Eoris essence
Now for those that are unfamiliar with it, it is basically an Exalted knock-off, only extremely well written, but for the moment are only available in dead tree version. There are a few pdf's flying about the internet, but they're few and far between. Now I've had to type all of this out before from the core rulebook and it took me ages, luckily I found the old version. Anyhow, some more bit n'pieces incoming shortly.
For this you will be a Xylen - a character from Solar Existence (you can choose a character from most franchises - that I am familiar with, and whose paradigms do not break those of this particular universe So undead or anything like that cannot exist here, but technobabble type races can). I only ask that you choose something suitable.
It is a construct; a beautiful and extremely complex construct. And still, can you sense the murmur beneath the construct; can you sense that there is more than just this? This murmur is not a reason or an understanding; perhaps it is just a dark comfort. This murmur underlies all existence, far beyond the self, including the compelling search to satisfy the soul. It is an everlasting search for happiness and the attainment of the absolute. Having questioned the world and found all answers incomplete, the feeling that there is more beyond the construct leaves you with a void.
And so you wonder. Call reality what you like, placate it i f you will; inevitably, you will sense that something is missing. There is only one way to a satisfy the soul's need for purpose. It defines you. After all, you are what you live, and what you live is defined by your reality. Now break the chains of fate that bind you... The answer lies within."
I will try my best to explain how the universe came to be and its current structure. I believe that in the beginning there was nothingness. The Great Spirit, the first ever to exist, unconsciously created a mind and a body in the form of a cell - the cell was the Great Spirit herself - and it evolved in time (billions of years) to become a child. At the moment of her creation, Eos, or Waves of Existence, begun to emanate from her and spread throughout generating space and time. These waves are the basis for everything; they are reality. Thus, the concept of 'existence' came into being at the very instant Eos was generated as a response to the Great Spirit's existence. As these Waves began to flow away from her, they created the cosmos.
The second manifestation of existence — that is, the second body created in the universe - was the White Ring: a massive land inhabited at first only by the Great Spirit and made of Universal Matter, the element from which all other objects and beings emerged. This Ring lies at the centre of the universe, and its nature is eternal and immutable. It is the undying residence of the Great Spirit. As we would have, the Ancients of Planet Eoris considered it a paradise and for many ages it was a sanctuary that the peoples of the universe could visit to enjoy her company. But the White Ring became a lost splendour, a realm to long for, ages before the Black Howling began (the time of the advent of God to Planet Eoris and of her death). At the very instant the White Ring came to be, the Black Sphere, the antithesis of existence, emerged in the very centre of the White Ring. This sphere is a perfect orb of nothingness. It swallows existence, swallows Eos, and swallows life and substance with immense power and relentless determination. The closest understanding a sentient being can have of the Black Sphere is that of absolute death; the negation of any previous, present, and future existence. The Black Sphere pulls at the centre of the White Ring, threatening | to nullify existence. But the White Ring is unbreakable. When an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object the result, in part, is harmony and balance.
But the Great Spirit's movements on the White Ring and the immense pull of the Black Sphere eventually broke the White Ring's immobility by setting it in motion and making it revolve around the Black Sphere; the orb stood as the White Ring's centre or nucleus. The motion of the White Ring ultimately amplified the Waves of Existence generated by the Great Spirit. These amplified waves expanded the boundaries of the universe. The interaction amongst the White Ring, the Black Sphere, and the Great Spirit gave birth to a unique relationship between her and existence: one in which Eos is far more extensive and powerful than its origin.
In this universe, the Great Spirit's creation is greater than her. Eos, the waves that emanate from the Great Spirit, are amplified by the White Ring and travel until they reach the 'Horizon of Soliloquy', a place in the farthest extreme of the universe. Beyond this Horizon, time cannot exist because too many waves resonate; the build-up of Eos is too great for the Great Spirit is constantly emanating Eos that reach and stop at the ever-expanding Horizon of Soliloquy. The boundary on the other side of the Horizon of Soliloquy is known as the 'Final Frontier', the end of the universe. No one knows what exists beyond this point; but technically nothingness is the only possibility and I believe that somehow this space must necessarily be linked to the Black Sphere. In a special place at the Horizon of Soliloquy, Eos began to accumulate at a faster rate because of the direction of the White Ring's motion. This accumulation of Eos created a sphere of energy that would eventually be called 'Planet Eoris', the first celestial body in the universe. It grew until part of it emerged from the Horizon. The part of Planet Eoris that lies beyond the Horizon represents more than 90 percent of the planet's total mass (this is an approximation I have not been able to confirm). The fragment of the planet that is not immersed in this Horizon is the only inhabitable region. This was the only part of the planet where life could exist and flourish. It was here where life and consciousness other than the Great Spirit's originally came to be. The inhabitants of Planet Eoris have their own name for the Horizon: they call it the 'Line of Fire' or, in their language, 'Hellar'.
The Inner Existence (the universe) is composed of four major areas: the Solar Univeise, the White Ring, the Outer Existence, and the Lost Existence. The 'Solar Existence' is the space between the Black Sphere and the White Ring. Our Planet Earth is found in the Solar Existence. The White Ring is a colossal ring-shaped planet that revolves around the Black Sphere. The 'Outer Existence' is located between the White Ring and the Horizon of Soliloquy; here Planet Eoris and trillions of cosmic systems exist. Finally, the 'Lost Existence', comprised of everything beyond the Final Frontier. Planet Eoris possesses the ability to echo the Eos. However, in order to exist, the planet must feed from the waves generated by the Great Spirit. Because of this perfect symbiosis between the planet and God, all life in the universe other than the Great Spirit's originated. It did so on Planet Eoris.
At the very moment a portion of Planet Eoris emerged from the Horizon of Soliloquy, the Great Spirit unconsciously created life upon its surface. A tree was born in response to her unconscious need for Life, for company. In time, this tree evolved into a child. He is now known as the 'First Child' or the 'First Sil', the origin and seed of life. His essence and existence alone altered and redesigned the waves generated by the Great Spirit. The very concept of life inherent but dormant in Eos awoke. This resulted in the birth of Xylen: non-celestial life, the creatures of the universe that are not Aiej, or the Great Spirit. Nevertheless, the universe then was so vast that the essence of this Child was unable to travel past the boundaries of the Outer Existence. In response to the presence of life upon Planet Eoris and as a natural reaction to the necessity of life in the other areas of the universe, three echoes of the First Child were created: one in the Solar Existence, a second in the White Ring, and a third 'in' - as much as something can be in nothing - the Lost Existence.
