunters described following their game deep into the woods and finding in a lone grove a woman who was one with a gathering of banyan trees. She demonstrated a deep connection with the forest itself, as well as with all plants. Time and again, she has guided the lost out of danger. She is said to embody mercy.

The Aeon in Blue

The first records of Eidolon’s existence come from the Third Age. The Aeon in Blue typically appears wearing a vibrant, blue robe, with hair, eyes, and skin to match. An azure mist often accompanies him, and he always floats just inches off the ground. According to the holy texts of the Path, the first encounter with Eidolon happened in an ancient adonium mine called “The Godsthroat.” For a time, Eidolon was claiming to be a god, Enlil the All-Father reborn. That was, until the Aeon in Red arrived and humbled him. After that, he joined the ranks of the Aeons, and built the city of Civitas Dei as a safe haven for truly gentle, peaceful souls. He is said to embody knowledge.

The Aeon in Black

Sonia is the most recent Aeon to appear, first making herself known in the Fourth Age. She appears as a little girl with black hair wearing an equally black dress. Often, she is seen playing with dolls, though the way she speaks suggests wisdom far beyond that of a child. Those who’ve encountered her have described the experience as “unsettling,” “frightening,” and sometimes “harrowing.” She is said to embody remorse.

The Aeon in White

Currently, her name is unknown, but some have taken to calling her “The Starlit Empress” or “The Future Queen.” Seers have had encounters with the Aeon in White since the First Age, but most sages of the One teach that she is yet to be born. Some sages have also suggested that when the prophesied Third Genesis comes to pass, the Aeon in White will be the ruler of all Ymir, a benevolent monarch installed by the One. Just what virtue she embodies is unknown, though some have suggested wisdom, purpose, or compassion.

As the story of the world of Ymir continues to unfold, we will surely learn more about the Aeons, the One, and the promised future they all seek.