"The whelps who fight us have prowess, if it is not little in comparison to our infinity. A scrape of their strength is found in the Hag and her covens of sirens and witches. Their songs hasten the deaths of the weak of my kin, and even make I shudder in their arcane language. Aureolum has those wretched songs, orals to the end of their enemy. They will not last."
- Saruc
"Hasten now, my kin. The faithful have always sung prayer to our image, and now it is by song that they will save themselves."
- Artymn
A unique order of codified psionics, "the Book of Artymn" refers to the collection of psionically-enchanted songs created and upheld by the Messia'shani Artymn. Conceived as a form of defense for the natives of the Aureolum Galaxy during the Xinthide. Though the original songs of power are lost, falling out of use after their common usage depleted Artymn's strength too far to sustain their execution, a set of new songs now serves the militaries of the Congregation of The Path.
History[]
Usage[]
Calling upon the powers of Artymn is not as simple as singing a Hymn's lyrics. Only psionically sensitive beings are capable of their execution, as psionic technique and intent is required to trigger the Book's power. Even a master Hymnwielder, singing without error, will only manifest the Book's abilities if they will it and achieve the mental focus required to forge a connection to Artymn herself. Additionally, some Hymns can be performed in small groups, with a few even requiring this in order to safely manifest the life force required. When performing Hymns with significant enough power, a Hymnwielder's aura may become brightly visible to the naked eye, often used as a morale-boosting tool.
Larynges[]
Though only simple songs require this, it is common for less experienced Hymnwielders to rely upon a special type of focus, often referred to as a Larynx, to steady the execution of Hymns. For lesser Hymns that do not require them, a Hymnwielder will eventually outgrow the need of their Larynx's activation to perform them.
A Larynx almost always takes the form of some physical object with psionic resonance, frequently being fashioned as jewelry or similar valuables. Physically constructed by the Hymnwielder who intends to use it, they meditate carefully to both discover a design for and become attuned to the Larynx. A Larynx will stay tightly bonded it's creator while they are alive, but after centuries postmortem, this attunement fades, with the effort required to overpower the residual attunement decreasing over time. The most common Larynx designs take the forms of necklaces, amulets, crowns, or armbands.
The Larynges of Forbidden Hymns that require them have either been lost, or sealed away within the most heavily protected bastions of the Scripture. Ancient, these Larynges are believed to have lost all attunement to their original creators, though rumors have always circulated that the more sinister of these ancient Hymnwielders have embedded unsprouted seeds of their own minds within their Larynx, waiting for a reclaimer to fall to this trap.
Special Characteristics[]
Mortal Entanglement[]
Since the effects of Hymns are outside the capabilities of a mortal psion, an alternative source of power is required for their execution. The solution was found through a direct connection to Artymn herself, a vital aspect of the Hymns known as Mortal Entanglement. A small portion of the Hymnwielder's life force is exchanged with Artymn for the strength required to perform the Hymn in question. Typically, this portion is miniscule, posing no threat to the wielder. However, attempting to bruteforce a Hymn outside one's skill or the execution of a particularly powerful Hymn can cause much more serious effects.
Xinthbane[]
Being designed specifically for mortal worlds to defend themselves in the latter days of the Xinthide, nearly every Hymn in existence inflicts a detrimental effect on the Xinth and any related entities, including extreme pain. Directly offensive Hymns often cause direct harm, even potentially being fatal to weaker or severely weakened Xinth and Acclamants. Hymns focused on supporting friendly beings will instead atrophy the powers wielded by the beings of the Xinth, making attacks and magic much less effective. In the surviving legends of the Xinthide, it has been said that some individuals have performed now-lost Hymns with the power to entirely slay the demons, though at immense cost to their own being.
Hymns[]
"Artymn will only answer to those who know the means to call."
Hymns deemed as acceptable to use by the Congregation of The Path.
Offensive[]
Bane of Corruption[]
A specialized offensive Hymn, the Bane of Corruption was specifically designed for weakening and combatting The Cursed. During the duration of the Hymn's performance, any Cursed within a substantial radius of the Hymnwielder will be significantly weakened in their psionic capacity, and the execution of this Hymn by large groups or particularly powerful Hymnwielders can even outright instantly slay lesser forms of the disease. It has had demonstrable effects on other forms of psionic corruption, but is far more effective in the debilitation of The Cursed than any other.
Defensive[]
Supportive[]
Forbidden Hymns[]
"To blindly abuse the power of Artymn is only to end one's own being."
Hymns outlawed by the Congregation of The Path.
Offensive[]
Defensive[]
Supportive[]
Soul's Penance[]
Forbidden for the grave risks involved, Soul's Pennance allows the performer to nigh-immediately transfer the vast majority of their magic reserves to another user. Performed incorrectly or by a weakened user, Soul's Penance can easily cause the user's soul to collapse as a result of draining life energy. When the recipient is unprepared, the sudden rush of power can easily burn through them if uncontrolled, almost certainly killing them. The high likelihood of failure has led to this Hymn's restriction.
Lost Hymns[]
"Time, disuse and risk has lead to the loss of some of the Book's finest."
Hymns lost to time, or otherwise unknown.
Offensive[]
Ode of Finality[]
Defensive[]
Supportive[]
Aria of the Will[]
Among the greatest of the Hymns that exist, Aria of the Will has only been successfully executed once by a mortal psion, in a trap laid by Artymn herself for the Great Deceiver, Moomek. Aria of the Will empowers a massive amount of beings, augmenting preexisting psionic capability and temporarily blessing their attacks with the greatest degree of Xinthbane, as well as heightening their resolve to almost unnatural levels. On the world of Skodam, false information led Moomek to travel there alone, where the psion, only known as the Lady of the Book, would perform the aria to its fullest potential. A psionically gifted army had lain in wait on the ocean's shore, and through the Lady's power struck down the Great Deceiver, now only yet another statue. However, it is believed that the raw power required to perform the aria at this level was so great, that soon after the Lady "scattered to the wind".
Chorus of Our Will[]
A variation of Aria of the WIll, only existing in theory, Chorus of Our Will would be the result of a large group of extremely powerful Hymnwielders performing the former song in unison. While the exact effects that would result are unknown, it would certainly entail a massive amplification of the effects of Aria of the Will on an awesome scale unlike any other Hymn ever performed by the followers of Artymn, or perhaps even Artymn herself. A psionic army empowered by Chorus of Our Will would possess, for a brief time, the unwavering resolve and unyielding strength to slay gods.