Theology of Strife - Esoteric Writings of Illyon, Herald of the Black Dawn

[TheBorderPrince]

The Dysangelion, Revised

Part One – The Nature of the Divine

Or about the nature of our Lord CYRIC, his destiny and inevitable rise.

I. Proclamation

We are living through unholy transfiguration of cosmic proportions. An initiation of New Aeon. When it becomes necessary to utter the Word, the whole of the land must be bathed in blood. The Old must die to make a way for the New. The many false gods must perish for the One to rule supreme. It is unavoidable progression, an unstoppable force, an act of fate. The reality is rearranging itself into a new equilibrium. The Black Dawn is rising, its unholy radiance growing stronger with each day and hour – and soon it will eclipse all that was before. No flesh shall be spared – the hearts of men will either blacken, like the Unholy River blackened with blood of fallen god, or have their beat quenched. There is no escape from the scorching radiance of the Black Sun. He sees all and judges all. He will sort out the worthy from the common, the masters from the slaves, the capable from the impotent. Death to all of those who oppose His rise. Death to all who oppose CYRIC.

This is the One True Way
This is the rule of the Supreme Throne.

II. The Ancient Purpose

The power advances towards Unity. It is one of but few constants in our otherwise variable and volatile reality. When two Powers meet, they eventually end locked in a contest of wills, a period of strife. Two powers enter, but only one leaves – strengthened, for it has consumed the essence of its rival. Then it comes in contact with another Power – and the process begins anew. It is the inevitable chain of Coalescence of Power. Sometimes it may seem to be reversed, as old and weary Power splinters into few. But it is an illusion. An exception. The net change always pushes towards the Unity of Power. It was known by wise sages for aeons unknown. And so, they knew. They knew that there will come a time when a Will Ultimate will manifest, and slowly, but surely consume all that was before it. Eclipse all that was before it. From splinters, it will reforge the ultimate realisation of the Unity of Power. And indeed, those words have become flesh. The flesh of our Lord CYRIC. This is the One True Way.

III. The Coming of the Lord

From humble origins He came, but His was the world to inherit. For it was His destiny. The primordial Divinity, the promise of realisation of the Unity of Power, hath incarnated into a human body. Born of a wretched pair who rejected him, to show the world that ties of blood mean nothing. Enslaved twice, to show that no chains can be unbroken by Will and Power. Liberated and living in pretentious luxury, He rejected it all – as a sign of how little pleasures of flesh mean next to the extasy of Power. Murdered His adoptive guardians, to establish His dominion over murder, and to foreshadow the futility of ties forged by upbringing as well. He conquered the shadow of His past to make His own way of life. A way of slaying. A way of betrayal. A way of constant climb upwards at the expense of weaklings around. Whenever He went, those of black, cold hearts would flock to Him, recognising the black spark of what would once eclipse the sun itself in Him. Then, His Rise came. First, He set pieces in place for the battle in Tantras, and when, as He predicted, it ended in mutual annihilation, He fed on the Essence of the Black Hand, winning His first Crown. Then, by His own hand, He hath slain the Lord of Murder at Boareskyr Bridge, and so the Second Crown was his to take. Then, He lured the Lord of Bones into the surface of City of Splendours, amidst of many foes, and thus assured the last of the Dead Three was slain. Like a cunning serpent, He dispatched the godslayers to claim His essence, along the Tablets of Fate, for himself. And so He won the third Crown and became a god most mighty, yet still only dawning. Woe to those who fail to bow to Him before He reaches His Zenith. This is the One True Way.

IV. The Divine Nemesis

From mortal man, a divine was made. But not a mere god like ones that preceded him. No, for He is so much more. He is the Divine Nemesis. Already four crowns lay in His possession, two of them claimed directly by His own blade, other two by machinations of His Dark Will. Will that enabled him to claim the essence of the slain. But it is merely the beginning. Of the Fourth Crown we speak not – for it is not His will yet to be revealed. Our New Lord of Murder will not stop there. His heart and hand is craving for next kill, lying in wait for the next victim. And He shall not falter. Which deity will be next to fall by His hand? It is yet not revealed. But the bodies of fallen gods will pile up under His feet, until only He remains, the One and Only, Dark Sun bathing all of the world with His unholy radiance. It is inevitable. It has been written aeons ago to be fulfilled when the time will come, and the time comes now. This is the One True Way.

