The Celestial Patrons are enigmatic, powerful entities that exist beyond the mortal realm, watching over and subtly influencing the world of Sole Survivor's Manuscript. While they share some similarities with the Constellations—in that they are beings from another plane of existence with significant power—they differ in key aspects, such as their origins, roles, and how they interact with the world and the characters within it.
1. Nature and Origin:
The Celestial Patrons are ancient, god-like beings born from the very fabric of existence. They are deeply entwined with the natural order of the world and the forces that shape it. Each Patron governs or embodies one of these forces, and their influence stretches across the timeline of the world, often moving in ways that mortal beings cannot comprehend.
They do not come from an external system or force; rather, they are an intrinsic part of the world's creation and balance. The Celestial Patrons were not summoned, nor are they mere spectators—they are part of the world's very structure, and their roles are vital to maintaining or disrupting that structure. Some even claim that the Celestial Patrons were born from the world itself, its self-aware will manifesting in a form that transcends normal understanding.
2. Roles and Influence:
While their powers are vast, the Celestial Patrons do not actively intervene in every aspect of the world's affairs. Instead, they shape events in subtle ways, guiding the course of history through seemingly insignificant moments. However, unlike the Constellations, whose influence is more directly linked to the progression of certain individuals or groups, the Celestial Patrons have a broader scope. They may interact with the world through mortals, but their primary concern is the larger-scale equilibrium of existence itself.
Each Patron is associated with a specific domain of power, and their involvement in the story will often be connected to their domain. For example:
1. The Eternal Flame that Shatters the Night
Role: Patron of Light and Darkness
Domain: This Patron governs the balance between light and shadow, controlling the ebb and flow of illumination in the world. They symbolize hope emerging from despair, but also the dangers that lurk in the dark. They are an ever-present force, seen only by their effects.
2. The Silent Fathom that Echoes Beyond
Role: Patron of Time and Silence
Domain: A being who embodies the vastness of time and the stillness within it. They guide moments of destiny, whether in frozen pauses or endless progression, yet never reveal their true nature. Their presence is felt through the consequences of time itself.
3. The Veiled Hand that Severs Fate
Role: Patron of Fate and Choice
Domain: The one who holds the threads of destiny, but never in a visible manner. They guide the hands of those who choose their paths, subtly nudging them toward fateful decisions. Their influence is a silent touch, never overt, yet impossible to ignore in the grand scheme.
4. The Obsidian Eye that Sees the Infinite
Role: Patron of Knowledge and Secrets
Domain: This Patron is the keeper of all things hidden, those truths that are too dangerous for mortal minds to comprehend. They do not share their knowledge willingly, but instead, guide those worthy enough to discover the secrets of the universe. Their vision spans beyond time and space.
5. The Ashen Beast that Walks the Abyss
Role: Patron of Chaos and Destruction
Domain: A force of primal chaos, destruction, and rebirth. This Patron thrives in the destruction of old worlds, but their true purpose is the cyclical nature of creation and annihilation. They are the storm that clears the way for new life, a force that brings both ruin and renewal.
6. The Crimson Star that Hunts Unseen
Role: Patron of Ambition and Hidden Powers
Domain: The one who guides the ambitious from the shadows, ever so present but rarely noticed. This Patron encourages the pursuit of power and greatness in silence, hiding their influence in the minds of those who seek to rise above. Their power is unseen, but unmistakable in its effects.
7. The Cobalt Gale that Weaves the Storm
Role: Patron of Change and Motion
Domain: A Patron who controls the winds of change and the forces that alter reality. They are the unpredictable force that causes the world to shift, ushering in moments of radical transformation. They never move in a straight line and are known for their sudden, sweeping influence.
8. The Verdant Root that Strangles the Earth
Role: Patron of Growth and Corruption
Domain: The embodiment of life that grows uncontrollably, suffocating everything in its path. This Patron encourages growth, but their influence can become twisted. They represent the power of nature to both nurture and overwhelm, to flourish and consume.
9. The Wandering Beast Beneath the Moon
Role: Patron of Night and the Wild
Domain: A primal force of nature, this Patron governs the untamed aspects of the world, particularly during the night. They embody the fierce, unpredictable power of beasts who roam the wilds under the moonlight, shaping the instincts of creatures and the heart of every hunter. Their influence lies in the balance between civilization and the wilderness, between control and freedom. The Wandering Beast is ever-present, moving unseen under the moon's glow, guiding those who seek the raw, untamed forces of the world.
This Patron represents the wildness of both the natural world and the untapped potential within those who embrace their primal instincts. They are mysterious, often acting in subtle ways to push individuals toward their inner, untamed selves.
