Natrax took the microphone and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She wondered if the heat of Xæth ran through the nation's politics much in the way the cold was representative of Nyx'. She stilled herself, in someways she felt she was in a pit of vipers. She cleared her throat and began.

"In many ways, recent meetings of the Coalition Delegation have echoed the words of the Celestial Empress. For years, we have been embroiled in the famous, “Nyx First,” policy. Our state concerned itself with what was inside our borders and ignored the outside world. During this time, with little regulation or direction, our economy flourished. This was our major, or as some would say our sole, connection to the world. But we have not abandoned our previous policy, rather adapted it. Nyx looks forward to the future with could perhaps be described roughly as “Aranye First.” Aranye is a complex continent with numerous issues. Starting in the East, we have the question of the two states of Kaitaine. An issue that all of Mundus seems both keen and scared to poke their heads into. Slava Lavosk developing nuclear weapons, bringing down the ire of the international community. Then there is MidAranye. A sort of mini-continent in its own right. One plagued by economic and wealth disparity- look at Clysperi, another nation that is also rising from isolation. But unlike Xaeth or Nyx, it has to deal with the ravages of its former soviet occupation. To the east, there is Lakhozia and Seaforth. Nations that have bound themselves, and their destinies to foreigners. Where does that leave Xaeth and Nyx? Two nations that are in their own right powerful. Speaking of powerful, there is one important Aranye nation I have left out. And it seems appropriate, given their silence on and lack of willingness to aid Aranye. I speak of course of Achkaerin. The great power in the North. Or I should say superpower.

You see there are three super powers in Mundus, and it’s actually very easy to figure out which three nations these are. They all possess nuclear armaments. Which is an issue for the MAEA to solve. But let’s, for the sake of argument, characterize these nations, very quickly and roughly. Firstly, we have East Moreland, whose influence can best be described through CNN. A massive cross continental supra-state. Moreland exerts and gathers its power through a massive series of international political alliances. It is in a sense everyone's friend and through its soft power, it shapes the world around it. Then you have Rokkenjima, once a traditional and leading player, it has since seen a sharp decline in international allies and reputation. Now it seeks to forge and tie its fate with SANE, a regional power bloc. This union could propel the nations of SANE to take a new interest in international politics. But what about Achkaerin? The Northern superpower, and Aranyan superpower, has in some ways chosen to go at it alone. They have treaties here and there and are a member of a number of international organizations. But they have not chosen an international alliance or a regional one. When it comes to regional politics, Achkaerin seemingly has little connection to Aranye. They have treaties with nations including East Moreland, Vaguzia, Seaforth, Nya Aland, and of course Rokkenjima. Interestingly, I believe Seaforth is the only Aranyan nation on that list.

Granted these are very rough ideas of the superpowers and do not have the nuances that real life affords. But the point I make is that Aranye, as a continent is not a priority. It is a land of annoyances that should be mostly ignored or have minimal effort put in. Tamora was sanctioned and that was the end of it. Achkaerin, like most of Mundus, hasn't even taken an official stance on the Theocracy of Kaitine. What some call a terrorist group that occupies the same continent as the Holy Empire. Please do not mistake my words as insults or negatives. I mean to illuminate a glaring problem, one that I believe is systemic. The problem is that there is a sphere of those nations that belong and those that don't. In a sense, the players and the watchers. And what happens when one of the watchers wants to become a player without permission...hmm? Look to Slava or Tamora. In the same sense as before, I am not justifying either nation or their actions. But it is interesting that unlike with the Theocracy, they both saw swift and decisive action when they stepped out of line. But there is a key difference to the Theocracy and the two Aranye nations. The Theocracy is connected to an international religion, the Bene Gesserit, with Chapterhouses in Achkaerin, Kaitine and Ui Ceinnselaig. It is not a watcher or solely Aranyan.

What does any of this have to do with Xæth and Nyx relations you might be wondering? I believe it has everything to do with it. You see, in our modern age, the world is far more interconnected than ever. But we are both emerging from isolation. An isolation that has kept us from connecting in ways other nations have. An isolation that can be used against us. We do not have the connections of the Theocracy to protect us. Unlike it, we are Aranyan solely. What do we know of the complexities of international politics? How can we possibly understand the history involved? I fear that both Xæth and Nyx have been labelled watchers. And I fear that should either of us make a move too out of line of the designation that has been thrust upon us we will face consequences. So, I say to our sister-nation, our continental neighbor, very clearly and for all to hear, we will not turn on you. We will not damn you. Aranye is not going to accept being trampled over anymore. Nyx seeks nothing but friendship and unity with the Celestial Empire."

After a poor showing at the official Nythymn Mundus Games debut yesterday left many less than hopeful. Losing poorly to Tytor in the first round of the Men's Beach Volleyball tournament (losing both games by at least 7 points; 21-14 21-12). But today Nyx has cause to rejoice. Placing in the top 8 for both the Mens 50m Freestyle and the Mens 100m Breaststroke. But more importantly winning a bronze medal in the Mens 100m Butterfly and a gold in Womens 100m Breaststroke. The gold medalist is 15 year old Rita Marlark, beating the second place Pramorian by less than .5 of a second.

