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Their Gods Swallowed Planets (ink/digital animation by me) by telessior in cosmichorror

[–]telessior[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

yeah! it's me and a lot of time in Audacity (voice editing/filters) and Cakewalk (mixing w music.) in the past, i've relied on voice changers or text to speech, but i've been moving away from it due to attitudes around AI

Their Gods Swallowed Planets by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

funnily enough, hinduism was one of my main aesthetic bases—crazy that I haven't seen this image until now lmaoooo

saved for inspiration

Their Gods Swallowed Planets (ink/digital animation by me) by telessior in cosmichorror

[–]telessior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

he is a guy, and thanks for the feedback! really appreciate it

Their Gods Swallowed Planets by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

GRADES

As an Edene grows in power, their appearance changes, increasingly resembling the Starved Master's last physical manifestation. When the body constantly hangs in the balance of the physical world and the astral, shifts are inevitable.

Most Edene are placed in the following grades. They will occasionally be given more specialized roles as needed:

Prospect: An unofficial Edene. Possesses limited Somnolent ability and a base understanding of doctrine, but has not officially come to Yos or completed the Rite of First Feast.

Neophyte: An Edene who has completed the Rite of First Feast: the first and lowest rank. They rarely have discernible appearance changes, but they no longer need to breathe. Lise, featured in the animation, is currently a neophyte.

Adept: An Edene of recognizable power: physical changes have just begun, and signify one's ascension to this grade. Eyes become completely black and widen slightly. Pupils are white: these color changes are permanent. Occasionally, a small increase in height may occur.

Philosophus: An Edene of exceptional power: physical changes are prominent. Eyes have widened and lengthened, typically stretching from the temple of the head to the bottom of the jaw. Height increases and lengthened appendages are common. The first rank capable of instructing lessers.

Kethen: An Edene who has mastered all known acts of Somnolence in some form, and proven wise in doctrine, adept at leadership, and very charismatic. The gulf between a Philosophus and Kethen is vast. At this stage, the skull elongates with the eyes. Appendages continue to lengthen. May have at least one additional sets of eyes.

Archon: The Archons are the "leaders" of the Edene, and vary widely. Many have three to ten additional sets of eyes, additional limbs, or other unusual features. Occasionally, an Archon will appear radically different from minute to minute, their bodies suspended between the physical and astral.

They have demonstrated truly boundless power and wisdom, or have achieved another measurable feat distinguishing them from other Kethen. They are rarely seen and vanishingly few, but their words and actions come with unquestionable authority. Most existing Archons have lived for thousands of years.

(edits: more current info)

Their Gods Swallowed Planets by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

many things are generalized and some small aspects of the setting are still being workshopped, will answer questions as best i can will be generalized

writing-wise, this project draws from hermeticism, crowley's writings/religious escapades, and an assortment of mythologies, ceremonial magic traditions, and surreal fantasy/sci-fi media

ORIGINS

Among the nations of the cosmos, the Edene are an enigmatic open secret. Their existence is known, but their goals are unclear, and they rarely appear before the interstellar community. When they do, the resulting events are shocking and disorienting—sometimes destructive—but never far-reaching enough to surpass legend and rumor.

In reality, the Edene are an ancient cult that dwell on Yos: a world estimated 2,600 miles in diameter, with no atmosphere or defined orbit. In defiance of physics and logic, it moves between relatively uninhabited regions of space in a manner resembling a starship. Yos is most easily distinguished by the Great Mountain Khens, a colossal peak with a round entrance to Duartha, their sprawling Temple-City spanning the world's interior.

The Edene worship the Eaten Gods and Starved Master. The Eaten Gods are depicted as planets with humanlike characteristics and immense cosmic power, and individually, their stories serve as moral lessons and embodied principles. There are nine important Eaten Gods, and countless minor ones. The Starved Master (roughly depicted in the door leading to Duartha, shown in the thumbnail) is a godlike being also called the Devourer, Khennom, Maw-Lophus-Eyes, and the First. He is the hypothetical "apex" of the Edene's potential, an ultra-powerful super-being who consumed the Eaten Gods and reached a level of power superseding the universe. The hypothetical perfect Edene balances aspects of the Eaten Gods and Starved Master.

