The records, fragmented and often contradictory, speak of a time before the Convergence. Before the skies bled with iridescent storms and the continents shifted like restless dreams. They speak of the Architects, beings of pure energy who shaped the world, not with hands, but with intention. Their purpose? To cultivate a world of unparalleled beauty and complexity, a symphony of life orchestrated across countless dimensions. But hubris, as it always does, followed. The Architects sought to unravel the very fabric of reality, to glimpse the source of creation itself. The result was the Shattering – a cataclysmic event that ripped apart the dimensional tapestry, unleashing chaotic energies and warping the landscape into the fractured world we know today.
The most enduring legend centers around the Obsidian Heart, a core of concentrated dimensional energy said to have been used in the initial experiments. Its location remains unknown, though whispers claim it pulses beneath the ruins of Old Valoria, a city consumed by the storm known as the ‘Crimson Cascade’.
From the ashes of the Architects’ ambition rose the tribes. These weren’t merely human; they were ‘Touched’ – individuals who absorbed fragments of dimensional energy, granting them unique abilities and physical alterations. Some gained control over the weather, summoning torrential downpours or whispering winds. Others developed bioluminescence, radiating an ethereal glow. Still others manifested chitinous armor, becoming living siege engines. The tribes evolved in response to the chaotic energies, adapting and fighting for survival in a world perpetually on the brink of collapse.
The most prominent tribes include the Sylvani, masters of bio-manipulation; the Kryll, renowned for their resilience and storm-based abilities; and the Vorax, a brutal warrior culture known for their obsidian weaponry and unwavering loyalty.
The Convergence is the process by which dimensional rifts bleed into the world, creating 'Echoes' – pockets of distorted reality where the laws of physics are malleable and the past, present, and future collide. These Echoes are both a source of immense power and terrifying danger. Exploiting them requires a deep understanding of dimensional harmonics, a skill honed by generations of ‘Harmonizers’ – individuals capable of navigating the chaotic energies.
The Kryll, particularly, have mastered the art of ‘Echo-weaving’, utilizing the fragmented realities to create powerful weapons and defensive barriers. But the process is inherently unstable, and a misstep can lead to catastrophic consequences – the complete erasure of a location, the arrival of long-dead warriors, or the unleashing of creatures that defy comprehension.
“When the skies weep crimson, and the echoes scream, a child born of the shattered dimensions will rise to either save us or usher in the final unraveling.”
Aethelgard, a city said to have been built upon a nexus of dimensional energy, vanished without a trace during the Convergence. Some believe it was swallowed by a particularly violent Echo, while others whisper that it ascended to a higher dimension, becoming a beacon for the Architects’ return.
These enigmatic artifacts record fragments of past events, but their recordings are often incomplete, distorted, and prone to shifting across time. Interpreting them is a perilous undertaking, as even the slightest alteration to the timeline can have devastating repercussions.
The world of Martemper remains a realm of uncertainty. The Convergence continues to accelerate, the Echoes grow stronger, and the tribes struggle to maintain control. The search for the Obsidian Heart persists, fueled by the hope of unlocking its power or, perhaps, preventing its catastrophic release. Ultimately, the fate of Martemper rests on the shoulders of those who dare to venture into the shattered dimensions, to confront the echoes of the past, and to shape the uncertain future.