Day three of the Games is going to be even more exciting as two events the Nythymn are favored to do well in start tomorrow: shooting and gymnastics. Gymnastics is possibly the make it or break it event for Nyx' continuance at the Games' next year. Nationally, it is one of the most competitive and well-regarded sports. But the international rules used by the Games are perhaps the more different for Gymnastics than any other sport. If the Nythymn Gymnasts fail to secure positions on the podium, many will be looking at these contrasts in regulations as the cause. There is fear that younger Gymnasts may begin training for international competitions and participation and performance in national ones will decrease. To avoid this, already many gymnastics organizations are pressuring the Coalition Delegation to return to ignoring the Mundus Games. Will the Nyx Gymnastics team, including national darling Zash Ka'karo, be able to elevate these fears and prove that they have the ability to perform at the highest levels both domestically and internationally? This will be answered in the upcoming days.

I am joyed to hear of the Empress' invitation and interest in Necrova and Nythymn culture. As a fellow Aranye nation, the Coalition would love to expand the trust between us. Indeed, the Delegation hopes that our relationship may blossom into a friendship that shall strengthen the whole of the continent. Sadly, I am not strong enough to make the journey alone. To this end, I will be accompanied by Archdruid Iaxxodril and Ionia Maar Velkin. And most importantly, the beautiful Empress Qi'rrow. I hope that one day, when she is older, she'll be able to repeat this journey on her own.
 
Signed,
Ascendant Natrax

For the first time in history, the Coalition is participating in the Mundus Games, this year being held in New Derusmia. The Nythymn athletes are hoping for a good showing, not expecting on causing a massive upset. Sticking with some of the more traditional and common sports within the Coalition, Nythymn will be competing in mostly in events such as swimming, diving and shooting. There has been a relatively large uproar within the large Nythymn skating community that Nyx will be absent from those events. In the past, Nythymn have actually participated under the international game's flag in the halfpipe and freestyle. But many are hopeful that should Nyx send a committee next year, skateboarding will be included.

Nyx' athletic culture is different than the international one, and many of the first time competitors have had to adapt to new rules and regulations. This has always been a concern and one of the major reasons for Nyx being absent from the Mundus Games. There is fear that the premier athletes will go abroad, learn the international standards and bring them back home. Traditionalists are fearful that Nythymn culture could be altered and the Coalition could be the next victim of cultural imperialism. The Delegation seems to be sympathetic to these concerns, as this is likely the reason Nyx will have one of the smaller national games committees. Despite this, young athletes are excited at the prospects of being able to test themselves on a much larger stage.

Zash Ka'karo has been chosen to hold the Nyx flag at the opening ceremony. This is a nod to the hard work and lobbying the 18 year old did on convincing the Coalition Delegation to allow a national committee. This has been met with some resistance as the young gymnast is an Agni. Some are concerned that someone from a lower Stratum should not be the representing face of the nation. Zash remains hopeful though, promising to bring home "nothing but gold."

Yesterday at an Asurian archeological dig run by the National University of Erebyx, an old kingdom tablet was unearthed. Written in an old and long forgotten dialect of Celestial, it took a team of specialists several hours before they were even able to confirm what the tablet was- one of the missing pieces of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The two major version of the Epic that exist are the the standard version, He Who Saw the Deep, and the older version, Surpassing All Other Kings. Separated both by the time period they hail from and the different words in their openings. In addition, there are several unrelated poems that mostly tell of random adventures of Gilgamesh and his faithful companion, Enkidu. While the majority of the standard version has been recovered and reconstructed, the older version is more of a mystery. But if the initial translations are correct, this could all change. The new tablet is possibly the largest and most well-preserved piece of the older version ever found. This could be the biggest break through since the discovery of the first Epic itself.

The older version seems to be a collection of stories from various sources that tell of the life of Gilgamesh. In contrast the standard version seems to be more of a single collective retelling, a unified version. The standard version is much more focused on the "deep," the knowledge Gilgamesh learns from his journeys- including the nature of morality, how to live a good life, and pray the Gods. Because of the lack of central unifying themes, the older version can offer far more clues into what life was like in ancient Asuria through the different perspectives of its authors. One of the reasons Surpassing All Other Kings is so highly regarded is because while not only is it the oldest piece of epic literature, but it is widely believed that parts of it were written by women. Women hold a powerful position in Asurian culture and society, the nation having almost always been lead by a Matriarch. But the Epic has shown us just how far back this importance can be traced.

While it may be some months before the new tablet is fully translated, scholars will be learning and interpreting it for years to come. The world of ancient Asuria just got that much more knowable.

(OOC: Gonna give it one more round of posts before starting the dinner for Dave and B, and also cause I have to figure out what the heck Nythymn cuisine would be lol)

Wrex studied Junko's skin. In many ways it reminded him of a druid's skin, their bodies too were a collection of tattoos and scars that told all sorts of religious stories and mandates. But druids jealously guarded them, hoping to use them against each other. He found the Quywe fashion of proudly displaying them refreshing. He nodded along with the Speaker's words. It was invigorating to see not all of Mundus was so backwards. "There is a power in the divine that few cultures seem to truly posses. They follow their own petty superstitions blindly and unquestioning and yet look down on the rituals that do not mirror their own. I am glad to make your acquaintance."

---

Iaxxodril ushered the Empress out of the room, leading her back as he answered her question. "There's a lot that goes into it. Necra is known to be a strange and twisted, this may sound harsh, but I mean it in that she has a unique personality. Before she came to rule the afterlife, she was known for being shy and pure. But tangle with the forces of death for as long as she has and it changes you. The physical depictions of monsters are to illuminate her monstrous nature. It is something we cherish in her. To us, more than with any of the other Gods of the Hallowed Pantheon, Necra is the furthest from a human. Though we tell stories, we have our legends and myths of death, no one truly knows anything of the afterlife. It is all faith. Unknowable. Necra is unknowable in the same manner. Unlike the others of her Pantheon, she also has little care for Mundus. Her care for the living world is only because her love, Reaver resides here. It is rare for her to create a physical vessel to send part of her soul to Mundus, an Avatar as we call them. Necra's Avatars usually have some sort of deformity, because her soul is connected with that which is not alive, it partially rejects the living vessel. Previous Avatars have been often been blind or mute. There was once an ancient heretic cult that actually cut their tongues and eyes thinking it might bring them closer to the Goddess. Hmm, such a morbid practice. The world is already cruel enough."

