Aranda is not a place, not in the conventional sense. It is a resonance, a distortion in the weave of reality centered around the Obsidian Bloom – a phenomenon of impossible flora and fractured time. Legends speak of it existing within the Silken Expanse, a region perpetually veiled in iridescent mist, where the laws of physics yield to the whim of the Bloom.
The Bloom wasn’t born; it simply *shifted*. Scholars of the Chronal Drift – a closely guarded order dedicated to understanding temporal anomalies – believe it originates from a point of hyper-density, a nexus where timelines converge and diverge with chaotic elegance. The initial burst of the Bloom was described as a cascade of color, a sonic dissonance, and a sensation of falling *upward* – a disorientation that irrevocably altered the surrounding environment.
Early recordings, recovered from fragmented Chronal Echoes (residual imprints of temporal events), depict the Bloom as a being of pure energy, capable of manipulating not only time, but also the very composition of matter. Its tendrils, composed of shimmering obsidian and pulsating light, reached out, consuming and reshaping the landscape. The Silken Expanse, previously a desolate expanse of grey rock, blossomed into a jungle of towering, bioluminescent fungi, crystalline vines, and flowers that unfolded in reverse.
The Order of the Obsidian Eye was established centuries after the initial Bloom event. Their mandate: to contain, understand, and, if possible, neutralize the temporal distortions. Their research focuses on the ‘Echoes’ – the fragmented remnants of events caused by the Bloom’s influence. Each Echo represents a potential threat, a ripple that could unravel the fabric of reality. The Order utilizes specialized Chronal Anchors – devices capable of stabilizing temporal flows – and the 'Veil Wardens' – warriors trained to navigate the distorted realities of the Expanse.
The Order's headquarters, the Citadel of Chronos, is built within a naturally formed temporal eddy, granting it a degree of protection against the Bloom's influence. However, even the Citadel is vulnerable; the Bloom seems to actively seek out points of temporal instability, attempting to amplify them.
Within the Silken Expanse, several significant anomalies have been identified:
Recent Chronal Echoes have revealed a disturbing trend: the Bloom's influence is growing. The temporal distortions are becoming more frequent, more intense. The Order believes the Bloom isn't simply existing; it's *evolving*, becoming more aware, more *active*. There are whispers of a 'Core Bloom' – a central nexus of temporal energy that directs the Bloom’s activities. Locating and neutralizing this Core Bloom is now the Order’s paramount objective.