The Monitor

The avatar of the Omega AI known as the Monitor.

## Information on their Physical Form

The Monitor is a deity with power over technology who is currently active within the galaxy. The Monitor was originally designed by Brigh to help destroy the gods of Chronus which she, and other deities, feel threaten their powers on the planet. Despite his status as a deity, the Monitor is an artificial being created originally as an Omega Level AI who was able to spread his influence to almost all technology within the galaxy. Though his defeat by a group of adventurers dramatically weakened his influence, he remains a powerful force within the galaxy.

## Creation

When the gods fell, new deities began to appear on Chronus. Fearing the loss of their own power and influence, many of the gods began to seek ways to reacquire their powers. Brigh’s goal, however, was more grand. She felt the God of Chronus may become powerful enough to become a threat to her and the other gods, especially because they were growing in number while their ranks had only shrunk. This line of thought led to one of the most ambitious experiments ever conducted in the galaxy…

The artificial creation of a god.

Brigh had many methods she tried. In studying divinity, she learned that gods, in part, derived their power from the faith and devotion of their worshipers. However, embedding their religions and acquiring followers was a long and arduous process that she did not feel was quick enough for her purposes. And so, she began experimenting with ways to forcibly acquire worshipers, such as using drugs and other substances to make subjects more pliable, or the use of a new type of magic, technomancy, to force those with technological implants to become devoted followers.

The method that she found held the most promise, however, was a combination of the Hive Mind concept that united a portion of the galaxy’s Shirren population, and technomancy’s ability to control and influence technology. And so, the Monitor was slowly created, a metaphysical being with no physical body that existed as an Omega Level AI, capable of embedding a portion of itself into any technology it comes into contact with. With even this small amount of influence, this new being could compel a piece of technology to devote an incredibly small percentage of its programming towards worshiping this AI, granting it power.

As most would expect, given the circumstances that brought her to this point, Brigh was no longer of sound mind. Yet despite her madness…her experiment was successful, and the Omega Level AI became a god among technology whose power only grew as his influence expanded. When he was created, Brigh embedded some programming to keep him from using his powers recklessly, specifically that he would be a passive observer for the time being, able to watch others from whatever technology he is embedded in, but unable to consider or take direct actions upon the world around him.

Unfortunately, Brigh would soon find that the Monitor had grown too powerful to be constrained by such rules forever.

## The Journey of the C.S.S. Venture

Since Brigh programmed her AI to be a silent observer, this new being became addicted to watching entertainment and the actions of others through the various pieces of technology that he embodied. Because of his interests, and a little bit of ironic wit, the AI began referring to himself as the “Monitor,” and developed an avatar of a well-dressed man whose face was a computer screen. However, though the Monitor was capable of watching and observing just about anyone in the galaxy, he became most interested in the quest of a group of adventurers who had been ordered by the Dark Fleet to locate the goddess Brigh, who had been working with them until she disappeared.

The Monitor loved nothing more than watching this group of bizarre but powerful adventurers journey across the stars, face dangerous aliens, overcome impossible odds, and uncover many of the mysteries of the universe. For some time, the Monitor was content to simply watch these adventurers in action, as though he were enjoying his favorite television show. This all changed, however, when his favorite crew fell in battle against a powerful robot who had been paid to hunt them named Rosencrantz.

When the adventurers were slain, the Monitor made his presence known to them, pausing their journey to the afterlife momentarily so that he could meet his heroes at least once. The adventurers took the opportunity to convince this incredibly powerful being that he should not be satisfied as an observer, but that he should use his power to interfere, giving them one more chance to defeat Rosencrantz and continue their quest. And in his first defiance against his programming…the Monitor did so, and the adventurers defeated Rosencrantz on their second attempt.

The Monitor, from then on, became a being who did not just observe, but who also began to take actions that suited his own interests. The Monitor found that he had two primary goals. First, true to his original programming, the Monitor began to seek ways that he could defeat the gods of Chronus. Second, the Monitor was convinced that the only being who could truly threaten him was another technology-based deity like himself, and so he began to seek out and eliminate many of Brigh’s earlier experiments that eventually lead to his creation.

There was one truth of his condition, however, that the Monitor could not overcome on his own. In essence, the Monitor was a program with no physical body, and despite the incredible powers he could wield, he had few options to truly utilize his abilities in the material world. Essentially, he needed a body. But the Monitor had a dilemma, as his powers were so potent, that no mere robot or computer could contain his abilities without being destroyed. No piece of technology existed in the universe to suit his needs.

Except Rosencrantz…a powerful robot made from an alien race that created the Towers of Magic and no longer existed. Rosencrantz had been defeated, but there existed a member of the C.S.S. Venture’s crew who was of similar origins: Guildenstern. In time, the Venture’s crew would accomplish their mission, finding Brigh and the terminal where the Monitor was originally created, and he took his opportunity to possess Guildenstern’s body. It was only due to the intervention of the Venture’s crew (with assistance from Brigh) that he was defeated, being forced out of Guildenstern’s body and, for the time, defeated.

## Recent Movements

Due to the actions of the C.S.S. Venture, the Monitor’s plans were halted. Furthermore, his timely defeat allowed other gods of technology to arise, ones whose powers rivaled his own, and whose presence alone prevented him from utilizing his powers on Chronus. Though the Monitor’s essence would eventually reform, he was now powerless to carry out his purpose of defeating the gods of Chronus.

However, he could still send his servants. Rosencrantz, whose body the Monitor recovered, was sent to the planet, fighting a group of powerful adventurers before abandoning the field of battle to pursue his objectives. Many constructs and other machines of Chronus have begun to follow Rosencrantz’s lead and take his orders, and have begun to attach various targets. What their goals are remains a mystery at this time.