The Tale of Noctifer-Boedromios (The Night-Bringing One who Aids in Distress)

In the 4th Century, it was noted that necromancers and sorcerers had been persecuted in the Northern Regions of Ataea, due to their associations with the God Noctifer, but also the scrupulous fear of the Reigning Monarch Aram. As a result, a fifth caste had become formed of “outcastes” or “accursed” who dwelt in the streets or as hermits in forest expanses and deserts in order to escape the persecutions of Aram. One story, recorded by Zazaea, Anthropologist and Theological Historian at the University of Arcana, states as follows:

“Mourning, a mother brought her hungry child to a river and was about to drown him as a mercy killing so he would not suffer. One of her tears hit the surface of the water and, from that ripple, came the god Noctifer who stood upon a beast. Some depictions refer to the beast as a lion, others depict it with elephant-esque characteristics. This may be due to differences in sects.

Seeing the suffering of his followers, Noctifer slit his own throat and poured forward wine and water from his veins. So too did he sever his own flesh which became bread for his devotees. This story advocates for the usage of foods, intoxicants and bread in Noctiferian Rituals, which seem to have drawn from the region of Lower Talera, in which similar theophagic rites were practiced by mystery sects as representations of the sacrifice of the Creator Deity to form the world.” (Lave, Z. 6th Century.)

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

This is presumed to be the origin story of Noctifer-Boedromios and was the establishment of his cult in Ataea-Minor, where he was worshipped near water sources. It is to be noted that this story has been edited by some sects to make it seem more demonic, showing the political-religious climate at the time. For example, we find a text written by Heresiologist Jued De Farae:

“Thus came the wicked to their hiding places ‘mongst the rivers and dens, summoning the Darkness. He then committed grotesque acts, feeding his followers with his flesh and blood to which the aforesaid declared it an ‘act of compassion’.” (De Farae, J. 462.)

Interestingly, a mondegreen occurred, where the name “Boedromios” was mistaken as “Buthos” meaning “Abysmal” which eventually got connected to a cult title for Noctifer to refer to him as an “adversary”. Such a name became: Noctifer-Phobos (The Terrifying Bringer of Night).