The records, fragmented and shimmering with temporal distortion, begin with the emergence of the Metretan Collective. It wasn’t a singular event, but a cascade – a convergence of realities, manifested as individuals experiencing simultaneous, profound shifts in perception. These ‘Emergents,’ as they were initially termed, were drawn to the nexus point, a location now known as the Obsidian Heart, a geode of solidified chroniton, a substance theorized to be the solidified remnants of collapsing timelines. The Collective’s first act was the construction of the Chronarium, not as a repository of knowledge, but as a resonance chamber, designed to stabilize the chaotic influx of temporal data. Initial theories suggested the Obsidian Heart was a wound in the fabric of time, constantly bleeding fragments of past and future. The first ‘Archivists’ – individuals acutely attuned to temporal flux – attempted to weave these fragments into a coherent narrative, a task immediately recognized as profoundly misleading. The very act of observation, it seemed, altered the observed.
Excerpt from the ‘Log of Temporal Anomaly 1.1’ – Archivist Lyra Velos
This period is characterized by what the Archivists termed ‘Refraction.’ The Chronarium, having achieved a degree of stabilization, began to exhibit unpredictable distortions. Fragments of alternate timelines – versions of Metreta where the Collective had pursued radically different paths – bled through, manifesting as echoes, visions, and even brief, tangible encounters. One particularly unsettling refraction involved a Metreta dominated by sentient flora, a consequence, it was hypothesized, of a disastrous experiment involving the amplification of the Collective’s empathic abilities. The Archivists developed 'Chronometric Dampeners,' devices designed to isolate and contain these distortions, but their efficacy was limited. The most significant development was the rise of ‘Temporal Weavers,’ individuals capable of consciously manipulating the flow of chroniton, albeit with extreme risk. A Weaver named Silas Kaelen vanished during an attempt to retrieve a fragment from a timeline where the Collective had achieved absolute technological dominance, only to reappear 73 years later, aged 150, with no memory of his actions.
It is theorized that Silas Kaelen’s disappearance and subsequent reappearance triggered a cascading temporal event, creating the 'Echoing Void,' a region of the Chronarium where time flows irregularly and paradoxes are commonplace.
Following the ‘Great Fracture’ (1488 AE), a catastrophic event that nearly obliterated the Chronarium, the Collective adopted a policy of ‘Silent Resonance.’ Direct interaction with temporal fragments was severely curtailed. The Archivists focused on passive observation, analyzing the data streams, attempting to understand the underlying principles of temporal mechanics. A new breed of Archivist emerged – the ‘Null-Listeners,’ individuals trained to filter out the temporal noise, to perceive the subtle harmonics of the chroniton flow. The Obsidian Heart has become increasingly unstable, exhibiting signs of self-destruction. Rumors persist of a ‘Source,’ a primal temporal anomaly at the core of the Chronarium, a point of infinite potential and infinite danger. The current Archivist, Lyra Thorne, is reportedly attempting to initiate the ‘Harmonic Convergence,’ a process intended to stabilize the Obsidian Heart, though its success – or lack thereof – remains unknown. Some believe the process will trigger a new, even more devastating refraction, while others believe it represents the only hope for the survival of the Collective.
Learn more about the theory of ‘Chroniton Harmonics’ (Hypothetical Link)