Session 8 - Oscillation

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Entering the Kanserine Empire
* Lily Caspia log 4 (Deimos):
 
New Stellar Year 1 
 
I’m so close. Dozens of pages covered in looping script, esoteric diagrams. The final piece eluding me: one more equation to unite the domains, to wrap everything into one elegant framework. I find myself standing, my pen clattering against the desk’s surface. Walking the perimeter of the room at the feet of old bookshelves. Circling obsessively beneath those towers of knowledge, bound in leather and buckram; what am I missing? Days spent staring helplessly at blank pages beginning to wear on me. Shouting my frustration; my anger filling the house, unheard by anyone but me.
 
And then, a spark. Insight arriving on the air like it wasn’t even my idea. Back to the desk, urgent excitement in my fingertips. Pen in hand and writing frantically, capturing theory in a cage of smooth black ink.
 
And it’s finished. I put the pen down on the table, folding the cover closed over the thick stack of papers with finality. It's complete. In that design, undeniably, a presence. Something alien and profound, inhabiting the slopes and tangents, pressing into me through images etched in memory. A deep yearning, then: to open completely, to take it in. Certain, somehow, that it brings with it the world that I’ve lost.
 
This machine, now evolved, will become something more. Resonating with our silent moon above - the heavenly body providing one last grace to humanity; running its blood through the veins of the machine.
 
It isn’t that I’m not proud. I am, of course; this will be my legacy. But as completion has approached, I’ve become more and more fearful. And now, with everything ready, I am paralyzed. Sheer, abject terror locking me down, holding me here. Fearing that it won’t work, certainly, but even more that it will.
 
None of the others really know how the machine works. No one but me. Where they see only a generator, I see an amplifier; a conduit. Calling down the divine, providing the path. This construction marking a change in everything - a point beyond which the future becomes unfathomable, beyond which the past becomes absolute.
 
But… I'm still not sure if it's not a force I can interfere with. Not now, at least. What if the past isn't meant to be changed? What if something horrible comes of it? What if I'm just playing god?
 
Maybe another day.
 
 
Caspar Loach explains history of the Kanserine Empire
* Enma Valdara is a very strong-willed man, and is responsible for much of the Kanserine Empire’s growth over the last few decades
* Mainly due to his actions, it’s essentially become a powerhouse in the last 50 years
 
Traveling to Tarentum
* The book glows, flips, and says: "It's time. Prepare yourself."
* "Tavern dream" revealed
* Tarentum information
** To travel to Asphodel, one needs to first go to the Kanserine city of Tarentum to acquire a temporary travel visa, which will then allow them to be escorted to the city by Asphodelian royal guards
** Even if you're of high political or social status, you still need to first travel to Tarentum as royal guard transport is the only way to get in and out of the city (legally)
 
Town of Ravenna (like a tourist town since, so many people pass through it)
* Mayor greets the party (Cornelius Castor)
** Asks the party where they came from, and where they're going at the moment > says the town gets a lot of visitors on their way to Tarentum, and tells the party to go further in the town and ask around for a place to stay for the night
* Meet a townsperson standing outside of a building with a large white sheet draped over it, old and covered in smudges - every other building is like that
** The town currently has a severe mite infestation, and the party will have to sleep at one of the campfires outside
** "Most people are turned away when they see the houses covered in sheets, thinking there's some horrible virus going around - what made you want to stay?" > "Mayor? That's odd. We’re pretty self-sustaining. We haven't had a mayor in some time."
** In the distance, maybe 100 feet past the townsperson, you see the "mayor" who greeted you standing there, unblinking, with a large grin plastered across his face, before running in between some buildings and disappearing
 
Meet Ike at Campfire (around 6pm)
* "Well, if it isn't my favorite group of adventurers. I patrol the area around this time of the month - how are you guys? I promised I'd give you that tour if you came to the Kanserine Empire, but I suppose it'll have to wait. I'm a bit busy right now."
* Explains the history of the sword saints and the Kanserine Empire > "Centuries ago, there was a man who was called invincible. Revered by some, feared by others. Anywho, the Kanserine Empire was extremely small and didn’t really have a military back then. That man founded the first college of swords, as he wanted to give the people of the country the ability to defend themselves with nonmagical means. His original craft has been honed and perfected over the years, and I guess I'm living proof of that. And Enma has been very grateful to me. He's a fierce man, but he is also kind. One of the best men I've ever known. He rules this country with an iron fist, but truly cares about its people. You should really meet him some time."
* He looks around, to the setting sun, and then says: "Oh... damn. I have an appearance that I have to make in another town. I'll meet you guys back here in a few hours. Keep the campfire warm for me."
* He leaves
 
