I run a high fantasy campaign for some friends, and this is my favorite piece of lore in that world. It's inspired by the titans from Greek mythology. These are excerpts from ancient books written about the Titans, authored by a man that calls himself Abraham. He uses a form of divination magic which he calls the "All-Sight". In the lore, only six Titans are actually talked about, but given their nature, it is completely possible that there are more. In this thread, I will post all of the entries on the six Titans that I came up with, as well as the introductory entry by Abraham. Abraham later goes on to ascend and become Oghma, the god of knowledge. They are long, but I think they're pretty cool. I hope you like them, and I hope they inspire you to start writing lore of your own. What would be really cool is if they inspired you to come up with your own Titans and post their legends here as well! And if by chance anyone decides to use the Titans in their DND world, I'd love to know about it! That would be so cool.
Legends of the Titans: Introduction
The Titans
All knowledge of the Titans has been passed down as stories and legends through countless generations since before scholars began to record history, so it is impossible to determine with any amount of certainty what the truth of these creatures is, or if they even exist at all. That being said, it has become my mission to sift through as many legends as possible within my given lifetime, find as many legends as possible that agree with one another, and compile them to form a “profile” of the Titans. Of course, it will be impossible to determine the validity of these profiles without ever encountering a Titan, assuming they even exist, but for the sake of information, I will do all that is within my power to seek the truth of the mysterious shadows of history. From this point on, assume everything you read from this book and any following in its likeness has been formulated from the study and comparison of hundreds of legends and accounts of the Titans. Note that none of these sources have ever been verified. I pray with all of my being that the Titans exist, for my life’s work will have been for nothing if they do not.
When it comes to what the Titans are, there are countless theories and beliefs about their nature, but I have found that there are two theories that stand out from all the rest. The first is that the Titans are gods that turned away from their nature and thus were twisted and changed into the Titans. The second is that the Titans are forces of nature, existing in the same way a mountain exists. Not with intentions or agendas, but simply the ability to exist indefinitely. It is my opinion that neither of these theories is correct. From the time when the gods were first discovered to even exist, it has always been accepted and believed that gods are incapable of going against their own nature, as they are the physical manifestations of their title. For example, the god of war is the physical manifestation of the concept and definition of war and conflict. A tree cannot simply decide to not be a tree. As for the Titans being forces of nature, I find that to be a rather weak attempt at explaining such a great mystery, yet it is one of the most accepted and most popular theories of the Titans, and it is my belief that it came to that rank simply because it is easiest to believe. If the Titans were forces of nature, they would still be making appearances to this day. They would not be shrouded in so much mystery and legend because they would be as commonplace as a rainstorm, or a strong wind. No, it is my belief that whatever the true origin of the Titans may be, it is so foreign that even if we had the chance to study it, we wouldn’t even be able to understand what it was we were studying. While this may be a disappointing notion to some, including myself, it is the only explanation of the Titans’ origins and nature that can withstand extreme scrutiny and judgement. This is all explanations and explorations of what we don’t know, but what we do know is another matter entirely.
The Titans are referred to as Titans because of their size, ranging from around 100 feet to 1,500 feet tall. Their age, or if they even age at all, by nature cannot be verified or even guessed at. The ancient legends hold that there are six Titans, however I find that number difficult to believe, for a very simple reason. The Titans are of a nature so foreign to the minds of human beings and our fellow inhabitants of this world that regardless of whether there really are only six of them or not, we would have absolutely no way of knowing. There could an entire universe of them somewhere and it would make little difference to us, we still only know of six. That is the difficult truth I have come to accept about the Titans; no matter what I think I know, I am prevented from verifying any of it by the reality of the subject I have chosen to pursue. That being said, this mission that others shy away from its pointless reputation, has given me more joy and purpose than anything else in this world ever could. Even if it has all been for nothing and these things don’t even exist, perhaps someone in the distant future will create something beautiful out of it.
I have had a revelation. If I am to truly commit myself to the uncovering of the truth about these Titans, I must find more effective ways to learn. Magic has never been something I viewed as a viable option, but something happened that changed the way I see things. It was silly honestly, but it made me realize a tool that I hadn’t wanted to consider before. 6 days ago, I stepped on a piece of broken glass in my home, and it became lodged in my foot. The wound quickly became unsightly and exceedingly more painful, and I began to fear losing it entirely. In a dream I saw the image of a deer, beautiful and transparent, glowing in the night sky. I could feel it guiding me, as if sending me to something. When I awoke, I decided to go where it was guiding me. I arrived at the door of a man that practiced magic, and explained what I had seen in my dream. He let me in, spoke to me of visions and gods, and then examined my foot. Needless to say, I left the house with a completely healed foot. That was 2 days ago. Since then, I have asked him to teach me more about magic, that I may come to use it myself. He told me about something called divination, a way to learn things through magic that would otherwise be impossible to know. I must learn this magic, for it would be invaluable to me in my mission to learn the truth of the Titans. I don’t know how long this will take, or if it will even be possible, but I must try.
It is going to take time and patience, but it is possible. I will learn these powers of divination and use them to find the truth of the Titans. This is a necessary delay, but I will do whatever I must.
(in significantly newer, but still ancient, ink)
It has been 7 years since I set out to learn divination magic, and I am filled with joy to report that I have done what I set out to do. I have learned a great deal in the ways of divination magic, and I will continue to grow my ability as I use it. It came to me easier than I expected, and I excelled quickly. I have learned how to create and execute my own spells, to achieve things I never believed were possible. I have converted my home into what I call a catalyst. It multiplies my magical abilities exponentially, allowing me even greater insight into things unknown to me. This power makes it feel like my eyes are not the only thing I can view the world through. It feels as if I have another sense. Something more. I will finally resume my mission of find the truth of the Titans.
Y’varian was the ruler of the largest kingdom to ever exist. His great city covered an entire planet, his riches growing beyond even the grandest of dreams. His soldiers, subjects, and advisors were loyal even to the death and beyond. They could not be bought, their loyalty could not be compromised, their resolve could not be broken. Even upon threat of death, pain, anguish, and every evil thing that exists, those that Y’varian ruled could not be turned against him. I have found something interesting in the tales of Y’varian. The oldest legends use a word that means king, while the less ancient ones begin to use words like “god” and “deity”. It seems that many kings of the ancient world would pray to Y’varian for various things; good fortune, wisdom, ill luck against their enemies, any number of things. It is my personal belief that the tale of Y’varian may be the origin of the saying “golden standard”, for he truly was the golden standard of a good, just king.
There have been many physical descriptions of Y’varian, all differing slightly. After comparing as many of them as I could, I believe it is safe to say this. He was revered as the most attractive man in all of the world. His size cannot be determined exactly, but all legends agree that he was a giant. He was calm, slow to anger, wise beyond all men, and fair. And that is all that I can find from the legends. There is nothing about what became of him or his kingdom. However, divination magic is another matter entirely.
I have found the truth of a few details of this legend, but it is truth nonetheless. This is truly one of the greatest days of my life. It is the day that I realized my mission is not in vain. The Titans really did exist, and I believe may still exist somewhere in the far reaches of the world. Here is what I can say for certain about Y’varian.
He stood between 90 and 100 feet tall, and the great hall in which his throne was built was 200 feet from floor to ceiling. In my vision, I caught a very short glimpse of the hall, and it is still the grandest sight I have ever laid my eyes upon. I tried and tried to find the location of his ancient kingdom, but the only thing I found was one word, “abandon”. After multiple attempts that all lead me to that word, I have come to believe that the resting place of his legendary kingdom is called “Abandon”.
His kingdom, while still daunting in size, did not cover an entire planet as the legends would lead you to believe. It did however cover an entire land mass in the world, his great capitol city vastly bigger than anything we have today. As for Y’varian’s kingdom, it did eventually fall to its enemies, although I could not definitely determine how or why. It is my personal belief that it had something to do with his wife. He married only one woman in his lifetime, and he married her out of love. He refused to ever take another wife in addition to her, and he treasured and cherished her more than any of his countless possessions. A king like that could only have one weakness, and that had to have been his wife.
Finally, in my meditation of his legends, a verse came to me. Whether it is a prophecy, a spell, or merely a guiding phrase, I cannot dismiss it.
“Speak the name of grief in the presence of his pain, and he shall return to you.”
