Return to Erda
This is a monologue I wrote for my Players as we returned to our shared world after a hiatus from our story. At the end of the prior story arc, the Players uncovered some secrets about the cosmic structure of their world, and started to peek into the realms beyond the veil.
The Universe is alive. It breathes, constantly expanding, but also colliding and contracting, motions so massive imperceptible to those innumerable tiny creatures who dwell within it. As the Universe breathes, and untold trillions carry out their lives, spheres of power constantly turn and revolve. These are the engines of power in the cosmos, carrying out a cosmic dance that has been turning since the dawn of time, and shall continue to turn until time dies and the last fire of the universe sputters to its end.
Like all living things, the Universe can feel, it can hurt, and it bears the scars of its long, nigh immeasurable, life. One such scar is not like the others. A burning tear where once a silver citadel stood. At the right time of year, every world in the vast and infinite cosmos can see a burning line in the night sky. Some see an intense white light, like some misshapen star. Others see the true shape of it, a shattered husk, pieces spinning eternally away from its core, impossibly huge and impossibly bright.
Every world in the universe can look up and see this vision of fire and pain… except one. Deep within the cosmic expanse, within the crush of eternities between all possible realities lies a bubble of impossible space. An untethered schism of cosmic fire fully isolating a pocket of physical space from the rest of the physical plane. Deep within that cosmic fire, that unbonded eternity, lies a cage of violet light crystalized into solid form. This cage holds back the fire and provides a tenuous link between that hidden plane of reality and the cosmos beyond. A planar bridge made manifest.
Within that space, within that transient locus, lies a floating island carved from fused amethyst crystal and dark primordial stone. Upon that island stands the Librium Fortress of the Volarian Order. Also within this liminal space between worlds, a smaller island drifts upon currents of time. Upon this island is a tower, rising like a marble fang from the fundamental stone, and within this tower are many rooms and chambers containing our heroes, as they have rested and recovered from their battle with the avatar of a dragon god.
