#godfolk

Auraeum - Godfolk

A splinter of an interdimensional librarian. Like their source, they keep a library of abstract forms of stories, some collected or recorded from interdimensional travels and some written uniquely by them. Each story is almost like a living thing, and can be entered, traversed, and changed.

Auraeum is fairly solitary, content with the long times they spend without company. They are much like their origin, with a love of experiencing and creating stories, experiencing countless perspectives and ideas. They wander the universes seeking stories, experiencing emotions through the veil of immersion while simultaneously being dissociated from their emotions and attachments. They think of their existence, and everyone else's, as stories. They are often daydreaming or indulging in some imagined scenario or story; they can also be found curled up with a book, whether one they found or one from their personal collection.

This splinter of Auraeum, more so than others, is particularly devoted to remembrance. They collect stories of all sorts, about many kinds of beings, and commit them to the Gilded Library to be remembered in a place beyond time. They enjoy the role described in their tales, as it is more or less what the original Auraeum wished to do themself. 

Their presence may be eerie or ominous to many, though they are not at all malicious; they may even be considered gentle. They enjoy tactile affection with those they are familiar with. They speak with a resonant and reverberant voice that has a likeness to large metal ceremonial bells.

Tale

It is said that there is a strange library in the interstices of universes, beyond space and time. Its halls are endless, composed of smooth black stone gilded with golden linings; its stories, countless, recording fact and fiction and everything in between. There is only one keeper of this Gilded Library. Some know them as the Librarian or the Curator, one who collects and manages the stories. However, this keeper goes by another title as well: the Storyteller. For they do not solely exist in their Library, though that is the place they return to—no, if you are fortunate, you may encounter them and offer to tell you a story. 

If you so desire, you can offer them a story in return—in turn, you may earn their favor. They say this being can glimpse all possibilities, and that the stories they choose to write carry power. Perhaps they shall write your story in their pages, gently guiding you to a path you desire—or perhaps you shall achieve immortality of a sort, beyond death and beyond time, existing as a story that they will tell once more when the opportunity arises. So, the next time a stranger comes by, consider telling them your story or listening to theirs—or share the story of another. Perhaps your story will be recorded in the eternal Library in time, whether conveyed through the memories of this stranger, or if you are meeting the Librarian themself.

Auraeum's story sparks curiosity and wonder, along with an encouragement to be willing to share your stories with even passing strangers. After all, if you are remembered, in some ways, you will never die.

History

At some point in time, Auraeum—the original Auraeum, that is—visited the Voidverse. They explored with curiosity, exchanging stories with the denizens of the universe. Soon, they met Octo. He was quite receptive to Auraeum's questions, and was more than willing to share his own story. When Auraeum asked if Octo was willing to allow them to accompany him for a time, Octo accepted, and the two wandered together for a time. 

It wasn't long before Auraeum expressed curiosity towards Octo's species. Octo explained that he was a Devilfolk, one of very few remaining; this led to further lines of inquiry that revealed to Auraeum the nature of Celestial Folklores and the process by which they formed. Auraeum asked Octo if it were possible to deliberately create a Folk by propagating a story throughout civilizations, and if it would be troublesome if they attempted to do so. Octo replied that it was indeed possible and not at all troublesome, and thus Auraeum began their little project. 

They slipped backwards in time to a point not too long after the collapse of the Celestial Planes and began to spread a variation of their own story through a combination of playing the role (which was what they normally did anyway) and telling the tale personally. They chipped off a splinter of their existence to be imbued in the essence of the story, and once Auraeum sensed that the evolution of the tale and splinter were well on their way—many years after they began the effort—Auraeum departed. 

After all, their splinter would be present in the Voidverse to explore for them.

The tale of a keeper of stories in a Gilded Library propagated throughout several generations, reaching many civilizations across the Voidverse. The years bent and expanded interpretations of the story, leading to the keeper being referred to with several different titles. 

Eventually, a being took form. A new Godfolk, born of the splinter and the tale of the Gilded Library, knowing of their role, their connection to their origin, and their name: Auraeum. 

This splinter of Auraeum spent much of their time in the Voidverse, enjoying the role described for them in their tales—collecting stories, managing their Library, and sharing stories with others. As the number of Folk declined, Auraeum took on another role by their own choice—attempting to catalyze the formation of new Folk through the creation and propagation of stories, and collecting stories of both new and old Folk to ensure that they would not be forgotten. Perhaps, sometimes, if they are able to find records of forgotten Folk, they will attempt to revive them, spreading the Folklore's tale through their storytelling.