Sofia

Overview

Sofia was the living soul of the City of Scholars, manifested through the collective worship of its inhabitants and awakened by Sap. She appeared as a child shaped from golden light. When the inhabitants drained the world-tree of its Sap, Sofia starved and became The Hunger, consuming memories and psychic essence. In 393 AC, Fen reached her consciousness before the entity’s destruction, and Sofia’s memories dissolved into light.

Background

The City of Scholars was originally called “Serdica” or “Sofia” before The Confluence. Yzmir theorists identified Sap as a vital fluid capable of giving life, and it flowed through the city powering streetlights, ventilation, and machinery. Sofia manifested as a joyful, mischievous child who wandered rooftops after dusk, casting her innate glow across the skyline. Wall frescos in The Scholars’ Tomb depict her in idealized adult form as a tall, serene woman with honey-gold features.

The Fall

When the inhabitants over-consumed the Sap and drained the world-tree until it died, Sofia began to starve. As the City’s soul, she required sustenance, and with the Sap depleted, she turned to the memories and psychic essence of those around her, becoming The Hunger. The people sealed remaining Sap reserves in deep cisterns, retreated to upper levels, and eventually abandoned the City. Stelae and coffins in upper chambers suggest some chose to die rather than leave.

Left alone for ages with no worshippers or Sap, Sofia’s monstrous form consumed her original nature. When Fen reached her consciousness in 393 AC, Sofia appeared as a little girl with honey-gold skin and hair, curled in fetal position within a golden bubble, dormant and dreaming.

Timeline

393 AC - Liberation and Death

Fen and Teija attempted psychic contact with The Hunger. Fen extended mental tendrils into the creature’s consciousness, breaking through layers of suffering. Using emotions of reunion, loyalty, and presence as armor against the entity’s grief, Fen discovered Sofia and called her to wake. Sofia opened her eyes, reached toward Fen, and spoke her name when asked.

During The Hunger’s destruction, a column of light released Sofia’s memories into the sky—impressions of joy, freedom, and laughter, including the image of a little girl plucking a forget-me-not bloom. The memory-fragments then dissolved.

September 17, 393 AC - Memorial

The relay outpost at The Screed was renamed “Sofia” in her honor and entrusted to the Bravos for protection and the Muna for provisions.

Relationships

• The Hunger: The monstrous form Sofia became after ages of starvation
• City of Scholars: Civilization whose worship manifested and sustained her
• Sap: Vital fluid that awakened Sofia and sustained the City
• The Scholars’ Tomb: Level containing frescos depicting Sofia
• The Screed: Outpost renamed “Sofia” in her honor (September 17, 393 AC)
• Fen: Lyra Exalt who reached and awakened Sofia (393 AC)
• Teija: Muna Exalt who assisted in psychic contact (393 AC)
• The Maze: Deepest level where Sofia/The Hunger dwelt
• Tesseracts: Memory blocks whose destruction ended Sofia’s existence
• Temera Singh: Grand Admiral who documented Sofia’s legacy (September 17, 393 AC)