15.ii
Of Fiends I will say as little as possible, for even in written text for fellow priests one must be cautious. While the gods hold dominion within the heavens and can with effort each be matched to a star above, Fiends are of the black between and the abyss beneath.
Some gods and their stars may descend below the horizon in certain seasons, taking their journey into the accursed deeps, but do not mistake them for Fiends. It is in the nature of Fiends to be accursed things of unlight. They are by the efforts of we among the temples who guide and see to our communities as intercessors with the divine all but unknown save as a curse spat as profanity.
This is for the safety of all.
Keep close watch for signs that those among your congregations are not straying to wild worship in dark places or cloud shrouded nights, for it is in the undirected calling of unfamiliar or even worse wholly unnamed gods that fiends can strike. They possess no star, and while the heavens may offer you just punishment and lessons to temper you for your sins, a Fiend will seek them out and drown you in the torments and desires that most rule you.
If you truly have found a sign of a Fiend’s mark among your congregations that you must seek aid from higher stations in the temples. Should you be so accursed that help cannot be reached then read on and know that you and all you protect may soon perish to this horror.
Being of the dark and formless Fiends possess no names of their own. Some say it is because they were stolen from them, or had then revoked by the gods, others that they were born without them.
Whatever the cause it is fundamental as their affinity for the dark that they are nameless.
And this is a blessed protection to all, for nameless as they are they cannot be invoked except by unguided prayer, but this is a fragile and easily broken protection.
A Fiend is not first called forth with a name, but it can acquire one after it is summoned!
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One should never name Fiend! For once it is given such a thing and is known by it then the horror can be called forth again and again, if you are watchful you may be blessed enough to catch an incident when someone has foolishly sought the dark between stars in prayer and has not yet tried to give identity to the formless dark.
You must prevent them from doing so!
In such cases the danger is passed after that invocation is done and while admonishments and warnings need to be given, comfort in equal measure is warranted, for they will have survived a horror unlike any other.
Alas, in nearly all cases you will find it is too late and a name has already been given to a Fiend before you discovered its presence. At this point you must not utter this name, Or even consider it too closely in your thoughts, you absolutely must not put it to page. Cast the Fiend’s name out of all your words and memory and encourage all others to do the same!
And this is all that you can hope to do, divine protections from the stars and gods may or may shield you from its deprivations, mortal arms could fend off the most direct of its monstrosities.
But if no greater power can be called to aid you then all the advice I can give is that the name of a Fiend must be put out of all minds and knowledge. If at all possible make sure that those unfortunate enough to have called upon it never do so again and never share its name with anyone.
And no matter what the Fiend’s promised words say, never listen. There can be no deals or bargains with such horrors.
Where the heavens can be known, their stars tracked, their desires and natures understood and bargains and pacts made with them there is no assurance in dealing with Fiends. In the most merciful cases of a Fiend being called for a task those that do will immediately perish in the invocation leaving a scar and ruin of themselves but no further harm.
But if a victim should come through such an experience alive and knowing of a Fiend’s nature you must do all in your power to make sure that the thing is never called upon again.
Fiends are beyond any but the wisest of our craft.
-On the treating with Gods and Grain Watchers by Brother Ordelain, naturalist and Monk of the Hrothfield Monastery in middle Egelheimvin.