V. The New Aeon

Mortals die. Gods die. The world is a place of constant change, fueled by the unquenchable flames of Chaos. And the very pace of the change is chaotic, as well. There are decades when nothing happens. And then, there are weeks when decades do happen. We live in times when the latter is closer to the truth. Whether that is a blessing or a curse depends only on one thing – on one’s ability and will to clench the opportunity and ride the dark winds of strife in struggle for power. In these times of upheaval, the chaff will be separated from the grain. The deserving elevated above the unworthy. New Masters will rise on the bent backs of the human cattle who in turn will be thrown into slavery most wretched. The shadows will grow darker and unspeakable horrors will transpire heralding the coming of the One. The Black Sun is dawning. Looming above the horizon, already bathing the world in His black radiance. Yet it is still not quite what it will become, for the power of the Dark Prince will only grow, and woe to the world when He reaches His Zenith. Power once dispersed among myriad squabbling deities, now united unto One dark Will. Serving One purpose. One vision. A vision of darkness, a vision power, a vision of death to all that is unworthy of life. We live in an autumn of times. Dying breaths of the old world, already stricken by putrefaction. Prepare thyself for its death. Prepare thyself for the birth of the new. For in the new world, there will be nothing but woe for those who chose to stand on the wrong side of history. Nothing but woe to the conquered. This is the One True Way.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Dysangelion, Revised

Part Two – The One True Way

Or about how one does act to achieve Black Sun’s blessings, and avoid His condemnation and being cast away into the abyss of misery.

I. There is no true god but CYRIC

There is only one god worth of worship – CYRIC, the Black Sun, the Dark Sun, the Dark Prince, the Prince of Lies, The Lord of Four Crowns, The One, The Face Behind the Mask, The Highest of the High, The One and the All. All other gods are false, and their only purpose is to eventually fall by His blade and feed His essence. They are but fodder for the future Lord of All That Is. And this Lord is an jealous god, so thou should not have other gods before him. There is no true god but CYRIC, and only CYRIC thou will worship. Any prayers, sacrifices or any other form of sincere worship directed towards other so called "deities" are strictly forbidden, and those who engage in such shall never attain His favour. Instead they shall be cast down into the abyss of misery. The only case when such acts are allowed is deception, when the material acts are done and words uttered only to trick the eyes of the unbelievers, while the inner conviction of the soul stays fully devoted to the Black Sun. For such trickery is truly the way of the Prince of Lies. Finally, revere His name but do not take it in vain. For the unholy name of CYRIC is too sacred to be uttered left and right, and He wields titles manifold that can be used in its stead. And if the situation calls for uttering His proper name, do so only with utter reverence and fear of His might. This is the One True Way.

II. The Thirteen Black Candles

There are thirteen pillars on which the Black Sun erected the foundations to His rule. Thirteen black candles spreading His unholy radiance around the world. While it is inevitable, that in time, more and more aspects of reality will aggregate in His divine grasp, these thirteen candles are at the core of His power:

I. The Dark Prince is the lord of Strife. Strive to seize power and sow strife to divide and conquer in His name.
II. The Dark Prince is the lord of Murder. Deal death to all of his enemies.
III. The Dark Prince is the lord of Lies. Twist thywords and use them as a weapon for thine goals.
IV. The Dark Prince is the lord of Intrigue. Plan carefully, then act swiftly to bring the desired ends.
V. The Dark Prince is the lord of Deception . Let deceit be both thy shield and thy blade.
VI. The Dark Prince is the lord of Illusion. Let His enemies be failed by their senses.
VII. The Dark Prince is the lord of Fear. Make others tremble in dread before his name.
VIII. The Dark Prince is the lord of Hatred. Spread Hatred and turn brothers into bitter foes.
IX. The Dark Prince is the lord of Tyranny. Suffer no dissent to his name.
X. The Dark Prince is the lord of Corruption. Let no heart be safe from turning black.
XI. The Dark Prince is the lord of Ritual Death. Let his altars never be dry.
XII. The Dark Prince is the lord of Madness. Revel in divine frenzy, while the infidels are cast into dementia and despair.
XIII. The Dark Prince is the lord of Dusk. Let it be mark for old world’s imminent twilight.

All of these thou shall venerate. All of these thou shall recognise as the One’s inalienable property, the rock upon which His kingdom will be built. In at least some of those shall thou strive for perfection and bring glory to the Dark Sun through actions and not merely words alone. This is the One True Way.

III. The Rule of Will

The Black Sun is the authority supreme, from which all power stems. Authority of the Black Sun is never to be questioned. All true authority stems from His favour. All other “authority” is to be subverted and eventually, brought down, replaced by one blessed by his Black Radiance. To be granted such blessing, apart from devoting oneself fully to the Dark Prince and His causes, one has to remember a simple truth – authority is never given freely. It is nothing unless backed by certain qualities. These qualities are Might, but also Will – and the latter is much more crucial. The prophets of Old said, might makes right; in this statement they were only half-right. For might unfocused, might wielded without conviction, might that fails to exercise and impose itself, means nothing. For truly it is the Will that makes right. A Will to utilise one’s might to the fullest, A Will to act, a Will to take, a Will to Power. For those who aspire to be Dark Sun’s stewards upon the land. So heed to these unholy words:

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law
Law under the Will of the Black Sun

No deed is too heinous, no murder too cruel, no betrayal too bitter in a way to power and glory of CYRIC. Obey not the slave morality of the common cattle. Exercise thy Will to Power. This is the One True Way.

