XiC: Phenomenon

 

Cascade Origins ⇝ The Cascade in Xi was known as a highly dangerous and unpredictable phenomenon that can cause widespread destruction and chaos in the galaxy. To the knowledge of Xi’s top research, it was caused by the release of massive amounts of blue temporal energy, which is a highly unstable and unpredictable force that can tear through spacetime like a knife through butter. The energy released by Cascade can cause massive distortions in the fabric of spacetime, leading to unpredictable and potentially catastrophic effects on nearby planets, star systems, and even entire sectors of the galaxy. It often disrupted trade in Xi and became a massive disturbance for corporate monotony.

The origins of Cascade are not well understood by the Xi people, but they often believed it to be linked to the actions of a highly advanced alien race that disappeared from the galaxy long ago, the original Xi at Xi’s origin. Some believe that the aliens were attempting to harness the power of blue temporal energy for their own purposes, but lost control of the force, leading to the creation of Cascade. Others believe that Cascade is a natural phenomenon that has always existed in the galaxy, but was only recently discovered due to advances in technology.

Regardless of its origins, and of Xi’s ignorance of the Novus, Cascade is a serious threat to the people of Xi, who have struggled to contain the effects of the phenomenon. The best efforts of Sandra to contain it with the Embryo Trigger were ultimately unsuccessful and attempts to replicate the technology have led to abysmal failures. In some cases, entire planets have been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Cascade when teleported outside their suns warm habitual zone, leading to mass migrations and social upheaval when predictive models and algorithms signal its impending arrival. Others have attempted to harness the power of blue temporal energy for their own purposes, leading to the creation of highly dangerous and unstable technologies that can cause even more harm. The most stable and successful technology to date however, has been the Warp Station, for its allocation of transtemporal space and usage to transport both cargo and individuals within its boundless dimensional expanse.

Despite the risks associated with Cascade, some within Xi's society are drawn to the potential power and knowledge that could be gained by studying the phenomenon. However, the XU government established strict regulations governing the use and study of Cascade, recognizing the enormous risks that it poses to the galaxy as a whole. Sandra’s commission to suspend this ban overtime as more research is known has given rise to disagreement on various policy points. As a result, the study of Cascade remains a highly controversial and heavily regulated area of research in Xi's society, with many people arguing that the risks of studying the space-time phenomenon outweigh any potential benefits, while others being hard lined Cascade advocates and enthusiasts. The advent of numerous conspiracy theorists and cranks, some even reaching the classification of ‘Cascade Cults’ in the Xi population have caused numerous conflicts between these camps.

Over the centuries, the nature of the Cascade and its interactions with the universe have since brought new threats and unknown terrorizations into the public and government eye. The reformed New SPARTA (Special Paranormal And Research Tactical Agency) is a covert organization dedicated to combating anomalous entities, such as Madeline, that pose a threat to Xi’s security, aswell as those who may seek them out such as CALDERA. Through the use of specialized psychic abilities and advanced technology, SPARTA agents have been able to track and monitor various Extranomenon movements, such as:

 

 

 

Madam Madeline ⇝  

Madam Madeline, is a humanoid entity that has the unique ability to create copies of herself, as well as infect individuals through media exposure and physical extrasensory teleportation. Madam Madeline appears to be a late to middle-aged woman of French aristocrat seeming feminine figure, with a pleasant disposition and a fondness for extensive conversation. On encounter Madam Madeline appears charismatic and gentle, she has a cooperative disposition and will show great interest in the subjects she meets. Her character is oft described with joy, curiosity and kindness.

Madam’s appearance, although varying heavily is always identified with overly round, protruding rosy cheeks,  perched frosty pink lips, skin that appears almost waxy, and extremely wide eyes with diluted pupils. She sports curly ginger hair that’s flattened into an autumn mop atop with a clean horizontal line of bangs, and her hair below the earlobes tied into ringlets. Her outfit is an old raggedy blouse and pencil skirt, occasionally compared to an Xi stewardess outfit with classical designs. In some occasions she is depicted in a simple black top, white skirt, and yellow and white shoes that are slightly reminiscent to a 1950s/60s lady's shoe. She is also said to own a black jacket with a red and white scarf tied around the neck. In addition, Madam Madeline is said to carry a large umbrella and a cane. Occasionally, Madam Madeline is seen wearing various hats in different sizes. In a rare occasions her hats can be seen worn backwards, with an unruly curl in the brim.

