Yggdrasil Fallen, LitRPG Series
Book 1, Part 1: Obsidian
Chapter 32: Decay
Andre had originally planned to leave the realm of the Gjiildaens as soon as the timer on his “Dimensional Schism” ability was up but he found himself deeply enraptured in their culture of knowledge, peace and observation. What had started as a western style standoff rapidly turned into one of sharing histories and knowledge. The Gjiildaens’ themselves had existed since time immemorial and had dedicated themselves to watching everything that transpired across the many realms as they flared into existence, and eventually flickered out.
While they could no longer remember the last time one of their ilk had perished, they also could not recall the regeneration of another, they just existed, as the sole subsisting beings in the realm. This is why Andres sudden appearance had been such a threat, while they were always watching, they had never experienced the thoughts or spiritual connectedness of another outside their colony. Though they were all a hivemind form, they did have independent thoughts and personalities.
Andre had spent much of his time with just a few of the couple thousand of them that existed in the colony he’d landed in. It had taken him quite some time to adapt to the sound of their harmonized surround sound way of speaking, but once he had, he almost found it soothing. He noticed that despite the harmonization of their voices, when he talked directly to just one, that individuals voice seemed to stand out to the front. One of the Gjilldaen in particular had piqued his interest, their conversations spanning not just hours, but the better part of days.
“So Kjeelten, those aren’t actually habitation structures, but viewing towers?”
“That is correct.” His companion responded:
“The dome positioned between the farsight citadels acts as the foci control to enact simultaneous configuration changes. While each tower is trained specifically on one realm, the attunement crystals within the domes can be used to adjust the specific points within the realms at which we can look.” It continued.
“I hate to say it but that’s really unnerving to know that at any point in time in my old life I could have had one of you creepers just watching in on me… I mean, I get some folks really like a good peep show, but damn! Let a person enjoy their private time… privately.” Andre laughed at the pure absurdity of it.
“These “Peep shows” of which you speak are not the intended use. We use them to watch over, and observe the flow of aspected energies within the innumerable realms…” Andre cut off Kjeelten before they could finish.
“But to what ends? You cannot leave, nor can you really do anything should a realm come to some great trial, or as you’ve described: meet its untimely end.”
“Oh, but you greatly misunderstand our exact purpose in these matters young one. There is a reason each tower focuses on a specific realm, as opposed to allowing the viewing of multiple. Each farsight citadel also acts as a conduit, inexorably tied to a specific realm. This allows us to initiate a nourishment protocol should we see that realm showing signs of beginning to droop or wane through stagnation of any of their aspected energies. Though this process doesn’t always help, it can prolong the lifespan of a realm immeasurably, should they be susceptible to such infusions. We do not fully understand why the process fails from time to time, or why it works for a while and suddenly stops. We have for a long time theorized the emergence of Ascended from these dying realms act as a sort of sponge that absorbs the surplus energies from the suffusions, initiating their changes. This is why your presence here proffers such a tremendous opportunity for answers.”
Andre had remained silent through the Gjiildaens explanation, contemplating on everything they’d subjected him to since his arrival. While he had allowed them to inspect him quite thoroughly. He reached the limit of the tests he was willing to endure long before they were finished and had to resort to a sort of willing exchange of information. While he’d left out any information pertaining to the sisters it seemed that, despite their age, they had no inkling of their existence, much less their role in the flow of energies throughout the realms and subsequent worlds. He sat in a bed of fragrant Moonblossom, mildly reminiscent of euphoria inducing lilac that laid along one of the paths, staring contemplatively at one of the Farsight citadels when a thought occurred to him.
“Kjeeltan… if each tower is focused on a single realm, does this mean that when a realm “goes dark” the tower becomes usless? Or what do you do with them after the realm falls? Also, why would simultaneous corrections or adjustments be needed on the two towers.”
“That, little ascended is a question that will cost you.”
Andre felt something pulling at the edge of his mind, like an octopus was trying to pry open a clam to get the succulent meal inside. He resisted, willing his mind to push off the invading tentacles to retain his privacy and secrets.
“Come now, you know our agreement” He casually spoke to his companion.
“You need to specifically request information, and I’ll decide if it’s worth the trade. You can’t just forcefully invade my mind in an obviously futile attempt to take what you want.”
“Eventually you will have to allow us in to examine your abilities, skills and structure of your being. That is not something the tests you allowed laid bare to us.”
“I cannot describe them, but I can certainly demonstrate for you.” Andre responded, a dangerous grin playing across his face.
“We do not feel that will be necessary, your initial demonstration was… adequate. Yet we do wish to know exactly how it is you handle the aspects, and why you ascended channel can more than one, yet cannot use them simultaneously.”
