View source for Hora Lucerna: The Genesis

???

====The Devine and the Damed:====
====='''The Fall'''=====
In the beginning, Heaven was a realm of perfect harmony, but this balance was shattered when three archangels—Lucifer, Satan, and Belial—rose in rebellion against God's reign. Fueled by jealousy and a deep-seated hatred for humanity, they sought to overthrow the Creator and establish their dominion over all of existence. Their rebellion marked the first great conflict in the celestial realm.

The war in Heaven was fierce, but ultimately, the rebellious archangels were defeated. God, in His wrath, cast Lucifer, Satan, and Belial out of Heaven, along with their followers. However, while most of the fallen angels were imprisoned within the depths of the earth, Lucifer was cast onto the earth itself, cursed to wander among the very creatures he despised.
====='''Creation and the Garden of Eden'''=====
God created the universe, shaping the earth, the stars, and all living things. Within this new creation, He fashioned the Garden of Eden, a paradise where humanity's first ancestors, Adam and Eve, were placed to live in harmony with all creation. Lucifer, despite his fall, was assigned as one of the protectors of Eden, a role that only deepened his resentment.

Before Eve, God created Lilith as the first woman, equal to Adam. However, Lilith, defiant and independent, refused to submit to Adam and was cast out of Eden. Fleeing to the primordial ocean, she encountered Lucifer, Satan, and Belial. Her hatred for Adam and her rejection by God led her to join them, becoming a powerful demoness who sought to corrupt humanity.

Lucifer, embittered by God's creation and the expulsion of Lilith, saw an opportunity for vengeance. He tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of humanity. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, and the world was forever marked by sin and death.
====='''The First Civilization and the Nephilim'''=====
As humanity spread across the earth, the fallen angels began to exert their influence. They took human wives, and their offspring, the Nephilim, were born—giants of great strength and wickedness. These beings led humanity into an age of violence, depravity, and idolatry, with the fallen angels guiding their every step.

For sixty generations, humanity was shaped by the fallen, with pestilence, war, and fire ravaging the earth. The Nephilim ruled as tyrants, and the world grew darker with each passing century. The first thirty generations were marked by endless wars and diseases that decimated populations, while the next twenty-five generations were consumed by great fires that razed cities and forests alike.

Finally, God could no longer tolerate the corruption of His creation. He decided to cleanse the earth with a great flood, sparing only Noah and his family, who remained faithful to Him. The floodwaters receded, leaving the earth divided into the continents we know today, and humanity began anew.
====='''The Tower of Babel and the Scattering of Nations'''=====
Despite the fresh start, humanity's pride and ambition soon led to the construction of the Tower of Babel, a massive structure intended to reach the heavens. This act of defiance angered God, who confused their languages, causing them to be unable to understand one another. The people scattered across the earth, forming the diverse nations and cultures that exist today.
====='''The Rise of Egypt and the Plagues'''=====
In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs were guided by the fallen angels, who they worshipped as gods. The fallen taught them dark arts and granted them power, leading to the establishment of one of the most powerful empires in history. However, God did not abandon His people. He sent Moses to deliver the Israelites from bondage, bringing ten plagues upon Egypt that decimated the land and broke the pharaohs' hold over the people.
====='''The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ'''=====
In an ultimate act of love, God sent His son, Jesus of Nazareth, to take upon Himself the sins of the world. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, and His life was marked by miracles, teachings of love, and a call to repentance. He was betrayed by one of His own disciples, crucified, and buried. But on the third day, He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.

Jesus' resurrection offered salvation to all who would believe in Him, and His apostles spread the message of the Gospel throughout the world. This marked the beginning of the Christianization of the world and the establishment of the Church.
===='''The Age of Heroes and the Dark Ages'''====
====='''The Age of Heroes (1st to 5th Century)'''=====
Following Jesus' ascension to Heaven, the world entered an era known as the Age of Heroes. During this time, the apostles and early Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, performed great deeds and spread the message of Christ far and wide. Saints and martyrs emerged, their lives and sacrifices inspiring countless others to embrace the faith. The Church grew in strength, and the pagan gods of old were gradually forgotten, replaced by the worship of the one true God.

