Solar Phases

As Sol Invictus makes His daily journey through the skies of Creation, the Unconquered Sun’s Celestial Body passes through several phases. These phases give the population of Creation something by which to measure the passage of time, for they remain consistent throughout the year and across the Five Directions.

For each moment the Sun is in the sky, and for a time before and after, the light of the Sun shines. Yet, each of His phases has its own character, its light different from the others, along with its significance. Each time is also associated with a Virtue, such affiliations oft employed in the works of poets, and a god to oversee the distribution of its light (a responsibility mostly revolving around negotiations with the Bureau of Seasons seen as too petty for the attention of the Most High). And each gives its name and its sign to a Caste of His Chosen, the Solar Exalted.

The Immaculate Order decries the Anathema, and opposes Solar iconography as violating the Perfected Hierarchy. The golden light of those evil beings is, by Immaculate view, stolen from the Unconquered Sun, the Solar Phase of an Anathema’s caste mark showing from where this light had been taken. If the Anathema are allowed to have their way, to grow and expand unopposed, they shall do so until no light remains at all. And yet, the Immaculates do not oppose the Sun itself… indeed, their opposition to the Anathema rises from their showing Sol Invictus the veneration he is due, and opposing those who usurp his righteous power. As the Most High, Master of the Celestial Court, source of light and order to Creation, the Unconquered Sun is not a god forgotten or suppressed in the Prayer Calendar, and in fact receives the greatest amount of prayer amongst all divinities, with Immaculate Monks leading the faithful in properly-recited worship four times in each day, and at every Eclipse. Most other cults and cultures in Creation, even those whose pantheons are known for jealousy, also include small prayers to the Sun amongst their rituals, for Sol Invictus is the superior of all other gods in the Celestial Bureaucracy, and His glowing sphere of light crossing daily over Creation means it would be foolish to think He could be forgotten.

Dawn

The first glow of Dawn begins at the end of each day, His light growing from the East like a flower opening in bloom. At the moment the Sun breaks the horizon, an old day ends and a new one begins.

The Virtue of Dawn is Valor, for it is bravery to stride forth as the Unconquered Sun does when beginning his daily battle. The Immaculate Prayer of the Dawn is spoken as the Faithful awaken, offering thanks to the Unconquered Sun for fulfilling his duty to return to Creation each day.

The Anathema known as the Forsaken stole the mark of the Dawn to prevent the rise of the Unconquered Sun, but the Most High could not be overcome and the unvirtuous Anathema were forced to give up their foul battle, fleeing from the Most High.

Zenith

At the Zenith Hour, the Sun has reached the middle of His daily journey, standing directly overhead above Creation. Here His light is at its brightest and most pure.

The Virtue of Zenith is Compassion, for it is compassion to to give of yourself unto others as the Unconquered Sun does when his Holy Light warms Creation and gives it life. The Immaculate Prayer of the Zenith is spoken at this time, offering thanks for the Unconquered Sun fulfilling his duty as the Light of Creation, illuminating the world so it might grow and thrive, and keeping darkness and its creatures at bay.

The Anathema known as the Blasphemous stole the mark of the Zenith so the gaze of the Most High would be weakened, and they might call dark creatures forth. The unvirtuous Anathema would force the peoples of Creation into cruel and brutal acts of worship for these creatures and for themselves, without care for the suffering they inflicted upon the world.

Twilight

From its Zenith, the Sun journeys on towards the horizon in the West, where His light will fade from Creation as an ember quenched in water. Some say that the diffuse light of Calibration is akin to Twilight, but those with deeper knowledge of theology understand them to be far different things. The god of Twilight is Thelmarin, who serves as god of Eastern Peace in the Bureau of Heaven’s Harmonious & All-Embracing Division of Peace.

The Virtue of Twilight is Conviction, for it is determination that allows you to complete your duties even, if they mean you must turn from a time from that you love as the Unconquered Sun does when he departs the skies to allow the coming of the dark.

The Immaculate Prayer of the Twilight is spoken as the Sun’s edge touches the Western horizon, offering thanks to the Most High for leading the gods by example in holding to the Perfected Hierarchy and His duty, commanding the gods in their work and rejecting all corruption.

The Anathema known as the Unclean stole the mark of the Twilight to hobble the Unconquered Sun as master of the Celestial Bureaucracy, so their vile pacts and unions with demons and corrupted spirits might grow free of the proper path that is the Perfected Hierarchy. But the Unconquered Sun refused to be corrupted from following the Hierarchy, continuing his righteous example, and the unvirtuous Anathema were unable to overcome his conviction, their devotion to their own foul aims crumbling before Him.

Night

When the light of Twilight fades away, and the Celestial Bodies of the gods can be seen in the black sky, Night has come. Though a day sees more light than darkness, the Night is by far the longest of the Sun’s phases, a time when His light is absent so all can take rest. The god of Night is Kukkauket, god of Darkness, Eminence of Nocturnal Life in the Bureau of Nature.

The Virtue of Night is Temperance, for it is restraint to rest rather than move, to hold back rather than go forth, as the Unconquered Sun does when he keeps his light from the world until the time comes for a new day to dawn.

The Immaculate Prayer of the Night is spoken as the faithful prepare for sleep, offering thanks to the Unconquered Sun for fulfilling His duty to allow Creation a time to rest by holding back his light.

The Anathema known as the Wretched stole the mark of the Night to draw the eyes of the Unconquered Sun to their depravities amongst the shadows, so He might be compelled to break from his proper place and illuminate the night sky so their evils could be confronted. But the Most High restrained from acting against his proper role despite their provocations,leaving the unvirtuous Anathema to rage in the dark.

Eclipse

There is a fifth Phase of the Sun, one that exists outside the predictable cycle of day and night: the Eclipse. At this time, the silver form of Luna appears in the daytime sky, though as with the stars the light of the Sun renders her silver into shadow.

When the Moon appears in this way, it sets its course to meet the Sun, though often only the keenest instruments can detect the approach until suddenly the Celestial Body of Luna stands between Creation and that of Sol Invictus. This interposition is not complete, a halo of light and fire surrounding the blackness of the Moon, but so long as the two remain in such alignment the rest of the sky falls dark, the Five Maidenstars gleam bright, and all the stars and Constellations glimmer, visible even in absence of Night.

At this time, the unity of Heaven is visible across Creation, a spectacular sight which most of Creation’s cultures consider extremely auspicious, cause for feasting and celebration. The Immaculate faithful do not usually engage in such flagrant worship, but they do recite the Prayer of the Eclipse, offering thanks for the Unconquered Sun’s condemnation of the Anathema, and his righteous command that all the stars of the sky aid those who hunt those monsters by guiding hunters to quarry through Astrology.

The Anathema known as the Deceivers stole the mark of the Eclipse to defame the truth of the Celestial Bodies with their perjuries, but their lies were unable to sway the Most High, nor the Five Immaculate Dragons. Though the shadows of their theft still sometimes cloud the predictions of astrologers, the enlightened souls of the Immaculate faithful continue possess strength enough to overcome them.

While the prediction of Eclipses is a difficult thing, it is known that the Celestial Body of Luna echoes the change in the Sun. Sometimes preceding and sometimes following, a month with an Eclipse will also see a Moonshadow.