The Tragedy of Cathrica and Invictus
HWÆT!
Summary
For six months of every turning year, Cathrica and Invictus ascend to their heavenly realms, wielding godly might to weave the threads of the Cosmos. Their power is as immense as their duties, shaping the very reality that mortals tread upon. But duty is a relentless taskmaster, pulling them back to the material realm for the remaining half-year.
As Imperatori, they oversee the affairs of the Holy Cathrican Empire, their power both a blessing and a curse. Yet, the true tragedy unfolds in the perpetual separation, a cosmic irony that denies them the tangible presence of their one true love. An endless life of unlimited power and endless longing, played out over centuries, as the Imperatori navigate the delicate balance between their godly responsibilities and a human desire for companionship.
It's this relatability which has made it a perennial saga of love unfulfilled, of gods tethered by the very powers they wield. In the dim glow of New Year's, when worlds briefly align, they share a fleeting moment, a cosmic paradox where divinity yearns for the touch of mortality. This tale, woven into the Empire's cultural fabric, resonates with the haunting echoes of eternal love cast against the backdrop of celestial duties.
Historical Basis
There is hard historical data to suggest this is less a myth than a fact dressed up as one. Twice every year, the Imperatori switch places per the Accord in the Tanopolitan Creed.
Spread
The peerless Cathrican propaganda machine has seen to it that the Legend of Cathrica and Invictus has transcended the borders of the Holy Cathrican Empire, echoing through the corridors of Hyperborea's cultural consciousness. It has become popular holiday fare during Wintertide festivals, a celestial romance for those who can't be at home with those they love.
As legends often do, the story has birthed its own apocrypha, tales spun by creative minds seeking to explore the nuances of the Imperatori's tragic love. Some apocryphal versions delve into the untold moments during the New Year's reunion, exploring the emotions and conversations between Cathrica and Invictus. Others speculate on the cosmic consequences of their separation, weaving threads of intrigue and mystery.
These apocryphal whispers find their way into the hearts of storytellers, bards, and ordinary folk alike, enriching the narrative tapestry of Cathrica and Invictus. The legend, with its roots in divine tragedy, continues to evolve as a living, breathing entity, shaped by the collective imagination and the developing technologies of the world.
Variations & Mutation
The Dancers (Doberlund)
A Dobrish variation goes that each New Year's Eve, the Imperatori meet in the snowfields of the high mountain passes to dance, each movement reflected in the skies above via the Aurora Hyperborealis. With the Northern Lights the sole, silent witnesses to this divine union, they spend the final hours of every year dancing the stars back into the skies.
Silent Night (Zerovica)
The Silence fell for the first time on New Year's Eve 878 IR, the day Zerovica joined the Empire. It has returned yearly since. With the setting of the sun, it settles in across the Dominion. It isn't a magically enforced hush or anything; rather, it's more of a subtle agreement between all things Zerovici to not disturb the Imperatori's only time together. Dogs may bark, and babies may cry as they do, but the general noise attenuates with the setting sun on the year's final night. When the stars reclaim the night sky, the Sun rises, the Silence lifts, and the world awakens to a new year.
In Literature
In Art
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