The Obscuris Cosmology
The Obscuris Cosmology is the final known tome written by the Archmage Petrarch Vitroni, which details his research into the nature of divinity and the history of the Old Gods of Divostra. The Obscuris Cosmology was the last recorded writing of Petrarch Vitroni prior to his ouster from the Tor for blasphemy. The High Council of the Tor attempted to censor the text of the tome by binding it in several layers of arcane ciphers and locks which obscured its text. The text is an incomplete record of the formation of the Zachyreon, their relationship with the Outer Gods and the Thaumic Weave, and it contains rough drafts of the arcane sigils and rituals that formed the basis of The Sundering.
The tome was hidden in the workshop of Deleth Yorkiras in the abandoned town of Timberwall, where it was being sought by Shoku of the Rustpeak Clan.
Deciphered Text
The following text has been deciphered by the Menagerie and Akari Isendor.
In truth, these are the wrong questions to be asking. It matters not where we came from, but instead where we are headed. The Thaumic Age has brought wonders never seen before on this plane or any other, uplifted even the poorest among all peoples to a level of comfort for which their ancestors could only dream, and made magic and knowledge the driving force behind politics and policy. All of this was borne on the back of an understanding as to the nature of magic on this plane; in short, that it is at the same time a gift from the gods but completely independent of their influence.
But no one stops to wonder why this is. Why would the gods create such gifts and bestow them onto mortals? As this text has shown, the gods are petty creatures, prone to the same selfishness that afflicts the mortal whom they supposedly created.
Our world is based on logic, regardless of how fantastically wondrous it may be. Yet the common belief that the gods are our progenitors is illogical, because to what end would our creation benefit the gods on an existential level. The only way to reconcile the paradox is to conclude that the gods are not the creators of the mortal species that populate this plane, nor the benevolent givers of the gift of magic. In fact, the exact opposite must be true. The gods are beings of mortal will, made manifest by the influence of sentient beings upon the magic which naturally occurs on this plane. This is the great truth buried under millennia's worth of propaganda, more than likely spread by the gods themselves in order to selfishly hoard that divine spark.
But what if we mortals were to find a way to tap into this power ourselves, the same way we have harnessed the forces of nature and magic? The gods are beings of pure magic, given form by the stories we tell to one another. It stands to reason that suffusing the essence of magic to a mortal form, also comprised of a collection of stories we call our "life story," should allow one to ascend to godhood.
Detailed notes and commentary are scrawled in the margins of this passage, amounting to additional theories put forth by Deleth Yorkiras:
- "Great Mekhane bestowed upon her faithful the gift of knowledge. It is arrogance to use Her gifts to claim that it was we who created Her."
- "We have seen that mortal will allows us to resonate with the Weave, this much is true. But to claim that the gods have no influence on us is pure hubris. What of the Weavetouched, who have been blessed with souls of pure magic? A babe in the womb lacks the force of will to resonate with the Weave; surely, these are proof of the gods' gifts."
Later in the deciphered text is a diagram of ritual circle and a sketch of a powerstone drawn in older ink, indicating the entry was drawn by Petrarch Vitroni. There are additional sketches and text on the page written in a different ink that indicate they were added later by Deleth.
- The ritual circle resembles the Thaumic Animus Accelerator located in the ruins of Arathoxia.
- Beneath the powerstone sketch is newer text from Deleth: "Powerstone lost in initial activation. Powerstones created from pure Thaumium refined into concentrated solids via Xirax alchemy."
- Text on the page details the first activation of the Accelerator: "Adanzu completely obliterated. Perhaps mortal bodies require sufficient resonance with the Weave to withstand the effects of the device?" and then beneath that, in bold, capital letters, is a single word: "WEAVETOUCHED"
Additional notes in the section of the Cosmology dealing with Mekhane:
The Cult has been broken. Akari, Farlen, and Bartholomew have undone years of careful planning for the sake of "rooting out corruption." The fools fail to see the greater design. Harmonia promises a glorious future free of war, greed, and heartache. Free will is a burden upon all peoples who seek everlasting peace.
Additional notes line the section of the Cosmology dealing with Saeora:
The Val'menar broke the world and called it hope. They stole Harmonia's Heart and hid it away. But I have found it—in Carthalion's Weave, where they believed no mortal could reach it. The angels could never have imagined the degree to which we would harness the power of magic. Vitroni himself nearly achieved godhood; had he been a Magos of the Cult, I truly believe our glorious Harmonia would have been restored.
Additional notes in the section dealing with Yogwilesh:
The ratlings of Rustpeak have abandoned the Grand Jailer. The one known as Shoku has seen Harmonia's grand design and turned the Jailer's most loyal servants to her cult. I'll admit, when I first met her in Kubukiiya, I thought her abhorrent and pathetic. But her mind, sharp as a knife and so open to Harmonia's psalms, I could not have asked for a greater gift. Not only have we grown the ranks of Harmonia's faithful, but we have dealt a great blow to the Grand Jailer's power.
The spread of Harmonia's song has not escaped the Grand Jailer's notice. I have seen his gold-faced vizier firsthand in Quilport, ensnaring the weak-willed of the Kopa Drea and Longclaw. The Collector would not be here if Yogwilesh did not feel threatened. The Mosi of Mekkisir weave tales of the fallen Val'menar, the Voice of the Ineffable. I know not what their end goal is, I can only hope that we reunite Harmonia with Her Heart before the Ineffable's grasp ensnares our world.
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