They had reached their destination and the Druid opened the door, rejoining everyone else in the ballroom. Dinner was almost ready, Iaxxodril could smell the aromas wafting through the halls. 

---

Axel's words might have been flattery to another woman, but Vizla was still unimpressed. Not that she showed this of course. "The cult I grew up in, the Sybil are noted for their prophetic visions and dreams. When the Empress was born, one of my sisters sent word of a dream she had that night. Best translated, I believe it would be... 'Kings will weep as babes for her forgiveness and Queens will flock like doves to hear her words. She will have the power to shape and build empires, as if they were sand among a beach, crumpling them with a wave of her hand. When she cries, the world cries, and when she laughs, the world shakes in agreement. This one' blood shall be as if the blood of Mundus, when she bleeds the world bleeds.' Quite the reputation to live up to, isn't it?"

---

Velkin turned to the Matriarch, who nodded. He watched the Grand General drink before answering. "I'm afraid as the two Delegation members from Asuria, we can tell you little of the Black Crypt's doing. But, there are al sorts of rituals conducted through Nyx. The specifics vary depending on who is preforming them. While the Black Crypt and Vom Chancery are two major religious institution, there are a number of cults within the Coalition, both state-sponsored and heretical. Every group has varying beliefs and different specifics to their rituals. But the majority of the rituals are for the same goals- prayers for forgiveness of sins and guidance, purification of ones soul, prophesying dreams and visions, asking the Gods for favors or blessings. I doubt much of it is very different than most other religions in Mundus. There are of course special cases, the Black Crypt once practiced the Rite of Rak'Nepenthe, where one is made to forget their life and in essence reincarnation, allowed to live a second life, freed from their past. In Asuria, the when a Matriarch dies, one of the Maidens, her body servants, must take her place. To do so is through the Rite of Shir. It is a bloody and dark rite. They Maidens slaughter each other without remorse until all but one have either yielded or are dead. There are few rules, and so word of a Matriarch's death within her home is extremely important. It is perhaps one of the most violent surviving ritual."

Natrax listened to King David's speech with interest. She had heard much of the King of Moreland. The famed and beloved ruler to the Coalition's west. It was also interesting his telling of the old tripartite- the alliance between Rokkenjima, Seaforth and East Moreland. Nyx may have maintained its isolation for a long time, but, as the Ascendant was learning more and more, the Delegation was far less than ignorant in the outside world. In fact, the death of the previous Ascendant and her own crowning could not have come at a better time. The Delegation had used this shift in power to push for their global interests. Even Natrax hadn't been able to fully uncover what exactly they may be.

Nyx would have a small showing at the Festival; the Black Swan. Natrax had rode abroad it on the journey to Portworth and was quiet impressed. While she might not fully understand the technological marvel it was, aesthetically it was beautiful. And the insides had been partially remodeled to resemble a shrine to Necra. It was extremely impressive. And would hopefully teach more outsiders about Necrova. Natrax had been particularly horrified hearing about the reactions of the outsiders at her crowning. Although she had to admit it was partially funny too. The Suzerain had wanted to send a show a force- a small detachment of military vessels, both historic and in-service. Natrax vetoed the idea. The last thing they needed was a dick measuring contest. Before Natrax had any power, she, like most of the Coalition, saw Wrex as the reasonable and understanding leader of the Delegation. But she was beginning to suspect more and more that it was just a mask.

Sitting next to Natrax was Noah, her oldest friend. The Archdruid was meant to be the one accompanying her, but the Ascendant was able to convince the Delegation otherwise. As Amelia told her at the Tytorian wedding, David liked to mix politics and events such as these. She figured by having a friend here, it would create a more causal presences rather than a business one. And Noah was not some Agni himself. Noah was a Seeker, in essence a hunter who has dedicated his life to Reaver. Natrax was also Seeker before her crowning, they had trained together.

With difficulty, Natrax attempted to eat the breakfast provided. She had placed the plate on her leg and was balancing it while trying to fork up the scrambled eggs. But her left hand was still not use to holding a fork. She decided to try a different tactic and went for the salmon. She stabbed into it and tried to brute force a chunk out, almost slipping her plate in the process. Noah eyed her, "Would you like some help?"

"I can feed myself." It came off harsher than she meant it. She thought about apologizing, but humbling herself was not a skill Natrax had learned quite yet. Noah took it in stride. When they were younger, really when Natrax was less mature, it was a trait she hated about Noah. No matter what abuse she threw at him, he understood she hadn't meant it and never held it against her. It was perhaps why he was the only one to grew so close to her when they were Seekers.

"So how is being the Ascendant? Is it everything you hoped for?"

"I never wished for any of this. You more than anyone else should know that." Noah sighed. It was one of his famous- I completely disagree, and I know I'm correct so I won't even attempt to argue with you. Natrax rolled her eyes, her customary response.

"Perhaps, but you always wanted something more. I always knew that. The life of a Seeker was never something you cherished. You even hated it."

"Could you blame me?"

"Now, no, I understand. But as a child? My best friend leaving me all alone without a word. It was a wound I nursed for many years."

