Braxus

Description

Braxus, known as the Slithering Hunter, is an abyssal demon deity who embodies the pure, merciless ideal of predation. To Braxus, existence is defined by the hunt—by pursuit, terror, and inevitable consumption. He is driven by an insatiable hunger, not merely for flesh, but for fear, despair, and the unraveling of the mind. Unlike many abyssal powers who crave dominion or worship, Braxus seeks only the thrill of the chase and the proof of superiority it grants him.

His dominion lies within the Third Sphere of the Abyss, where endless labyrinthine wilds, bone-choked caves, and shifting hunting grounds reshape themselves to suit his pursuits. Those who enter his realm are rarely killed swiftly. Instead, they are stalked, harried, and driven into madness long before the final, inevitable end.

Braxus is most commonly depicted as a vast, serpentine monstrosity, his body coiled and sinuous, covered in dark, scale-like plates that glisten as though wet with ichor. His elongated skull bears razor-sharp fangs, capable of tearing through divine flesh as easily as mortal bone. His eyes glow with a cold, predatory light—said to pierce all illusions, lies, and concealment, rendering stealth and deception meaningless before him.

In some accounts, Braxus is described as partially draconic, a deliberate mockery of the great beasts he so enjoys hunting. His presence is often heralded by an unnatural silence, followed by whispers that are not heard with the ears, but felt clawing at the edges of the mind.

History

Little is known of Braxus’s origins, even among abyssal scholars. What is known is that he has stalked the Third Sphere since its earliest shaping, claiming it not through conquest or tyranny, but by outlasting and devouring every rival predator that rose to challenge him.

Over millennia, Braxus has hunted not only abyssal beasts and demons, but powerful mortals, champions of the gods, and even divine entities who dared to enter his realm. Many legends speak of great heroes and dragons who vanished into the abyss, their remains later discovered as trophies within Braxus’s domain—bones arranged as monuments to failed defiance.

His long-standing rivalry with Anennepher, the Lady of Beasts, emerged as she sought to impose order and control over the Third Sphere. Where Anennepher enslaves and commands, Braxus hunts and destroys. Their clashes have reshaped entire regions of the abyss, leaving behind shattered landscapes littered with the corpses of enslaved beasts and hunted horrors alike.

Personality

Braxus is patient, sadistic, and deeply intelligent. He does not rage or lash out impulsively; instead, he observes, waits, and strikes only when the terror is ripe. He delights in breaking his prey psychologically, using madness to unravel their sense of self long before he closes in.

He views dominance and tyranny with disdain, seeing them as shortcuts that cheapen the hunt. To Braxus, a kill has no meaning unless the prey has fought, fled, and despaired. He respects cunning, endurance, and ferocity—yet even when impressed, he will still devour his quarry in the end.

Worshipers

Braxus does not desire worship, nor does he protect those who offer it. He is just as likely to hunt a supplicant as any other creature. Despite this, mortals and abyssal beings alike continue to seek him out, drawn by his power and reputation.

Those who attempt to bargain with Braxus are typically obsessive hunters and trackers or figures seeking heightened senses, predatory instincts, or resistance to fear. Such bargains are always dangerous. Braxus may grant power, but he often marks the recipient as future prey, turning their own hunt into a prolonged test of survival.

Eternal Rivalry

Braxus’s greatest and most enduring rival is Anennepher, the Lady of Beasts. Their conflict defines much of the Third Sphere’s instability. Anennepher seeks domination through control, enslavement, and hierarchy, while Braxus views all such structures as prey waiting to be torn apart.

Their battles are legendary—vast hunts where enslaved armies clash with stalking horrors, and entire regions are reduced to carcass-strewn wastelands. Neither has gained permanent supremacy, and their rivalry has endured for millennia, each encounter escalating in scale and brutality.

Abilities

• Perfect Predator - Braxus cannot be hidden from, magically or otherwise. Illusions, disguises, and divine concealment fail before his gaze.
• Devourer of the Mighty - Gains strength, insight, or aspects of creatures he consumes, especially powerful beasts and dragons.

Possessions / Relics

No known relics of Braxus.

Legacy

Braxus is remembered across Midora and the abyss as the embodiment of the inescapable hunt. His legend serves as a warning: power invites pursuit, and no predator remains unchallenged forever. Among hunters, his name is spoken with a mixture of reverence and terror. Among scholars, he represents the truth that the abyss does not merely conquer—it tests, and those who fail are devoured.