Borderies, as the scholars of the Obsidian Archive whisper, aren’t merely places. They’re echoes. Remnants of moments so potent, so intrinsically linked to the weave of reality, that they’ve become… unstable. Aethel, the primary Borderie, isn’t a geographical location in the conventional sense. It’s a convergence point – a tear in the fabric where the echoes of the First Binding, the event that established the fundamental laws of this realm, are perpetually replayed.
The air itself in Aethel hums with a dissonant harmony. Colors shift without cause, objects momentarily phase out of existence, and the very ground beneath your feet seems to breathe. This isn’t a chaotic disruption, however. It’s a focused intensity, a concentrated dose of the raw energy of creation.
The inhabitants of Aethel, the ‘Resonants,’ as they’re known, are beings intrinsically tied to the Borderie’s instability. They possess a limited ability to manipulate the echoes, to momentarily alter the past – though this is a dangerous practice, prone to catastrophic consequences. Their faces are often blurred, their memories fragmented, reflecting the constant flux of the Borderie.
Legend speaks of the ‘Nullstone,’ a crystalline artifact said to be capable of stabilizing the echoes. However, its location is lost, rumored to be hidden within the ‘Dream Labyrinth,’ a constantly shifting maze of illusions and memories within Aethel itself.
Veridian, the second most prominent Borderie, is associated with the concept of ‘Loss.’ It’s a place where forgotten memories, discarded emotions, and unrealized potential coalesce. The landscape is perpetually draped in a thick, melancholic mist, and the air is thick with the scent of rain and regret.
Unlike Aethel, which is a place of active creation, Veridian is a place of passive dissolution. It’s not about building something new, but about letting go of what no longer serves. Many seek Veridian to confront their past, to find closure, or simply to accept the inevitable decay of all things.
The dominant species within Veridian are the ‘Silents,’ beings who have voluntarily surrendered their memories and emotions to the Borderie. They exist in a state of perpetual contemplation, drifting through the mist, their purpose unknown, their faces serene and unreadable. Some believe they are guardians, protecting the Borderie from further corruption.
Rumors persist of a ‘River of Tears,’ flowing through the heart of Veridian. Legend says that drinking from this river will grant you access to the memories of everyone who has ever wept within its boundaries – a terrifying prospect for those seeking wisdom, and a dangerous temptation for those consumed by grief.
The Obsidian Bloom is the most enigmatic of the three Borderies. It exists outside of time, a place of pure potential. It’s described as a landscape of impossible geometries, where light bends and shadows dance in defiance of logic. The air is silent, devoid of all sensation, save for a profound sense of unease.
The primary inhabitants of the Obsidian Bloom are the ‘Echoes,’ not in the sense of sentient beings, but of raw, untamed potential. These aren't the echoes of past events, but rather the possibilities that *could* have been. They manifest as shimmering, abstract forms, constantly shifting and rearranging themselves.
Many who enter the Obsidian Bloom never return, or if they do, they are irrevocably changed. Some claim to have glimpsed the true nature of reality, while others have simply lost their minds, consumed by the overwhelming weight of infinite possibilities.
The heart of the Obsidian Bloom is said to be a ‘Seed of Creation,’ a point where all potential realities converge. Touching this seed is rumored to grant you the power to reshape reality itself, but at a terrible cost: the complete annihilation of your own self.