This document provides a foundational overview of Crown theory, Veil phenomena, and the post-Eclipse emergence of Graven entities. It is intended for new entrants to Crown-bearing institutions, historians of the Second Cycle, and curious outsiders seeking insight.
Most humans live under a Veil of Darkness as a result of the eclipse, a kind of enforced blindness. They can't see the true world, and the true world doesn't see them. It's like reality rejects their entire existence . The Veil treats them as intruders, dreamers who don't belong in the waking world anymore.
Only the Crowned—those who've awakened their crownlight—can pierce the Veil. Their will burns through the fog, letting them see the real world.
The Veil has become the new world order. And if you're not crowned, you're already on the outside.
Crownlight & crownforms
Every crownborn manifests a Crown, a metaphysical armour of will and essence that forms around the brain. Though they are able to pierce through the veil at birth, the affinity of the crown typically emerges around the age of ten, triggered by trauma, survival, or intense self-realisation.
The number of crowns one can wield is not fixed, as it is determined by their Aevum, a soul-aligned principle that shapes how they interact with Crownlight. The Aevum governs crown behaviour, properties and potential for growth.
Crown capacity and ranks
While most individuals stabilise with a single crown, a rare few can sustain more. Each additional crown demands exponentially greater mental resilience and understanding of one's ability. Overextending one's capacity often leads to Crown Fracture, a catastrophic collapse of mind and will.
Crown bearers are classified by the number of crowns they bear:
Solents — One Crown
Dyarchs — Two Crowns
Trinarchs — Three Crowns
Quadrants — Four Crowns
Monarchs — Five Crowns
A monarch may not rule a nation, but their presence is always imposing.
Monarchs are exceedingly rare. Most lead the great clans, descend from the first Crownborn, or operate in secrecy.
Aevum Affinities
The Aevum is the true essence of a crown bearer's will. It dictates how their Crownlight manifests and how their Crown grows and adapts. Affinities are not chosen inherently, as they emerge through experience, trauma, and inheritance. However, the great clans have learnt to manipulate affinity development through technologies like Psynapse.
Crownlight is the radiant overflow of one's crown, a glow that lets the bearer perceive and manipulate the dark and veiled .
The Eclipse & The Graven
The Eclipse remains a mystery. Whether it was a celestial catastrophe or a divine reckoning, its consequences are clear: it birthed Crowns, Arc, and the monstrous beings known as Graven.
They are speculated been born from the Eclipse itself as spontaneous tyrants formed from chaotic affinity. Each Graven is its own sovereign horror, a ruler of their own twisted dominion called an Aevum Ruin. They embody a specific affinity in a raw, unrefined state.
Some Aevum spawn legions of lesser Graven:
A Pollen Graven might spread as infectious spores, claiming forests and lungs.
A glass graven could haunt reflections, distorting vision and perception.
Others exist as singular apex predators:
The Dragon Tyrant. the Third Hollow, whose breath destroyed old Svealand.
The Cradle Widow, who whispers across cities, lulling children into eternal sleep.
All Graven are crowned by the Eclipse, although their crowns are not born of will.
Graven Taxonomy (Known Tiers)
Graven are ranked by cognitive ability, threat level, and Dominion strength:
Broods — Countless, low-sentience entities tied to specific environments.
Haunts — Mid-tier threats; intelligent enough to ambush and manipulate.
Veilstalkers — Rare Graven that can mark the living and imprint their essence.
Tyrants — Singular sovereigns that rule their ruin with full dominion.
Crown-Eaters — Graven that consume Crownlight directly. Even tyrants avoid them.
The Veil Plague
The Veil Plague is a corruption that afflicts those unprotected by Crownlight. It begins as dream-sickness and escalates to full cognitive degradation. Left unchecked, the afflicted are often twisted into graven forms, with cases worsening recently.
Common symptoms include:
Lucid hallucinations.
Distorted speech and thought loops.
Progressive breakdown of self-identity.
Irreversible transformation into Graven-like entities.
There is no known cure. Early detection and swift elimination remain the only effective measures.