Gorlen Blackhammer - The Tale of the Xelvian (Journal Entry)
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The Tale of the Xelvian
Gorlen sits down and records a journal entry. Speaking into his memory crystal, “Encrypted journal entry.” In The One Tongue, Gorlen says, “Prepping for pocket reality deep manaethereal plane expedition in search of Xelvian library. Here are my notes.”
In the forgotten annals of time, before the world was molded into its current form, there existed a magnificent civilization known as the Xelvians. They were a sister race to that of The Ones, birthed by the gods of nature and granted unparalleled wisdom to see the world in its truest form. Their cities were adorned with towering spires of crystal, and their streets were paved with coruscating stones that glowed softly under the moonlight. The Xelvian were the epitome of harmony and knowledge, their society a beacon of light in the ancient world.
Among the Xelvians’ custodianship of powerful relics and ancient secrets, one treasure stood above all; The Aether Crystal. This limitless source of energy and wisdom was not just a gift from celestial beings, but a beacon of hope and enlightenment for the Xelvians, guiding their path through the cosmos.
The Xelvians were beings of elegant grace and boundless wisdom, often called “Infinity Beings” by those who encountered their legends. Their lifespans were not measured in years but in epochs, their existence transcending the linear flow of time. To behold a Xelvian was to witness a creature woven from the very fabric of the cosmos, their forms shimmering with an inner light that pulsed in harmony with the universe’s rhythm.
Xelvians possessed an extraordinary connection to the elemental forces of nature. They could command the winds, shape the earth, and converse with the stars. Their voices carried the resonance of ancient songs, and their eyes held the reflections of galaxies. This deep communion with the cosmos granted them insights and abilities far beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. They were the keepers of the Aether Crystal, a celestial artifact channeling creation’s purest energy.
In their prime, the Xelvians built their cities not with stone and mortar but with thought and intention. Their structures floated like islands in the sky, anchored there by the will of their architects. The Xelvians’ profound understanding of metaphysical principles allowed them to manipulate space and time within their domains, creating sanctuaries of peace and enlightenment. These sanctuaries were places of pilgrimage for those seeking knowledge and spiritual ascension.
Despite their immense power, the Xelvians were not conquerors. They valued balance and harmony, seeing themselves as stewards of the universe’s mysteries. Their society was a tapestry of interwoven destinies, everyone contributing to the collective wisdom.
Now to tell this story, you have to understand The One race, and what happened to them. The One race, a breed of beings birthed at the dawn of creation by the gods of magic, was a singular entity of unlimited potential and knowledge. They were the first explorers of the cosmos, existing in a state of perfect equilibrium with the energies of the universe. Their power was seen as immeasurable, and for eons they lived in friendly competition with the Xelvians – researching the very bounds of the universe and pushing the underlying laws therein, trying to one-up the more patient Xelvians who preferred to “go with the flow” and let nature take its course.
However, as time passed, differing philosophies began to emerge within The One race. Two distinct ideologies took shape, gradually pulling the race apart. One group, who would come to be known as the Powermasters, believed that their vast power should be harnessed and wielded, in the form of spellcasting, to shape the cosmos according to their vision. They argued that their immense abilities could create a utopia where they would rule as deities, ensuring order and progress.
The other group, who became known as the Ancients, held a different view of creation, focusing on craftsmanship and engineering of magical devices. They believed that their powers of creation were the path to true power and knowledge, and were a sacred trust. They saw themselves as stewards of the universe, tasked with creating ever-more-powerful items to push the envelope of what was possible. Their culture deeply ingrained this philosophy, guiding their actions and decisions. Emerging from the schism within The One race, the Ancients embodied a philosophy of control, restraint, and curiousity about the universe’s natural order. Their creations were not just tools or artifacts but works of art, each imbued with profound intent and purpose.
Tensions between the Powermasters and the Ancients grew, fueled by debates and disagreements that could not be reconciled. The breaking point came during the Great Council, a gathering intended to heal the rift and restore unity. Instead, it became the stage for the final confrontation.
The council quickly descended into chaos as the Ancients, led by the ambitious and charismatic Zolthar, unveiled their plan to seize control of the cosmic energies. They argued that their destiny was to reshape the universe, to eliminate chaos and create a perfect order. The Powermasters, led by the wise Elara, opposed them vehemently, warning that such hubris would bring ruin.
Unable to reach a consensus, the schism became irreparable. The One race fractured, splitting into the Powermasters and the Ancients. Each group went their separate ways, the Powermasters to pursue their dreams of power, and the Ancients to bring about new and powerful creations.After the devastating fracture, a few of the remaining Ones, deeply saddened by the division and the ensuing chaos, chose to step back from the world. These enlightened beings, known as the Hidden Ones, recognized the futility of direct intervention in the escalating conflict between the Powermasters and the Ancients. They understood that overt action might exacerbate the discord and lead to further destruction. Instead, they opted for a more subtle approach, operating from the shadows to influence events without direct interference.
