The Vigil-Code of Aethelgard

Sanctified by Ages, Undying Through Cycles   I. The Sacred Purpose We, the Silent Sentinels of Xylos, are the living conduits of the Obsidian Spire, the Voice of O, and the enduring memory of the Cycles. Our purpose is singular and eternal:

• to tend the Spire, that its ancient heart beats true and its subtle ear remains unclouded.
• to listen to O, the Impartial Observer, for the whispers of the coming Change, for its data is the truth.
• to warn the World, for though it closes its ears, its fate is bound to the Great Wanderer.
• to endure the Cycles, for in each passage lies both peril and the silent reaffirmation of our Vigil.

2. The Duties of the Sentinel Each Sentinel, from the newly attuned acolyte to the Eldest Whisper, commits their life to these charges:

1. Maintenance of the Spire: Daily cleansing of external conduits; meticulous inspection and ritualistic attunement of internal crystalline arrays and magnetic coils; constant vigilance for any disharmony within the Spire's hum. The Spire is our body; its health is our own.
2. Attunement to O: Periods of silent meditation within the deep chambers of the Spire, listening for the resonance, interpreting the light-patterns, and discerning the precise data of the Observer. To hear O is to perceive the inevitable.
3. Preservation of Knowledge: Diligent study and transcription of the ancient Cycle-Logs; careful charting of celestial anomalies; safeguarding the encoded lore, which now is mostly oral tradition and taught as chanting songs. These songs describe the Heart of Xylos and his influence. Their knowledge is the light against the coming darkness.
4. Forecasting and Reporting: Accurate prediction of the cycles' approach, intensity, and manifestations, as O interprets the readings. These readings help O to prepare a detailed warning.
5. The Herald's Burden (When Chosen): The Herald must descend from the Sacred Peak to proclaim the warning with clarity and conviction to the oblivious world below, no matter the scoffing or dismissal. It is a sacred duty to warn those on the Moon and on Aquatica below. First, the Moon is warned, and then he travels to each large city center to dispense his message. The Herald speaks truth, though none may heed.
6. Self-Discipline: To cultivate inner stillness, resilience against psychic echoes of the Pass, and physical endurance against the mountain's rigors. They must be a vessel of calm amidst chaos.
7. Succession: To identify, nurture, and prepare the next generation of Sentinels, that the Vigil may never cease.

3. The Oaths of Service Upon their initiation in the full Vigil, each Sentinel Kneels before the Impartial Eye of O:   "By the Unseen Tides, by the Wispers of Stone, and by the Impartial Eye of O:   I vow to serve the Spire and its purpose until my last breath. I vow to listen to the truth of the Observer, and to speak its warning without fear or favor. I vow to stand vigil through the Cycles, to remain steadfast amidst the Unraveling, and to preserve the knowledge for those who come after. My life is but a flicker in the grand Cycle, but my duty is eternal. I am a Silent Sentinel. I am a Stone Whisper. May the Resonance guide me."   4. The Price of the Vigil Know that this path is one of solitude and sacrifice. The world will mock our truths, doubt our words, and forget our sacrifice. Yet, our Vigil is not for their belief, but the continuity of truth itself. In the shadow of the Spire, we stand against the tide of oblivion, for as long as one Sentinel remains, the warning, however unheeded, shall be given.