I have spent countless hours trying to decipher what this could mean, but to no avail. Perhaps I shall revisit this mystery later in my life, but for now, it will be a better use of time to move on to studying the other Titans. As much as it pains me to leave anything undiscovered, I continue on my mission.
To any who may read this text, I beg you, find the truth of the Titans. Stop at nothing to learn as much as possible about their nature and record it so that it may be preserved for future generations. If it is within your power to do so, seek the Titans themselves. Find them, learn about them and learn from them. Find the truth at all costs. Their origin, their nature, their purpose, all of these things must be discovered and documented for the sake of history.
This legend is by far the grimmest of everything I have studied and read. The legends tell of a beast with never-ending hunger, rage beyond any kind of reason, and destructive capabilities to rival gods. Some even believe World Ender to be the unholy creation of angry gods that lays in wait for the call of its masters to destroy all things. In studying the legends of World Ender, I found an overwhelming abundance of details regarding its size, appearance, and even the sound of its roar. As much as I would love to believe the truth lies within these details, it is impossible for any of them to be truth, and the reason for this is very simple. If the legends about World Ender are to be true, then any sightings of such a beast would have been very short lived, as World Ender would have quickly destroyed anything that saw it. Given the unreliable pattern of the legends from which I must scavenge information, I am moving to the use of my magic from here.
The truth of World Ender has left me astonished and amazed. Through the use of the All-Sight, I was able to see World Ender in her full glory. The size of this monster is truly of godlike proportions. I cannot describe the feeling of awe and fear that came over me when I saw her standing before me. It is surely impossible for there to be a creature more terrifying and horrible than she. She stood hunched over, standing on her two hind legs, bent in horrid, jagged lines. Her two forelegs were just as powerful as her hindlegs, and her hands and feet were tipped with huge, cruel claws, big enough to rip through palaces like underbrush. Her entire body was covered in massive scales, giving the appearance of armor. Her tail trailed far behind her, slithering and swaying back and forth like a massive snake. She was covered in curved spikes that rose high off of her body, all the way from her neck to her tail. But her head was the most terrifying sight of all to behold. Two horns pointed forward from either side of her head, extending out in front of her mouth, as if to ram and destroy things with a charge. Her entire jawline was covered in smaller spikes that looked as sharp as spears, and she had six eyes, three on either side of her head. When she opened her maw to let out her roar, I realized just how big her mouth really was. She had too many teeth to count, and it seemed she could swallow entire buildings in one gulp. But her roar was what really shook me to my bones. I wont even try to describe the sound, but it was a sound that could only mean one thing. She has arrived. The end of the world has come. I do not know where I was in the vision, as the scenery and architecture surrounding me was completely foreign to me. I also do not know when I was in the vision, but I pray that it will not come to pass for many thousands of years.
It took me some time to recover from the shock that was induced by the intensity of that vision, but I have had time to meditate in depth about what I saw, and it led me to an interesting idea about the very nature of the universe. We already know that there are multiple planes of reality, the Material being the one in which we live. But what if we only know a tiny portion of the Material plane? What if the Material plane is infinite within itself? What if you could simply begin traveling in a direction and instead of eventually falling off the edge of the world, the world simply kept going forever? I must pursue this possibility.
I have had another vision, and I was right, but not in the way I thought I was. The world in which we live, or should I say on which we live, is actually only one world in an endless sea of worlds. In my vision, I saw the sky laid out before me, except I was not looking at it from the world. It was beyond it, looking down on the world. Stars were not just above me, but all around me, and in front of me was our world, beautiful and peaceful from where I saw it. The first thing about our world that I learned was that you can indeed travel in one direction forever, but you will eventually end up where you started, because our world is a ball. This may sound insane, but it explains so much about what we see in the sky, as well as things that happen on our worlds surface. I then traveled at unimaginable speeds through this space that I have come to call the Expanse. I saw hundreds of thousands of worlds, some similar to ours, some vastly different. The stars we see in the sky are similar to our sun, but are so far away that they appear smaller in the sky. Our sun is a star, and it is tiny in comparison to some of the stars that exist in the Expanse. There is so much truth to be discovered in the universe, and it saddens me that I will not live long enough to learn all of it, but perhaps some of that knowledge will eventually lead me to learning how to live forever. Regardless, I came upon multiple realizations because of this vision. The first is that the Titans probably exist on different worlds in the Expanse, given the nature of World Ender and the size of the Titans in general. The second is that with the sheer number of worlds in the Expanse, it is utter foolishness to believe that our world is the only world containing life. This magic has allowed me to learn more about the universe than all of my ancestors put together. I shall attempt to teach others to use the same power.
With every legend I read, Archaos becomes more intriguing to me. It is becoming clear to me that every Titan will be vastly different than the others, and I am only more excited to learn everything I can about them because of this. World Ender was a senseless beast, Y’varian was a king, and Archaos is something completely different. Every account of Archaos depicts him seeking and destroying a target of some kind. His targets ranged from individuals to nations, humanoids to beasts, and mortals to immortals. There are countless theories as to how he chooses his targets, but none were satisfactory to me. I was tempted at first to believe that he merely chooses who to kill at random, but after examining the accounts of targets he destroyed, I determined that that could not be possible, and I will explain why.
I have already learned the truth of the Material plane which is that our world exists in a vast emptiness that I have named the Expanse. I have also reasoned that our world is not the only one with life. That being said, the ancient legends of the Titans may not all be from one such world. In fact, I find it impossible to believe such a thing. So, to explain why Archaos could not have chosen his targets randomly, consider this. Many of his targets had to have been on completely different worlds, for many of the names, locations, and races mentioned in the accounts appear nowhere in any history of our world. And furthermore, I have not been able to find any evidence of them existing on our world through the use of the All-Sight. What this translates to is that if Archaos chose his targets completely randomly and in an unbiased manor, how and why would he choose a target on a different world? Of course, this presents three very large and important questions: how did so many writings about the Titans wind up on our world, how did Archaos choose his next target, and how did he get to them if they were on another world? I do not believe the answers to these questions can be found anywhere in the history of our world. I must look to magic. I must look to the All-Sight.
Before I meditate on this, I wish to explain one more thing. Unlike the Titans I have studied before him, there are hundreds of documented events of mortals encountering Archaos. All of them occurred while he was seeking out his next target to destroy, and to my amazement, all descriptions of his appearance agree almost perfectly with one another. However, I will try to confirm it through the All-Sight before recording it. I am going now to meditate on these things.
This vision was different. This power I have, the All-Sight, it is changing. It wasn’t just a vision, I was really there. I am not sure if this is good or bad, but now is not the time to determine that. I must recount everything I can about Archaos while it is fresh in my mind. As was the case when I stood before World Ender, seeing Archaos standing in front of me in my vision was truly awe-inspiring. But while World Ender filled me with fear and rage, Archaos did not have such an effect on me, although I cannot explain why. It was as if my entire body and mind knew without a doubt that I was in no danger of being harmed in any way by the godlike figure standing before me. As for his appearance, it is difficult for me to explain. He stood at least 150 feet tall, maybe more. He was wearing armor made of some kind of dark metal. His gauntlets and boots seemed disproportionate to his arms and legs, but not in a way that appeared foolish, but rather intentional, as if they were made that size for a specific purpose. His torso was covered by a tattered cloth through which you could see the massive breastplate underneath. His helmet, or perhaps his very head, was sleek, like a smoothed, sturdy helmet. It had only two holes, through which his two eyes shone out of. They glowed a bright blue, almost white. Surrounding his head was what I can only describe as a massive collar, rising almost as high as his head and spreading out to his shoulders. What struck me about his appearance was his limbs. Where his biceps and thighs should be, I only saw what looked like massive metal rods with smaller, more intricately designed metal rods and pieces attached to them. As I stood in awe and admiration before him, he stepped forward and began to walk, stepping right over me, completely avoiding harming me in any way. It was then that I heard a sound which I have never heard before and shall likely never hear again. It was like metal was striking and scraping against other metal. Not in a clattering or accidental way, but in a way that sounded more like it was happening on purpose. There was almost a rhythm to the sound. As I turned around to see where he was going, I saw a vast city laid out before the Titan. The city took up their defenses and launched an attack on the Titan, but to no avail. The boulders launched from their catapults glanced off of his armor like a pebble on a stone wall. He didn’t even seem to notice the onslaught that would devastate any mortal army. Were he to continue walking on the path he was currently on, he would have gone straight into the city, reducing everything in his path to rubble. But to my surprise, he stopped in front of the wall. I heard the metal sound again as he raised his palm to the city and hundreds of flames shot from his hand faster than anything I have ever seen. Each flame left a trail of black smoke behind it, weaving and intertwining with the others. They flew into the city and plunged into the streets and into buildings at seemingly random intervals, causing massive balls of white fire to erupt high into the air. This wonder went on for less than a minute, and when the flames finally stopped, Archaos lowered his hand, turned around to face me once again, and slowly walked away from the city, right overtop of me, and then stopped. He turned his head to face the sky, and the earth shook as four white flames erupted from his back. He rose into the air, slowly at first but gaining speed all the while, and in less than a minute, he was beyond the sky. Now that he was gone, I could hear the noise of the city behind me. Wailing and screaming came as loud as thunder from the city, towers of smoke rose from the streets and buildings, and dark storm clouds began to form over the land. Witnessing this event should be more than enough reason for me to have been shaken to my very soul, yet the entire time it was happening and every moment since I returned from that place, I have known only peace and fascination. Perhaps this is flaw within myself, or perhaps another effect of the All-Sight. Regardless, I have found answers to my questions. Firstly, the ancient accounts of the Titans that I have been studying can only have wound up on our world by the same means that I have seen the Titans with my own eyes, that being magic. Secondly, it is my belief that Archaos does not decide his targets, but rather learns who his next target is when he destroys the pervious. And thirdly, and also most obviously, Archaos seems to have no difficulty in traveling between worlds in the Expanse. I wish I could follow him to the distant places in the vast sea of stars, but such a feat would be impossible for anything less than a god.