The decision to withdraw was rooted in a profound philosophical shift. The Ones came to believe that the true path to restoring balance lay not in direct confrontation but in fostering the conditions for growth and enlightenment from within, through research and the pursuit of knowledge. They saw their race’s fractured state as a reflection of deeper cosmic imbalances that needed to be addressed indirectly. By stepping back, they aimed to allow the natural course of evolution and self-discovery to unfold among the Powermasters and the Ancients.
Operating from their concealed sanctuaries, the Ones adopted a strategy of indirect guidance and subtle influence. They observed the actions of the Powermasters and the Ancients, intervening only when absolutely necessary to prevent catastrophic outcomes. Through dreams, visions, and cryptic messages, they imparted wisdom and warnings to those they deemed worthy or capable of understanding their guidance. They also subtly inspired acts of heroism and balance, ensuring that the essence of their wisdom continued to permeate the world.
Though their presence was unseen, the influence of the Ones was profound. Their subtle interventions and quiet guidance helped to prevent many potential disasters and steered individuals and events towards paths of greater balance and understanding. Over time, legends of mysterious, benevolent forces working behind the scenes spread across the cosmos, inspiring tales of hidden guardians and ancient protectors.
Through their decision to operate in the shadows, the Ones ensured that the spirit of The One lived on. Their legacy became one of quiet strength and enduring wisdom, a testament to the power of subtlety and the belief that true change often comes from within. In this way, they continued to shape the destiny of the cosmos, fostering a future where the fractured pieces of their race might one day find their way back to unity and harmony. Sadly, today, very few Ones still exist, and most have adopted a do not interfere approach, focusing on their research, but now and again, if the situation is big enough, they will band together to intervene and prevent a calamity.
Only a few short centuries after the fracture from the One race, tension had simmered between both factions. The Ancients and the Powermasters focused on consolidating their power and pursuing divergent philosophies. The Ancients sought to maintain balance and protect the cosmos through their craftsmanship and magical engineering mastery. At the same time, the Powermasters pursued a path of domination, using raw power and aggressive tactics. As their ambitions grew, so did their mutual distrust and animosity, setting the stage for an inevitable conflict.
The discovery of the Xelvian essence as a potent source of power became the catalyst for conflict. Both factions, driven by their own motivations, began capturing and experimenting on the Xelvians, resulting in a series of secret raids and covert operations. Tensions escalated as each side accused the other of exploiting the Xelvians and disrupting the cosmic balance. The final straw came when a prominent Xelvian sanctuary was attacked, and both sides blamed each other for the atrocity.
The Ancients saw the Powermasters aggressive actions as a direct threat to universal harmony, while the Powermasters viewed the Ancients’ interference as an obstacle to their rightful ascent. Diplomacy broke down, and old grievances resurfaced, rekindling animosities that had never truly faded.
The turning point came with discovering a large shard of the Aether Crystal, a relic of immense power capable of altering the balance between the two factions. Both the Ancients and the Powermasters believed that control of the shard would secure their dominance. A race ensued to claim it, leading to an inevitable confrontation at the crystal’s site.
The initial skirmish was brutal and decisive. The Ancients, with their superior craftsmanship, constructed formidable defenses around the crystal, while the Powermasters unleashed their raw magical prowess to breach these fortifications. The battle was fierce and costly, with heavy casualties on both sides. The Aether Crystal, caught in the crossfire, released bursts of chaotic energy that further fueled the conflict.
The battle over the Aether Crystal shard began an all-out war. With both sides unwilling to retreat or negotiate, the conflict quickly spread. The Ancients fortified their strongholds and deployed their enchanted constructs, while the Powermasters launched relentless assaults, using their amplified powers to devastating effect.
As the war raged on, the boundaries of ethical conduct eroded. Both factions resorted to increasingly desperate measures, including the use of experimental magics and forbidden technologies. Entire landscapes were transformed into war zones, with nature itself caught in the violent struggle.
The war left an indelible scar on the cosmos. Ancient cities were reduced to ruins, and once-vibrant ecosystems were turned to wastelands. The Ancients, despite their initial principles, found themselves compromising their values in the face of annihilation. The Powermasters, driven by their lust for power, became ever more ruthless and destructive.
The Xelvians, caught between the warring factions, suffered immensely. Their population dwindled, inching closer to extinction, and their sacred sites were desecrated.