What makes Madeline unique is her physicality surpassing, cognitohazard affirming existence. She takes on many physical forms and even when destroyed or eliminated finds a way to manifest again back into Xi wherever she pleases, and has stated that every appearance of hers is merely a manifestation. She has the ability to go where she wants and appear to whom she wishes, no matter how distant or remote, and irrespective to any barrier or remoteness.

Madeline displays the ability to appear on screens and mass media when it suits her. In addition to her ability to create copies of herself through conversion, allows the ability to infect individuals who come into contact with her through media exposure or extended physical contact. This infection spreads rapidly through all forms of media, including radio signals, Xi channels, Galactic television, and the Net. Once infected, individuals become highly susceptible to suggestion and are compelled to act on Madeline's instructions, which are often shared through nursery rhymes, and toned like a children’s educational program.

SPARTA has classified Madeline ‘s media infection ability as a significant threat to galactic security, and as a result, all forms of media exposure to Madeline have been strictly prohibited. Samples of Madeline have been contained in a specialized facility for study and further research, designed to prevent any form of media exposure from leaving the containment area. Additionally, any individuals who come into contact with Madeline are subject to immediate quarantine and decontamination procedures, including extensive cognitive analysis, interviews, de-idolization therapy and neural scans.

Despite all attempted containment measures, Madeline remains a dangerous and highly unpredictable entity, and her abilities continue evade the understanding of Xi’s top scientists. SPARTA is actively researching ways to neutralize Madeline’s media infection ability, as well as exploring the potential benefits of her unique propagadation abilities. and prevent her from spreading her media infection to the general public.

Cascade Discordia ⇝

Over the past few centuries, a new series of phenomenon have arisen out of interaction with the Cascade. The continued event known as ‘Discordia’ occurs when the Cascade crosses planetary paths and distorts space/time as to alter the reality of the culture and inhabitants stationed there. This effect can transform a modernized city in an instant into a feudal village, a series of holy temples complete with dedicated disciples, even a colony of nobility from the 18th century. All architecture, fashions of the populace and in some cases dialects are changed to match the theme in question.

Many recorded incidents of ‘Discordia’ exist. There have been cased of energy facilities that power starports turned into wells, with the surrounding land becoming a lush ocean and emerald forest in order to match the well’s flow, and from that aesthetic the towns became medieval in nature with mystical undertones. After recent cultural exchanges with other universes, observation has shown many of these displaced, transformative alterations the Cascade has created appear to be in the cultural imagery of neighboring realities. One highly populated city once struck by Cascade Discordia became a city of gold full of worshippers and Flora practitioners, no doubt from the space of Orchid. Others have been identified with AU, when corporate headquarters turned into medieval guilds, and local law enforcement found itself warped into Paladin barracks dedicated to a holy order foreign to Xi. Rare, unconfirmed reports even rumor of locations transmuted into fairy-tail like worlds, much like Abyss. The level of technology always changes to meet the new era; in some places even the native fauna are changed by this transformation of physical space. An incident in the early 20th century where a group of scientists built a huge machine that turned the local river into a river of gold, with a few additional minor side effects has only recently become known. Cascade Discordia can’t seem to decide whether the inhabitants of a planet should be human or some other species, as there are countless examples of it happening across a wide variety of planets, showing the Cascade does not have a preference- numerous Llavalite hiveworlds have been changed in recorded recorded aswell. At one point an entire machine based AI-colony was remade into a 50’s based civilization, based around domestic servitude to gender-paired partners, traditional office culture, retro fashions and tranquil family rearing structures. Some of these have also experienced severe changes of climate or geography, as well as conversion of plant and animal life, all in the name of aesthetics. Cascade’s aesthetics and the most recent research shows that a few locations and ships may have been replaced with more or less technologically equivalent devices that match the other universe. There is no exact way to track the spread of Cascade Discordia- its reach is often so wide that one may be a long while away from a single occurrence. In the rare occurrences where detailed notes are taken, they’re often swiftly altered by unknown forces into recordings related to the environmental surroundings – lyrics on scrolls, tax ordinances, love letters in a mailbox, religious pamphlets, the list goes on. An entire race of beings that seem to be born with innate control over a number of different magical systems were born from the Cascade, both exceptionally notable and pedestrian. The pedestrian group has been noted to be restricted to their altered regional domain in terms of effect, when they’re taken off-world they typically lose the magic and abilities native to the changed area. Those who don’t are confined to seven entities known as the Septemoratorium.