"It wasn't about you."

"I know, but I always thought I was your brother."

This was a much rawer conversation than Natrax was prepared to have. Especially so early in the morning. She was still groggy from sleep. "Noah, now is not the time. Later." He nodded. Noah was always so damn reasonable. An attendant was passing by. "Excuse me, I'm finished with my meal, could you please take it?"

The waitress responded with the usual of course and took Natrax' plate. She looked over and saw David talking with some other figures. He was holding a woman's hand. The Lodjain. Stasya? They looked happy. Smiling in each other's presence. Happy people always made Natrax' skin crawl. She muttered under her breath, "I was your brother too."

Noah heard her whisper, but couldn't make out any distinct words. "What was that?"

"It's a lovely day for a festival, dontcha agree?'"

All names and specific references have been removed to protect the identities of all involved.

While previously Free Mundus reported on East Moreland's contribution to the international arms market, various reporters have been sent underground to investigate the sell and distribution of armaments through the international black market. Investigators were sent across Mundus to follow the trail of black-market weapons to their origin point. I was part of a team of investigators sent into Haruna, where a street war is being waged between local police and gangsters.

Upon arriving in the city, we were quickly forced to take shelter from the fighting. As the nightly fighting died down, we wandered the streets in such of rebels. Eventually we were able to make contract with the anti-government forces. Gaining access to the gang stronghold within the Hashiru-Okage district, we were permitted to inspect the weaponry. Gang members told us that they bought the majority of arms from the Black Dragons, an international crime cartel notorious for its connections to the illegal drug and arms trades. After coming in contact with smugglers working for the Black Dragons, they agree to smuggle us out of the Neo Quywe Federation for a large sum of money. They would take us to the drop point where they first received the merchandise. Thus, we end up on a charter flight to Tamora.

Our time in Tamora was brief and in a lot of ways much scarier than in NQF. Towards the end of our flight, we were blindfolded in order to protect the security of the illegal landing zone. We landed and were moved into a car, which we rode in for about half an hour. We were taken inside a warehouse and finally our blindfolds were removed. The warehouse was basically being used as a shipping center, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of boxes being held in the facility. Guns and bullets were everywhere. I've never seen anything like the amount of weaponry just laying around. It was almost unfeasible. Workers would open incoming boxes, take inventory of its contents and redistribute it among their own containers. The whole thing was highly efficient and not what I'd imagine when I thought of criminal activity. It was almost identical to the efficiency and precision of a standard commercial shipping center. 

We asked a number of workers if they knew where the guns came from. None knew, and few even seemed to care. Working just for the paycheck. Our gun analyst was able to give us our next lead. He said that most the of guns were made domestically in the Nyx Coalition. It's been long regard that Nyx weapons were a huge part of the black market, but our analyst said seeing it all with his own eyes that it was surprising just the sheer percentage of of guns that were Nythymn in origin. Even I had to admit that the excellent condition of the incoming merchandise was alarming. One of the guards told us that they received daily deliveries from semi-trucks coming from the west. This meant that they were originating from Coft Arayne most likely.

We decided to follow our gut instinct and travel directly to the Coalition. While Nyx has long maintained its isolation, with recent changes in foreign policy, the nation had been receiving an influx of tourists. We were able to blend in with the crowds. Surprisingly, it was only a few hours before we were able to set up a gun buy. Simply long into the Nyx Dark Web, a couple of searches, a few messages and all done. We meet on the waterfront, which wasn't as deserted as you'd think. Our dealer was extremely mild mannered. A young adult, maybe in his early twenties. His English was extremely broken but was more than happy to sell to us. In exchange for §10,000, he happily sold us 10 BR18s. Which firstly is at, if not below, market value and an extremely modern and advanced assault rifle. He seemed more than willing to talk with us, openly and easily answering any of our questions. He said it was quite common for foreigners to come and purchase arms in the Coalition. Often, they would have to buy an additional price to have them smuggled back home, but that was an extremely easy part of the business. We asked what was his largest sale and he said he had a weekly regular who he'd sell over a hundred rifles to. The only thing he was unwilling to answer was anything having to do with where the guns themselves came from. He proudly told us that he once sold a MBT-12, a mainline battle tank. He was so excited when it happened that he called his brother and let him drive it for ten minutes.

Given all of this, it seemed clear that Nyx is likely supplying rebels, criminals, and terrorists across Mundus. Given the quality and availability of the merchandise, I think it’s a fair assumption to assume that the arms companies are somehow complicit, if not directly involved. Sadly, that was as far as our investigation was able to get. The Coalition is a strange and different place and trying to find answers proved difficult. But after everything I've learned, I only have more questions. It seems apparent that Nyx has a major problem with gun regulation, which likely means there is a huge rate of violent crime (the Coalition government has never released any statistics on any crime rates), but where seems to be no push to change this. Is this because of its importance in the black market? If so, how important is the black market in the Nyx' economy? Who and what groups are lobbying to protect the lack of regulation? How high up the leadership of these major companies does this conspiracy extend? Is the government involved? Nyx has supposedly maintained its isolation for the last few years, but is that just a facade? Is the Coalition somehow maintaining and conducting shadowy and secretive political dealings with criminal organizations and terrorist groups globally?

Natrax was sweating heavily. She felt nauseated and was trying her best to hide it. She was still getting use to the loss of her right arm. In the days since the crowning, her body felt weird and big. She hated the feeling, hated feeling like an alien, an outsider, in her own body. Not to mention she still was lopsided, she had to lean on Vizla when she walked. The Vaticinator didn't seem to mind much. She was, of course, concerned with taking care of the little Empress. Qi’rrow did her part, managing to stay quiet for the entire ceremony. Natrax had been concerned that the baby would cause a scene, but Vizla was confident in her ability to calm the Empress. It seems she was right.

