The Myiarchus are not creatures of this reality, not entirely. Their genesis lies within the Chronal Rifts – unstable tears in the fabric of spacetime where echoes of potential futures and forgotten pasts coalesce. They are, in essence, fragments of temporal causality given tangible form. The initial observations, recorded by the Chronomasters of the Obsidian Archive, indicate a species that predates even the recorded epochs of the First Ascendancy. These early records, heavily reliant on extrapolated chronometry, suggest a society built around the manipulation of localized time fields – a practice now considered dangerously unstable and, frankly, insane.
“The Serpent’s Scales shift not with the turning of the sun, but with the fracturing of moments.” – Chronomaster Silas Blackwood, 7843 AE
“The Myiarchus exhibit a disconcerting resistance to linear temporal progression. Attempts to observe them through standard chronometric lenses result in distortions, visual echoes, and… unsettling sensations. They seem to actively resist categorization within a temporal framework.” – Dr. Lyra Meridian, Temporal Anomalies Research Unit, 8127 AE
Chronometric Marker: 8127 AE – Initial Temporal Instability Detected
The physical form of a Myiarchus is a bewildering paradox. They typically resemble large, serpentine avian predators – roughly 8-12 meters in length, with iridescent scales that shimmer with an internal light. However, these scales aren’t static. They shift and rearrange themselves in patterns that defy conventional geometry, creating the illusion of constantly evolving forms. This 'Scalesight' phenomenon is theorized to be a direct manifestation of their temporal instability. Their eyes, large and multifaceted, appear to perceive not just light, but temporal wavelengths. Their talons are composed of a substance resembling solidified chronal energy - capable of severing temporal connections.
“Observe the Scalesight. It is not a reflection of the present, but a glimpse into the potential echoes of what *could have been*, and what *will never be*.” – The Hermetic Texts of the Silent Order
Chronometric Marker: 8189 AE – Discovery of Chronal Resonance within Scales
Myiarchus hunting strategies are utterly alien. They don't actively pursue prey in the traditional sense. Instead, they seem to ‘pull’ moments from the timeline – creating localized temporal distortions that trap their targets in loops of repeating events, effectively isolating them from the flow of time. The prey, caught in these temporal eddies, rapidly age, decay, or simply cease to exist, depending on the Myiarchus’s intent – a chilling demonstration of their control over causality. They are drawn to areas of significant temporal disturbance – sites of past tragedies, locations where powerful chronal artifacts have been used, or simply places where the veil between realities is thin. It’s hypothesized that they are attempting to ‘consume’ these lost moments, perhaps seeking to restore a shattered timeline or, more terrifyingly, to rewrite it to their own design.
“To hunt a Myiarchus is to confront the ultimate question: Can you truly destroy a moment, or does it simply shift elsewhere, eternally trapped in the fractal branches of time?” – The Chronicles of the Temporal Guardians
Chronometric Marker: 8251 AE – Observation of Temporal Entrapment Techniques
Due to their inherent instability and destructive potential, Myiarchus are considered an existential threat. The Obsidian Archive, a repository of temporal knowledge and a bulwark against chronal anomalies, maintains a dedicated containment team – the Chronal Wardens – tasked with monitoring and, if necessary, eliminating Myiarchus incursions. Containment protocols are extraordinarily complex, involving the deployment of Chronal Dampeners and the strategic manipulation of localized time fields. However, these efforts are often hampered by the Myiarchus’s ability to anticipate and adapt to the Wardens' actions. The most recent containment breach—designated 'Event Sigma-7'— resulted in the temporal displacement of several Wardens to an unknown point in the 14th Cycle.
“The Serpent’s Scales are a warning. Do not seek to understand them; simply… contain them.” – Grand Chronomaster Theron Vance, 8302 AE
Chronometric Marker: 8302 AE – Event Sigma-7 – Significant Temporal Displacement