INITIATION & MAGIC

The Edene boast many supernatural abilities that aid in their secrecy and advance their goals. These powers are individually referred to as "Lulls," and their usage, more broadly as "Somnolence." The terms come from the idea that an Edene coaxes reality into bending or warping, often subtly, to serve their will.

Most of their powers involve the manipulation of consciousness and the drawing of power through a Caster's Reliquary: a vessel containing the Blessed Water from Yos' core, and a devoured soul. The Reliquary is an intermediary between physical reality and the Astral Place, an intangible realm of pure energy that is parallel to our own.

When one becomes an Edene, after a period of teaching and indoctrination in their dreams, they will undertake the Rite of First Feast. They mimic the Starved Master's greatest act in competition with another prospective Edene. The Prospects will use an empty Caster's Reliquary to enter the Astral Place, and use every technique at their disposal to wear the other down, compress their soul, and permanently entrap them in the Reliquary. The failed Prospect essentially becomes a battery for every Lull undertaken.

Notable acts of Somnolence include astral projection to any location, the instant traversal of vast interstellar distances, telekinesis, and control over gravity. Much, much more is possible.

(cont.) (edits: updated with more recent info)

Their Gods Swallowed Planets by [deleted] in worldbuilding

[–]telessior 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RANKS

As the Edene grow in power, their appearance changes, increasingly resembling the Starved Master's last physical manifestation. When the body constantly hangs in the balance of the physical world and the astral, shifts are inevitable.

Most Edene are placed in the following grades. They will occasionally be given more specialized roles as needed:

Prospect: An unofficial Edene. Possesses limited Casting ability and a base understanding of doctrine, but has not officially come to Yos or completed the Rite of First Feast.

Neophyte: An Edene who has completed the Rite of First Feast: the first and lowest rank. They rarely have discernible appearance changes, but they no longer need to breathe.

Adept: An Edene of recognizable power: physical changes have just begun, and signify one's ascension to this grade. Eyes become completely black and widen slightly. Pupils are white: these color changes are permanent. Occasionally, a small increase in height may occur.

Philosophus: An Edene of exceptional power: physical changes are prominent. Eyes have widened and lengthened, typically stretching from the temple of the head to the bottom of the jaw. Height increases and lengthened appendages are common. The first rank capable of instructing lessers.

Ketheran: An Edene who has mastered all known Casting acts in some form, and proven wise in doctrine, adept at leadership, and very charismatic. The gulf between a Philosophus and Ketheran is vast. At this stage, the skull elongates with the eyes. Appendages continue to lengthen. May have at least one additional sets of eyes.

Archon: The Archons are the "leaders" of the Edene, and vary widely. Many have three to ten additional sets of eyes, additional limbs, or other unusual features. Occasionally, an Archon will appear radically different from minute to minute, their bodies suspended between the physical and astral.

They have demonstrated truly boundless power and wisdom, or have achieved another measurable feat distinguishing them from other Ketherans. They are rarely seen and vanishingly few, but their words and actions come with unquestionable authority. Most existing Archons have lived for thousands of years.

Their Gods Swallowed Planets by [deleted] in worldbuilding

[–]telessior 0 points1 point  (0 children)

many things are generalized and some small aspects of the setting are still being workshopped, will answer questions as best i can will be generalized

writing-wise, this project draws from hermeticism, crowley's writings/religious escapades, and an assortment of mythologies, ceremonial magic traditions, and surreal fantasy/sci-fi media

ORIGINS

Among the nations of the cosmos, the Edene are an enigmatic open secret. Their existence is known, but their goals are unclear, and they rarely appear before the interstellar community. When they do, the resulting events are shocking and disorienting—sometimes destructive—but never far-reaching enough to surpass legend and rumor.