 

 

 

Septemoratorium

Quantum spirits of the great cataract, nightfall’s herald to the end. From the ravine of dusk’s embrace comes their descent beyond the night of the world. The Septemoratorium, otherwise referred to as the Septemora are those who arrived from the Cascade itself and now haunt the Ximperium. Not too dissimilar from Madeline, it has been observed they have no absolute physicality, and can recreate bodies from any point from the Cascade. Additionally sources suggest they possess the ability to travel thru both time and space thru it, using the Cascade like a wormhole to slip through reality. Their motives are unknown, occasionally they speak of prophecy and something called ‘The All’, believing it to be the key to opening up the secrets of the space-time continuum. They share characteristics of dolls and all seven members have slits over their eyes and glassy wide irises with varying bright coloration. One common characteristic is all the members wear a dark dress and cloak (or robe if female) overtop military uniforms, they possess an infinity symbol with a slash through the middle on their forehead which is a symbol of “Our authority over the world” according to them. During the era of Madeline they were known to ‘destroy’ her quite often when she popped up. The members include:

Arion, aka ‘the angel’. He’s a tall man with a very tall, stern and sterile figure. He appears at most times to be a normal man wearing a white military officer outfit that’s been tailored for him. He’s a very gentle, soft-spoken man and the only one able to talk to Madeline. He seems to possess more magic than any other Septemoratorium member.

Jael, aka ‘The Demon’. She is a very powerful and ancient old figure with her bottom-face obscured by a headscarf and she appears to not need to breathe as she’s able to be seen even in space. A young woman resembling her appears as a child, although it’s nothing more than a puppet of Jael’s. She’s a very strong willed and powerful woman who’s often described as a villain. She worships one called ‘The Ox King’ and sees The All as a force integral to spreading the Cascade. Suggestions of her remarks have led me to theorize The All is related to the spacial plane known as The Naught within Abyss.

Lydia, aka ‘The Priestess’. She’s very childlike and has always referred to as the youngest of the group. She rarely speaks except to say hello and goodbye. She also seems to be obsessed with the Octavian Zahfrey, which is the name of the genius inventor and dictator from another reality who created the Octavian engine in the Remius galaxy, and believes that it’s the key to defeating the Octavian forces occupied there. Everyone she appears in front of and attacks, she claims to be a spy for Octavian.

Lodar, aka ‘The Seer’. She’s a bald, gaunt woman who always wears a hood and loves to pray. Her arms and legs are covered with white bracelets and pearls. Lodar’s very good with magical arts and prior to first impressions, the only one who seems to have any sense of humor in the group. She possesses the ability to see into the past and future and witness whatever she asks.

Magdalena, aka ‘The Empress’. She is a slim, short woman with a pale appearance and her face is obscured behind the hood of her cloak, but she can be seen occasionally. Heavy makeup and porcelain skin can be seen glinting underneath. She’s very intelligent and has a sharp tongue, when she talks with Madeline she only ever addresses her by name, and seems to be the most interested in her abilities. She also seems to be the only one who knows how to use a gun.

Shia, aka ‘The Lady’. She’s a thin woman with a very feminine figure and is said to have green eyes, long black hair, and an extra small mouth under her mouth. She has a very youthful and friendly look about her. Nia is very helpful to Madeline and has very strong ties with her. Shia holds a marching baton she’s fond of using as an ‘imperial weapon.’

Valeria, aka ‘The Angel’. She is a very broad and slender woman with a very wide frame, Valkyrie armor and is said to have light brown hair that’s very soft to the touch and her eyes are a very light green. She often talks to Madeline in an unusual tone that’s reminiscent of her, and occasionally she makes cryptic remarks about Glitterkiss.

