Altered Lore

The Rediscovery Endeavor

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The Rediscovery Endeavor

Overview

Thanks to the Exalts, humanity can now aspire to explore the expanses affected by The Tumult. This great common endeavor marks the beginning of an incredible adventure, in order to explore a world completely transformed.

Structure

The Rediscovery Endeavor consists of two main components:

Exalts (Scouts and Vanguards)

Exalts - pairs of Alterers bonded with Chimerae through The Musubi - are sent as scouts and vanguards of the exploration forces. By capitalizing on their abilities, humanity hopes to stabilize the regions still subjected to the Tumult.

Expeditionary Corps

Following in the wake of the Exalts, the Expeditionary Corps, composed of thousands of women and men, are tasked with reclaiming the territories thus liberated.

Mission

The goal is to explore and stabilize regions affected by the Tumult, reclaiming territories for human expansion beyond Asgartha.

Significance

After centuries of isolation, this marks a new era for humanity’s expansion and exploration of the transformed world.

392-393 AC - Caer Oorun Exploration Phases

392 AC - Initial Reclamation and Tensions

The Rediscovery Endeavor successfully reclaimed The Cebir fortress in Caer Oorun province in 392 AC. The citadel became a center of tensions when Wanjiru intervened, leading the Yzmir Faction to lock down the site citing quarantine. This complicated Admiral Temera Singh’s directive to use Cebir for planning exploration of the western coastal region beyond Turbulent Shores.

October-November 392 AC - Regional Expeditions

During late 392 AC, the Expeditionary Corps conducted systematic exploration of multiple regions within Caer Oorun:

October 392 AC: Waru Toowoom planned espionage operations at Cebir to investigate Yzmir’s quarantine.

November 392 AC: Expedition established at Calida hot springs in Strand Region with approximately forty explorers led by Historians’ Guild scholars and Axiom prospectors. Goals included unearthing ruins and establishing an advanced base for coastal exploration.

November 392 AC: Archaeological assessment conducted at pre-Confluence city ruins in Irundu, though Ordis efforts focused primarily on recovering the crashed Mesektet rather than academic excavation.

December 392 AC: Recovery operations intensified at Mesektet crash site in Irundu valley, with Ordis and Axiom forces coordinating salvage efforts.

393 AC, January - Strategic Planning Phase

Exalt Gathering at Marsa: All Exalts were summoned to Marsa ruins in Tilted Steppes to plan exploration of next territories. This gathering marked the end of the “recess” period and resumption of active expansion.

Next Destination Set: The Ouroboros high command determined the next target: a luminescent mountain to the west. Between Marsa and this waypoint lay the heart of the true Tumult, requiring the expedition to finally leave the borders of the Known World.

Tumult Window: Initiates monitoring The Tumult’s currents predicted a calm period in coming weeks, creating a limited window for movement.

Jayu Phenomena: Disturbing reports reached leadership regarding strange phenomena in Jayu Desert, including rings of light and beams transforming objects into red salt. The Council of Factions deliberated on appropriate force deployment.

393 AC - Storhvit Deployment (January)

Vanguard Deployment: The vanguard of the Expeditionary Corps was deployed to Storhvit, a winter region beyond Caer Oorun named by first scouts. Progress was grueling, slow, and painstaking. Fatigue was evident among the Exalts. Unlike Caer Oorun which benefited from mild Tumult currents, areas beyond the rehabilitated Province presented significantly harsher conditions.

Environmental Stabilization: The mutagenic effects of The Tumult were mitigated by the persistence of a strong idea near the explored zone: the idea of cold, ice, and winter. This idea emanated from Cais Adarra mountain peak which glowed with vivid blue light day and night. However, this stabilizing influence was accompanied by harsh weather conditions: snow, frost, biting cold, and limited visibility.

Biome Identification: The Exalts identified six distinct biome environments within Storvhit: Tundra, Taiga, Frozen Lake, Canyon, Caverns, and Spur. The region was perpetually locked in harsh winter with highly unpredictable weather influenced by The Tumult generating capricious winds.

Strategic Objective: The goal was to reach Cais Adarra as quickly as possible. Though the cold there would be even harsher, the peak would provide secure haven against Tumult singularities plaguing the lower regions. Meteorologists observed that Tumult winds were repelled by the rocky peak, suggesting the mountain was likely an Oasis or pocket of stability.

Support Operations: In coordination with Expeditionary Corps team leaders, a decision was made to deploy contingents of explorers using The Ouroboros to assist the Exalts when Tumult currents were sufficiently calm. The Exalts and select Alterers would shield troops from The Tumult, while explorers would provide relief from cold and direct support during the journey. Axiom deployed probes to survey terrain ahead.

Eidolon Adaptation: A recommendation was made to diversify the range of Eidolons troops could summon, alleviating the burden posed by the region’s endemic cold. Jack Frost, the Snow Queen, Skadi, and other lesser-used Eidolons were being explored or rediscovered and adapted to this environment where their abilities would prove invaluable. During downtime, many troops listened to teachings of Ordis scholars or songs of Lyra skalds, consulting texts brought from the capital.

Leadership and Command

Military Command

Political Coordination

Faction Participation

All six factions contributed forces and expertise:

  • Ordis: Architects, historians, cataloging, Mesektet recovery
  • Bravos: Military forces, reclamation operations
  • Axiom: Engineers, prospectors, hull modifications
  • Muna: Quartermasters, provisions
  • Yzmir: Initiates, magical monitoring, quarantine operations
  • Lyra: The Ouroboros mobile base, support services

The True Purpose (393 AC Revelation)

In 393 AC, a scroll left by Rune was discovered in the City of Scholars by Waru Toowoom’s expedition. The scroll confirmed that the Source of The Tumult—the stated objective of the Rediscovery Endeavor—was a fabrication. Rune himself had searched for it and failed.

The Phoenixian Guard revealed they had long been keepers of Rune’s Testament, secret instructions stating the true purpose of the Endeavor: to sail westward and rekindle the Phoenix. The Phoenix Egg, removed from Haven by Bravos acting on Rune’s Testament, was being transported aboard The Wayfarer by Bravos who had secretly joined the Tisdhera Clan. Public reports had claimed the Egg was stolen, but the Bravos had taken it intentionally to fulfill their sacred duty according to the Testament.

The expedition’s true objective aligned with the Testament’s goal: the Phoenix’s rebirth, pursued in the same westward direction where the Source had been originally sought.

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