Incubus

An incubus is a type of demon that appears in male form and has sexual intercourse with sleeping women.

The female equivalent is called a succubus.

These demons are found in many cultures and folklore, and are sometimes associated with the birth of witches, demons, or deformed children.

Some possible explanations for the incubus phenomenon are sleep paralysis, hypnagogia, and erotic dreams.

Sleep paralysis is a state of being unable to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up.

It can also cause hallucinations of pressure on the chest, sounds, or visions.

Hypnagogia is the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, where one can experience vivid imagery, sounds, or sensations.

Erotic dreams are self-explanatory, and may be influenced by subconscious desires or fears.

In medieval Europe, some people believed that having sex with an incubus or a succubus could result in the conception of a cambion, a half-human half-demon offspring.

One famous example of this is Merlin, the legendary magician and advisor of King Arthur, who was said to have been fathered by an incubus.

Such as the Malleus Maleficarum, a manual for witch hunters, there are ways to protect oneself from the attacks of incubi and succubi.

These include confession, exorcism, the sign of the cross, the Hail Mary, moving to another location, or excommunication of the entity.

However, other sources, such as the Franciscan friar Ludovico Maria Sinistrari, claimed that these demons do not obey exorcists, have no fear of holy things, and cannot be expelled by any means.

In folklore, an incubus is a demon or evil spirit believed to lie upon sleeping persons, especially women, with whom it seeks sexual intercourse.

As with many mythical creatures, the lifespan of an incubus is not clearly defined and varies by story and tradition.

In some tales, incubi are immortal beings, living indefinitely as long as they can feed on the energy they drain from their victims.

In other stories, they may have lifespans that are long but finite, often measured in centuries or millennia.

Since incubi are not physical beings in the traditional sense, their 'life' is often tied more to their supernatural presence and influence rather than a biological lifespan.

Far away, in the shadowed realms where mortal dreams are spun and woven, there existed a young Incubus named Arion. His name was spoken in hushed tones, a whisper of both allure and fear among the denizens of the dark. Arion was unlike his kindred spirits, for while his brethren reveled in their seductive powers, he bore an unquenchable yearning for something beyond the ephemeral pleasure they peddled.

Arion's heart, though shrouded in darkness, had a flicker of light - a fragment of curiosity and compassion that set him apart. This fragment was his curse and his hope. In his many forays into the dreamscapes of mortals, he encountered a maiden named Elysia. Her dreams were serene, filled with visions of verdant forests and skies painted in hues of dawn. She radiated a purity that was both foreign and enchanting to Arion, whose existence was confined to shadows and deceit.

Elysia's dreamworld was a sanctuary untouched by the corruption that plagued so many others. Arion, drawn by her untainted spirit, found himself in the throes of an unusual dilemma. To fulfill his duty, he needed to seduce her, but the very essence of Elysia's dreams made him hesitant. Each touch, each whispered word, felt like a violation of something sacred.

One fateful night, as he approached Elysia's dreamscape, he was greeted not with fear or resistance, but with an unexpected warmth. Elysia, sensing the turmoil within Arion, extended a hand of kindness rather than fear. "Why do you torment me?" she asked, her voice both gentle and probing. "Is it not in your nature to bring despair?"

Arion, caught off guard by her empathy, confessed his inner strife. "I am bound by duty, but I am tormented by a heart that longs for redemption. I do not wish to cause suffering, yet I am compelled to do so."

Elysia, moved by his plight, offered him a choice - a chance to redeem himself. "There is a sacred artifact, the Flame of Aetheria, hidden within the heart of the Dreaming Forest. It holds the power to cleanse the taint from your soul and grant you the freedom you seek. But it will require great sacrifice and courage."

Arion, though hesitant, agreed to undertake the perilous quest. The Dreaming Forest was no ordinary place; it was a labyrinth of shifting illusions and treacherous enchantments. Arion navigated its myriad challenges, battling fears and confronting the shadows of his past. Each trial tested his resolve, forcing him to confront the very darkness that had long defined him.