In addition to the above information, I have taken away something else from the vision of Archaos: if All-Sight can transport me to and from a completely different location, such as it did in that vision, then might it be possible to use it for that purpose alone, without seeking any information? I must explore this further.
I believe the best way to introduce you to Greed is to tell you his other names that he acquired throughout the ancient tales. Obviously, Greed is the most commonly used in the scripts, but there are two others that keep appearing. “King of Riches” and “Thief” both appear in dozens of ancient scripts, all seemingly referring to the same Titan. To sum up an abundance of long-winded and vague tales, I will give the shortest and clearest explanation I can of Greed.
All of the legends of Greed are more about his treasure hoard than about him. There are no descriptions of his appearance, no examinations of his behavior, and no accounts of him interacting with mortals. However, every legend of Greed speaks of the grand splendor of his treasure hoard. Some even name it “Golden Hills”, which I personally find to be a ridiculous name, but I am in the business of learning and recording truth, so I shall include everything I find. The treasure hoard is said to contain everything he has stolen for all of his lifespan, which, if he is anything like the rest of the Titans, is probably hundreds of thousands of years, possibly even predating our world. Countless treasure hunters have spent their lives in search of the hoard, but none are ever recorded to have found it. What fascinates me about this legend is that every single account of the hoard, regardless of when in ancient history the account originates, gives the exact same description of the measure of the hoard. The following is a direct quote that can be found in every single account of the treasure hoard that has ever been found.
“When one looks upon the riches of Greed, they will know the true intention of their heart, for such a sight will expose all mortals to their very soul. Precious metals of every kind cover the landscape as far as the eye can see. Gems of such beauty and brilliance that even the goddess of beauty would hide her face in shame shine like dew upon the vast sea of shining glory. Weapons, armor, tools, and all manor of treasures from all manor of worlds sit on display in the grand halls of Greed. O the day when the riches of Greed are found, and the skies themselves are filled with gold.”
Now, I think it is safe to conclude that a great majority of this description is exaggerated. However, I cannot ignore the fact that over 700 different accounts, originating from a period of thirty-four hundred years throughout ancient history, all give the exact same description of the hoard. It is elements like this of my chosen mission that leave me discouraged, for how could such a tale of wealth be true? Nonetheless, my resolve is unbroken. I will learn the truth of Greed’s hoard.
The All-Sight does not fail. In my meditation of Greed, I learned two things:
The first was that Greed is different from the other Titans in a very drastic way; he is the size of a normal human. In my vision, I focused on Greed himself, specifically seeing him. I wanted to know what his appearance was like. What I saw was the private treasury of a great king. I was standing just beside the entrance on the inside of the treasury. There were strange lights on the walls, like torches, but without flame. Arranged around the room were intricately carved and decorated displays, holding bizarre and foreign artifacts and treasures. This was not a treasury for riches, but a treasury for precious items. I began to hear small clicks from the door beside me, as if things were moving within it, and it opened slowly as a man dressed in the strangest clothing I have ever seen entered the room and stood in the center of the room. He wore what looked to be a deep blue tunic that was hemmed with gold. He wore a hood, like a cloak but without the cape, that covered his head and his shoulders, coming down to a point in the middle of his torso on the front and back. A belt wrapped around his waist, holding multiple pieces of cloth that formed a sort of long skirt. He wore gauntlets of solid gold that left the hands open to reveal the deep blue gloves that covered his hands. His boots were made of solid gold as well, encasing his leg up to his knee and the entirety of his foot. On his back rested two swords of a shape I have never seen before. The blade appeared to be made out of solid gold as well, sharp on both sides and shining like the sun. However, about a third of the way down the blade, it curved sharply into a half circle. He was shaped like a human, no bigger than any common man you would find in the city. I could tell that he noticed me because he turned his head slightly to the side, as if acknowledging my presence, but did not seem to care that I was there. He walked to the opposite end of the treasury and picked up an artifact from the most beautiful display in the room, turned around slowly, and exited the room, closing the door gently behind him. When he turned around to exit, I was disappointed to find that his face was covered by a mask made of solid gold, just like his gauntlets and boots. It didn’t appear to have any openings, only intricate, complex engravings. The entire time he was in the treasury with me, he did not make the smallest sound. To my amazement, even his gold boots were silent as he walked across the solid stone floor. Every bit of gold on his body was decorated the same way that his mask was; engravings and carvings of such intricacy and detail even the greatest of craftsmen could not accomplish. I am hesitant to say I have a favorite primordial being, but I think I am entitled my own opinions at the very least. Greed is my favorite Titan that I have studied, for the soul reason of his appearance. Put simply, it was incredible.
The second thing I learned from my meditation on Greed was of much greater important than his appearance, although do wish I had his clothes. I learned that his treasure hoard, regarded as being big enough to fill the skies, is real. The description that appears in every single account of Greed is completely accurate. I have seen it with my own eyes, and I cannot give a better description than what is already recorded. The verse about the sight of it revealing the true intentions of any mortal’s heart could not be more truthful. I must admit, I was greatly tempted by the sight of it, and for a moment I was filled with an urge to take as much as I could. But my longing for knowledge proved to be greater than my passing hunger for riches. The hoard was just as gigantic and glorious as it was described, but what the legends left out was that it is underground. High above me was nothing but a ceiling of dirt and stone. I tried to focus on where the hoard was, but to no avail. It remains hidden. Perhaps further mediation will reveal the truth to me.
There is however one more thing I wish to ponder. Countless details are included in the ancient scripts, many of them having to do with things taking place on other worlds in the Expanse than ours. How did the great writers of old acquire such knowledge? My answer is quite simple, and perhaps the most logical conclusion I have ever come to. I am not the first keeper of the All-Sight. There has to have been others before me. Such foreign knowledge of the universe could not have been obtained otherwise. I do not know if this fact will hold any significance to me, but I must strive to find out.
I knew it was only a matter of time before my mission brought me misfortune. I am haunted by visions and nightmares of a ghostly evil. Every time it is the same, a ghostly white face that endlessly swirls and twists with white smoke, yet always maintains its shape. Its face almost resembles that of a great cat, but no cat has or will ever come close to the amount of terror that this face can instill in a soul. I could feel the evil residing within the face, raging and burning. Granted these visions only started after I tried to use the All-Sight to get a glimpse of Noruk. I do not know for sure that the face in these visions is Noruk, but for the sake of my mission, I hope that it is. My goal is to learn, and if suffering such horrific nightmares is necessary to gain the information I seek, then so be it.
I believe that the face in my nightmares is indeed the face of Noruk. Almost all of the legends I have read on him are more like warnings and tales of horror than of informative accounts. He is described as a wild and mindless evil from the beginning of the world itself. There are no descriptions of his appearance whatsoever, but there are tales of people falling into madness, starting cults, and behaving in extremely abnormal ways, all directly related to visions, nightmares, or prophecies having to do with Noruk. I do not believe this is an effect of Noruk, but a foolish reaction of mortals that do not understand what is going on around them. If Noruk is truly doing such things to people intentionally, then I will soon be the next victim in his long line of acts, and it will be officially recorded and documented, so I will have served my purpose in finding the truth.