In the days since Natrax had become to single most powerful figure in the Coalition, Vizla had become a close friend and confident. She had stayed in Natrax' hospital room while she recovered. It was strange, Natrax was not use to this kind of open kindness, and the longer it went on the more she felt that Vizla generally meant it, that there was no ulterior motive behind her actions. The three of them sat near the wall. While Vizla was an extremely elegant and well-trained dancer, she had two others to take care of.

"Vizla?"

"Yes, my Ascendent."

"Where any of these dignitaries at my crowning?"

"Only the Rokkenjimans. And one of the Quywe- a minister of finance if I am correct. Although there were Morelanders, Achkaerinese, and Xæthoon there too."

"And the Krimeonite?"

"Mysteriously absent it seems." Natrax signed gloomily. "What's wrong my Ascendant?"

"I was hoping to see the Emperor who throw a tantrum myself. To hear you tell of what happened after my sacrifice... outsiders are so strange." Natrax laughed and Vizla joined her. "Vizla go dance. I know you want to. And don't give me that face. I can hold the Empress just fine, I promise."

Vizla had only knew the Ascendant a few days, but still knew it better not to argue. She placed Qi'rrow safely in Natrax' arm and stood up. Rather than go dance she decided she'd grab the pair of them drinks. She went off in search of a servant to get two glasses of strawberry lemonade.

Rak'Nepenthe is one of the oldest rites still practiced today, predating even Necrova. Despite the infamy that Rak'Nepenthe has, it is extremely rare- only around 80 individuals are approved to undergo the rite each year. But what does the rite do? Those who partition the Black Crypt are seeking a new life. For one reason or another, they have found their current one to be unsatisfactory. After an intensive, and highly guarded, ritual lasting over the course of several days, participants come out with no memory of their past life. Total memory loss.

How is this achieved? No one can say for certain. Common speculation is that a cocktail of drugs combine with psychological and physical torture are used. Interestingly, it has been alleged that Nythymn artists are used in the ritual. A review of records going back the past 100 years, shows that at the time of a Rak'Nepenthe, the Black Crypt has always summoned a collective of dancers and actors within its walls. The only reason this doesn't go further back is a lack of existing records. Of course, it is highly unlikely that the Crypt will ever confirm this if it is the case as doing so would expose at least part of the ritual.

After one undergoes the Rak'Nepenthe, their live is forever changed. They are removed from their past life. here is extreme care taken that they will never be able to find information about their past. Interestingly, they are also removed from their stratum and not given a new one. This means they exist outside of Coalition law. The state and church cannot interact with these individuals in an official capacity. Because of this, and their connects to another Pantheon God, they are called Apostles of Reaver.

Most Apostles go on to live simple joyful lives- most partition to undergo the ritual because they are unhappy. A few have become extremely important historical figures. Necrova was originally created and led by a group of Apostles. And while they Crypt now has a different system of leadership, Apostles are responsible for various reforms wither through peaceful means or by revolution and rebellion.

In recent time, since Ascendant Xirk came to power, not a single Rak'Nepenthe has been conducted. There are many theories and conspiracies online as to this reason. Perhaps the most pervasive is that the God, Reaver, is dead. But this is strange as under normal circumstances this would be cause for celebration. Necra's love for Reaver is well-documented and she eagerly awaits Reaver's death as this means they will join together for eternity. The Black Crypt has refused to comment on the matter, only furthering the curiosity. With the rise of a new Ascendant, many hold their breath waiting to see if Ral'Nepenthe will be reinstated.

Suspiria had a lot on its plate. A massive production, the ballet has an astounding 6 full acts and an epilogue, with a total run time of over 4 and a half hours. It is a long and difficult journey to make it through the full thing, but most audience members agree it is well worth it. Choreographer Drae Thom famously stated that this will be her last, and greatest, work almost 4 years ago when she began working on it. Since then Suspiria has only grown more and more famous as Nyx anxiously awaited its premier.

Telling a fictionalized story of the fall of the Cult of Three Mothers in 1977, a Necra death cult that sought to forcibly bring the destruction of Mundus by destroying the Black Crypt. While the Cult of Three Mothers did exist, the surviving members were apprehended and imprisoned. But the state of which the Cult was found has led to massive speculation of their own rituals and practices. Found in an underground cellar of a dance studio, the Cult was in the middle of some sort of blood ritual. Members of the infiltration team have given various accounts of a dark musky smell and presence in the cellar. The majority of the women belonging to the cult were dead, the few survivors performing some sort of dance. The few images that have been released released of the raid show grotesque mutilation of the bodies along with walls and floors covered in blood. And perhaps most intriguing of all, none of the survivors have any memory of the Cult.

Suspiria weaves a narrative that draws inspiration from the real life, but isn't tied to history. In it, the Cult of Three Mothers has disguised itself as a normal everyday ballet company. A dime in dozen among the thriving art scene of the Coalition. But among the leadership of the dance company are the followers of the Cult of Three Mothers. The three mothers themselves are ancient and powerful witches blessed by Necra; Suspiriorum, Tenebrarum, and Lachrymarum. But the Cult is anything but organized. Over the course of the ballet, the Cult of Three Mothers becomes consumed by political infighting, while the young girls belonging to the dance company being to unravel the mystery of the dark forces that lead them.

