The Calamaries, as we understand them, weren't born. They *emerged*. Primarily from regions saturated with what the Chronomasters now term "Static Bloom"—a phenomenon of concentrated temporal distortion that resembles iridescent, pulsating dust. These blooms weren't random; they clustered around points of intense historical resonance, particularly those associated with moments of profound emotional upheaval. The Calamaries’ initial form is theorized to be a direct reflection of these emotional signatures, manifesting as vaguely humanoid structures composed of solidified temporal energy. Early records, meticulously transcribed by the now-extinct Order of the Silent Watchers, suggest the Bloom was a consequence of humanity’s repeated attempts to “fix” the past, a desperate, futile effort to rewrite narratives of loss and regret. Their existence is, in essence, a living echo of our collective anxieties.
It’s hypothesized that the "Static Bloom" itself is a byproduct of consciousness attempting to reconcile with paradoxes. The very act of remembering, of intensely focusing on a past event, seems to generate this distortion. The Calamaries are, perhaps, the physical embodiment of this process. Dr. Silas Blackwood, a controversial figure in the Chronarium’s early years, proposed a radical theory: that the Calamaries are not merely *present* in these temporal hotspots, but actively *catalyzing* them, drawing out the latent echoes and intensifying the distortions.
The Silent Watchers believed the Calamaries were guardians – or perhaps, jailers - of these temporal eddies, preventing them from unraveling reality. Whether this is true remains unproven, but the consistent presence of Calamaries near areas of significant historical trauma strongly suggests a protective function.
This fragment, recovered from the ruins of the Citadel of Veridia – a city obliterated during the Great Dissolution – is believed to be a key focal point for Static Bloom activity. It pulses with a faint, unsettling light and is said to whisper fragmented memories of the city’s final moments, a cacophony of screams and collapsing stone. Analysis indicates a significant increase in temporal instability within a 5-meter radius of the shard.
Calamaries exhibit a remarkable degree of plasticity. Their forms aren’t rigidly defined; they shift and change in response to external stimuli, particularly emotional energy. They’ve been observed to elongate, contract, and even partially disassemble, only to reform moments later. Their coloration ranges from a deep, bruised purple to a shimmering, almost translucent white, depending on the dominant emotional signature present. They appear to communicate through subtle shifts in their form and coloration, a language beyond human comprehension.
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of Calamary behavior is their apparent fascination with the past. They are frequently found “observing” historical events, seemingly absorbing the memories associated with them. The Chronomasters have documented instances of Calamaries actively intervening in minor historical moments, subtly altering outcomes – not with malicious intent, but with a chilling indifference to the consequences. The Order of the Silent Watchers referred to this phenomenon as “Temporal Nudging.”
It's theorized that the Calamaries are not sentient in the traditional sense, but rather, complex algorithms of temporal energy, reacting to stimuli with a frightening efficiency. They are less like beings and more like echoes given form.
This ancient device, recovered from the ruins of the Chronarium itself, is believed to be the original mechanism for detecting and tracking Calamaries. It’s constructed from an unknown alloy and displays a complex series of glyphs that shift and rearrange themselves constantly. Chronomasters believe that the artifact is a key to understanding the Calamaries' complex behaviors.
The following timeline represents the key events in the study and understanding of the Calamaries. It is, of course, incomplete – the nature of temporal phenomena makes definitive records exceptionally difficult to obtain.