Before the fracturing, before the sundering of time itself, there existed Getraer. Not a planet, not a star system, but a nexus – a locus of temporal resonance. The source of this resonance was the Obsidian Bloom, a sentient entity of pure chronal energy. It wasn't beautiful in the conventional sense; rather, it pulsed with a deep, internal darkness, a reflection of the infinite possibilities contained within each moment. The Bloom dictated the flow of time within Getraer, creating localized temporal eddies and allowing for the possibility of observing, influencing, and even briefly *dwelling* within alternate timelines.
The inhabitants of Getraer, the Chronomasters, were not born; they were *woven* from the Bloom's energy. They possessed the ability to manipulate time on a scale unimaginable to most sentient races. Their cities, constructed from solidified chronal energy, shimmered with overlapping timelines, a testament to their mastery. They didn't age; instead, they experienced time in a fragmented, non-linear fashion, simultaneously existing across countless iterations of their own lives.
The primary focus of the Chronomasters was the study of Temporal Anomalies – rips and distortions in the fabric of time. These anomalies were not random occurrences; they were considered the ‘signatures’ of significant events, powerful emotions, or moments of profound decision-making. Each anomaly was meticulously cataloged and analyzed, forming the basis of the Chronarium's vast knowledge database.
The Chronarium's existence ended with the Great Sundering. It wasn’t a natural event. It was a *choice*. Driven by a growing awareness of the potential for catastrophic paradoxes – the realization that even the smallest alteration to the past could unravel the entirety of existence – a council of Chronomasters initiated a process known as ‘Temporal Containment’.
Using a device known as the Chronal Regulator, they attempted to stabilize the temporal resonances of Getraer. However, the Regulator was fundamentally flawed, built upon a flawed understanding of the Bloom's nature. Its activation triggered a cascading effect, amplifying the temporal distortions until they reached a critical threshold. The Bloom, reacting violently to this intrusion, unleashed a wave of chronal energy that shattered Getraer into countless fragments, scattering them across the multiverse.
The fragments, now known as ‘Chronoshells’, still exist, drifting through the currents of time. Each Chronoshell contains a small, isolated instance of Getraer, perpetually repeating its last moments before the Sundering. Some are incredibly stable, while others are volatile, prone to collapsing into nothingness. The Chronomasters, in their final act, imprinted a warning onto each Chronoshell: “Do not seek to control time. Seek only to understand it.”
Fragments of Getraer have manifested in countless other realities – subtle shifts in probability, temporal glitches, and the occasional fully realized Chronoshell. Some believe that specific historical events are influenced by the lingering presence of Getraer. The appearance of objects or individuals with seemingly impossible knowledge, or those exhibiting an unnatural awareness of time, are often attributed to these echoes.
Certain cults and organizations dedicate themselves to finding and studying Chronoshells, hoping to unlock the secrets of the Bloom and harness its power. However, they are often met with resistance—either by the temporal defenses inherent in the Chronoshells themselves, or by the remnants of the Chronomasters, who remain vigilant, guarding the knowledge of Getraer and the warning against temporal manipulation.
The most potent Chronoshells are rumored to be located within the ‘Temporal Nexus’ – a region of spacetime where the boundaries between realities are particularly thin. This location is constantly shifting and changing, making it nearly impossible to locate, and extremely dangerous to access. Legend says that within the Nexus resides a single, perfect Chronoshell - the original, unfragmented heart of the Obsidian Bloom.