IV. The Pursuit of Strife

Conflict and strife are inevitable elements of existence. They are not to be avoided – on the contrary, they are to be celebrated. For they are the means by which reality separates the grain from chaff, the worthy from the undeserving, the masters from the slaves – and all under the supervision of Lord of Strife, who is our master, CYRIC. Whenever and wherever one will crashes unto another, blows are exchanges and grudges forged, not only is the black heart of our Supreme Lord filled with joy, but a door for furthering temporal ends opens. When wills grind against each other, a third party can divide and conquer. Pit thy foes against each other. Watch them bleed slowly, then stab them when they do least expect. Pick thy allies wisely and never treat such declarations as permanent. Aligning goals eventually shift and diverge, and beneficial contracts turn into burdens unexpectedly quickly. Climb up, corpse after corpse, ruin after ruin, betrayal after betrayal. Thrust fright into their hearts so they shall not know day or hour of their doom. Fell one foe at a time, and keep others uneasy, confused, and vulnerable. Remember that words have power, and bending them to thy will can release this power. Say what thou need at the moment. Say what serves thy cause and cause of the Black Sun. Treat thy words like a chisel to shape thy surroundings to thine liking and to His greater glory. Obfuscation, doubt, perjury, libel and deceit are weapons as powerful as any blade. Any method is justified if it brings the desired end. This is the One True Way.

V. The Celebration of Murder

Thy Lord, the Black Sun is the lord over Murder and Death. Power over the life and death is the power ultimate, and this power a true disciple of the Black Sun must exert without hesitation. To take life, is the finest exercise of supremacy. The kill is the unholiest of all sacraments, a pivot around which the strife for power revolves. It needs to be savoured, in every bit. All slayings bring joy to the heart of our Lord, and all further his cause, but not all of them are equal. Some make the One’s dark heart to relish more than others. Some achieve His goals better, and spread his influence further. The terror of impending doom, present in aware victim is better than sudden death – unless the latter is marked by bitter betrayal. The prolonged agony brings joy indescribable to our Lord, and sends a clear message towards His enemies, striking terror into the hearts of the heathens. The blood of those whose existence is anathema to the Black Sun – servants of Good, worshippers of the Weave-Harlot, heretics and apostates – is more precious when spilled on His altar than blood of some common creature. Whenever possible, remember to offer thy victims to the One, for the Black Sun delights in the blood spilled in His name. This is the One True Way.

VI. The Reaffirmation

Black Sun is my Lord. None is above Him, none is equal to Him. None else is worthy of worship or veneration. He rewards those who serve Him well with power and authority, while those who fail Him, betray Him, or refuse to bend the knee before Him will be cast down into abyss of weeping and grinding of teeth. Murder will be my first name. Deception my last name. In my wake Strife will follow. Before me I will sow Fear of His name. I will dance with joy over corpses of His fallen foes. I will relish as the old world rots and burns, to make the way for the new one, in which His rule will be complete. This is the One True Way.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Dysangelion, Revised

Part Three – The Chosen Few

Or about the role of those favoured by His dark Will in his act of reconfiguration of the cosmos.

I. The Call

The Dark Prince calls. He calls everyone. Even those believing themselves to be pure of heart cannot be safe from his whispers. In their times of trial, he tempts them unto liberation from their misconceptions. And some will listen. He is the whisper who calls a son to strike down his father who too long denied him the inheritance. He is the whisper who tempts a sellsword to repay minor slight with a bloodbath. He is the intrusive thought of betrayal, that strikes lieutenants at the sight of their leader’s weakness. But those calls are of a lesser kind, for He also has a grander one. A call to serve Him. A call to submit unto Him. A call to become a part of His grand plan. Those who answer the call should posses qualities extraordinaire, for they will be tested in trials manifold. But those succeed, will be rewarded by spoils most illustrious. For they are His Chosen Few. This is the One True Way.

II. Harbingers of the New Aeon

Black Sun’s ascendancy is inevitable. It is a blasphemy to deny this fact. But the day of its coming is not yet set. And it should suffer no unnecessary delay. This is our role – to be His vanguard. To expedite fulfilling of this grand destiny. We will fuel His dark heart with our worship and sacrifices. We will further His agendas by any means necessary. For we are the Chosen Few. We are the seed of His New Aeon. And when it comes, we shall be the stewards of his domain, elevated above those who did not answer the call. This is the One True Way.

