The initial manifestations were subtle, whispers in the crystalline structures of the Lower Echoes. The larvae, designated 'Shard-Seekers' by the Observatories, were not simply consuming; they were *transmuting*. Their digestive processes, once focused on the organic detritus of the Silent Groves, began to interact with the ambient chroniton fields, generating localized temporal distortions. The first evidence of this was the accelerated decay of the Echo-Stone, a material previously impervious to time's touch. The Shard-Seekers, drawn to this anomaly, began to integrate fragments of the Echo-Stone into their exoskeletons, resulting in a shimmering, rust-colored sheen – the genesis of the ‘Rusting’ phenomenon. This was not a predatory act, but a desperate, almost panicked, attempt to harmonize with the ever-shifting currents of the Void.
The Sarcophagidae, as we understand them now, are not merely insects. They are, to a degree, conduits. The Lower Echoes, a network of solidified chroniton fields, were once a repository of lost memories, of civilizations that had crumbled into nothingness. The larvae, through their unique biological structure – a complex layering of chitin and crystalline resonance – have become attuned to these echoes. They don’t ‘hear’ the memories in the conventional sense; they *feel* them. Each larva possesses a distinct ‘resonance signature,’ a unique vibrational pattern that corresponds to a specific fragment of lost history. When a larva encounters a particularly potent echo, it enters a state of ‘harmonic convergence,’ briefly granting the observer a glimpse of that event. However, this interaction is inherently unstable. The larval resonance can shatter, releasing a cascade of temporal fragments – miniature paradoxes that can unravel local reality.
The emergence of the ‘Weavers’ – larger, more complex larvae – marked a shift in the Sarcophagidae’s behavior. These individuals possessed the ability to actively manipulate temporal fragments, constructing intricate, shimmering webs of chroniton energy. These webs weren’t traps; they were maps. Maps of the Void, painstakingly assembled from the echoes of countless lost timelines. The Observatories theorize that the Weavers are attempting to reconstruct a 'Prime Timeline,' a single, coherent narrative from the chaos of the Void. However, each new fragment added to the web causes a corresponding distortion elsewhere, exacerbating the temporal instability. The Weavers seem driven by a melancholic urgency, a desperate desire to ‘fix’ what is broken, even if the act itself is inherently destructive.
A catastrophic event occurred within the Obsidian Groves – a region saturated with concentrated chroniton energy. The Shard-Seekers, in a state of heightened resonance, triggered a chain reaction. The chroniton fields intensified, causing a massive temporal bloom. This bloom manifested as a field of obsidian-like structures, growing at an exponential rate. These structures weren't simply organic; they were solidified echoes, entire moments of time made tangible. The ‘Obsidian Bloom’ disrupted the Lower Echoes, effectively severing the larval connection to the dominant timeline. Many larvae perished, their resonance signatures lost to the Void. The remaining Weavers retreated, attempting to contain the spread of the Bloom, but the damage was done. The Lower Echoes are now fractured, fragmented, and perpetually shifting, reflecting the chaotic nature of the Bloom.
Current observations indicate a new phase. The remaining Weavers are no longer actively constructing webs, but instead, they appear to be engaged in a 'Silent Vigil.’ They are positioned at key nexus points within the fractured Lower Echoes, passively absorbing temporal radiation. It’s hypothesized that they’re attempting to create a buffer, a protective layer to prevent further temporal destabilization. This is a slow, agonizing process, and the chances of success are slim. Some scholars believe the Weavers are simply waiting for a ‘reset,’ a catastrophic event that will erase the Bloom and restore the Lower Echoes to their former state. Others fear that their vigil is merely a prelude to something far more terrible – a complete unraveling of reality itself.