Forum:Lore:Unconected

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Unconected is a Lore book introduced in Episode: Rebirth. Entries are unlocked by completing the Weekly Challenge for the Congressional Offensive activity. It is written from Tivon's perspective and describes the rise of his species, the Quassin and his rise into a Disciple of the Witness.

I: Alone in the Dark

A lone planet drifts in the darkness. No system to belong to, star to orbit or a black hole to slowly fall into and be torn apart by its superior gravity. A single tiny moon that had been caught in its gravity and dragged along on its endless journey is its only companion. With no star to warm its surface, the planet's surface is covered with miles of ice that reaches several miles down.

There is no life on the surface. While the icy surface is so thick that any meteors break upon it that an unkept sword against a shield and stray gamma-ray bursts cannot cut through it, leaving scars they leave quickly fade, any creature capable of surviving outside forces would need to survive in subzero temperatures with what can barely be described as an atmosphere so thin that it's virtually impossible to breathe.

And yet, deep under the ice in the freezing ocean, there is life.

- - -

Deep under miles of thick ice, the only warmth available comes from hydrothermal vents. Fish gather close to feed from the bacteria feeding from the inorganic components the vents produce and to warm themselves before venturing into the dark waters.

Beyond the borders of the bubble of light, at the weakest point, there is another light — a faint blue pulse. It catches the attention of one fish and it begins to drift towards it. In its transfixed state, it fails to see the figure hidden in the dark. Three sharp claws tip the ends of its webbed hands and feet. Its thin limbs lightly motion to keep it steady as blank bulbous eyes focus on the approaching little thing.

Suddenly, the creature lunges forward. The claws sink into the fish as it thrashes to escape. Rows of needle-sharp teeth rend into the flesh as the other fish, disturbed, flee into the shadows.

Now alone, the creature paddles to the vents to warm for a moment before returning to the dark and waiting.

Over time, though its passage was missing in the absence of light, this was how these creatures that would come to be known as the Quassin lived. Smarter than the fish they hunted, but still very much beasts. They learned to work in groups to catch larger food and create bladed weapons from rock and ice to kill more easily. The groups grew into Shoals and a primitive culture began to form - building primitive homes of soft rock and spit around the hydrothermal vents.

Masked and protected by the roof of ice over their heads, thicker than any cutting tool they could craft, they were free to craft, to hunt, to live in safety, cut off from the universe and the dangers it posed.

II: Link to Evolution

A hunter paddles with haste to the village, many move aside as he heads for their Shoal's leader, speaking of a crack in the Ice Roof and light leaking from it. Moments later, the hunter leaves, followed by Shoal-leader Akrish himself and three of his guards. It was rare for Shoal-leaders to venture beyond their group, and only for most dire circumstances. A Shoal is weak, disorganized and susceptible to larger predators without one.

Something leaks from cracks in the ice roof. It is glowing, brighter than any glow their ancestors and hunters used to lure simpler-minded prey can produce. It is pure... Beautiful. The hunter approaches slowly and reaches out a hand. Akrish's guards raise their weapons in defense, believing the leaking light to be a tactic of some great beast waiting to emerge and swallow him, like colossal Haze Fish that prey on any Quassin that wanders too far into the deep alone.

The light curls around the hunter's hand and settles in his palm. He can feel the potential in it. He can see a way to change the world to benefit them. Seeing it as safe, Akrish reached out next and he felt the same. More and more of the leader's escorts reach out. In time, more Shoal-leaders would learn of this leak and make a pilgrimage to investigate. They were greeted in kindness, rather than anger. They reached out to the next and the next until all of the Quassin knew the Light. They evolved at a rapid pace.

The Light allowed them to shape their world, creating materials never possible in their world before. It allowed them to build marvels, better weapons and homes, and even ways to dig through and survive on the surface. Upon reaching the surface, the Quassin would discover the source of the Light.

Their sky had two moons. One lies low in the sky, dominating their view, its bright white shell reminds them of a Pearl. A God-Pearl.