The echo that emerged in the White Ring gave bitth to the 'Kalei' (Last Spirits), the one in the Solar Existence created the 'Ziel' (Twilight Spirits), and the one in the Lost Existence presumably gave birth to the Nisan (Lost Spirits). However, I know nothing about the latter. These four Spirits - the First Child, the Last Spirits, the Twilight Spirits, and the Lost Spirits - were the first creatures to be born in each of the four different areas of the universe. They were all dubbed Spirits or Seeds of Life but in essence they are spirits of consciousness.
Eos composes everything, but what composes it? Each wave is composed of three resonant and interdependent rings. These rings create the dimensional universe where we exist. The way the rings interact with each other determines the way a wave of Eos manifests. The three rings organize themselves in patterns that determine the form, the essence, and the energy of all there is: from an atom to the greatest spirits, from inert to living matter, from a molecule to a whole universe, thought, magic, life, and death. Everything in the universe has a unique wave pattern determined by the way the three rings are organized. This pattern is known as the Universal Structure. For living organisms this structure is known as a 'Life Wave Pattern' and stands as an organism's universal fingerprint.
Since the Life Wave of all beings is unique, the interaction between these beings can generate resonance (empathy), dissonance (antipathy), or assonance (apathy). The composition of the universe, its fundamental essence, and the life that inhabits it compose the Universal Structure of the cosmos. Thus, the interaction of all gives way to all universal laws, chaos, and order. It is the consolidation of existence, essence, and time; it is the seed of creation. As a result, the very laws of the universe are not predetermined by the Great Spirit but by all the interactive consciousnesses that dwell within the universe and define it.
Ring of Existence (Physical): The Ring of Existence is the ring of that which is. It is the substance of creation, the physical establishment in which the world is enveloped. All that is tangible, real, or existent, even thoughts, all that has a constitution, is based on this Ring.
Ring of Energy (Mental): Creation expresses itself through the Ring of Energy. It is motion, activity, and change. It is the fundament of time, the vitality of the universe, the driving force of life, the how of reality.
Ring of Essence (Spiritual): The Ring of Essence contains the fundamental nature and the conceptual form of things. As a consequence, it endows the individual form with importance, meaning, and purpose. It is the pillar of consciousness and reason. The concept of 'essence' encompasses the absolute in all things and establishes a true connection to our purpose.
As mentioned, the universe is broken down into four different areas: Solar Existence, the White Ring, the Outer Existence, the Lost Existence & the Black Sphere. The Solar Universe, unlike the rest of the cosmos, is mostly dark because the Black Sphere swallows the light of the White Ring. It is here in this portion of the entire universe where Planet Earth, our home and the universe we know of dwells. What we humans recognize as 'Outer Space' - the universe where the sun and the stars exist - is the Solar Existence. It was named Solar Existence because life first emerged only on planets and areas of the universe where suns were present.
In the Outer Existence, on the other hand, ordinary suns are unnecessary for life to exist because the White Ring acts as the sun to this entire portion of the universe. Today, it is clear to me that our solar system is not the only place with life in the Solar Existence. We are only a drop in rain, though a very important one.
The White Ring is a vast, ring-shaped land filled with forests and rivers, blossoming with life and beauty. It is a space of splendour and peacefulness where the music of the heavens fills the air and where the presence of life is intertwined with the essence of longing and contemplation. It is the residence of the Great Spirit.
The Outer Existence is theoretically the largest of the four areas. It is filled with light and energy. Elere, as I mentioned before, more than a trillion, trillion systems have given life. This air-filled space is so vast that animals have grown to be the size of planets. There is so much diversity that natural laws seem to bend and create what we would recognize as new, fantastic, and seemingly unreal dimensions. It was here where Planet Eoris was born.
The Lost Existence... Remember that all waves are born within the Great Spirit. Some waves elude oblivion caused by the pull exerted on them by the Black Sphere and travel until they reach a natural boundary called the Horizon of Soliloquy. By the time they arrive, they have reached a state of stillness, a point beyond which they will change no more. Beyond the Horizon, time and life are apparently impossible. This is why this area of the universe is called the Lost Existence. It represents the portion of the Great Spirit's mind that is yet to be. In many ways, the Lost Existence is nothingness.
Finally, the Black Sphere pulls at the centre of the White Ring, threatening to nullify existence. But the White Ring is unbreakable. When an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object the result, in part, is harmony and balance. But the Great Spirit's movements on the White Ring and the immense pull of the Black Sphere eventually broke the White Ring's immobility by setting it in motion and making it revolve around the Black Sphere; the orb stood as the White Ring's centre or nucleus.
The Reality Symphony of each being is basically the way an individual perceives the universe and its components. 'Energy' is one of the components that most beings can perceive in their Reality Symphony. Energy allows time, movement, and change to exist; it is also the fundamental form of all matter. Essentially, Energy is part of existence and of essence. There are two fundamental aspects of Energy: the aspect of Creation and the aspect of Destruction. These constitute the body of matter and the nature of evolution. The aspect of Creation is called 'Ys' and the aspect of Destruction is called 'Iseai'. These two constituents of Energy are opposites, but they are not in conflict with each other They stand as opposite poles of a single thing, each feeding and depending on the other. The essential nature of life is that it must renew itself so it may be perfected through death and rebirth. The natural way for life to evolve is through the interaction of Ys (Creation) and Iseai (Destruction). Remember that nothing can last forever, but destruction does not necessarily consume all for the universe has always renewed itself Only the dynamic soul that constantly dies and is reborn can understand the perfection of existence. To change is to destroy what you have been and to create what you are. This is the nature of the universe.
The Energy of the universe has an almost infinite number of possible forms of existence. However, from the perspective of the peoples of Eoris, there are four fundamental elements: Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth. The interaction of these creates four secondary elements: Ice, Electricity, Metal, and Wood (flesh). In turn, each of these eight elements may be aligned to two additional primordial elements: Celestial and Purity. The Celestial element represents the importance of things and the Purity element represents the essence of things. The Elements are organized in a circle one next to the other. However, the Celestial element lies outside of this circle - a surrounding layer – whilst the Purity element lies inside the circle - the centre or nucleus of all others. On Planet Eoris, all beings are believed to be born under the influence of a particular element or a combination of two. Elements are said to determine a being's character and personality. To a certain degree, this belief is similar to the Zodiac of Planet Earth.
Water is the element of life, of the changing form, and of the emotions of love and caring. Its personality is gentle and soothing.
Fire is the element of the radiant spirit, the valiant, and the passionate soul. Its personality is impassioned and rash.
Earth is the element of harmony, temperance, and devotion. Its personality is calm.
Wind is the element of melodies, music, and the moving heart. Its personality is wise and silent.
Electricity is the element of the fast mind, the keen heart, and the spiritual existence. Its personality is active and wilful.
Metal is the element of the eternal form, of the strong and sharp will. Its personality is strong and persevering.
