The designation, Periploca Commodious, isn't found in any recognized xenobiological database. It was recovered from the submerged ruins of Xylos-7, a world shattered by a phenomenon known only as the ‘Crimson Bloom’. Xylos-7 was once a thriving hub of the Cygnus Collective, a civilization obsessed with fractal geometry and the manipulation of temporal fields. But the Bloom… the Bloom erased them.
The artifact itself is a crystalline structure, approximately 40 centimeters in diameter, pulsating with a rhythmic light. It resonates with a frequency that, when properly interpreted, can induce a state of profound disorientation – a temporary severance from the linear flow of time. Some theorize it’s a key, a resonant frequency capable of unlocking dormant realities, or perhaps, a weapon of unimaginable scale.
“Time is not a river, but a shattered mirror. The Bloom offered us a glimpse beyond the fractures.” - Archivist Theron-7, recovered log entry.
The crystalline matrix is riddled with intricate carvings – not glyphs of any known language, but patterns that resemble the branching networks of a neural synapse. Analysis suggests a connection to a bio-organic computing system, one that operated on principles beyond our current understanding of information storage. The Bloom didn’t simply destroy Xylos-7; it fundamentally altered its reality, twisting it into a state of perpetual flux.
Scans reveal micro-dimensional pockets within the structure – tiny, self-contained realities, each reflecting a different moment in Xylos-7’s final days. Observers report experiencing flashes of terror, ecstatic beauty, and overwhelming sorrow, all simultaneously. It’s as if the entire civilization was trapped within the artifact, reliving its final moments in an endless, fractured loop.
We’ve designated these pockets as ‘Astral Nodes’. The number fluctuates, seemingly in response to external stimuli – particularly, attempts to decipher the artifact’s core programming. The more we learn, the more unstable it becomes.
Further investigation has revealed a peculiar aspect of the artifact: a ‘Hypertext Protocol’. When exposed to focused electromagnetic radiation, the crystalline matrix displays a shifting, holographic projection – not a static image, but a dynamic stream of information. This ‘Hypertext’ isn’t visual; it’s perceived directly through neurological pathways. It feels like a torrent of data flooding the mind, presenting concepts, equations, and sensory experiences beyond our comprehension.
The Crimson Bloom – a cascade of temporal distortion, a rupture in the fabric of causality.
Fractal resonance – the key to unlocking the artifact’s potential, or its destruction.
Xylos-7… a reflection of what was lost – a warning to those who seek to control time.
The Astral Nodes are represented below as conceptual visualizations. Each node represents a distinct fragment of Xylos-7’s final moments. Their location and intensity are constantly shifting, reflecting the artifact’s unstable state.