Difference between revisions of "The World-Carver"

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{{InfoboxHour
 
{{InfoboxHour
−
| title = The Firstborn
+
| title = The World-Carver
−
| card = the Lovers
+
| origin = from-Flesh
−
| quote = The firstborn claims to be the first among hours, and whilst this is certainly not true,he has the power to wage war on those who contradict his vanity.
+
| card = the Moon
−
| origin = from flesh
+
| titles = He Who Crawls in the Shapes Below, the Biter
−
| titles = His majesty the Fistborn, first among the hours, the beautiful, Apollon, etc
+
| names = NONE
−
| names = The hundred-winged, the Secondborn
+
| aspects = Edge, Moth, and Forge
−
| aspects = Grail and Edge
+
| owners = Cyborg-Squid
−
| owners = Gwreet
+
| arrival = Modern Era
−
| date of arrival = classical era
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
  
 
== Appearance ==
 
== Appearance ==
−
The firstborn appears as an almost irritatingly beautiful man in greek armor, but he is also known to appear as a firefly when he brings the new day.
+
That of a human man dressed in a fine vest, but his head is that of a termite, and in his hands he holds a hammer and chisel made of bone. Another depiction by the mad and deceased painter Tiaja has him with 6 outstretched termite arms, a silver needle grasped in each and appearing to thrust out towards the viewer.
  
 
== Principles ==
 
== Principles ==
−
Grail for pleasure and self-indulgence, edge for a hot temper and fighting prowess, and both for vanity. He is known for his pride, and the wrath that follows the injury of his pride.  
+
Forge for his construction of his under-realm, Moth to hide it, and Edge for its protection.  
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
The Firstborn is said to have originated from a small village in Phrygia, albeit it’s name has been forgotten by the histories, as was his original  name. Beloved by all, men, women  and even the creatures of the Mansus, he rapidly developed a highly narcissistic and dismissive personality, which ultimately proved to be his undoing: after being harshly turned down, a forest-seer laid a curse on him, that he „never shall leave his house, lest he die.“ Infuriated, he ran  after the seer, but as soon as he set foot on the doorsteps, he felt himself weakening.
+
In his dreams, he dreamed of the Mansus, of this vast unknowable prison, this secret knowledge. His story is almost a classic occult one, of an adept learning more and more about the secret world and attempting to make his way there. He stumbles upon a fragment of a God-from-Stone, the Avulsed, and begins to craft and shape with it, making it into the foundation of his home. Perfect, beautiful, comfortable, a place for him and him alone. He works and works and works on it all his life, until one day it is finished, and it is gone, for two Mansus at once can not be tolerated. He was taken into the Mansus proper, but the shape and power of what he built still remains for adepts and acolytes to pursue, in the form of the Long Hallway.  
−
Using his beauty as a bargaining chip, he slowly built up a cult, seeking ascension into the Mansus, because if he can't leave his house, he shall move to a bigger one. As the years passed by, he built up a cult, amassed a great hoard of treasures, incited strife between the hours, and directed his cultists in the flaying of Marsyas, the forest-seer who had cursed him. As the time had come and the hours were infighting more than ever, he seized his window of opportunity and ascended through the Sea Gate, in an monumental orgy in which he ultimately betrayed all his lovers, reciting the Formulae Excessive over and over.
 
  
−
He is a hot-headed hour, easily tricked into a fight, which he however will probably win. He both fights and loves with great passion, but most of all he loves himself. Sometimes, he is known to act erratically, but no affiliation with moth was ever proven.
+
== Worship ==
  
−
== Worship ==
+
He Who Crawls in the Shapes Below does not demand your worship, oh no no no, all he demands is your service. No veneration, only dedication!
 +
 
 +
His Ideals? To carve out a world, a new world, beneath this one. To shape and mold according to his whims, a place for all the under-things to dwell.
  