Wood is the element of the forest, birth, death, and revival. Hence, it is also known as Flesh. Its personality is contemplative.
Ice is the element of the eternal spirit, purity of consciousness, honesty, and truth. Its personality is cold and fierce.
Purity is the element of existence, passion, and emotion. Its personality empowers the passions within by purifying all elements.
Celestial is the element of beauty, tears, and joy. Its personality enhances all with the Divine.
The Life Waves of each living being are aligned to the essence of one or two of these ten possible forms of Energy. This alignment establishes the nature of a being's internal energy and the way this energy will manifest if the being is exalted.
This can be used to read, interpret, and manipulate the Eos (Waves of Existence). During the development of magic, civilisation found an aspect of reality that was, until then, unknown and unperceivable: a universal web of information that expands throughout the entire Inner Existence. It is completely independent and self-sustained wave pattern that came to be at some point in the history of existence. In other words, no entity or creature in the universe actually created it and no one has complete control over its functions. The network simply works and is accessible to all. By itself it is nothing but a strange universal phenomenon much like an infinitesimally small current of energy flowing through every living being, Shevat and Xylen alike, which apparently does nothing. It is similar in many ways to the brain.
During the Fourth Age, extremely precise and complex patterns were inscribed within the very core of Orus and it was then that this current of energy became accessible to all. It is a cosmological network of free information that extends across the entire universe through the consciousnesses of living beings. This network is readily available to all in the form of semi-ethereal crystals created using the being's own energy.
Certain crystals, grant access to a boundless network of universal information. They can be summoned at will through Saeia. Howver, without it one must stand within reach of a huge bluish-green, glowing crystals with roots that dig deep into the earth. The product left behind from the use of an Orusaie is piu'e water that drains from the huge Crystal. As a consequence of the War of the Twilight Spirits and the current events surrounding the Black Howling, the Orus data network has been widely restricted by the leaders of the 'Supra-national Republic of Ystaria', the organisation that rules over the 'Twelve Great Ethnias' (Ethnic Groups) of Planet Eoris.
The information that is currently accessible is limited for entertainment, creativity, communication, and banking purposes. Access to historical archives and press is also possible, but its content has also been drastically limited to most. Other than the network itself, it offers many other services and capabilities. A particularly ability attained by those who it is the power of boundless communication with those that use the system. It also allows the user to store all their memories and feelings into a single unitary system that is stored within their soul and that uses energy is granted by his life wave
Everything in the universe is composed of waves, songs of creation, of emotions, and dreams. What beings see, what they feel, what lies beyond them as individuals, and what lies within them is all composed of Waves of Existence. It was during the First Age that the Third Child of the Great Spirit realised this and began to research the universe and its laws. For ages, his work allowed him to understand the universe as a space where a series of Natural Laws had to be followed. The understanding of these laws gave birth to myriad technologies. The inhabitants of Planet Eoris realised that the limits to the power of technology lay where science meets rationality and action. However, this process of universal comprehension did not cease with the creation of multiple technologies and the methods that allow civilization to alter their functions and use them as they desire. As civilization evolved, new findings and new applications gave rise to even newer and more powerful technologies.
This scientific understanding of the universe helped create technologies that allowed civilisation to hold relative power over life and death. Medicine progressed immensely during this time; construction and design found few boundaries and cities grew and evolved vastly. But, despite all this, civilisation remained a mere product of life and time. The possibilities of creation and destruction were innumerable but, although the Laws of Nature could be understood and used, they could never be broken. These laws were immutable and remained as such for ages. Because of this, civilisation reached a point in which it could not progress technologically any more. However, the Third Child, obsessed with the scientific comprehension of existence, believed that this universe was not only Energy but also Will and Consciousness.
He discovered a way to understand the universe by creating a dreamlike realm called the 'Eos Dimension'. Through this dimension it is possible to see a being's Inner Universe. Civilisation discovered how the Inner Universe of one being is connected to the Inner Universe of another and another and another, binding all creatures. In order to find a way to not only see this dimension but also actually enter it, the 'Krissen Foundation' was created. This Foundation still acts as the scientific branch of the 'Cerian Tree of Thought', the religious institution of the Great Spirit on Planet Eoris. In the Krissen Foundation, the Third Child and other members discovered a way to enter the Inner Universe of another being through a process called 'Encephalon Link'. Through this link, they were able to delve into what we could call alternate dimensions of reality.
By leaping from one dimension to another, the Third Child was able to discover a symbol, a sign that lies within the mind of every single being. Then, by organizing those emblems, he was able to classify life in two different wave patterns: one he called Shevat and the other he called Xylen. He also realised that the Inner Universes of all creatures are connected to a single inexplicable origin. In the end, his research was fruitful beyond his expectations. Although he could not understand this inexplicable origin, he had discovered the source of Eos. He called it the Great Spirit.
He found that the Great Spirit does require external energies and purpose in order to exist. She is not an independent engine with an independent consciousness; instead she depends on all other creatures as we depend on each and every neuron in our brain. Upon this discovery, the Third Child, aided by his eldest brother, developed a way to reach the Great Spirit's creation and get closer to her. This new knowledge allowed them to re-mould Eos, thus altering reality and defining its forms through sheer will. This was the birth of 'Saeia', a science, a knowledge so advanced we would, at this point in history, be unable to call it anything other than magic. Saeia, which means 'thought of all nature', redefined the very concepts of technology and progress. Through this science, all apparent impossibilities slowly became possible; for example, a being was now able to connect to the Eos and alter the components and the nature of a wave; thus altering the very fabric of reality. Sciences such as physics, chemistry, even biology and their applications (e.g. synthetic genomics) were altered greatly. This discovery sired a new technological age. Boundaries expanded beyond anything before considered possible by science. Through Saeia, civilisation obtained divine power. They were like Gods.
Because Saeia augments the connection between the universe and all living creatures, it was possible to access a natural network of information that envelops the very memory of the universe. Civilisations had been unaware of this network's existence. It came to be known as 'Orus', a mnemonic web of flowing energy where every single fragment of information in the universe resides. In the beginning, this network was used as a way to communicate and access information. Through Saeia its use spread like wild fire. But how does Saeia work? In short, a being uses a channel to connect his will to the Eos. By wilfully altering the speed of resonance and the size of the three rings that constitute the Eos, the being is able to alter everything. A process so complicated that only full-fledged 'Chanters' (users of Saeia) can easily perform activities that require its understanding. Because of this, civilisation has created several aids that allow simple beings to use this knowledge. In the same way that we use mechanical and computerized technologies here on Earth, on Eoris they use the following three things:
- Energy crystals that resonate with the Eos.