“What exactly do you mean…?” Andre asked triggering his “Blissful Storm” ability. As Volt energy crackled around them through the falling rain he felt his companion’s wonderment with the spectacle. The conjured storm quickly abated leaving him refreshed and alert. They sat in silence, Andre watching a flock of nesting birds in a distant tree, settling in for the night.
“That, that was quite impressive. I detected not only Volt aspect but also Aqua within that storm you conjured. Highly unusual; bioforms such as yourself are usually tied to a singular aspect as it fully permeates their existence upon creation, becoming their very lifeforce. You Ascended break that mold in your general ability to utilize 2 or more of the aspects. Though this has been the very first instance we have seen of one of you simultaneously discharging a pair of counter-posed aspects in a synchronized ability; much less utilizing more than one aspect at a time.” Kjeelten fell into silent contemplation as the warm sun dried the brief moisture that saturated Andre’s armor.
“So, my ability to merge and blend aspected energies to create entirely new abilities isn’t exactly a common thing among the Ascended then?”
“That is quite correct. While we do not know a whole lot about them and at least believe that we have seen the rise of every ascended that has been. We do know that not one before you has been able to merge energies, at least that we’ve seen. We are not sure what you mean by “Abilities”, but it would seem to us that your understanding of the natures of the aspects is represented by how you use them. For example when you called that rain just now, I noticed that it was imbued with a biosynthesis stimulant based from the Aqua aspect, and a physio-neurogenic overload effect from the Volt Aspect, you took both aspects, channeled them through yourself to create the merged effect. It was quite the curious event to behold; very well then, we feel we can answer your question.” The creature rambled on, its inquisitive, rambling soliloquy mildly annoying Andre.
“It is very curious, very curious… opposing natured aspects and all, how does that work so effectively… I suppose it could be similar to a rainy thunderstorm… but how do the aspect energies not affect one another…?” It continued.
Andre let a sly grin cross his lips as he listened to his companion gush, trying to reason out how about his most used ability worked. He hadn’t revealed Shildras’s true nature yet, and still had that proverbial card up his sleeve to bargain for more information, should he need it. While he had fired off the series of rounds earlier, he suspected the Gjiildaens were too startled by his breaking their attempt to subdue him into a controlled slumber to take notice of the actual effects of his sidearm.
“I would like to take a moment to advise you against revealing too much too quickly. Since it is obvious that these people are driven by information, what secrets you have managed to hold onto could be beyond invaluable for future trades. You just may be able to get yourself access to treasures untold to the rest of the cosmos.” ALIAS rang out in his mind.
“Yeah, I’m well aware ALIAS. Why do you think I limited their examinations and tests and have been doling only snippets of knowledge. Despite their apparent willingness to share what seems to be common knowledge to them, I’ve felt them constantly prying at the edges of my mind regardless of our “agreements”.”
“Proceed with caution, my analysis has revealed that they are not quite as benevolent as they let on. I will remind you that Dimensional Schism is off cooldown, so if we need to make a quick escape, that option is always in our back pocket.”
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“I hear ya, though I think you did mention that this is a unique opportunity to garner information that has never been shared… or maybe I just thought that…? Anyways, let’s see what else we can learn before we bail out. I have a feeling there’s much more to learn here that could prove beyond useful in the future.” Andre responded to ALIAS, before speaking to Kjeelten:
“So, about those towers. Was my little demonstration sufficient to pry an answer about those spaceship lookin things?” Andre asked playfully.
“Yes, yes. I am happy enough now to answer that question. Each realm is created with an intrinsically linked “Twin Realm”. While at the start they have much in common; they grow independently, showing greater diversity the farther they move from their points of origin on their respective timescales. The duplicate towers allow us to view identical points within the twins to better be able to judge their overall health and aspect correlations as they develop. They exist in a symbiotic balance, one feeding the other what it needs to maintain aspect homeostasis and vice versa when should the requirement ever befall them.” Kjeelten hummed.
“Twin Worlds…Symbiosis…” Andre muttered to himself thinking deeply on what he was hearing.
“What would happen should one of the worlds be directly be attacked and destroyed, or worse, allowed to fall into Aspect stagnation? And what becomes of the towers when that happens” He asked.
“Then both fall. This is why our job is so important, we work constantly to ensure that should one world not be able to support its twin we provide the aspected energy, or stimulation needed to speed re-genesis. Should that fail, or should we not take notice of a world beginning its fall, they will flicker out, like a bonfire in a hurricane.”
“You mean, you don’t watch every realm? Every World?” Andre asked, aghast.
