Aionexus’ Reckoning

Summary

A vision yet to pass, Aionexus’ Reckoning is the first vision received by Onyomia Kynos, the young oracle whose revelations would become the foundation of a growing and controversial cult. The vision is a vivid and unsettling prophecy that reveals the eventual unraveling of Aeldrithius, an event not driven by the Elder God of Time alone but set in motion by a newly ascended goddess from a distant galaxy. This divine figure, an outsider to the known pantheon, will, whether through deliberate action or unintended consequence, trigger the sequence of events leading to the world's ultimate collapse.
Rather than fearing this revelation, Onyomia and her followers embrace it as a moment of profound significance. For them, the vision is not a warning but a promise of cosmic renewal. The cult believes that the destruction of Aeldrithius will pave the way for a rebirth, an opportunity to transcend the limitations of their world and the oppressive control of the existing gods. To them, Aionexus’ Reckoning is less a tragedy and more a divine inevitability, a necessary step in the evolution of existence.
Onyomia’s cult dedicates itself to preparing for this prophesied end, not to prevent it but to ensure it unfolds as foretold. Their efforts focus on uncovering the identity of the foreign goddess and understanding her role in the apocalypse, not to resist her but to facilitate her arrival. They work to spread the belief that Aeldrithius’s destruction is an act of liberation rather than annihilation, gathering followers who see the end as a sacred event ordained by forces beyond their comprehension.
As news of the vision spreads, it creates deep divisions among the people of Aeldrithius. While many see Onyomia’s prophecy as a dire threat to be averted at all costs, her cult grows steadily, fuelled by those who view Aionexus’ Reckoning as a long-awaited fulfilment of cosmic destiny. For Onyomia and her followers, the end of Aeldrithius is not something to fear but to welcome, for it is through the ashes of destruction that they believe true enlightenment will be found.

Spread

The prophecy of Aionexus’ Reckoning remains largely unknown beyond the confines of the Time’s Veil cult, a secretive group that reveres the vision as a sacred truth. This obscurity is due in large part to the efforts of the Sainted Dominion, which has gone to great lengths to suppress the cult’s activities and limit its influence. By keeping the cult hidden from the broader population, the Dominion ensures that the prophecy does not spread widely, fearing that its apocalyptic message could sow fear or inspire dissent among the faithful.
Despite these efforts, those with knowledge of the Time’s Veil cult or its teachings are often aware of the prophecy’s existence. It has gained a degree of notoriety in certain circles—among scholars of forbidden lore, rogue theologians, and those who traffic in rumours of heretical beliefs. For these individuals, Aionexus’ Reckoning is whispered about in hushed tones, a secret shared only among those willing to risk the Dominion’s wrath by delving into the cult’s forbidden doctrines.
The cult itself, while small and fragmented due to the Dominion’s oppression, takes great care to preserve the prophecy within its ranks. They pass it down through oral traditions, cryptic writings, and coded messages, ensuring that even if their group is discovered and dismantled, the vision of Aionexus’ Reckoning will survive. As a result, while the prophecy remains obscure to the general public, it has become something of an open secret among those with a vested interest in the Dominion’s affairs or in unravelling the mysteries of the Time’s Veil cult.

Cultural Reception

Outside the Time’s Veil cult, the prophecy of Aionexus’ Reckoning is met with widespread scepticism or outright rejection. Many dismiss it as nothing more than a baseless or exaggerated vision, a fabrication born out of the cult’s obsession with apocalyptic narratives and its desire to provoke fear or gain influence. Scholars and theologians aligned with the Sainted Dominion often publicly denounce the prophecy as heretical nonsense, claiming it holds no truth or relevance to the divine order of Aeldrithius.
For those who take the prophecy seriously, however, the reaction is markedly different. Most who hear of it, especially those who trust the Dominion or follow the teachings of the Starhaven Pantheon, see it as a dire threat that must be prevented at all costs. The idea of a foreign goddess arriving to trigger the end of the world is seen as an affront to the sanctity of their gods and their belief in Aeldrithius’s divine protection. Such individuals often view the prophecy as a call to action, urging vigilance against external threats and the eradication of the Time’s Veil cult, which they see as complicit in hastening the apocalypse.
Among the general populace, reactions range from fearful disbelief to reluctant acceptance of the prophecy’s potential implications. Even those inclined to dismiss the cult’s teachings entirely may find themselves unnerved by the persistent rumours surrounding the vision, especially as whispers of the cult’s activities and the Sainted Dominion’s efforts to suppress them continue to circulate. This uneasy tension reinforces the widespread belief that if there is even a shred of truth to Aionexus’ Reckoning, then every effort must be made to ensure that it does not come to pass.
Thus, the prophecy, while not widely trusted or accepted, has become a polarising topic wherever it surfaces. For most people, its existence is less a matter of belief and more a grim warning that compels them to act, either by opposing the cult or by supporting measures to prevent the apocalyptic future it predicts.

In Literature

Although the prophecy of Aionexus’ Reckoning is not widely recognised or discussed openly, its influence is surprisingly pervasive in literature, particularly in works of fiction. Stories—especially those within the romantic or tragic genres—frequently touch upon themes of the end of the world or centre around the consequences of grave and ominous prophecies. These narratives often depict dramatic struggles against inevitable fates, doomed love stories set against apocalyptic backdrops, or characters grappling with revelations of cosmic proportions. While these tales are rarely explicit in referencing Aionexus’ Reckoning, subtle parallels to the prophecy and its themes can often be found, leading some to speculate about the authors’ inspirations and intentions.
It is unclear whether all writers who explore such themes are directly affiliated with the Time’s Veil cult, but evidence suggests that some of the most renowned authors in Aeldrithius’s literary circles secretly support the cult or at least sympathise with its ideas. These authors may weave aspects of the prophecy into their works as allegories or hidden messages, presenting the vision not as a warning but as a profound truth disguised in metaphor and artistic expression. Their influence ensures that, even in a society where the prophecy is suppressed, its echoes continue to resonate through the written word.
Such works often achieve widespread acclaim, finding audiences among readers who remain unaware of their deeper connections to the cult. Themes of forbidden knowledge, divine interference, and the fragility of existence captivate the public, ensuring that these stories remain popular while subtly embedding elements of the prophecy into cultural consciousness. For those familiar with the cult, these stories act as a means of disseminating its ideas covertly, allowing the prophecy to gain an underground following despite the Sainted Dominion’s efforts to suppress it.
The secrecy surrounding the authors’ affiliations only adds to the intrigue. It is whispered in certain circles that these writers use their influence to protect the cult and further its mission. By embedding elements of Aionexus’ Reckoning into literature, they contribute to its preservation and perpetuation, ensuring that the prophecy remains a topic of fascination and speculation long after it might otherwise have been forgotten.