Lagos

**Lagos** is one of the last living Astari, the son of Levin and one of Io's greatest enemies. Born millennia ago as the eldest child of the Keeper of Divinity, Lagos was lacking in the magics his fellow Astari prided themselves in, making him the subject of both pity and ridicule. Further embarrassment would follow when it became clear that he would be passed over as Levin's successor in favor of his younger sister Cherim. Despite, or perhaps because of, the indifference of his father and his peers, Lagos was nonetheless a warrior with everything to prove.

When the Auroran-Astari War started, Lagos was a fierce proponent for fighting to the death to protect their home and heritage. However, as the siege of Io continued without end, Levin and the rest of the Elders eventually negotiated a ceasefire with the invaders in the hopes of finding peace. This left Lagos feeling betrayed on behalf of both his people and himself. Amassing a small but loyal contingent of Astari, he launched a rash surprise attack on the peace talks, ending any chance of co-existence between the two warring factions. However, though his father managed to escape back to Io, Lagos himself was captured by the Auroran Federation and his comrades slaughtered to a man.

Lagos was subsequently handed over to Dr. Dhaos Amon of the Auroran Scientific Council as part of what would be dubbed The Lagos Project. This project was designed to extract the essence of Astari power, the Memory, from the titular subject in order to give the Aurorans the advantage they needed to win the war. For the sake of scientific replicability, Dr. Amon ordered Lagos's execution via a specialized machine called The Inevitable, which would extract his genetic data in its entirety. Lagos supposedly met his end and the Aurorans would then use his genetics to create a series of clones of the same name for experimentation and research. However, the Project was unable to properly distill the Memory for Auroran use.

Lagos's eighth clone, considered the near-perfect replica of the original, was inducted into the Auroran Navy to be used against his progenitor's people. However, the Dead God Kaasma, sealed in the planet Jupiter, reached out to him and revealed the truth of his original self. In righteous fury, this Lagos clone unleashed Kaasma, leading to the destruction of both the Astari and Aurorans in the cataclysmic Jupiter Incident. Following this apocalypse, the Memories of each of Lagos's clones became awakened by a mysterious phenomenon called the Black Star, bestowing to them the thoughts, memories and feelings of the original Lagos.

Inheriting their progenitor's hatred, Lagos's clones continued to labor towards their new goal; revenge upon Io and all its newly formed denizens. Approximately 1,500 years later, the final clone, going by the title The Emissary of the End, came before the Shadow Lord Asmodeus, who was in fact the twisted soul of his father Levin, and revealed a shocking truth; the original Lagos yet lived, residing on the old Auroran homeworld of Earth. It is yet unclear how Lagos survived or in what capacity he yet lives, but one thing is clear; he and his brethren will not rest until Io and its people are no more.

## Description

### Appearance

Lagos was once an Astari, an ancient race of people that once inhabited Io. It is likely that their original appearance is almost identical to their closest clone, The Emissary of the End, with pale blue skin, a bald head with a crown of long horns, pointed ears and piercing blue-green eyes. They have also been described as similar in appearance to Levin, their father. Their current appearance, however, is unknown.

### Personality

The original Lagos's personality can only be inferred by the personalities and actions of his clones and the stories told of him. From the conversation between The Emissary of the End and Asmodeus, it is clear that Lagos was a bitter and headstrong individual prior to his capture. Due to his inability to use magic, he was something of a pariah among his fellows and an embarrassment to his father, leaving him with a serious chip in his shoulder. He also was clearly envious of his sister Cherim, not only as their father's favorite but also as the supposed heir to the Memory of Divinity, one of the most powerful and precious gifts of the Astari. Even millennia later, Lagos expresses much of these grievances through his clone, accusing Asmodeus of hating him yet willing to give his life for a boy who he suspected possessed Cherim's Memory.

In spite of this inferiority complex, Lagos appears to have been quite prideful. He was greatly in favor of defending the honor of the Astari in the face of the Auroran invaders, and took the Astari's call of peace as a personal betrayal. Rather than wasting his time with the arcane, Lagos flew in the face of tradition and honed his talents as a warrior, becoming very confident in his abilities. Such confidence led him to launch a surprise attack on the peace talks held between the two factions, believing it would be a decisive blow against the Aurorans. However, this rash decision led to his capture and eventual death, hinting a degree of overconfidence he failed to account for. Even in the face of imminent death, Lagos still remained defiant, staying silent and spitting in the face of his captors before being viscerally dissected by the Inevitable.