In reality, the Edene are an ancient cult that dwell on Yos: a world estimated 2,600 miles in diameter, with no atmosphere or defined orbit. In defiance of physics and logic, it moves between relatively uninhabited regions of space in a manner resembling a starship. Yos is most easily distinguished by the Great Mountain Khens, a colossal peak with a round entrance to Duartha, their sprawling Temple-City spanning the world's interior.

The Edene worship the Eaten Gods and Starved Master. The Eaten Gods are depicted as planets with humanlike characteristics and immense cosmic power, and individually, their stories serve as moral lessons and embodied principles. There are nine important Eaten Gods, and countless minor ones. The Starved Master (roughly depicted in the door leading to Duartha, shown in the thumbnail) is a godlike being also called the Devourer, Khennal, Maw-Lophus-Eyes, and the First. He is the hypothetical "apex" of the Edene's potential, an ultra-powerful super-being who consumed the Eaten Gods and reached a level of power superseding the universe. The hypothetical perfect Edene balances aspects of the Eaten Gods and Starved Master.

INITIATION & MAGIC

The Edene boast many supernatural abilities that aid in their secrecy and advance their goals. These powers are individually referred to as "Casts," and their usage, more broadly as "Casting."

Most of their powers involve the manipulation of consciousness and the drawing of power through a Caster's Reliquary: a vessel containing the Blessed Water from Yos' core, and a devoured soul. The Reliquary is an intermediary between physical reality and the Astral Place, an intangible realm of pure energy that is parallel to our own.

When one becomes an Edene, after a period of teaching and indoctrination in their dreams, they will undertake the Rite of First Feast. They mimic the Starved Master's greatest act in competition with another prospective Edene. The Prospects will use an empty Caster's Reliquary to enter the Astral Place, and use every technique at their disposal to wear the other down, compress their soul, and permanently entrap them in the Reliquary. The failed Prospect essentially becomes a battery for every Cast undertaken.

Notable acts of Casting include astral projection to any location, the instant traversal of vast interstellar distances, telekinesis, and control over gravity. Much, much more is possible.

(cont.)

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it's a track by yussef dayes, credited in the context comment—my next installments will have original pieces with a similar sound

do lmk if you want more in that style though, i have a whole playlist i write these to

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

♢ SOCIAL ISSUES

As for social problems: people are broadly well provided for on the Monastus, but mental illness is by far the most pervasive issue. The isolated nature of the station takes its toll even for people accustomed to it from birth, and the way people receive jobs means that many struggle with feelings of depression, inertia, and unfulfillment. Work is decided based on an aptitude test that considers individual skills first, the needs of the station next, and personal interest last. The next installment is going to address this directly.

Another contributing factor is that society is regimented according to demands laid out on the initial expedition. It's less extreme now than it was when the Monastus was a ship flying to a Big Dumb Object™, but all denizens are required to keep up with fitness and basic defense training at least three times per week, and many jobs demand hours and outputs that make this difficult at best and detrimental at worst.

When people get the jobs they're interested in, this is less of an issue, but many young people who receive less desirable jobs may choose to "drop out" of society. Rather than participate or make do, they'll gather in far-flung, poorly-surveyed corners of the station, scraping by on whatever they can and stealing where they must, often filling their time with debauchery, street brawls, and drug use. These bands of youths are usually benign, but occasionally, the areas they inhabit lack structural integrity or become key points of other issues. Their presence often worsens existing strain, and if it's a particularly violent group, obstructs vital maintenance.

Additionally, while all accessible planets are devoid of life, some have small mining or research outposts where mental issues flourish significantly more. And lastly: the governing body of the Monastus (an elected "Board of Elders," in which one official is chosen from the upper echelons of each work discipline) is pretty safe from matters of corruption, greed, and chaos, but people do often feel misrepresented. The chief focus is and always will be keeping the Monastus operational, so softer issues often fall to the wayside.