The Septemora claim to be doing the self-professed will of their ‘Novus’ and that said will is the free-expression, anarchy and pleasure of their self-determination. They possess a unique form of Hex rederived from the Cascade with magical techniques such as:

Ampulse – This allows the user to make quick high-speed movements that can appear to teleport them across space. It’s also said to be able to precognitively help someone pull through an intense or dangerous situation, activating in advance through time to accelerate the user.

Empo – It’s said to be able to manipulate the environment, and even the people and things in it.

Exa – Allows the user to bend the laws of physics to their will and that they can cause an object to become anchored in space-time and unmovable by any physical means.

Xim – It’s said to give the user a connection to call forth the Cascade and whisk them off at any time.

Fei – Gives the user access to almost anybody’s memory, as long as it’s in the living user’s possession. It’s the ability that’s able to allow the user to travel through the space-time continuum wherever the Cascade has been in points of its timeline.

Goa – It allows the ability to create a transportable, temporal reality distortion field with an effect similar to Discordia, however those effected find themselves warped temporarily. They revert back when outside the field’s AoE.

Las Maras ⇝ 

Las Maras, ‘Blight of the blackwind’ are equine-headed, wined fey like species of plasmic proto-forms that appear as long wraiths. These (labeled in a galactic partition known as the Black Wind, from the Llavalite Seerclass) entities float and fly through space causing terrible turbulent and destruction. Translucent and transparent, they emerge from the Cascade itself and cause disaster wherever they occur, often bringing solar storms, magnetic radiation and vast interstellar catastrophe with them. It’s believed by Xi researchers that a gathering of thousands of Las Maras indicates an orgy is to take place, where the subsequent mating around the cascade will cause enough quantum disruption to collapse a nearby star, causing it to go supernova and then leave a blackhole.

A few theories exist as to why the Las Maras occur, which is a major hindrance to understanding how to keep them from killing everything in their path. Two theories point at the Septemoratorium themselves as the source of the Las Maras, though a third theory states the Las Maras are created as a natural byproduct of the cascade’s life force. The most prevailing theory seems to be that they are being created as a result of the Septemoratorium tampering with time and reality in some fashion, however they’re not necessarily a natural process. They most often come in groups of two or more, but occasionally they appear in groups of 6-10. It’s theorized that they can only be destroyed by pure, white, unfettered Cascade-based power, thus, they cannot be killed by any Xi-tech, including the various firearms or explosives that exist. All of the weaponry that exists against the Las Maras seems to be absorbed, and a Las Mara can pass through enough individual to send psychotropic nightmares, causing them to manifest into another Mara. This chain reaction of conversions in rapid short order has become known as a ‘Blackwind stampede.’

The Septemoratorium are able to summon them at any time to their aid, lending credence to the theory they were created by them and the explanations around them. It’s rumored Las Mara have the ability to reach into the minds of their victims and drains them of all thought, leaving them mere husks. SPARTA is foundationally lacking in etiology and information on Mara, most information coming from Llavalite reports and research, as they are exceedingly rare in the coreworlds of Xi.

Cascadasyte - Entity 01982- (void*Entry)ID 01UCSCADA ⇝ - otherwise, what I will dub as ‘Cascadastyes’ for this archive are a top secret series of studied subjects SPARTA has observed in the far reaches of Xi. Much like the Mara, they prefer the Cascade as a medium of transmission. Their breeding, resting and feeding places are oft around collapsing stars, absorbing the radiation and energy from supergiants nearing implosion. Shapeshifters that take many forms, much like their Narrastye counterparts, Cascadasytes have been theorized to enter the Cascade to hijack and enter the timelines of those exposed at any point to the Cascade. The difference between a Narrastye, who cannibalizes and feeds off narrative and a Casacadasyte whom dwells within the Cascade itself is a matter of temporality- the latter is able to effectively go back and forth thru time in a victim’s existence, possess them or the circumstances surrounding their life’s events, localized to it’s casual relationship to them, and alter it accordingly. They can even rewrite the narrative of future, potentially past events within the Cascade. The number of potential occurrences is astronomical, with the outcomes meant to better suit the Casaca’s own potential for habituality and directives.

