Cardinal Era

= Cardinal Era =

Cardinal's Awakening
Long ago when the Grace, a vast realm of almost limitless potential, was at its peak it found that the energy within it couldn’t escape fast enough, putting a strain on the vessel. In order to extend its energy and allow its power to perform miracles and blessings outstretched past its influence, the race of the Hallow or Bytx was born.

At first the Bytx weren’t awake, simply scattered like stars throughout the sky, flickering lights waiting to be. With time the first were awakened, these first having the strongest fullest closest connection to the Grace.

They were known as the Cardinals, as they were the original and also represented the seven virtues that each bytx from therefore on would be bound too.


 * Kindness: Opposite to the Sin of Envy, is the outward appreciation and gentle treatment of others and the world.
 * Consideration: Opposite to the Sin of Lust, is the treatment of others as not simply objects or tools for one’s self gain or gratification.
 * Charity: Opposite to the Sin of Greed, is the treatment of objects and material possessions as things that can be used to better the world and the people around them. Understanding their value and what they can mean to others, not just oneself.
 * Devotion: Opposite to the Sin of Sloth, is the outward ambition to give something to the world, to better it in a way you see fit no matter the obstacles.
 * Humility: Opposite to the Sin of Pride, is the acceptance of one’s importance but not devaluing others or holding oneself’s position or power over anyone else.
 * Discipline: Opposite to the Sin of Gluttony, is the understanding that not everything in the world is one for the taking, be it objects, people, actions, time, space.
 * Patience: Opposite to the Sin of Wrath, is the tolerance of those around oneself, not allowing the faults and flaws of the world to break one’s ability to uphold their virtues.

The Cardinals, unlike the bytx after them, had a will but the will was tied completely to that of the Grace and was still bound to their drive to uphold their virtues and give them to the people of all worlds. They commanded the rest of the bytx, leading them away from the Grace into whole new universes and realms preaching their gifts of purity, sanctity and unity to any who would listen. They brought with them miracles and blessings, kindness and compassion.

United as an army of goodwill and good fortune, the Bytx were often seen akin to what they represented; Divine, holy, enlightened spirits, gods, angels, etc. Earning their name well as the Hallow.

Hunter's Feast
Unfortunately to the bytx, who were naïve creatures born young in an already old world, found themselves taken advantage of by those who didn’t see them as sacred as others. Their gifts, their potential, even their very form was craved by any who has a thirst for power and glory.

And thus the Bytx were mercilessly hunted, captured, dismembered, traded, etc. by the very beings they so desperately tried to serve. However despite all that torment and horrors brought down to their people, they didn’t stop their way of life, as their minds knew no such thing as self preservation, they had no will to oppose those who harmed or killed them. Having no way to even fully recall their past experiences to avoid dangerous environments. What they knew bore no attachment to themselves, having no concept of “self” to worry of.

Many often fell running into these dangers, and those who fell were quickly gathered up by active hunters, passive gatherers, or just someone who saw an opportunity and took it.

Even harmless acts of capturing the Bytx and leaving them trapped had a dire effect on their bodies. The bytx at the time needed their connection to the Grace and their home world where the Grace resided. They outputted literally all their energy almost constantly, never holding it for themselves. When the energy was completely depleted, the bytx would eventually go dormant until the natural spiral of its soul stopped and it ceased to be. Leaving behind only the corpse which would eventually become brittle and crumble like worn stone or old glass.

Even if the intentions of the people were good and they never truly wanted to harm the bytx, the countless deaths started to pile. Unlike other beasts of the world, the bytx’s numbers were limited. All that the Grace had created would all there ever be, even though many were still dormant, if this mistreatment and misfortune continued to follow them, they’d soon lose everything. They were finite, like a dream coming to the world and disappearing just as quickly. Not even mourning their own loss since they didn’t even truly know they existed.

Theshiel's Awakening
One of the dormant children waiting to be, eventually arose from his slumber to greet the world. But his presence was very different compared to all the other hallows around him. It is uncertain of why he was the way he was, bit it a circumstance of his manifestation, a gift from the grace itself or something within him stirring.

