The Nyctocosm: Genesis

Nyctocosm Early Access V0.0.1 is released to patrons!  Attached is the datapack file along with the resourcepack file.  They simply need to be dropped into their respective folders to be installed, no unzipping necessary.

HOW TO USE:
First, one must learn to use the Nyctocosmic Arcana System.

Upon reaching the Deep Dark for the first time, make sure to get your hands on some echo shards.  With these shards, you can craft a Seelic Scythe like this:

Kill mobs with the Scythe to reap souls.  You can also right click with the Scythe to dash forward and deal damage.  Hold a bottle near some souls to collect them.  You can collect an infinite number of souls in one bottle.

To cast a spell, simply arrange and light 16 candles in the following fashion:

Stand right in the middle and right click with a soul bottle.  This will release a soul and generate a spell plane.

While inside the spell plane, simply drop specific items to cast spells.  Here are the current spells:

- Spell of Resonance (will shoot a laser that deals damage, and when shot into the portal frame, will light the portal): Echo Shard

- Spell of Luminescence (gives you glowing and immunity to the nightmare effect): Glowstone Block

- Spell of Incurrence (summons the Nightmare Serpent when used in the Night Wastes biome): Wither Rose

- Spell of Evanescence (return to the overworld spawn point): Eye of Ender

With these spells, you are now equipped to explore the Nyctocosm.

When in the Nyctocosm, darkness will be everywhere.  If you stay in the darkness for too long, you will begin to succumb to nightmares and madness.  To avoid this, bring light sources with you that you can place, such as torches.  Staying near torches will keep you safe from the nightmare effect.

There are currently two custom mobs: the Nightmare Apparitions, and the Death Walkers.

- Nightmare Apparitions float in the air and will attack you when you get too near, unless you are sneaking.  They cannot go into light, so a torch will provide you adequate protection.  They cannot be killed, but they will dissipate by themselves.

- Death Walkers are huge, lumbering monsters who will follow you and try to crush you.  They can be outrun, so be vigilant!

THE NIGHTMARE SERPENT:

The Nightmare Serpent is the first full boss of the Nyctocosm.  To summon it, cast the Spell of Incurrence in the Night Wastes biome.  The Nightmare Serpent will attack you by diving, shooting lasers, and summoning huge beams of nightmare energy.  Killing the serpent will give you lots of xp as well as the Wyrmsliver.

The Wyrmsliver is a nightmare-based sword that does 30 damage.  Right-click with the sword to discharge a wave of Nightmare energy that pierces and does 30 damage as well as dealing blindness and slowness to enemies.  Right-clicking in midair will result in a vertical slash, while on the ground will result in a horizontal one.

That's about all that v0.0.1 offers, but expect much more in the future!  The Nyctocosmic journey is only beginning, and there will be more to discover, fight, explore, fear, and conquer in future updates!  Enjoy!

--Flubberschnub

DISCLAIMER: As this is an early access, super-in-development build, expect there to be bugs.  I would suggest you not use this version of the Nyctocosm for anything important, as future changes and fixes will very likely be incompatible with older versions.