“The realms are many, and we are few. Try as we might, we cannot witness every one that may begin to struggle. Though, they as a wider collective have not historically shown as rapid a decay as we have witnessed of late. We have been forced to work much harder; taxing our limits and resources just to keep up with what you would call “life support” of those we have been able to track on a downward spiral.” Kjeelten spoke, impassively.
“Wait, what? What do you mean?!” Andre cut in on his companion’s long-winded speech.
“The greater multidimensional cosmos has reached a point of rapid entropy beyond what we can hope to sustain. We can only hope to select the realms with the greatest survival potential and coax them through with basal aspect energies in hopes of carrying them through. It’s as though the tree of life itself has been poisoned from the roots we exist to protect.” Andre was startled at the sudden change from impassive to almost despair in Kjeelten’s voices as they lamented their impossible task. His head spun, for every question answered Andre felt 2 more were ignored.
“You’ve mentioned this “tree of life” before. Is it some plant so massively large we can’t conceive it?” Andre asked. The creature bubbled and rippled, emitting a chittering hum: a response Andre had come to relate to laughter.
“No, no, no little one. The phrase “Tree of Life” or “Yggdrasil” as some call it references the branching interconnected network of aspected ley lines and the realities to which they connect that allows the flow of energies between them.” As Kjeelten spoke a pair of its orbs had fired off from the central, amorphous cloudy mass and began tracing through the air, leaving paths of shimmering energy in the air. As Andre watched and listened, the orbs traced out an intricate form that actually resembled a celtic knotwork tree with its root structure intertwined all on a single line, or loop.
“The primal aspect energies flow from super saturated realms that exist in a state of pure aetheric force, along these lines up the “trunk” where it is diluted and stabilized so it can be suffused into realms along these different “branches”. Much like a tree draws nutrients and water from the soil to nourish itself, stimulating growth in it’s “Leaves”… or realms in this instance. Surplus energy is then cycled back down to the “roots” with any “impurities” picked up to be cleansed and dispersed in the aetheric realms.” Kjeelten’s orbs traced the paths as it spoke, demonstrating the cyclical flow of power as it talked.
“So, what happens to realms that fall, or “go dark”. And, what happens to the towers that are correlated to them?” Andre asked, after a brief pause.
“Simple, much like when a leaf dies or is no longer able to serve its purpose. It is disconnected from the tree and allowed to fall to the ground where it inevitably decays and disappears entirely. The connected farsight towers are then allowed to sit and recharge, preparing to be tied to newly born realms… buds upon the branches.” Kjeelten hummed, matter of factly. They sat for a while relishing the warm sun as a gentle breeze blew, rustling his hair.
“I think I understand, but... what of the ascended?” Andre finally spoke, his voice getting caught in his throat.
“Those poor mortals wage a war of pure impossibilities, while the power they possess is tremendous, it does not stand a chance in the battles of execution they fight. As we have witnessed, the few who are strong enough to stand a chance, barely escape with their lives when the tide always, ultimately turns against them. We have witnessed the loss of far too many to even count, and those who did survive have vanished from our sight; the hope they once brought with them. We often almost feel bad, we have come to believe that it is the suffusions of energy from our towers that causes their initial changes; though how they develop after we cannot say.” They fell silent, the lamentations hanging heavier than the conversation. Andre watched his companion, their amorphous form quivering and its 3 orbs hanging low barely moving. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn the Gjiildaen was sobbing. It was another 15 minutes of silent regret before they spoke again.
“You are in fact the first Ascended we have seen emerge from a dying world in several centuries. It is as though our great mother has given up hope itself. The decay is spreading Andre, we cannot leave our realm… but you can. Sadly you are destined to…fail…?” Their voices staggered off, a confused realization dawning over them. There was a blurred flash as far as Andre could see, followed by a deafening buzzing clicking hum that blasted throughout the entire area. As quickly as it began, Kjeeltens voice pushed through again:
“Your realm… your realm still stands. How are you here?!?”
“I found my way here.” Andre responded.
“You can traverse realms willingly?!” Their voices belted out, almost excitedly.
“I guess? I can’t exactly control it though… Why is this a surprise to you though, you specifically stated you’d never had another visitor to your realm...?
“We overlooked some critical points in our… excitement.” They responded.
“Obviously, maybe get your… cloudy heads checked?” Andre retorted.
“You are missing the point here little human!” They echoed; the excitement no longer masked on their voices. “There is still a chance for your realm, maybe more! We can help, we can help!!! WE CAN HELP!!!!!!”
“Whoa whoa whoa, calm down just a little bit. I told you I can’t control my ability, so I’m not even sure how I would make it back to my own world to even try and save it, much less save any other realm I land in.”
