Sea of Stars History

Sea of Stars Research

Introduction

This research constitutes the single clearest depiction of a world’s ‘life cycle’ yet discovered: The world ascends to a Prime state, is decimated by the forces of entropy and is reduced to a Splinter World, and finally begins a descent into death by becoming a Shadow World.
Most of the information in the Library regarding the Sea of Stars has been obtained through dream and/or dream-like beings who are often confused, or at worst, contradictory. This speaks to the nature of the world itself; it seems to follow dream logic. Not only this, but dreams hold valid historical material. So if I [Tazmira] make reference to dreams and my own personal opinions, please forgive me the intrusion. Dream logic is difficult to follow at best, impossible at worst, but I will do my best to give the truest account of this fascinating world and its history as I have discovered thus far.

Recent revelations

I recently happened across a document written in the time of Oun for young children by one of the Worldstrider Councils.  In it are some very rudimentary notes about worlds that were Prime in the time of Oun.  One of them in particular caught my eye: the Transcendent Spheres.

It reads: *“The people of the Transcendent Spheres are very different from one another and the Lunatics are different from one day to the next!” * Some scholars of Nexus once believed that this referred to two separate worlds, but my research indicates that it is in fact a single world with many different cultures and land masses. Indeed, the ‘Transcendent Spheres’ was composed of a number of ‘Spheres’ and was once a Prime World, thus a very diverse place. The Lunatics, you surmise, were the denizens of one of the Spheres called Luna. Other Spheres would have had other denizens called other names. This information gave me a connection between this world and the Sea of Stars. I then happened upon a decorative plate being sold by a merchant of artifacts between gathers. He claimed to have found it in the ruins of an Ounish household. Before examining the plate closely I disagreed with his findings for it seemed to depict seven colorful spheres, each one corresponding to the colors of the Brothers. Between each sphere is a boat, indicating its origin to be the Sea of Stars. However, once I acquired the plate, I noted that the manufacturer’s name, location, and numbering [1582/8000] were not of Ounish origin [which would have been in Gatespeak] or the tongue of the Sea of Stars. Also, the boats, upon closer inspection, are not of the make associated with the Sea of Stars and indeed, have great wings to hold them aloft. The artifact was not from the Time of the Brothers, but rather genuinely from the Age of Oun and [according to my findings] manufactured in the Transcendent Spheres. This dish combined with the document I found earlier marks a connection between the Time of Oun and the Sea of Stars. By cross referencing these findings with the traditional tales of the Sea of Stars, I discovered that the ‘great darkness’ that brought the world to the brink of destruction corresponds very neatly with the fall of Oun to the Nightmare Host. The Sea of Stars always held that their world had once been a place of greater adventures, greater dreams, greater divinations, greater brotherhoods, and greater loves, but had been utterly ravaged by ‘the darkness’ in their pre-history. My dreams, as granted by my time in the Graveyard, also speak of great colorful spheres being cracked open and spilling their contents like eggs by an unspeakably powerful force. In fact, the ether sea that now covers the whole world is likely the liquid cores of each of the Transcendent Spheres. What land masses exist in the Sea of Stars is surely the remaining landmass of the Transcendent Spheres. Each Sphere must have had a different density relative to the ether sea, forcing the fragments of firmament to align across similar densities. This accounts for the very specific geography of the world. Whatever people survive, they are no doubt the ancestors of an ancient Prime World that has long since been reduced to a relatively small [or ‘Splinter’] world. Because of the terrible nature of their world’s near-annihilation, it is no surprise that their culture has very little recollection of those events. The Brothers themselves are likely a recapitulation of some Theme or cultural practice from the Transcendent Spheres that were adapted to the realities of the Sea of Stars. Indeed, it is likely that the Brothers left the Sea of stars in an attempt to permanently eradicate the threat that the Nightmare Host presented to their world. Their efforts, clearly, did not succeed. The largest snag in my research is the existence of the eighth ‘dark’ archipelago which has no Transcendent Sphere counterpart. Indeed, to the people of the Sea of Stars, it is seen as alien and its people as foreign invaders. It is unlikely that it is, in fact, part of the Transcendent Spheres, but rather something that came to rest in the metaphysical space that the Sea occupies. Several theories present themselves with no conclusions. First that some cosmic debris from another world collided with that of the Spheres and became entangled. Second, that Worldstriders may have moved a land mass from another world to the Spheres in the last days of its existence. Third, that the Nightmare Host may have created it as a means of sustaining permanent war even though they were banished from the world. Fourth, that is may be a thematic manifestation of the Spheres’ descent into a Shadow World [dying world], but I am quite sure that this is NOT the case because it is far too antithetical to the world itself. The people who live there are greedy, loathsome, and generally awful. These are not the lofty virtues that are expressed in the adventures of the Brothers. The nature and culture of the Transcendent Spheres is virtually unknown in modern times and almost no documents have been uncovered that make reference to it. The names of the Spheres are not even known.

Language

The written language of the Sea of Stars is in many ways similar Gatespeak. Many of the characters are at once the same and different; angular in places and round in others. It is a language that is easily carved into stone.

Some might have noticed the symbols on the cheeks of the Brothers. They are a special set of tattoos that represent their status within their fraternity. Alphanom’s tattoos for example read ‘Alpha and Omega.’ The symbols are ancient even by the reckoning of the Sea of Stars.

The language of the Transcendent Spheres still currently eludes me even with access to the Great Library. This is quite a difficult area of study because not only is the language extinct, but there is almost no record of the world from which it originates. My initial studies have proved largely fruitless, but I have determined that it bears little resemblance to the tongue of the Sea of Stars [which has more in common with Gatespeak, oddly].