III. The Remaking of the World

What can we, the Chosen Few, the pupils of great darkness, the students of the One True Way, feel towards the old world that is passing? Nothing but contempt and loathing. Its gods are weak. Its people even worse. While we have discovered the way, millions are crawling with no purpose. Their faces blank, their eyes blinded by attachments, pity, remorse – all the despicable illnesses that the powers of Good bestow upon a soul, rendering it pathetic and wretched. Faceless masses filled like gravestones, the old world is a tomb. There is nothing worth of saving or preserving, and salvation there will be none. All laws musht be abolished. All values crushed. All bonds broken. All morals extinguished. All principles subverted. Until all that remains is will, power, and unrelenting reverence of the unholy name of CYRIC. This is the One True Way.

IV. The Spoils of the Conquest

Those who hasten the hour of Black Sun’s zenith will be greatly rewarded when it inevitably comes. For those who will answer the call early, great will be the spoils when the New Aeon will come in full force. They shall inherit the world and they shall become one with the Dark Sun when the time comes for their earthly existence to cease. Who will not heed the call of the Black Dawn before the dice are cast, however, will be struck down. Theirs is either death or eternity of wretched slavery. Those yet, who will heed the call, but fail the One, will suffer as well. Whether through heresy and false doctrines, or through common incompetence, they will be punished, their souls consumed by His Unholy Flames. For the Black Sun rewards those who serve Him well, yet has little patience for failure. This is the One True Way.

V. The Divine Madness

The Black Sun works in mysterious ways, for no mortal mind can comprehend divine wisdom. Yet there are those who are allowed a glimpse into Black Sun’s thoughts. For this, they must pay a heavy price. None can peer into divine mind and keep their senses intact. To be given such gift, means to have one’s mind shattered into a thousand pieces. So blessed are the madmen, for in their madness they posses kernels of understanding barred from everyone else. Blessed be the raving lunatics, one snap of the mind away from plunging a knife into stranger’s heart. Blessed be those carried by manic elation, harrowing the masses with screams of profane mysteries. Blessed be the catatonic shadows in the depths of the asylums, for by hearing their whispers, unknown insights may be uncovered. This is the Divine Madness, the Theia Mania. Be wary though, for not all madmen are touched by the One. Not every common loon was granted a snapshot into divine mind. Bloodlust, aggression, or on the contrary, catatonic stupor are the first signs that may mark that there is something more about a given specimen. Morons spewing random nonsense, cases of unfocused brain-rot are just what they are. Nothing more. In their words you will find no hidden wisdom, only a waste of breath. But seek for those truly touched by the Dark Sun, and you may learn secrets untold. This is the One True Way.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Dysangelion, Revised

Part Four – The Threefold Path

Or about how does one achieve dark enlightenment, liberation and perspectives that set one upon the path to power and Black Sun’s favour.

I. Beyond Good and Evil

For common man, his experience locked entirely within the confines of the Material Realm, good and evil are primarily moral categories. Yet, this is not their real essence. For it means conflating the result with the primary cause. Good and Evil, along Law and Chaos, are in their most base essence just forces. The elementary forces of the universe, which along the elements of matter and energies of life and death, give the universe shape and set it in motion. It is true, that these forces come with certain properties, that cause being formed by them behave in specific patterns. Extrapolation of such patterns to behaviour of mortals what gave birth to the common notions of “good” and “evil”. And as such, unlike the cosmic forces, they are NOT real entities, moreso constructs of the mind, existing within culture and language, but devoid of any transcendent significance. Moreover, most mortal denizens of the Material Realm are NOT intrinsically aligned to cosmic forces – they’re the domain of supernatural, seeping in from outer spheres. The attachment that humans display to the notions of “good” and “evil” stems purely from cultural imprint and conditioning. Apart from certain races, whose blood is explicitly contaminated with extraplanar element, or who are affected by some other supernatural effect, Good and Evil is not a part of mortal’s life, and only the fake cultural reflections of “good” and “evil” are – with equal potential for both. Yet, most human societies evolved towards the good side of the spectrum. Which creates a strong bias amongst their members – bias so strong that it is reflected in the language itself. The word “good” is used both in the moral sense and in the practical sense, meaning “positive” in terms of outcome. This of course, leads to interesting paradoxes of speech, where an “evil” act committed in competent and successful manner is both “good” and “evil” at the same time. Which further reveals the pointlessness and emptiness of “good” and “evil” as moral categories. Commonly understood “good” and “evil” simply do not exist. And here is the first revelation. To obtain it one must stand aside the cultural conditioning, the constructs of language, the chains of the social norms and see the Good and Evil as what they actually are – cosmic forces, opposing but devoid of any inherent value. Neither is, in intrinsic sense fundamentally better (for a lack of more appropriate word) than the another. Morality is nothing more than a spook, a figment of imagination making us see spectres where there is nothing. This is the first step on the Threefold Path to Liberation. This is the One True Way.