It has been two months since the nightmares began, and I am still in my right mind, I haven’t started a cult, and I am not running around aimlessly murdering people, so I think it is safe to assume that Noruk does not use any evil magic on people, but rather that people cannot handle the sight of him. But if this is the case, what does that make me? Why does staring into the face of such an evil every night not have the effect on me that it is believed to have on mortals? There are plenty of tales of people claiming to have seen the face of Noruk in a vision or dream, and very soon after going completely insane, as if possessed or under some type of spell. Yet I have seen dozens of visions of his face, and I have not changed. This fact perplexes me greatly, yet I find no emotional response of any kind within my heart. It is as if my heart has become cold, incapable of emotion, and my mind has become the lead of my body, making all decisions completely logically, never hesitating for emotions, but always examining a situation and drawing a logical conclusion. Knowledge, truth, is all that matters in life, and I will find it.
After days of meditating, I was finally able to use the All-Sight to see Noruk outside of a nightmare. I stood at the base of a large rock formation, looking up to the top. The rocks were covered in snow, wind blew harshly all around, and clouds swirled above the top. It was colder than anything I have ever felt, and I quickly lost feeling in my body. The sound of thunder came from the sky as the clouds swirled faster and more closely together, moving towards the top of the rocks. The blue sky was revealed as the clouds continued to move together on the formation, and when it became bright as day, I saw him. He seemed to be formed out of snow, his body endlessly swirling with snow and wind, yet always maintaining its shape, just like the face I saw in my nightmares. His face was the same as my dreams, and the great rocks that seemed tall only moments ago were now dwarfed in comparison. He stared directly at me and opened his mouth, letting out the shrillest and most ear-piercing screech I have ever heard. Clouds of snow began to swirl up on the ground beneath him, obscuring his feet from my view. A low rumble began to shake the ground where I stood, and out of the snow clouds at his feet came hundreds of white figures, identical to him in shape, but identical to me in size. They rushed at me with greater speed than I could have imagined, yet I remained calm. Just as they reached me, I moved myself. I do not know how, but I was suddenly high in the air, looking down at the massive crowd of figures now beneath me, almost blending in completely with the surrounding snow. I was on an eye level with Noruk now, still a great way off from him. He let out another cry and walked forward, causing a small earthquake with every step. He raised his arm as if to strike me, at which point I returned here to my study. I believe I am the only person in history that has had such an interaction with Noruk, or any Titan for that matter. He is wild, evil, and aggressive. I wonder if he acts with purpose, or merely on instinct like World Ender? I must learn.
It has been three months since I encountered Noruk. I have been unable to have another encounter with Noruk, and nothing has happened to convince me that there will be any ill effects of my interaction with him. I wish to learn the nature of Noruk, to learn his purpose in being, but I am beginning to see that such a task is impossible, as he does not have a purpose. The All-Sight would have revealed it to me by this point if it were there to be revealed. Noruk is a wild animal, a savage barbarian that attacks unprovoked and kills with no direction. Further study of him is unnecessary and futile.
Finally, learned something else in my long hours of meditation. Not only am I not the first keeper of the All-Sight, but I am also not the last. There are still many unknowns on this subject, but what I have learned is that there is only one alive at a time. More than one simply cannot coexist at the same time. I do not know how the next keeper is determined or how long a keeper maintains the ability, but I will not stop trying to learn everything I can.
Before we begin, I must explain something. After almost three years of searching through the ancient scripts and legends, I have found nothing detailing the sixth Titan. It is like the sixth Titan does not even exist, yet every account of the Titans states that there are six of them. Through all of the ancient records, there are hundreds of references to the other five Titans, and yet there is not a single entry, account, record, script, legend, or even hints at the sixth Titan. The only place it is even mentioned at all is in the general tales of the Titans, explaining that there are six of them. Every legend agrees. Six Titans. So why do continually find nothing? I have even tried to use the All-Sight to find it, and even that was fruitless. However, the inability of the All-Sight to show it to me makes me think that perhaps the Titans have no order. In fact, it was foolish of me to ever believe there was an order. Why should there be? Regardless of any kind of order, I have decided to refer to the sixth Titan as Silence, which I don’t think I need to explain myself about. I will not be satisfied until I have identified the sixth Titan. I committed myself to uncovering the truth about them, and I will not move on to any other venture until I have revealed all six of them. The key must lie within the All-Sight, I just have to find it.
I found it. I was meditating on the last Titan, trying to find anything I could, and I had a vision. I stood in the middle of a wide clearing in a dense forest. The entire sky was green like the sea, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and the entire ground of the clearing was covered in blood red vines. There was total silence around me. Not the song of a bird, the shout of insects, or even the rustling or leaves from the forest. As I stood that strangely beautiful clearing, a sense of calm the likes of which I have never felt before washed over me, as if I was safe from all evil in the universe at that moment. It was then that I experienced the most beautiful, peaceful, and calm event that could ever be imagined. Even the recounting of it now fills me with peace. I heard a sound, like a low hum, begin softly somewhere in the forest, growing bigger and louder until I felt it in my chest, yet I was not afraid. All at once, the sounds of the forest came alive. Birds lifted their voices in a beautiful chorus, joining in on the song of the forest. As they sang, they took to the sky, flying in circles around the clearing. Birds of every size and color filled the air with their songs. As they sang, the sound of a stream joined the melody. Animals of all shapes and sized emerged from the edge of the woods, walking slowly towards me, filled with curiosity. The soft sea green light from above danced on their fur, providing a dazzling display of lights and flashes of blues and purples. As they drew closer to me, the vines that lay upon the ground began to move, slowly sliding towards the very center of the clearing. That was when I saw it. The vines began to move upwards, coming together and forming into something. At first it looked like a tree, but it continued to move and twist until it formed into the shape of a hand, although not a hand such as what you or I have ever seen. There were hundreds of tiny, intricate lines weaving and turning throughout the hand, allowing you to see through it to the animals and forest beyond, like looking through a thicket or through the branches of a tree. The birds overhead landed on the backs and heads of the animals surrounding the hand, and everything was still. A low, white light began to glow from within the hand, and slowly grew brighter and brighter until the entire clearing shone like a star. The animals lifted their heads and let it wash over them, and without even thinking, I did the same, closing my eyes. For an entire year, I stood in the light, not moving, not eating, not making a noise, simply standing in the light, listening to the sound of Silence. As for the feeling that followed, it is something that I truly cannot describe, so I will not even try. However, I will say that after that moment, with such beautiful and glorious animals and scenery all around me, gathered around that hand, I know that I will never be the same again. Something has changed within me down to my very nature of being. The worries and troubles of my life are gone. Fear itself has become foreign to me. In the Silence, I was changed. In the Silence, I found my true purpose. In the Silence, I was born. This shall be my last volume regarding the Titans, as I have discovered their true nature, however I cannot give that information freely. It is only for those that are willing to leave everything behind in order to obtain it. It is for those few that have been given the ability and will to put everything in the universe aside for the sake of knowing. It is only for those that find it themselves. I cannot reveal the true nature of the Titans, but I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have learned the truth of the Titans. I have walked alongside them, observing every minute detail about them. I have completed what I was meant to do.
When I am finished here, I will go to my new home and begin my new purpose. In the Peaceable Kingdoms will I spend eternity, always gathering knowledge, always learning, and most importantly, never forgetting what happened in the clearing. As for the All-Sight, it was the tool that guided me to my ultimate destination. I believed that I was the one that found that ability, but I see now that it found me. To all future life and intelligence, the All-Sight does not make mistakes. It is not something that can be used against its will. It cannot be obtained by any amount of effort or labor. The All-Sight chooses its keeper. Always. The All-Sight has passed on from me, and I can feel that it has already found its next keeper somewhere in the infinite space of the Expanse. It is now time for me to go to my new home in the Peaceable Kingdoms.