- Runes that, when adequately written, connect a being's mind directly to the Eos.
- Songs and rituals with vibrations that connect the performer to the Eos.
Those who wield Saeia tend to specialize in one of the former three forms of use, whilst ordinary beings simply use pre-programmed crystals or pre-written runes to wield this power. Standard, quantum, and organic (living or not) computers are, of course, obsolete and extremely rare.
The fundamental Laws of Saeia are based on very simple universal principles:
1. Integral Connection: Everything is connected to everything else. As a result, a change in the wave structure of one thing will necessarily mean a change in the wave structure of another. This means that to alter something one must sacrifice something in return. For example, if you are in a forest and you alter the waves that compose the air around you to create fire, the waves of nearby things will be affected (e.g. insignias may appear on the trees, the colour and substance of the ground might change, even your Life Wave may be altered as well).
2. One Time: Time can be bent, expanded, and even compressed. Time travel, however, is not possible. Theoretically, one may have the illusion of time travel by entering the Great Spirit's Eos Dimension and visiting her memories, but these memories are alternate realities or dimensions that are still bound to the true flow of time.
3. Life Creator of Life: Life is the origin of life. Living beings can create life through mating, but they have not found a way to give life to that which has passed away.
4. Connection: The soul is the consciousness and the consciousness is bound to a body. Thus, to alter the body is to alter the consciousness. Or, to alter the consciousness is to alter the body. We are all organically connected to nature. The Laws I have just explained are inherent to Eos and Saeia. However, the following two laws are a consequence of culture and tradition:
1. It is forbidden to use Saeia to attempt to revive a dead being; even the study of this practice is strongly prohibited.
2. Life is bound to consciousness. Therefore, if something lacks consciousness, it does not live. The Great Spirit's consciousness is not absolute and all embracing but life is. This means that, in a special way, everything is alive. On Planet Eoris, beings symbolically ask all living things permission to use Saeia and, of course, thank them for their sacrifice or efforts.
Saeia is directly aligned to the forces of nature. This means that its use actually enhances the Life Waves of nearby creatures, plants, and spirits, strengthening their vibrations and conceding energy to their Life Wave. Saeia allows beings to enhance all life; it allows the universe to prosper. From our perspective on Earth, Eoris is a world full of magic but, from their perspective, they have simply used science to progress. Eoris is a place where technological possibilities are vastly superior to ours. Things that we would consider science fiction are simply natural to them. As an example, above the skies of Ystaria, four floating lines of Saeia runes can be seen. These markings are known as 'Saeia of Heaven' and stand as a testament of this world's "magical nature".
Their purpose and power, however, remain unknown.
The Space Displacement Power is a great example of what can be achieved with Saeia. This power allowed civilisation to create a rupture in space and time, allowing anything to move from one place to another instantly. These ruptures can expand to the size of entire galaxies. Although this power is now almost forgotten, it once allowed the peoples of Planet Eoris to rearrange the universe and organize it according to their own needs. These ruptures are sensitive to the presence of external entities; therefore, they cannot close whilst an object or being is travelling through them. Theoretically, ruptures never close; they simply get smaller and smaller as time passes eventually reaching an infinitely small size.
But in the terrible war known as the 'War of the Twilight Spirits', most of the Saeia knowledge developed in previous times was lost including the Space Displacement Power. The civilisations of Planet Eoris continue to search for the knowledge that was lost during the war. Without Saeia the civilisations of this planet have lost the ability to move freely through space. Nonetheless, according to the theory behind the Space Displacement Power, the portals used in ancient times must still remain. I do not know where they are, but I have been warned that finding these portals may alter the course of history for their power is so that those who bear it may arrange the universe to their liking. This is an example of the power inherent in the possibilities once granted by Saeia. This is why Saeia is also known as Earthly* Power. A fragment of this Earthly Power, the very ability to create alternate realities where to "live" in, was forbidden. The philosophy behind this choice was simple. The living must live with the living. Thus, although Saeia clearly allows its users to forge identical alternate dream-like realities, this possibility was never set in motion world wide.
Furthermore, the codes needed to accomplish this were never revealed. Interestingly enough, elder songs speak of an ancient fray between the Fourth Child and her older brother, the Third Child, regarding life and the very nature of Paradise. This fight set them apart, and to this day they speak to each other no more. I remember discussing this subject one night whilst I was travelling through the lands of the Xylen Enlil. Bewildered, I praised the achievements of old and the overwhelming power inherent in Saeia. Irlif an elder of Erianor, asked me, 'For all the power the empires achieved, were they happier or better in any way; were they closer to any sort of true enlightenment?' My response was Yes.' He remained silent. And so I wonder: Is our technology part of our evolution? Are we evolving as we grow in time and develop as a group... as a society? Or, are we I simply stuck believing that technology is the path to the Great Spirit and are unable to realise that she might be with us already?
The Song of Ceph is a natural phenomenon that has always been present across the universe. At times, it can actually be heard. However, in most cases, only the Sil can perceive this melody. The Song originates in the centre of Planet Eoris and travels unrestrained through the whole universe. This song can exist at any time and in any place, even places that have supposedly been soundproofed. This is possible because the song travels not through space but as a part of everything, as a part of Eos itself wherever the song plays, Saeia is immediately silenced, cancelled... annulled. The Song of Ceph was discovered during the Encephalon Dives that led to the discovery of the Saeia Codes. It tends to be stronger during the night, when the light of the White Ring no longer reaches Planet Eoris' surface. For ages, the Song was considered a manifestation of what are known as 'Phantom Waves': waves that have all the potential characteristics of a real Wave of Existence but that "exist" only as an echo of the waves that surround them. These Phantom Waves never actually reach a state of independent existence because they lack certain unknown characteristics that would grant them autonomy. For some time, these Phantom Waves were thought to belong to the White Ring's wave pattern.
However, several theorists believe that there is no connection between the Phantom Waves and the White Ring. Instead, their theory states that the Phantom Waves' actual existence is related to a new source of Eos. This new source creates a rupture in the natural waves that emanate from the Great Spirit, creating interference. This rupture and interference create the Phantom Waves. According to this theory, there is no such thing as a Phantom Wave, simply another Great Spirit. This theory was developed in the Realm of Eia along with the Universal Simplicity Theory. The latter refers to the theological paradigm that states that the universe is bound to itself; in other words, that it is without parts. Although one theory appears to deny the other's truth, they are, in reality, symbiotic. Together, they establish that a mother consciousness, the Great Spirit, can actually give birth to an independent consciousness. This means that the Great Spirit has the ability to create a Great Spirit. The consequences of such an occurrence remain unknown. Some theorists believe that this could lead to the dissolution of the universe. But how can we even know if it has not already happened?