The young bytx, who eventually gained the title of The Shield, was born dark and broken away from the Grace. He didn’t hold its will, but one of his own. A freed mind who could for the first time, think, feel, exist, be.

At the moment of his awakening, Theshiel saw and felt the danger his people were in and being the only one who could save them, took up that role to guard them. Herd them like sheep, guiding them, protecting them, acting as their shield against the onslaught of tragedies that lessen them everyday.

His true act of virtuous compassion sent a ripple through the bytx, even those already awakened. The idea of one simply doing good not because they had to or needed to but wanted too, sparked a new glory in the heart of the Grace and the people closest to it. The cardinals however knew this passionate fire was growing, that the Grace wanted to see this become the truth behind all the Hallow but what would come of them should they be handed the concept of choice.

The Cardinal’s feared what would come of them and the Grace itself, the passionate fire was strong and warming but could be painful and deathly if given to the wrong people. For a time the Cardinals wouldn’t allow Theshiel and his followers to cause any problems, no more would they let them tamper with the other Hallow. Fend for the people of the worlds all you wish, but the Hallow can not follow. Theshiel and his people did just that, protecting whoever they could, be it Bytx or Mortal or Spirit to even Gods. Anything that may be harmed, they’d try to defend.

The fight grew worse when a curious malicious eye fell upon them. Beings from no worlds, being birthed in a realm quite opposite to the Grace, known as Chaos, started noticing these angelic virtuous knights of valor. Noticed them getting in the way of their parasitic conquest. They opposed everything the Bytx did, be it the ones freed or not. They ruined worlds, rotted the souls of people, hunted the bytx for simply the fun of it. Vile creatures that Theshiel guarded against with his life.

His admirable protection of the bytx earned him the title of the The Shield. The one to stand in the path of a blow. It was awed and loved by the Cardinals and the beings of the realm…

Freedom of the Will
Despite all the good Theshiel brought to their people and the world, the Cardinals were still reluctant, they accepted that perhaps they were never meant to exist forever, that they could send their people to death simply to fulfill their purpose. Theshiel, of course, saw this as unfair to them, that he and all others who he helped free were living proof that their people had the potential to be more. That not letting them think and fend for themselves, letting them walk into death never knowing it, was cruel.

Their numbers had stopped growing, as the last of the dormant bytx have fully awakened. All that were alive now, they believed would be the only ones ever alive at all… And now that limited number was falling, they were all fading and fading fast.

It had to be stopped, they had to be freed.

Yes maybe they were never meant to exist forever, but their time would come when it came. There was no reason to simply forget that finite time. They should be able to experience it, make the most of it, provide their miracles and blessings for so much longer avoiding the dangers that preyed upon them at every turn. Their freedom could ensure they provide the world with their grace and uphold its will for far longer.

But the Cardinal brought forth a good point.

Choice to do good also comes with the choice to also do harm.

The bytx were supposed to be virtuous, always. Choice meant, they could choose not to be. What effects would that have on them, their world, their grace. Everything they ever knew would shift.

Theshiel was willing to accept that, a fire burns brightest in the darkest of hours. Perhaps they could be stronger than they ever were before with the choice to burn as bright as they felt necessary.

Moved by his words, by the idea of providing the world the Grace’s will for much longer and burning brighter than they ever thought before. The Cardinal accepted Theshiel’s wishes, using their vast power and connection to the grace, they made it so. The bytx were given the blackened form like Theshiel’s, the shroud that separated him from the Grace, and gave them a chance to think and feel on their own accord.

Suddenly the Bytx truly awoke at that time. Old but new creatures, some familiar faces to Theshiel who existed far longer than him, some younger than Theshiel had yet to grow familiar with… But all now freed ready to see and experience the world.

Because of what Theshiel gave to his people and to the Cardinals, he was given an honorary place beside them. Handed the Cardinal’s Crest that gave them their closeness to the Grace’s power, Theshiel ascended to a god like position. But despite his rank now, his closeness to the Grace and its power. He walked among his people like that of a humble servant. He would always be their shield, their forefront against tragedy.