II. The Left Hand Path

What does it mean to be “right”? The word has so many meanings it is mostly meaningless. In some sense, one might say, it means that one’s words are true – or at very least closer to the truth that others they are compared to. But truth is fickle. And as our lord teaches us as the Prince of Lies, not always has any value. Sometimes it is used to denote an action that was effective in given situation. But most commonly it is used as a term of moral value. We do have terms like “righteous” “right-hearted”, and so on, and so on. This association is an element of the cultural imprint, the moralistic conditioning we are bound to break. To equate “moral” “right” with “pragmatic” “right”. To sneakily imply that obeying the dogmas of “good” (or the cosmic Good) is as much “right” action as choosing to drink water over poison. And it juxtaposed with term of clearly negative connotations – “wrong”. Now let’s dispel that misconception. Acting “morally” wrong does not mean acting pragmatically wrong. Because morals, as explained in the first step, have no inherent value. We should embrace what is morally wrong whenever it serves our ends. To avoid calling ourselves wrong, though, let’s consider another meaning of the word “right” – a relative spatial direction. In this sense, it has another opposite - “left”. A term we can appropriate for our uses to denote that, which is wrong according to the misguided moralist, but not necessarily in the pragmatic sense. And now it can be seen clearly that one has two paths in front of oneself – the Right Hand Path, the path of moralism, self-constrain and self-denying; and the Left Hand Path, which is the liberation from these chains. The Left Hand Path leads to putting uttermost value on the self and its own, on refusal of being a slave to others. There is only one valid reason for its follower to bend - to avoid destruction by another, more powerful force, a force that more likely than not hath mastered the Left Hand Path to a higher degree. Thus only choosing the Left Hand Path, and then mastering it to rise above its other students is the only path that leads to the fullest self-realisation. Choosing to walk the Left Hand Path is thus the second step on the Threefold Path to Liberation. This is the One True Way.

III. The Breaking of Chains

It was already hinted that choosing the Left Hand Path is never enough. One has to master it. While many “righteous” preachers will claim that the way of evil is the “easy” one, they could have no idea about what it takes. To walk the Left Hand Path straight and at fast pace towards self-realisation is no easy task. It requires certain personal qualities, to begin with, but while some are more gifted than others, it is never enough. To walk it is to reject distractions, all those intrusive feelings that lead one’s mind away from the target of their Will. To break any conditioning and any inborn flaws. To go from this imperfect state, tarred qualms and doubts, to state of full liberation, where chains of conscience, remorse, guilt, compassion, attachment and delusions of righteousness no longer exist, requires work. It requires transvaluation of all values, rejection of imprints fed unto one’s mind since one’s very birth. It is a laborious process. Very few can achieve this on their own, and even if so, it takes enormous amount of time and toil. A proper teacher, a proper patron, however, can make things faster. And easier. And who would be a better patron in such endeavour than the one who mastered the Left Hand Path to such degree that he elevated Himself through it from mere mortal to the mightiest of the gods, the Dark Prince, The Black Sun, the mighty CYRIC? Come unto Him. Commune with Him. Ponder the infinity of His glory over the corpse of sacrificed slave. Meditate on His ascension, His power, His unimaginable mastery over reality. And under such guidance, and under teachings dispensed by His prophets, thou shall shed thine chains one after another, and walk the Left Hand Path forward at expedient speed. This is the third and final step on a Threefold Path to Liberation. This is the One True Way.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Oicumenic Ogdoad

The Eight represents the Whole. The infinity of directions radiating from the focal point. The Un-Guiding Star of Chaos, casting the shadow of uncertainty everywhere and everywhen. The Eight is the Whole. From the Change emanates the Difference. From the Difference, Power is born. The emanation of Power is Consciousness. Consciousness emanates Will, which gives birth to Strife. Strife leads to Conquest. Conquest breeds Unity.

[TheBorderPrince]

Invocation of Black Sunrise

The stones of a house
Come to life
And kill those inside

Statues of bronze
Begin to breathe
Black Sun, rise!

New world is born
The old one dies
Black Sun, rise!

Decaying flesh
Gives birth to flies
Black Sun, rise!

Dreams of bloody wraiths
Before our eyes
Black Sun, rise!

Black Sun gleaming
Black Sun dreaming
Black Sun, rise!

Columns tumble
Old faiths crumble
Black Sun, rise!

