The Great Celestial War

 From the Mage Slayer Chronicles

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Overview

The Great Celestial War is an ongoing cosmic conflict between the forces of light and darkness that has raged since the corruption of humanity in ancient times. This eternal battle takes place in "the unseen realm" while mortals remain largely unaware of the supernatural forces warring around them every moment of their existence.

Historical Background

The Beginning

In the primordial era, The One created all existence from nothing, bringing forth the Celestials—beings of pure light and divine power who served as the first inhabitants of creation. These celestial beings were intended to serve The One and maintain cosmic order.

The Great Corruption

The war began when a powerful celestial, whose name has been erased from history and is referred to only as "WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED," rebelled against The One's divine order. This fallen celestial committed three cardinal sins that forever altered the balance of creation:

1. Teaching Forbidden Magic - Introduced arcane knowledge to humanity that was never meant for mortal minds
2. Mingling Essences - Corrupted the purity of human creation by mixing celestial and mortal bloodlines
3. Creating the Giants - Spawned the abominable Nephilim (Giants), hybrid beings of immense power and evil

The Master Balor's Rise

The corrupted celestial became known as The Master Balor (or simply "The Balor"), a primordial entity of pure malevolence. The Balor established dominion over:

• Legions of Giants and Dragons
• Corrupted mortal souls
• The realm of darkness itself
• Networks of dimensional portals

Nature of the Conflict

The Eternal Struggle

According to the celestial being Nimue, this war "wages every second in the unseen" while mortals sleep peacefully in their beds, unaware that their very existence hangs in the balance. The conflict operates on multiple planes of reality simultaneously.

Combatants

Forces of Light:

• The One - Supreme divine creator
• Loyal Celestials - Beings of pure light and divine power
• Chosen Champions - Mortal heroes empowered by celestial forces
• Divine Magic Users - Those who channel light-based powers

Forces of Darkness:

• The Master Balor - Fallen celestial and primary antagonist
• Corrupted Celestials - Other fallen beings who joined the rebellion
• Giants (Nephilim) - Hybrid celestial-human abominations
• Dragons - Ancient servants of darkness
• Dark Mages - Mortals who practice Baloric magic

Battlegrounds

The war spans across multiple realms:

• The Celestial Realm - Domain of beings of light
• The Realm of Darkness - The Balor's stronghold
• The Physical World - Where mortal champions fight proxy battles
• The Unseen Spaces - Dimensional gaps between realities

Mortal Involvement

The Age of Darkness

During a previous era, The Balor successfully established dominion over the mortal world, creating an "age of darkness" where giants and dragons ruled supreme. This period ended when King Arthur and his knights, aided by Merlin's magic and the divine sword Excalibur, defeated the dark forces and drove them back.

Current Conflict

The war has entered a new phase with:

• The return of giant forces to the mortal realm
• The corruption of Dredmur (Arthur's eldest son) into the vessel Mordred
• The emergence of Jack as the prophesied champion of light
• Renewed assaults on the kingdom of Camelot

Chosen Champions

The celestial war often manifests through mortal champions who serve as vessels for greater powers:

Champions of Light:

• Jack - Arthur's second son, wielder of the Sword of Balor
• King Arthur - Ruler of Camelot, bearer of Excalibur
• Previous heroes throughout history

Champions of Darkness:

• Mordred (corrupted Dredmur) - Possessed by dark forces
• Morgan/Morgana - Half-celestial practitioner of Baloric magic
• Various corrupted mages and rulers throughout history

Weapons and Artifacts

Divine Weapons

• The Sword of Balor - Ancient weapon specifically forged to slay Balor-kin, requires royal blood to activate
• Excalibur - Arthur's legendary blade, channeling divine power
• Merlin's Staff - Powerful focus for arcane energies

Corruption Artifacts

• Dark Grimoires - Texts containing forbidden Baloric magic
• Possession Totems - Objects that facilitate demonic control
• Giant Weapons - Oversized armaments empowered by dark magic

Prophecy and Destiny

The End Times Prophecy

Ancient prophecies foretell that the giants would return during the end times, when two champions would be chosen—one for light and one for darkness. This prophecy specifically mentions:

• Brothers facing each other in final battle
• The fate of Camelot hanging in the balance
• The potential for either complete victory or total darkness

Cyclical Nature

Evidence suggests the celestial war may be cyclical, with periods of darkness followed by ages of light, repeating throughout cosmic history. Each cycle requires new champions to rise and fight the eternal battle.

Impact on the Mortal World

Hidden Warfare

Most humans remain unaware of the celestial conflict, experiencing only its earthly manifestations:

• Monster attacks and giant raids
• Unexplained magical phenomena
• The rise and fall of kingdoms
• Periods of peace and war

Divine Intervention

The celestial war occasionally breaks through into mortal awareness through:

• Prophetic visions and dreams
• Direct celestial manifestations (like Nimue's appearance)
• Miraculous events and divine weapons
• The emergence of individuals with supernatural abilities

Current Status

As of the latest events in the chronicles, the Great Celestial War has entered a critical phase:

• Giant forces have renewed their assault on the mortal realm
• The Balor seeks a mortal vessel to rule through
• Ancient weapons have been awakened
• Prophesied champions have emerged on both sides
• The outcome may determine the fate of all creation

The war continues to rage in the unseen realms while its mortal champions prepare for what may be the final battle between light and darkness.