They are highly intelligent and crafty, adept at exploiting any weaknesses. There are several Casaca species as of this moment. Each species acts very differently to people, the two we’ve been able to document for research purposes so far have shown themselves capable of using the Cascade for their own means. The Deltic species, once in control of the host themselves even for brief spans, have allowed others to use the cascade as a means of control, but rarely interfere in those lives in sweeping ways. The hosts of these species are much more in control of their own destinies, often manipulating the people as they see fit, rarely allowing more than a day or two, yet subtly altering the course of time to benefit them in accumulations, with the power and alterations of many of their kind. Alpha-Numeric species are different, they haunt and inhabit a host’s timeline solo, in extreme cases, an entire life and death of a victim to the process can be planned. When they have a more stable relationship with a victim (usually one of the upper class, but not always) they will allow them to grow and develop, giving them more freedom in their decisions, but still altering the trajectory of their timeline where they see fit. Unlike Deltic species, Alpha-Numeric are quite territorial and won’t allow any other to inhabit their host’s timeline, seeing it as theirs alone to burrow in.

Melody Spirals of the Ximperium ⇝ Spirals are beings of undefined or extremely powerful natures. The exact mechanics of their origin are not known, however a few notes from those researchers who encountered them have been able to piece together small details. They appear as a massive, massive energy entity, some say it resembles a ‘mushroom cloud or daisy made of sparkling gas.’ Those who hear of them are able to hear beautiful melodies that sound like a million silky voices calling out to them. pirals do not have the ability to enter or inhabit the Cascade, but they can exist alongside those who have been deemed worthy. They prefer and are more comfortable in places that are dark, cold, or dangerous in the distant abyss of space where they feel they are in control and are more alone, they even show more of a taste for the power of Warp Station engines. Melody Spirals have obtained an almost mythical reputation among Xi lore, much like fairies or good luck spirits. The exact mechanisms of their biology aren’t known, as they appear to be made of an unknown energy and only communicate with each other through twinkling patterns of starlight. They’re known to lower suspicions and mistrust of others when nearby and create a sense of cooperation and harmony.

Braque Denny ⇝ In a dimension thought to be beyond Xi itself, there exists a plane of pure horror and despair. A realm of darkness so profound that it seems to swallow up any light that tries to penetrate it. This dimension is inhabited by a variety of mutant organisms, created by a virus that has contaminated every living thing in this forsaken world. SPARTA has taken such lengths to write ancient Necrocode encryptions of their documents and files on this topic, that there’s little open for public knowledge about the topic. Hackers and spies have gone through great lengths to scrounge the old servers from wastelands, Lots and obscure archives past in order to recover any information on this phenomenon they could.

 

From what vague sources exist, its implied the organisms within the Braque Denny are grotesque and monstrous, with limbs that bend in unnatural ways and eyes that seem to glow with a malevolent energy, their bodies wriggling and connected by landscapes of vines with wide gaps where spores unearth. They slither and crawl through the endless darkness, searching for their next victim to infect and corrupt. The viral possessive nature of this domain is highly contagious and spreads rapidly, infecting any living thing that comes into contact with it. Anyone that passes through and touches the flora or is assaulted by the fauna is aroused and assimilated into its shadowy contours. It transforms its host into one of the twisted, mutated creatures that inhabit this dimension, turning them into a grotesque parody of their former selves. As one would speculate in such a world, there is no hope here. No light, no salvation, no redemption. Only darkness and despair. Those who find themselves stranded here are doomed to suffer an endless existence of pain and agony, their bodies twisted and warped beyond recognition.

It is said that there are portals that lead to this dimension scattered throughout Xi, although the Cascade seems oddly unattuned to its corridors. If one were to stumble upon one of these portals by accident, they would be well advised to turn back and flee as fast as they can. For to enter this dimension is to enter a world of unspeakable horror and madness, a world of monsters and darkness where the very essence of reality is twisted and perverted. The few that have ventured into it with any intent have never returned. A plane so dark and forbidding that to venture there will make you lose your way and eventually be swallowed up by its shadow. A plane so bleak that it cannot even bear to look at the reflection of the one who ventures there. A plane so far gone that even the tiniest amount of sunlight will be banished and covered up as though it never existed. The shadow of the real that can never be spoken of, let alone ascribed to the aperture of the mind. It is to this place of despair that all living creatures wander when they are lost in the dark. Those that find themselves lost here are often seen wandering around in circles for an eternity, trampling into the abyss in this formless and forgotten place.