I run a high fantasy campaign for some friends, and this is my favorite piece of lore in that world. It's inspired by the titans from Greek mythology. These are excerpts from ancient books written about the Titans, authored by a man that calls himself Abraham. He uses a form of divination magic which he calls the "All-Sight". In the lore, only six Titans are actually talked about, but given their nature, it is completely possible that there are more. In this thread, I will post all of the entries on the six Titans that I came up with, as well as the introductory entry by Abraham. Abraham later goes on to ascend and become Oghma, the god of knowledge. They are long, but I think they're pretty cool. I hope you like them, and I hope they inspire you to start writing lore of your own. What would be really cool is if they inspired you to come up with your own Titans and post their legends here as well! And if by chance anyone decides to use the Titans in their DND world, I'd love to know about it! That would be so cool.
Legends of the Titans: Introduction
The Titans
All knowledge of the Titans has been passed down as stories and legends through countless generations since before scholars began to record history, so it is impossible to determine with any amount of certainty what the truth of these creatures is, or if they even exist at all. That being said, it has become my mission to sift through as many legends as possible within my given lifetime, find as many legends as possible that agree with one another, and compile them to form a “profile” of the Titans. Of course, it will be impossible to determine the validity of these profiles without ever encountering a Titan, assuming they even exist, but for the sake of information, I will do all that is within my power to seek the truth of the mysterious shadows of history. From this point on, assume everything you read from this book and any following in its likeness has been formulated from the study and comparison of hundreds of legends and accounts of the Titans. Note that none of these sources have ever been verified. I pray with all of my being that the Titans exist, for my life’s work will have been for nothing if they do not.
When it comes to what the Titans are, there are countless theories and beliefs about their nature, but I have found that there are two theories that stand out from all the rest. The first is that the Titans are gods that turned away from their nature and thus were twisted and changed into the Titans. The second is that the Titans are forces of nature, existing in the same way a mountain exists. Not with intentions or agendas, but simply the ability to exist indefinitely. It is my opinion that neither of these theories is correct. From the time when the gods were first discovered to even exist, it has always been accepted and believed that gods are incapable of going against their own nature, as they are the physical manifestations of their title. For example, the god of war is the physical manifestation of the concept and definition of war and conflict. A tree cannot simply decide to not be a tree. As for the Titans being forces of nature, I find that to be a rather weak attempt at explaining such a great mystery, yet it is one of the most accepted and most popular theories of the Titans, and it is my belief that it came to that rank simply because it is easiest to believe. If the Titans were forces of nature, they would still be making appearances to this day. They would not be shrouded in so much mystery and legend because they would be as commonplace as a rainstorm, or a strong wind. No, it is my belief that whatever the true origin of the Titans may be, it is so foreign that even if we had the chance to study it, we wouldn’t even be able to understand what it was we were studying. While this may be a disappointing notion to some, including myself, it is the only explanation of the Titans’ origins and nature that can withstand extreme scrutiny and judgement. This is all explanations and explorations of what we don’t know, but what we do know is another matter entirely.
The Titans are referred to as Titans because of their size, ranging from around 100 feet to 1,500 feet tall. Their age, or if they even age at all, by nature cannot be verified or even guessed at. The ancient legends hold that there are six Titans, however I find that number difficult to believe, for a very simple reason. The Titans are of a nature so foreign to the minds of human beings and our fellow inhabitants of this world that regardless of whether there really are only six of them or not, we would have absolutely no way of knowing. There could an entire universe of them somewhere and it would make little difference to us, we still only know of six. That is the difficult truth I have come to accept about the Titans; no matter what I think I know, I am prevented from verifying any of it by the reality of the subject I have chosen to pursue. That being said, this mission that others shy away from its pointless reputation, has given me more joy and purpose than anything else in this world ever could. Even if it has all been for nothing and these things don’t even exist, perhaps someone in the distant future will create something beautiful out of it.
I have had a revelation. If I am to truly commit myself to the uncovering of the truth about these Titans, I must find more effective ways to learn. Magic has never been something I viewed as a viable option, but something happened that changed the way I see things. It was silly honestly, but it made me realize a tool that I hadn’t wanted to consider before. 6 days ago, I stepped on a piece of broken glass in my home, and it became lodged in my foot. The wound quickly became unsightly and exceedingly more painful, and I began to fear losing it entirely. In a dream I saw the image of a deer, beautiful and transparent, glowing in the night sky. I could feel it guiding me, as if sending me to something. When I awoke, I decided to go where it was guiding me. I arrived at the door of a man that practiced magic, and explained what I had seen in my dream. He let me in, spoke to me of visions and gods, and then examined my foot. Needless to say, I left the house with a completely healed foot. That was 2 days ago. Since then, I have asked him to teach me more about magic, that I may come to use it myself. He told me about something called divination, a way to learn things through magic that would otherwise be impossible to know. I must learn this magic, for it would be invaluable to me in my mission to learn the truth of the Titans. I don’t know how long this will take, or if it will even be possible, but I must try.
It is going to take time and patience, but it is possible. I will learn these powers of divination and use them to find the truth of the Titans. This is a necessary delay, but I will do whatever I must.
(in significantly newer, but still ancient, ink)
It has been 7 years since I set out to learn divination magic, and I am filled with joy to report that I have done what I set out to do. I have learned a great deal in the ways of divination magic, and I will continue to grow my ability as I use it. It came to me easier than I expected, and I excelled quickly. I have learned how to create and execute my own spells, to achieve things I never believed were possible. I have converted my home into what I call a catalyst. It multiplies my magical abilities exponentially, allowing me even greater insight into things unknown to me. This power makes it feel like my eyes are not the only thing I can view the world through. It feels as if I have another sense. Something more. I will finally resume my mission of find the truth of the Titans.
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume I - Y'varian
Y’varian was the ruler of the largest kingdom to ever exist. His great city covered an entire planet, his riches growing beyond even the grandest of dreams. His soldiers, subjects, and advisors were loyal even to the death and beyond. They could not be bought, their loyalty could not be compromised, their resolve could not be broken. Even upon threat of death, pain, anguish, and every evil thing that exists, those that Y’varian ruled could not be turned against him. I have found something interesting in the tales of Y’varian. The oldest legends use a word that means king, while the less ancient ones begin to use words like “god” and “deity”. It seems that many kings of the ancient world would pray to Y’varian for various things; good fortune, wisdom, ill luck against their enemies, any number of things. It is my personal belief that the tale of Y’varian may be the origin of the saying “golden standard”, for he truly was the golden standard of a good, just king.
There have been many physical descriptions of Y’varian, all differing slightly. After comparing as many of them as I could, I believe it is safe to say this. He was revered as the most attractive man in all of the world. His size cannot be determined exactly, but all legends agree that he was a giant. He was calm, slow to anger, wise beyond all men, and fair. And that is all that I can find from the legends. There is nothing about what became of him or his kingdom. However, divination magic is another matter entirely.
I have found the truth of a few details of this legend, but it is truth nonetheless. This is truly one of the greatest days of my life. It is the day that I realized my mission is not in vain. The Titans really did exist, and I believe may still exist somewhere in the far reaches of the world. Here is what I can say for certain about Y’varian.
He stood between 90 and 100 feet tall, and the great hall in which his throne was built was 200 feet from floor to ceiling. In my vision, I caught a very short glimpse of the hall, and it is still the grandest sight I have ever laid my eyes upon. I tried and tried to find the location of his ancient kingdom, but the only thing I found was one word, “abandon”. After multiple attempts that all lead me to that word, I have come to believe that the resting place of his legendary kingdom is called “Abandon”.
His kingdom, while still daunting in size, did not cover an entire planet as the legends would lead you to believe. It did however cover an entire land mass in the world, his great capitol city vastly bigger than anything we have today. As for Y’varian’s kingdom, it did eventually fall to its enemies, although I could not definitely determine how or why. It is my personal belief that it had something to do with his wife. He married only one woman in his lifetime, and he married her out of love. He refused to ever take another wife in addition to her, and he treasured and cherished her more than any of his countless possessions. A king like that could only have one weakness, and that had to have been his wife.
Finally, in my meditation of his legends, a verse came to me. Whether it is a prophecy, a spell, or merely a guiding phrase, I cannot dismiss it.
“Speak the name of grief in the presence of his pain, and he shall return to you.”
I have spent countless hours trying to decipher what this could mean, but to no avail. Perhaps I shall revisit this mystery later in my life, but for now, it will be a better use of time to move on to studying the other Titans. As much as it pains me to leave anything undiscovered, I continue on my mission.