10. The Golden Veil that Whispers Fate
Role: Patron of Destiny and Sovereignty
Domain: The one who oversees the rise and fall of rulers, the shifting tides of destiny in the courts of kings and queens. This Patron is often a subtle guide, ensuring that the chosen leaders follow their destined paths, and that those with the power to change the world are not led astray by their own desires.
11. The Ashen Thorn of Ruined Thrones
Role: Patron of Power and Decay
Domain: This Patron embodies the inevitable decay that follows the fall of empires and rulers. They are the remnant of once-great thrones, now reduced to ash and ruin. The Ashen Thorn represents the cyclical nature of power: how kingdoms rise, only to eventually crumble, leaving behind only the memories of their glory and the thorns of their destruction. They govern the disintegration of power, whether through the corruption of the rulers themselves or the weight of time that slowly erodes their legacies. Their influence is often felt in the aftermath of war, revolution, and the collapse of old institutions.
Their presence is a reminder of the fragility of power—what was once vibrant and influential can be reduced to dust. The Ashen Thorn quietly guides those who seek to rebuild what has fallen, or perhaps those who wish to claim power from the ashes of the past.
12. The Hollow Dream that Drowns the Soul
Role: Patron of Sleep and Nightmares
Domain: The Patron who controls the realms of dreams, of sleep and unconscious desires. They govern the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined, using nightmares as a means of control or as warnings. The dreams they send are cryptic, often foretelling truths that are only understood much later.
Each of these Celestial Patrons reflects an aspect of the world or reality that is both influential and mysterious. They are powerful, unseen forces that guide mortals and events in ways that are often indirect but undeniable. Their names embody their enigmatic nature, creating an aura of cosmic mystery while defining their roles in the universe.
The Celestial Patrons do not interact with mortals in the same way other beings might. They do not demand worship, nor do they seek followers in the traditional sense. Instead, they observe, wait, and nudge the flow of events to ensure that the world follows its intended course—or perhaps to test whether the world will collapse under its own weight.
3. Relationship with Mortals:
Unlike the Constellations, the Celestial Patrons are not easily accessible. They do not directly speak to or interact with mortals unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Their presence is often felt through the manipulation of circumstances or through cryptic signs that guide mortals in specific directions. They may appear to individuals as fleeting dreams or vague visions, leaving behind only the sense that their actions are somehow more significant than they first appeared.
4. Their Agenda:
The Celestial Patrons are not bound by the same morals as mortals, and their objectives are often cryptic and ambiguous. While some may wish to protect the balance of the world, others may seek to disrupt it for reasons unknown, or to test the limits of the world's endurance. Their true goals are often hidden, and it is unclear whether they have the best interests of the world at heart or whether they are merely playing a game for their own amusement.
Some of the Celestial Patrons may seek to shape the world according to their will, nudging mortals into positions of power or influencing the outcomes of critical moments.
5. The Celestial Patron's Relationship with Fate:
One of the most defining aspects of the Celestial Patrons is their connection to Fate itself. They are the ones who lay the groundwork for the world's events, guiding its course from the shadows. In this sense, they can be seen as both creators and destroyers, depending on how they choose to intervene. Their influence on the world's narrative can shift the paths of entire civilizations, leading some characters to rise to greatness while others fall into ruin.
However, their manipulation of fate is not always clear-cut.
The Celestial Patrons, despite their immense power, are bound by a set of rules and limitations that govern their behavior and interactions with the world and mortals. These rules are in place to maintain the balance of the universe, prevent the misuse of their power, and keep the world's story progressing along the right path. Below is a detailed explanation of the rules that even these god-like entities must follow:
Rules of the Celestial Patrons1. The Rule of Non-Interference in Mortal Affairs
Celestial Patrons are forbidden from directly intervening in the daily lives of mortals unless it is an exceptional situation where the world's fate or balance is at risk. This rule ensures that they do not control the destinies of individuals outright or disrupt the natural course of events. Their role is to guide indirectly, either through subtle signs, forces, or external circumstances that alter the course of actions, rather than to make direct decisions for mortals.
Exception: In rare cases where the world's fundamental existence is at risk (for example, if an event threatens the very nature of reality), the Celestial Patrons may break this rule. However, they will face consequences for doing so, as it disrupts the natural order.
2. The Rule of Limitations on Direct Influence
The Celestial Patrons are limited in how directly they can influence outcomes. For example, they cannot tell mortals exactly what to do, nor can they manipulate outcomes in a way that forces specific actions. They might nudge events toward a certain direction, but they cannot outright make a character do something.
Example: A Celestial Patron may influence a character's emotions or circumstances to guide them, but they cannot give them explicit instructions or commands, like telling them exactly what path to take. They are meant to maintain the illusion of free will, even though their actions may lead a character to make choices that align with the Patron's interests.