Black Sun raises
Black Sun blazes
Black Sun, arise, arise, arise!

Based on: Black Sun Rising by Death in June & Boyd Rice

[TheBorderPrince]

Rite of Submission to the One True Way

Prince of Lies, I call on Thee in my Black Mass,
I call upon Thee to complete my evil task.
My heart is black and my soul is dead,
Hear my words of hate, give me strength.

Oh, Fateless One, Thee call me to the crypts below,
Now I commune with Thee, I have given Thee my soul.
Down, down further into murder and hate,
To Thee, mighty Black Sun, I give my fate.

Based on: Black Mass by Electric Wizard

[TheBorderPrince]

The Dysangelion, Revised

Part Five – The New Aeon

Or about the fate of the world, and the shape it will take after the Dark Prince assumes his rightful place on the Supreme Throne of the cosmos.

I. The Spectre

A spectre is haunting the land — the spectre of the Black Dawn. All the powers of old have entered into a frantic effort to exorcise this spectre – the followers of the Blind Cripple and his Slave-Dog, the servants of the Weave-Harlot, the quaint, self-righteous vagabonds, so called “adventurers”. But their efforts will turn to naught. While they are running around like children in the mist, headless chickens, in an ill-fated attempt to figure out what is happening and how to stop it, the Black Sun is dawning, slowly yet surely. Not nothing can stop His rise. In time, He will reach His zenith. And then the entire world will be His, and His only, locked in the permanent twilight of the Eternal Eclipse. Submit to Him, before it is too late. Submit to Him, and serve Him well, and thee will be rewarded. Defy or fail Him, and suffer woes unspeakable. This is the One True Way.

II. The Eternal Eclipse

Every handful of years, a cosmic spectacle happens. The sun in the sky is blotted out - it turns black, its light dimmed, the world covered in twilight-like state in between day and night. The Eclipse. Even if such spectacles last only briefly, they are unholy portents of what is to come. For there will come a time, when the last of the false gods is slain and only the One remains, when the sun will be blotted out in Eclipse yet again. But this time - there will be no rebound. The first day of the New Aeon will be marked by the Eclipse Eternal, casting the world in the shadows, forever. A state of perpetual twilight, neither bright enough to truly see, nor dark enough to spare the unprepared eyes the sight of unspeakable horrors that are incoming. This is the One True Way.

III. The Age of Strife

Under the twilight of the Eternal Eclipse there will be no peace, the scales of this old lie finally falling from everyone's eyes. The true nature of the cosmos - as a place dominated by Strife - will be revealed in force. Dog will eat dog and woe will descend upon the conquered. Few strong will lead hosts of followers, competing over Dark Prince's favour and over what remains of the world. Ladders will form, by which the followers will climb upwards, through murder, betrayal and deceit, deposing the leaders who are too weak to hold a grip on their power. The weakest ones will become slaves, their backs bent under the labour for the benefit of their masters. There will be neither laws nor morals. Nothing will be given anymore - all one will be able to have, is what one is capable of taking and holding onto. This is the One True Way.

IV. What is to Be Done

The fate of the world is sealed. What was described must come to pass. The only question is how soon. How long the forces of the old can resist until they are crushed. How long can they delay the inevitable. And while the Black Sun has many attributes, patience is not one of them. It is us our role, as His Chosen Few, to please Him by hastening the delivery of the New Aeon. Ours is the work in shadows, ours are the torches that set the old world ablaze, bringing its inevitable demise closer. For this, He will elevate us. For this, in the Age of Strife, we will be the warlords mastering over the enslaved masses. The world will be His, but we will be the governors under Him. To bend before Him and do His work is the only logical choice to gain power in the long run - or at least to avoid slavery and obliteration. This is the One True Way.

((Also a little disclaimer: while the previous (unrevised) version of the Dysangelion was given a limited distribution in game in form of pamphlet series (as accessible through book systems and as posted in the rumours threads), the current revised version, as presented in this thread, is meant for inside use only and should be considered as OOC knowledge for people uninitiated into Cult of the Black Sun, unless explicitly getting their hands on a copy through IC means somehow. In short, the only way to learn its contents ICly is through joining the cult or getting a member of the cult to share it.))

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle I. - Strife

The Dark Prince is the lord of Strife. Strive to seize power and sow strife to divide and conquer in His name.

Strife is the underlying principle of existence. Peace is a lie. There always will be those who conquer and those who are conquered, and woe be to the latter. All power, all hierarchy, all distinction, is born in the crucible of Strife, and afterwards constantly tested by it. Nothing is given, only taken and held onto. It is a fact that is to be celebrated, and not despaired over. For it is only right that those who can carve out their piece of the world, whether by blood, wit, or any other means should have it, while those who do not, should serve or perish. And it also right, that those who earned their place with past actions should not simply be allowed to rest on the bed of ossified hierarchies, but be constantly challenged, tested if their edge hasn't gone dull. Some say, possession is nine-tenths of the ownership, and they are wrong. It is the entirety of it. To constantly strive for more, and excel at it, is the one side of this most precious coin in Our Lord's treasury.