To any who may read this text, I beg you, find the truth of the Titans. Stop at nothing to learn as much as possible about their nature and record it so that it may be preserved for future generations. If it is within your power to do so, seek the Titans themselves. Find them, learn about them and learn from them. Find the truth at all costs. Their origin, their nature, their purpose, all of these things must be discovered and documented for the sake of history.
Signed, Abraham, keeper of the All-Sight.
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume II - World Ender
This legend is by far the grimmest of everything I have studied and read. The legends tell of a beast with never-ending hunger, rage beyond any kind of reason, and destructive capabilities to rival gods. Some even believe World Ender to be the unholy creation of angry gods that lays in wait for the call of its masters to destroy all things. In studying the legends of World Ender, I found an overwhelming abundance of details regarding its size, appearance, and even the sound of its roar. As much as I would love to believe the truth lies within these details, it is impossible for any of them to be truth, and the reason for this is very simple. If the legends about World Ender are to be true, then any sightings of such a beast would have been very short lived, as World Ender would have quickly destroyed anything that saw it. Given the unreliable pattern of the legends from which I must scavenge information, I am moving to the use of my magic from here.
The truth of World Ender has left me astonished and amazed. Through the use of the All-Sight, I was able to see World Ender in her full glory. The size of this monster is truly of godlike proportions. I cannot describe the feeling of awe and fear that came over me when I saw her standing before me. It is surely impossible for there to be a creature more terrifying and horrible than she. She stood hunched over, standing on her two hind legs, bent in horrid, jagged lines. Her two forelegs were just as powerful as her hindlegs, and her hands and feet were tipped with huge, cruel claws, big enough to rip through palaces like underbrush. Her entire body was covered in massive scales, giving the appearance of armor. Her tail trailed far behind her, slithering and swaying back and forth like a massive snake. She was covered in curved spikes that rose high off of her body, all the way from her neck to her tail. But her head was the most terrifying sight of all to behold. Two horns pointed forward from either side of her head, extending out in front of her mouth, as if to ram and destroy things with a charge. Her entire jawline was covered in smaller spikes that looked as sharp as spears, and she had six eyes, three on either side of her head. When she opened her maw to let out her roar, I realized just how big her mouth really was. She had too many teeth to count, and it seemed she could swallow entire buildings in one gulp. But her roar was what really shook me to my bones. I wont even try to describe the sound, but it was a sound that could only mean one thing. She has arrived. The end of the world has come. I do not know where I was in the vision, as the scenery and architecture surrounding me was completely foreign to me. I also do not know when I was in the vision, but I pray that it will not come to pass for many thousands of years.
It took me some time to recover from the shock that was induced by the intensity of that vision, but I have had time to meditate in depth about what I saw, and it led me to an interesting idea about the very nature of the universe. We already know that there are multiple planes of reality, the Material being the one in which we live. But what if we only know a tiny portion of the Material plane? What if the Material plane is infinite within itself? What if you could simply begin traveling in a direction and instead of eventually falling off the edge of the world, the world simply kept going forever? I must pursue this possibility.
I have had another vision, and I was right, but not in the way I thought I was. The world in which we live, or should I say on which we live, is actually only one world in an endless sea of worlds. In my vision, I saw the sky laid out before me, except I was not looking at it from the world. It was beyond it, looking down on the world. Stars were not just above me, but all around me, and in front of me was our world, beautiful and peaceful from where I saw it. The first thing about our world that I learned was that you can indeed travel in one direction forever, but you will eventually end up where you started, because our world is a ball. This may sound insane, but it explains so much about what we see in the sky, as well as things that happen on our worlds surface. I then traveled at unimaginable speeds through this space that I have come to call the Expanse. I saw hundreds of thousands of worlds, some similar to ours, some vastly different. The stars we see in the sky are similar to our sun, but are so far away that they appear smaller in the sky. Our sun is a star, and it is tiny in comparison to some of the stars that exist in the Expanse. There is so much truth to be discovered in the universe, and it saddens me that I will not live long enough to learn all of it, but perhaps some of that knowledge will eventually lead me to learning how to live forever. Regardless, I came upon multiple realizations because of this vision. The first is that the Titans probably exist on different worlds in the Expanse, given the nature of World Ender and the size of the Titans in general. The second is that with the sheer number of worlds in the Expanse, it is utter foolishness to believe that our world is the only world containing life. This magic has allowed me to learn more about the universe than all of my ancestors put together. I shall attempt to teach others to use the same power.
Signed, Abraham, keeper of the All-Sight.
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume III - Archaos
With every legend I read, Archaos becomes more intriguing to me. It is becoming clear to me that every Titan will be vastly different than the others, and I am only more excited to learn everything I can about them because of this. World Ender was a senseless beast, Y’varian was a king, and Archaos is something completely different. Every account of Archaos depicts him seeking and destroying a target of some kind. His targets ranged from individuals to nations, humanoids to beasts, and mortals to immortals. There are countless theories as to how he chooses his targets, but none were satisfactory to me. I was tempted at first to believe that he merely chooses who to kill at random, but after examining the accounts of targets he destroyed, I determined that that could not be possible, and I will explain why.
I have already learned the truth of the Material plane which is that our world exists in a vast emptiness that I have named the Expanse. I have also reasoned that our world is not the only one with life. That being said, the ancient legends of the Titans may not all be from one such world. In fact, I find it impossible to believe such a thing. So, to explain why Archaos could not have chosen his targets randomly, consider this. Many of his targets had to have been on completely different worlds, for many of the names, locations, and races mentioned in the accounts appear nowhere in any history of our world. And furthermore, I have not been able to find any evidence of them existing on our world through the use of the All-Sight. What this translates to is that if Archaos chose his targets completely randomly and in an unbiased manor, how and why would he choose a target on a different world? Of course, this presents three very large and important questions: how did so many writings about the Titans wind up on our world, how did Archaos choose his next target, and how did he get to them if they were on another world? I do not believe the answers to these questions can be found anywhere in the history of our world. I must look to magic. I must look to the All-Sight.
Before I meditate on this, I wish to explain one more thing. Unlike the Titans I have studied before him, there are hundreds of documented events of mortals encountering Archaos. All of them occurred while he was seeking out his next target to destroy, and to my amazement, all descriptions of his appearance agree almost perfectly with one another. However, I will try to confirm it through the All-Sight before recording it. I am going now to meditate on these things.
This vision was different. This power I have, the All-Sight, it is changing. It wasn’t just a vision, I was really there. I am not sure if this is good or bad, but now is not the time to determine that. I must recount everything I can about Archaos while it is fresh in my mind. As was the case when I stood before World Ender, seeing Archaos standing in front of me in my vision was truly awe-inspiring. But while World Ender filled me with fear and rage, Archaos did not have such an effect on me, although I cannot explain why. It was as if my entire body and mind knew without a doubt that I was in no danger of being harmed in any way by the godlike figure standing before me. As for his appearance, it is difficult for me to explain. He stood at least 150 feet tall, maybe more. He was wearing armor made of some kind of dark metal. His gauntlets and boots seemed disproportionate to his arms and legs, but not in a way that appeared foolish, but rather intentional, as if they were made that size for a specific purpose. His torso was covered by a tattered cloth through which you could see the massive breastplate underneath. His helmet, or perhaps his very head, was sleek, like a smoothed, sturdy helmet. It had only two holes, through which his two eyes shone out of. They glowed a bright blue, almost white. Surrounding his head was what I can only describe as a massive collar, rising almost as high as his head and spreading out to his shoulders. What struck me about his appearance was his limbs. Where his biceps and thighs should be, I only saw what looked like massive metal rods with smaller, more intricately designed metal rods and pieces attached to them. As I stood in awe and admiration before him, he stepped forward and began to walk, stepping right over me, completely avoiding harming me in any way. It was then that I heard a sound which I have never heard before and shall likely never hear again. It was like metal was striking and scraping against other metal. Not in a clattering or accidental way, but in a way that sounded more like it was happening on purpose. There was almost a rhythm to the sound. As I turned around to see where he was going, I saw a vast city laid out before the Titan. The city took up their defenses and launched an attack on the Titan, but to no avail. The boulders launched from their catapults glanced off of his armor like a pebble on a stone wall. He didn’t even seem to notice the onslaught that would devastate any mortal army. Were he to continue walking on the path he was currently on, he would have gone straight into the city, reducing everything in his path to rubble. But to my surprise, he stopped in front of the wall. I heard the metal sound again as he raised his palm to the city and hundreds of flames shot from his hand faster than anything I have ever seen. Each flame left a trail of black smoke behind it, weaving and intertwining with the others. They flew into the city and plunged into the streets and into buildings at seemingly random intervals, causing massive balls of white fire to erupt high into the air. This wonder went on for less than a minute, and when the flames finally stopped, Archaos lowered his hand, turned around to face me once again, and slowly walked away from the city, right overtop of me, and then stopped. He turned his head to face the sky, and the earth shook as four white flames erupted from his back. He rose into the air, slowly at first but gaining speed all the while, and in less than a minute, he was beyond the sky. Now that he was gone, I could hear the noise of the city behind me. Wailing and screaming came as loud as thunder from the city, towers of smoke rose from the streets and buildings, and dark storm clouds began to form over the land. Witnessing this event should be more than enough reason for me to have been shaken to my very soul, yet the entire time it was happening and every moment since I returned from that place, I have known only peace and fascination. Perhaps this is flaw within myself, or perhaps another effect of the All-Sight. Regardless, I have found answers to my questions. Firstly, the ancient accounts of the Titans that I have been studying can only have wound up on our world by the same means that I have seen the Titans with my own eyes, that being magic. Secondly, it is my belief that Archaos does not decide his targets, but rather learns who his next target is when he destroys the pervious. And thirdly, and also most obviously, Archaos seems to have no difficulty in traveling between worlds in the Expanse. I wish I could follow him to the distant places in the vast sea of stars, but such a feat would be impossible for anything less than a god.