3. The Rule of Concealed Existence
Celestial Patrons are not to reveal their true forms or full identities to mortals. They are known to communicate indirectly through dreams, visions, or cryptic messages, but direct appearances are forbidden. The reason for this is to preserve the mystery and the power of their influence—mortals are not meant to see them as tangible beings.
This rule helps to keep the Celestial Patrons' power intact, as their true forms are so overwhelming that revealing themselves could cause instability in the world's narrative. The concept of mortal belief plays a part here: if mortals were to fully comprehend the nature of the Celestial Patrons, it could disturb the balance of faith, destiny, and the mortal world.
4. The Rule of Fate's Sovereignty
The Celestial Patrons are bound by Fate itself, meaning that they cannot simply act against it. The force of Fate exists independently from their will, and they must follow the events set by its course, even though they can influence it subtly. For example, they can guide a mortal to make decisions, but if those decisions go against the greater design of Fate, they must allow it to unfold.
Example: If a mortal is destined to die in a certain way or at a specific time, the Celestial Patron cannot alter that destiny, even if they have the power to prevent the death. They can guide the person, shift their awareness, or cause them to take different paths, but they cannot outright defy the plan of Fate.
5. The Rule of Reciprocal Actions
Any action that a Celestial Patron takes will have a corresponding consequence that affects their domain or the larger balance of the world. These actions are often unpredictable, but they will always come with a cost or change in the world. For instance, if a Patron of Chaos causes a significant disruption in a region, it will lead to a period of instability elsewhere in the world.
Example: If a Celestial Patron chooses to intervene in a significant way, like manipulating the flow of time, it could cause a distortion in the timelines or ripples that have unforeseen consequences—perhaps even allowing someone from another time or realm to emerge. Every act of influence carries a price, and Celestial Patrons must be careful of how they use their power.
6. The Rule of Equal Exchange
Celestial Patrons are bound by the principle of equal exchange: if they offer something to mortals, they must receive something of equal or greater value in return. This could be in the form of energy, sacrifice, or the creation of new situations that benefit the Patron in some way.
Example: If a Celestial Patron grants a mortal a powerful boon, like an enhancement of their abilities, they may require something from the mortal in return—such as their loyalty, the sacrifice of another being, or the fulfillment of a task that benefits the Patron's domain.
7. The Rule of No Personal Stakes
Celestial Patrons are not allowed to have personal stakes in the world. They are not supposed to seek power, wealth, or personal gain from their interactions with mortals. Their actions are driven purely by the need to maintain balance or guide the fate of the world, not by personal desires. If a Patron begins acting in a way that seems self-serving or greedy, they risk destabilizing the cosmic order, as their intervention would be viewed as a form of corruption.
Example: A Celestial Patron cannot start a war or manipulate factions just because they have a preference for one outcome. They must operate in a way that upholds their role as neutral forces, even if they are pushing the world toward certain outcomes.
8. The Rule of Time-bound Limitations
Celestial Patrons are bound by time. They can influence events across vast periods, but they cannot change the past. Their influence is limited to the present and future, meaning they cannot undo decisions or manipulate historical events. They can, however, influence the outcomes of future actions, such as guiding someone's choices or redirecting their path to alter the future.
Example: A Patron of Time can push someone into a pivotal moment of the future, making them take a step in a different direction, but they cannot undo a mistake that has already happened. They can manipulate time in subtle ways, such as accelerating or slowing events, but they cannot rewrite history.
9. The Rule of Silence
Celestial Patrons cannot communicate openly about their true purposes or the ultimate goals of their actions. They must remain silent about their grand design, as revealing too much to mortals could cause existential confusion or force the world to collapse under the weight of too much knowledge. Mortals are expected to discover the meaning behind the Celestial Patron's actions on their own, rather than being told directly.
Example: If a Patron of Fate causes a shift in the timeline, it would never reveal why or how it did so directly. Instead, the mortal involved would have to piece together the meaning of the event and realize the Patron's hand in it over time.
Consequences of Breaking the Rules
If a Celestial Patron breaks any of these rules, it can lead to catastrophic consequences for both the world and the Patron. Violating these rules could lead to:
Destabilization of the world's order, leading to chaos or collapse.
Loss of power or punishment, either from other Celestial Patrons or from the universal balance.
Fading from existence or banishment from the world if their actions cause irreversible harm to the natural order.
These rules are essential to keeping the world functioning and to maintaining the balance of power between the Celestial Patrons and the mortal realm.
In essence, the Celestial Patrons are powerful but bound by a complex system of rules designed to maintain the integrity of the world's story. They can influence the world in subtle ways, but their actions come with consequences, and they must carefully balance their desire to shape the future with the limitations placed on them by the natural order.