Now for those that are unfamiliar with it, it is basically an Exalted knock-off, only extremely well written, but for the moment are only available in dead tree version. There are a few pdf's flying about the internet, but they're few and far between. Now I've had to type all of this out before from the core rulebook and it took me ages, luckily I found the old version. Anyhow, some more bit n'pieces incoming shortly.
For this you will be a Xylen - a character from Solar Existence (you can choose a character from most franchises - that I am familiar with, and whose paradigms do not break those of this particular universe So undead or anything like that cannot exist here, but technobabble type races can). I only ask that you choose something suitable.
It is a construct; a beautiful and extremely complex construct. And still, can you sense the murmur beneath the construct; can you sense that there is more than just this? This murmur is not a reason or an understanding; perhaps it is just a dark comfort. This murmur underlies all existence, far beyond the self, including the compelling search to satisfy the soul. It is an everlasting search for happiness and the attainment of the absolute. Having questioned the world and found all answers incomplete, the feeling that there is more beyond the construct leaves you with a void.
And so you wonder. Call reality what you like, placate it i f you will; inevitably, you will sense that something is missing. There is only one way to a satisfy the soul's need for purpose. It defines you. After all, you are what you live, and what you live is defined by your reality. Now break the chains of fate that bind you... The answer lies within."
I will try my best to explain how the universe came to be and its current structure. I believe that in the beginning there was nothingness. The Great Spirit, the first ever to exist, unconsciously created a mind and a body in the form of a cell - the cell was the Great Spirit herself - and it evolved in time (billions of years) to become a child. At the moment of her creation, Eos, or Waves of Existence, begun to emanate from her and spread throughout generating space and time. These waves are the basis for everything; they are reality. Thus, the concept of 'existence' came into being at the very instant Eos was generated as a response to the Great Spirit's existence. As these Waves began to flow away from her, they created the cosmos.
The second manifestation of existence — that is, the second body created in the universe - was the White Ring: a massive land inhabited at first only by the Great Spirit and made of Universal Matter, the element from which all other objects and beings emerged. This Ring lies at the centre of the universe, and its nature is eternal and immutable. It is the undying residence of the Great Spirit. As we would have, the Ancients of Planet Eoris considered it a paradise and for many ages it was a sanctuary that the peoples of the universe could visit to enjoy her company. But the White Ring became a lost splendour, a realm to long for, ages before the Black Howling began (the time of the advent of God to Planet Eoris and of her death). At the very instant the White Ring came to be, the Black Sphere, the antithesis of existence, emerged in the very centre of the White Ring. This sphere is a perfect orb of nothingness. It swallows existence, swallows Eos, and swallows life and substance with immense power and relentless determination. The closest understanding a sentient being can have of the Black Sphere is that of absolute death; the negation of any previous, present, and future existence. The Black Sphere pulls at the centre of the White Ring, threatening | to nullify existence. But the White Ring is unbreakable. When an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object the result, in part, is harmony and balance.
But the Great Spirit's movements on the White Ring and the immense pull of the Black Sphere eventually broke the White Ring's immobility by setting it in motion and making it revolve around the Black Sphere; the orb stood as the White Ring's centre or nucleus. The motion of the White Ring ultimately amplified the Waves of Existence generated by the Great Spirit. These amplified waves expanded the boundaries of the universe. The interaction amongst the White Ring, the Black Sphere, and the Great Spirit gave birth to a unique relationship between her and existence: one in which Eos is far more extensive and powerful than its origin.
In this universe, the Great Spirit's creation is greater than her. Eos, the waves that emanate from the Great Spirit, are amplified by the White Ring and travel until they reach the 'Horizon of Soliloquy', a place in the farthest extreme of the universe. Beyond this Horizon, time cannot exist because too many waves resonate; the build-up of Eos is too great for the Great Spirit is constantly emanating Eos that reach and stop at the ever-expanding Horizon of Soliloquy. The boundary on the other side of the Horizon of Soliloquy is known as the 'Final Frontier', the end of the universe. No one knows what exists beyond this point; but technically nothingness is the only possibility and I believe that somehow this space must necessarily be linked to the Black Sphere. In a special place at the Horizon of Soliloquy, Eos began to accumulate at a faster rate because of the direction of the White Ring's motion. This accumulation of Eos created a sphere of energy that would eventually be called 'Planet Eoris', the first celestial body in the universe. It grew until part of it emerged from the Horizon. The part of Planet Eoris that lies beyond the Horizon represents more than 90 percent of the planet's total mass (this is an approximation I have not been able to confirm). The fragment of the planet that is not immersed in this Horizon is the only inhabitable region. This was the only part of the planet where life could exist and flourish. It was here where life and consciousness other than the Great Spirit's originally came to be. The inhabitants of Planet Eoris have their own name for the Horizon: they call it the 'Line of Fire' or, in their language, 'Hellar'.
The Inner Existence (the universe) is composed of four major areas: the Solar Univeise, the White Ring, the Outer Existence, and the Lost Existence. The 'Solar Existence' is the space between the Black Sphere and the White Ring. Our Planet Earth is found in the Solar Existence. The White Ring is a colossal ring-shaped planet that revolves around the Black Sphere. The 'Outer Existence' is located between the White Ring and the Horizon of Soliloquy; here Planet Eoris and trillions of cosmic systems exist. Finally, the 'Lost Existence', comprised of everything beyond the Final Frontier. Planet Eoris possesses the ability to echo the Eos. However, in order to exist, the planet must feed from the waves generated by the Great Spirit. Because of this perfect symbiosis between the planet and God, all life in the universe other than the Great Spirit's originated. It did so on Planet Eoris.
At the very moment a portion of Planet Eoris emerged from the Horizon of Soliloquy, the Great Spirit unconsciously created life upon its surface. A tree was born in response to her unconscious need for Life, for company. In time, this tree evolved into a child. He is now known as the 'First Child' or the 'First Sil', the origin and seed of life. His essence and existence alone altered and redesigned the waves generated by the Great Spirit. The very concept of life inherent but dormant in Eos awoke. This resulted in the birth of Xylen: non-celestial life, the creatures of the universe that are not Aiej, or the Great Spirit. Nevertheless, the universe then was so vast that the essence of this Child was unable to travel past the boundaries of the Outer Existence. In response to the presence of life upon Planet Eoris and as a natural reaction to the necessity of life in the other areas of the universe, three echoes of the First Child were created: one in the Solar Existence, a second in the White Ring, and a third 'in' - as much as something can be in nothing - the Lost Existence.
