Oblivion

Overview

Oblivion is an affliction discovered in 393 AC affecting members of the Rediscovery Endeavor. The condition causes progressive memory loss and, in Alterers, severs the connection to their Eidolons. Sister Mathilde, an Auxiliary of The Cloister, first identified and named the affliction.

Origin and Source

The affliction originates from The Hunger, a primordial entity that dwelt in The Maze beneath the City of Scholars. The creature fed on memories by entering the dreams of nearby victims, devouring recollections while they slept. This feeding manifested as Oblivion in those who ventured near its domain.

Initial cases appeared in explorers who descended into the underground labyrinth via The Crow’s Eye, where The Hunger’s influence was strongest. A malevolent presence lingered near the outer limits of the last mapped levels, accompanied by visceral fear and profound unease—sensations produced by proximity to the creature.

Symptoms subsequently appeared in individuals who never approached the chasm, including a kitchen assistant from The Mess, two gardeners from The Farm, and six clerics from Town Square. This spread suggested the affliction was rising from the depths as The Hunger’s feeding radius expanded.

Symptoms

The affliction progresses gradually through distinct stages:

1. Early Stage: Minor memory lapses, forgotten names, fuzzy recollections
2. Intermediate Stage: Inability to retrieve specific thoughts, painful memory gaps, sensation of memories being drawn out of the mind
3. Advanced Stage: Only bare essentials remain—name, role, fragments of the past. Attempts to explore one’s own memories lead to a bottomless void, causing despair

For Alterers, the most alarming symptom is the severing of their connection to Eidolons. Affected Alterers become unable to summon the Eidolons they have always called upon, standing frozen and confused when attempting to do so.

Treatment

Healers from The Cloister, working with Rati surgeons, developed a treatment using artificial memory Grafts—psychic fragments donated by loved ones that serve as patches for broken minds. These reconstructed memories allow patients to function, though inconsistencies occur. Core personalities have remained intact in treated cases.

Threat Assessment

Sister Mathilde recommended temporary suspension of all expeditions into the depths until the responsible agent can be isolated. She also recommended relocating the outpost several hundred meters away to establish a quarantine zone around The Crow’s Eye, and that all individuals returning from the City of Scholars undergo full examination.

Resolution

In 393 AC, the Exalts confronted The Hunger in The Maze. After Fen and Teija attempted to reach Sofia—the child consciousness trapped within the creature—Treyst triggered explosive charges that destroyed The Maze and The Hunger with it. The threat responsible for Oblivion was eliminated, though existing cases still required ongoing treatment.

Relationships

• The Hunger: Entity that caused Oblivion through memory feeding
• Sofia: Child consciousness within The Hunger
• City of Scholars: Origin point of the affliction in the deepest levels
• The Maze: Level where The Hunger dwelt
• The Crow’s Eye: Entry chasm where exposure occurs during descent
• The Cloister: Medical facility treating afflicted patients
• Grafts: Memory grafts used as treatment for afflicted patients
• Rati: Surgeons who assisted in developing memory graft treatment
• Eidolons: Connection severed in afflicted Alterers
• Chimerae: Creatures drawn forth by intense emotions in the depths
• Rediscovery Endeavor: Expedition whose activities exposed members to the affliction
• Town Square: Location where Sister Mathilde consulted expedition reports
• Sister Mathilde: Auxiliary of The Cloister who discovered and named the affliction
• Fen: Lyra Exalt who reached Sofia within The Hunger (393 AC)
• Teija: Lyra Exalt who attempted psychic contact (393 AC)
• Treyst: Axiom engineer who destroyed The Hunger (393 AC)