Apocrypha

Apocrypha is book of prophecies and visions written by the Visionary hunter Fyodor. It was published by Anchorite Press as a reproduction of Fyodor's handwritten notes, compiled and annotated by the Hermit Violin99.

Fyodor writes in somewhat disjointed fashion, skipping between tales of his journeys and the history of hunters which he has constructed. The latter is the result of his research into the visions he is sent by the "Shining Ones" (his name for the Messengers), drawing widely on mythologies from around the globe. A summary of his story follows:

''Once, humanity lived in a Golden Time, its soul united, Light and Dark. A cataclysm occurred, however, splitting the two; the Dark half became the monsters of the world, while humans remained the Light - neither whole or satisfied. Heroes, chosen by the gods, arose at the end of the Golden Time who fought against and imprisoned the monsters. Their prison was not perfect, however, and the Dark Ones exerted their influence on mankind to cause conflict and suffering, eventually escaping and hiding among humans to manipulate them directly. Now, the hunters - direct though degenerate descendants of the original heroes of Light - have again been chosen by the gods to hunt the Dark Ones. But time is running out, for another cataclysm is coming - and some of the signs of its arrival have already come to pass.''

The chronicles of his life reveal Fyodor to be ruthless, cold and calculating, with a mindset not dissimilar to the Wayward. He travels across the world, hunting, observing and analysing both monsters and his fellow hunters, and admits to committing murder several times. His style is detached and such details are less important to him than his message.

Violin99's notes show he is sympathetic to Fyodor's views; his annotations seek to "clarify" Fyodor's message, justify his brutal actions and make excuses for any contradictions that exist in the text. Many take a combative tone with the reader, and he refuses to explain certain sections to readers since he judges those who cannot decipher the meaning themselves to be unworthy of the knowledge.


 * HTR: Hunter Apocrypha