Profile
To the cultists of the Parhelia, Family of the Mock Sun, the Anthelion is the god-monster they worship, a tremendous beast that watches over their home, high in the Spring Mountains. As cult doctrine decrees, he is the titular Mock Sun; it will one day consume the sun and replace it, bathing the Family that worships him in the New Light and leaving all others in the wasteland in the darkness they deserve. In actuality, the Anthelion is not quite a god at all, more just a mysterious supernatural entity with a trickster’s streak and a real knack for manipulating stupid, gullible humans. It does fully believe it can one day eat the sun, though. That being said, it’s actual capabilities in the matter might be more than a bit… exaggerated.
Appearance
Thanks to his shapeshifting nature, the Anthelion can take theoretically infinite forms, but he most prefers one: the shape of a Deathclaw. He stands tall in this shape, an impenetrable shadow, rising anywhere from 15’ to over 120’, changing size as needed, or just for fun. His claws, horns, and tail tip all glow a pale yellow, and shimmering light radiates from under his opaque “skin,” accenting scales and horn ridges with slivers of gold. His seven golden eyes are always visible, no matter where he stands or how he peers upon you, and locked around its neck is a “halo” or sorts, resembling a crude parhelion. A suiting crown for a false sun.
- Though he can take any shape, he will always retain his black and yellow color, his seven eyes, and his halo
- His jaws can open horizontally or vertically.
- Much like his claws and horns, the inside of his mouth also glows yellow.
- Its can have any combination of eyes with pupils and eyes without, but it will most always have at least one pupil-ed eye.
- It doesn't have a tongue. Jury's still out on if it has organs or not.
Personality
- Impish
- Flippant
- Easily Amused
- Capricious
- Protective
- Wily
Despite its intimidating stature and appearance, the Anthelion rarely leans towards menace as a first impression, though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t dabble in malice. It prefers a laidback, irreverent, downright wacky view of the world, and has an attitude and sense of humor that fluctuates wildly between "horrifying, demonic abomination" and "teenage boy." He’ll laugh at his own jokes, tease and mess with people, and act far sillier than any supernatural god-beast should probably be caught acting. It seems to feign stupidity frequently, especially if it’ll help manipulate a hapless human into doing what it wants. (though maybe it’s not all an act—he does wholeheartedly believe the sun is the size of an apple.)
It finds humans fascinating in the way humans find ants fascinating; so resourceful and clever, but so, so different, so, so, small. Toying with humanity is its favorite hobby, and look what that got him! A whole cult in his honor! The Anthelion does things to cure its own existential boredom, and thus is perpetually thrilled with the results. And though originally it favored shallow actions with consequences it paid no mind to, lately it’s begun to do things for more… altruistic reasons? Perhaps this not-quite-god has become fond of some of the humans that kneel before its visage. It's certainly going to keep that information to itself, thank you! Nosy humans are even more annoying than uptight nonbelievers!
Likes
- The delicious taste of light
- Tricks and pranks
- Laughing
- Just how stupid humans can be
- Deathclaws
Dislikes
- The sun
- Clouds and storms
- Guns
- When people can't take a joke
- Its name being invoked for someone's selfish gain.
Skills & Abilities
History
The Anthelion was not. But the Great War happened. The bombs fells. And then, simply, the Anthelion was. A supernatural entity of unknown origin and unfathomable power, suddenly brought forth into being, at once surprised and delighted at this new existence. It lurked around the desert for centuries, shuffling through various shapes and forms, never quite satisfied, until finally it came upon a gaggle of manmade monstrosities and decided, hmm, yes, the Deathclaw would be its favored form. It gained nourishment from light, gobbling it up from torches and bulbs and tire fires, all the while daydreaming of the ultimate light to swallow whole—the blazing sun above.
For the longest time the Anthelion wallowed in boredom, until it stumbled upon a dehydrated, lost human in the sands, Deathclaw supper if there ever was one. The Anthelion could sense this human was a leader, and, more important, a cure for its loneliness and woe. Really, truly, just for a laugh, he appeared before the human, made up a story about being a god and replacing the sun, and spared his life in exchange for undying loyalty, for the promise of worship down the line. And hey, it worked! The human went out and made a whole cult, all in the Anthelion’s honor! It didn’t think that would work, but hey, it’s not complaining! Now it has so many followers, so many friends, and, hey, maybe one day if he actually does eat the sun they can all celebrate.
Lately the Anthelion’s been keeping tabs on one follower on particular. A strange breed, that one...
Trivia
- The Anthelion can only appear to humans if they fulfill very specific circumstances, typically involving staring into the sun and/or extreme physical distress--exhaustion, dehydration, etc.
- That being said, he has been known to occasionally manifest in Parhelia followers' dreams, if he's taken enough interest in them.
- Speaks in a boisterous bellow, and tends to talk a little bit like a surfer dude; will use phrases like "whoa! sick!!" and "cowabunga" with gusto.
- Though it is often non-corporeal, its bites and clawmarks can and will cause real damage if he so wills it, leaving behind nasty, light-leaking wounds in its victims.
- Truly loves Deathclaws, and will often loiter among packs of them. Animals seem to be able to perceive it better than most humans.
- Vapes. It likes banana flavored the best :^)
Admires this followers’ strength and willpower! Even if they aren't the most devout. It surveys them and Halo casually, a bit intrigued by their antics.
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