Suspiria does not pull any punches. One of the goriest and darkest Nythymn ballets ever to exist (which is a statement in of itself), a number of audience members had to excuse themselves during the performance, many not returning. Despite this, Ms. Thom has sculpted a masterpiece once again. Moments of pure magic are intertwined with the grotesque, fear and wonder become one as the audience is taken on a journey that asks of us, "what are we willing to do for our Goddess?" This comes at a time when Nyx is expanding its interaction internationally. When followers of Necra are being to interact with nonbelievers more and more. There is little doubt, Suspiria is an instant classic, and it worthy of the sold out performance that it will be experiencing for the next few months.

The Nyx Investment Authority has remained a minor part of the Coalition's economy, with its assets adding up to around §275b.[1] The Authority's importance comes from being one of the major government ties to international affairs. The sovereign wealth fund has played relatively safe, mostly investing in tech start up companies in developed nations. But now, it is seeking to invest heavily in the Midaranye market, seeing a large potential for economic growth. Although this is highly motivated by politics than economics.

With the the Coalition Delegation seeking to back away from the Nyx First policy that has mostly put the Coalition in isolation, there is a renewed interested in foreign affairs. This includes, if not highly motivated by, access to foreign economic markets. As the Delegation leadership is seeking to increase diplomatic ties across Aranye, there is hope that the Authority will be the spearhead of this movement. It is for this reason the Midaranye is the first region to be focused.

A history of foreign intervention and imperialism has crippled a number of nations belonging to the region, especially economically. The latest of these being Seaforth's sanctions of Clysperis (which have recently been lifted). The Coalition is hopeful they can learn from the mistakes of what Tamora would called the Helusian Empire. Mistakes that have caused hostilities and aggression. Nyx wishes to distinguish itself from its Illumic neighbors in this regard. There is hope that the Investment Authority could be the first part of bridging this divide. In addition to proving mutually beneficial by both expanding the fund's wealth while helping to repair and expand Midaranye economies.

1.

OOC: this would put it as the 11th wealthiest fund in the real world, right behind China's National Social Security Fund. This is partially to account for Mundus' economics tending to be larger, in addition to this being the only sovereign wealth fund that has been fleshed out to my knowledge. [EDIT: turns out there are a couple of Funds out there in Mundus.]

As the Empress greeted them, Iaxxodril motioned for her to take a seat. He smiled warmly at the mention of a gift for Necra. "Empress you are a lucky one. According to Wrex most brought gifts for the Ascendant. We were just discussing the potential catastrophe at hand. Given how well our last showing of Necrova traditions just went, I'm a little afraid for this one. You see, an Ascendant is not allowed to enjoy the present of any gift in this life. As such, they must all be burned and sent to the Realm of Death, where they can serve her in the next life. But a gift for Necra is a different matter entirely, isn't it love." The Archdruid laughed. He did not maintain the normal demeanor of an Archdruid, or even of a high ranking politician for that matter. He was extremely friendly and casual. Much to the annoyance of the Suzerain. "As to presenting it to her... either way works. There are shrines open to outsiders, or we can take care of it ourselves. It's really a matter of preference. I'd be happy to escort you myself. There is a shrine not far from here. May I ask the significance of the silk you bring? After all, this is the center of the Sect. As to your concern for Natrax. If the little minx survives, there is a relatively simple crowning ceremony. I have have little doubt that she won't survive, blessed by Reaver as she is. Fear not outsider, none of the horrors from the last ritual will be present for the upcoming. We will watch the exhausted Ascendant crown their one head, say a few words before returning to the rest."

When Junko sat, Wrex gave her scars a curious look. He found it amusing that he had done the same with Ælirn earlier, and now both were before him. He gave the Archdruid a sharp look, scolding him for his casualness, before speaking. "Speaker, it is good to make your acquaintance. May I inquire about your scars? They look holy in nature. It seems very similar to practices we maintain in Nyx."

---

Vizla felt sick as Axel joined her. She had little stomach for playing nice, and here was the outsider she was least willing to deal with. She listened with a thin smile as he sought to redeem himself. At least he was putting on a show of strength, unlike earlier. Vizla tried to understand what it would be like to have grown up outside of Nyx- not have never seen the ritualistic bloodletting. She wondered how she might have turned out. Maybe even she would be unable to bare the sight of an Ascendant's trial. She took the book from Axel's hands as he presented it. It was far to heavy for the Empress, and Vizla set it on the table. "I thank you for this gift, as the Empress can not. I'll be sure that when she is old enough, I will personally ensure that she learns from it. My role is somewhat contrived. I grew up in isolation among the Sibyl, a clan of woman whose dreams tell them of the future. Or at least maybe they once did. If the Sibyl were gifted with Sight, it is now are rare thing. My official duties to the Coalition are to act as a guide and emissary. There are a number of regulations and rules that limit my affect. An example, is I am only allowed to speak a certain number of words during a Coalition meeting. That does not mean I am any less involved in the ruling of Nyx, I merely need to find some creative methods to pursue my political agenda. As to my role in the Empress' upbringing-  in a sense you could considered my the closest thing to a mother she has. Her father died before her birth, and her mother soon after. While normally the Suzerain would act as her guardian, I have unofficial taken the responsibilities. I am no lover of children, but our Empress is different. There is something about her that draws me in. As for her future plans, Wrex speaks with her voice until she can herself. But just like yourself, I can serve as mediator if required. In the end, any agreement must be ratified by the entire Delegation."

