The Death Witch

The Death Witch, sometimes published under the title The Death Witch (and Other Stories) is believed to be the oldest book in Nideon. It is a collection of myths about the Calistian gods, who are said to grant magical gifts to humans, and the origins of these myths. The text has been translated into nearly every language and is often studied by scholars of magic for potential clues as to how magic works.

Purpose

The Death Witch is a collection of myths about the gods of Caliste, who are said to be made of pure magic. The myths in the book tell stories of interactions between the gods, and more often, between gods and humans, usually the first humans to possess different types of magic and the reasons the gods had for giving these people magic. Notably, humans are the only race of people in the books, which some use as evidence that humans are the oldest race on the planet.
In an note at the front of the text, the author claims that this books is a compilation of myths collected during his extensive travels through a place called Tristan. He also claims that he only included the stories that were shared in multiple places, indicating a likelihood that they are true.. As no one knows where Tristan once was located, most people believe this note be made-up by the author to lend credence to his work. This is not the only document, however, that mentions the gods of Caliste, indicating that this volume may have once been a part of a larger, ancient religion that no longer exists.

Historical Details

History

It is unclear where the book came from, as several different countries claim to have the original copy. All of these books contain the same set of stories, though surprisingly, they are not all written in the same language. Nevertheless, language experts have been able to decode the ancient texts and confirm that the stories in the different volumes are the same. No one has yet been able to confirm which language was the original.

Public Reaction

The Death Witch is the most widely published book Nideon, and has been translated into nearly every language. It is a common book in households everywhere and a continuing inspiration for new authors. It is popular both for its wonderful and fantastical stories as well as its bizarre and unknown origins. It has even inspired a rebirth of the religion surrounding the mysterious Calistian gods.

Type

Text, Literature

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

unknown