The echo that emerged in the White Ring gave bitth to the 'Kalei' (Last Spirits), the one in the Solar Existence created the 'Ziel' (Twilight Spirits), and the one in the Lost Existence presumably gave birth to the Nisan (Lost Spirits). However, I know nothing about the latter. These four Spirits - the First Child, the Last Spirits, the Twilight Spirits, and the Lost Spirits - were the first creatures to be born in each of the four different areas of the universe. They were all dubbed Spirits or Seeds of Life but in essence they are spirits of consciousness.
Eos composes everything, but what composes it? Each wave is composed of three resonant and interdependent rings. These rings create the dimensional universe where we exist. The way the rings interact with each other determines the way a wave of Eos manifests. The three rings organize themselves in patterns that determine the form, the essence, and the energy of all there is: from an atom to the greatest spirits, from inert to living matter, from a molecule to a whole universe, thought, magic, life, and death. Everything in the universe has a unique wave pattern determined by the way the three rings are organized. This pattern is known as the Universal Structure. For living organisms this structure is known as a 'Life Wave Pattern' and stands as an organism's universal fingerprint.
Since the Life Wave of all beings is unique, the interaction between these beings can generate resonance (empathy), dissonance (antipathy), or assonance (apathy). The composition of the universe, its fundamental essence, and the life that inhabits it compose the Universal Structure of the cosmos. Thus, the interaction of all gives way to all universal laws, chaos, and order. It is the consolidation of existence, essence, and time; it is the seed of creation. As a result, the very laws of the universe are not predetermined by the Great Spirit but by all the interactive consciousnesses that dwell within the universe and define it.
Ring of Existence (Physical): The Ring of Existence is the ring of that which is. It is the substance of creation, the physical establishment in which the world is enveloped. All that is tangible, real, or existent, even thoughts, all that has a constitution, is based on this Ring.
Ring of Energy (Mental): Creation expresses itself through the Ring of Energy. It is motion, activity, and change. It is the fundament of time, the vitality of the universe, the driving force of life, the how of reality.
Ring of Essence (Spiritual): The Ring of Essence contains the fundamental nature and the conceptual form of things. As a consequence, it endows the individual form with importance, meaning, and purpose. It is the pillar of consciousness and reason. The concept of 'essence' encompasses the absolute in all things and establishes a true connection to our purpose.
As mentioned, the universe is broken down into four different areas: Solar Existence, the White Ring, the Outer Existence, the Lost Existence & the Black Sphere. The Solar Universe, unlike the rest of the cosmos, is mostly dark because the Black Sphere swallows the light of the White Ring. It is here in this portion of the entire universe where Planet Earth, our home and the universe we know of dwells. What we humans recognize as 'Outer Space' - the universe where the sun and the stars exist - is the Solar Existence. It was named Solar Existence because life first emerged only on planets and areas of the universe where suns were present.
In the Outer Existence, on the other hand, ordinary suns are unnecessary for life to exist because the White Ring acts as the sun to this entire portion of the universe. Today, it is clear to me that our solar system is not the only place with life in the Solar Existence. We are only a drop in rain, though a very important one.
The White Ring is a vast, ring-shaped land filled with forests and rivers, blossoming with life and beauty. It is a space of splendour and peacefulness where the music of the heavens fills the air and where the presence of life is intertwined with the essence of longing and contemplation. It is the residence of the Great Spirit.
The Outer Existence is theoretically the largest of the four areas. It is filled with light and energy. Elere, as I mentioned before, more than a trillion, trillion systems have given life. This air-filled space is so vast that animals have grown to be the size of planets. There is so much diversity that natural laws seem to bend and create what we would recognize as new, fantastic, and seemingly unreal dimensions. It was here where Planet Eoris was born.
The Lost Existence... Remember that all waves are born within the Great Spirit. Some waves elude oblivion caused by the pull exerted on them by the Black Sphere and travel until they reach a natural boundary called the Horizon of Soliloquy. By the time they arrive, they have reached a state of stillness, a point beyond which they will change no more. Beyond the Horizon, time and life are apparently impossible. This is why this area of the universe is called the Lost Existence. It represents the portion of the Great Spirit's mind that is yet to be. In many ways, the Lost Existence is nothingness.
Finally, the Black Sphere pulls at the centre of the White Ring, threatening to nullify existence. But the White Ring is unbreakable. When an unstoppable force encounters an immovable object the result, in part, is harmony and balance. But the Great Spirit's movements on the White Ring and the immense pull of the Black Sphere eventually broke the White Ring's immobility by setting it in motion and making it revolve around the Black Sphere; the orb stood as the White Ring's centre or nucleus.
The Reality Symphony of each being is basically the way an individual perceives the universe and its components. 'Energy' is one of the components that most beings can perceive in their Reality Symphony. Energy allows time, movement, and change to exist; it is also the fundamental form of all matter. Essentially, Energy is part of existence and of essence. There are two fundamental aspects of Energy: the aspect of Creation and the aspect of Destruction. These constitute the body of matter and the nature of evolution. The aspect of Creation is called 'Ys' and the aspect of Destruction is called 'Iseai'. These two constituents of Energy are opposites, but they are not in conflict with each other They stand as opposite poles of a single thing, each feeding and depending on the other. The essential nature of life is that it must renew itself so it may be perfected through death and rebirth. The natural way for life to evolve is through the interaction of Ys (Creation) and Iseai (Destruction). Remember that nothing can last forever, but destruction does not necessarily consume all for the universe has always renewed itself Only the dynamic soul that constantly dies and is reborn can understand the perfection of existence. To change is to destroy what you have been and to create what you are. This is the nature of the universe.
The Energy of the universe has an almost infinite number of possible forms of existence. However, from the perspective of the peoples of Eoris, there are four fundamental elements: Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth. The interaction of these creates four secondary elements: Ice, Electricity, Metal, and Wood (flesh). In turn, each of these eight elements may be aligned to two additional primordial elements: Celestial and Purity. The Celestial element represents the importance of things and the Purity element represents the essence of things. The Elements are organized in a circle one next to the other. However, the Celestial element lies outside of this circle - a surrounding layer – whilst the Purity element lies inside the circle - the centre or nucleus of all others. On Planet Eoris, all beings are believed to be born under the influence of a particular element or a combination of two. Elements are said to determine a being's character and personality. To a certain degree, this belief is similar to the Zodiac of Planet Earth.
Water is the element of life, of the changing form, and of the emotions of love and caring. Its personality is gentle and soothing.
Fire is the element of the radiant spirit, the valiant, and the passionate soul. Its personality is impassioned and rash.
Earth is the element of harmony, temperance, and devotion. Its personality is calm.
Wind is the element of melodies, music, and the moving heart. Its personality is wise and silent.
Electricity is the element of the fast mind, the keen heart, and the spiritual existence. Its personality is active and wilful.