---

Velkin looked to his elder to lead. She muttered a few words in a foreign tongue. Velkin offered an explanation. "Sorry, while the Matriarch understands you, she cannot speak anything outside of Low Vir and Iriror. Although I know not a bit of the later." It was a fact that always amused the Maar. Most government meetings took place in High Vir. But the Matriarch never learned. And despite her years (she was the oldest member of the Delegation) as the head of Asuria, she still didn't. "But I'll be happy to translate anything she says."

The Matriarch responded with little tact as befitting her reputation. "Poor woman, you do not have to apologize to me for that cuck you call husband. You should be make demands of the Gods for this atrocity they have plagued you with." 

Velkin smiled trying to contain his laughter. The old lady feared no ones wrath, but he figured this was not the best way to meet an outsider. He "translated" this instead, "She accepts your apology. I am sure with continued relations between us, he will come to understand us, just as we will come to understand you." Velkin then answer Elena's question himself. "We have little to do with the Empress' upbringing. The Matriarch doesn't even reside in Erebyx with the rest of the Delegation. She instead spends her time in Asuria, our homeland. I provide her with details notes and observations of the Delegation's meetings so that she remains informed. And even I rarely deal with the Empress directly. Vizla spends the most time with her. Our poor monarch lost her parents early on. And Wrex, for all he is good for, is not a man meant to raise a child. Although a few years ago I would have said he was a better choice than the heartless Vaticinator. As for Natrax, she is indeed brave. To offer her arm to Necra, without hesitation. It is simply inspired devotion. Most Ascendant lose a finger. But not her. Naxtrax was a rather unorthodox case. She is the first Ascendant in many years to not come from the upper echelons of the Black Crypt. To be fair, none of the Delegation even knew her name prior to the Black Crypt choosing her to lead. If she survives, there will be a short ceremony before she will go back into recovery. It''ll be sometime before she is able to fully accept all the responsibilities of her station."

As the the General and Advisor joined them, the Nyxhymn waited for the foreigners to speak first. They both laughed at the mention of 'morbidness.' "General, you are among perhaps the one people that you will never have to apologize for being morbid. This ritual has stood since the found of Necrova. Before the Sect was much smaller, not even spreading across all of Erebyx. But there was always been an Ascendant to stand at the head of the Sect. As such, the ritual is over thousands of years old. It hails from a little that, as you pointed out, rituals like this were likely common across Mundus. But while others had forgotten or move on, the Nythymn have not. Our traditions are of one of grandest prides."

One of the largest and favorite national pastimes in the Coalition, is the consumption of horrors films. Despite the fact that most horror films usually take place is societies and cultures outside of Nyx, they have gain huge popularity across the nation. In fact, horror movies are one of the main cultural connections Nythymn maintain to the outside world. Where does this fascinate with the horror genre come from and what does this say about us? These questions will be the focus of our deep dive investigation.

The first horror film widely introduced to Nyx was the 1922 Nosferatu in the 1940s. An unapproved adaptation of the classic Bram Stocker's Dracula, the film centers around Count Orlok. Nythymn saw what was meant to grotesque and horrifying and instead fell in love. Orlok would become a beloved cultural figure, his character design seen as cute and endearing by the Nythymn public. In addition, Orlok's position in the film as the "Bird of Death" directly characterizes him as a servant of Necra. This deviation in how the film was interpreted would be an endearing part of Nythymn film consumption. While horror films were meant to do just that- scare and terrify its audience, the Nythymn become more and more interested in the villains.

A new craze started to overtake the Coalition in the late 40s. Many began importing foreign horror films and publicly showing them. These public showing became huge community gatherings- often times taking place at cafes and restaurants at night. Most famous of this era are three films- Frankenstein, King Kong, and The Bride of Frankenstein. These three stand out because central to the narrative are three endearing outsiders. Creatures scorned and cast out from society. Nythymn saw themselves in Frankenstein's monster and in King Kong. They weren't evil, but rather a little strange and misunderstood. But in the same way that Nythymn are often seen as strange outside of the Coalition.

The 50s were a lackluster decade, with no real notable entires into the Nyx conscious. The 60s, on the other hand, were the complete opposite. Came the official imports and releases. Seeing just how popular monsters were, Nythymn theatres were able to accurately predict the next era of big films- Kaiju. Kaiju films were release almost simultaneously in the Coalition with their orginal foreign releases. Classic characters like Godzilla and Mothra dominated the big screens. And the Nythymn were primed to love these films more than any other audience in Mundus. Here was a culture that glorified rampant destruction and death. Images of god-like and awesome creatures trampling whole cities under foot were almost religious iconography.

During the 70s and 80s, Kaiju remained en vogue, but were accompanied by a new set of horror- occult. While a couple of films here and there were released, it was the 1975 Nyx release of The Exorcist that broke through to massive commercial success. The Exorcist would break all previous held records of the most grossing film in Nyx. A titled held for decades after its release. It is perhaps by understanding the importance this film holds that we can understand horror film culture today. The movie tells the story of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity. Her mother struggles to figure out what is wrong with her child, leading to her seeking the help of the Catholic church. This all comes to a head when the priests exorcise the young girl in a literal battle of good and evil.

Much of the acts of the forces of demons can be comparable to those of Necra. Rituals of the occult and satanic followers resemble those conducted every day by the Black Crypt. This creates a connection between Nythymn audiences and the villainous demons. But that is not to say that Nythymn are rooting for evil. In fact, it is the opposite. But this duality, this connect create conflict within the believers of Necrova. It is this conflict that is at the heart of the love for horror. This conflict is similar to a religious conflict Nythymn experience everyday. Necra is the Goddess of Death. The lives of her followers are a contradiction- we live waiting to be called by Necra, waiting to die. But still we must live. We must continue to walk on Mundus until our Goddess deems it our time. This conflict can by symbolized by the battle of good and evil in horror films. The demons, the occult, even the slasher killers comes to represent the dark nature of Necrova. They represent our love and obsession with death. But this evil must be triumph over. Good is victorious. Good which represent our need to remain in our place. To remain subservient to Necra, to do her will on Mundus, to follow her grand design.