As the war between the Ancients and the Powermasters raged on, its devastation and chaos reached a tipping point. The very fabric of the cosmos began to tremble under the strain of their relentless conflict. Watching from their hidden sanctuaries, the Ones who had chosen to step back from direct involvement realized their intervention was now imperative. The universe’s balance was at stake, and the unchecked power struggles of their fractured descendants threatened to unravel everything The One race had ever stood for.
The Ones, now known as the Hidden Ones, convened in a timeless realm beyond the reach of the warring factions and prying eyes, known as the deep manaethereal. Here, they shared visions of the future, contemplating the possible outcomes of continued conflict. It became clear that the Aether Crystal, the powerful artifact at the heart of the struggle, needed to be removed from the equation. Its very existence was a magnet for discord, and neither the Ancients nor the Powermasters could be trusted to wield its power responsibly.
After much deliberation, the Ones devised a plan to intervene subtly yet decisively. They would extract the Aether Crystal from the physical realm, transporting it to a place where neither faction could reach it. This plan required a delicate balance of power and precision, ensuring that their actions would not further destabilize the already fragile cosmos.
The Ones called upon the most skilled beings who retained the profound abilities of their unified heritage. They would work together to create a dimensional rift, a pocket of reality hidden in the manaethereal Deep where the Aether Crystal could be safely hidden away along with the remaining Xelvians and wipe all memory and recorded history of them, preserving them in stasis for them to return one day. This realm would be protected by layers of enchantments and barriers, impervious to even the most potent of the Powermasters’ and Ancients’ magics.
On a night when the energies of the cosmos were most aligned, the Ones enacted their plan. Using a combination of ancient rites and powerful spells, they converged on the battlefield where the latest skirmish over the Aether Crystal was taking place. Invisible to both sides, the Ones wove their magic with silent, unprecedented precision, leveraging the crystal’s power and One magic. As the combatants clashed, the Aether Crystal began to glow with an otherworldly light. In a blinding flash, the Aether Crystal, the remaining Xelvians, and all memory or record of them vanished even from the gods, leaving both the Ancients and Powermasters stunned and disoriented. Confused about their goal or why they were there, the battlefield fell silent, the fury of the conflict momentarily halted by the sudden and inexplicable absence of the artifact that had fueled their war.
The removal of the Aether Crystal and the disappearance of all Xelvians had an immediate impact. Deprived of their ultimate source of power, both factions found their momentum faltering. The Ancients, who had relied on the Xelvian essence and crystal to bolster their defenses, were forced to rethink their strategies. The Powermasters, deprived of powerful spell components and a power source that promised them dominance, were left in disarray.
In the sudden lull, voices calling for peace and reflection grew louder. The more enlightened members of both factions began to see the futility of their struggle. The Ones, still operating from the shadows, subtly influenced these peace efforts, encouraging dialogue and reconciliation. This brought precarious peace for a time, but as the Ones discovered, the two races regrouped and were eventually back to war a short century later, in a constant push and pull for power.
Based upon my research and what I have learned since arriving in the manaethereal universe. The Xelvian Library, ensconced in stasis within the deep manaethereal plane, is a marvel of arcane architecture and ancient knowledge. This legendary repository exists outside conventional time and space, floating serenely amidst a swirling nebula of raw, unrefined mana.
The library is an expansive, labyrinthine structure composed of a unique blend of ethereal crystal and enchanted stone, glowing with a soft, otherworldly light. Its walls shimmer with an iridescent hue, shifting colors like the surface of a calm, magical sea. The corridors are lined with towering shelves that stretch infinitely upward, filled with tomes, scrolls, and grimoires containing knowledge from countless worlds and epochs.
Powerful enchantments hold the library in a state of perpetual stasis. Time within the library flows differently than in the outside world, allowing the preservation of ancient texts and artifacts without the risk of decay or corruption. This stasis also ensures that the library remains unaffected by the passage of time, allowing guests to study and explore for what might feel like days or weeks. Still, only moments pass in the material plane.
The deep manaethereal plane imbues the library with an almost sentient awareness. The very air within the library hums with latent energy, and the texts themselves seem to respond to the presence of scholars, pages turning of their own accord to reveal pertinent information. This ambient magic enhances the research experience, allowing for intuitive leaps in understanding and connections between disparate pieces of knowledge.
I theorize the Xelvian Library holds secrets far beyond mortal comprehension, including the original spells of creation, records of forgotten gods, and prophecies yet to unfold. It is said that deep within the library lies the Codex of Eternity, a mythical book that contains the true nature of reality itself, accessible only to those deemed worthy by the library’s enigmatic consciousness.
And with the Library itself in stasis, I suspect The Ones spell caught a few Xelvians in the library at the time of them casting their spell and got caught up in it, so I may get to see one up close.
End of recording.
