Ecliptism #

Alfgram taught, “Pain is the key, and suffering the vessel. Let each wound be a mark upon the soul, a passage into the unknown. For only the wounded see beyond”.

Ecliptism is a shadowy sect, formed from Mantra cult extremists. They believe that pain can be used to purify the soul and that there is a hidden dimension, accessible under specific conditions.

The Book of Eclipse contains knowledge about the Eclipse, an event that seems similar to personal salvation.

Backstory #

It is unknown where Ecliptism originated, but the earliest mention in the timeline is Skys meeting with Alfgram. In the Book of Eclipse, the story of Alfgram and Skys is explained, as well as some of the core practices of the religion.

In the book, we learn that Alfgram and Skys were at October Palace together. Unbeleevable Episode 2 informs us that Skys returned with his band to Novosovia in 2004. On the 19th of December 2004 Skys hosts an event at October Palace, where Dallus Lauren and Karl Strassman were first introduced to the Mantra cult.

Project Kingslayer #

Skys starts Project Kingslayer in 2015, as revealed in Unbeleevable Episode 3. Alfgram is his patient zero, going through torture to validate their beliefs. After the ritualistic torture, Alfgram claims to be able to wield dark energies and traverse different realities.

The conflict between Skys & Alfgram #

“You are lost, Skys, a slave to the very illusions we sought to destroy. I bow to no false prophet. Death is but a door, and I shall walk unharmed.”

Alfgram in The Book of Eclipse

Passage VI contains the first mention of trouble between Alfgram and Skys. A later passage states that Alfgram sees pride in Skys, something he believes will prevent him for ascending. Alfgram confronts Skys, but Skys disagrees, prompting Alfgram and his most loyal followers to leave October Palace. These followers call him the “First Shadow”, or “Shepherd of Suffering”, for seeing through Skys’ intentions.

Skys awoke the next morning, furious to find them gone and ordering his most loyal disciples to hunt them down, taking weapons with him. Alfgram had visions of Skys while hiding with his followers, that told him Skys would not stop until they were dead. Skys eventually tracks him down and gives him a chance to surrender, but kills Alfgram after he refuses.

And with his last breath, Alfgram spoke, “In suffering, I am free; in shadow, I find light. Seek the darkness, for it is the face of all truth.” And thus did Alfgram ascend beyond flesh, his spirit a beacon to faithful.

Alfgram claimed to be set free, with his followers believing that their leader had ascended and become the First Eclipse. The followers had believed that Skys would bear what they called “the true path”, but the Book of Eclipse states that Alfgram ended up following this path instead.

Operation Trinity #

Operation Trinity happens in 2020, on orders of Victor Carmine. He had already sent in his daughter under the code name Medea, but had lost her loyalty to the charming cult leader Skys. During the operation, three important man referred to as the Trinity are brought to the DTC: Skys, Dallus Lauren and Karl Strassman. Carmine is especially interested in Project Kingslayer, which he found out about through an encrypted message sent out by Skys to recruit.

Alfgram is never mentioned around this operation, with him seemingly already dead after the events of the Book of Eclipse and his disciples having gone into hiding.

Modern Ecliptism #

Modern Ecliptism seems to re-surface at the same time Nex Gen’s SYNTH project is going sour, with synths succumbing to lupamine addiction. The first synth was created in 2028, placing the modern Ecliptism somewhere after this year, since the Daily Whisper articles seem to be released around the same time and link to each other.

In Faith Over Flesh, described in an article on The Daily Whisper, a death-row inmate named Jonah will be crucified in an immersive artificial experience. The man had recently found new faith and is rumoured to be involved with Ecliptism, something the author mentions is related to the Mantra cult. Since the technology communicates directly with the brain, this show has the potential for modern Ecliptists to use it for their own beliefs. Believing that brain manipulation and suffering purify the soul, they may have been using the show to reach their own Eclipse. Victor Carmine promotes both Mindstream and the show itself, stating that the technology has many beneficial applications, despite critics pointing out many concerning possibilities and test anomalies.

However, Ecliptism does re-surface in the DTC, where modern Ecliptists use technology including Mindstream in an attempt to reach enlightenment. In the article on Mindstream’s Faith Over Flesh, modern Ecliptists still use suffering and mind manipulation to attempt to access a hidden dimension.

Core Beliefs #

We will refer to the writers of this book as the original Ecliptists, since no official name has been provided. In the Book of Eclipse, Alfgram and his followers meet a young Skys, right around the time he would form Skys & the Starjammers.

The original ecliptists seem to follow a deity called the “Veiled Goddess”, with passage I being dedicated to her. She is also called the “Belmic Mother” and “She-Who-Guards”. The followers bring her offerings in the form of suffering.

“Only through the eclipse can the true spirit emerge, raw and unadorned, stripped of illusion.”

The followers believe in something called “the Eclipse”, which will bring out one’s true spirit. Alfgram later reaches this enlightenment, with his disciples referring to themselves as disciples of the First Eclipse. Spirit has also been confirmed to be the fifth insight through Oli’s Dreamseeker costume.

The Ecliptists used the Seven Trials of Purity to reach the Eclipse. Currently, not all of them are known. The order of the first three trials is:

Silence
Blood
Hunger

The Book of Eclipse also mentions that the rituals grow darker in nature. The trials of Darkness and Fire also exist, but it is unclear where in the order they appear. Passage IV is also called “The Trial of Suffering”. They also believed the world would end in an event called the “Eternal Shadow”, leaving only those who “bear the mark”.