We love the 164 foot tall scaly atomic breathing monster that represents man's self-made destruction. The destruction we all are patiently waiting for. We revel in the destruction and rot he causes, because this marks him as an agent of She We Love Most. Necra is cold and unknowable to all living things. Not unlike the monster created to frighten audiences. While a Morelander see a vampire and fears a creature that desires its blood, we see something akin to our Lord. While a Krimeonite sees a young girl running from a serial killer and sees her fear of death, we see the fear of our smallness in the face of a God. It is for this reason that horror is, and will likely continue, to be so widely and commercial successful in Nyx.

OOC Note: The Pantheon of the Hallowed is sort of the a side project of mine to create a deep and complex series of interconnected religions in Mundus that anyone can be apart of. As such, the religion is designed from the ground up to be customizable, and anyone is welcome to craft their own version. I've tried my best to keep descriptions of the Gods vague and up to interpretation. Feel free to rift and change things. Also your nation doesn't have to be one of the Hallowed Nations to have Pantheon believers or a Pantheon Sect within it. I only ask that if you do claim one of the Hallowed Nations, that the Pantheon be a major religion in the country. And even then, two different countries could both claim to be the Hallowed Nation of one God.


The Pantheon of the Hallowed is a pagan religion that worships a series of 9 Gods. Long ago, there were the 9 Hallowed Nations, each one representing one of the Gods. It is very common for followers of the Pantheon to chose one God to be their chosen Patron, the God they are most connected with.

God	Description	Nation
Nemphaifon	Nemphaifon is the Goddess of Water and the Sky. She is first among the Gods and the leader among them, although she styles herself in a more humble manner. It is said the Nemphaifon has never sent an Avatar to Mundus, choosing instead to remain in the Heavens.	UNCLAIMED
Vomridrel	Vomridrel is sometimes called the Allsfather, and it the God of Life. When Mundus was created, Vomridrel crafted and breathed life into all plants and animals. He rarely goes to the Heavens, spending his time among his creations. In addition, his Avatars never take the form of humans, instead preferring the form of his other children.	Siross
Bastius	Bastius is the God of Protection. He is loyal and trustworthy without measure. As such, it is his duty to watch over The Red. When the Great Betrayer does manage to form an Avatar, Bastius’ Avatar is sent to capture them.	Asuria
Lilith	Lilith is the Goddess of Retribution. She was the lover of The Red before his betrayal. Before she was the Goddess of Love, a form she rarely, but still holds. She is scornful and betrayed, often consumed by the pains of the past.	UNCLAIMED
The Red	The Red has been stripped from history, his name and legacy forgotten. He betrayed the other Gods and was cast out from the Heavens. Eventually he was captured, and now resides in a prison among Necra’s domain. Followers of the Pantheon view the color red and the number 5 to be unlucky because of this God.	UNCLAIMED
Jisu	Jisu is the Goddess of Blood. She spends most of her time on Mundus. She is a legendary warrior and cannibal, said to grow in strength by consuming the flesh of others. She is also infamous for her carnal appetites- perversions of the highest order. She is often depicted as animalistic and brutish.	UNCLAIMED
Reaver	Reaver is the God of Madness. A shapeshifter and genderless, Reaver long ago forgot their true form and now lives as an Avatar among Mundus, hoping to find it. Reaver is a complex and complicated figure, appearing completely different in every life. There is always an Avatar of Reaver, most are never sanctified.	UNCLAIMED
Necra	Necra is the Goddess of Death. She rules over the kingdom of the afterlife. Because she has no connection to the living, she is cold and mysterious. Unknowable even. Despite her hard exterior, she is deeply in love with Reaver and hopes that they will one day join her and their love will last for eternity.	Erebyx
Rizelthial	Rizelthial is the God of Flames. While this was originally the Red’s charge, after his betrayal, Rizelthial was granted the honor. Because of this, he is the youngest God, and possess traits often associated with the youthful; idealism, naivety and hope.	UNCLAIMED

Traits of Pantheon Religions

Celestial
Celestial is the language of the Gods. Although the language is dead, it is still important in holy rituals and ceremonies. It is believed that while all Celestial maintains the same base, there are different variations for each God.

Stars
The Stars play an important part of the Pantheon as they believe that the Stars are a gateway into the Heavens were the Gods reside.

Circles
Circles and spell wards are an important part of a believer’s faith. It is through Circles, that one is able to ask for protection, good luck, or anything else one would ask for a God. They are also how one purifies their soul- a sort of repentance or cleansing of sins.

Avatars
One of the major staples of the Pantheon is the ability of the Gods to walk on Mundus. They do this by creating human vessels to entomb part of their soul within. These vessels live full and complete lives as humans. Reformed Sects maintain they have an ability to verify Avatars, and once proven, they are Sanctified.   

Reformed Sects
While the Pantheon of the Hallowed is a loose collection of pagan believers, some believers have created more organized versions of the Pantheon. These are the Reformed Sects, large offshoots of the Pantheon.

List of Reformed Sects
The Sect of Necra (Nyx)
The Sect of Lilith, the Dark Goddess (Tamora)