Geography and Culture

The Sea of Stars seems to be made up of seven archipelagos each related to the colors of the Sea of Stars [red, yellow, orange, blue, white, green, and violet] with an additional Dark archipelago. The main seven archipelagos were once ruled over by one of the Brothers, who have also been called Knights and Soldiers. The rulers of the colored archipelagos, known as the Brothers, are neither actual biological brothers nor are they restricted to being male. They belong to a fraternity of sorts, a club of leadership. Members of this Brotherhood wear facial tattoos of symbols to show their station in the Brotherhood. Colors seem more important than cause and effect in this world. The strengths and weaknesses of each of the Brothers seem to have a great deal to do with the meaning of the color represented by each Brother.
The blue archipelago was ruled by Brother Ionius. The main trade of this land was in fishing. Brother Ionius was not only skilled with the dagger, but was also known for his skills in diplomacy. It appears that he was very close with Brother Geovestri. Brother Ionius’s strength lay in his likeability while his weakness was the intense sadness and depression that sometimes consumed him. The green archipelago was ruled by Brother Theatruse. The main trade of this land was whaling. Brother Theatruse was skilled with the bow and was a very focused individual with some sight into destiny. He was known to have disagreements with Brother Geovestri. Brother Theatruse’s main strength lay in his desire for Equality, but his weakness lay in lust. The red archipelago was ruled by Brother Thermidor. The trade of the red archipelago was iron. The eldest among the Brothers, Brother Thermidor was also a great war leader. He worked to eradicate the pirates that plagued the seas. His strength was his valor and his weakness was aggressiveness. The purple archipelago was ruled by Brother Geovestri. The main trade of this land was gems. As previously stated, Brother Geovestri and Brother Theatruse did not get along well together. Brother Geovestri was highly skilled in the sword. His strength bloomed from his nobility, not only of blood, but of character. His weakness sprouted from his arrogance which is possibly one of the reasons he and Brother Theatruse fought often. The yellow archipelago was ruled by Brother Boustrephadon. This land’s main trade was music and art. Brother Boustrephadon was highly skilled with the ax though he didn’t use it for fight; rather he used it to create. His strength was his great joy. His weakness was naiveté and trust. The orange archipelago was ruled by Brother Maliota, the only female member of the fraternity. Labor was the main trade in her land. Brother Maliota was noted for his skill with the mace and for her kindness toward all. Her strength and her weakness was her selflessness and willingness to sacrifice herself for the sake of others both deserving and undeserving. The white archipelago was ruled by Brother Alphanom. The main trade of his land was bookbinding which symbolically lent to Brother Alphanom’s mysticism. He was a powerful mage and skilled user of the staff. His strength lay in his mysticism, but his weakness was the madness that seemed to lurk in his mind.

In the Forest

At some point either during or after the fall of Oun, the Brothers came to the Forest of Doors to attempt to permanently eradicate the threat that the Nightmare Host presented to their world. During this attempt, Brother Thermidor left, Brother Maliota [seeing that the ritual was failing] tried to complete the ritual and was locked behind a door in a world of endless torment and the others were slain. However, because of the nature of their world and their titles, the main essence of who and what the Brothers are did not see the Gatekeeper like other souls. They lingered, waiting for a specific set of conditions to be fulfilled, probably related to the dreams that have been offered up to them.

The Brothers

On top of each Brother ruling an archipelago, each had a weapon that echoed the color the represented.  These weapons are rumored to be crafted of Starlight, though that isn’t entirely true.  The archipelagos themselves glowed and produced glowing metals that mirrored the starlight.  These weapons are mystical in nature and can only be accessed by a person that is bonded with a Brother.  There are quests that must be done both in the waking world and that of dreams before the bonded person can find the weapon.  In order to re-open the doors to the Sea of Stars, a ritual must be performed and all seven ‘Star-light’ weapons must be present with the bonded persons.

Sea of Stars Nursery Rhyme

Brother Ionius has an azure hue Brother Theatruse has the green Brother Thermidor has a scarlet temper Unlike any I’ve ever seen Brother Geovestri is noble violet Brother Boustrephadon is gold Brother Maliota is very kindly Her orange in honor we hold Brother Alphanom is the white of the moon His laughter is the sailor’s stars The lunatic in him is greatest of all His madness is his sacred scars.

Suppositions

I believe, as recent evidence has shown, that the Brothers are not so much people as an essence that collects and expands the experiences of the people with which it bonds. This helps explain the confusing stories we constantly receive in dreams and from the beings themselves. I come upon this supposition by way of what happened with Andre when he became a part of the Graveyard, thus transforming both himself and the Graveyard into a Place of Storytelling.
When Andre entered town the first time that evening, he was bonded with the White Soldier, Alphanom. He answered to that name and in fact took some few of us on journeys with the assistance of Brother Boustrephadon. When he returned later that evening, he became bonded with the Red Soldier, Thermidor and I believe I was told he agreed to change his fate, but I could be incorrect. If it is possible for Andre to influence Brother Thermidor in such a fashion than it is entirely likely that each bonding with the Brothers changes and influences the make-up of each essence. It leads me to believe that a person could bond with each of the brothers in turn though you cannot bond with more than one at a time. It certainly leaves room for questioning.

Also based off of the nursery rhyme, one might think that perhaps the White Soldier and his people were originally from the Sphere known as Luna in the Transcendent Spheres.