WHAT IS A MYTHOS
Mythos are, at their most fundamental levels, archetypes. Mythology is eternal, whether it be bloody-jawed jaguar gods or sea serpents in the local lake. Almost everyone knows of the Sphynx and her enigmatic riddle, but then, who hasn't heard of the slasher with a hook for a hand that stalks teens that have gone off into the woods to neck?
Mythos are fragments of dream itself, bits of the cosmic unconscious representing the brightest heights and most nightmarish depths of imagination. Over the course of time, and through mysterious and unpredictable events, certain items become connected to these dreamshards. These items then become talismans that can, in the right hands, be used to bring forth the avatars of myth.
Each one is unique... some are bloodthirsty monsters, some are tragic echoes, others still are gracious defenders of justice and beauty. Each one bears a legend born of thousands of retellings... and it is up to their summoners to keep those legends alive, rather than allow them to fade into dust.
There are no Dragon Mythos... although there are Mythos that are dragons... perhaps the cat-headed serpent Tatzelwurm, for example. There are no Ghost Mythos, but there are Mythos that are ghosts... the White Lady, or La Llorona. Mythos are not a breed of generalities; in fact, they aren not properly a 'breed' at all. They simply are, they always have been, and perhaps, in your hands, they always will be.
Awaken the Legend.----------------------------
EXAMPLES
All Mythos go through three stages in their existence. The first is the Talisman stage. In this stage, the Mythos is still half asleep and is bound within their Talisman, unable to interact with the outside world. However, they are capable of speaking to their summoner, through a mental link, and it is at this time that the bond between Mythos and summoner should ideally be established. Each Talisman is unique, and tied to the legend from which the Mythos springs. For example:
<center>
</center>
This is the Talisman state for the Beast of Gevaudan. Wolf pelts and bones were used in the creation of black-magic werewolves, of which Gevaudan was perhaps the most notorious. Responsible for the slaying of reportedly over a thousand people in the province of Gevaudan in France, the Beast was hunted, but unlike the movie
Brotherhood of the Wolf, was never found or killed. His Talisman is the Wolf Skull Necklace.
<center>
</center>
After the summoner has successfully bonded with their talisman, the Mythos emerges as a Dreamchild. Though they show traits of their true nature, in this state they are considerably easier to deal with, and can learn from their surroundings. Though the size of the Dreamchild varies depending on which Mythos it represents, none will be larger than eight to ten inches, and that would be an exceptionally large one.
<center>
</center>
In time, after a Dreamchild has learned enough, and matured, it regains the ability to manifest as its true nature demands. This is the final, full-summon stage of the Beast of Gevaudan, and is a good example. As you can see, he has become everything his dreamshard promised; a shaggy, bloodthirsty scourge upon the land. Once the full-summon stage has been reached, a Mythos can, if it desires, return to its Dreamchild state in order to interact more smoothly with its environment.
...I suppose I'd best invest in the king-size box of doggy-biscuits, hmn?
sweatdrop