Metal is the element of the eternal form, of the strong and sharp will. Its personality is strong and persevering.
Wood is the element of the forest, birth, death, and revival. Hence, it is also known as Flesh. Its personality is contemplative.
Ice is the element of the eternal spirit, purity of consciousness, honesty, and truth. Its personality is cold and fierce.
Purity is the element of existence, passion, and emotion. Its personality empowers the passions within by purifying all elements.
Celestial is the element of beauty, tears, and joy. Its personality enhances all with the Divine.
The Life Waves of each living being are aligned to the essence of one or two of these ten possible forms of Energy. This alignment establishes the nature of a being's internal energy and the way this energy will manifest if the being is exalted.
This can be used to read, interpret, and manipulate the Eos (Waves of Existence). During the development of magic, civilisation found an aspect of reality that was, until then, unknown and unperceivable: a universal web of information that expands throughout the entire Inner Existence. It is completely independent and self-sustained wave pattern that came to be at some point in the history of existence. In other words, no entity or creature in the universe actually created it and no one has complete control over its functions. The network simply works and is accessible to all. By itself it is nothing but a strange universal phenomenon much like an infinitesimally small current of energy flowing through every living being, Shevat and Xylen alike, which apparently does nothing. It is similar in many ways to the brain.
During the Fourth Age, extremely precise and complex patterns were inscribed within the very core of Orus and it was then that this current of energy became accessible to all. It is a cosmological network of free information that extends across the entire universe through the consciousnesses of living beings. This network is readily available to all in the form of semi-ethereal crystals created using the being's own energy.
Certain crystals, grant access to a boundless network of universal information. They can be summoned at will through Saeia. Howver, without it one must stand within reach of a huge bluish-green, glowing crystals with roots that dig deep into the earth. The product left behind from the use of an Orusaie is piu'e water that drains from the huge Crystal. As a consequence of the War of the Twilight Spirits and the current events surrounding the Black Howling, the Orus data network has been widely restricted by the leaders of the 'Supra-national Republic of Ystaria', the organisation that rules over the 'Twelve Great Ethnias' (Ethnic Groups) of Planet Eoris.
The information that is currently accessible is limited for entertainment, creativity, communication, and banking purposes. Access to historical archives and press is also possible, but its content has also been drastically limited to most. Other than the network itself, it offers many other services and capabilities. A particularly ability attained by those who it is the power of boundless communication with those that use the system. It also allows the user to store all their memories and feelings into a single unitary system that is stored within their soul and that uses energy is granted by his life wave
Everything in the universe is composed of waves, songs of creation, of emotions, and dreams. What beings see, what they feel, what lies beyond them as individuals, and what lies within them is all composed of Waves of Existence. It was during the First Age that the Third Child of the Great Spirit realised this and began to research the universe and its laws. For ages, his work allowed him to understand the universe as a space where a series of Natural Laws had to be followed. The understanding of these laws gave birth to myriad technologies. The inhabitants of Planet Eoris realised that the limits to the power of technology lay where science meets rationality and action. However, this process of universal comprehension did not cease with the creation of multiple technologies and the methods that allow civilization to alter their functions and use them as they desire. As civilization evolved, new findings and new applications gave rise to even newer and more powerful technologies.
This scientific understanding of the universe helped create technologies that allowed civilisation to hold relative power over life and death. Medicine progressed immensely during this time; construction and design found few boundaries and cities grew and evolved vastly. But, despite all this, civilisation remained a mere product of life and time. The possibilities of creation and destruction were innumerable but, although the Laws of Nature could be understood and used, they could never be broken. These laws were immutable and remained as such for ages. Because of this, civilisation reached a point in which it could not progress technologically any more. However, the Third Child, obsessed with the scientific comprehension of existence, believed that this universe was not only Energy but also Will and Consciousness.
He discovered a way to understand the universe by creating a dreamlike realm called the 'Eos Dimension'. Through this dimension it is possible to see a being's Inner Universe. Civilisation discovered how the Inner Universe of one being is connected to the Inner Universe of another and another and another, binding all creatures. In order to find a way to not only see this dimension but also actually enter it, the 'Krissen Foundation' was created. This Foundation still acts as the scientific branch of the 'Cerian Tree of Thought', the religious institution of the Great Spirit on Planet Eoris. In the Krissen Foundation, the Third Child and other members discovered a way to enter the Inner Universe of another being through a process called 'Encephalon Link'. Through this link, they were able to delve into what we could call alternate dimensions of reality.
By leaping from one dimension to another, the Third Child was able to discover a symbol, a sign that lies within the mind of every single being. Then, by organizing those emblems, he was able to classify life in two different wave patterns: one he called Shevat and the other he called Xylen. He also realised that the Inner Universes of all creatures are connected to a single inexplicable origin. In the end, his research was fruitful beyond his expectations. Although he could not understand this inexplicable origin, he had discovered the source of Eos. He called it the Great Spirit.
He found that the Great Spirit does require external energies and purpose in order to exist. She is not an independent engine with an independent consciousness; instead she depends on all other creatures as we depend on each and every neuron in our brain. Upon this discovery, the Third Child, aided by his eldest brother, developed a way to reach the Great Spirit's creation and get closer to her. This new knowledge allowed them to re-mould Eos, thus altering reality and defining its forms through sheer will. This was the birth of 'Saeia', a science, a knowledge so advanced we would, at this point in history, be unable to call it anything other than magic. Saeia, which means 'thought of all nature', redefined the very concepts of technology and progress. Through this science, all apparent impossibilities slowly became possible; for example, a being was now able to connect to the Eos and alter the components and the nature of a wave; thus altering the very fabric of reality. Sciences such as physics, chemistry, even biology and their applications (e.g. synthetic genomics) were altered greatly. This discovery sired a new technological age. Boundaries expanded beyond anything before considered possible by science. Through Saeia, civilisation obtained divine power. They were like Gods.
Because Saeia augments the connection between the universe and all living creatures, it was possible to access a natural network of information that envelops the very memory of the universe. Civilisations had been unaware of this network's existence. It came to be known as 'Orus', a mnemonic web of flowing energy where every single fragment of information in the universe resides. In the beginning, this network was used as a way to communicate and access information. Through Saeia its use spread like wild fire. But how does Saeia work? In short, a being uses a channel to connect his will to the Eos. By wilfully altering the speed of resonance and the size of the three rings that constitute the Eos, the being is able to alter everything. A process so complicated that only full-fledged 'Chanters' (users of Saeia) can easily perform activities that require its understanding. Because of this, civilisation has created several aids that allow simple beings to use this knowledge. In the same way that we use mechanical and computerized technologies here on Earth, on Eoris they use the following three things:
- Energy crystals that resonate with the Eos.