Perhaps Lagos's clearest and most defining trait is hatred. Hatred for his father, hatred for his people, hatred for the Aurorans, hatred for their descendants and hatred for his home planet all stem from him into each of his clones via their shared Memory, informing their every action. Lagos's hatred appears to have played some role in his endurance after his supposed death, though how is yet unknown. It can be inferred by the Emissary's despondency after the Shattering that this hatred is all that is truly left to Lagos now and without it, his survival may carry no further meaning.

## History

### Son of Divinity

Long ago, in the heyday of the Astari's reign over Io, Lagos was born from the union of an unknown Astari woman and an Astari Elder named Levin. Levin was no ordinary Elder though, as he was the Keeper of Divinity, the Memory of radiance and power once borne by a great Astari leader. This particular Memory was a cultural and political centerpiece, and it came great expectations for Lagos as its intended heir. However, it became clear that Lagos, for some unknown reason, was unable to properly wield magic. This proved a devastating development, as it earned Lagos ridicule and pity from his peers, while heaping embarrassment upon his vaunted father. The shame of this disappointment led Levin to keep his son at arm's length and withhold his affection for him. This neglect convinced Lagos that his father hated him, leading to a rather fractious divide between parent and child.

Their relationship only disimproved with the birth of Lagos's younger sister, Cherim, who fulfilled all the requirements of a respectable Astari. For Levin, this was a great boon for his reputation and the future of the Astari, and thus he doted upon his young daughter with abandon. For Lagos, this was just more salt in an already festering wound. To him, it was evident that he would be passed over as heir to the Memory of Divinity in favor of Cherim, and his jealousy gave rise to a resentment of her as well.

### The Auroran-Astari War

Some time after Cherim's birth, the peace and prosperity of the Astari was thrown into disarray when a fleet of alien invaders arrived into Io's space. The invaders, who called themselves the Aurorans, hailed from another part of the Solar System called Auroran Prime (previously known as Earth), which had become unable to support their people. Desperate for a new home, the Auroran Federation set their sites on the home of the Astari. Contact between the two eventually devolved into hostility and then outright war. While Io was protected by an arcane sky barrier, battles took place over the rest of the Jovian System, particularly on the planet of Jupiter. The advanced technology of the Aurorans was a match for the powerful magic of the Astari, drawing out the war and resulting in significant casualties on both sides.

On the Astari side, Lagos was a fierce supporter of the Astari war effort, denouncing the invaders and arguing for fighting to the last man. The war was also a chance for Lagos to finally prove himself to his father and people, leading him to train as a warrior for the Astari cause. It is unknown what battles Lagos partook in, but his incendiary words and deeds won him a small following of like-minded individuals. However, as per usual, Lagos was at odds with his father Levin who, as an Elder, felt a responsibility to protect his people and to find peace and common ground between themselves and their new enemies.

### Capture and Execution

As the conflict carried on, a breaking point for the Astari Elders was reached. Under Levin's direction, a missive was sent to the Auroran Command requesting a ceasefire to hold peace talks. The Aurorans, to the surprise of the Astari, accepted and a meeting of delegations was arranged, with Levin acting as the main representative of the Astari. When Lagos discovered that peace talks were underway, he was outraged at what he perceived to be a betrayal of his kin and home by his own father. However, the peace talks also presented an opportunity for the firebrand; a chance to assassinate members of Auroran Command and deal a decisive blow against his enemies. Gathering a small group of his loyal warriors, Lagos launched a surprise attack during the talks, causing chaos and bloodshed. What exactly happened is unclear, but it is known that Lagos's followers were all slain and Lagos himself was captured by the Aurorans. Levin barely escaped with his life, returning to Io with all hope for peace in shambles.

The Aurorans redoubled their war effort, seeking to dominate Io by whatever means they could. A member of the Auroran Scientific Council called Dr. Dhaos Amon put forward the proposal to decipher the mysteries of the Memory, the source of the Astari's power, to use it for their advantage. To this end, he requested the prisoner Lagos as a subject for his experiments into this magic. The request was ratified and Lagos passed into the hands of Amon. Lagos was then transported to a research facility called the Auroran Station of Astari Studies, set up specifically for this research project. There, he underwent numerous tests and interrogations to wrest the secrets of the Memory from him. However, Lagos stood firm and did not divulge any information. As time went by, however, it became clear to Lagos that while he remained faithful to his people, the Astari and his father had left him for dead.