Call from Sylas
* Sylas says that one of Lee’s friends called him up to fix his Flipstone (it was bugging out) > said that he gave Lee a few Flipstones to give to people he trusted, as he was a really good judge of character
* The man tripped and accidentally pricked him, cutting his arm
 
Ike comes back (around midnight)
* He looks a bit pale, like he's just gone through something
* "So many people, and that speech took forever… you know, I never really asked but where are you guys from? I feel as though we never truly got to know each other."
* After Grant gets the message, Ike looks at him a bit funny for a second
* "Maryn - by any chance, is your mother's name Lily?" > "Hehe. Maryn, your mother... I remember her cries. Begging him to cure you of that horrid sickness. An exchange for your life. He had her make that weird doll, make that really long book - woven with a satroleye and a piece of her soul. But somehow you got away... you weren't supposed to do that. You weren’t supposed to get that doll. It was to be destroyed, alongside your mother. But he made a… mistake… and he never makes mistakes…”
* Then he says: "Who? Well you know who I'm talking about." > He grabs his head with both hands and faces down > "Uhhhhh, what does he call himself now? Q. The 17th letter of the alphabet. Seventeen... a number of wisdom, knowledge, awareness, power… that was from that old seer I killed." > He transforms into a small old hermit > "Seventeen... the seventh prime, the fourth super-prime…yeah, I thank your uncle for that, Castor." > He transforms into Sylas > "And, what was it... Gabriel. A fallen biblical archangel. Herald of visions, heavenly messenger. To pronounce God's will to mankind."
* “That Sword Saint… such a nuisance, but he’s gone now. He didn’t even put up a fight. Hehehehe.”
* "What do you guys know about a 'dreamer?' Ah it doesn't matter. You don't know anything. Anything." > He begins shaking slightly
* "Oh... horrible experiment... now... he suffers greatly..."
* "Ugashi... nuisance... had to seal him away... too strong... like those Goliaths..."
* “And some champion… will be born to defeat him… no… it won’t happen… I don’t believe it... it can't happen... no one can defeat him... Dorian..."
* “He does wonder, though… if you’ll be able to reach it… that worst possible future… or if you can overcome its inescapable pull…”
* You see a bloodthirsty look in his eyes: “But maybe I won’t kill you just yet. Because it doesn’t matter. He's coming. Don't you know? Humanity's done for.” > And then, he begins moving closer (he obliterates the party)
 
“Ike” leaves
* Maryn hears a voice from behind her: “Maybe not today, but soon… you’ll die just like your mother.” And then, he starts fading back into the darkness of the forest.
* And after hearing what he said about Maryn, her mother, and her death, she feels something. Something she's never felt before, welling up inside of her. And then, images flash through her mind: places she's never been, people she's never seen. A stream of colors, flooding into her subconsciousness. And then, she closes her eyes.
 