−
The Firstborn is worshipped by the beautiful and the ugly alike, to preserve or improve and by those who wish to fight with a brutal and unrelenting strenght, as opposed to The Abbess Sunsets worshippers.
+
He does not open the way, but once you make it here, he may have a place for you, far beneath. He does not share his knowledge, for he desireth none, he desireth nothing but your aid. Help him carve, dear one, be carved in turn, and witness the rise and descent.
 +
He wishes only to forge a place for himself, a place where he comfortable, and maybe if you are like him, you will be comfortable as well.
  
−
Strangely, he is also worshipped by the betrayed, and those who fear to be betrayed, but it is not known why.
+
Do you feel dissatisfied with your normal life? Are things difficult? Imagine if they were easier. Imagine that your life is pleasant. It does not have to just be a dream. The World-Carver can help you make it so. All he asks is some help from you, and you will be helped in turn. Just take that hammer, take that chisel, maybe take that knife, and start carving. He will guide the shapes and structure. Just cede your will to him.
  
−
There are two known ways to gain his attention, but both involve a sacrifice, which has to be given freely and for the sake of admiration: either you scar yourself, appealing to his aspect of edge, or you offer of your blood, for his aspect of grail.
+
“Give your ambition to me. You don’t need it, I will do the work for you, so you may be comfortable. Just give your will, your body, your mind. You won’t need it.”
  
 
=== Cults ===
 
=== Cults ===
  
−
His church is the Order of His Majesty the Firstborn, as one would have expected.
+
They never last long, he always finds some way to trick them into letting him take control of them. Many of them tend to be individual opportunists heeding his lures of comfort, pleasure, and a better life.  
  
 
=== Mark ===
 
=== Mark ===
−
# '''Temptation: Beauty: I have been informed that I hold the key to unearthly beauty.
+
# '''Temptation:  
−
# '''Dedication: Beauty: I have decided to pursue unearthly beauty by all means.
+
# '''Dedication:  
−
# '''Ascension: The skin‘s mark: I have scarred my skin with repetitions of the Formulae Excessive, to remember the Betrayed's sacrifice.
+
# '''Ascension:  
−
# '''Ascension: The hairs‘s mark: I have shaven my hair and set it aflame, to remember the Betrayed's torment.
+
# '''Ascension:  
−
# '''Ascension: The mouth‘s mark: I have sewn my lips together, to remember the Betrayed's acceptance.
+
# '''Ascension:  
−
# '''Ascension: The eye‘s mark: I have gouged out my eyes, to remember the Betrayed's fascination. Now, the Firstborn will surely renew me, more beautiful then ever before.
+
# '''Ascension:  
  
 
=== Servants ===
 
=== Servants ===
  
−
He is served by the souls of those killed without honor , the Betrayed, which he sacrificed, which are his most fanatical and feared servants, and he gains power from all those who learn of the place behind desire.
+
He lacks the traditional servants most Hours have, forsaking the use of Long and Names altogether. He is a greedy Hour, with no desire to share, and this consolidation of his power and essence helps keep him alive in a House very hostile towards him. He does number many mortals among his servants, however, they are more like slaves. He strips them of their will and personality and embeds commands within their minds, normally whatever construction function they are supposed to be preforming. The best workers are those who give their minds willingly, and so the World-Carver attempts to wheedle and trick them into Faustian bargains. While he does make the typical 'soul upon death' bargains, a corpse is of no use to him and disruption in the flow of souls can end up bringing unwanted attention on him. He does his best to obtain a mortal while they are still alive and, hopefully, in their physical prime. Once obtained, they are put to work chiseling out new tunnels and similar constructions, working ceaselessly until their bodies eventually fail and they perish. The World-Carver is also able to take control of a mind directly and influence and manipulate them, but that ends up being more hands on then others, which he does not prefer.
−
Other than that, he mainly seeks to corrupt other hours followers by offering them tokens of irresistible beauty, in the endless game of backstabbing and intrigue in the house, building up a network of informants, spies and traitors, and whilst he is not smart enough to play the great game to the fullest, he is clever enough to pose a threat to those who incur his wrath.
 