In my intensive studies of what rare and elusive sources exist, I grant some comparisons to three localities as we step away from Xi into the realm of speculation.

The first, being the ancient Santri wastelands of the Celestial Society, where the transformed, necromantic Ooht rampages in neverending storms, buildings and cities of debris raised to the sky in levitating formation. This effect remains due to the collective Hexic enchantment the ancient Santri civilization utilized before their final swan song.

The second location is within the Tower itself, being the dark and forgotten forests of the Zodiac Zaragon, donated by the Yettiara Clan, whose inhabitants are a comparable race of shambling, mutated creatures called the Zetas, all of them sporting a multitude of grotesque mutations and disfigurements. As for the exact nature of these inhabitants, it is not known at the moment, except to speculate that the Zetas were once humans or other travelers. There are a multitude of outliers that we can observe, and you cannot change something’s true nature without leaving an ode of serpentine maleficence as Algar the Gleamless of the Lonestar Sinewtha says. The first outlier is while these forgotten forests are darkly lit, ominous and hellish, filled with abstract despair, only comforted by the mourning darkbards of troubadour-six- It is located on the First Ring. Such difficult and deviously tenacious locations are rarely found so close to the circumference, oft in the darker core of Ring 9 where heavy abstractions lay. The transformations within the forests do not correspond to any other in the Tower I’ve observed, most having set weaknesses, vulnerabilities, avoidable patterns and formalities of structure from which we can discern their effect on the Tower’s ecosystem- the forests of Zodiac Zaragon in their cursed nature behave more like a cancer than a balanced transformative affect. Additionally, the location from local sources has existed since time immemorial and not found any shift or change in its presence, no natural disasters, no previous transformation of the woods and no sign it was anything on its current continental plate as anything but the Zodiac Zaragon.

Let’s shift to the third similar locale as I make my case. The Horrorscape, the Nightscape, the realm known as the Naught beneath Abyss.

From what I have come to understand, the locality of Abyss may be connected to the Braque Denny, and as such all those that venture into it will have it follow them will end up within Binarium’s domain. Even though this is not the only plane that can be traversed that her dreaming desires can claim, it is the one that she seems to have the most influence over. Whether that is a demonstration to the power of the inhabitants to influence the plane or the plane simply following the will of the true binary nature is unclear. All I know is that it follows whoever ventures there and that any form of light is immediately extinguished in its vicinity, where even the Cascade cannot reach. If the connection-based nature of its power is unable to affect the inhabitants or reach within, then it could be reasoned that the mechanics of Narrative are transformative upon the subjects who enter the Braquish quarters rather than the connective and emotional formations of other, such is the price for following into the sanctuary of the brave. The floating infrastructures and architecture and darkened skies within Celestial Society resembles that of Braque, but the similarities end there. The forests of Zodiac Zaragon share its vested infestation of vines and infectious creatures, if only that. The fiends, viral infections, the flora, the atmospheric conditions and descriptions of immense ‘smog-blackened clouds of Brah-ha’s bane’ match the atmospheric conditions described in Braque Denny. From this I can conclude, with measurable certainty, for centuries the Santri had some access to the Denny as a powersource when utilizing their Necromantic maneuver.  I have been looking in my spellbooks of Eldermantia VIII, and there exists similar seals and incantations suggesting the Hymns of the undead can be channeled from other planes adding credence to this theory. The Zaragon forests were likely not cursed by intention, but some specimens from the Denny found their way into a Tower locality and infected it thus. The negation of Cascade within its space would explain the decelerated mobility and anchoring.  However, the descriptions of its lifeforms, atmosphere, and particularly closed off orphic nature, the ambiguity from where portals arise and accounts of ‘Desolate Fiends’ suggests my research is adept. The locality of Braque Denny, is implicitly or is connected to Abyss. Any sleigh reports of the Denny leaking into Xi, then we can conclude would be windows into Abyss itself where in deep sleep Binarium still resides.