The Declaration
The event known as "The Declaration" marked a turning point in the history of Andolus and is widely regarded as the catalyst for the perpetual collapse of global stability around 100 years ago. On the night of the Declaration, millions across the world simultaneously experienced a telepathic invasion, an occurrence so far-reaching and devastating that it altered the course of civilizations.
The message was brief, but its impact immediate and catastrophic:
"Your World Belongs to Us. We Killed your Gods. You are Next. Die Slowly. Die in Pain. This is Our Declaration of War."
This pronouncement echoed across the minds of those who would later be called Prophets, individuals who were driven to madness by the overwhelming force of the message. Their condition, marked by vivid hallucinations and violent behavior, spread like a contagion, affecting millions more. Entire communities fell under the weight of this psychic plague, and within weeks, vast stretches of populated areas were left in chaos.
The Prophets, so named for their cryptic ramblings and apocalyptic visions, became the carriers of the Declaration’s madness. Their influence was not contained by geographical borders, and as they traveled, so did the spread of mass hysteria and societal collapse. Contemporary accounts describe the Prophets as having an unnatural aura of fear and dread, their very presence enough to induce panic in otherwise stable individuals.
Relics
In the wake of the Declaration, there were sightings of ancient creatures referred to as Relics. These entities, previously known only in myth and obscure Origin texts, are thought to have re-emerged as a direct consequence of the psychic upheaval or are commanded by the Declarants. Relics were described as grotesque amalgamations of rubbery flesh and mechanical structures, their forms both monstrous and alien. They fed on the fear and suffering of the survivors, growing stronger with each new disaster.
Relics appeared in areas where the Declaration’s effects were most profound, particularly in regions where madness and death had reached their peak. They attacked indiscriminately, and traditional methods of defense proved ineffective. Scholars and mystics who later studied the Relics hypothesized that these creatures were not of this world, but remnants of a forgotten age, tied in some way to the ancient Origin civilization and their manipulation of Resonance.
Demons
Perhaps more insidious than the Relics were the Demons. Unlike the hulking monstrosities that tore through villages, these demons took on the form of ordinary people. There was little to distinguish them from a neighbor or loved one—until they struck. While Relics were driven by primal hatred, demons were creatures of malevolent intelligence, their motivations less understood. They did not appear in vast numbers, but their infiltration into society was deeply disruptive.
The few who survived encounters with these entities described their personalities as deeply manipulative, capable of breaking down the psyche of their victims before finally destroying them. It is believed that these demons thrived in environments of distrust and fear, feeding on the psychological chaos wrought by the Declaration. As with the Relics, it is unclear whether demons are creatures born from mystical forces or are the Declarants themselves.
Apologists
A decade after the initial event, a second invasion began. A new message created a cult dedicated to appeasing the Declarants: Apologists.
"Those Who Seek Forgiveness. Apologize. Tear. Rend. Pain. Bring Fear, Bring Sorrow, Bring Death. In Our Arms, Seek Atonement."
Apologists commit acts of self-mutilation, murder, and ritualistic destruction in a misguided attempt to placate what they believed to be cosmic rulers. The most fervent among them believed that only through immense suffering—both self-inflicted and inflicted on others—could they earn the forgiveness of these unknowable powers. This doctrine of violence became the foundation of many of the larger Apologist sects.
As the madness of the Declaration receded in the decades following its initial outbreak, these cults remained, continuing to sow terror and destabilization.