In addition to the above information, I have taken away something else from the vision of Archaos: if All-Sight can transport me to and from a completely different location, such as it did in that vision, then might it be possible to use it for that purpose alone, without seeking any information? I must explore this further.
Signed, Abraham, keeper of the All-Sight.
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume IV - Greed
I believe the best way to introduce you to Greed is to tell you his other names that he acquired throughout the ancient tales. Obviously, Greed is the most commonly used in the scripts, but there are two others that keep appearing. “King of Riches” and “Thief” both appear in dozens of ancient scripts, all seemingly referring to the same Titan. To sum up an abundance of long-winded and vague tales, I will give the shortest and clearest explanation I can of Greed.
All of the legends of Greed are more about his treasure hoard than about him. There are no descriptions of his appearance, no examinations of his behavior, and no accounts of him interacting with mortals. However, every legend of Greed speaks of the grand splendor of his treasure hoard. Some even name it “Golden Hills”, which I personally find to be a ridiculous name, but I am in the business of learning and recording truth, so I shall include everything I find. The treasure hoard is said to contain everything he has stolen for all of his lifespan, which, if he is anything like the rest of the Titans, is probably hundreds of thousands of years, possibly even predating our world. Countless treasure hunters have spent their lives in search of the hoard, but none are ever recorded to have found it. What fascinates me about this legend is that every single account of the hoard, regardless of when in ancient history the account originates, gives the exact same description of the measure of the hoard. The following is a direct quote that can be found in every single account of the treasure hoard that has ever been found.
“When one looks upon the riches of Greed, they will know the true intention of their heart, for such a sight will expose all mortals to their very soul. Precious metals of every kind cover the landscape as far as the eye can see. Gems of such beauty and brilliance that even the goddess of beauty would hide her face in shame shine like dew upon the vast sea of shining glory. Weapons, armor, tools, and all manor of treasures from all manor of worlds sit on display in the grand halls of Greed. O the day when the riches of Greed are found, and the skies themselves are filled with gold.”
Now, I think it is safe to conclude that a great majority of this description is exaggerated. However, I cannot ignore the fact that over 700 different accounts, originating from a period of thirty-four hundred years throughout ancient history, all give the exact same description of the hoard. It is elements like this of my chosen mission that leave me discouraged, for how could such a tale of wealth be true? Nonetheless, my resolve is unbroken. I will learn the truth of Greed’s hoard.
The All-Sight does not fail. In my meditation of Greed, I learned two things:
The first was that Greed is different from the other Titans in a very drastic way; he is the size of a normal human. In my vision, I focused on Greed himself, specifically seeing him. I wanted to know what his appearance was like. What I saw was the private treasury of a great king. I was standing just beside the entrance on the inside of the treasury. There were strange lights on the walls, like torches, but without flame. Arranged around the room were intricately carved and decorated displays, holding bizarre and foreign artifacts and treasures. This was not a treasury for riches, but a treasury for precious items. I began to hear small clicks from the door beside me, as if things were moving within it, and it opened slowly as a man dressed in the strangest clothing I have ever seen entered the room and stood in the center of the room. He wore what looked to be a deep blue tunic that was hemmed with gold. He wore a hood, like a cloak but without the cape, that covered his head and his shoulders, coming down to a point in the middle of his torso on the front and back. A belt wrapped around his waist, holding multiple pieces of cloth that formed a sort of long skirt. He wore gauntlets of solid gold that left the hands open to reveal the deep blue gloves that covered his hands. His boots were made of solid gold as well, encasing his leg up to his knee and the entirety of his foot. On his back rested two swords of a shape I have never seen before. The blade appeared to be made out of solid gold as well, sharp on both sides and shining like the sun. However, about a third of the way down the blade, it curved sharply into a half circle. He was shaped like a human, no bigger than any common man you would find in the city. I could tell that he noticed me because he turned his head slightly to the side, as if acknowledging my presence, but did not seem to care that I was there. He walked to the opposite end of the treasury and picked up an artifact from the most beautiful display in the room, turned around slowly, and exited the room, closing the door gently behind him. When he turned around to exit, I was disappointed to find that his face was covered by a mask made of solid gold, just like his gauntlets and boots. It didn’t appear to have any openings, only intricate, complex engravings. The entire time he was in the treasury with me, he did not make the smallest sound. To my amazement, even his gold boots were silent as he walked across the solid stone floor. Every bit of gold on his body was decorated the same way that his mask was; engravings and carvings of such intricacy and detail even the greatest of craftsmen could not accomplish. I am hesitant to say I have a favorite primordial being, but I think I am entitled my own opinions at the very least. Greed is my favorite Titan that I have studied, for the soul reason of his appearance. Put simply, it was incredible.
The second thing I learned from my meditation on Greed was of much greater important than his appearance, although do wish I had his clothes. I learned that his treasure hoard, regarded as being big enough to fill the skies, is real. The description that appears in every single account of Greed is completely accurate. I have seen it with my own eyes, and I cannot give a better description than what is already recorded. The verse about the sight of it revealing the true intentions of any mortal’s heart could not be more truthful. I must admit, I was greatly tempted by the sight of it, and for a moment I was filled with an urge to take as much as I could. But my longing for knowledge proved to be greater than my passing hunger for riches. The hoard was just as gigantic and glorious as it was described, but what the legends left out was that it is underground. High above me was nothing but a ceiling of dirt and stone. I tried to focus on where the hoard was, but to no avail. It remains hidden. Perhaps further mediation will reveal the truth to me.
There is however one more thing I wish to ponder. Countless details are included in the ancient scripts, many of them having to do with things taking place on other worlds in the Expanse than ours. How did the great writers of old acquire such knowledge? My answer is quite simple, and perhaps the most logical conclusion I have ever come to. I am not the first keeper of the All-Sight. There has to have been others before me. Such foreign knowledge of the universe could not have been obtained otherwise. I do not know if this fact will hold any significance to me, but I must strive to find out.
Signed, Abraham, keeper of the All-Sight.
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume V - Noruk
I knew it was only a matter of time before my mission brought me misfortune. I am haunted by visions and nightmares of a ghostly evil. Every time it is the same, a ghostly white face that endlessly swirls and twists with white smoke, yet always maintains its shape. Its face almost resembles that of a great cat, but no cat has or will ever come close to the amount of terror that this face can instill in a soul. I could feel the evil residing within the face, raging and burning. Granted these visions only started after I tried to use the All-Sight to get a glimpse of Noruk. I do not know for sure that the face in these visions is Noruk, but for the sake of my mission, I hope that it is. My goal is to learn, and if suffering such horrific nightmares is necessary to gain the information I seek, then so be it.