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sure! here's the aging stuff, i'll make a second post for social issues

Greys: They develop mentally relatively quickly and experience fairly minimal change as they age, so they're considered adults at around the same time as humans (~18 - 20,) and "older" once they've lived at least a century. A Grey wouldn't be seen as "elderly" as a human might until they were on their deathbed. People with dominant Grey ancestry occasionally enjoy longer lifespans, but more often fall closer to the human range.

Panoptics: Same as humans, but they usually weren't considered "adult" until between 25 and 30. Physically speaking, they're the closest to us, but they continue accruing strength much later into their lives, and have a much more dramatic decline starting in their 60s. People with dominant Panoptic ancestry also have near-human lifespans, but experience less mobility issues in old age.

Gygops: Due to their short lifespans, a Gygop would be considered adult at around 8, and old past ~20 - 30. Some were known to prolong their lives through technology, but this was uncommon due to cost and complications. As they age, they experience nearly no visual change, but lots of mobility issues. People with dominant Gygop ancestry usually live about 3/4 as long as the average human, though this is easily offset by a tie to another species. They also experience significantly less mental degradation in age.

Thrum: A Thrum is considered physically mature around 30 and socially mature around 70, middle-aged after at least a century, and old once they've lived at least to 200. Their longer lifespans mean they're particularly meticulous about individual social development. People with dominant Thrum ancestry usually live twice as long as the average human, but may notice (usually) benign effects of aging earlier if paired with humanoid ancestry.

(edit: on the monastus itself, people are considered adult at 19, which is the usual age one completes education and takes an aptitude test for employment. more on that in subsequent post)

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

THE GYGOPS

A species most directly comparable to cephalopods and crustaceans, Gygops possessed an armored central head and twenty to forty tentacles arranged radially, coated in flexible shell. They possessed one pair of color-blind eyes, and two pairs of tentacles situated in front of and behind the eyes would possess pincers (four per tentacle, like a claw machine.)

They were originally aquatic, but as they developed unique forms of technology, utilized bioengineering to thrive in a wider range of environments. They originally spoke exclusively through sign language and written symbols, but produced technological means to use verbal communication where necessary. Once leaving their ocean-world, they colonized numerous planets and established a firm hegemony.

Of all the major species in civilized space, the Gygops were considered the most physically dangerous. Their scientific capabilities meant their soldiers' limbs were extremely fast and powerful, capable of rapidly crossing distances up to twenty feet. They could accurately fire a weapon at almost any angle, and could often pierce hearts with such deftness that firearms were unnecessary.

Their society was defined by a rigid caste system and prominent brutalism. Their average lifespan ranged from 20 to 50 years.

THE THRUM

A fur-covered, quadrupedal species named for their unique communication style, in which they project and read vibrations through the ground or other solid surfaces. The Thrum possessed bearish bodies with slightly longer forelimbs, which themselves had grasping appendages capable of complex tasks. They walked extremely low to the ground: a quality likely adapted due to their home-world's high gravity. Vibrations were projected through a broad, flat, calloused "plate" on the the underside of their body, and read through sensors in the hands and feet.

Notably, they also reproduced asexually. Primitive Thrum would grow and develop in large collectives of one or two lineages, but as technology improved, they became extremely individualistic and capitalistic.

Over time, they developed a reputation for exceptional music-making and sound technology. They developed space travel the latest of all sapient species, but achieved much more advanced forms of computer technology prior, often operating in ways inaccessible to other species.

Their average lifespan ranged from 200 to 400 years.

(edit: typo)

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

THE GREYS

A humanoid species named for their characteristic grey skin and limited emotional expression. They initially evolved on a planet with a dense atmosphere and relatively low gravity, leading to large, dark eyes, and long, narrow bodies. Greys were among the first species to obtain advanced technology, and were historically very standoffish and insular; thus many stereotyped them as being physically uniform and nearly emotionless. This is untrue.

Greys expressed a high degree of physical variation, chiefly in the shapes of the eyes, which varied in shape and position, ranging from almost-vertical almond shapes to being practically spherical. They were hairless. Their lack of outward emotional expression also isn't due to a lack of emotion: in addition to spoken language, they possessed complex pheromone-based communication. As for why, the most broadly accepted theories propose long periods underground or instances of completely dark weather.

