Arkanos

Arkanos, known as "The Ethereal," is one of the eleven Deipurae created by Uzhyr from filaments of his divine essence. Standing at 9.5 kilometers in height, Arkanos embodies the aspect of psionic reality-bending and serves as one of the most powerful entities within the Omnium Theocracy. His mastery over the fabric of reality itself makes him an invaluable asset in the ongoing War for Eternity.

A rare lumigraphic capture showing Arkanos manipulating the fabric of reality during the defense of Zyon's outer bulwarks

Origins and Nature

Created within the sanctified halls of Zyon, Arkanos emerged from the careful cultivation of Uzhyr's essence. Unlike his siblings, whose aspects tend toward more tangible concepts, Arkanos embodies the manipulation of reality itself through psionic power. This unique nature makes him particularly attuned to the underlying structures of the universe, allowing him to perceive and alter the very laws that govern existence.

His physical form, while enormous by mortal standards, is notably fluid and ethereal compared to his siblings. Arkanos's body exists in a constant state of subtle transformation, with portions of his form occasionally phasing between different states of matter. This manifestation of his power serves as a constant reminder of his mastery over the physical realm.

Powers and Abilities

Arkanos possesses unprecedented control over reality itself, able to bend and reshape the physical world through sheer force of will. His psionic abilities far surpass those of even the most powerful Elysian mystics, operating on a scale that makes him capable of teleporting entire armies across vast distances or temporarily altering the laws of physics within limited areas.

His most remarkable ability is his capacity to perceive and navigate multiple layers of reality simultaneously. This talent proved crucial during his mission to retrieve the Ravager's components, allowing him to locate and extract pieces of the cosmic entity's remains from within the Nemither despite its reality-warping nature.

Role in the War

During the War for Eternity, Arkanos serves as one of his father's most crucial agents. His ability to manipulate reality makes him particularly effective against the aberrations that plague the Theocracy, as he can temporarily stabilize areas affected by blightzones and prevent further reality degradation.

His most notable mission came when Uzhyr tasked him with retrieving the Ravager's components from the Nemither. Despite successfully teleporting several pieces back to Zyon, he encountered Maaldir, who managed to steal crucial components and break Arkanos's bones three times during their confrontation. This battle demonstrated that even Arkanos's reality-bending powers have limits when faced with the raw might of a corrupted god.

The Harbinger Wyrm Incident

One of Arkanos's most significant trials came during his battle alongside Didaskalion against the Harbinger Wyrm, one of the two Eschatons created by Morsvitae and Ytdarr. During this confrontation, Arkanos was severely wounded, requiring Didaskalion to sacrifice his own safety to protect his brother. Though they ultimately prevailed, the battle demonstrated both the strengths and vulnerabilities of even the mightiest Deipurae.

Relationship with the Technate

Arkanos maintains a unique relationship with the Technate of Elysia, as his reality-bending abilities share certain similarities with Elysian psionic technology. He has occasionally served as an advisor to Grand Technarch Idris Vorsen, helping to refine the Technate's understanding of reality manipulation and its applications in their war machines.

This collaboration led to the development of the Reality Anchor Arrays, massive installations that help stabilize space around crucial Theocracy installations, making them more resistant to reality-warping attacks from the forces of chaos.

Current Status

Like all Deipurae, Arkanos remains bound to Zyon unless specifically ordered otherwise by Uzhyr. Following his injuries from the Harbinger Wyrm incident, he has focused on recovery while continuing to maintain the stability of reality around Zyon through his powers. He communicates with the outside world through lumigraphic displays, providing crucial tactical support and reality-stabilizing assistance to Theocracy forces.

Legacy and Influence

Arkanos's mastery over reality has inspired an entire school of thought among Elysian mystics, leading to the formation of the Ethereal Theorists, a specialized branch of Technomancers who study the fundamental nature of reality itself. Their research, combined with Arkanos's insights, has led to significant advances in the Theocracy's ability to combat reality-warping threats.

See Also

• The Deipurae
• Reality Manipulation in the Theocracy
• The Hunt for the Ravager's Components