Eventually, he was taken to the station's Observation Deck, restrained to a steel chair with wires and needles all over his body, where a large construct called the Inevitable awaited him. There, an Auroran (presumably Dr. Amon) explained to him that the Lagos Project would now commence. This Auroran offered Lagos one final chance to give up the secrets of his people, citing that millions could be saved. Defiant to the last, Lagos spat in the face of his captor and said nothing. Smiling in an unsettling manner, the Auroran stated they would do this the hard way and that if Lagos would not be forthcoming, his DNA and the simulacra they would make from it would. Staring into his eyes, the Auroran stated "For you see, it is inevitable," and pushed Lagos into the open torso of the construct behind him. The Inevitable proceeded to tear the Astari apart and extract his genetic material into itself for analysis. With this gruesome execution, the next phase of the Lagos Project could begin.

### The Lagos Project

After Lagos's death, the project that bore his name began in earnest. Using their advanced technology, the Aurorans began to create simulacra using Lagos's DNA. These clones were intended to possess all of Lagos's traits so that they could be tested on or feed to the Inevitable to find the source of his Memory. However, despite the Auroran's expertise with cloning, they ran into difficulties in replicating Lagos, possibly due to unfamiliarity with his Astari genetics. In addition, the Inevitable began to act strangely shortly after the start of the project, threatening the staff and voicing thoughts unprompted. It can be assumed that the spirit of Lagos (or many Lagos clones) had come to possess the machine that had killed it. Intrigued by this development, Dr Amon decided to keep the malfunctioning machine rather than destroy it. To contain it, a specialized chamber was set aside in the station, which would late become known as the Chamber of the Eight.

With the Inevitable out of the picture, the following clones were kept on the station for more conventional research. As the project progressed, each of the clones were found to be diverse but defective by Auroran standards. Each of the clones were granted titles by Dr. Amon based on their properties and stored in the Chamber for future experimentation and tests. Six imperfect clones were created over this unspecified time period, but none of them were able to unlock the secrets of the Memory. Finally, a near-perfect clone was created as the Eighth and final Lagos, being near identical to the original and possessing enhanced physicality and mental faculties. While the Memory still remained beyond their reach, the success of this clone created a new opportunity for the Federation; an Astari solider that could be weaponized against his people. The Eighth Lagos was subsequently handed over to the Auroran Navy (probably to the chagrin of Dr. Amon), and the project subsequently ran out of steam. It is unclear why the project wound down, but this clone was the final one created. However, it can be assumed that the Astari Research Station remained active until the coming disaster.

### The Jupiter Incident

The Eighth Lagos was inducted into the Navy and eventually rose to the rank of Petty Officer. It is unclear what duties they had, where they were deployed or what battles they may have participated in. Despite being a progeny of the original Lagos, the clone had no memories of his original self and believed whatever the Auroran Federation told him of his origins. However, this deliberate deception created a vulnerability to be exploited, and this Lagos clone attracted the attention of a great and terrible evil. Sealed away within the planet of Jupiter by the original Lagos's ancestor was Kaasma, the Enemy of All Life. As the war came to another standstill, the Dead God reached out to the Lagos clone and began to reveal the truth of his origins to him. It told him of the original Lagos, his capture and death at the hands of the Aurorans and how he himself was created soley as a weapon against his progenitor's people. These revelations outraged the clone with a fury befitting his namesake, and he wholeheartedly dedicated himself to Kaasma in order to take revenge against not only the Aurorans, but also the Astari who abandoned him and his brethren.

Under Kaasma's guidance, the Lagos clone travelled to Jupiter and arrived at a temple on its surface. There, he broke the seal his ancestors had wrought and unleashed Kaasma from their prison. Its release resulted in a devastating cataclysm that ignited Jupiter into a new star and obliterated both the Auroran Fleet and the surface of Io. Kaasma would then enact its judgement upon the warring races, ending their conflict and condemning them both to eternal punishment. As a means of upholding its Decrees, three godly children were manifested and dispatched to oversee the condemned in their respective Veils. With the conclusion of this disaster, henceforth remembered as the Jupiter Incident, Lagos's goal to destroy the Aurorans was almost realized. However, in an ironic twist, Kaasma imprisoned the clone who had freed him within Jupiter before it fell dormant, allowing for survivors to begin their pyrrhic colonization of their new home.