  
 
== Locations ==
 
== Locations ==
 
=== The Fansus ===
 
=== The Fansus ===
  
−
To this day, he still resides at and presides over the Sea Gate, where he built his fortress of unchartered pleasures, the Red Keep.
+
He is both within and without the Mansus. He rarely traverses there fully, due to his many enemies. He prefers mainly to use his Avulsed-Fragment, a potent remnant of the God-From-Stone that once governed the powers of Knock, as an (mostly) inaccessible (to those those who aren't Him) base in which he lives and constructs his new home. This has sometimes been termed as 'the Under-Places' or 'The Space Below'.  
  
 
=== The Histories ===
 
=== The Histories ===
  
−
His earliest notable involvement in the matters of the hours was his meddeling in their affairs to worsen their conflicts for a while, to create an window of opportunity for his ascension.
+
The Long Hallway: A location that transcends limitation of space, a twisting hellscape of labyrinthine architecture. As a mortal, the World-Carver practiced the arts of many aspects, and while Knock was core in his construction of the Long hallway, he only now possesses that power in his Avulsed-Fragment, and has abandoned any attempts to control the Long Hallway, at least for now.
−
He has been known to have played a part in the Extirpation, although no one really knows what exactly he did. The Weft might suspect something.
 
  
 
== Items ==
 
== Items ==
 
=== Tools ===
 
=== Tools ===
  
−
A piece of Marsyas Skin (6 Grail, 6 Edge)
 
−
Something that was taken forcefully, but with acceptance.
 
−
 
−
A pebble of his doorsteps (6 Grail)
 
−
You desire to step on it, but something tells you that you shouldn’t.
 
  
−
A particular knive (2 Edge)
 
−
Legend has it that knives like this one slit the throats of the betrayed.
 
  
 
=== Ingredients ===
 
=== Ingredients ===
  
−
A furious red (2 Grail, 2 Edge) (paints)
 
−
It is really livid.
 
  
−
A vial of indefined proportions (8 Grail) (poison 2)
 
−
Drink it! Drink it! Don’t.
 
  
 
=== Influences ===
 
=== Influences ===
  
−
(Wouldn’t those be generic grail/ edge influences?)
+
 
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
−
The flaying of Marsyas
 
−
Before the translation: An ecstatic poem, written in greek, supposedly translated from phrygian.
 
−
After the translation: An ecstatic poem, re-telling the flaying of Marsyas from an unusual perspective.
 
  
−
Before the study: This poem, allegedly written by an unnamed exalted of the firstborn, describes the flaying from Marsyas perspective, which he claims to have taken in his dreams.
 
−
After the Study: So I take your skin, and with it your power, to avenge our lord. (Expand?)
 
  
−
Yields: Grail 4 lore, Edge 4 lore, fascination
+
=== Rites ===
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== About the World-Carver ==
  
−
The Betrayal of the hundred
+
=== How They Feel ===
−
Before the translation: Copied from a stele in the Artemision by Maxim Gladwell. Ciphered in Vak.
 
−
After the translation: This is a copy from a much older inscription, allegedly an account of the legendary Betrayal of the hundred.
 
  
−
Before the study: The donor who paid for the stele claims to have seen "Apollon's ascent", and pleads for Artemis to protect him from "the hundred-winged."
 
−
After the Study: The description itself is not much more than a traumatized man's stuttering, but he seems to remember the words that were spoken quite well.
 
  
−
Yields: Formulae Excessive (Grail 10 lore), the Rite of betrayal, dread
 
  
−
On the Firstborn
+
=== Who They Blame ===
−
Before the translation: Maxim Gladwell research notes on the Firstborn. Ciphered in Vak.
 
−
After the translation: The longer you work, the more scared you get. So did Gladwell. You don't dare to read the last page yet.
 
  
−
Before the Study: You are not sure if you should read this. Gladwell, whilst increasingly incoherent throughout the book, seems to have been on some kind of lead.
 
−
After the Study: Oh, the Glory! You don't know what you did after you read the last sentence. It must have been a horrible thing, since there is a lot of Blood on your clothes. But you remember you did well, and you remember a syllable of what you've read before you burned the book in horror.
 