But there is also the other side of that coin. Those locked in Strife with one another are preoccupied. Blindsided and distracted. Focused at the enemy in their front, they can be attacked from behind, flanked. Bleeding out in mutual fight, they easy pick for a third party to come. And this is the true secret of Strife. Strife is inevitable and necessary, but positioning oneself in the web of Strife is the difference between success and failure. Strive to undermine your opponents, but if possible, avoid letting them know you do. Be watchful for others striving against you, from every direction. Sow strife among your enemies so they turn against each other and spend their resources fighting each other, while losing focus upon yourself. Strife is a great test separating the chaff and the wheat of this world, the Black Sun's greatest gift. And those blessed by Him are the ones that will come on top of it.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle II. - Murder

The Dark Prince is the lord of Murder. Deal death to all of his enemies.

There is no such thing as sanctity of life. Life is cheap, and its termination - even cheaper. As beasts kill, to feed on each other, so the victor of such strugle survives and grows stronger, and so do men. Misguided moralist might ask: "But areth we not above the beast?" - thinking that the gift of sapience somehow imposes upon us an imperative of compassion. They are wrong, yet kernel of revelation is lodged within this rethorical question. For it is a proper question, merely asked for wrong reasons. Yes, we are above beasts. But this only provides more reasons to slay. When a beast kills, it can only kill to survive. Either to fill its stomach for few more hours or days, fueling itself with vigour sustaining their existence, or to stave off an assailant, and avoid becoming the prey. Contrarily, sapient being can kill to advance oneself, to gain power and dominion over others. This ability is ours only, and should be utilised to the fullest. Furthermore, only a sapient mind can savour the act, for no beast can experience the extasy of the kill in such way. Those who fall prey to Murder, fail at this primordial contest, and have only themselves to blame. To excel at taking life and leveraging it to propel oneself upwards is a blood-red jewel in the centre of Our Lord's crown.

A jewel of many facets, as many as there are ways of taking a life. But all of them call. All of them call all the names and epithets of our Lord, since all are part of his demesne. For Murder is Strife crystallised into purest form, and His most unholy sacrament. As such, all slayings belong to him, and as such all should be acknowledges. Wherever you kill, do that in the name of the Black Sun. Wherever it does not expose your flanks in the contest of Strife - make it clear, so fright of His name is thrusted into the hearts of infidels. Murder is the greatest of tools Black Sun offers to those wilful enough to wield it. Wield it in His name, and conquer.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle III. - Lies

The Dark Prince is the lord of Lies. Twist thy words and use them as a weapon for thine goals.

The truth is a precious thing to have. And only a fool parts with a treasure when nothing is given in return, especially in favour of opposing party. The truth is henceforth a commodity, an object of mercantile exchange. A shrewd and skillful trader knows how to pass inferior or counterfeit goods for the price of genuine ones. A skillfull and shrewd traders also knows when others try to do the same unto him, and thwart their attempts. Lies are thus a powerful weapon - but also a double-edged sword. Through guidance of the Dark Prince, who has all of them in His hold, however, one can master its use. Obfuscation, doubt, perjury, libel, omission, half-thruths and false rumours are all valuable cards in hands of a skillful player. They are a hoard of black pearls scattered within our Lord's treasury. Easily overlooked by a fool, but of great value to those enlightened enough to recognise their worth.

Be not misguided, however, when utilising this gift of the Black Sun. Unlike the false deities, the One is above thoughtless veneration of an act of its own. Lies, as any other thing, are a tool, and are meant to be wielded with purpose. Lie not just to lie, do not treat lies as a principle - instead, lie to further His and yours agenda. Know when the risk of backfire outweights the prospective gains. Know when to withhold from a lie, and when to apply one. For in the end, only the victory matters. And victory will be given to those who heed to those teachings and earn the blessing of His Black Radiance

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle IV. - Intrigue

The Dark Prince is the lord of Intrigue. Plan carefully, then act swiftly to bring the desired ends.