As he reached the heart of the forest, he found the Flame of Aetheria - a brilliant, ethereal fire that danced with colors unseen in mortal realms. But guarding the flame was a formidable guardian, a being of light whose presence was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.

To claim the Flame, Arion was required to make a sacrifice - a choice between the power to return to his old ways or the chance to embrace a new existence. With a heavy heart, Arion chose to relinquish his seductive powers forever. He took a portion of the flame and allowed it to cleanse his essence, transforming him into a being of pure light.

Elysia, having observed his trials from afar, welcomed him with open arms. "You have chosen the path of redemption," she said. "Your sacrifice has not only freed you but has also brought light into the darkest corners of existence."

Arion, now transformed, was given a new role - one of guardian and protector. He became a beacon of hope, guiding lost souls and offering solace rather than seduction. The Flame of Aetheria had not only redeemed him but had also given him a purpose beyond his former nature.

Thus, the myth of Arion spread across realms - a tale of the young Incubus who sought redemption and found it through courage, sacrifice, and an unwavering pursuit of a brighter path. His story became a beacon for those lost in their own darkness, a reminder that even in the deepest shadows, the spark of hope could ignite a transformation beyond imagination.

Long time ago, far away, in the realm of Lysoria, where magic flowed like rivers of light, an ancient artifact lay hidden beneath the roots of the Great Eldertree - the Compass of Shadows. This mystical device was said to grant its bearer unparalleled insight into the minds of others, allowing them to manipulate thoughts and desires. Legends whispered of a war ignited by its allure, a war that would change the very fabric of cognition itself.

At the center of this conflict was Noctis, an Incubus of formidable charm and cunning. With midnight-black wings and eyes that glimmered like stars, he traversed the land, captivating hearts and sowing discord. Though he thrived in the realm of dreams, Noctis craved something more - a place among the powerful, a seat at the table of dominion over minds.

The war erupted when the sorceress Eldara, a guardian of the Eldertree, discovered the Compass. She, knowing its potential for chaos, vowed to protect it at all costs. The armies of Lysoria rallied to her cause, forming a coalition of mages, warriors, and scholars. Yet, whispers of the Compass reached far beyond the coalition. Dark factions, led by the insidious Lord Malakar, sought its power for their own ends, determined to bend the wills of the entire realm.

Noctis, sensing an opportunity, allied himself with Malakar, seduced by promises of power and prestige. He hoped to secure the Compass, intending to turn it against Malakar once he held it in his grasp. As battles raged across the fields of Lysoria, a dance of manipulation and treachery unfolded.

The first clash came at Dawn's Edge, where steel met steel and spells crackled through the air. Noctis, cloaked in shadows, flitted through the battlefield, whispering lies and desires into the ears of the weary soldiers. Friends turned on each other, their minds twisted by his dark magic. Eldara fought valiantly, her light illuminating the chaos, but even she felt the strain as the tide of war shifted with each seductive word Noctis uttered.

In the midst of the chaos, Eldara confronted Noctis, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. "You would sow discord among us for power?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the turmoil surrounding them.

Noctis smiled, a devilish glint in his eyes. "Power is the greatest truth, my dear sorceress. You cling to your ideals, but ideals crumble like sand under the weight of ambition."

Their duel erupted in a clash of magic - her radiant light against his consuming darkness. But as they fought, a flicker of understanding sparked between them. Beneath Noctis's charming facade lay a deep-seated loneliness, a longing for connection and acceptance. Eldara saw the glimmer of a fractured soul, caught in the tempest of desire and ambition.

As the war dragged on, the conflict reached its zenith at the foot of the Eldertree. Noctis, driven by ambition and a newfound understanding of his own vulnerabilities, made a fateful decision. In a moment of clarity, he betrayed Malakar, turning against the very darkness he had once embraced. With a surge of magic, he unleashed a storm of shadows upon the battlefield, forcing Malakar's forces to retreat.

With the war finally at a standstill, Eldara and Noctis stood at the base of the Eldertree, the Compass gleaming between them. "You've fought valiantly," she said, her voice softening. "But power comes with a price. What will you choose?"