However, this was also a time of great struggle, as the fallen angels, led by Lucifer, sought to undermine the growing Christian faith. They whispered lies into the hearts of men, sowing discord and heresy within the Church. The Nephilim, though diminished in number, continued to wreak havoc, their influence felt in the wars and plagues that plagued the world.

Despite these challenges, the Church stood firm, its foundations laid by the blood of martyrs and the teachings of Christ. By the end of the 5th century, Christianity had become the dominant religion in the Western world, and the Age of Heroes gave way to the Dark Ages.
====='''The Dark Ages (5th to 14th Century)'''=====
The Dark Ages were a time of great turmoil and suffering. The fallen angels, driven by their hatred for God and humanity, took control of the world in the aftermath of the Rapture. With the righteous taken up to Heaven, the earth was left in the hands of those who had rejected God's salvation.

Lucifer, Satan, and Belial established their dominion over the earth, ruling through fear and deception. They corrupted the hearts of kings and emperors, leading to endless wars, famines, and plagues. The Church, though still a force for good, was weakened by internal strife and corruption. Heresies spread like wildfire, and the faithful were often persecuted by those who had once been their protectors.

The Nephilim, now fully integrated into human society, ruled as tyrants and warlords. Their presence was felt in the countless battles and conquests that marked this era. The world was plunged into darkness, and it seemed as though the light of Christ had been extinguished forever.

Yet, even in the darkest of times, there were those who remained faithful. Monks and scholars preserved the knowledge of the past, and pockets of resistance fought to keep the flame of faith alive. These efforts laid the groundwork for the eventual resurgence of Christianity and the rise of the Renaissance.
===='''The Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution'''====
====='''The Renaissance (14th to 17th Century)'''=====
The Renaissance was a period of rebirth, as humanity began to rediscover the knowledge and wisdom of the past. Art, science, and philosophy flourished, and the world seemed to emerge from the darkness of the previous centuries. However, this was also a time when the fallen angels began to reassert their influence over the earth.

Lucifer, Satan, and Belial, recognizing the potential of the human mind, began to manipulate the rulers and scholars of the time. They whispered secrets of forbidden knowledge, leading to the rise of alchemy, occultism, and secret societies. These teachings were passed down through generations, shaping the minds of those who would go on to lead the world.

The Church, though still powerful, was increasingly challenged by the rise of secularism and the questioning of traditional beliefs. The Reformation fractured the unity of Christendom, and wars of religion ravaged Europe. The fallen angels took advantage of this chaos, furthering their goals of sowing discord and weakening the Church.
====='''The Scientific Revolution (17th to 18th Century)'''=====
The Scientific Revolution was a time of great discovery, as humanity began to unlock the mysteries of the natural world. However, the fallen angels were deeply involved in this process, guiding the development of technologies and ideas that would ultimately serve their purposes.

Lucifer, in particular, was instrumental in the spread of rationalism and materialism, ideologies that denied the existence of God and the spiritual realm. Through these philosophies, the fallen angels sought to sever humanity's connection to the divine and reduce the world to a mere collection of atoms and forces.

The rise of secret societies, such as the Freemasons and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, furthered the agenda of the fallen angels. These organizations, though ostensibly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, were often steeped in occult practices and were used as tools by the fallen to manipulate the course of history.

The Scientific Revolution laid the groundwork for the modern world, but it also set the stage for the final phase of the fallen angels' plan: the Digital Age.
===='''The Industrial Revolution and the Digital Age'''====
====='''The Industrial Revolution (18th to 19th Century)'''=====
The Industrial Revolution marked a period of rapid technological advancement, as humanity harnessed the power of steam, electricity, and machinery to reshape the world. However, this era was also characterized by a great schism within the demonic hierarchy.