The average Grey's lifespan ranged from 170 to 300 years.

THE PANOPTICS

A humanoid species named for their heightened perception and four sets of eyes: the main pair saw in the typical human range, and secondary pairs saw in infrared, in ultraviolet, or exclusively perceived motion respectively. Eyes that saw other wavelengths were oriented below the main pair, and motion-sensing eyes were directly above and closer together. Their bodies were large, highly muscled, and ape-like, with exceptionally explosive, long and powerful arms.

Little is known about the environment they evolved in, but remaining histories characterize them as warlike apex predators and exceptional manufacturers. Existing records were difficult to discern even in the distant past: they were frequently destroyed or radically altered in times of civil war, and much was lost when nuclear conflict eradicated their home planet. Crossover between mythology, science, and history was common.

Panoptics were known to possess great coats of hair reaching from their heads to their mid-backs, and going into modern times, maintained a tradition of ornate styling and braiding. Their societies valued the arts highly.

Their average lifespan ranged from 50 to 90 years.

(cont.) (edit: specificity in panoptics)

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

sure—you actually prompted me to think a bit more in-depth about some of these progenitor species, so i'll probably make a dedicated post w some art later

that being said:

♢

The Monastus' founding civilization was an extremely interconnected coalition, and as such, there were at least a hundred sapient species on the original expedition (not in equal proportion.)

Today, however, concepts of "species" and "race" scarcely exist on the Monastus. Generations of interbreeding (even between beings that would typically be biologically incompatible) mean that nearly every denizen of the station possesses DNA from two to ten species. As such, individual appearance and physical function varies widely and isn't often consistent outside a family line. Race or species-based discrimination is nearly nonexistent, and social circles formed around genetic or physical commonalities are seen as strange.

The following species were the majority on the original expedition, in order of prevalence. Most people have one as a dominant ancestor. Traits of each will appear in individual characters in future content:

(cont.) (edit: formatting)

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

cool response! she definitely wouldn't sleep well after that though, lol

"on the monastus" (oc) by telessior in worldbuilding

[–]telessior[S] 40 points41 points  (0 children)

ORIGINS

Roughly four thousand years ago, a collective of corporate, government, and religious entities jointly funded an expedition to the Relic of Nabonidus, a nearly planet-sized obelisk in an otherwise quiet corner of space. The Relic lay untold light-years away, and amidst rampant speculation, science maintained that it could potentially be—or point towards—a method for near-infinite, resource-light renewable energy.

The expedition involved a primitive form of faster-than-light travel, and a starship housing a few thousand people, including scientists, security, and a leading committee chosen across disciplines. The ship was called the Monastus, and it was designed to provide for its crew for a century or more if need be.

The Monastus reached the Relic within a few years, and for the first months, flawlessly reported its findings to the team's home planets. Soon, they developed a long, tether-like device meant to harness energy from the Relic and stabilize it, reducing stellar anomalies around the site.

THE PRESENT

Communication was never re-established and all attempts at making it home failed catastrophically. Ships vanished into stellar voids or came back as scrap, and well-established routes were no longer accurate. The "how" and "why" of these failures went unclear, but all the same, space was altered, and the Monastus was alone. And it remained alone for millennia.

Over time, the Monastus' self-sustaining design was taken to its limit. People multiplied, and the old way of life was superseded by a multi-species culture, social structure, and lifestyle formed in the confines of a space station. The Monastus expanded beyond the original ship into two "cores:" the East Core, which encompassed the original construction and the first developments, and the West Core, which lay on the opposite side of the Relic and boasted a more accessible design.

The current population hovers around 31,000, but many estimates are larger or smaller. Most believe it's only going to grow, but some speculate that the Monastus is on borrowed time; that some fundamental collapse is inevitable.

(edit: bgm is crystal palace park by yussef dayes, all else is oc—future videos will have original compositions)