Eclipsis
Legacy Name: Eclipsis

Eclipsis:
e�clip�sis
/iˈklip'sis/

A latin word meaning an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer. In english, it translates to Eclipse.

Legend states that each good child has a guardian angel at their shoulder. This is only half true. Each and every child in the world has a guardian angel protecting them. The angel leaves when he or she is reasonably satisfied with how the child has grown. This can happen at manhood, or not at all. It depends on the children themselves.

A somewhat controversial character, Eclipsis is a guardian angel that failed to protect her young charge. She was one of many that were punished because the children they were supposed to teach had gone to war and fallen. But even in exile, the seraphs must serve. Eclipsis views this with bitterness. She does not want to serve a cause that had exiled her. In the exile, she had lost her wings of light and her powers. Only one remains, but it is more powerful than that of a regular angel's. Only the fallen angels can use this skill. They can see 'fate lines': thin, glowing lines that show the future of a particular entity.

Guardian angels can only see the fate line of the child they are meant to protect. However, the fallen (i.e. gargoyles) can see all people's fate lines. It initially drives them into sorrow and grief for those whose lives will end all too soon, but as time passes, they grow used to it. The torment of not being able to help the dying is part of the Punishment. Some view it as too harsh, as the first instinct of every seraph is to aid the weak, but for those that are too far gone, that no longer care, it is simply an annoyance.

Fear.

There exist many aspects of human nature. One is their love of unique cultures. Another is their everlasting greed for more. But one in particular is their penchant for stories.

It is generally agreed that the human mind is superior when it comes to weaving folklore and culture.

There are legends, shrouded in mystery and veiled by loss. There are folk tales, with each being powerful and beautiful in their own way. And then there are horror stories.

There are many things that seem to have been created for the express purpose of terrifying their viewers. Most would agree that visiting a cemetery at night is not high on their list of things to do. Others would claim that they do not fear anything; but put them in a dark room and they will be screaming by the time you let them out. But what is true fear?

It is not widely accepted, but understood, that a human's greatest fear is the unknown. They fear what they do not understand, and they attempt to eliminate what they fear. This leads to conflict of interest. It is because of humans that there is war in this world. Discontent and anger. Negativity.

Look. Look around you; look at this empty shell of a world.

When will people cease to fight? What happened to the songs, the laughter that once graced the land? It was leached out of this world; all the happiness and contentment. No one knows why. But the temptation to do evil is powerful indeed.

This world was regarded as a paradise, not so long ago. But with evolution comes a price. Humans once lived at one with nature. They danced and reveled in it. They rejoiced in the freedom of their home. But alas, it couldn't last.

A war rages, and there are casualties. There are always casualties. With every passing second, people are born. People die. They live, they love, they fall, and ultimately, they pass on into the void.

Can it really be so, that you don't even know we exist? There are always wars. So many human philosophers dedicate their entire lives just thinking about strife. Life was never meant to be like this; we had to teach them the right ways. We were sent to walk amongst man to guide them in the ways of the light. We each protect a child, schooling them in the laws of peace. But it appears that the devil's temptation is too strong to evade. Even the powers of good cannot deflect it. And man began to sin. Tell me: where did we go wrong?

Allow me to give you some hints. When man began to go to earthly war, we were punished. The children we were meant to take care of had swerved from the path they were meant to take. People began to fight. There was discord everywhere. We did not turn our backs; we watched on, helpless. They were too far gone. We could no longer help them. We had failed in our duty. How can it be? But most importantly: why are we paying the price for the sins of man?

Grotesque. We now perch high up on elegant stone turrets, frozen in various frightening, warlike stances. We stand forever, guarding the holy places. We can kill with a burning gaze. We prevent the presence of darkness. But we are not free.

Hideous. Those that visit our territory simply glance at us, and we are spared no more than a fleeting gaze. No one bothers to speak to us, or even to watch us. To the free humans, we are nothing more than ugly sculptures carved onto cold Gothic cathedral roofs. From there, I knew I'd begun to hate them. Why is it that they can walk free, and we are caged in layers of stone? Why is it that although they are the ones that commit sin, we are the ones that pay the price?

Terrifying. We don't truly matter now, do we? There is no one that really spares a thought about us. There are so many of us. We just stand there, stuck in a battle pose by day. Watching from our distant perch. Frozen.

Dangerous. But by night, we transform, breaking through our prison. We patrol the borders of the sacred areas. Some of us are more humanoid in features, while others are fully bestial. But we all have one thing in common: we are colored slate-grey, with powerful claws. Some of us, namely the younger ones, still remember what it was like to be seraphic. And we retain our skill set. But we cannot take to the skies. Our stiff wings will not bear our weight. We are stranded on land. When the sun rises, we must return to the roof and the stone will grow over us, like a virus, once more. That has always been our ways since the Punishment.

What are we? We are unimportant, so mundane in one's eyes. So insignificant and small. As common as a speck of dust in a sandstorm. No one will ever sing hymns in honor of us gargoyles. Though we are anything but normal. We do not look it, but our alliance was once seraphic. We are fallen angels.

My name, Eclipsis, is Latin for Eclipse. Generally defined as an obscuring of light from a celestial body. A particularly controversial name, especially for an angel. Personally, I find it ironic. Will I become a herald of darkness? Can I be coerced into leaving during my nightly haunts?

Long have we wondered what would happen if we strayed beyond the borders... If we didn't return to the rooftops by sunrise. It is completely unheard of; no one has ever dared to breach the laws. But we cannot say it has never crossed our minds.