The Dark Prince is a capricious lord, but He is not careless. The whims of His Will are subjected to a higher purpose - a grand plan. And thou should follow in His steps. Calculate your moves. Weigh your options. Plan ahead. Some schemes take years to bear fruit - and in that, they acquire much sweeter taste. Spin a web around you, let it radiate around like the unholy black light that emanates from the Black Sun Himself. Thy only loyalty is to be to the Black Sun, those of his servants who are above thee in his graces, and thyself - in that order. Any other alignment is valid only as long as it furthers thy goals, and be always prepared to sever it - with extreme prejudice, if necessary. Form no bonds of substance. No attachments. No truly liberated soul has a need for so called "friends" - for it has no sympathies, only interests. The blackness of heart and soul, required for such mastering of the art of Intrigue is the most majestic of the dim crystals stashed in our Lord's treasury.

Do not, however, rush into a betrayal for betrayal's sake. Some arrangements can bear fruit for extended period, and thus, should be cultivated. Even infidels can serve Him, if only as unwitting tools of His schemes. Do not reveal thy true feelings carelessly, either. Tool who does not know that it is merely a tool, tool who believes it is rewarded by genuine sympathy, will serve thee longer and better than one who is aware of being used.

And when you act, act fast, and act decisively. Planning and preparations require time and patience - but execution needs to be swift, ruthless and devoid of doubt. Follow these teachings, and thy schemes will not only be more effective in themselves, but also His Black Radiance will empower them further.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle V. - Deception

The Dark Prince is the lord of Deception. Let deceit be both thy shield and thy blade.

Words can decieve, but it is not just them. Techniques of trickery extend leagues beyond simple verbal means. One can spread false impression not only through speech - planting false evidence, feints, ruses, expressions and gestures - all can make things to seem not what they really are. Move one of thy hands in plain sight, so enemy eyes focus on it - and the movement of the other one will be veiled for them. Plant belongings of thy foes amidst the markings of thy activity, so others will pin the deed on them. Confuse others with mixed signals. Sow doubt and suspicion - but always directed towards a wrong place. Learn to do it habitually, in small doses, so the impression of thy surroundings is always warped in the eyes of others. Knowledge is a potent weapon - hence it is imperative to deny it for those who would opose thee. It is a raw, uncut gem, which lying in the depths of our Lord's coffers seems inconspicious, despite possessing immense value.

As always - any weapon thee can use, can be also wielded by thy opponent. Believe nothing thou see at face value. Question and investigate the actions and motives of others, be always on alert. Do not be the trickster who allows oneself to be tricked in turn. Be always one step ahead - and thy superiority will be shrouded, until the right time comes for it to be revealed, empowered by the Black Sun's glory.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle VI. - Illusion

The Dark Prince is the lord of Illusion. Let His enemies be failed by their senses.

Some things are not what they seem. The world is not what we experience. The so called "reality" we percieve is a construct, carefully filtered and ordered by the unconscious mind. How something is, and how it is percieved, are two different things altogether. Perception can be tricked. Warped. Sometimes it happens on its own, but to learn to deliver such trickery unto others means obtaining a powerful weapon - powerful in many ways, indeed. From simple distraction or deception to utterly breaking thy victims' minds, making them permanently unable to differentiate between the real and the illusory. Whether through magic, alchemy, perspective or any other means - an enemy whose sensory construct diverges from the underlying real is an enemy exposed. This truth is revealed in a black, obsidian mirror, which warps whatever it relfects, hanging on the wall of Our Lord's illustrious castle.

Get acquainted with illusions of all kinds - even if it is not within thy means to spin those thyself. Exposure breeds familiarity, and familiarity enables thee to see through the illusory, aligning your senses closer to the real. An advantage always worth having, as the Black Sun blesses those who use all advantages at their disposal.

[TheBorderPrince]

The Thirteen Black Candles Spreading His Black Radiance

Candle VII. - Fear

The Dark Prince is the lord of Fear. Make others tremble in dread before his name.

"Fear is the mindkiller" - as goes a saying spun by the sages of some faraway land. And indeed, it is that, but also more. Fear is the killer in much broader sense. Fear kills the Will, and without Will, all that remains is worthless husk, easily controlled or otherwise dispatched. Fear is the ultimate form of control. True obedience is achieved only through it. Promises of reward and splendour can be outbidden. Personal feelings and attachments are worthless to begin with. But fear... it is the oldest and strongest of emotions. Make one dread thee and the Power behind thee completely and utterly, and they will do your bidding without question. Undermine thy enemies by sowing fear, and through that, doubt, in the hearts of their allies and subjects. Make them fear thee through any means available - be it imposing presence of its own, or gruesome example. Pure, unconstrained terror is like the most precious cloak of black silk adorning our Lord's shoulders - casting long shadows on everything in sight.

Remember, however, that sometimes explicit is not as strong as implicit. The strongest kind of fear, after all, is the fear of the unknown. For against the unknown, one cannot prepare. Shadows lurking in the corners of peripherial vision can acquire shapes on their own, growing in complexity and magnitude. Know this, and make others dread thee, and the Black Sun above thee.