- - -

"And since then, we have held the God Pearl in high reverence, for it helped us break free!" proclaims Talekeeper Virish. The bioluminescent lighters illuminated his stage and the audience of Quassin children sat before him to listen to this recounting of their origins. Many clamored and whispered amongst themselves, but one Tivon nearly watched in silent wonder as the Talekeeper continued.

"And even though the God Pearl left our world, we have not lost our connection to its power. Perhaps one day, we will leave our home. Perhaps one day, we will find the God-Pearl." The Talekeeper spun as he paddled upward and outstretched his arms towards the sky. The gathering of young Quassin cheered and clapped in joy. Tivon looked up to the ice roof over their heads and imagined seeing the God Pearl with his own eyes.

III: Quest for Truth

Tivon breaches the surface clad in a pressure suit. It is designed to maintain the environment his species had grown accustomed to for a short time on the surface, using a layer of water in the suit to allow him to breathe.

Perhaps his people would walk the surface in time without them, he thinks.

It is so cold on the surface that Tivon shivers, even though the water layer feels tepid by comparison. He pushes the feeling away as he treks on in search of something. For many years, he has been plagued by dreams. They are irregular dreams, but he can recall how they go every time.

It always starts on the surface. Clothed in only his deep-sea garment, he looks up to see the God-Pearl in the sky. Its bright radiance forces the young Quassin to look away, but it slowly becomes dimmer. He looks up to see the God-Pearl growing smaller in the sky as it leaves their world. He cries and shouts for it to return, but it doesn’t listen.

He falls to his knees in anguish, crying until he awakes. As he grew older, the ending of the dream changed. A mysterious figure clad in black stands before him, looking up at the space the God-Pearl once filled. Its head billows with smoke, and more heads are visible from within. It turns to the kneeling Tivon, reaches out a hand, and whispers a single word.

—- Join us —-

The dream ends a few seconds later, but he reaches out more each time.

He tries to recall another story from the Talekeeper to distract him from the cold.

Many years ago, their home was visited by an alien force. Not invaders, studiers. They wished to know of their mysterious world. The studiers believed the planet desolate, until the first contact with a small Quassin explorer School. Both parties reach for a weapon for the unknown creatures.

Tivon recalls Talekeeper Virish's reenactment of the tale, with stone-craved masks for the visitors, and it made him chuckle.

Eventually, one of the visitors managed to calm the situation. They called themselves explorers, members of an interstellar empire. They offered the Quassin to join them as a "Client" for their Habitable World. They in turn are offered to see their home.

A representative of the Quassin left their world to speak with the Habitable World. He is never heard from again.

They are alone again.

IV: Mercy in Ignorance

(A figure stands before me. He is tall and thin. Its arms fold behind his back as it looks down on me. Six eyes from a thin rectangular head focus on me.)

"Who are you?"

"I have many names. Fearmonger. Upender. Disciple."

"... I am Tivon."

"Why are you here, child, all alone?"

"I have been experiencing dreams of a figure in black. You are not him."

(The thin figure throws his head back in a brief laugh.)

"No, child, I am not. But you are not so far off in your search, for I am a Disciple of that very being - the Witness."

"Witness?"

V: Dismembrance

I saw the Final Shape for what it truly was. In the times since my trial, I learned of its interpretations of my fellow Disciples.

Every sound of the universe crescendoing in a final chorus of horror and beauty. A realisation for all that exists to strip away all that separates them. The perfect design crafted from the memory of an existence that came before. A reality whittled down to a sharpened everlasting state by blade and claw. A merger of one's self with the fabric of the universe.

They are all wrong! All false!

I alone knew the True Final Shape. The universe drowning in Darkness, then life is reborn from it, stronger than before. Just like I was.

Just like the Taken.

I saw this in the extinction of the primitive Val'a. Their replicatory abilities were easily outpaced by the sheer numbers of the Taken.

I saw it in the destruction of the Averest Dominion. The fleets of those machine-filth were easily corrupted and twisted by their Blight.

I saw it in the Hive of the Taken King, begging for the privilege of being Taken. I tried to gift that privilege to all Hive, but I was stopped by our Witness.