- Runes that, when adequately written, connect a being's mind directly to the Eos.
- Songs and rituals with vibrations that connect the performer to the Eos.
Those who wield Saeia tend to specialize in one of the former three forms of use, whilst ordinary beings simply use pre-programmed crystals or pre-written runes to wield this power. Standard, quantum, and organic (living or not) computers are, of course, obsolete and extremely rare.
The fundamental Laws of Saeia are based on very simple universal principles:
1. Integral Connection: Everything is connected to everything else. As a result, a change in the wave structure of one thing will necessarily mean a change in the wave structure of another. This means that to alter something one must sacrifice something in return. For example, if you are in a forest and you alter the waves that compose the air around you to create fire, the waves of nearby things will be affected (e.g. insignias may appear on the trees, the colour and substance of the ground might change, even your Life Wave may be altered as well).
2. One Time: Time can be bent, expanded, and even compressed. Time travel, however, is not possible. Theoretically, one may have the illusion of time travel by entering the Great Spirit's Eos Dimension and visiting her memories, but these memories are alternate realities or dimensions that are still bound to the true flow of time.
3. Life Creator of Life: Life is the origin of life. Living beings can create life through mating, but they have not found a way to give life to that which has passed away.
4. Connection: The soul is the consciousness and the consciousness is bound to a body. Thus, to alter the body is to alter the consciousness. Or, to alter the consciousness is to alter the body. We are all organically connected to nature. The Laws I have just explained are inherent to Eos and Saeia. However, the following two laws are a consequence of culture and tradition:
1. It is forbidden to use Saeia to attempt to revive a dead being; even the study of this practice is strongly prohibited.
2. Life is bound to consciousness. Therefore, if something lacks consciousness, it does not live. The Great Spirit's consciousness is not absolute and all embracing but life is. This means that, in a special way, everything is alive. On Planet Eoris, beings symbolically ask all living things permission to use Saeia and, of course, thank them for their sacrifice or efforts.
Saeia is directly aligned to the forces of nature. This means that its use actually enhances the Life Waves of nearby creatures, plants, and spirits, strengthening their vibrations and conceding energy to their Life Wave. Saeia allows beings to enhance all life; it allows the universe to prosper. From our perspective on Earth, Eoris is a world full of magic but, from their perspective, they have simply used science to progress. Eoris is a place where technological possibilities are vastly superior to ours. Things that we would consider science fiction are simply natural to them. As an example, above the skies of Ystaria, four floating lines of Saeia runes can be seen. These markings are known as 'Saeia of Heaven' and stand as a testament of this world's "magical nature".
Their purpose and power, however, remain unknown.
The Space Displacement Power is a great example of what can be achieved with Saeia. This power allowed civilisation to create a rupture in space and time, allowing anything to move from one place to another instantly. These ruptures can expand to the size of entire galaxies. Although this power is now almost forgotten, it once allowed the peoples of Planet Eoris to rearrange the universe and organize it according to their own needs. These ruptures are sensitive to the presence of external entities; therefore, they cannot close whilst an object or being is travelling through them. Theoretically, ruptures never close; they simply get smaller and smaller as time passes eventually reaching an infinitely small size.
But in the terrible war known as the 'War of the Twilight Spirits', most of the Saeia knowledge developed in previous times was lost including the Space Displacement Power. The civilisations of Planet Eoris continue to search for the knowledge that was lost during the war. Without Saeia the civilisations of this planet have lost the ability to move freely through space. Nonetheless, according to the theory behind the Space Displacement Power, the portals used in ancient times must still remain. I do not know where they are, but I have been warned that finding these portals may alter the course of history for their power is so that those who bear it may arrange the universe to their liking. This is an example of the power inherent in the possibilities once granted by Saeia. This is why Saeia is also known as Earthly* Power. A fragment of this Earthly Power, the very ability to create alternate realities where to "live" in, was forbidden. The philosophy behind this choice was simple. The living must live with the living. Thus, although Saeia clearly allows its users to forge identical alternate dream-like realities, this possibility was never set in motion world wide.
Furthermore, the codes needed to accomplish this were never revealed. Interestingly enough, elder songs speak of an ancient fray between the Fourth Child and her older brother, the Third Child, regarding life and the very nature of Paradise. This fight set them apart, and to this day they speak to each other no more. I remember discussing this subject one night whilst I was travelling through the lands of the Xylen Enlil. Bewildered, I praised the achievements of old and the overwhelming power inherent in Saeia. Irlif an elder of Erianor, asked me, 'For all the power the empires achieved, were they happier or better in any way; were they closer to any sort of true enlightenment?' My response was Yes.' He remained silent. And so I wonder: Is our technology part of our evolution? Are we evolving as we grow in time and develop as a group... as a society? Or, are we I simply stuck believing that technology is the path to the Great Spirit and are unable to realise that she might be with us already?
The Song of Ceph is a natural phenomenon that has always been present across the universe. At times, it can actually be heard. However, in most cases, only the Sil can perceive this melody. The Song originates in the centre of Planet Eoris and travels unrestrained through the whole universe. This song can exist at any time and in any place, even places that have supposedly been soundproofed. This is possible because the song travels not through space but as a part of everything, as a part of Eos itself wherever the song plays, Saeia is immediately silenced, cancelled... annulled. The Song of Ceph was discovered during the Encephalon Dives that led to the discovery of the Saeia Codes. It tends to be stronger during the night, when the light of the White Ring no longer reaches Planet Eoris' surface. For ages, the Song was considered a manifestation of what are known as 'Phantom Waves': waves that have all the potential characteristics of a real Wave of Existence but that "exist" only as an echo of the waves that surround them. These Phantom Waves never actually reach a state of independent existence because they lack certain unknown characteristics that would grant them autonomy. For some time, these Phantom Waves were thought to belong to the White Ring's wave pattern.
However, several theorists believe that there is no connection between the Phantom Waves and the White Ring. Instead, their theory states that the Phantom Waves' actual existence is related to a new source of Eos. This new source creates a rupture in the natural waves that emanate from the Great Spirit, creating interference. This rupture and interference create the Phantom Waves. According to this theory, there is no such thing as a Phantom Wave, simply another Great Spirit. This theory was developed in the Realm of Eia along with the Universal Simplicity Theory. The latter refers to the theological paradigm that states that the universe is bound to itself; in other words, that it is without parts. Although one theory appears to deny the other's truth, they are, in reality, symbiotic. Together, they establish that a mother consciousness, the Great Spirit, can actually give birth to an independent consciousness. This means that the Great Spirit has the ability to create a Great Spirit. The consequences of such an occurrence remain unknown. Some theorists believe that this could lead to the dissolution of the universe. But how can we even know if it has not already happened?