### United in Hate

The imprisoned Lagos remained in their ethereal prison for an unknown period of time, allowing the remnants of the Federation to terraform Io and reintroduce flora and fauna of their design. Eventually, they would introduce their successors, a collection of diverse humanoids in their image, and a pair of gods, DIV and VOID, to watch over them. All the while, the Lagos clone struggled against his bonds until finally he discovered something hitherto unknown. A cosmic phenomenon known as the Black Star was discovered, which Lagos readily attuned to. The reality-altering power of this awakened both himself and the other seven clones on the Station of Astari Studies to the Memory, allowing them all to share the thoughts and experiences of the original Lagos.

Each clone now bridled with hatred just as Lagos had, seeking the total annihilation of the Aurorans, the Astari and their legacy. The clones banded together and took over several of the remaining Auroran stations, including the Station of Astari Studies and the Kaasma Mind Facility. One of the clones, known as the Keeper, then tapped into the Black Star to release their imprisoned brother, only for the singularity to transport him away to another dimension. Once freed, the Eighth Lagos adopted the title of the Emissary of the End and took command of the rest of his brethren. Their mission remained unchanged: to destroy Io in the name of Kaasma and their progenitor.

### The Forsaken World

While his clones set about their mission, unbeknownst to them, the original Lagos yet endured. It is currently unknown how Lagos survived through their supposed execution at the hands of the Inevitable, but survive he did. The state of his being is yet unknown, but he were somehow able to escape the clutches of Dr. Amon and leave the Jovian System. Eventually, he would make landfall on Auroran Prime, the dead homeworld the Aurorans had left behind. His purpose there has not been revealed at this time. However, upon that forsaken world, Lagos waited in secret for millennia, as Io began to unknowingly defended itself against his legacy.

## The Lagos Simulacra

Through the Lagos Project, the Auroran Federation created many simulacra of Lagos to better understand the Astari and their powers. Of all those simulacra, eight of them are known to have survived, forming an octumvirate under their progenitor with the aim of destroying Io. The members of this collective of clones is listed below.

# The Sixth Lagos**Lagos, The Failed Simulacrum†**

## Powers and Abilities

* **Master of The Memory**: Lagos shares his Memory with all of his clones and has gained a mastery over it. As such, he is able to instantly exchange information and emotions with them and even speak through them in a manner akin to that of a hivemind.
* **Magical Ineptitude**: Lagos was unusual for an Astari in that he did not possess the capability to effectively use magic.
* **Longevity**: As an original Astari, Lagos has an extended lifespan and is currently well over 2500 years old.

## Etymology

The inspiration behind the name Lagos is unclear. While it is possibly an original name, it may be a corruption of the Greek word "*Logos*" which has several meanings including "ground", "opinion", "expectation", "word", "reason", and "discourse". Logos has become a term in multiple philosophic schools of thought like Western Philosophy, Christian Philosophy and Hellenistic Judaism. Additionally, the Logos is also a title used to refer to Jesus Christ in Christianity, derived from the biblical phrase "*In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God*".

Alternatively, it may be related to the Portuguese word "*Lagos*" which means "lakes".

## Trivia

* The original Lagos was first mentioned in *Astral Academy* Episode 11, where the Astral task force witnessed a recording of his apparent demise. He has yet to make a physical appearance in the Ioverse.
* Lagos is the only known original Astari to still be in existence. The only other known Astari survivor, Levin, was reborn from a fragment of his splintered essence, making Lagos the only one to survive the Jupiter Incident unscathed.
* Lagos is one of the oldest living characters to exist in the Ioverse, being well over 2,500 years old as of Phase 3.
* Lagos's relationship with the Memory is unique, as each of his clones simultaneously share in his memories and emotions to the point that they hold them to be their own. This is especially true of the Emissary of the End, who speaks as if he was the original Lagos when taking with Asmodeus during the *Reunion: A World of Io Lore Session* event.
* Lagos's status as an Astari warrior with little magical ability bears resemblance to the Ashen Astari, hardy red-skinned Astari descendants on Jupiter that adopted a martial lifestyle for survival. In a way, Lagos himself acts as both a precursor of their culture and the instigator of the disaster that led to their origins.
* Lagos's inability to use magic has never been explained, though it possibly stems from a genetic mutation, as none of his clones possess magical abilities outside those granted to them by Kaasma or the Black Star.
* A prequel mini-campaign about the leadup to Lagos's capture by the Aurorans was proposed after the conclusion of Phase 2 in December 2021. However, the campaign never took place and details of his capture were instead discovered during Season 3 of the *Pipe Dreamers* campaign.