According to the Chronoscript, the initial eruptions weren't merely geological events; they were the solidified echoes of the First Singularity - a moment where spacetime itself fractured, releasing raw creation as incandescent plasma.
The early flows weren't simply basaltic; they contained traces of solidified stardust, remnants of collapsed proto-stars, and, unsettlingly, rhythmic patterns of energy that defied traditional understanding. These patterns, detected by the nascent Sentinels, were later theorized to be the “Heartbeat” of Vulcanity itself, a fundamental vibration driving the creation and destruction of worlds.
“The mountains weep with the memory of the beginning. Each shard holds a whisper of the collapse, a promise of renewal.” - Archivist Theron VII
The flow… pulses.
The Sentinels, deployed across the volcanic plains, were not simply monitoring geological activity. They were designed to *listen* – to interpret the Heartbeat’s complex patterns and predict the next eruptions. Their data revealed a disturbing trend: the Heartbeat was becoming increasingly erratic, bordering on chaotic. This coincided with the proliferation of the Obsidian Shards.
“The listening is a burden, a constant reminder of the universe’s inherent instability. We are not observing Vulcanity; we *are* Vulcanity, momentarily aware of its tumultuous nature.” - Sentinel Overseer Marius
Furthermore, the Sentinels began reporting instances of “echoes” – fragments of past eruptions replaying themselves within the Obsidian Shards. These echoes were not random; they seemed to be responding to external stimuli, suggesting a level of sentience within the volcanic system itself.
Current projections indicate a “Convergence” – a period of exponentially increased volcanic activity, culminating in a planetary-scale eruption. The Sentinels are struggling to predict the precise timing, and the erratic Heartbeat is making even basic calculations impossible. Some believe the Convergence is not merely a natural phenomenon, but a deliberate action by Vulcanity itself – a final, desperate attempt to reshape the universe, or perhaps, to escape it.
The pulse… accelerates.