The higher demons, led by Lucifer, seized control of the first world countries, guiding them into unprecedented levels of industrial and economic growth. These nations became the engines of progress, their factories and cities churning out goods and wealth on a scale never before seen. However, this progress came at a cost, as the exploitation of labor, the environment, and the human spirit became rampant.

The lesser demons, who had been marginalized by their more powerful brethren, were forced to retreat to the third world countries. Here, they continued to exert their influence, but on a smaller scale. These regions became hotbeds of conflict, poverty, and instability, as the lesser demons vied for power and control.

The Americas, in particular, became a focal point for demonic activity. The United States, emerging as a global superpower, was heavily influenced by the higher demons, who guided its leaders and industrialists in the pursuit of wealth and dominance. This influence would eventually culminate in the Digital Age, as the fallen angels sought to bring their plan to its ultimate conclusion.
====='''The Digital Age (20th to 21st Century)'''=====
The Digital Age, spanning from the early 20th century to the mid-21st century, was the final phase of the fallen angels' plan to establish their dominion over the earth. The development of microchips, computers, and the internet were key to this process, as these technologies became the vessels for the demons' influence.

The internet, a vast and interconnected network, became a form of digital legion, with demons using it to spread their influence across the globe. Through social media, propaganda, and surveillance, they manipulated public opinion, stoked divisions, and eroded the foundations of society.

During this time, the world experienced unprecedented levels of conflict and instability. The two World Wars, the Cold War, and countless other conflicts were all driven, in part, by the influence of the fallen angels. The threat of nuclear annihilation hung over humanity, a constant reminder of the fragility of the world order.

The fallen angels, led by Lucifer, Satan, and Belial, finally succeeded in creating a crack in the firmament—the barrier separating the physical world from the spiritual realm. This crack allowed them, along with the Leviathan, to enter the earth through various deep-sea caves. Their arrival marked the beginning of the Godfall event, which would ultimately lead to the collapse of human civilization.
===='''Modern History and Godfall'''====
====='''The New Laws and the Fracturing of the United States'''=====
The early 21st century saw the rise of political polarization, economic inequality, and social unrest. In 2023, a series of draconian laws, known as the New Laws of '23, were passed by the U.S. government in a desperate attempt to maintain control over a rapidly fracturing nation. These laws led to the secession of the Western Confederate States of America (WCSA) and the Eastern Confederate States of America (ECSA), further destabilizing the country.

The Federal States of America (FSA) emerged from the remnants of the original United States, struggling to maintain a semblance of pre-war government structure. Meanwhile, Alaska seceded and formed the Great Alaskan States, and the Midwest states, caught between the warring factions, formed the Nomocracy Republic of the Midwest.
====='''The Confederate States War (2025-2026)'''=====
The Confederate States War was a devastating conflict that erupted following the secession of the WCSA and ECSA. The war saw significant battles, including the Battle of Houston, the Siege of Atlanta, and the Mississippi River Campaign. The conflict caused widespread humanitarian and economic crises, further fragmenting the nation and highlighting the deep-seated divisions within the country.
====='''Godfall and the Last-Light Event (2048)'''=====
In 2048, the culmination of centuries of demonic influence and manipulation reached its apex with the Godfall event. The sun, revealed to be a divine being—one of the watchers over humanity—was snuffed out, plunging the world into darkness. The firmament cracked, allowing the fallen angels and the Leviathan to fully enter the earth.

Natural disasters of unprecedented scale ravaged the planet, and monstrous creatures emerged from the deep-sea caves. The world descended into chaos as the remaining human civilizations crumbled, and the fallen angels began to establish their reign over the earth.

The Godfall event marked the beginning of the end for humanity, as the world was consumed by darkness, and the fallen angels solidified their dominion over the shattered remnants of civilization. The surviving humans, scattered and desperate, struggled to survive in a world overrun by demons, monsters, and the ever-present threat of the Arcana.