Noctis, staring into the depths of the Compass, saw the weight of his ambition reflected in its enchanted surface. "I desire understanding, not domination," he confessed, his heart wrestling with its own shadows. "I wish to connect, not control."

In an unexpected twist, Eldara offered him a chance for redemption. Together, they forged a pact. Noctis would guard the Compass, protecting it from those who sought to exploit it, while Eldara would teach him the ways of light and connection. In this union of shadow and light, they sought a new path, one that embraced both the desires of the heart and the wisdom of the mind.

Thus, the war for the Compass of Shadows transformed into a journey of healing and unity. Noctis, the once-fallen Incubus, became a guardian of dreams, walking the fine line between light and darkness, forging bonds where there had once been only discord.

And so, the tale of Noctis and Eldara echoed through the ages, a reminder that even in the depths of ambition, one can find a path to understanding - a lesson written in the stars, as ancient as the Eldertree itself.

Far away, in the ancient times, before the world had settled into its current shape, the sky was a single, celestial canvas of perfect harmony. This primordial sky was home to the Aetherians, a race of ethereal beings who wove the threads of existence with their luminous fingers. The Aetherians lived in unity, their purpose to balance the forces of creation and destruction, ensuring that neither would overshadow the other.

Among them was Seraphius, the most revered of the Aetherians. Seraphius was known for his wisdom and grace, and his insight into the mysteries of the cosmos was unparalleled. Yet, despite his wisdom, he was tormented by an unquenchable thirst for deeper understanding, a curiosity that often led him to question the very fabric of their existence.

One fateful evening, as Seraphius gazed upon the tapestry of stars and galaxies, he saw something that troubled him - a burgeoning rift in the fabric of the sky, growing ever wider. This rift pulsed with dark energy, an anomaly that neither he nor any other Aetherian had seen before. Fearing what this might mean, Seraphius sought to investigate.

The rift, upon closer examination, was a wound in the celestial canvas, a tear that exuded shadows and whispers of a primordial darkness. As Seraphius approached it, the rift spoke to him in a voice that seemed both ancient and alien. It offered him forbidden knowledge and the power to reshape reality itself. In his yearning for understanding, Seraphius was tempted, and despite his better judgment, he reached out.

The moment Seraphius touched the rift, the darkness surged forth and enveloped him, tearing him from his place among the Aetherians. The celestial canvas was shattered into countless pieces, and the sky, once whole, became a tapestry of fractured light and shadow.

The cataclysm that followed was both swift and tragic. The Aetherians, now fragmented, were cast into different realms and dimensions, their essence twisted by the dark energies unleashed by Seraphius's folly. From these disjointed pieces, new beings began to emerge - creatures born from the clash of light and dark, each reflecting the remnants of the Aetherians' once-pure nature.

The Incubus and its counterpart, the Succubus, were among the first of these new beings. They were birthed from the shadows and allure of the rift, embodying the duality of desire and deceit. Their existence was a manifestation of the darker urges that had been twisted and magnified by the rupture.

From the same dark energies that birthed the Incubus, other creatures came forth - wraiths, specters, and phantoms, each carrying a fragment of the Aetherians' essence but transformed by the dark power that had consumed them. These beings roamed the shattered realms, each struggling with their newfound natures and the remnants of their lost harmony.

Yet, not all was lost. Among the scattered remnants of the Aetherians, there remained a glimmer of hope. The celestial fragments that had not been tainted by darkness slowly began to coalesce, giving rise to new realms of light and virtue. These realms, though marked by the scars of their creation, carried within them the potential for renewal and balance.

The parable of the Shattered Sky serves as a timeless reminder: that even in the wake of profound disruption and darkness, the potential for redemption and harmony remains. The Incubus, Succubus, and their kin are not merely beings of chaos and shadow but symbols of the profound consequences of curiosity unrestrained, and the eternal quest for balance that follows.

Thus, the story of the Shattered Sky endures, a tale of cosmic ambition and the enduring struggle between light and dark, a parable woven into the very fabric of existence.