Strategus

The Obsidian Echo

Strategus is not a name, but a resonance. A vibration within the fractured timelines of Xylos, born from the cataclysm known as the Obsidian Tide. It's whispered among the Chronomasters – beings who navigate the currents of time itself – as a key, a paradox, and perhaps, a warning. The Tide wasn’t merely an event; it was a *severance*. A deliberate fracturing of reality orchestrated by entities whose motivations remain shrouded in the static of forgotten epochs.

Before the Tide, Xylos was a symphony of interwoven realities – vibrant, chaotic, and governed by principles we can barely comprehend. Now? Fragments cling together tenuously, bleeding into one another, creating zones of impossible physics, temporal anomalies, and echoes of extinct civilizations. The air itself hums with residual chronal energy, a tangible manifestation of the broken song.

“To seek Strategus is to court madness. To ignore it…is to invite oblivion.” – Master Theron, Chronomasters’ Guild

The Fragments

• 137 AE (After Echoes)
• The initial ruptures. Localized distortions began appearing across the shattered continents, primarily in the ‘Crimson Wastes’ and the ‘Silent Sea.’ Initial Chronomaster expeditions reported…shifts. Objects disappearing, reappearing with altered histories, individuals experiencing fragmented memories of lives they never lived.
• 152 AE
• The emergence of “Echo Blooms.” These are areas where the temporal fabric is exceptionally thin – almost translucent. Within them, echoes of past events play out with startling clarity, sometimes even interacting with the present. Prolonged exposure leads to…integration. A merging of self and echo.
• 178 AE
• The discovery of the Strategus Shards. These crystalline fragments, pulsating with a dark, almost sentient energy, were found scattered throughout Xylos. Each shard seems to amplify the effects of temporal instability and is rumored to be a component in restoring – or further unraveling – the timeline.
• 210 AE
• The Chronal Convergence at Veridia. A massive gathering of Chronomasters attempted to harness Strategus energy, resulting in a catastrophic feedback loop that amplified temporal distortions across an entire sector of Xylos, creating the 'Veridian Fracture' – a region now perpetually trapped between eras.

The Nature of Strategus

Strategus isn’t a *thing* in the conventional sense. It’s more akin to a resonant frequency, a mathematical constant that describes the inherent instability of Xylos's fractured reality. Some theorize it was deliberately introduced by the architects of the Obsidian Tide – a self-fulfilling prophecy designed to destabilize all attempts at restoration. Others believe it is a fundamental property of existence itself, revealed only under conditions of extreme temporal stress.

The Shards aren't merely conduits; they seem to *attract* Strategus energy, acting as amplifiers and focusing points. They also exhibit a disconcerting ability to subtly alter perception – inducing feelings of déjà vu, paranoia, and an unsettling awareness of the fragility of one’s own existence.