Oscillation
* And a few seconds later, she opens them. And she sees nothing. An endless white plain. A completely white world, no discernable characteristics - ground and sky all the same. Her skin is almost translucent, and there's complete silence. And then:
* 1. Self introduction
** "I've always thought that this place was strange." > You hear a voice behind you. Standing there is the outline of a figure, vaguely human. No features, no face - all white. And then he says > "Like it's been left unfinished by its creator. Perhaps he simply forgot to make it. Or perhaps he never knew what was supposed to be here in the first place...? And now, it's just... endlessness. Crests and valleys of coincidence. Time and probability crystallized into a rolling expanse, like a violent ocean fixed in ice. Immeasurable loci of intersecting reality. Infinities converging onto one point. Here. Now. Forever..."
** The form doesn't have a face, but you can feel it looking into you > "You're within the... Oscillation, as you call it? And I'm the one who rules over it. But I no longer have a name. You can call me Iramsol." > The space around you then morphs into an antique reading room with tall bookshelves, a fireplace, an old mahogany desk, a pendulum clock, and a spiral staircase leading somewhere upstairs. He then walks around you a bit, and says:
* 2. Asks Maryn about herself
** "And you are…? Maryn. That's your name. The Door of Harmony, huh? Mastery over the Strings, that bind existence together. Able to will themselves anywhere - unbound by space and time. Many Sylphs have tried to come to this place, and all have failed. You're different, though. Just like your mother. Wielding endless questions about the universe. It seems her affinity to the Strings had opened her eyes, and I could tell that she wanted to try and will herself here one day. To the source of the Strings and the Resonance. They’re my finest creation, are they not? But she never did. She must've feared that she would be leaving her only child behind. A child with an attunement beyond even her own. I was certainly surprised by that."
* 3. Talks about himself
** "But I suppose I should tell you a bit more about myself, and about this world. I was born a living god - a child of countless miracles. In the early stages of this universe, into a world of endless death and destruction. Something I knew I had to stop. I fought with everything in my power, through unimaginable pain and suffering, and reached the singularity. Projecting my own Law across the Sphere, within a Resonance Veil. Creating the Strings of Infinity to connect all things, and bring peace that I hoped would last. Each Fragment world of my own creation, completely separate from one another. Different worlds, with different people. People with different dreams and desires, all unique. And the power I had was inconceivable. Beyond anything I could've imagined. So I decided to disperse it throughout the Fragments, to those with good and just hearts. They would become the "Doors" to this plane - gateways connecting the Sphere and the singularity. Each, drawing upon my strength. Their existences maintaining the singularity - preventing anyone else from entering. As long as a single Door remained, this place would be safe. And that peace did last, for a time."
** "But then, something appeared. Spontaneously manifesting in that void of nothingness. It crossed the Veil, destroying countless Fragment worlds. It was my oath to the cosmos that, after spurring the inception of new life, I would not further interfere with existence in any way, no matter the cost. And besides, my power was dispersed. It was a battle they would have to fight themselves."
** "And although it seemed unwinnable, a miracle occurred. One of my Doors had sacrificed everything to create his own Fragment out of nothing. With his own Veil, his own Law, that completely shut out that demon and prevented him from entering. A new world, with... simple life. It was beautiful. And that singular Fragment, that you currently reside within, has lasted for eons. It's all that remains."
* 4. Talks about knowledge
** "But in my younger years, I yearned for knowledge. I believed there was a single truth at the root of everything. One that had been hidden away in the depths of oblivion. I thought that if I could come to this place, the pinnacle of existence, then it would lead me to that truth. And I almost reached it. But if I truly had, I wouldn't be standing here today - my mind would've crippled under its immeasurable might. Because in that moment, I realized something: to know this truth is an unimaginable hell. It is a hell that no miracle can help you escape from. Only one singular being across all of existence has overcome the weight of that truth through sheer force of will. I think you know who I'm talking about. And once I learned of my own powerlessness, I gave up on such a truth. I chose to simply rule over the infinite Fragment worlds. Even in my despair, I chose to live on. To watch over this universe."
** "But Maryn... one day, the five of you will be met with this same truth. And you'll have to make a decision. But I can't help you with that. This world... this is a two-story house. The man upstairs will wake you, an eternity from now. Wait for him."
* 5. Advice for Maryn
** "Let's get back to what's important though. Knowledge... is dangerous. It can warp your reality, crushing everything under its immensity. It can bring forth ideas, never to be thought; memories, never to be remembered. But still, there is something I choose to do for you. I will let you make a choice. To learn a single piece of knowledge - one centered at the root of your fears, or the other at the root of your courage. Both opposite, yet equal - as similar as can be. You'll know when to make this choice."
** He then stands up straight, and walks towards the ascending staircase. He begins to go up, before abruptly stopping and turning to face you, and even though he doesn’t exactly have a face, you can tell that he’s pondering something. > "My story has already ended. My role, fulfilled. I have no reason to leave this place. No one... No one can escape their own story. Not even me. Keep dreaming, Nicole. And maybe you’ll reach the happy ending you desire."
** The white world then fades away, and when you open your eyes again, you're back at the campfire. For the rest of you, only a few moments have passed.
 
Post-Oscillation
* Maryn feels that something in her has changed
* The book glows dimly and flips to a page that says: “Head east. Six miles. That’s where you’ll find him.”
 
Sienna
* You pass a sign that reads: "Town of Sienna - Welcoming the Sword Saint”
* There seems to be an enormous crowd of people gathered around something, along with dozens of military officials.
* In the center of the crowd, you see a familiar face, crouched over, in a pool of blood. Ike Sanakan, the Sword Saint, lying dead.
* The book then dimly glows, and flips to a page that says: “It was his final dream. Ike Sanakan’s final dream was to see his child one more time. Even if it wasn’t really him. And once he reached that dream, he allowed himself to be taken from this world."