  
−
Yields: A syllable of the Firstborns name (Grail 12 lore), Edge 12 lore, Moth 4 lore, one passion, two fascination, on dread, one notoriety
+
=== What They Hide ===
 +
 
 +
== Relationships ==
 +
 
 +
He is less than fond of the Lantern principle, due to his secretive and hidden nature.
 +
 
 +
* [[The Piper]]: "A kind old man, in a world that is not kind to old men. Could stand to cheer up a little." Neutral.
 +
* [[The Firstborn]]: "Betrayal=good. Fighting Abbess=also good. Could be an ally if that stick could be dislodged from his ass." Neutral.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
* [[The Weft]]: "Tweedle-dee..." Dislikes
 +
* [[The Warp]]: "...and Tweedle-dum." Dislikes.
 +
* [[The Mechanism]]: "Oh, so the furniture can be an Hour, but not me, huh?!" Dislikes.
 +
* [[The Hill-Queen]]: "I use my servants far better than you could use your own kin." Dislikes.
  
−
=== Rites ===
 
  
−
Rite of Betrayal
+
* [[The Distinguished]]: "A woman of ambition and comfort. If only we had started off on better terms..." Conflicted.
 +
* [[The Captain]]: "A potential ally. If only he had picked better allegiances... " Conflicted.
 +
* [[The Gilded Insect]]: "Kindred spirits! :).......But I cannot stand competition >:(." Conflicted.
  
−
This rite is one of the hardest fullfill, due to the fact that it requires that the victim accepts it‘s death freely, re-enacting the Lovers betrayal. Other than that you requre a tool to slay them with, an influence to be consumed, and a piece of his lore.
 
  
−
== About the Firstborn ==
+
* [[The Solemn]]: "If only he could tell me where he buried the bodies, so many more fragments would be mine." Pities.
  
−
=== How They Feel ===
 
  
−
He doesn’t talk about it often, but when he does, he expresses a truly unique piety and humility towards the gods from stone.
+
* [[The Skinner Box]]: "Finally, someone who appreciates my work!" One of his few allies. Likes.
 +
* [[The Millions-Upon-Millions]]: "Friend? Perhaps. Tool? Most certainly." Likes.
 +
* [[The Dongolopticon]]: "Kindred spirits, both enjoy creature comforts, though Dongy could use more ambition." Likes.  
  
−
=== Who They Blame ===
 
  
−
No one. At least this is a bigger prison than before. But if he has to blame someone, he'll blame the Hill-Queen and the Omnipede, just out of spite.
+
* [[Abbess Sunset]]: Has fought with her on equal footing on several occasions, matching her blow for blow, due to his consolidation of power and mastery of Edge and stealth. Hates.  
 +
* [[The Recollection]]: "In the words of a certain uncouth bastard: "Bite me." Hates.  
  
−
=== What They Hide ===
 
  
−
He hides a trinity of secrets: his own name, a grand secret of betrayal, and what he did to the Weave before her body was woven.
+
* [[The Blight-Abiding]]: "Pls kill last?" Fears.
 +
* [[The Mare-Night]]: "Pwease no steppy!" Fears.
 +
* [[Brother Grimalkin]]: "Someone please get him away from me before he ruins everything!" Fears.
 +
* [[The Eye]]: "Gaze not on me, blinding light! Shadows take me, obscure me!" Fears.  
  
−
== Relationships ==
 
  
−
Due to his origin he generally dislikes lantern.
+
* [[The Tessellate]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Stillwater]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Heart-Felt Fantasy]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Prince Consort]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Cantharide]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Fruitbat]]: FNORD
 +
* [[The Stillborn]]: FNORD
  
−
Positive:
 
−
The Gilded Insect: "A brother in heart and mind, and he has a very clear view of the things as they are."
 
−
(He is easily swayed by the golden words of The Gilded Insect, for he shares its principles.)
 
−
The Warp: "I’m pretty sure she likes me. Who doesn't, after all?
 
−
(He loves The Warp for the beauty of her histories, but also envies her for them.)
 
−
The Piper: “It's business."
 
−
(Weather it is some shared interest or genuine respect, he is often seen with him.)
 
−
The Names of the Gods from Stone: He has good relations to them, and can be considered their ally, albeit not a reliable one.
 