“That’s ok! WE CAN HELP! We first noticed the scent of aspect decay when you first arrived and had assumed it was from your own world. We can only guess that means you came from a world of the dead and dying, which is why we assumed your realm had blinked out! But! If you can visit the dying realms, maybe!” Their disjointed voices pushed through in a choked, hurried rush.
“Ok, you are really going to need to start making some sense here, or I’m just gonna start walking and wait for you to calm down a bit.” He responded, as he stood to follow through on his promise. Before he managed to take a single step he found himself surrounded by the cloud forms, their orbs glowing brightly and swirling quite energetically. One of them sunk to the ground in front of Andre, pulsing and flashing. It rose back up, leaving behind a simple mahogany box.
“This is for you! Please take it! It will allow us to help, help help heeeeelllllllp no matter where you are!!!” Their overexcited voices seemed to echo, like a glitching audio file.
“Please, open! Please, take!”
Andre confidently strode to where the box lay on the ground, picking it up he found it to be shockingly light given its build. Opening it he found a thin, opalescent pile of carefully folded fabric.
*Item: “Cloak Refinement Component”: Woven from silken fibers of Yggdrasil “sap”, this refinement article has been held in the possession of the Gjiildaens since the beginning of time awaiting the arrival of an individual bearing the “Ascended’s Travel Cloak”. Its true origins are unknown. Effects: When merged with “Ascended’s Travel Cloak” it upgrades the item to “Ascended’s World Tree Travelers Cloak”.*
Andre’s identification ability seemed to completely glitch out as he grasped the flowing, evanescent material.
“ALIAS, any idea how the fuck I’m supposed to use this item?” Andre asked.
“…I’m not entirely sure, to be honest with you.” ALIAS responded
“Juz fling it o’er da cloak, fuggin moron.” Shildras spoke, startling both Andre and ALIAS. Following the salty weapons suggestion Andre unfolded the material, its shimmering gossamer appearance almost vanishing in the bright sunlight. With a quick twist he flung it around his shoulders, where, as it settled it seemed to almost melt into his travel cloak, making it almost seem to glisten.
*Obtained: “Ascended’s World Tree Traveler’s Cloak”: This cloak woven by the Sisters of Fate, and blessed by the 9 Sisters of Yggdrasil and augmented with “sap” of the world tree has been soul bonded to true name: Andre Hoenir, and will grow with him as he gains experience and understanding of the road he travels. Allows use of abilities: “Transdimensional Translation”, “Schism Focus” Rarity: Unique, Quality: Unique, Value: Unique, Aspect: Mosaic, Durability: Indestructible. *
“Ability: “Schism Focus”: Allows the individual, upon use of "Ability: “Dimensional Schisms”" to actively decide to travel to a previously accessed realm, or jump to a random, new realm. Aspect: Mosaic, Cost: None.” The Gjilldaens had surrounded him, pressing in upon him as he read the description of his newest ability:
“You must go, we can help, we can help! Go! Go! Prevent the fall, cure the decay!!!”
Andre felt them pressing in tighter, almost suffocatingly close.
“Very well then, I guess if that’s all we need to discuss.”
“Worry not! We are anchor! You can return on our call; worry not we are ANCHOR!!” Their disjointed voices had lost all harmony.
“Very well then, I guess it has been a… pleasure?” Andre pushed his way through the crowding cloudy masses towards the field where he first met them. Having cleared the pressing crowd, he turned to them saying:
“I guess… it’s been a pleasure? I hope you’re right and that I can return, there is so much more we need to discuss ya goofy cloudy fucks.” Laughing he turned, summoned the obsidian root to his right hand, its cherrywood grip held tightly, but as he prepared to activate his “Dimensional Schisms” ability, a box popped up:
“Would you like to utilize “Schism Focus” in conjunction with “Dimensional Schisms”?”
“What do you think ALIAS? Should we go home, or expand our traversable realms?”
“I believe it would be wise to increase the number of realms we can travel to. Your attack on the “Beastmaster” with your machete likely inflicted her with a poison your home world should not have the ability to cleanse, so the longer we leave her to fester… the easier the fight.”
“Aye, I agree wit yer odder voice, let da bitch rot n lets go play.” Shildras added.
“Alright, sounds good to me. Let’s just hope we don’t land someplace completely fucked this time!” Andre said as he slashed the air and stepped through the gaping foggy hole created.
“You know… you have yet to examine what creations were unlocked from your “Everglow Artifices” skill book… might want to do that sooner than later.” ALIAS chided Andre as the hole zippered closed.