I believe that the face in my nightmares is indeed the face of Noruk. Almost all of the legends I have read on him are more like warnings and tales of horror than of informative accounts. He is described as a wild and mindless evil from the beginning of the world itself. There are no descriptions of his appearance whatsoever, but there are tales of people falling into madness, starting cults, and behaving in extremely abnormal ways, all directly related to visions, nightmares, or prophecies having to do with Noruk. I do not believe this is an effect of Noruk, but a foolish reaction of mortals that do not understand what is going on around them. If Noruk is truly doing such things to people intentionally, then I will soon be the next victim in his long line of acts, and it will be officially recorded and documented, so I will have served my purpose in finding the truth.
It has been two months since the nightmares began, and I am still in my right mind, I haven’t started a cult, and I am not running around aimlessly murdering people, so I think it is safe to assume that Noruk does not use any evil magic on people, but rather that people cannot handle the sight of him. But if this is the case, what does that make me? Why does staring into the face of such an evil every night not have the effect on me that it is believed to have on mortals? There are plenty of tales of people claiming to have seen the face of Noruk in a vision or dream, and very soon after going completely insane, as if possessed or under some type of spell. Yet I have seen dozens of visions of his face, and I have not changed. This fact perplexes me greatly, yet I find no emotional response of any kind within my heart. It is as if my heart has become cold, incapable of emotion, and my mind has become the lead of my body, making all decisions completely logically, never hesitating for emotions, but always examining a situation and drawing a logical conclusion. Knowledge, truth, is all that matters in life, and I will find it.
After days of meditating, I was finally able to use the All-Sight to see Noruk outside of a nightmare. I stood at the base of a large rock formation, looking up to the top. The rocks were covered in snow, wind blew harshly all around, and clouds swirled above the top. It was colder than anything I have ever felt, and I quickly lost feeling in my body. The sound of thunder came from the sky as the clouds swirled faster and more closely together, moving towards the top of the rocks. The blue sky was revealed as the clouds continued to move together on the formation, and when it became bright as day, I saw him. He seemed to be formed out of snow, his body endlessly swirling with snow and wind, yet always maintaining its shape, just like the face I saw in my nightmares. His face was the same as my dreams, and the great rocks that seemed tall only moments ago were now dwarfed in comparison. He stared directly at me and opened his mouth, letting out the shrillest and most ear-piercing screech I have ever heard. Clouds of snow began to swirl up on the ground beneath him, obscuring his feet from my view. A low rumble began to shake the ground where I stood, and out of the snow clouds at his feet came hundreds of white figures, identical to him in shape, but identical to me in size. They rushed at me with greater speed than I could have imagined, yet I remained calm. Just as they reached me, I moved myself. I do not know how, but I was suddenly high in the air, looking down at the massive crowd of figures now beneath me, almost blending in completely with the surrounding snow. I was on an eye level with Noruk now, still a great way off from him. He let out another cry and walked forward, causing a small earthquake with every step. He raised his arm as if to strike me, at which point I returned here to my study. I believe I am the only person in history that has had such an interaction with Noruk, or any Titan for that matter. He is wild, evil, and aggressive. I wonder if he acts with purpose, or merely on instinct like World Ender? I must learn.
It has been three months since I encountered Noruk. I have been unable to have another encounter with Noruk, and nothing has happened to convince me that there will be any ill effects of my interaction with him. I wish to learn the nature of Noruk, to learn his purpose in being, but I am beginning to see that such a task is impossible, as he does not have a purpose. The All-Sight would have revealed it to me by this point if it were there to be revealed. Noruk is a wild animal, a savage barbarian that attacks unprovoked and kills with no direction. Further study of him is unnecessary and futile.
Finally, learned something else in my long hours of meditation. Not only am I not the first keeper of the All-Sight, but I am also not the last. There are still many unknowns on this subject, but what I have learned is that there is only one alive at a time. More than one simply cannot coexist at the same time. I do not know how the next keeper is determined or how long a keeper maintains the ability, but I will not stop trying to learn everything I can.
Signed, Abraham, keeper of the All-Sight
The Wandering Cursed
Legends of the Titans: Volume VI - Silence
Before we begin, I must explain something. After almost three years of searching through the ancient scripts and legends, I have found nothing detailing the sixth Titan. It is like the sixth Titan does not even exist, yet every account of the Titans states that there are six of them. Through all of the ancient records, there are hundreds of references to the other five Titans, and yet there is not a single entry, account, record, script, legend, or even hints at the sixth Titan. The only place it is even mentioned at all is in the general tales of the Titans, explaining that there are six of them. Every legend agrees. Six Titans. So why do continually find nothing? I have even tried to use the All-Sight to find it, and even that was fruitless. However, the inability of the All-Sight to show it to me makes me think that perhaps the Titans have no order. In fact, it was foolish of me to ever believe there was an order. Why should there be? Regardless of any kind of order, I have decided to refer to the sixth Titan as Silence, which I don’t think I need to explain myself about. I will not be satisfied until I have identified the sixth Titan. I committed myself to uncovering the truth about them, and I will not move on to any other venture until I have revealed all six of them. The key must lie within the All-Sight, I just have to find it.
I found it. I was meditating on the last Titan, trying to find anything I could, and I had a vision. I stood in the middle of a wide clearing in a dense forest. The entire sky was green like the sea, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and the entire ground of the clearing was covered in blood red vines. There was total silence around me. Not the song of a bird, the shout of insects, or even the rustling or leaves from the forest. As I stood that strangely beautiful clearing, a sense of calm the likes of which I have never felt before washed over me, as if I was safe from all evil in the universe at that moment. It was then that I experienced the most beautiful, peaceful, and calm event that could ever be imagined. Even the recounting of it now fills me with peace. I heard a sound, like a low hum, begin softly somewhere in the forest, growing bigger and louder until I felt it in my chest, yet I was not afraid. All at once, the sounds of the forest came alive. Birds lifted their voices in a beautiful chorus, joining in on the song of the forest. As they sang, they took to the sky, flying in circles around the clearing. Birds of every size and color filled the air with their songs. As they sang, the sound of a stream joined the melody. Animals of all shapes and sized emerged from the edge of the woods, walking slowly towards me, filled with curiosity. The soft sea green light from above danced on their fur, providing a dazzling display of lights and flashes of blues and purples. As they drew closer to me, the vines that lay upon the ground began to move, slowly sliding towards the very center of the clearing. That was when I saw it. The vines began to move upwards, coming together and forming into something. At first it looked like a tree, but it continued to move and twist until it formed into the shape of a hand, although not a hand such as what you or I have ever seen. There were hundreds of tiny, intricate lines weaving and turning throughout the hand, allowing you to see through it to the animals and forest beyond, like looking through a thicket or through the branches of a tree. The birds overhead landed on the backs and heads of the animals surrounding the hand, and everything was still. A low, white light began to glow from within the hand, and slowly grew brighter and brighter until the entire clearing shone like a star. The animals lifted their heads and let it wash over them, and without even thinking, I did the same, closing my eyes. For an entire year, I stood in the light, not moving, not eating, not making a noise, simply standing in the light, listening to the sound of Silence. As for the feeling that followed, it is something that I truly cannot describe, so I will not even try. However, I will say that after that moment, with such beautiful and glorious animals and scenery all around me, gathered around that hand, I know that I will never be the same again. Something has changed within me down to my very nature of being. The worries and troubles of my life are gone. Fear itself has become foreign to me. In the Silence, I was changed. In the Silence, I found my true purpose. In the Silence, I was born. This shall be my last volume regarding the Titans, as I have discovered their true nature, however I cannot give that information freely. It is only for those that are willing to leave everything behind in order to obtain it. It is for those few that have been given the ability and will to put everything in the universe aside for the sake of knowing. It is only for those that find it themselves. I cannot reveal the true nature of the Titans, but I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have learned the truth of the Titans. I have walked alongside them, observing every minute detail about them. I have completed what I was meant to do.
When I am finished here, I will go to my new home and begin my new purpose. In the Peaceable Kingdoms will I spend eternity, always gathering knowledge, always learning, and most importantly, never forgetting what happened in the clearing. As for the All-Sight, it was the tool that guided me to my ultimate destination. I believed that I was the one that found that ability, but I see now that it found me. To all future life and intelligence, the All-Sight does not make mistakes. It is not something that can be used against its will. It cannot be obtained by any amount of effort or labor. The All-Sight chooses its keeper. Always. The All-Sight has passed on from me, and I can feel that it has already found its next keeper somewhere in the infinite space of the Expanse. It is now time for me to go to my new home in the Peaceable Kingdoms.
Signed, Oghma.
The Wandering Cursed
that is a lot for these titans