Before time, before space, there was only Rost. Not a being, not an entity, but a fundamental vibration – the raw source of all possibilities. This initial resonance, known as the First Resonance, contained within it every color, every shape, every potential universe. It pulsed with an energy that defied comprehension, a silent scream of genesis.
Scholars of the Obsidian Archive theorize that the First Resonance reacted to a void, a lack of definition, and began to fold upon itself, creating the initial curvature of existence. Fragments of this original pulse are still said to resonate within certain crystalline formations – particularly those found deep within the Silent Peaks.
From the First Resonance emerged the Aethel – beings of pure light and geometry. They were the Architects, tasked with bringing order to the chaotic potential of the initial pulse. They wove the Celestial Weave, a complex tapestry of energy and space, establishing the laws of physics and the patterns of the cosmos. Each thread of the Weave represents a possibility, a potential outcome.
Legend speaks of the Grand Loom, a device of unimaginable scale, operated by the Aethel themselves. It’s said to be located within the heart of the Nebula of Sighs – a region of space so dense with temporal distortions that it’s effectively frozen in time.
However, the act of creation is inherently unstable. The Aethel, in their pursuit of perfect order, inadvertently introduced a dissonance into the Celestial Weave. This caused a cascade of instability, leading to the Dissolution – a catastrophic event that shattered the Aethel and fragmented the Weave into countless shards. These shards, known as the Chronal Fragments, are scattered throughout the cosmos, each holding a sliver of the original resonance and capable of manipulating time and space.
The Obsidian Archive maintains a meticulous catalogue of these fragments, categorized by their temporal properties and potential dangers. The most potent fragments – those capable of creating stable temporal loops or collapsing entire realities – are heavily guarded.
Today, the Chronarium of Rost continues its mission – to understand the nature of the First Resonance, to study the properties of the Chronal Fragments, and ultimately, to restore equilibrium to the fractured Celestial Weave. This is a daunting task, fraught with peril, but the scholars of the Chronarium remain undeterred. They believe that with enough knowledge and careful manipulation, they can prevent the universe from collapsing into another Dissolution.
The future, as always, remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the echoes of Rost will continue to resonate throughout the cosmos, a constant reminder of the power and the fragility of existence.