−
(They are a tool, that in time might be betrayed.)
 
−
The Stillwater: “It looks pretty.”
 
−
(He has no clue what it really is.)
 
−
The Cantharide: “That’s more like it.”
 
−
(He takes a certain interest in her, for similarities of alignment, theme, and “personal matters”.)
 
−
The Dongolopticon: “Been there, done that.”
 
−
(Obvious.)
 
  
−
Negative:
+
* [[The Avulsed]]: "The dearest, delightful, delectable dead. Oh how you've helped me so, oh how I've helped myself! To you!" Loves!
−
The Omnipede: "Why does it always have to be bugs?"
 
−
(He hates it for its appearance, and for it’s words.)
 
−
The Hill-Queen: “You know what’s worse than bugs? Enigmatic bugs.”
 
−
(He hates her for what she is.)
 
−
The Distinguished: "Who rewards those you betray anyways? What an Idiot. Ehm... don't tell her I said that.”
 
−
(He hates her for her power, which he fears, but also belittles her for her concept of betrayal.)
 
−
The Abess Sunset: “Of all the people here, she is the one I’d not want fight in a one-on-one.”
 
−
(He does not hate her, but he is wary of her might.)
 
−
The Weft: "I don't like her. Way to strict and uptight."
 
−
(She distrusts him, and he does not trust her, and her insistence on the rules.)
 
−
The Captain: “Who does he think he is, to talk to ME it his way?”
 
−
(He dislikes his attitude towards himself.)
 
−
The Skinner Box: “What is it? Don’t know, don’t care.”
 
−
(More of an indifferent, but there is no such category.)
 
−
Brother Grimalkin: “Only a weakling preys on the weak.”
 
−
(Whilst he does like betrayal and mutilation, he does not like a kid ho rips out butterfly wings.)
 
  
  
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[[Category:Gods-From-Flesh (Vol. III)]]
 
[[Category:Gods-From-Flesh (Vol. III)]]
 
[[Category:Edge (Vol. III)]]
 
[[Category:Edge (Vol. III)]]
−
[[Category:Grail (Vol. III)]]
+
[[Category:Forge (Vol. III)]]
 +
[[Category:Moth (Vol. III)]]

Latest revision as of 06:23, 18 December 2024

The World-Carver
FNORD.png
Origin from-Flesh
Titles He Who Crawls in the Shapes Below, the Biter
Names NONE
Aspects Edge, Moth, and Forge
Date of arrival Modern Era
Owner(s) Cyborg-Squid


Appearance

That of a human man dressed in a fine vest, but his head is that of a termite, and in his hands he holds a hammer and chisel made of bone. Another depiction by the mad and deceased painter Tiaja has him with 6 outstretched termite arms, a silver needle grasped in each and appearing to thrust out towards the viewer.

Principles

Forge for his construction of his under-realm, Moth to hide it, and Edge for its protection.

History

In his dreams, he dreamed of the Mansus, of this vast unknowable prison, this secret knowledge. His story is almost a classic occult one, of an adept learning more and more about the secret world and attempting to make his way there. He stumbles upon a fragment of a God-from-Stone, the Avulsed, and begins to craft and shape with it, making it into the foundation of his home. Perfect, beautiful, comfortable, a place for him and him alone. He works and works and works on it all his life, until one day it is finished, and it is gone, for two Mansus at once can not be tolerated. He was taken into the Mansus proper, but the shape and power of what he built still remains for adepts and acolytes to pursue, in the form of the Long Hallway.

Worship

He Who Crawls in the Shapes Below does not demand your worship, oh no no no, all he demands is your service. No veneration, only dedication!

His Ideals? To carve out a world, a new world, beneath this one. To shape and mold according to his whims, a place for all the under-things to dwell.

He does not open the way, but once you make it here, he may have a place for you, far beneath. He does not share his knowledge, for he desireth none, he desireth nothing but your aid. Help him carve, dear one, be carved in turn, and witness the rise and descent. He wishes only to forge a place for himself, a place where he comfortable, and maybe if you are like him, you will be comfortable as well.

Do you feel dissatisfied with your normal life? Are things difficult? Imagine if they were easier. Imagine that your life is pleasant. It does not have to just be a dream. The World-Carver can help you make it so. All he asks is some help from you, and you will be helped in turn. Just take that hammer, take that chisel, maybe take that knife, and start carving. He will guide the shapes and structure. Just cede your will to him.

“Give your ambition to me. You don’t need it, I will do the work for you, so you may be comfortable. Just give your will, your body, your mind. You won’t need it.”

Cults

They never last long, he always finds some way to trick them into letting him take control of them. Many of them tend to be individual opportunists heeding his lures of comfort, pleasure, and a better life.

Mark

  1. Temptation:
  2. Dedication:
  3. Ascension:
  4. Ascension:
  5. Ascension:
  6. Ascension:

Servants

He lacks the traditional servants most Hours have, forsaking the use of Long and Names altogether. He is a greedy Hour, with no desire to share, and this consolidation of his power and essence helps keep him alive in a House very hostile towards him. He does number many mortals among his servants, however, they are more like slaves. He strips them of their will and personality and embeds commands within their minds, normally whatever construction function they are supposed to be preforming. The best workers are those who give their minds willingly, and so the World-Carver attempts to wheedle and trick them into Faustian bargains. While he does make the typical 'soul upon death' bargains, a corpse is of no use to him and disruption in the flow of souls can end up bringing unwanted attention on him. He does his best to obtain a mortal while they are still alive and, hopefully, in their physical prime. Once obtained, they are put to work chiseling out new tunnels and similar constructions, working ceaselessly until their bodies eventually fail and they perish. The World-Carver is also able to take control of a mind directly and influence and manipulate them, but that ends up being more hands on then others, which he does not prefer.

Locations

The Fansus

He is both within and without the Mansus. He rarely traverses there fully, due to his many enemies. He prefers mainly to use his Avulsed-Fragment, a potent remnant of the God-From-Stone that once governed the powers of Knock, as an (mostly) inaccessible (to those those who aren't Him) base in which he lives and constructs his new home. This has sometimes been termed as 'the Under-Places' or 'The Space Below'.

The Histories

The Long Hallway: A location that transcends limitation of space, a twisting hellscape of labyrinthine architecture. As a mortal, the World-Carver practiced the arts of many aspects, and while Knock was core in his construction of the Long hallway, he only now possesses that power in his Avulsed-Fragment, and has abandoned any attempts to control the Long Hallway, at least for now.

Items

Tools

Ingredients

Influences

Books

Rites

About the World-Carver

How They Feel

Who They Blame

What They Hide

Relationships

He is less than fond of the Lantern principle, due to his secretive and hidden nature.

  • The Piper: "A kind old man, in a world that is not kind to old men. Could stand to cheer up a little." Neutral.
  • The Firstborn: "Betrayal=good. Fighting Abbess=also good. Could be an ally if that stick could be dislodged from his ass." Neutral.


  • The Weft: "Tweedle-dee..." Dislikes
  • The Warp: "...and Tweedle-dum." Dislikes.
  • The Mechanism: "Oh, so the furniture can be an Hour, but not me, huh?!" Dislikes.
  • The Hill-Queen: "I use my servants far better than you could use your own kin." Dislikes.


  • The Distinguished: "A woman of ambition and comfort. If only we had started off on better terms..." Conflicted.
  • The Captain: "A potential ally. If only he had picked better allegiances... " Conflicted.
  • The Gilded Insect: "Kindred spirits! :).......But I cannot stand competition >:(." Conflicted.


  • The Solemn: "If only he could tell me where he buried the bodies, so many more fragments would be mine." Pities.



  • Abbess Sunset: Has fought with her on equal footing on several occasions, matching her blow for blow, due to his consolidation of power and mastery of Edge and stealth. Hates.
  • The Recollection: "In the words of a certain uncouth bastard: "Bite me." Hates.




  • The Avulsed: "The dearest, delightful, delectable dead. Oh how you've helped me so, oh how I've helped myself! To you!" Loves!
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